Scott Galupo, Daniel Larison, and Rod Dreher poured cold water all over the Condi VP speculation, Samuel Goldman and Scott McConnell weighed in on the great elite debate, Eve Tushnet reflected on Beasts of the Southern Wild (spoiler alert!), and Michael Dougherty unpacked the dangerous logic of drones.

James P. Pinkerton promoted healthy alternatives, and Mark Skousen trumpeted Friedrich Hayek. Pat Buchanan roasted the failed financial elite, Robert P. Murphy dismantled the myth of wartime prosperity, and R.J. Stove praised an Anglican who fought for Catholics. Goldman studied the value of college, Kevin R.C. Gutzman set Originalism against Obamacare, and D.G. Hart located the religious middle. Jordan Bloom expounded on copyright, McConnell wondered how America could allow Romney to run for president, and Galupo hoped Romney gets spat out. Noah Millman returned for a bit, analyzed the GOP’s health care politics, endorsed Elizabeth Warren, and reviewed Death of a Salesman. 

William D. Hartung noticed our MAD world. Doug Bandow argued against conflict with China. Larison refused Romney as the epitome of traditionalism, laughed at Romney’s political goals in Europe, caught overstatements about a Venezuela threat, smelled fear in Santorum and Romney, dodged the draft, and took note of Islamist victories. McConnell supported a Ron Paul aide against pro-Israel Democrats. Kelley Vlahos asked if the Pentagon is really a great jobs program, and wished Carl Prine better.

Dreher wondered if we need an intellectual capital, understood Episcopalian loyalty, looked forward to linguistic experiences in France, and chewed over avocados and babies,  considered the sixties, humbled the meritocracy,  proposed a Julia Child Centenary Dinner, identified the problem with public schools, grappled with the Penn State travesty, and revealed the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

(Video: The Rolling Stones perform “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in London  in 2003. SOTU commentary on the band’s quinquagenary here and here.)