National Review revisited?

Is William F. Buckley rolling over in his grave? I'm not sure, but I doubt he'd be as dismissive of the president as many of his successors.

I have not been back to National Review for well over a year now.  Ever since they climbed aboard the anti-Trump train and were ready to sabotage the nominee out of a supposed purist conservative view reeked of self-serving motivation, not mention stupidity.  No matter how bad they thought a Donald Trump presidency would be, surely at least four years of Hillary Clinton on the heels of an Obama second term would be be truly ruinous for America.

But I have to give the National Review credit.  I went back today and while it seems more split in it's anti-Trump stance, they do give proper voice to the tax reform heading through congress;

The final bill should increase investment, reduce the distortionary effect of tax breaks, and lighten the especially excessive burden that the federal government puts on parents. While the bill is nobody’s idea of perfection, it is nonetheless a solid accomplishment and we are glad that Congress is moving quickly to pass it.

Our 35 percent corporate tax rate has stayed in place for decades as our major trading partners cut their rates. The new tax rate of 21 percent should help us compete better for capital. Allowing businesses to write off the cost of investments more rapidly is another pro-growth win in the bill.

I'm not back to being a National Review regular reader just yet, but I'm willing to give them my eyeballs from time to time and see if they come back to Main Street a little.  After this at least, they've recaptured a sliver of my attention. 

Saturday Learning Series - History of the Conservative Movement, William F. Buckley, Jr.

History of the Conservative Movement: Politics in America - William F. Buckley, Jr. an interview.

William F. Buckley vs. Saul Alinsky

Mobilizing the poor, on Firing Line.  Saul Alinsky was a far left progressive, communist.  Hillary Clinton, not only wrote a thesis on the man, she was clearly a fan.

As a palate cleanser, here's Buckley with Margaret Thatcher.

Trump haters on the right, ask yourself this question.

In 2008 you implored John McCain to take the fight to Obama.  He did not.  In 2012 you held your nose and voted for Mitt Romney despite the fact that his debating style was Marquess of Queensberry Rules when he was in a street fight with a political adversary and never even realized it.

What we wanted was someone with the teeth to take the fight to Democrats.  We wanted someone with the intellectual prowess of William F. Buckley and the oratory skill and charisma of Ronald Reagan.

We didn't get all of that.  We got a fighter though.  Donald Trump certainly has teeth and it has been lacking in the Republican nominees since Ronald Reagan - both Bush presidents possessed neither rapier wit nor the seeming urge to fight. Bob Dole?

So ask yourself, even if Trump is not the ideal candidate for you, is he a fighter?  Will he take the fight to Hillary? And will he be better than Hillary?

I'm still not reading National Review and so should you

I used to love National Review.  There's a lot of intelligent writers there and I'm particularly interested in the writings of Jim Geraghty on the Campaign Spot.  But I'm not reading any of it now.  I've said why.  Yesterday in fact.  William Jacobson of Legal Insurrection fame, has a short piece on the need to Defeat National Review.

National Review Editors lose touch

The Editors of National Review give a well worded explanation of whom they feel is an acceptable candidate, and in doing so, lose all credibility.

Next time, think things through. If there is a next time.

Pragmatism versus one-horse-zealotry

Heated.  Things in the GOP primary are getting heated. R S McCain is on an anybody-but-Newt tear in contrast with Ed Morrissey who thinks Gingrich would be a good battler for conservatives and a formidable foe for Obama in 2012.  Elsewhere in the blogosphere and tweet-osphere, I've seen rabid backers of Cain, Paul and Perry tear apart those who prefer another candidate.  Even Romney backers have been dismissive of supporters of other candidates.  This is a primary season, and heated is to be expected.  Everyone seems to have a horse in this race and that means they are engaged.  That's good. Uncivil behavior on the other hand is another story.  While for the most part, criticisms have ranged from viable to less than robust, the  civility has been been present.  It has not been universally so.

Perry Opens Door: Who's Going To Going Through?

Could be anyone.

Texas Governor Rick Perry did not perform well in the Florida debate and it showed.  That's not to say he performed poorly but he was certainly not polished and not as well prepared as he should have been.  That no doubt will have an impact on his status as front runner.  A somewhat weak debate alone isn't enough to topple him but it's indicative of a problematic situation and trend for Perry.  Someone is going to take advantage of it.

Chomsky on Buckley

Ever the classy liberal, Noam Chomsky, speaking on the passing of William F. Buckley, manages to attack and defame not only Buckley (repeatedly), but Reagan, Bush and the notoriously nebulous neo-conservatives.




If you can't say something nice, Mr. Chomsky, shut the hell up.

William F. Buckley vs. Noam Chomsky

February 27th is the anniversary of the death of conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr. He served conservatism well, in an insightful, intellectual way. Below are two excerpts of his debate with Noam Chomsky. Thanks William for your contributions.

As an aside, the tone of the debate is something lacking in today's discourse.

Part 1




Part 2