Year: 2007
Demagogue Alert!
The battle over at YTL that started with 9/11 comments by Tony Snow is over (at least, I’m done with it). If you want to try piecing things together you can check out the comments here & there, but I’m moving on. After all, we’ve got a country to save.
First Republican Primary Debate
Full video here. Best performances: Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, & Duncan Hunter. John McCain did well, though the almost-angry tone that soared talking about the war seemed a little odd in other places (vowing to follow Osama bin Laden “to the gates of Hell” was a great touch, but his smile afterward was just creepy). The rest of the candidates were fair…except for Tommy Thompson & Ron “Kos-wing-of-the-party” Paul. Just go home, you two. Please.
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Some points of interest:
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One of the things the three who impressed me most managed to do was work in issues that were otherwise on the back burner: for instance, Mitt worked a McCain-Feingold jab into a pro-life answer, Hunter’s now-famous “Yes, and let me use the rest of my time on Iran” answer to “Are you a compassionate conservative?,” and Tancredo getting in immigration repeatedly.
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When asked about churches who ex-communicate pro-choicers, Romney turned the tables on the Left by noting that, thanks to the separation of church & state, churches have the freedom to do what they want. Overall he was passionate, optimistic, & confident; and several have noticed (even Savage?!).
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Tancredo had some nice moments, such as calling Roe v. Wade’s hypothetical overturn “the greatest day in American history,” calling for the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, and noting that their host, the Reagan Library, was in honor of a man who was not a centrist.
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Giuliani may have know the difference between Sunni and Shia, but offered little to match the hype (especially not Michael Medved’s ridiculous description of him as “Reaganesque”). Certainly not his “eh, whatever” reaction to Roe’s future fall. Weak.
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Some points of interest:
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One of the things the three who impressed me most managed to do was work in issues that were otherwise on the back burner: for instance, Mitt worked a McCain-Feingold jab into a pro-life answer, Hunter’s now-famous “Yes, and let me use the rest of my time on Iran” answer to “Are you a compassionate conservative?,” and Tancredo getting in immigration repeatedly.
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When asked about churches who ex-communicate pro-choicers, Romney turned the tables on the Left by noting that, thanks to the separation of church & state, churches have the freedom to do what they want. Overall he was passionate, optimistic, & confident; and several have noticed (even Savage?!).
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Tancredo had some nice moments, such as calling Roe v. Wade’s hypothetical overturn “the greatest day in American history,” calling for the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, and noting that their host, the Reagan Library, was in honor of a man who was not a centrist.
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Giuliani may have know the difference between Sunni and Shia, but offered little to match the hype (especially not Michael Medved’s ridiculous description of him as “Reaganesque”). Certainly not his “eh, whatever” reaction to Roe’s future fall. Weak.
Sacre Bleu!
Impossible though it may seem, France’s next president, Nicolas Sarkozy, A.) isn’t a socialist and B.) doesn’t hate America. Maybe Europe has a will to survive after all…
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Although I’m delighted by this latest development, I must confess that I’m a little worried: If they keep this up, just think of all the France jokes we’ll have to retire!
The NRA Goes Off Track
Y’know, I’m a pro-gun guy who thinks the National Rifle Association has done a lot of good for this country. But somebody should tell them not to waste time like this:
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The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms.
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Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales, licenses or permits to terror suspects.
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In a letter this week to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, NRA executive director Chris Cox said the bill, offered last week by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., “would allow arbitrary denial of Second Amendment rights based on mere ‘suspicions’ of a terrorist threat.”
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I’ve only skimmed the bill, but I’ve gotta say that nothing in it bothered me. Could the power be misused in the wrong hands? Sure, but the same can be said of any government power. I’d file this one under “We’re at war; get over it.” (If anybody can show me what I’m not seeing, go for it.)
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The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms.
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Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales, licenses or permits to terror suspects.
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In a letter this week to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, NRA executive director Chris Cox said the bill, offered last week by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., “would allow arbitrary denial of Second Amendment rights based on mere ‘suspicions’ of a terrorist threat.”
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I’ve only skimmed the bill, but I’ve gotta say that nothing in it bothered me. Could the power be misused in the wrong hands? Sure, but the same can be said of any government power. I’d file this one under “We’re at war; get over it.” (If anybody can show me what I’m not seeing, go for it.)
Beyond the Pale
Wisconsin has a new contender for worst of the wretched: Michael McGee, Sr., who took the tragic loss of Charlie Sykes’s mother as an opportunity to hate (audio). Words can’t really describe what a foul cretin McGee is.
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(Hat tip: Ol’ Broad)
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(Hat tip: Ol’ Broad)
New Reagan Diaries
Vanity Fair has an interesting article about newly-revealed diaries by President Reagan during his time in the White House. A wide range of insights into a great man.
Another Piece of the Conservative Coalition
A voice that needs to be heard: Americans of Hispanic ancestry who oppose illegal immigration.
A Fun Little Diversion
Got a few minutes to kill, and want to get away from the dirty world of politics for a little bit? Look no further.
Tidbits from the Republican Primary
Mitt Romney has a great Townhall piece blasting McCain-Feingold (by the way, he’ll also be giving the commencement address at my soon-to-be school, Hillsdale College).
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Fred Thompson: “mulling summer announcement,” though he hasn’t made a final decision yet. I would humbly point out to my fellow conservatives two things: 1.) there’s a Republican primary debate just days away, and 2.) right now, my guy is an actual candidate.
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Whoops: “Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani released his latest slate of New Hampshire supporters last week. One problem: Not all of them back the former New York City mayor.”
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Fred Thompson: “mulling summer announcement,” though he hasn’t made a final decision yet. I would humbly point out to my fellow conservatives two things: 1.) there’s a Republican primary debate just days away, and 2.) right now, my guy is an actual candidate.
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Whoops: “Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani released his latest slate of New Hampshire supporters last week. One problem: Not all of them back the former New York City mayor.”
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Conservative Standards 