Two of our best contemporary writer/analysts.
**Steyn**
Interesting comment on the economics of US newspaper syndication, among other things.
Excerpt:
There are two malign trends of the last four decades, and in the war on terror they’ve merged. For the far left, the issue is always America. So, if America’s destabilizing some Marxist-Leninist socialist utopia the left takes the side of the Marxist-Leninist socialist utopia. Likewise, if America’s at odds with misogynist racist homophobic theocrats, the left takes the side of the sodomite-beheaders and the freelance clitorectomy performers. That’s entirely consistent once you realize it’s simply a choice of United States vs [Your Name Here].
More worrying is the complete evaporation of the moderate credible foreign policy Scoop Jackson Democrats. I would attribute this to the descent into legalism of the soft left. You see this in John Kerry’s view of terrorism as a matter for law enforcement and subpoenas – a strategy that’s completely failed when cases have come to trial in Germany, Britain, Holland and elsewhere. And, when it comes to Guantanamo, too many Democrats have a John Edwards-like tendency to talk about terrorists as if they’re one almighty class-action suit they can’t wait to sign up. A buffoon like Dick Durbin – making a legalistic “terrorists’ rights” argument with deranged Hitler comparisons – is the perfect embodiment of both the soft and hard left.
Kate McMillan at Small Dead Animals is mentioned very favorably, and I might add, deservedly.
**Krauthammer**
Long. Very worthwhile.
Excerpt:
In place of realism or liberal internationalism, the last four-and-a-half years have seen an un-ashamed assertion and deployment of American power, a resort to unilateralism when necessary, and a willingness to preempt threats before they emerge. Most importantly, the second Bush administration has explicitly declared the spread of freedom to be the central principle of American foreign policy. Bush’s second inaugural address last January was the most dramatic and expansive expression of this principle. A few weeks later, at the National Defense University, the President offered its most succinct formulation: “The defense of freedom requires the advance of freedom.”
I watch vanishingly little television, but for 20 minutes a day I try to catch the “panel” at the end of Brit Hume’s Special Report on Fox News. My anticipation builds in front of 6:40PM EDT that I will be able to see both Juan Williams and Charles Krauthammer in this segment.
Williams is particulary adept at illustrating the hard vacuum of Liberal/Statist thinking – by example after moonbat example. It doesn’t diminish my enjoyment that he’s a PBS shill.
Krauthammer is so vastly intellectually superior that his gentle, almost off-hand, skewering of Williams is a joy to behold. The best part is, Williams doesn’t even realize his foolishiness has been made yet more manifest.
William F. Buckley certainly comes to mind when you’re reading or watching Charles Krauthammer.