All politics and no mazy sportswriting makes Conor a dull guy: Years ago, when I was living in Barcelona and trying very hard to immerse myself into being a fully authentic FC Barcelona fan, I couldn’t help but idolize Puyol. He had none of Ronaldinho’s sultry gloss, nor was he one of the blaugrana’s vaunted … Continue reading
Michael Kazin is always brilliant, but he’s even more amazing when he’s echoing stuff I’ve recently written: But the meaning of liberalism gradually changed. The quarter-century of growth and low unemployment that followed the Second World War understandably muted appeals for class justice on the left. Liberals focused on gaining rights for minority groups and … Continue reading
A while back I wrote this post about George Will’s willful self-confusion (a notch more intentional than self-delusion, I think) on questions of markets. In his column, he argued that progressives “crave social stasis…[while] conservatives…welcome the perpetual churning of society by dynamism.” I complained that his unalloyed appreciation for market dynamism left no room for … Continue reading
Jonah Goldberg (and many other conservatives) have cried foul at the Washington Post‘s decision to run and prominently feature their story on Mitt Romney’s high school bullying problem. In Goldberg’s eyes, it proves “that the Post and other mainstream media outlets are determined to do what they can to reelect Obama.” Goldberg (et al) were especially … Continue reading
New League post on the non-radicalism of American conservatism: Isn’t it? Well, yes—like most worn truisms, it is true. However, as is also usually the case, it’s not a very profitable analytical starting point. American conservatism suffers less fromradicalism than from substantive exhaustion. The Right is more flummoxed than fringe. It’s more lazy than lunatic.
First: Warren G’s “Regulate” (with Nate Dogg) was the first rap track I heard all the way through—and liked. The other day I was listening to a Ron Paul supporter bash “federal regulators,” and then it hit me: “Regulate” would be perfect for a conservative Super PAC attack ad. Throw it in the background, add … Continue reading
I’ve posted an essay defending inequality (?!?) over at the League. Don’t get mad yet—I’m talking about athletic inequality. Here’s a sample: All of the resulting fluidity often prompts complaints about the transfer market’s lack of fairness. These come from fans of big and small clubs alike, for we are all democrats now. We need parity … Continue reading
You’ve probably already heard that Mitt Romney has recently been reported to be—and he doesn’t much deny—a thoroughgoing jackass and bully in high school. First of all, it doesn’t much matter for the fall election. This might sway a few independents, but it’s not going to singlehandedly overcome the importance of the economic recovery (or … Continue reading
A few readers emailed to ask my thoughts on Obama’s announcement that he now supports same-sex marriage. Briefly, then, here’s what I think: 1) The LONG version: I think that it’s certainly a calculated political move—and it’s certainly “cynical.” It may, as many are predicting, hurt him with various blue-collar independent voters who were suspicious of … Continue reading
If it caught on, this one—unlike Grover’s—might actually help solve some of our political problems. Call it “The Basic Civility Pledge.” Feel free to share!
