Monthly Archives: November 2002

The London Times, citing an

The London Times, citing an Arabic-language London newspaper, quotes an unidentified but “senior Iraqi official” to the effect that Iraq has used chemical weapons on several occasions, and will use them again in the current crisis if hard-pressed. This contradicts the heretofore official Iraqi position that it possesses no such weapons. My sense is that after more than twenty years of rule by the psychopathic Saddam Hussein, there are no »

No, Deacon, you’re not. I

No, Deacon, you’re not. I read Rawls’ Theory of Justice many years ago, but as I recall his theoretical construct, it was infinitely malleable. The conclusions he deduced from it depended entirely on his empirical assumptions. When he wrote his book, circa 1970, one could argue–as he did–that socialism or a liberal welfare state offered the best prospects for at least some members of any society. Thirty years of experience »

D.J. Tice’s St. Paul Pioneer

D.J. Tice’s St. Paul Pioneer Press column seriously examines one of the reigning shibboleths of local politics and the welfare state: “affordable housing.” His column is “It’s not a housing shortage–it’s an income shortage.” Extending the theme that Doug touces on here, I wish some public official would advise folks who cannot afford to support a family not to get married or have kids. I hear that in the old »

The Star Tribune’s latest report

The Star Tribune’s latest report on the murder of Tyesha Edwards identifies the three suspects and their gang affiliations: “Three charged with killing 11-year-old in Minneapolis.” »

Earlier today, Trunk discussed Let

Earlier today, Trunk discussed Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, a book that was all the rage during his college days. In 1971, when Rocket Man and I were the pride of Dartmouth’s philosophy department, a very different book was causing a stir. It was John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice. Rawls died on Sunday, and the eminent University of Chicago law professor Richard Epstein filed this appreciation with National »

Rocket Man, I wouldn’t know

Rocket Man, I wouldn’t know where to start in interpreting this AP report and what might be behind it. As far as who is “moderate,” that’s always in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. Which, of course, is why it’s better for news agencies not to dole out this “accolade.” In any event, I think the most objective analysis of Israeli politics right now would have to deem Sharon »

The Associated Press reports that

The Associated Press reports that Mahmoud Abbas, Arafat’s PLO deputy, has released a transcript of a meeting he had last month with Fatah members. Abbas is quoted as saying that the last two years of attacks on Israel have been a mistake: “What happened in these two years, as we see it now, is a complete destruction of everything we built.” The Associated Press, like Reuters, constantly imbues its purportedly »

Real Clear Politics has the

Real Clear Politics has the latest polls on the Terrell/Landrieu race. They are all over the map, and it is not clear that any of them are especially reliable. I continue to think that Terrell will win; her main risk was that voters would size her up as a lightweight, and that doesn’t seem to have happened. Also, as of November 17, campaign finance disclosures indicated that Terrell had twice »

The Claremont Institute has published

The Claremont Institute has published our column on the murder of Tyesha Edwards in Minneapolis this past Friday, “The Silence of the Liberals.” If you have had any interest in our previous posts on this subject, please take a look and let us know what you think. »

This piece from the excellent

This piece from the excellent Tony Blankley in the Washington Times is called “Nix Blix.” The article isn’t really about the Swedish diplomat per se. Rather, it’s about how, in this dangerous world, we need to “get about the business of killing our enemies.” In this regard, though, Blankley finds Blix to be a “lethally foolish little man.” According to Blankley, “the problem is not that [Blix] is not a »

Calev Ben-David in the Jerusalem

Calev Ben-David in the Jerusalem Post on how most Israeli’s have “learned to stop worrying and love Ariel Sharon.” As Ben-David notes, Sharon, once the biggest risk-taker in Israeli politics is now correctly perceived as the most reassuring figure on the political landscape. Sort of like that “ignorant cowboy” George W. Bush. »

The great Hugh Hewitt has

The great Hugh Hewitt has again done us the unbelievable kindness of linking to us in his new WorldNetDaily column: “My name is Hugh, and I’m a talk-show host…” Hugh’s readers and listeners (like us) are a fantastically loyal bunch; we can see the referrals rolling in to our site already this morning. We are deeply grateful to Hugh for his support. In real life, as on his show, he »

Deacon’s brilliant “The Cheating Heart

Deacon’s brilliant “The Cheating Heart of the Democratic Party” is still available under the “Recent Articles” posted on FrontPage. Deacon, I think they like your piece; it is listed second right after yesterday’s symposium that you wrote about. The column’s pride of place among the featured pieces has been taken by another brilliant piece, Professor Steven Plaut’s “When a ‘terrorist’ is a ‘militant’ and why.” »

Here’s the Star Tribune’s full

Here’s the Star Tribune’s full story on yesterday’s arrest of the suspects in the murder of 12-year-old Tyesha Edwards: “Several people arrested in killing of Tyesha Edwards.” The Minneapolis police seem to be familiar with the friends of the suspects: “The shooting of Tyesha involved the Rolling 30s Bloods and Family Mob gangs, whose members are mostly concentrated in south Minneapolis, authorities said.” »

This morning the Star Tribune

This morning the Star Tribune editorial page brings us DFL consultant Randy Schubring on Senator Wellstone. Schubring is inspired by the fact that on the day before he died Senator Wellstone recommended James Agee’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men to a reporter covering him: “A final assignment from Prof. Wellstone.” Talk about a time warp! We are now entering Mister Peabody’s famous “wayback machine” from the incomparable “Rocky and »

More on Minnesota’s Angry Humorist:

More on Minnesota’s Angry Humorist: The Star Tribune is only a couple weeks late joining the fun, but this morning they let Gary Larson, one of the unfunny one’s University of Minnesota classmates, observe that the unfunny one has gone off the deep end, seething with hatred of us Lake Wobegoners who made him rich: “Tantrum shows disain for Minnesotans.” Larson notes that the unfunny one will be 72 when »

FrontPage Magazine’s symposium on Europe

FrontPage Magazine’s symposium on Europe is well worth reading. The issue is whether there is a coming “clash of civilizations” between America and Europe. For what it’s worth my take on this is as follows: (1) there is no impending clash in the strong sense — intense mutual hatred, warfare or the constant threat of warfare, etc. but (2) a major rift is developing and it will get worse if »