Republicans
June 11, 2013 — Scott Johnson
Rich Lowry is the editor of National Review and the author, most recently, of Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream–and How We Can Do It Again, published today. I asked Rich if he would write about the book for Power Line readers on the book’s publication date. Rich has graciously responded as follows: Scott, thanks so much for the invitation to tell your readers a
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June 9, 2013 — John Hinderaker
I was blissfully unaware of Lee Atwater’s most famous quote (or alleged quote) until I ran across it in connection with Martin Bashir’s demented claim that Republican criticisms of the IRS are “racist.” Bashir explained that everything Republicans do or say is racist, regardless of whether there is any apparent connection to race. As authority, Bashir cited Lee Atwater, the most successful Republican campaign manager of his time. In Bashir’s
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June 9, 2013 — Scott Johnson
Gabriel Schoenfeld was a senior editor of Commentary, where he published such brilliant essays as “Was Kissinger Right?” and “Could September 11 have been averted?” These essays are models of close reading, scrupulous analysis and exacting judgment. Since leaving Commentary Gabe has written books in the same mold. Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media and the Rule of Law, published in 2010, inspired by events in 2005, is nevertheless as
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June 6, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
Although the Obama administration scandals that have emerged since Election Day are hurting the Democrats a bit, Obamacare remains the real threat to the Dems in 2014. As Tevi Troy points out in Commentary, by most every measure, things are going badly on the Obamacare front: Health-insurance premiums are becoming more expensive, which is particularly striking when you consider that the act’s advocates promised it would decrease costs by $2,500
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June 5, 2013 — John Hinderaker
Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, announced today that she is entering the Republican primary in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. Only one problem: the seat is already held by a Republican, freshman Rodney Davis, whom Harold describes as “a good person.” So her quest might, on first impression, seem quixotic. But don’t sell Miss Harold, who is 33 and single, short. Not because she used her Miss America money to attend
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June 4, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
The death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg left Chris Christie in a difficult spot. Christie’s national party now would want him to appoint a Republican to serve out Lautenberg’s term, which doesn’t expire until the end of 2014. By doing so, Christie presumably would provide the GOP with a non-liberal vote in the Senate for a year-and-a-half. Through this course, however, Christie might alienate New Jersey voters at an inopportune time
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May 28, 2013 — Steven Hayward
When you research and assemble a long account of any subject, as I did with my two-volume Age of Reagan project, you make unexpected discoveries along the way. Two in particular stand out: first, that the CIA is mostly a bunch a blundering boobs (more on this some other time perhaps), and second, that Bob Dole is a total heel. That’s why I long ago came refer to him as
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May 12, 2013 — Steven Hayward
I dropped by my old haunts at AEI in Washington last week, and stuck my head in Norm Ornstein’s office with the intent of exchanging a few of our ritual jeers and heckles, but he was deep in phone conversation with his bookie or someone. Too bad, as he’s done it again with his National Journal article on “The Myth of Presidential Leadership.” Ornstein writes in a typically clever way
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April 30, 2013 — Steven Hayward
Liberals will never tire of calling conservatives racist, because it’s always a show-stopper, a way of cutting off further debate on any issue where a liberal is likely to lose. So don’t expect it to go away any time soon. (Though why Republicans aren’t better at “punching back twice as hard,” e.g., by pointing out the permanent racist legacy of the Democratic Party, noting the vote tally for the 1964
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April 26, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
Jennifer Rubin argues that Ronald Reagan’s mythical status “has become a burden for the modern GOP.” “The old guard,” she says, “has become convinced that Reagan’s solutions to the problems of his time were the essence of conservatism — not simply conservative ideas appropriate for that era.” As a result, Republicans have lost their ability to connect with average Americans at an emotional level. Rubin is sore that, for the
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April 16, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
On Sunday, I wrote about Matt Latimer’s misuse of Margaret Thatcher to further his view that contemporary Republicans are unwilling to entertain and appreciate thoughtful dissent. Today, I want to add a comment about one of the examples of alleged Republican intolerance cited by Latimer. Latimer writes: What a contrast [Thacher and Reagan were] to the so-called conservative GOP that followed them. A few years later, when Buckley questioned the
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April 14, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
Matt Latimer, a disillusioned former speechwriter for George W. Bush, claims in the Washington Post that Margaret Thatcher “was for turning after all.” But Latimer fails to point to any specific instance in which Thatcher turned away from a core principle. He comes the closest when he cites Thatcher’s famous statement that Mikhail Gorbachev is someone with whom the West “can do business.” But here Thatcher was simply recognizing, sooner
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April 11, 2013 — Scott Johnson
Returning from a business trip to Washington, D.C., tonight I was delighted to find Senator John Thune waiting to board the 7:15 p.m. flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul at Reagan National Gate 21. As I said hello, Senator Thune could not have been warmer. I asked him about his trip home. If I understand correctly, he said he was going home for the induction of his father, age 93, to the
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April 3, 2013 — Scott Johnson
As far as I am concerned. Mark Sanford’s win over Curtis Bostic in South Carolina’s First Congressional District GOP runoff represents an unanswered prayer. Sanford continues to combine his mastery of therapeutic psychobabble with an ill-fitting Christian overlay that should be a dead giveaway, as Sanford himself all but acknowledged last night. Sanford is, of course, on a journey of discovery — make that a very long journey, involving the
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April 2, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
The Republican establishment — or at least the large chunk of it that favors amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens — must be delighted that the two Republicans said to be the leading candidates for the 2016 presidential nomination both favor amensty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. I’m referring, of course, to Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. The establishment’s delight is understandable. But a
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April 2, 2013 — Scott Johnson
We have been remiss in failing to beseech the support of South Carolina’s First District voters for former Charles County councilor and decorated Marine Corps vet Curtis Bostic in today’s primary to nominate the Republican candidate to replace Tim Scott. According to the Washington Post, Sanford is the clear front-runner to defeat Bostic in what is expected to be a low-turnout affair (no pun intended). Sanford is of course the
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March 31, 2013 — Paul Mirengoff
As of late last week, an impasse between business and labor over work visas appeared to be all that stood in the way of a Senate bill on comprehensive immigration. And, as we noted, since this dispute pertained only to dollars and cents, not principles, resolution seemed likely. Now, it has occurred. “Labor and business reach deal on immigration issue” reads the headline of this article in the New York
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