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in National Review
by
John J. Miller, 5 May 2008
Mark Salter is not just Sen. John McCain's chief speechwriter, he's also served as McCain's co-author on his five autobiographic books including Faith of My Fathers, the story of his imprisonment in North Vietnam. For Miller, what seems most telling about the close relationship between the two men is that McCain had insisted that Salter share authorship, as well as 50/50 profits in book sales. As Miller posits, this also speaks well of McCain's personal integrity, which may prove to be his strongest suit in the upcoming presidential election.
Posted 2:27, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Elliot Feldman
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Fred Siegel, 5 May 2008
Barack Obama is "a new version of the Invisible man, a candidate whose color obscures his failings," Siegel muses. More representative of his entire essay, though, would be something like: Obama bad. Siegel starts out explaining the hypocrisy and back-scratching of Chicago politics, which Obama never did much to avoid. This is occasionally enlightening, but, by the midpoint, Siegel reveals the post-partisan senator's liberal voting record, and that while blasting Big Oil, Obama still takes money from its executives. By the conclusion, Siegel's thesis -- that Obama is a champion among hypocrites -- is tedious.
Posted 12:02, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Danny Kind
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Stephen Spruiell, 5 May 2008
Despite Barack Obama's ongoing claims of ignorance in light of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko scandals, Spruiell argues that the candidate has a tendency to "overlook" his colleagues' corruption until media coverage makes them politically radioactive. While Wrights' gaffes are easy to cover, he predicts a large shift toward the scandalous Rezko case, which connects Obama with inside estate deals, political maneuvering by a slum lord, and, possibly, campaign fraud. Spruiell adeptly exposes the shocking details of Obama's relationships with Rezko, Allison Davis, and Governor Rod Blagojevich -- and clearly demonstrates how Obama has lied to the public about them.
Posted 11:43, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Jonah Goldberg, 5 May 2008
Goldberg wittily embarks upon a philosophical discussion of the precepts underlying Barack Obama's constant refrain of "unity" and "hope," concluding that the emphasis on "unity" -- which has no real moral merit -- masks a partisan conformist agenda. Reflexive dissenters lack real patriotism, he passionately argues, criticizing Democrats' "patriotism paranoia" at length. He deconstructs progressives' mistaken conflation of dissent patriotism, and the Thomas Jefferson quote from which it is allegedly derived. A satisfying read for conservatives, Goldberg delves deep into the material with his usual flair and humorously mocks Obama's empty rhetoric.
Posted 11:41, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Jay Nordinger, 5 May 2008
In this thoughtful article, Nordinger introduces readers to Farid Ghadry and the Reform Party of Syria, formed shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks. With members in America, Europe, and Syria, the party envisages a secular Syria that upholds the rights of its many peoples -- "a normal, non-psychotic state," unlike the one led by Bashar al-Assad. Despite the appeal of such a platform to the West, factors such as weariness over the war in Iraq and political calculation mean the reaction to RPS is often one of tepid support or even skepticism.
Posted 11:37, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Danny Kind
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Michael Novak, 5 May 2008
Novak recalls his own experience during the 1960s, when the cosseted youth culture, fed up with oppression and greed of what they considered the bourgeoisie, pursued peace with an undercurrent of "anger and menace." The protester subculture helped movements such as feminism go forward, but Novak notes that this time period was also the beginning of "flirtation" with revolts ranging from organized violence to discussion of domestic terror. "The 'morning after' of the 1960s began while night was still falling," Novak contends, using this thought-provoking, nostalgic piece to remind readers that these '60s attitudes still influence the left today.
Posted 11:35, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura Sorensen
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Anthony Daniels, 5 May 2008
Max Mosley, President of Formula One, may indeed go to his grave "known as the Nazi-sympathizing sadomasochist" due to the unscrupulous actions of a British newspaper, Daniels argues in this philosophical rant. He unconvincingly dismisses the video as complementary to Britain's other sexual fetishes, and unproven as "anti-semitic," regardless of the suspicious subject material. More importantly, the paper's breach of confidence will discourage more prurient candidates from acquiring office and risking media entrapment, he succinctly argues, pointing to the paper's actions as "more dangerous" than Mosley's.
Posted 11:34, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Byron York, 5 May 2008
From a conservative point of view, York ruminates about recent comments by political pundits calling presidential hopeful Barack Obama "the Tiger Woods of politics." He disagrees, stating that Obama's political achievements come up far short when compared to Tiger Woods' achievements on the golf course. York does, however, admit that the multi-racial background of both men bears similarities, as does their willingness to go beyond race. Some readers may feel this is this a matter of comparing apples to oranges -- after all, regardless of political perspective, Obama winning the White House would be a major achievement indeed.
Posted 11:25, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Elliot Feldman
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Fred Schwarz, 5 May 2008
Schwarz effectively pens a biting critique of environmentalists' wishful legislation designed to virtually eliminate both greenhouse gas emissions and smog. Most legislators point to the catalytic converter breakthrough of the 1970s -- a double invention of both new materials and production methods -- as proof that the hesitant auto industry is capable of great scientific strides in the face of regulatory pressure. Schwarz attempts to expose this favored fable of "greendom" by detailing the unlikely scientific ingenuity that sparked the catalytic converter. Given that the inventors were later inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Schwarz remains eminently skeptical that such strides can be easily replicated.
Posted 11:18, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in National Review
by
Kevin D. Williamson, 5 May 2008
Texans took a drastic approach to solve a serious problem. The state saw a severe shortage of doctors due to the high cost of malpractice insurance; it passed Proposition 12, which ruled that lawsuits against a doctor must be approved by another doctor. With medical malpractice suits effectively down to zero, doctors flooded into the state -- something residents are now benefiting from. Written from a conservative viewpoint, Williamson celebrates the law, but readers will wonder if they're getting the full story.
Posted 10:59, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Joy Schwabach
and edited by Brijit.