The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

The Most Important Sentence in Gabriel Sherman’s Sarah Palin Hit Piece

“While careful not to say anything that might make her rear her head, some in the GOP Establishment whisper that they hope Palin stays in Wasilla. She may be useful in raising funds and drawing crowds, but Palin’s unseriousness and carnival antics damage the brand. ‘There’s a big piece of the Republican Party that doesn’t […]

For Dessert? ‘Epistemic Closure’!

The entrée is crow: Here’s a free hint, kid: don’t talk crap about someone being a shill for ideologically-driven publications and think tanks when that sums up your entire resume. Your bosses might find you ungrateful . . . or they may giggle over the fact you’re a malleable idiot utterly lacking in self-awareness. What […]

Paul Ryan Is Great, Even If His Ideas Need Work

by Smitty Rep. Paul Ryan is that absolutely rare political animal who manages to be at once wonkish and likeable. In a system geared by election frequency toward myopia, he has had the unmitigated gall to offer something like a tangible plan to work on the most pressing fiscal problems besetting the country. Note that […]

‘An Intellectual Grievance Culture’

Jonah Goldberg hits the nail on the head in describing the phenomenon we might as well call Friedersdorfism: When I first came to Washington, I hung around in very similar circles of young eager-beavers. I may not have been as smart as many of them, but I was just as determined to get my articles […]

National Security Advisor Archie Bunker

No need to get all outrageously outraged here, but Gen. James Jones ought to have thought twice before telling Jew jokes at a foreign-policy seminar: Professor William Jacobson observes: I have no problem with the joke. I think we have to be able to laugh at ourselves, including laughing at stereotypes; in humor we often […]

Steven Hawking: Scaredy Cat

The world-famous astrophysicist warns that, while intelligent life probably exists elsewhere in the universe, we’d do best to avoid contacting them. But who will warn the aliens to avoid Arizona? Even a professor of Space Law won’t be able to help those aliens if Sheriff Joe Arpaio locks ’em up.

If Al Sharpton Is Against It . . .

. . . the new Arizona immigration law must be right: The Rev. Al Sharpton says he’s ready to travel to Arizona and march in the streets to protest the state’s new immigration law. Sharpton joined Lillian Rodriguez Lopez from the Hispanic Federation in New York City on Sunday to speak out against the law. […]

Rule 5 Sunday

by Smitty I normally like to post Rule 5 Sunday a bit earlier, but I was out of town Friday/Saturday, and it takes a while to cruise the cache. Particularly when there has been so much wonderful posting of late. We pick up with American Power and a Karen Alloy clip. Not to mention an […]

« go back — keep looking »