Toqueville almost certainly would have looked down his nose at Trump—much as he did Andrew Jackson, who was president during the Frenchman’s 1831 visit to the US. But as Jean Yarbrough (Bowdoin professor of political philosophy and American political thought, … Continue reading →
It would seem an odd choice, wouldn’t it? A movie about one of the worst scandals in the life of liberal icon and the last Kennedy man of his generation standing, Ted Kennedy? Even now that Ted is gone, why … Continue reading →
[See ADDENDUM below.] At Powerline I saw this post by Steven Hayward about a new movie on Churchill called “Darkest Hour,” set shortly before D-Day. It stars Gary Oldman in the lead role, and from the trailer posted at Powerline, … Continue reading →
I noticed mention of Robert Kennedy’s assassin Sirhan Sirhan in the comments section yesterday, to wit: [Calling terrorists “evil losers”] is the single strongest blow against Evil Losing Islamic terrorists since Sirhan Sirhan murdered RFK. And commenter Bill wrote in … Continue reading →
I noticed this recent post by William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection entitled, “I warned you about the Anne Frank Center (US).” The subject is a group that appropriates Anne Frank’s name for political purposes: It’s unlikely that until Trump’s election … Continue reading →
You think the press is bad now? And you think relations between the press and presidents have never been worse on both sides? Don’t be too sure. The following quote is taken from an article by Ryan Holiday about a … Continue reading →
[See UPDATE below.] I had never seen this statue before. But I noticed it in a photo taken at the site of the terrorist attack yesterday: Churchill’s expression is apropos, I think. I doubt he’d be the least bit pleased … Continue reading →
Before I regretfully leave the inaugural fashions behind, let me note that a great many people wrote that Melania’s day outfit channeled Jackie Kennedy. I have a small quibble, very small. But it’s that it wasn’t just Jackie at the … Continue reading →
What a long strange trip it’s been. Eight years of speeches that I mostly haven’t listened to; I read them instead. And I certainly didn’t listen to Obama’s farewell speech tonight. I relied on others to do it for me. … Continue reading →
The death of Fidel Castro has further exposed the long slow drift of the West towards leaders who lean so far left they are unable to tell the truth about a man who was—as Trump put it—“a brutal dictator who … Continue reading →
I find George Bush’s continuing dedication to painting to be quite fascinating. I like his paintings and think he’s improved since he began. Now he seems to be concentrating on portraiture; this is what an art critic has to say: … Continue reading →
And gets into trouble for it. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I gave some fashion advice to the new First Lady, Michelle Obama. I thought she’d look good in a dress on the order of … Continue reading →