United Liberty

In an episode of Uncommon Knowledge, Peter Robinson talks with Fox News CEO Roger Ailes.

Reason magazine editor Michael C. Moynihan and National Review editor Jonah Goldberg talk about governmental expansion of the American economy on Glenn Beck’s show.

John Derbyshire wrote a great article in a recent issue of the National Review in which he skewers the study by New York University on “The Palliative Function of Conservative Ideology.” The findings, which have been made much to do of (along with findings that conservatives give more in philanthropic donations than liberals), generally make the assumption that conservatives are living in a world of false happiness due to their alleged disconcern over social inequality.

Whatever the findings, I have a hard time swallowing this. In the modern political vernacular, I am a conservative (even if I have not voted for the Republican presidential candidate in the last two rounds, which is a story unto itself). I also range from being a very humorous to a very gloomy person.

A quiet scattering of Republicans have begun to express concern about the ability of the party “messiah”, Sarah Palin, to counter the one major sticking criticism - her lack of knowledge of policy issues or at least the ability to articulate them effectively when the spotlight is on. Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker has publicly said Palin should step aside. National Review editor Kathryn Jean Lopez last friday, while not going as far as Kathleen, did express sympathy to the idea and said in response to Palin, “something’s gotta change.”

The son of William F. Buckley supports Obama.

During an interview on the San Francisco NPR station KQED’s program “Forum,” author Christopher Buckley, the son of National Review founder William F. Buckley, said he is likely to vote for Obama. Pointing out that Obama is “left wing,” while he is a conservative, he stated that with the current economic turmoil President Bush is looking like “Herbert Hoover 2” and that McCain would be a continuation of Bush Administration policies.

After taking two months off, Mark Steyn, arguably the wittiest conservative writer around, returned to blogging over at National Review. It’s clear now why he was missed:

I would like to thank the US media for doing such a grand job this last week of lowering expectations by portraying Governor Palin - whoops, I mean Hick-Burg Mayor Palin - as a hillbilly know-nothing permapregnant ditz, half of whose 27 kids are the spawn of a stump-toothed uncle who hasn’t worked since he was an extra in Deliverance.

How’s that narrative holding up, geniuses? Almost as good as your “devoted husband John Edwards” routine?

Ouch.