Buckley, Nixon, and Mao – 1972

In February of 1972 three airplanes, two were charter flights, the third was Air Force One, made their way from the United States to China en route to a rendezvous with what historian Margaret McMillan has referred to as “the week that changed the world.” The two...

Richard Milhous Obama

Barack Obama sounds a bit like Richard Nixon. No, he’s not deliberately cribbing from our 37th president. It’s hard to picture him telling his writers: “I need to fire up the liberal Democratic base – so go get me some Nixon language!” But his rhetoric does include...

On Words, Pins, and Patriotism

Over the last couple of weeks, there seems to be a controversy in the presidential campaign over expressions of patriotism. Senator Obama is being criticized for not wearing a flag lapel, and not putting his hand over his heart when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance....

WFB RIP

I’m sure that, along with hundreds (more likely, thousands) of fortunate formerly young conservatives and writers, I am especially saddened by the news that Bill Buckley died this morning. In 1959, I wrote him a fan letter and was granted an interview for my high...

The Thrilla in Austin — some impressions in real time

Having seen it done on other blogs I thought I would try to do a real time running commentary on tonight’s Clinton-Obama debate from Austin. It seemed like a good idea but, like so many of my good ideas, it quickly ran afoul of reality. It turned out that keeping...