Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
Candid and caustic Massachusetts congressman discusses 30 years in Washington. Interesting throughout. On Republicans today: "Half of them are Michele Bachmann. The other half are afraid of losing a primary to Michele Bachmann"
"Just because he may have fallen off your radar since he left Fox News doesn’t mean that millions of faithful listeners don’t still harken to his every dog-whistle warning. They do, and their views—and their votes—carry weight"
"The words 'capitalism,' 'markets', and 'free enterprise' appear in none of the founding documents of America. The natural enemies of Ayn Rand are not only Lenin and Roosevelt but Jefferson, Rousseau, and Paine"
Legal case seeking overturn of Obamacare comes before the Supreme Court. It's a defining moment. The man leading the case for the plaintiffs is Paul Clement, former solicitor general in Bush administration, and a coming man
In Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum first won over a Democratic district, then alienated voters. It's beginning to look a familiar story. With each advance, his support is being partially undermined by his own controversial remarks
Mitt Romney sounds insincere, because he's offering a heavily edited version of himself. He minimises discussion of his religion because Mormonism doesn't charm many voters. He overdoes the family and nation stuff to compensate
"As conservatives and Tea Party folks, we are not just wings of the Republican Party," said Rick Santorum. "We are the Republican Party." And he may be right. So, with Romney still failing to close the deal, what happens now?
Caustic, unforgiving takedown of Ayn Rand, philosophical figurehead of the Tea Party, and her "mindless irrationality". Those who promote her work today don't escape either. (Featuring best Harold Bloom quote you'll read this week)
Mitt Romney: Where did it all go wrong? Rick Santorum: Are you ready for what's coming? Heilemann works through different scenarios for Republican party in ferment. File his conclusion under "be careful what you wish for"
With Ron Paul. "When he warns against threatening Iran, or calls the war on drugs 'a total failure,' or observes that 'rich white people don’t get the death penalty very often,' he seems like a man competing in a separate contest"
Mitt Romney is still struggling to convince Republicans that he's their man. But he's now bound himself so tightly to a conservative agenda that he'd have to govern pretty much as the ideological right would like
Acerbic commentary on Republican party as presidential contenders head for primary season. Maybe the 75% who decline to embrace Mitt Romney really won't accept him when the chips are down. What then?
"We know a loving God. And we know the darkness that He takes care of and wipes away"
