http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:30:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Thank you all very much.  It’s a pleasure to be here, and especially to receive the Keeper of the Flame Award in the company of so many good friends.   I’m told that among those you’ve recognized before me was my friend Don Rumsfeld.  I don’t mind that a bit.  It fits ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/10/21/we-cannot-protect-this-country-by-putting-politics-over-security-and-turning-the-guns-on-our-own-guys/ Bill Safire died today.  As self-styled wordsmiths, opinionators and pundits we are all the poorer for his passing. Safire could be a maddening soul--he was not a party man but rather the creature of his own principles, civil liberties first and foremost among them.  As such, he could not be ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/09/27/william-safire-1929-2009/ As part of part of Hillsdale College's DC-based Kirby Center for the Constitution and Citizenship "First Principles on First Fridays" lecture series, John Bolton spoke at the Heritage Foundation today.  9/11 is of course a somber anniversary for our country, and a fitting moment to reflect on how how American foreign policy is being ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/09/11/john-bolton-grades-the-obama-administrations-foreign-policy-record/ I had the pleasure of speaking recently with Paul Rahe, who is the author of Soft Despotism, Democracy’s Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocquville and the Modern Prospect (Yale University Press: 2009). Professor Rahe’s book is the first of three that I will be recommending for summer reading in preparation for the RedState get-together ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/06/16/paul-rahes-soft-despotism-democracys-drift/   Caption this. http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/04/06/monday-evening-open-thread/ I know it's not a "scientific" poll but the numbers at the poll regarding the recent award to Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) by outgoing Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter earlier this month are nothing short of gobsmacking.  Vote now to see for yourself.  And if that feels pretty good, ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/03/27/a-murtha-poll-we-can-all-believe-in/ Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in a Hudson Institute/RedState sponsored "New Media Forum" with John Walters, who served as President Bush's "drug czar" from 2001-09.  As we all know, the escalating drug war in Mexico threatens to violently destabilize the nation and so create a serious problem for ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/03/17/mexico-failure-or-opportunity/ Earlier this year, Redstate lost Mark Kilmer to cancer.  Our community is not alone--cancer touches almost all of us either directly or through one that we love.  And while treatments have certainly been progressing, the battle seems an uphill one. Today, however, there is some good news. "Big Pharm" poster child Pfizer ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/03/12/phase-iii-trial-for-stutent-halted/ When I read about the airstrike in Pakistan that killed 18 (including "five foreign militants," AKA "terrorists", and I suppose 13 "others"), I thought oh no, something is wrong.  With Obama as our President no "others" are supposed to be killed in these episodes.  How could this happen? Then I had ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/01/23/a-little-prediction-for-you/ Eight years ago, on inauguration day, I watched the festivities in my office as I tried out a new exercise bike. We had considered going to Washington for the ceremony as I had worked on the campaign, but my husband had a business trip to Chile and I didn’t want ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2009/01/19/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/ No, not David Vetter--Barack Obama.  Apparently the President Elect is chafing at the bonds of his new position that brings with it, among other things like the awesome responsibility of leading the free world, 24/7 security and press coverage.  The press, in particular, rankles as they note down mundane details like ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/12/28/the-boy-in-the-bubble/ I hate to go all Grinchy the day after Christmas, but can anyone tell me why is it okay for Barack Obama to spend Christmas during the worst economic downturn in decades in the course of which thousands of Americans face losing their homes in Hawaii in a 9 million dollar house ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/12/26/riddle-me-this-batmen-and-girls/ Actor Gary Sinise received the Presidential Citizens Medal last week.  It was a well-deserved honor as Mr. Sinise has done more than any other celebrity in recent memory to support our men and women in uniform.   In a quiet, persistent campaign that could do him significant professional harm, he doesn't ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/12/15/gary-sinise-american-hero/ There are some interesting regional elections going on in Venezuela today, which, following on the failed Constitutional referendum of last year, could spell serious trouble for Hugo Chavez. Daniel at Venezuela News and Views is live-blogging the day. The Carter Center could not be reached for comment. http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/11/23/keep-an-eye-on-caracas/ Some bold and stirring words from the President. The President-Elect could not be reached for comment. http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/11/22/remembering-the-rose-revolution/ There is an unsubstantiated rumor floating around Washington today that last night, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) called President-Elect Barack Obama and asked that Obama appoint Senator John Kerry (D-EU) Secretary of State so that Governor Deval Patrick could appoint former Congressman Joe Kennedy (D-Venezuela) to Kerry's seat. The assumption ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/11/19/state-department-rumor-hillary-to-get-the-k/ Let me be clear, I have no idea how you become Chair of the Republican National Committee. I don't know if you write a letter or let certain people behind the scenes know you could be tempted or send up smoke signals. But it seems logical to me ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/11/17/enter-rove-stage-right/ Way to go Phillies. Underdogs take heart. http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/10/29/you-gotta-believe/ As some of you may have heard, David Brooks referred to Sarah Palin as a "cancer" on conservatism at a party in honor of the redesigned *Atlantic *magazine. Victor Davis Hanson has penned a far more thoughtful response than Brooks' startlingly cliched and shallow comments deserve, but since VDH's ... http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/10/09/vdh-on-david-brooks/ I have to wonder if an "environmentally sustainable" new embassy on 4.5 acres of London real estate is the best use of taxpayer dollars at this moment, especially when we have a perfectly good embassy in hand? http://www.redstate.com/academicelephant/2008/10/09/what-is-the-department-of-state-thinking/