January 2002 Archives
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American Politics
The Bush Doctrine
(01-31-2002) President Bush's State of the Union address was unusual as such addresses go, in that it articulated a new American foreign policy. The war on terror has been expanded, William Kristol contends, to a broader war including tyrannical regimes attempting to acquire weapons of mass destruction. [More]
Conservatism Recast
(01-31-2002) Strangely enough, George Bush may be more conservative than stalwarts like Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. "Bushism," notes E.J. Dionne, focuses on individuals and communities, not government. But will libertarian-conservatives accept a government that, nevertheless, continues to grow?
The Fog Of Money
(01-29-2002) Media buzz over the Enron scandal has given the Shays-Meehan "campaign finance reform" bill new life. Unfortunately, as Allison Hayward writes, "the coverage of this issue has so confused the facts and present rules that it is nearly useless." Hayward attempts to straighten out the mess.
The Meaning Of Life (In The Lab)
(01-27-2002) Leon Kass, chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics, has come under considerable fire from some for making a Hawthorne novel required reading. The most recent issue of The Public Interest reproduces an earlier article by Kass (linked above). Political theorist Frances Fukuyama, also a member of the commission, weighs in, and editor Adam Wolfson writes on nonjudgmentalism and scientism.
Tribe v. Truth
(01-27-2002) In a recent Harvard Law Review article, Laurence Tribe joined the chorus of left-leaning law professors who continue to assail Bush v. Gore on legal and political grounds. Peter Berkowitz argues that the work of Tribe and colleagues "has done nothing so much as expose the failure of academic critics to fulfill their obligations as scholars."
Politics Of The Heartland
(01-27-2002) The Senate race in Iowa this year will figure prominently in determining control of that chamber. The GOP's strategy, writes George Will, will be to portray longtime incumbent Tom Harkin as aligned with his party's liberal wing instead of Iowa's interests. Will it work this time?
The Mullahs And The Postmodernists
(01-25-2002) The attacks of 11 September exposed a segment of the Left as anti-American as well as anti-terrorist, anti-everything really. Jonathan Rauch considers the postmodern Left's descent into nihilism, rediscovering the late Aaron Wildavsky's The Rise of Radical Egalitarianism in the process.
Libertarians, Conservatives, and Cloning
(01-24-2002) Biotechnology issues are driving a wedge between political libertarians and conservatives. All too often, argues Ramesh Ponnuru, libertarians misrepresent the conservative case and are guilty of treating technology as an end in itself. Ponnuru considers libertarians and cloning.
Missouri's Long Election Day
(01-23-2002) Conveniently forgotten after Florida's voting fiasco last year was the St. Louis Democratic machine's successful effort to manufacture votes, which helped elect a dead man to the U.S. Senate. Missouri's other Senator remembers, and is pushing for reform, as George Will notes.
The Future Of The Democratic Party
(01-22-2002) The Clinton Administration's legacy matters critically to the future of the Democratic Party, much more so than Bill Clinton himself (which would no doubt come as a shock to the former President). The party, writes Tod Lindberg, must decide whether it will go the centrist "New Democrat" route (and why), or simply return to its redistributionist roots.
Great White
(01-22-2002) When journalists cover politics, they sometimes betray a lack of knowledge that can be perceived as bias. Take reporter Kathy Kieley, for example. To her, the U.S. Senate and National Governor's Association are just prejudiced private clubs. John J. Miller critiques her argument.
Elitism Of The Mediocre
(01-21-2002) The recently scrapped statue that would have altered the races of the now-famous three firemen hoisting a flag over the World Trade Center rubble was more than a symbol of political correctness run amok. It reflected a prevailing anti-heroic mindset, writes Brendan Miniter, an "elitism of the mediocre."
Hawthorne's Bioethics?
(01-19-2002) Leon Kass has packed the President's Council on Bioethics with prominent critics of biotechnology. His first "assignment" for the members was a Hawthorne novel. Far from promoting a fair-minded inquiry, Nick Gillespie thinks the selection of the text, like the selection of the members, helps promote a desired outcome.
The Specter of McGovern
(01-18-2002) There are plenty of strategic reasons to consider removing Saddam Hussein from power. Larry Kaplan suggests that there are also plenty of political reasons for Democrats to embrace such an effort, and laments the reigning McGovernism of the party.
No Loose Lips
(01-18-2002) Press leaks have long been a given feature of the executive branch, with particularly destructive impact on the Reagan and first Bush administrations. Yet another underappreciated aspect of George Bush's leadership, writes Peggy Noonan, is that he has plugged the leaks.
Big Business Bad, Big Government Good?
(01-18-2002) The American anti-trust prosecution of Microsoft under the guise of "big is bad" has finally concluded. Noted historian Paul Johnson wonders why the size of the state has never been attacked so zealously as the size of American businesses.
Rayburn's Rules
(01-17-2002) Former Speaker and colorful Texan Sam Rayburn once said of special interests, "Anyone who can't drink their booze, eat their food, and take their money, and then vote against them the next day doesn't belong in politics." The Bush Administration seems to be following his advice.
The Firemen And The Memorial
(01-16-2002) The famous image of three firemen raising the flag amidst the World Trade Center rubble spoke to the best in Americans. And then Fire Department leadership inexplicably injected racial politics into the memorial. Rod Dreher talks to NY firemen about the issue. Some NY "intellectuals" should be paying attention.
Not A Victory For Big Government
(01-15-2002) Liberal politicians and pundits seem to think the return of "big government" is inevitable after September 11. Michael Barone points out why they are wrong.
From Liberal Compassion to Conservative Compassion
(01-14-2002) Conservative compassion isn't just a variation of the campaign slogan, argues Michael Novak, it's about affirming the individual. Liberal compassion, on the other hand, is about affirming the giver. The transition from liberal to conservative compassion, he contends, continues apace.
Dollar Delirium
(01-12-2002) George W. Bush's tax cut will reduce the nation's 10-year budget surplus from $5.6 to 1.79 trillion. What explains all the Democratic noise about red ink? Politics and short-term thinking, writes Sam MacDonald.
Public Redistribution and Private Charity
(01-11-2002) The legacy of the Great Society is that the national government has become America's largest de facto charity, with political fights merely over the extent of the redistribution. Daniel Henninger considers the plight of private charity and citizenship in such a regime.
The Real Criminals
(01-11-2002) Recessions always lead politicians on searches for a criminal bogeyman after the fact. George Gilder argues the best response for politicians (and officials like Alan Greenspan) is to stop tinkering with anti-capitalist laws and legislation and, yes, the money supply.
Term Limits Ten Years Later
(01-10-2002) Ten years after widespread implementation of term limits, the results have been, according to Christopher Parkes, less legislation, less budgetary pork, and more electoral competition. Nonetheless, proponents and opponents are still arguing over the mechanism.
What Makes a Jury Fair?
(01-09-2002) The politics of group identity predominates in America, even making its way into jury selection. Jeffrey Abramson investigates the practice, concluding that it "ultimately undermines all confidence in the jury system."
Giuliani's Lessons for Urban America
(01-07-2002) Ten years ago, New York City was crumbling: crime was rampant, one million people were on welfare, and anarchy prevailed. Rudy Giuliani changed all that, writes John Leo, by challenging liberal dogma and upholding the rule of law.
Jefferson's Wall
(01-06-2002) Jefferson is often cited as the parent of the phrase "wall of separation between church and state." Jefferson's atheism is not in doubt, but recent scholarship suggests his "wall" may be misunderstood.
The Dems' Shortened Primary Season
(01-06-2002) Proposed new rules will end the Dem primary season by February. Some say it will strengthen the party establishment. Some think it will establish a de facto national primary. The effect of such tinkering, writes David Shribman, is difficult to predict. [Related]
2001: A Bush Odyssey
(01-04-2002) George Bush has not become eloquent. He is not obsessed with his legacy. He does not overshadow the powerful men around him. But in 2001, writes Peggy Noonan, he emerged as a leader.
Daschle and the Founding Fathers
(01-02-2002) It is, of course, an American tradition for politicians to claim the Founding Fathers would support their positions. Tom Daschle argues his radical use of the filibuster to deny votes the Democratic Senate leadership would lose is just part of the Founding Fathers' plans. Where is the outrage? [Related] [Related]
The Next American Century
(01-02-2002) Despite his successes, Michael Kelly writes, Ronald Reagan could not entirely vanquish the declinist thesis of the liberal 1960s and 1970s. His successors squandered their opportunities. So where is America today?
One Nation, Slightly Divisible
(01-02-2002) The election of 2000 may always be remembered for the Red-Blue electoral map it produced. Blue America journalist David Brooks ventures into Red America post-September 11 to answer the question, Is America Still One Nation?
International
New Life For Sea-Based Defense?
(01-31-2002) Last week, the Navy successfully tested a sea-based rocket interceptor based on Aegis technology. Ambassador Henry Cooper, former SDI director, examines the many advantages of sea-based ballistic missile defense, not the least of which is that it can build upon existing Aegis infrastructure.
Lunch With Henry Kissinger
(01-30-2002) "[Clinton] really reflected the last flowering of the self-indulgent side of the Vietnam protests. And he had a curious lack of sense of responsibility to the nation - he was more geared to himself," says Henry Kissinger, who chats further with Robert Thomson on Bush, foreign policy, future projects, and more.
Cuban Heel
(01-29-2002) Prior to the Castro revolution, Cuba had one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Now it has one of the worst. Every aspect of the nation but the police apparatus is literally falling apart. Bruce Anderson considers whether things will improve after Castro passes.
The Lost City
(01-28-2002) Herat, former jewel of central Asia, hasn't really seen peace in five centuries or so, according to Muhammad Naser Kafash. In an article for the New Yorker Christopher de Bellaigue reports from "the lost city" shortly after the eviction of the Taliban by the Northern Alliance and United States.
What Went Wrong?
(01-26-2002) A major story of the twentieth-century is the relative and absolute decline of Islam, a once-great civilization. Growing numbers of Middle Easterners are asking what went wrong. The answer, notes Bernard Lewis, will determine whether Islam reclaims its place among great civilizations -- or whether the suicide bomber becomes its metaphor.
The Gospel According To Osama
(01-24-2002) To some Westerners, Osama Bin Laden comes across as a "loony ideologue." He shouldn't. As Reuel Marc Gerecht argues, there is a political philosophy behind Osama Bin Laden's careful rhetoric likely to resonate with its target audience long after the terrorist is gone.
Pakistan's Promises
(01-23-2002) Many have pointed out the similarities between Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf and Kemal Ataturk, the figure most responsible for modern, secular Turkey. While that comparison is not altogether wrong, Jim Hoagland suggests it might also be worth noting the similarities to Anwar Sadat.
The Case For Anticipatory Self-Defense
(01-19-2002) Under the U.N. charter, self-defense is the main legal basis for the use of force against another nation. But if international law is practice as well as promise, that legal norm has been superseded. Noted international law professor Michael Glennon defends the legality of pre-emptive self-defense.
Those Pesky Ayatollahs
(01-19-2002) Iran seems ripe for revolution. Popular discontent with the regime is at its highest level since the Khomeini revolution, despite its draconian police network. Iran's recent involvement in the Karine A affair provides an opportunity, writes George Melloan, for the U.S. to promote some rearranging.
Roots Of Islamic Radicalism
(01-19-2002) In the 1990s, radical Islam declared war on the West. Seemingly friendly nations, notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and the Palestinian authority, were happy to deflect the anger away from their corrupt, tyrannical regimes. America's challenge, writes Meyrav Wurmser, is to rebuild the region upon freedom rather than dictatorships. [Related]
The Great Game, Part Two?
(01-18-2002) The United States and Russia both have an interest in developing the energy resources of Central Eurasia, setting the stage for another Great Game. This time around, Richard Butler urges cooperation instead of confrontation.
Indian-Pakistani Brinkmanship
(01-17-2002) The surest sign that India and Pakistan are engaged in saber-rattling unlikely to lead to nuclear war is the open nature of the war preparations. But if Musharraf goes, writes strategist Edward Luttwak, all bets are off. [Related]
Hebron Surprise
(01-16-2002) Barbara Lerner travels to Hebron, and finds it quite different from the Hebron of the popular press. More importantly, she finds it to be a Western beachhead against "an imperialist brand of Islam...."
No Big Win For Big Oil
(01-16-2002) Conspiracy theorists contend the war in Afghanistan is driven by energy concerns. The problem with such thinking, writes Murray Hiebert, is that "big oil" just doesn't have much interest in Afghanistan at the moment.
Militant Islam in Central Eurasia
(01-13-2002) Juma Namangani, charismatic leader of the radical Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, was reportedly killed several months ago. True or not, militant Islam will remain a problem in Central Eurasia for the foreseeable future, writes Ahmed Rashid.
The Soviet Nightmare of an American Dream
(01-10-2002) In 1930, the father of 11-year old William Pirz moved his family from New York to Russia to help build the new communist paradise. Instead, most of his family were murdered by the state, the rest their spirits broken. Arkady Ostrovsky speaks to Pirz, one of many victims of a monstrous political philosophy.
Synergistic Warfare
(01-10-2002) Control of the skies and limited, highly-trained ground forces have achieved spectacular results in Afghanistan. Strategy Professor Edward Luttwak dubs the approach "synergistic warfare" and finds it to be a relatively cheap way to fight. A lesson he does not draw is that a free, technological society made it possible.
Turkey's Tensions
(01-08-2002) Turkey is a study in tensions, a democratic regime whose generals maintain the nation's secular status in occasionally draconian fashion. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a case in point. Formerly a radical Islamic politician, Erdogan now claims moderation -- and may become the next prime minister. Should the generals be worried?
Cohen's Absurd Aims of War
(01-08-2002) Liberal prognosticators haven't fared well regarding the war on terror. Afghanistan wasn't a quagmire. The Afghan winter didn't defeat the U.S. And American unilateralism seems to be working just fine. But Richard Cohen has found a new criticism: not enough Americans have died on the ground. How absurd!
A Test for Nuclear Deterrence
(01-06-2002) In their latest standoff, Pakistan and India have engaged in their usual saber-rattling and heated rhetoric. But war has not yet broken out, and at least one analyst thinks nuclear deterrence is working.
Successor Story
(01-04-2002) Exiled as part of the discredited monarchy over two decades ago, Reza Pahlavi continues to agitate for democracy in Iran. With popular discontent running high in Iran, is Pahlavi's moment near? [Related]
Expecting the Worst
(01-03-2002) Hobbes brought political realism into modernity after studying (and translating) the ancient master, Thucydides. Today, flavors of realism dominate statecraft if not academia. Judith Shulevitz wonders if there is room for a little idealism.
Looking the World in the Eye
(01-02-2002) Almost everyone has heard of Samuel Huntington's book The Clash of Civilizations, which received renewed attention after 11 September. Robert Kaplan reminds us that the anachronistic political scientist's 16 other books and numerous articles are also more relevant than ever.
Books and Arts
Translating Poetry
(01-31-2002) Scholars of political philosophy like Allan Bloom and Leo Strauss long contended that translated texts are no substitute for reading texts in their original language. Simply too much gets lost in translation, never mind the biases of the translator. But that's nothing compared to the problems posed by translating poetry, an "impossible but worthwhile" task. (via Jim Hart).
Ignorance And Bliss
(01-30-2002) "The assumption of the Enlightenment -- indeed of every Enlightenment since the time of Socrates," writes political theorist Mark Lilla, "has been that darkness and coldness are inseparable, and that the light generated by the sun will also warm us." But what about the place of darkness?
A Novel Approach To Work
(01-29-2002) Critics have attacked Leon Kass for assigning great works of literature to members of the bioethics commission. After all, how could old dusty books possibly inform our complex contemporary lives? However, Sara Steindorf notes Kass isn't the only example of various professionals turning to great literature for insight. [More]
Islam And The West
(01-27-2002) Prolific Middle Eastern scholar Bernard Lewis has just published What Went Wrong? Western Impact And Middle Eastern Response, written before the events of 11 September (excerpts linked above). Serge Shmemann and Robert Irwin assess Lewis's latest, as does Paul Kennedy, who has also written notably on civilizations in decline.
Remembering Tulsa's Race Riot
(01-27-2002) The 1921 Tulsa race riot represents one of the ugliest episodes in urban racial relations in America. Until recently, it was also one of the least publicized, conveniently buried in Tulsa's past. Paul Gilje considers two recent accounts of the affair.
Christianity And Democracy
(01-26-2002) The so-called culture war isn't about culture at all. It's about religion, and its role in public life, which Robert Kraynak's Christian Faith and Modern Democracy tackles in detail. Interestingly, Kraynak interprets the renewed tension between religion and politics as the influence of Kant.
Philip Pullman: Atheism's C.S. Lewis?
(01-25-2002) Great writers speak to each other indirectly, across time, openly debating enduring questions for those who know how to read them. Take Philip Pullman. He creates a parallel world opposed to that of C.S. Lewis, and tells a story worthy of both children and adults. As the (unidentified) reviewer notes, Pullman's Darwinian netherworld may very well do for atheism what Narnia did for Christianity.
The Bill Clinton Of Journalism?
(01-24-2002) Tina Brown was the consummate editor for the Clinton era, with her emphasis on "buzz" at the expense of substance. The cultural shift of 11 September, argues Andrew Sullivan, proved her undoing.
Robert Nozick, RIP
(01-23-2002) Philosopher Robert Nozick became an intellectual force behind the libertarian movement with the publication of his Anarchy, State, and Utopia, a rebuttal of the Rawlsian theory of justice. Among the Ivy League professoriat, he was a rare advocate of the minimal state. Robert Nozick is dead at age 63. (via ALD)
The Day Time Stopped
(01-22-2002) "Every major historical event since the beginning of photography has bequeathed an iconic image," notes Marianne Hirsch. Trauma and photography seem especially intertwined, because photography, more than any visual art, allows the immediate capture of a slice of time. So what will be the lasting icons of 11 September? And what should they be? (via Jim Hart)
Debunking The Green Faith
(01-22-2002) Former Greenpeace member Bjorn Lomborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist has only been out several months, and already the environmental establishment is scrambling. That's because Lomborg doesn't just critique their science. As Ronald Bailey notes, he exposes their ideology.
The Nasty Nineties
(01-22-2002) Herbert London is troubled by the 1990s "theme of fat wallets, hollow souls." His latest is not simply a rehashing of the excesses of the past decade, but an argument for the restoration for virtue. "Without it," he writes, "freedom becomes license and license invariably becomes authoritarian or totalitarian control." Roger Kimball reviews Decade Of Denial.
Religion And The American Founding
(01-20-2002) Those who write about the religiosity of the American Founding all too often lose track of the place of natural right. Michael Novak's latest effort, notes political theorist Will Morrissey in a far-reaching review, navigates the topic skillfully.
Michael Kelly's Atlantic
(01-18-2002) Under Michael Kelly's editorship, The Atlantic Monthly has become more relevant politically and socially than perhaps ever before. Not everyone is happy. Eric Scigliano longs for the mag "that dared to be dull, lofty, stuffy, unpredictable, and brilliant by turns." [via MediaNews]
The Politics of Music
(01-17-2002) Allan Bloom expended considerable energy on the topic of music in The Closing of the American Mind. Carson Holloway's new book meshes political philosophy and music. What is this Straussian obsession with the politics of music?
The Popular Adams
(01-17-2002) Political theorist Michael Zuckert finds David McCullough's John Adams fine for what it is: "a summer book, well suited for vacation—that is to say, beach reading." And if McCullough's popularity points some readers towards serious treatments of the Founding era, all the better.
John Marshall, Supreme Idealist
(01-17-2002) R. Kent Newmyer's "interpretive biography" focuses on the development of John Marshall's ideas. The problem is, Marshall left behind little writing other than his Supreme Court opinions. Dennis Hutchinson assesses John Marshall and the Heroic Age of the Supreme Court.
Ansel Adams at 100
(01-16-2002) Great artist or photographer of great things? Artist or technician? The questions dog all photographers, most of them lesser talents than Ansel Adams, whose work is considered here.
Building Blocks of Language
(01-15-2002) Noam Chomsky has long contended that grammars of all languages are defined by a set of universals, further refined by a finite set of options. In The Atoms of Language, former Chomsky student Mark Baker lays out the hierarchy that Chomsky intimated.
The Same Old Rawls
(01-15-2002) Ben Rogers writes that the ideal Rawlsian state would restrict "only those liberties that are liable to infringe on others' basic liberties." Has John Rawls turned libertarian in his Justice as Fairness? Hardly.
Enlightenment Sentiment
(01-14-2002) Nietzsche fixated on "ressentiment" in his effort to understand what he called ascetic morality. Similarly, Emma Rothschild contends any effort to understand Enlightenment thought must address sentiment. Sunil Khilnani reviews her Economic Sentiments: Adam Smith, Condorcet, and the Enlightenment.
Hot Air
(01-14-2002) Predictably, the environmental-scientific establishment has reacted poorly to Bjorn Lomborg's recent book, The Skeptical Environmentalist. Patrick J. Michaels suggests their attacks are motivated more by politics than science.
The Last Truly Profane English Word
(01-14-2002) Perhaps no word in the American English lexicon is as taboo as the "N" word -- so much so that Randall Kennedy has written a book on the subject. That's all well and good, argues John McWhorter, so long as Black Americans remain focused on moving ahead after the book's buzz dies. [Related]
The Art of Remembering
(01-13-2002) Constructing a proper memorial to the victims of 11 September won't be as easy as one might think. Paul Goldberg reflects on Oklahoma City's experience memorializing the victims of the nation's second largest act of terrorism, and considers the resulting artistry.
Illiberal Press
(01-13-2002) Overshadowed by Bernard Goldberg's colorful Bias, William McGowan's Coloring the News is an even more damning indictment of liberal journalistic orthodoxy. Or a truly "illiberal press," as reviewer Trevor Butterworth notes.
Bellesiles and Critics
(01-13-2002) Michael Bellesiles duped respected reviewers with his book Arming America with scholarship that has turned out to be shoddy at best. One of those reviewers, John Wilson, revisits the topic, and wonders how much our predispositions influence such evaluation.
The Mainstream Appeal of "Conservative" Books
(01-11-2002) Martin Arnold sets out to investigate why books "for political conservatives" are dominating the bestseller lists, and winds up discussing publishing houses. Writing elsewhere, Stanley Kurtz thinks it's a sign of a cultural shift.
Borrowed Words
(01-10-2002) Fred Barnes recently discovered that popular historian Stephen Ambrose had copied entire phrases from another historian without attribution. Ambrose apologized, but it turns out Ambrose has engaged in such "borrowing" repeatedly. Why do "popular" writers think it's okay to steal the work of others?
The Death of Patrick Buchanan's West
(01-07-2002) In his new The Death of the West, Patrick Buchanan argues that demographic trends in America spell the end of the West. Or is he arguing that the dominant culture spells the end of the West? Brian Doherty can't tell, and isn't sure either argument holds.
Becoming Zarathustra
(01-04-2002) Nietzsche's project -- to step outside existing norms and prejudices in order to create -- required a radical self-transformation. Rüdiger Safranski's new biography chronicles the effort.
Looking For God in The Lord of the Rings
(01-01-2002) Tolkien helped C.S. Lewis accept Christ. Tolkien, Lewis, and Charles Williams frequently discussed Christianity and writing. So what about that seemingly pagan work, Lord of the Rings?
Texana
The Ghost Of Townes Van Zandt
(01-30-2002) In recent years, but particularly after 11 September, there's been a revival of a style of music variously described as Americana, roots-rock, Texas music, etc. Underlying the revival, writes Anthony DeCurtis, is the late Townes Van Zandt, "who, at his best, rivals Hank Williams and Bob Dylan."
George Mitchell: The Anti-Ken Lay
(01-28-2002) While Ken Lay built Enron on a house of cards, Greek immigrant George Mitchell quietly built an oil and gas empire based on assets rather than trading, masterminded Houston's premiere suburban planned community, and lavished part of his personal fortune on rebuilding Galveston. And who needs River Oaks snobbery when there's the Kroger deli for breakfast? (via Ken Layne)
Enron Field
(01-28-2002) How ironic that the Enron ad on the back of the Houston Astros 2001 media guide proclaims "Sometimes, it's the things you don't see that have the biggest impact." That's the least of the Astros' problems, writes Darren Rovell, what with the Enron name and logo splashed literally all over Houston's downtown ballpark.
Restaurant Imports
(01-27-2002) The migration of American restaurants to Mexico City is well established. The migration of Mexico City chains to the United States hasn't gone as smoothly. David Kaplan and Jenali Moreno consider the case of Houston's El Buen Bife Grill.
Surfside Mayor Runs Up Against Open Beaches Act
(01-25-2002) Larry Davison, mayor of Gulf coast community Surfside, recently decided to build a house on the beach. The only catch is, the Texas Open Beaches Act doesn't permit such construction. On behalf of the General Land Office, the Texas Attorney General is suing Davison, who should have known better.
The Chron's Steep Learning Curve
(01-24-2002) Because of its proximity to the Enron story, the Houston Chronicle could be winning awards. Instead, the former Enron cheerleader has been reduced to running wire copy while other papers scoop it daily. Richard Connelly isn't surprised.
Old Cowboys Need Not Apply
(01-23-2002) The NFL recently announced its latest Hall of Fame finalists. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed three more, and Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys were shut out again. As Tim Cowlishaw writes, Landry must have been a genius indeed to play in 12 NFC title games with so little Hall-worthy talent.
Roy Rogers For (Dallas) Mayor
(01-21-2002) Missouri recently elected a dead man to be its U.S. Senator, but at least he was on the ballot before he died (Missouri's brain-dead voters are a topic for another time). Now, a Dallas billboard campaign is promoting Erma Bombeck, Lawrence Welk, and other late celebrities as mayoral candidates. Huh?
Local Enron Fallout
(01-21-2002) While the politicians and lawyers circle around Enron like jackals, local favorites try to recover from the company's broken promises and bounced checks (some dating to September, prior to December bankruptcy). The Dallas Morning News scoops the Houston Chronicle with surprisingly "local" coverage.
Chisholm Trail Revisionism
(01-21-2002) Cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail are a well established part of Lone State folklore. But now, revisionists from Oklahoma suggest the Chisholm Trail ended north of the Red River. To some Texans, them's fightin' words.
Red Chile Haze
(01-17-2002) Chuy's restuarants achieved momentary national fame last summer over Jenna Bush's misadventure. There's a real scandal brewing now at Chuy's, and it revolves around Red Chiles. Robb Walsh has the details.
Texas Flags: 1836-1945
(01-16-2002) Texans revere their state flag like the residents of no other state in the union. It's hardly surprising, then, that the Houston Museum of Fine Arts is sponsoring this exhibition and website.
The End of the Age of Garth?
(01-10-2002) A couple of decades ago, Willie Nelson and a handful of Texas artists helped save country music. Nashville is back to slick productions that throw in a little fiddle during mixing, and country music's popularity is plummeting. Will Pat Green, Houston Marchman, and other Texas artists save the genre? [More]
Slackers
(01-07-2002) Ten years ago, Richard Linklater's movie Slacker depicted twentysomething malaise in Austin, though it spoke to America more broadly. Now, Austin has transformed itself into a high-tech town of bustling twentysomethings. What has become of Linklater's slackers?
Houston, We Have a Problem
(01-01-2002) "There's comedy, there's high comedy ... and then there's the trophy presentation for the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl," writes Bill Simmons. There's more. Much more.
Under $5
(01-01-2002) Eric Asimov's "Under $25" NY Times column investigates inexpensive restaurants in NYC. Robb Walsh takes up the challenge in Houston, turning up some tasty Iranian cuisine. Just consider the styrofoam plates part of the charm.
Voice of Experience
(01-01-2002) Barry Switzer oversaw the dismantling of Jimmy Johnson's dynasty as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He also forced out the Voice of the Cowboys. The consummate professional, Brad Sham is back where he belongs (calling his 23rd Cowboys season) and Switzer is back where he belongs (on a couch somewhere).
Society
Comeback For Online Grocery Shopping?
(01-31-2002) 2001 will be known as the year of the dot-bomb, the year that spelled the end of ill-considered web ventures involving pet supplies, children's toys, and grocery shopping, to name but a prominent few. Actually, scratch that last. Grocery shopping on the web may be on life support, but it seems to be making a comeback in some places.
CNN's Cult Of Personality
(01-28-2002) Walter Isaacson's remaking of CNN from a serious, albeit left-of-center, news organization is taking shape, and it's driven by personalities. For those who really care about the daily moods of Paula Zahn or Aaron Brown, it's great. But will it be great for ratings? (via MediaNews)
Carly v. Walter
(01-28-2002) Carly Fiorina's battle with Walter Hewett over the future of HP is growing increasingly personal, which isn't surprising given Fiorina's likely ouster as CEO if she loses. But lurking beneath the personal attacks is a non-trivial disagreement over how HP should respond to the growing commoditization of computer hardware. (Related)
Teaching Robot Dogs New Tricks
(01-25-2002) Much of the appeal of Sony's Aibo robot dogs are their unique personalities. When a hacker named AiboPet wrote and posted free software to enhance their pets' personalities, Aibo owners responded enthusiastically. Sony was not as impressed, claiming infringement of the DCMA. Sometimes, writes David Labrador, it's not okay to teach robot dogs new tricks.
An Unlikely Coach
(01-24-2002) Tyrone Willingham hardly fits the part of head coach at the most legendary college football program in the country. He's short, slight, soft-spoken and articulate, and humble. He also happens to be black, notes Bob Herbert, who hopes Willingham is for real.
The Urge To Punish Cheats
(01-22-2002) New research in social science suggests that individuals will punish those who violate the rules of social order, even at some cost to themselves. The researchers offer a number of conclusions about "selfish" transgressors and "altruistic" punishment, but neglect the implications for spontaneous (i.e. non-governmental) social order.
Inflammation Therapy
(01-22-2002) Ironically, one of the body's natural defense mechanisms, inflammation, often harms the very tissues that are injured. Controlling inflammation is emerging as a potential treatment, then, for a wide range of ailments, writes Mary Duenwald.
Making Sense With Alan Keyes
(01-21-2002) "Somewhere along the way," says Alan Keyes, "we turned the freedom of opinion into the right to be self-righteous about opinions that make no sense." National Review Online visits with Keyes about his new talk show, which aims to promote common sense.
What Is The South?
(01-20-2002) One constant of "The South" is the legend of Robert E. Lee, who seems too simple, too noble, for postmodern sensibilities. Duty, Honor, Country (or Virginia, anyway)? Did Lee really believe all that, asks Paul Greenberg.
Viva Private Nature Reserves
(01-20-2002) Libertarians frequently advocate private ownership of land as an alternative to national parks and forests, but few can point to working examples. Until now. A group of private owners are conserving a spectacular nature area known as Museo Maderas del Carmen. In Mexico, of all places!
Northern Exposure
(01-19-2002) MTV and Showtime have announced plans to launch a gay subscription channel on cable in 2003. The question on many people's minds is, how will the channel treat sex. Michael Joseph Gross looks to Canada's PrideVision TV for answers.
Coase And The New Economy
(01-18-2002) Popular claims notwithstanding, there never was a new economics to go with the "New Economy." Those New Economy gurus who point to Ronald Coase are a case in point, writes Hal Varian.
Whither Carly?
(01-16-2002) Carly Fiorina arrived at Hewlett-Packard in 1999 as one of the brightest stars of the tech sector. A stellar first year only boosted her reputation. After a disappointing second year, she has staked her career on a merger opposed by the company's namesakes. Whither Carly?
Threatened By Success
(01-15-2002) The success of San Francisco's Edison Charter Academy drew the ire of the education establishment and pitted parents against an overreaching school board. Journalist and blogger Joanne Jacobs chronicles a fight that is likely to be repeated in other states with charter schools.
Skim Milk Versus The Scalpel
(01-14-2002) Lance Gould argues that lifestyle change, not the knife, is often the most effective treatment for heart disease. Strange talk for a cardiologist, especially one from the medical center that pioneered coronary bypass surgery. Is Gould's method the next cutting-edge approach, or just old-fashioned medicine?
The Economics of Enron's Collapse
(01-14-2002) Charges of criminal wrongdoing and political mischief and cries for justice will soon obfuscate the actual details of Enron's collapse. Victor Canto's examination of the economics of Enron's collapse is a refreshing alternative (hint: it's the arbitrage model, stupid).
Dave Thomas, RIP
(01-13-2002) Dave Thomas, late CEO of Wendy's, was perhaps the most recognizable corporate honcho in America because of his amusing commercials. Kathryn Jean Lopez notes that this self-made man was also an all-around good guy.
The Personal Video Revolution
(01-11-2002) Personal video recorders like TiVo and ReplayTV offer huge advantages over traditional VCRs. Manufacturers promised they would revolutionize home entertainment. Three years later, fewer than a million are in homes. Was the revolution overhyped?
The Aging Congregation
(01-06-2002) The median age of nuns in America is 69. By 2020, there may be fewer nuns than monks. Mary Gordon contemplates the slow death of a religious community.
The McDonaldization of Ye Olde Pub
(01-06-2002) English pubs are no longer serving traditional beers. They're cleaner than ever before. And they've gone trendy. What is a pub traditionalist to do?
Urban Explorers
(01-03-2002) As Carolyn Crowley writes, "they risk exposure to viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, industrial wastes, pesticides, herbicides, heavy-metal contaminants and gases...." EPA cleanup crews? No, just urban explorers.
Weblogs as Harbinger of New Reformation?
(01-03-2002) "The Weblog," writes James Bennett, "may be to the Anglosphere's traditional modes of power what the printing press was to the medieval church and its intellectual monopoly 500 years ago." Is a new Reformation in the offing?
Pixels at an Exhibition
(01-02-2002) In the 80s, word processors replaced typewriters and CDs replaced vinyl. In the 90s, PCs took over offices and e-mail replaced old-fashioned letters. And soon, writes Marshall Jon Fisher, digital cameras will take the place of film.
Other Headlines
Bush After The Attacks (V)
Nietzsche, The Closet Optimist
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Bush's Call To Arms
What Clinton Taught America's Teens
Elder: Deadbeat Dads Are Not The Victims
Bush After The Attacks (IV)
Noah: How To Curb The Plagiarism Epidemic
Friedman: Dead Man Walking
Thomas: Enron And Personal Responsibility
Freund: Thank You, President Bush
Leo: Quotas That Lefties Don't Love
Bush After The Attacks (III)
WSJ: Apply Waxman's Rules To Congress
Green Acres
Seckora: Disarming America (III)
Morris: Deconstructing Dodd
EU Boosts Arafat As "Partner To Negotiate With"
Bush After The Attacks (I)
Bush After The Attacks (II)
Goldberg: Medieval Economics
Pullman: "I Am Of The Devil's Party"
Climate Lies
Philip Terzian On Ambrose's Moral Failings
Arafat: I'm Like George Washington
Colin Powell At Odds With President
The Myth Of Enron
Peggy Noonan on Enron
Which Way For The GOP: Opportunity Or Redistribution?
Hillary Clinton's Big Adventure
Sowell: Abstract People
Glassman: AOL's Misguided Ways
Hanson: Roots Of American Self-Doubt
Is Russia Exploiting War On Terror?
Ken Lay, Texas Monthly's Bum Steer For 2002
The Next Enrons?
Investors Lured To Enron Deals By Inside Data
Ken Lay, A Man In Full?
Krauthammer: The Jackals Are Wrong
Larry Elder Interviews George Reisman on Journalists and Economics
Awkward Allies
Steyn: Funny Euros
Geneva Absurdity
Happy Birthday TLS
Enron Current On Naming Fees For Baseball Stadium
The Unreal Red Cross
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Liar
Democrats For What?
Unaccountable In Washington
Great Public Works News For Houstonians
Jesse Jackson To Lead Enron Rally In Houston
Lowry: Pro-Corporate Dems
Lynne McTaggart On Doris Kearns Goodwin
Joe McGinniss On Doris Kearns Goodwin
Kemp: Which Way Out Of The Deflationary Recession?
Hollywood Didn't Make Ambrose Commit Plagiarism
Podhoretz: The Blood Arafat Needs
Torturing The Truth
Inside CBS
Steyn: Enron And The Pious Professor
Goldberg: Arguments of Color
Scent Of A Man
Leo: Corrupt And Repressive Societies "Doctor" Reality
Who Wants Your Money?
Enforcing Civility
The Human Rights Fraud
Texas Sensibilities Offend The Washington Post
Podhoretz: Enron And Mad Liberal Syndrome
Rice Stats Professor Writes (Comedically) on Israel
Robert Jensen's Latest Cry For Attention
No Exaggeration: Houston Potholes Are Deadly
Bad (Bipartisan) Farm Policy
Glassman: Enron Investors Not Blameless
Israel Silences Voice Of Palestine
Newest UN Security Council Member Uses Post To Call Israel Terrorist
Bernard Goldberg Responds To His Critics
Dem Groups Focus On New Names For "Tax Increase"
Record $4.2 Million Bought Houston's Mayorship
Pacifica Activists Oppose KPFT's (Recent) Commercial Success
Goldberg: Factual Correctness
Beinart: Kashmir, Self-Determination, And Terror
Turley: Airbrushing History
Plainly Presidential
Freedom House Assailed By UN
Pipes: Arabs Still Want To Destroy Israel
Opinion Journalism At The Washington Post
The Modern Myth-Makers
Now Doris Kearns Goodwin Is "Borrowing"
Yet More Ambrose Plagiarism
That Word: Atlantic Interview with Randall Kennedy
Netanyahu: No Palestinian-Terrorist State
Enron's Four Central Issues (so far)
Random IRS Audits Are Back!
Enron: A Worthless Political AND Financial Investment
US Special Forces Train Filipinos
Europe's Tizzy of Self Doubt
The Taliban Smear
Enron, Round One: Bush
Growing Dissatisfaction With Saudi Arabia
Walter Williams Considers Diversity
James Earl Jones is NOT James Earl Ray
Our Friends The Turks
Dubya's Wisdom
Tough Talk from Lieberman on the Palestinian Authority
Steyn: If Enron Were Whitewater
Condemnation of Ambrose's Plagiarism from the Academy
Blum and Clegg on Race and Jury Selection
Dem Priorities on Enron Misplaced
Official: Redskins Hire Spurrier
Tom Daschle's "Hillary" Problem
The CDC's Politicized Report on Suburban Peril
Cooler Antarctica Foils Meltdown Forecasts
AndersenGate
Pipes and Schanzer on Middle Eastern Denial
Next For Bush: A New Political Era?
Unfortunately, the DC Press Corps is Back
Kissinger: Phase II and Iraq
George Will on Daschle's Dems
Helen Thomas's Grandmother Clause
Poll: Two Thirds Want Tax Cuts
Krauthammer on Arafat's Ship of Truth
Let Daschle Be Mondale
Coercion and the Fourth Amendment
Jeff Jacoby on Saudi (Anti-American) Fiction
Bruce Bartlett on the "Surplus" Debate
Recession Wipes 2002 "Surplus"
Reza Pahlavi on Freedom for Iran
DC Fiddles While Rome Burns
Russia Displeased over Lingering American Presence in Central Eurasia
Terry Bowden on Florida's Strange Football Hire
Jack Kemp on Daschle's War
Jonah Goldberg on Safire's Contrarianism
Mary Frances Berry's Grammar as Offensive as her Politics
Benjamin Netanyahu's Three Principles for American Victory
Jonah Goldberg: Why Michael Kinsley Says Stupid Things
Ralph Peters on the Saudi Threat
Miami Pounds Nebraska
What Defines a Journalist?
Rob Patterson reviews 2001 in Texas Music
Yemen at a Crossroads
From Liquidity Recession to Liquidity Recovery
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