links for 2010-12-30

“What It Takes” is now widely considered the greatest modern presidential campaign book. But the judgments of Washington’s elite come late to Maryland’s remote Eastern Shore, and the book’s place in political writing has dawned only very late on its author. When it came out in the heat of the 1992 campaign, the tome dropped with a heavy thud. It was viewed as eccentric, affected, too long for its boring subject. Who, four years after he lost, wanted to read 100 pages on Dick Gephardt’s childhood?

“What It Takes” received mediocre reviews and sales fizzled. Cramer, after a low period, turned to writing about baseball. The best interpreter of American politicians never wrote another word about politics. He still owes Random House more than $200,000 of his advance.
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Looks like an interesting read

Colman McCarthy has a really exasperating op-ed in the Post today arguing that ROTC must remain banned from campuses, even after the DADT repeal. As I briefly mentioned in my column yesterday, the lifting of DADT is really inconvenient for peaceniks and other folks who hold anti-military views because it lends credibility to the military (among liberals and leftists).

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Read all of Jonah Goldberg's piece at National Review

Somehow Colman McCarthy included almost every leftist trope possible in his Washington Post op-ed opposing ROTC on campuses in the post–“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era. Jonah has covered the main points, but the essay should be taught in schools as an example of the methodology of much of contemporary liberal argumentation.

1. Self-referencing narcissism
2.Timing
3.Historical ignorance
4.Moral Equivalence
5.Special Pleading
6.Infantilism
7.Self-serving selfrighteousness
8.Self-congratulation

Victor Davis Hanson at his best.

So, read it all.

Thank you for your interest in the Washington Post's Young Pundit Essay Contest. As the leading newspaper in our nation's capital, we are always looking for budding journalistic talent to bring a fresh point of view our editorial pages, as well as our online site and sister publications like Newsweek and Slate. While competition for this prestigious prize is expected to be fierce, we will give each entry personal attention. Please provide background information about yourself, followed by your essay. This year's theme is "What the Constitution Means to Me." Please write or type legibly.
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Read it all = hilarious

What, if anything, can be done by the imperious recess appointments of such controversial nominees? Todd Gaziano of the Heritage Foundation emails me, "The real threat (which Robert C. Byrd famously did once) is for the entire GOP caucus" to refuse to consent to any further nominees unless Obama agrees to refrain from issuing more recess appointments. Gaziano says that Republicans "could refuse to confirm another judge, diplomat, etc. until they extract their promise." There is also the power of oversight (to grill appointees on how they intend to perform their jobs) and of the bully pulpit (to publicize the records of these nominees). But the lesson for the GOP here may be to refrain from offering too many open hands to an administration only too eager to slap them and demonstrate disdain for a co-equal branch of government.

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A warning to the GOP about making nice with the Far Left Obama