Here's a great interview: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/327870/obama-frankly-interview?pg=1
What I like about Kengor is that he never makes a claim unless he has documentation to back it up.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Books
I recently read a book about the Smothers Brothers that made me wonder if I, like Tom Smothers, am losing my sense of humor because of my politics. But then I read books and articles by authors I respect (as opposed to the author, David Bianculli), and I become too worried to care whether or not I have a sense of humor. Recent books that I have read, and recommend, include:
Mark Levin's Ameritopia, which delves into the two major philosophies in the world that have been at odds with each other since the world began: One that says humans are free to act for themselves, and will be rewarded according to their own choices; and the other that says we can achieve a utopian state of existence, if we will but put our trust in one "wise and benevolent" ruler. I can see why the second option sounds tempting--until you remember the adage that "absolute power corrupts," and that the second plan is akin to Satan's plan.
Paul Kengor's Dupes, which researches communism in the United States, particularly among celebrities. I respect my dad a lot, and he thinks that Senator McCarthy was a nut, but Dupes gives evidence that many of the so-called "brave" celebrities who refused to cooperate with government investigations were, in fact, big "C" Communists (members of the party), and little "c" communists (people who sympathise with Communists). One of those, in fact, was Pete Seeger, who admitted as much in a 2008 interview on The American Experience. One can argue about the effectiveness of the McCarthy hearings, and talk about why or why not black-listing was wrong (or is still wrong today), but so often, we skip those arguments, and go straight to name-calling. History is repeating itself as we condemn anti-Islamic sentiment, without asking pertinent questions, such as, "Is there a real and valid threat against the United States?" Events of this past week tell me that, yes, there is a real threat, whether or not you agree that the United States should have ever intervened in the Middle East to begin with.
Amity Shlaes' The Forgotten Man. This book gives an in-depth look by an economist of the policies of Herbert Hoover and FDR that prolonged the Great Depression. There are stunning paralels to today's political environment. It is because of this book that I have come to realize that no amount of "tinkering" is likely to reverse the course we are set on--the best possible course is to get out of the way, and let the free market work.
Andrew Breitbart's Righteous Indignation. First of all, this books shows how you can think seriously about issues, and still keep a sense of humor. Secondly, I just love Andrew Breitbart.
Anything by Mark Steyn. This man has been compared to Cyrano de Bergerac and Voltaire. The comparison is justified.
I have yet to read one of Thomas Sowell's books (there are so many to choose from), but I read his articles regularly, and the man is a genius, as well as a pretty decent photographer!
Mark Levin's Ameritopia, which delves into the two major philosophies in the world that have been at odds with each other since the world began: One that says humans are free to act for themselves, and will be rewarded according to their own choices; and the other that says we can achieve a utopian state of existence, if we will but put our trust in one "wise and benevolent" ruler. I can see why the second option sounds tempting--until you remember the adage that "absolute power corrupts," and that the second plan is akin to Satan's plan.
Paul Kengor's Dupes, which researches communism in the United States, particularly among celebrities. I respect my dad a lot, and he thinks that Senator McCarthy was a nut, but Dupes gives evidence that many of the so-called "brave" celebrities who refused to cooperate with government investigations were, in fact, big "C" Communists (members of the party), and little "c" communists (people who sympathise with Communists). One of those, in fact, was Pete Seeger, who admitted as much in a 2008 interview on The American Experience. One can argue about the effectiveness of the McCarthy hearings, and talk about why or why not black-listing was wrong (or is still wrong today), but so often, we skip those arguments, and go straight to name-calling. History is repeating itself as we condemn anti-Islamic sentiment, without asking pertinent questions, such as, "Is there a real and valid threat against the United States?" Events of this past week tell me that, yes, there is a real threat, whether or not you agree that the United States should have ever intervened in the Middle East to begin with.
Amity Shlaes' The Forgotten Man. This book gives an in-depth look by an economist of the policies of Herbert Hoover and FDR that prolonged the Great Depression. There are stunning paralels to today's political environment. It is because of this book that I have come to realize that no amount of "tinkering" is likely to reverse the course we are set on--the best possible course is to get out of the way, and let the free market work.
Andrew Breitbart's Righteous Indignation. First of all, this books shows how you can think seriously about issues, and still keep a sense of humor. Secondly, I just love Andrew Breitbart.
Anything by Mark Steyn. This man has been compared to Cyrano de Bergerac and Voltaire. The comparison is justified.
I have yet to read one of Thomas Sowell's books (there are so many to choose from), but I read his articles regularly, and the man is a genius, as well as a pretty decent photographer!
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