Yaacov Yadgar (Bar-Ilan): Traditionism. Xavier Marquez (Victoria): An Epistemic Argument for Conservatism. Aaron Edlin (Berkeley): Conservatism and Switcher’s Curse. They want America to fail: The Tea Party far Right hates the GOP — and their own country. Aram Bakshian Jr. reviews The Conservative Rebellion by Richard Bishirjian. Tony Sobrado on the paradox of conservative political philosophy in contemporary America. Peter Berkowitz on the right way forward for conservatism: Despite the rise of Donald Trump and big Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage and Obamacare, Republicans can get out of their funk if they unite around what’s best in the conservative tradition. Jonah Goldberg on fusionism, 60 years later. Cheerfully insane National Review music video is Oh Sweet Jesus!
James Hankins (Harvard): George of Trebizond, Renaissance Libertarian? The most misunderstood libertarian: Alberto Mingardi reviews Herbert Spencer: Legacies, ed. Mark Francis and Michael Taylor. An interview with David D. Friedman on his vision of the state and how he feels it can be pushed back. The hostile response to Paul Mason’s Postcapitalism raises a question: Why are rightists economic optimists? Chris Dillow on the sad death of free market pessimism. Jorg Spieker reviews Engaging Enemies: Hayek and the Left by Simon Griffiths. Can you sustain an economic philosophy solely by begging the question? Matt Bruenig wonders.
When it comes to foreign policy, the GOP’s candidates for president in 2016 are either ignorant or insane. Doug Ahler and David Broockman on how Donald Trump is a textbook example of an ideological moderate. Britney Summit-Gil on radicals, revolutionaries, and the Trumpization of the great American middle. GOP contenders prep for loud, ugly holiday season: Trump will “ruin Christmas for America”, says a Rubio consultant. Andrew Prokop asked 6 pollsters if Trump could win the general election — here’s what they said. Nate Cohn on how Donald Trump could win, and why he probably won’t. Adele Stan on the Chaos Party: If you find comfort in the notion of a Republican Party in disarray, you may wish to reconsider.
