“PUNITIVE LIBERALISM”

It’s a striking phrase, coined in the Weekly Standard, to describe what Reagan vanquished. Or did he? Roger Kimball ponders its relevance to today.

EMAIL OF THE DAY: “Someone’s probably already passed this along to you, but in the back of this year’s ‘Official Magazine of San Francisco Pride’ program, there’s a short interview with Al Franken.
He’s asked ‘Best Kisser: Andrew Sullivan or Matt Drudge?’ to which he replies ‘Andrew, I would think.’ Just thought you’d like to know.” For the record, despite fantasies of becoming a real princess at long last, I have not and almost certainly never will kiss Al Franken.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I am not new to my conservative principles. No one has ever tried to accuse me of being a liberal Republican or a moderate Republican; I have only been a conservative Republican. And, as a conservative Republican, I have never compromised my basic principles – limited government, the free market, steadfast adherence to civil liberties including the right to keep and bear arms and the rights of the states – in the search for higher office. I appear before you today in that spirit of consistency with conservative ideals… I, along with many other conservative opinion leaders and lawmakers, strongly oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment for three main reasons. First, by moving what has traditionally been a state prerogative – local marriage laws — to the federal government, it is in direct violation of the principles of federalism. Second, in treating the Constitution as an appropriate place to impose publicly contested social policies, it would cheapen the sacrosanct nature of that document, opening the door to future meddling by liberals and conservatives. Third, it is unnecessary so long as DOMA is in force.” – former congressman Bob Barr, testifying on the Hill yesterday against the Federal Marriage Amendment.