Infantile Conservatism

Infantile Conservatism

by Patrick J. Buchanan Regularly now, The Washington Post, as always concerned with fairness and balance, runs a blog called “Right Turn: Jennifer Rubin’s Take From a Conservative Perspective.” The blog tells us what the Post regards as conservatism. On Monday, Rubin declared that America’s “greatest national security threat is Iran.” Do conservatives really believe Continue reading...

Cut Commitments, Not Muscle

Cut Commitments, Not Muscle

By Patrick J. Buchanan In that year of happy memory, 1972, George McGovern, the Democratic nominee, declared he would chop defense by fully one-third. A friendly congressman was persuaded to ask Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to expatiate on what this might mean. The Pentagon replied the Sixth Fleet might have to be pulled out of the Med, leaving Israel without U.S. protection against Continue reading...

Clouds Over Obama’s Second Term

Clouds Over Obama’s Second Term

By Patrick J. Buchanan Rarely have second terms lived up to the hopes and expectations of presidents or their electorates. FDR's began with an attempt to pack the Supreme Court by adding new justices and a second Depression of 1937. He was rescued only by the war in Europe in 1939 and the GOP's nomination of "the barefoot boy from Wall Street," Wendell Willkie. What can be called Harry Continue reading...

Is Hagel out of the Mainstream?

Is Hagel out of the Mainstream?

By Patrick J. Buchanan "Chuck Hagel is out of the mainstream of thinking ... on most issues regarding foreign policy," says GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham. Neocon William Kristol concurs: Hagel is "out on the fringes." But where, exactly, is the mainstream on foreign policy in 2013? Since the Bush II years, "the three amigos" -- Sens. Graham, John McCain and Joe Lieberman -- have clamored for Continue reading...

Why the War Party Fears Hagel

Why the War Party Fears Hagel

By Patrick J. Buchanan In the fortnight since Chuck Hagel's name was floated for secretary of defense, we have witnessed Washington at its worst. Who is Chuck Hagel? Born in North Platte, Neb., he was a squad leader in Vietnam, twice wounded, who came home to work in Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign, was twice elected U.S. senator, and is chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-chair of the Continue reading...

Is Middle East Peace A Mirage

Is Middle East Peace A Mirage

By Patrick J. Buchanan With the truce in the week-long Gaza war, Barack Obama is being prompted by right and left to re-engage and renew U.S. efforts to solve the core question of Middle East peace. Before he gets reinvolved in peacemaking, our once-burned president should ask himself some hard questions. Is real peace between Palestinians and Israelis even possible? Is there any Continue reading...

Will Obama Paint Romney As Warmonger?

Will Obama Paint Romney As Warmonger?

By Patrick J. Buchanan Usually, not always, the peace party wins. Gen. Sherman's burning of Atlanta and March to the Sea ensured Abraham Lincoln's re-election in 1864. William McKinley, with his triumph over Spain and determination to pacify and hold the Philippines, easily held off William Jennings Bryan in 1900. Yet Woodrow Wilson won in 1916 on the slogan, "He Kept Us Out of War!" Continue reading...