[Archangelsk]

Read carefully and infer. This is effeminate Will's back handed slap at Bush Elder, grudging acceptance of Clinton, and ambivalence over Bush Junior. (The inference is found in the dates he quoted).

[Straight Vermonter]

I saw Mr Barone on FNC talking about his book and it looks very interesting.

[Sabatier]

It's necessary to register to get to this story.

[Zeppo]

I have to disagree. Will's article is largely a summation of the high points of Barone's line of argument. The dates quoted are largely indicative of specific actions or occurrences (deregulation, Sputnik, etc.). In particular, this sentence from the last paragraph would also seem to be at odds with your characterization of Will's article:

Barone believes that promotion of competition and accountability -- hardness -- is the shared theme of President Bush's policies of educational standards, individual health accounts, Social Security investment accounts and lower tax rates to increase self-reliance in the marketplace.