Mark Steyn: Howard should start caring about Bush

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 08/31/04 | Mark Steyn

[Pokey78]

[dfwgator]

an argument that would be more persuasive if so many of the trouble spots currently requiring America's attention weren't assisted on their path to chronic dysfunctionalism by the wise old birds of British imperialism (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan).

Bears repeating.

[Unam Sanctam]

Now turn to Britain. What does "conservative" mean? There's no religious Right or pro-life groups, not much social conservatism at all, and, if there was, the Tory leadership would recoil from it lest they offend shortlisted gay candidates with safe seats.

Oh for the days of Margaret Thatcher. Her law that government should not promote homosexual activity made perfect sense and was eminently reasonable and objective. The government should be neutral on that topic. A pity is was repealed.

[dfwgator]

And don't even get me started on the messes the French have left behind.

[Janan Ganesh]

Mark Steyn is the geezer. His columns should be syndicated on every publication in the English-speaking world.

[tet68]

Given that the Tories' identity is notable mainly by its absence, wouldn't it be easiest just to change the name to the Not The Conservative Party?


One hopes they won't get the chance to have to deal with
President I'm NOT George Bush.

Although it would probably serve them right.

[Dog Gone]

The Tories are a bunch of wankers. It's difficult to find many sane "conservative" parties in European politics anymore. I still have hope for the Christian Democrats in Germany, but just consider that Jacques Chirac represents what passes for the "conservative" party in France.

[independentmind]

So were various self-important Brits, on the grounds that the blundering Yanks just don't understand the natives the way we old colonial hands do - an argument that would be more persuasive if so many of the trouble spots currently requiring America's attention weren't assisted on their path to chronic dysfunctionalism by the wise old birds of British imperialism (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan).

Yes, I've noticed that.

[Samwise]

I don't care if he doesn't care if he doesn't know that he doesn't care if he won't see him.

[GretchenM]

"an unprincipled squish" LOL

[UnklGene]

But, despite the lively account in the Sun, I very much doubt Karl Rove told Michael Howard: "You can forget about meeting the President full stop." More likely he told him: "You can forget about meeting the President, period."

Pokey, I just finished Lynn Truss's "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" about punctuation. I wouldn't have got this play on words without the read. Thanks again!

[Malesherbes]

I've just read a positive review of Steyn's new book, "From Head to Toe." It points out that he is published in the Atlantic, Spectator, National Review, New York Sun, Irish Times, Washington Times, Western Standard (Canada), the New Criterion, and Wall Street Journal, etc. The guy is (1) amazing, (2) on our side, and (3) his hobby is dog sledding.

[Cuttnhorse]

Ping for mañana

[nothingnew]

I'm not saying he thinks Howard's an unprincipled squish who reads the polls and does a U-turn just so he can join the pointless oppositionism of the Blair-bashing stampede but, if you were Bush, would you want to risk it?

Thanks for the ping Pokey. A day without a FULL Steyn is a day without sardonic laughter.

FMCDH(BITS)

[68skylark]

Okay, since I've just finished a column that's partly about language differences "across the pond," can I ask what "geezer" means to you? In the U.S. it's an old, boring person who won't stop talking.

[68skylark]

And welcome to FR, by the way. We're all happy to welcome a new freeper, especially one from such a wonderful ally of the US.

[Rummyfan]

Great book if you get a chance to read it. Full of classic Steyn covering everything from politics to popular entertainment.

[DCPatriot]

Mark Steyn should be required reading in the Public School systems from the 5th grade onward.

[irv]

Given that the Tories' identity is notable mainly by its absence, wouldn't it be easiest just to change the name to the Not The Conservative Party?

Nope. That opens up the possibility of someone else having the Not as Conservative as the Not the Conservative Party party, and then where are you?