Mark Steyn: Let's hear it for laconic leadership

Macleans.ca ^ | October 25, 2007 | Mark Steyn

[dixiechick2000]

Just let Fred...be Fred.

He’s said he wouldn’t run a typical campaign.

Frankly, I’m relieved to see he’s his own man,
and doesn’t cow-tow to the media.

[dixiechick2000]

"When Clinton declared that the era of Big Government was over, he was right in a sense: henceforth, in the post-Cold War world, Big Government would be replaced by lots and lots and lots of Small Government, micro-policies on this, micro-policies on that, that cumulatively add up to be even more costly than Big Government. But along the way, the core elements of government — national defence, strategic clarity — get lost."

Thanks for the ping, and for the memories!

The last thing we need is more "government."

[b9]

Thanks for the ping and the post. What a great piece.

President Clinton was the Lounge-Act-in-Chief.

[PGalt]

“Why, then, the new Government takes a bold step; it unites all its forces in order to maintain itself; it smothers opinion, has recourse to arbitrary measures, ridicules its former maxims, declares that it is impossible to conduct the administration except at the risk of being unpopular; in short, it proclaims itself governmental. And it is here that other candidates for popularity are waiting for it. They exhibit the same illusion, pass by the same way, obtain the same success, and are soon swallowed up in the same gulf.”

http://bastiat.org/en/government.html

I should be glad enough, you may be sure, if you had really discovered a beneficent and inexhaustible being, calling itself the Government, which has bread for all mouths, work for all hands, capital for all enterprises, credit for all projects, oil for all wounds, balm for all sufferings, advice for all perplexities, solutions for all doubts, truths for all intellects, diversions for all who want them, milk for infancy, and wine for old age - which can provide for all our wants, satisfy all our curiosity, correct all our errors, repair all our faults, and exempt us henceforth from the necessity for foresight, prudence, judgment, sagacity, experience, order, economy, temperance, and activity.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. Thanks for posting. Another OUTSTANDING article by Mark Steyn.

[Aeronaut]

OK, I have a new tagline.

[grimalkin]

bump

[NonValueAdded]

Another magnificent article by Stein.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Why isn’t Steyn yet a citizen? We need more like him. I have been doing my part to get new citizens to vote Republican.

[lesser_satan]

BTTT

[MeanWestTexan]

Little trivia on the word “laconic” that you will probably like (and may already know).

Laconia — area of the Spartan of “300” fame -— was under attack by Alexander the Great.

Alexander sent in a letter saying “If I enter Sparta with my army, I will kill everyone there and level the city.”

To which the Spartans replied: “If”

The “lazy” response was called “Laconic.”

[CDHart]

I think Bastiat should be required reading in every school, starting with kindergarten, maybe.

Carolyn

[goldstategop]

I'd prefer someone who takes lot of naps and wields a big veto pen as President. As opposed to the hyper-active Clinton who got used to running America as a virtual extension of himself. The last thing we want is a President whose chief concern is his belief in his own indispensability. In other words, we would like to see a President who puts the country's welfare first.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[PGalt]

I was familiar with his name but not his work, until very recently (thanks to a link provided by FReeper raygun on the state board). Compelling reading.

I think Bastiat should be required reading in every school, starting with kindergarten, maybe.

Exactly.

[savedbygrace]

Fred needs to increase his support but isn’t even putting in the work needed just to maintain his standing in the polls.

Is there a chart someplace so we can know the exact amount of work required to gain another million votes?

Sure would be helpful if you could post that, you being an expert on the amount needed and all.