I was surprised that the discussion of racism with Harry Stein didn't include mention of the recent Derbyshire firing from National Review. I understand that some defend his article "The Talk" as well-grounded in statistics, but it seems to me to be a good example of a conservative writing something that came out as racist, no matter what he thought he was putting in.

I don't buy that a Romney choice is only the expedient "he can win" one. That seems to mean that the commenter is standing aloof from the American masses and determining that they feel such-and-such a thing. 

I'll speak for myself: Santorum's positions on social issues are to the right of my own. I'm more on the Libertarian side of things (if not all the way to Ron Paul-ville). Does this make me a squish? Then it's a title I'd wear proudly.

I'd note that the others many wish had been in the race (Christie, Daniels) are probably both to the left of the remaining field.

"Progressivism like Communism, like Nazism, and like Fascism is a kind of substitute for Christianity..." - Prof. Rahe

This is not the sort of rhetoric that is going to move any but those already committed. Even if the statement is true about all four isms, the pesky association of genocide with a few of them sort of overshadows the point.

Or was that the point?

James can do four series' worth of Trek. So which series does he ignore?

(Betting it's Enterprise.)

Hitchens was as good and interesting as ever. I confess though that it was Speaker Gingrich who most impressed me -- not necessarily compared to Hitchens, but when I think of his current media caricature. This was a thoughtful Newt, and not even one who needed to talk and talk and talk (perhaps it was simply impossible to attempt that when Christopher Hitchens is the other guest). 

One of the speakers described Google as selling out in China. While I have many problems with Google's policies, I believe that she got it backwards. Google had been allowing the Chinese government to censor their search results, but recently they stopped playing that game and were shut out by the mainland Chinese censors entirely as a result.

Instead I think the companies that deserve to be shamed here are the telecom equipment makers that have helped build the Great Firewall of China, such as (according to this report) Cisco. I believe that companies like this will in the long run be condemned by history as was IBM for its behavior during World War II.

I liked Rob's comment that Republicans should not abandon their principles to choose someone "likely to win." (Wait, isn't Rob the squish around here?) In 2004, George W was fairly weak (even if the general approval of the Iraq War had a bit of falling to do yet), and the Democrats decided to go with a candidate who could be branded a War Hero, one who had Been There, Done That, and Come Back With The Hat (for Taranto fans). His authenticity could be papered over (they thought). Kerry had many flaws as a candidate, but perhaps the worst of them was that he was picked for (percieved) qualities that the Democrats themselves did not really believe in -- they simply believed that the Great Unwashed voters would like them. Small wonder that his support was thin. So will we now get: "Mitt Romney, reporting for duty"?

I don't like Rep. Moran, and I think he was obnoxious here.

But... but... he was being criticized for not staying in session. He's in the minority. Could he have forced the House to stay in session?

And then, his questioner.. Does he deserve courtesy that he does not give?

I'm fine with raucous town-hall meetings. How many on this board root for Chris Christie putting down those school teachers who dare to cross him! But don't go all fainting-spell on us when a Congressman who doesn't agree with you is very very clear on that point. (And really, I don't think the questioner looked like he was ready to break into tears at his treatment.)

Yes, vote against the guy. Campaign against the guy. On the issues.

But this whole attitude of "let's keep it civil" which alternates between sarcasm (after the Giffords shooting denunciations) and real complaints such as this one just gets dizzying.

'..what we're watching is the end of the American moment. Go ahead. Make some jokes about that." (17:10)

A roller coaster between hilarious and sobering. Excellent.

And I vote "dolphin".

Privatize! Like UPS and FedEx. They have no problems delivering on Saturday. Some places. If you pay extra. 

Yes, the Post Office should be open on Saturday. It's likely to continue to be open on Saturday. But I don't see much reason for home deliveries on Saturday, and even less for business.

There may be many things wrong with the management of the Postal Service. They may have onerous work rules and patronage jobs galore. But this does not prove that.

This is about reducing a service that should be able to go away entirely. We just need to get you luddites to buy a fax machine. The kind with that nice curly paper.

It's not really a general-politics blog, being specialized in law, but I often enjoy TalkLeft. This is not to say I often agree, but they don't seem to go in much for demonization and some of the cases they describe appeal to the libertarian streak in me.

A great clip!

While we're wishing for better access to Firing Line episodes, let me add my wish for downloadable video. Either iTunes or Amazon video would be great (and even greater if they priced episodes a bit more in line with the rest of the content).

I confess that I wonder what the motivation might be for setting a $10 price on a single-episode DVD. Clearly the Hoover folks don't see it as their mission to make sure the Word of Buckley is spread far and wide at that price. But it doesn't really seem likely to maximize revenues from the content either.

After briefly considering the possibility of a liberal mole who wishes to suppress the dangerous ideas, I've just settled on... is "incompetence" too harsh a word? (Would I be banned from the Huffington Post for such a vicious attack?)

I'm very concerned. I buy into the scenarios Megan McArdle paints on her Atlantic blog and recently on bloggingheads. So much so that I think that things such as some industry subsidies (I'm looking at you, ethanol) should go away, even if that means an effective tax increase there. I agree with Mickey (again) that Social Security needs to be touched and that a politically viable way to do that is to means-test (what, Senator Reid? You're advocating payouts to Bill Gates?). 

That whole "political viability" thing seems a sticking point, though. Trying to push things through too quickly (even if your base is wholly on board) can set things back badly. There's nothing magic about This Year, but there is something important about the deficit as an issue. But if you are incorrect and a government shutdown ends up painting deficit hawks as economic flat-earthers, we'll be far worse off.

Just to join in the chorus above, thank you all for these podcasts. My only problem now is that they're cutting into my audible book time. I seem to need a longer commute to make time, but... Mother Gaia will cry.

On the budget negotiations, David comes off (to me) as a bit.. out there. He says that he doesn't want the perfect to be the enemy of the good, but dismisses a $30B cut as compromise. He seems to relish the idea of Tea Partiers starting their own 3rd party if the Republicans don't shut down the government in order to get their full cuts in place. 

Mickey repeatedly points out how the last government shutdown worked out (hint: President Dole is in a different universe), but David won't hear it. The only way we can impress people with the seriousness of this crisis is to do Everything Possible.

If you listen closely, you may hear echoes of those on the left, condemning anything short of Single Payer Healthcare. No compromises!

There is a middle, and I thank Mickey for (generally) standing there.