I need your help, fellow Ricochetarians. I would like to send your comments to this post to the editorial board of my local daily paper.
To counter the leftist drivel of columnists such as Eugene Robinson and others, my local paper, The Asbury Park Press (daily circulation 133,000+) runs the work of two people they believe cover conservatism - Kathleen Parker and Charles Krauthammer.
My question is: With those two writers, does The Asbury Park Press truly have a columnist to capture the aesthetic of today's libertarian driven conservative resurgence?
It's an easy answer "No" on Parker. While I usually loathe Wikipedia as a source, I'll break my rule and note these two paragraphs which by my research appear true:
Parker made news during the 2008 Presidential Election when she called on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin, to step down from the party ticket, saying that a series of media interviews showed that Palin was "clearly out of her league."[3][4][5] Parker received over 11,000 responses, mostly from conservatives criticizing her.[6] On Larry King Live she said of President Barack Obama: "I'm a big fan of Barack Obama as he came into office, and was not one of those Republicans who wanted him to do badly. I didn't want him to fail."[1] Parker does not believe that President Bill Clinton should have been impeached; at the same time, she believes Anita Hill's allegations against Clarence Thomas.[7] Recently she wrote that the best explanation for Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor Rally is that he is a former alcoholic and that in organizing the event he was displaying the "grandiosity of the addict."[8] In one of her columns, Parker called Tea Party protesters teabaggers.[9][10] She referred to evangelical Christians in another column as "gorillas," "low-brows," and "oogedy-boogedy."[11]
In April, Kathleen Parker won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary with a selection of political opinion columns.[12] On the MSNBC show Morning Joe she said that "it's only because I'm a conservative basher that I'm now recognized." [13][14]
Yes, Kathleen, I couldn't agree more. You are a conservative basher, and that should disqualify you from my local paper using you as a conservative; you're a conservative straw man.
Charles Krauthammer is a different problem. While I certainly find myself agreeing with his analysis on many occasions, I've always been disappointed by the way Charles recoils at the site of anything outside the beltway.
Now others, Rush Limbaugh most notably, are starting to talk about that Krauthammer flaw.
Since the current conservative resurgence is a decidedly "outside the beltway" revolution, should Charles really be a lone voice of conservatism for the only daily paper that covers an area with a population of 1.2 million people?
Let me know what you think, Ricochet. Does the Asbury Park Press have a proper conservative writer to trumpet who we are at this moment in history? As stated, I'm going to take your comments to the Asbury Park Press editorial staff to show them the true voices of today's right of center thinking.
And Thanks!
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May '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Charles Krauthammer can turn a phrase with the best of them and I cherish his wit on Special Report but he does project an inside the beltway elitism. Kathleen Parker annoys me not only because she bashes conservatives but she bashes her native state and mine, South Carolina. My favorite columnist, despite not being conservative on every issue, is Paul Greenburg. He frequently makes fun of aspects of his native state, Arkansas, but you can tell he deeply loves it. It seems to me however, that his interests are drifting away from current events and daily politics.
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Parker herself would deny she is a conservative. In a sense, all of the opprobrium she has received is unfair because of that. She is somewhat contrarian, but I'd describe it more as "not reactionary liberal" than "conservative."
I enjoy Krauthammer's writing a great deal but his passion is really foreign policy of the interventionist kind. Not only is that not a universal view among conservatives, it doesn't leave much space for the major financial and domestic issues that he's somewhat less interested in.
Mar '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
It depends, of course, on what you mean by a proper conservative. I like Dr K, but agree with Southern Pessimist that he is too elitist.
One test might be the columnist's reaction to Sarah Palin - that would rule out Parker - um, nobody immediately springs to mind - someone like Rush Limbaugh? Oh, well, of course Mark Steyn!
Edited on Jun 2, 2011 at 3:09pmMar '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Charles Krauthammer tempers conservatism with practicality. If you want a purist, there’s always Ron Paul.
Dec '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Following on Rob's post about anger and sarcasm increasing workplace productivity, may I recommend Mark Steyn? Otherwise, perhaps, P.J. O'Rourke.
Rob has the sarcasm chops, but as a squishy RINO, he's just not angry enough.
Aug '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
This is a good post and a great idea. Jonah Goldberg of the National Review is an outstanding columnist with a brilliant, insightful, and original mind. His sense of humor is unmatched anywhere.
Charles Krauthammer has a fine mind, and is a valuable voice for establishment conservatives. I love Sarah Palin and her originality, but I suspect CK is right, she is unschooled. That's not really a knock, in my book. She would be an excellent energy secretary.
Dec '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
As a North Carolinian, I too have read Parker for years. I like her writing but she is only conservative to the extent that she isn't consistent, as a liberal.
Krauthammer is fun and I likes me some acerbic, but as Mollie indicated, his conservative strengths lie in foreign policy. He is not domestically conservative, in the sense of advocating for limited government and maximal liberty. The basis of conservatism is that governments are instituted amongst men to garauntee the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of hapiness (OK, we all know that was originally property, but that slavery thing led to that awkward substitution). On the domestic scene, Krauthammer ranges far beyond the conservative limitations upon government when he ponders policy and candidates. He accepts and even advocates for just a bit more of government, as he would approve its pusuit of this or that intrusion upon liberty. That is the antithesis of conservatism.
Nov '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
I agree with you about Krauthammer, but he may be the most "conservative" voice you're going to get in your neck o' the woods.
As for Parker, I would refer to the expression- you're only as good as the company you keep- and would thus find her to be lacking in ethical standards as well. I was unimpressed with her support of the creepy Christopher Buckley and his literary attempt to disparage the reputations of Mr. and Mrs. WFB, Jr.
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Thank you for this. I now understand why Kathleen Parker was chosen by CNN to partner with Eliot Spitzer. She is, from their perspective, the acceptable face of conservatism. Have you noticed the sort of people that left-liberal outfits like NPR and The New York Times choose to represent us.
Krauthammer I like. They should pair him with George Will.
Jul '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Isn't this why there is an Internet (besides the porn, I mean). Charles is a quality example of a beltway conservative, almost reliable but still willing to chastise candidates for reasons that reduce to being too "common." I consider Krauthammer a must read, and agree with him almost all of the time, but there seem to be some days when he tumbles into some fuzzy thinking about the value of Ivy League educations
But CJRun nails it. He has the technocrat's vanity to tweak where only a wrecking ball will do.
As for Parker, never heard of her. George Will would be a solid choice, Mark Steyn or Michelle Malkin if there were a real interest in consciousness raising.
Jun '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
I agree with Sisyphus on Malkin, but I would recommend our own David Limbaugh.
Jun '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
BTW, George Will has really lost me lately. On a recent Sunday show he stated that he couldn't trust Sarah Palin with nuclear weopons. That is so over the top it makes me gag. I am reminded of the same meme the Dems used against Barry Goldwater.
Sep '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
I find this:
a cheap shot, a sort of faux populism. It bugs me when Rush goes there, and it bugs me when Ricocheters do too.
Krauthammer is never going to come across as a man of the people, but he does not turn up his nose at "anything outside the beltway." (For one thing, he's had a lot of good to say about the Tea Party, which ought to be the definition of outside-the-beltway.) I suspect a lot of this sentiment comes from his misgivings about Sarah Palin as a presidential candidate. In any case, I think reducing Krauthammer to a stereotype doesn't really answer his arguments, it's just a way of dismissing them.
Oct '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
River: This is a good post and a great idea. Jonah Goldberg of the National Review is an outstanding columnist with a brilliant, insightful, and original mind. His sense of humor is unmatched anywhere.
Charles Krauthammer has a fine mind, and is a valuable voice for establishment conservatives. I love Sarah Palin and her originality, but I suspect CK is right, she is unschooled. That's not really a knock, in my book. She would be an excellent energy secretary. · Jun 2 at 3:20pm
Sarah Palin is the Ted Kennedy of the Republican Party--everyone pretty much agrees with her on policy, but a lot of people think she is an embarrassment. This is not a good litmus test for conservatism. I rarely disagree with Rush Limbaugh, but I have to on Charles K. The converts to conservatism later in life such as Charles K. are frequently more hard core and definitely more intellectually based--such as former marxist David Horowitz, and the neoconservative Podhoretz.
Amen on Jonah Goldberg!
Jan '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Parker no. Krauthammer yes.
I consider Krauthammer a realist first, a conservative ideologue second. I'm not so sure that Krauthammer disagrees with "outside the Beltway," but I think he looks at how it will play in DC, and then renders his verdict with that in mind.
The Beltway is a corrupting place. Conservatives want to change the place, and we promote and applaud those movements that look to destroy the corruption. But we've all seen those movements come and go. Some changed things a little, some a little more than others. But the Beltway's corruption is far deeper than conservatives imagine, I suspect. And I think Krauthammer reflects the best conservatism can hope for in the shark tank.
Aug '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
To name someone not as obvious as Jonah & co, how about Jeff Jacoby?
You can find some of his stuff at Jewish World review here. I don't always agree with him, but I do admire him. (If I weren't married -- and he weren't married -- he'd make my baby-list, if you know what I mean.)
I'd say Jacoby writes more as a religiously-observant libertarian with an interest in Israel than as a conservative-conservative, if that makes sense. (But then, you did ask for libertarian driven.)
Jacoby's style of writing is affable and kindly (though this means fewer witty barbs, it also makes it more approachable to outsiders), and he provides ample references in his online columns in the form of hyperlinks, so he also comes across as transparent in his sources (another point that becomes all the more important when you're not just preaching to the choir).
Dec '10
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
I love Dr K in the same way I love Peggy Noonan, but let's be honest, they are both hopeless snobs and hopelessly out of sync with modern conservativism. Kathleen Parker, though? Puh-leeze. She is what Megan McCain will be if she grows up.
Jeff Jacoby is a good suggestion. Also Stephen Hayes of Weekly Standard/FNC is able to see both sides and still come up conservative. And then there is she whose name must not be mentioned - Ann Coulter. Always acerbic and well-researched (and entertaining).
Apr '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
For a more libertarian bent, I'd suggest Larry Elder or John Stossel. Stossel does a great job of explaining just why the free market works.
Mar '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Ken Sweeney
Sarah Palin is the Ted Kennedy of the Republican Party--everyone pretty much agrees with her on policy, but a lot of people think she is an embarrassment.
Apparently not the non-elite readership of Hot Air, where Sarah Palin is way out in the lead in their latest poll (Paul Ryan is not in it, as he isn't running - yet).
I'd agree with Jonah Goldberg, Stephen Hayes and Michelle Malkin. Not George Will, who is even more elite than Dr K. Oh, yes, and Ann Coulter - perfect!
Jan '11
Re: Does My Daily Paper, The Gannett Owned Asbury Park Press, Have a Proper Conservative Columnist?
Parker is useless as I don't think even she knows what she believes in. I nominate David Harsanyi as her replacement.