Return of the Assignment Desk
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Dec 20, 2010 at 2:41pm
Is there a question or topic you'd like any of our contributors to write about? Here's your chance. Tell us who you'd like to see post about what.
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Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
How about some face offs. A Social Con vs a Libertarian on one issue. Neo Con vs Paleo Con. Tea Partier vs Republican. A Constitutional Strict Constructionist vs an Orginalist.
After the question is decided upon, you can have the participating contributors (no need to limit it to 2; you can have teams) write their posts and submit them to the editor, to be published at exactly the same time.
Nov '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I would like someone to write something about their thoughts on Theodore Roosevelt.
Edited on Dec 20, 2010 at 3:02pmDec '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I do: "justice."
First, what is "social justice"? Nobody ever defines it. I think it means something about the downtrodden getting some sort of retribution. But that's impossible, of course. Shouldn't the jerk who smokes outside the high school gym get as much as the nerd who spent hours doing his physics homework?
How is justice determined. Who decides? In my world, we won't achieve justice until I have 4 people carrying me around in a sedan chair.
Second, I've seen a lot of the more liberal Christians talk about social justice and justice in general. Isn't justice a terrible idea from a Christian worldview? Justice means an eternity of hellfire. What you want is mercy. Even from a secular standpoint, justice is an eye for an eye and I seem to recall MLK, Jr. being against that sort of thing.
Aug '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Ricochet has an office?!
May '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I think it would be great to see contributors adopt a potential Republican presidential nominee and outline a case for that person. No prevarication -- pick your man or woman and make your case. If that's too hard we could stipulate that the advocacy is an assignment and doesn't necessarily reflect personal conviction --- but let's get started already. Lord knows, they already have.
Oct '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I think the face-off idea is excellent - setting up the debate. I listened to a fascinating talk on the Cato Institute website about the question of extending American liberty to the world, or guaranteeing American liberty to America's citizens, and not having a moral obligation to bring liberty to others. The discussion hinged on a simple change in preposition, from an Empire of Liberty to an Empire for Liberty. This question has already generated considerable debate here in terms of American military obligation, but also extends to trade and economics. I personally am stumped.
Jul '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Xty: we've already been there: http://ricochet.com/main-feed/It-s-not-Isolationism-it-s-Reality
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I love the face-off idea!
Jul '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
OK; here's a question I asked both Ralph Reed and Karl Rove: does Republicans' emphasis on social issues lose more votes among independents than it attracts to the polls among social cons?
(Hint, their answers were: "Uh...uh...uh..."
May '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I'm planning to do some posting about this, but here's what's on my mind lately, for anyone to take on: We're seeing political progress by focusing on fiscal issues and declaring a detente on social issues. This allows us independents/libertarians to make common cause with conservatives.
But, as almost every recent discussion at Ricochet shows, a vast chasm is just under the surface based on religion and social issues such as gay rights.
Can this detente hold; can center-right folks focus on fiscal conservatism when it comes to politics and leave the rest for the private sphere, or must this fragile coalition break apart under the pressure of differences on social issues?
(Erm, Kenneth, didn't see your similar post until I'd posted!)
Edited on Dec 20, 2010 at 5:43pmDec '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
I'd dispense with the labeling of people.
Instead pick an issue, identify two different "right-of-center" positions in substantive terms, and find two contributors willing to argue/debate those positions.
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
These questions and topics are really excellent. Keep 'em coming. I'll send out an e-mail to the summoned contributors tomorrow morning.
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Nickolas
Instead pick an issue, identify two different "right-of-center" positions in substantive terms, and find two contributors willing to argue/debate those positions. · Dec 20 at 5:43pm
Would appreciate the help identifying these issues that have multiple valid positions from a right-of center point of view!
May '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Skype did the legal community a disservice by cutting out as Professor Epstein was discussing the substantive due process/individual liberty arguments against ObamaCare. While plenty has been written on the Commerce Clause, I would love to hear more from Professor Epstein on the due process argument (the basic concept is easy to grasp but bringing his brilliance to bear on the particulars would be quite enjoyable).
Dec '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Would appreciate the help identifying these issues that have multiple valid positions from a right-of center point of view! · Dec 20 at 5:47pm
How about the labeling that goes on within the right-of-center coalition? Is it really useful?
Two that constantly jump out at me are “socon” and “libertarian”. There are others, like "neocon".
“Socon” sometimes seems to be code for “(intolerant) religious conservative”. And “libertarian” is sometimes used to characterize positions that are not really libertarian just to distinguish them from "socon" or "neocon".
For example, on gay marriage I know right-of-center atheists who hold what is called the “socon” position and libertarians who do not support what is often put forth as a “libertarian” position.
Oct '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Technical point: the link Kenneth posted fails to open because there is an extra http introduced somehow (this has happened to me before too). The link appears like this:
http://http://ricochet.com/main-feed/It-s-not-Isolationism-it-s-Reality
Thought you should know.
Oct '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Kenneth
i did indeed miss that thread - 137 comments! I will peruse it at my leisure, but was immediately struck by this assertion in the original post:
"America is not, and never wished to be, an imperial power."
Never wished to be?
Off to catch up on my reading ...
Jul '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Xty: Technical point: the link Kenneth posted fails to open because there is an extra http introduced somehow (this has happened to me before too). The link appears like this:
http://http://ricochet.com/main-feed/It-s-not-Isolationism-it-s-Reality
Thought you should know. · Dec 20 at 6:43pm
Thanks, Xty.
Dec '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Xty: Technical point: the link Kenneth posted fails to open because there is an extra http introduced somehow (this has happened to me before too). The link appears like this:
http://http://ricochet.com/main-feed/It-s-not-Isolationism-it-s-Reality
Thought you should know. · Dec 20 at 6:43pm
When I am creating a link the pop up window automatically fills in an "http://" in the url field when it pops up. So if a url containing an "http://" prefix is appended to it, this is what will happen. Delete the pre-filled in "http://" prefix before pasting in a url that already includes an "http://" at the start.
Oct '10
Re: Return of the Assignment Desk
Nickolas
Xty: Technical point: the link Kenneth posted fails to open because there is an extra http introduced somehow (this has happened to me before too). The link appears like this:
http://http://ricochet.com/main-feed/It-s-not-Isolationism-it-s-Reality
Thought you should know. · Dec 20 at 6:43pm
When I am creating a link the pop up window automatically fills in an "http://" in the url field when it pops up. So if a url containing an "http://" prefix is appended to it, this is what will happen. Delete the pre-filled in "http://" prefix before pasting in a url that already includes an "http://" at the start. · Dec 20 at 7:24pm
Indeed - I have attempted to delete it a thousand ways and it outsmarts me every time. I have not tried to post a link in a while, and will give it a whirl. (Kenneth - I am on page 3 of the comments about isolationism - interesting.)