National Review’s John O’Sullivan

 

John O'SullivanJohn O’Sullivan joins Whiskey Politics and generously covers many issues, starting with O’Sullivan’s Law: “All organizations that are not actually right-wing will over time become left-wing.” We discuss Trump’s UN speech, North Korea (#Dotard!), William F. Buckley, today’s National Review and those opposing Trump, Europe in the age of Trump, why the conservative Australian model for immigration works, the worldwide attacks on free speech, and should Google and Facebook be nationalized?

John is a former editor at National Review and since been editor-at-large at National Review and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute. He is also president of the Danube Institute, a think tank devoted to promoting conservative and classical liberal ideas in Budapest, from where we had a fascinating discussion earlier this year with the Deputy Director and John’s better half, Melissa O’Sullivan. John also serves as director of 21st Century Initiatives in Washington DC. For decades John has been read, seen, and heard across the media and served as Editor or Editor-in-Chief at many publications including The Times (London), Daily Telegraph, New York Post editorial, and others.

John was a special advisor and speechwriter for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and authored the 1987 Conservative Party manifesto. He is the author of “The President, the Pope and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World” which suggested the simultaneous presence of Reagan, Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II was the cause of the Soviet collapse. Mr. O’Sullivan was recently appointed editor of the distinguished Australian journal Quadrant.

John can be followed on Twitter @JohnOSullivanNR. This episode of Whiskey Politics is brought to by SaveTheWest.com.

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In music: “Dirty Weekend,” Joel Goodman. Out music: “Built to Last,” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

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  1. Dave_L Inactive
    Dave_L
    @Dave-L

    @davesussman

    I’ve been trying to download this episode from iTunes all morning, and keep getting code 403.  Doesn’t seem like the direct link from the Ricochet post is working either.

    Love the podcast!

     

    • #1
  2. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Dave_L (View Comment):
    @davesussman

    I’ve been trying to download this episode from iTunes all morning, and keep getting code 403. Doesn’t seem like the direct link from the Ricochet post is working either.

    Love the podcast!

    Hi Dave,

    I have sent in a message to the powers that be at Ricochet to determine if there’s an issue with any download problems here. Unfortunately I’m not an Apple guy so I can’t tell you what the issue is with iTunes. I did check the iTunes link to their site and it looks like the episode is certainly up but others that may use Apple could determine if there’s an issue across the board or if it’s just you. Sorry I don’t have more direct answers for you at this time.

    Glad you enjoy the podcast Dave!

    • #2
  3. PJS Coolidge
    PJS
    @PJS

    Mine downloaded automatically, and I listened immediately.  Love John!  He even  bought me a drink at the Ricochet meet-up in NYC for the third debate.  @kelsurprise, Rob, John and I shared a table.

    • #3
  4. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Dave Sussman: O’Sullivan’s Law: “All organizations that are not actually right-wing will over time become left-wing.”

    I always heard that that was Conquest’s Law.  Was Conquest just an interloper?

    • #4
  5. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Dave Sussman: O’Sullivan’s Law: “All organizations that are not actually right-wing will over time become left-wing.”

    I always heard that that was Conquest’s Law. Was Conquest just an interloper?

    Here are Robert Conquest’s 3 laws for politics:

    • Everyone is conservative about what he knows best.
    • Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.
    • The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies

    Conquest is no longer with us, but two brilliant observers stating the same thing is certainly nothing new. History is filled with multiple discoveries.  ie: On the same day Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell independently filed patents for the discovery of the telephone.

    • #5
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