The ribbons are as real as the eyes. A BT bow to Luskin’s The Conspiracy to Keep You Poor and Stupid.
Filed under: Uncategorized , Hillary Clinton
22 September 2007 • 6:27 pm 0
STANFORD UNIVERSITY’S ILLIBERAL LIBERALS
Stefan Beck of The New Criterion’s weblog, ArmaVirumque, points out a brouhaha at the once–great Stanford University over the naming of former defense secretary Don Rumsfeld as visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. Never mind that Secretary Rumsfeld will not be teaching any classes, the mere fact that he might be in the vicinity of Stanford is enough to send faculty member Philip Zimbardo and his illiberal ilk aquiver. An online petition has amassed more than 1300 signatures protesting the naming of Rumsfeld and the Faculty Senate–the university’s most “deliberative” body–has moved into action. Some are now calling for a reexamination of the university’s relationship with the Hoover Institution, founded nearly 90 years ago after a $50,000 endowment by future US president and Stanford alumnus Herbert Hoover.
An email has been circulated denouncing Hoover’s recent action. A key statement reads that Rumsfeld lacks: “intellectual and academic experience and/or some measure of achievement.” The “measure of achievement” phrase is laughable, for Rumsfeld has been a US congressman; White House chief of staff; defense secretary for two different presidents (serving longer in that position than any predecessor save one); graduate of Princeton and attended Georgetown Law School. Sounds like Rumsfeld is a classic underachiever.
The San Jose Mercury News condemns the desire by some hyperactive Stanford professors to prevent Rumsfeld from joining Hoover. ArmaVirumque’s Beck bemoans the fact that Stanford professors seek to ban, not debate. His post is here.
The Stanford University Daily piece is here.
The Mercury News editorial is here.
Consider subscribing to The New Criterion, the finest cultural/intellectual journal currently published.
Filed under: Uncategorized , ArmaVirumque, Hoover Institution, New Criterion, Rumsfeld, Stanford University
21 September 2007 • 2:47 pm 0
NICOLAS SARKOZY: SHORT STUFF?
Reuters has a story quoting the spokesman of the French Socialist Party, Benoit Hamon, that newly elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy has “small man syndrome.” (The actual quote, from Le Monde says that Sarkozy suffers from “le syndrome du petit homme.”)
We in the US often refer to a short man with power–or people–issues as having a Napoleon complex. But the French would never put down someone as being Napoleonic since the Little Emporer there is a figure of Brobdingnagian esteem.
President Sarkozy is reported to be a tick under 5 feet 5 inches.
• 8:47 pm 0
9–11: FOR THE FORGOTTEN ONES
Blonde Sagacity has a potent reminder for those who only live for the moment.
Filed under: 9-11
11 September 2007 • 9:35 pm 0
BIOGRAPHIES OF MUSICIANS
Terry Teachout informs us that he is writing a biography of cornetist/trumpeter nonpareil Louis Armstrong. BT will be purchasing a copy as soon as it hits bookstores.
Musicians’ autobiographies are largely disappointing, in my opinion. For example, Miles Davis’ book was largely a waste of time. “Miles” was a profane recollection of past associations, an enormous drug habit, and poorly treated women. There is little analysis of his own music (which I found highly enjoyable, except for his recordings from the mid–1970s onward). After the book came out, Davis was interviewed by Ed Bradley for 60 Minutes who asked the jazz musician a question about “Miles.” Davis replied, “I don’t know. I never read it.”
Read more of Terry Teachout at Contentions, the blog of Commentary Magazine. Consider subscribing to Commentary here.
Filed under: Commentary, Contentions, Ed Bradley, Miles Davis