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"Novak was wearing Groucho glasses, an afro, and he was smoking a plastic cigar, but we realized Novak was dead serious..." |
Posted on 07/13/2007 10:54:25 AM PDT by Contentions
Reading Pat Buchanan’s superb appreciation of Robert Novak and his new memoir, Prince of Darkness, one is reminded of what a great writer and historian of Republican politics Buchanan can be. What a pity that, fifteen years ago, he headed off to the fever swamps of the conservative movement as he pursued a series of failed presidential runs. Although today he remains a staple of talking-head TV, his presidential campaigns, loaded with xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and protectionist messages, make him impossible to take seriously.
But I’m also reminded of something I witnessed, involving Novak, in 1996. I was in Des Moines, on the eve of the 1996 Iowa caucuses. Although there were many semi-viable Republican candidates that year, in the final few days before caucus day, the contest had suddenly become a hot three-way race among Bob Dole, Pat Buchanan, and Lamar Alexander (I was Lamar’s policy director that year). I was at a high-spirited Alexander rally that night and found myself talking with Novak and Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes. As the three of us left the rally to go to dinner, Novak, apropos of nothing, suddenly declared: “Wouldn’t it be great if Pat won this whole thing.” Fred and I chuckled at this—until suddenly there was an awkward silence. The two of us had realized that Novak was dead serious.
(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...
Truly a shame how Pat has has gone from good guy to jew-hating protectionist nut case.
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"Novak was wearing Groucho glasses, an afro, and he was smoking a plastic cigar, but we realized Novak was dead serious..." |
Pat Buchanan and Robert Novak both in the lead-off sentence. I stopped reading right there.
‘jew-hating protectionist nut case’
Buchanan doesn’t hate Jews. He just doesn’t think the US should go out of a limb for Israel or any other country. Where has he been wrong on:
1) Illegal immigration and the border - Buchanan was right in 1992.
2) NAFTA - how’s that working out for you?
3) China trade - poison food
4) Iraq war - we won’t follow thru, just like Vietnam
It looks like what Buchanan is is RIGHT (except for Israel).
I miss him on old, pre-CarVILE Crossfire, and Capital Gang
The original shows used to be real discussions of issues. Great fun.
And remember the “Clinton and Clinton” tagline?
Remember the “culture war?
Buchanan was prescience.
NAFTA - how’s that working out for you?
Pretty darn good. I spend a couple of days a month making air filters that get sent to Mexico.
Thanks for asking
What about the vast majority who don't make and send things to Mexico? 
I skipped to post #4 and stopped there.
What about em?
How nice for you.
I don't think Buchanan hates Jews, though, nowadays, criticism, admonishment and chastisement thereof is called antisemitism.
I believe it was Cain who asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?".
Those who share in and work to provide the diversity of necessities to you and others in the common nation have to be your brothers.
If it were otherwise, by your obvious enjoyment of the benefits of living in the nation, you would be soiling your own nest.
And, we aren’t that reliable anymore.
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