The Life and Death of the American Spectator

The Atlantic Monthly ^ | November, 2001 | Byron York

[LurkerNoMore!]

I disagree that York is only on the margins of conservatism. Have you read any of his National Review stuff? This guy is a true investigational journalist.

I will be watching, though. I hope I am not wrong about him.

[tom paine 2]

bump for later

[Cincinatus]

Many thanks for finding this detailed and excellent piece.

TAS was my favorite magazine of the 90's. The quality of it's Clinton-bashing was pure gold-plate. But more than that, they served as a hipper, wittier brand of conservative comment than NR (which has greatly improved in the last few years, BTW). NR during the 80's and early 90's was pure Buckley -- highly intellectual, erudite, sophisticated. But serious,... oh so serious. TAS was the crew of the National Lampoon, after college graduation, when they had to go out and earn a real living.

The current incarnation of TAS blows. Gilder has turned an American conservative institution into a Third-Wave, Future Shock, Gingrichoid, technogeek hodgepodge (Laetitia Casta on the cover of conservative journal??? In full lingerie and angel wings, no less. Give me a break!). No focus, no wit, no soul. Tyrrell stayed on, but he's a pale shadow of the titan he once was.

This is all too depressing. However, kudos and bravo to Byron York for telling the story (much of which I had not heard before) so very well.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks for the response Victoria.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks for the great response, I have a weird point of view on this one, I see it as the All-American success story.

Vision, hard work, realization, success, wealth.

Way to go Mr. Tyrell!

Now, do it again!

[Atticus]

In a stroke of genius, my father gave me a subscription to The American Spectator (and National Review) when I left home for college in 1981. His subscription went back many years earlier, and I believe he still has some of the early issues of "The Alternative: An American Spectator" in his attic. The magazine deserves a lot of credit for spawning a host of conservative college newspapers, many of which called themselves the Spectator.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"In a stroke of genius, my father gave me a subscription to The American Spectator (and National Review) when I left home for college in 1981."

That's one smart cookie, your old man!

[Zack Nguyen]

Mr. York writes as if he wonders if the entire Mena story were a collection of delusions. I don't think so. Perhaps the best research on the sordid affair can be found in Partners in Power by Roger Morris. Mena was definitely real, certainly linked to drug shipments, and most probably well known to the Little Rock elite.

I am also not at all surprised that the Spectator got no press calls on the story. Morris was shut down right before his version was set to run in the Washington Post. The story is far too big, and would require questioning too many fundamental premises about our government, for the press to really want to follow up on it.

That is my theory. :)

[Luis Gonzalez]

FYI

[Cincinatus]

Mena was definitely real, certainly linked to drug shipments, and most probably well known to the Little Rock elite.

The problem with the Mena tale is the same problem with the Vince Foster death -- even if there's something to it, there's no proof that would stand up in a court of law. Instead, you have to rely on verbal testimony, hearsay evidence, and looney conspiracy theory, all spun by some of the flakiest people on Earth. At the end of a very long road, all you have after all your pains is a highly circumstantial case, and your prediliction to believe it tends to follow your political alignment.

[Great Dane]

What a shame, we can't afford to loose a conservative publication.

[Cool Guy]

Thanks for the ping. Bumped for later read.

[Zack Nguyen]

You ought to read Roger Morris's book. He is definitely a leftist, and yet presents a compelling case.

As far as Vince Foster goes, I most certainly believe that to be murder. The evidence for suicide is flimsy and ridiculous. But that has been debated at great length elsewhere on this site. So much is known for certain about that case that I believe the truth will come out one day.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Cincinatus]

You ought to read Roger Morris's book

I have read it. And Chris Ruddy's Vince Foster book, too.

I stand by my assessment in post # 50.

[Prodigal Daughter]

Are you kidding me?! My teenager has been telling me he wants a subscription and I'll have to break the news to him. Bookmarked for later closer reading.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"The problem with the Mena tale is the same problem with the Vince Foster death -- even if there's something to it, there's no proof that would stand up in a court of law. Instead, you have to rely on verbal testimony, hearsay evidence, and looney conspiracy theory, all spun by some of the flakiest people on Earth. At the end of a very long road, all you have after all your pains is a highly circumstantial case, and your prediliction to believe it tends to follow your political alignment."

Sounds like a perfect case for Larry Klayman!

[ironman]

bump for later

[Cincinatus]

Sounds like a perfect case for Larry Klayman!

Funny you should mention that....

11. ACCURACY IN THE MEDIA (AIM) v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Civil Action 97-2108.

12. AIM v. FBI, Civil Action 97-2107.

13. AIM v. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Civil Action 97-2109. Judicial Watch filed these three related cases on behalf of Accuracy in the Media to uncover documentation behind the Clinton Administration's investigation into the death of former White House Deputy Counsel Vince Foster. Despite these investigations being officially closed, the Clinton Administration has continued to refuse to release relevant documents.

All at the Judicial Watch web site.

Larry's on the case!!

[William Wallace]

Thanks for the heads-up. Interesting story.

The American Spectator was without a doubt the most entertaining conservative publication of the 90s. It had a great run, and I'm sorry to see the end of an era.

I'm sure the growth of conservative Internet news sites like Drudge, WorldNetDaily and FreeRepublic contributed to its demise.