Suchergebnisse

A review essay on a book by Seth Lipsky, The Citizen's Constitution: An Annotated Guide (Basic Books, 2009).

On November 2nd, a majority of American voters repudiated the ambition of President Barack Obama, and of the congressional Democrats whom he leads, to transform the American political system by enacting a sweeping progressive agenda. No doubt a variety of factors were in play. During campaign 2008, and despite just four years of experience in the legislative branch of the federal government (two of which he devoted to campaigning for president) and no experience holding executive office, Senator Obama inflated hopes to levels no mortal could satisfy and evoked changes of proportions that even a master statesman could not achieve. Moreover, President Obama began his term in hard times: His fledgling administration confronted a global economic crisis that endangered the very operation of the American financial system; two wars halfway around the globe; and an unabated threat to the homeland from transnational Islamic terrorism. By the time the 2010 midterm elections rolled around nearly double-digit unemployment had persisted for more than fifteen months, inflicting pain not only on workers but also on their families, friends, and communities. The ramifying effects of joblessness contributed to a generally sour attitude toward the president and his programs as well as toward Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and soon-to-be former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Adapted from the source document.

A review essay on a book by Michael Lewis, Eric Jensen, Geoffrey Corn, Victor Hansen, Richard Jackson, and James Schoettler, The War on Terror and the Laws of War: A Military Perspective (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).

Rezension von: The war on terror and the laws of war: a military perspective / by Michael Lewis ... - Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press, 2009

The controversy over the 'Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' (September 15, 2009), more commonly known as the Goldstone Report, seems to have died down. But its larger significance has yet to be appreciated. For the most part, the controversy has swirled around the reliability of the Goldstone Report's factual findings and the validity of its legal findings concerning Operation Cast Lead, which Israel launched on December 27, 2008, and concluded on January 18, 2009. But another and more far-reaching issue, which should be of great significance to those who take seriously the claims of international law to govern the conduct of war, has scarcely been noticed. And that pertains to the disregarding of fundamental norms and principles of international law by the United Nations Human Rights Council (hrc), which authorized the Goldstone Mission; by the Mission members, who produced the Goldstone Report; and by the hrc and the United Nations General Assembly (of which the hrc is a subsidiary organ), which endorsed the report's recommendations. Their conduct combines an exaltation of, and disrespect for, international law. It is driven by an ambition to shift authority over critical judgments about the conduct of war from states to international institutions. Among the most serious political consequences of this shift is the impairment of the ability of liberal democracies to deal lawfully and effectively with the complex and multifarious threats presented by transnational terrorists. Adapted from the source document.

A review essay on a book by Leslie Mitchell, Maurice Bowra: A Life (Oxford U Press, 2009).

Argues that the Republican Party should turn to constitutional conservatism as a framework for addressing current challenges that will appeal to social (formerly called traditional) & libertarian conservatives, a voting bloc necessary for a Republican revival. A look at the need to moderate the tension between tradition & liberty, draws on Edmund Burke & examines his clash with the French revolutionaries, asserting that Burke preserved liberty against the extravagance of the revolutionaries claims by championing traditions claims. It is contended that conserving a constitutional system devoted to liberty adds to the challenge of properly balancing tradition & liberty; however, the progress of freedom requires constitutional conservatism to do just that. The reemergence of constitutional conservatism & contention between social & liberal conservatives in the US conservative movement birthed in the 1950s, are discussed, outlining the views of key US conservatives Russell Kirk, William F. Buckley, Jr., & Frank S. Meyer. Constitutional conservatisms evolution since the 1960s is then traced, examining the ideas & actions of Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, & George W. Bush. It is maintained that a conservative renewal requires that liberatarian conservatives accept that big government is here to stay & social conservatives come to grips with the sexual revolution. In this light, an agenda for constitutional conservatism is presented. D. Edelman