As the winds continue to howl against GWB from the right, may I offer a word of caution? Last night at the National Review 50th Michael Novak and I recalled similar periods of discontent from conservatives towards President Reagan. If I were to remind you of the provocations now, you might snicker, as they have drifted into the past and lost their sting — but really we were worried about the President’s friendliness with Gorby and moments of seemingly selling out to Big Government.
As for GWB he needs our help and our criticism. We can give both and not lose our virtue. By the way, at the honoring of Bill Buckley yesterday in the Old Executive Office Building the President appeared before a few hundred members of the conservative movement and surprised me. He looked hearty. He was sharp-witted and genial. Most importantly, he seemed vigorous and ready for the fray. I would not count him out or even down.
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief ofThe American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: The Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
He makes frequent appearances on national television and is a nationally syndicated columnist, whose articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Washington Times, National Review, Harper’s, Commentary, The (London) Spectator, Le Figaro (Paris), and elsewhere. He is also a contributing editor to the New York Sun.
