National Review used to be my favorite magazine, back in the mid '70s. Great writers, like James Burnham, Richard John Neuhas, Erich von Kuehneldt-Leddihn, Joe Sobran, Chilton Williamson, Jeffrey Hart, Ralph de Toledano, Warren Brookes, Russell Kirk, and many more that I've forgotten. Gifted and learned writers. You could learn history, philosophy, economics, as well as politics from that magazine.
About the time the Cold War ended NR had lost its way. Most of those great writers had left or retired. The kiddy brigade took over. Simple cheerleaders for the RNC. And somehow it evolved from a magazine that had helped elect Ronald Reagan, to one that features the chief speechwriter for Walter Mondale. Charles Krauthammer has never changed his views as far as I can tell. David Frum is the perfect writer for the New NR- a social climbing Canadian yuppie, released from his White House speechwriting job, who violates the unwritten code of Presidential speechwriters by quickly publishing a kiss and tell of his time in the employ of George Bush the younger. They deserve him. |
