Recently, I found out that I was accepted into the National Review Institute’s Washington Fellows Program–a year-long program dedicated to the study of the history of the modern conservative movement. It is truly humbling to be affiliated with the Institute that William F. Buckley, Jr. founded in 1991 to advance conservatism in the United States. For a conservative such as myself, it’s tantamount to being knighted (or at least that’s how I view it). There are a total of 25 Fellows in the 2010 class and it’s an honor to be listed among such a talented and distinguished group of conservative thinkers. You can learn about the 2010 Washington Fellows here.
Archive for the ‘Conservatism’ Category
Conservative Renaissance Man: An Interview with Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer is a modern-day renaissance man who has worn many hats and enjoyed tremendous success first as a psychiatrist, then journalist, international relations theorist, and now a commentator. With the passing of William F. Buckley and Samuel Huntington last year, Krauthammer is arguably the finest conservative thinker around (Newt Gingrich certainly deserves honorable mention). Cable news is filled with hollow talking heads who do little more than regurgitate liberal and conservative talking points–both sides are guilty of this. You know, they’re the ones on TV with labels like “Democratic Strategist.” Hosts, like Keith Olbermann, are the worst. So insecure is Keith Olbermann in his ability to debate that he never has guests with opposing views on his program. Krauthammer’s ability to provide valuable…
Berkowitz and Constitutional Conservatism
Peter Berkowitz of the Hoover Institution has an outstanding essay in the latest edition of Policy Review. This is a must-read for students of conservative thought. Berkowitz does a brilliant job of merging the core principles of conservatism with the tactical electoral realities conservatives now face. His analysis of the “social” and ”libertarian” conservative split is also interesting as is his critique of the Bush administration.
He also offers a framework for thinking about policy:
- An economic program, health care and social security reform, energy policy, and protection for the environment grounded in fiscally sound, growth-oriented, market-based solutions.
- A national security policy that maintains American military preeminence because it is indispensable to the defense of freedom at home and to the discharge of…

The Conservative Mitch Daniels