Peter Lawler

1. So I’ve gotten several emails complaining about my lack of sensitivity—or Christian love—in not being being moved by the movie. Here’s the most balanced judgment from a veteran conservative: [Name of wife here] LOVED Les Miz. She thought it “better than the . . . . Continue Reading »

So here’s a condensed version of maganimous—or FRIDAY NIGHTS LIGHTS—conservatism in one place. . . . . Continue Reading »

1. So some have asked: Where’s your incisive commentary on holiday movies? 2. Well, I saw LES MIZ: It’s an edifying tale of how personal transformation through faith and charity is real and how transformation through political revolution is a bloody illusion. 3. As a Tocquevillian, I . . . . Continue Reading »

BIG THOUGHTS HERE . . . . Continue Reading »

So Pat Deneen—on the distinguished ISI honors listserv thing—responded to my post below: Peter makes the very un-Tocquevillian point that the Republicans should ” work on the upside of devolving what entitlements there are to individuals.” I rather thought Yuval Levin made a . . . . Continue Reading »

1. I wish Pete could get before Republican leaders and yell at them about their rhetorical failings. They’re at least as clueless as he says. 2. Most people don’t care about the tax rate on the rich, because they assume they don’t really pay it. And usually they don’t. 3. . . . . Continue Reading »

Please be encouraged by the sensible words of Quin Hillyer : Overall, then, tax-rate policy isn’t optimal after the deal, but it’s not terrible either. It’s better, as already explained, than anything the Gingrich Congress achieved . . . . And whereas President Obama was able to . . . . Continue Reading »

Due to Democratic malice and Republican stupidity (mainly the latter), a soft version of progressivism might again be ambiguously popular. But the progressive vision of bigger government remains unsustainable, because the tax increase is insignificant as a funding device: If even under the . . . . Continue Reading »

Statement from Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga): “This 11th-hour negotiation is no way to run a country, but I voted for this agreement because it protects 99 percent of Americans from a tax increase, permanently protects tens of thousands of farmers and family businesses from having to pay the . . . . Continue Reading »

I’m posting this in a most self-indulgent way to get your reaction. So Protestants in their way degraded marriage by depriving it of sacramental status as a manifestation of the divine personal logos in this world. Marriage became predominately natural but still somewhat Christian. It . . . . Continue Reading »