Why I chose to call this the Federalist Party

I didn't choose "Federalist" because of the "Federalist Society." I chose to use the philosophy I have been developing (or that has been developing me) over the last few years, which appears to most closely resemble that of the now-defunct Federalist Party. Most people would find most opinions on here "conservative" and therefore think Republican. I'm not a member of any political party, though I do tend to vote Republican more often than not. But the GOP has gotten much too Jeffersonian for my tastes. Limited government is all well and good, but in 2002 it simply is not true that "that government is best which governs least." Government is necessary (sorry libertarians of extremist stripe), and that means that some government powers must be strong.

I believe a strong Federal government is essential to securing our liberty, but I also believe the 9th Amendment means something too. Federal power is not unlimited, but state power is necessarily weaker. I don't believe the Commerce clause was intended to be used in the manner that became common in the late 20th Century. I believe John Marshall is the least-known, most important figure in the history of the United States. I believe Ronald Reagan will be remembered by historians as a tremendous president, and that Bill Clinton's presidency will provoke a shudder in the minds of serious scholars for several centuries to come, if there are any serious scholars left. I believe the phrase "a well-regulated militia" means the government can in fact regulate the possession of weapons, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" means the founders expected that most households who so chose would in fact have (and be entitled to have) guns. I believe "freedom of religion" does not mean "freedom from religion" and that people who freak out at the site of the Ten Commandments should get a grip, take some Prozac, and go sulk quietly in a corner. I believe the Courts should decide the law as it is, not as they would wish it to be. I believe legislatures should act like coequal branches, and not pass laws with their fingers crossed that courts will strike them down. I believe presidents shoud not sign laws while making speeches about the unconstitutionality of large portions of them.

I believe that Islamic militancy is the greatest threat to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness since the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin. I believe Communism lost because the West fought it.

I believe in a strong, active and capable military. I salute the men and women who lay their lives on the line that you and I might be free. I believe people who see the United States as the source of all evil are idiots. I believe people who have doubts about specific military actions should voice them. I believe newspapers should never publish information about movement of troops in wartime. I believe I'd like to buy Don Rumsfeld a beer or two, and just pick his brain for a while.

I believe the US should be engaged with the world, and with the English-speaking peoples especially. I believe India will someday be our closest ally, excepting (possibly) only Britain. I believe we should be supporting Israel's right to self-defense more vigorously.

I believe in absolute truth. I do not believe I know very many absolute truths absolutely. I believe men and women are sexually complementary. I do not believe people who are willing to leave me in peace should receive anything but peace from me. I believe that people ought to be held as equal before the law. I believe "tolerance" is not the same thing as "endorsement," and that the former is fine only so long as it is not confused for the latter. I believe in hating the sin and loving the sinner. I believe "openmindedness" is not an unlimited virtue. I believe moral relativism is a great evil, and I believe many of its proponents understand that.

I believe the Constitution of the United States is a document that means what it says and says what it means. I believe that it means to be flexible enough to deal with unforeseen situations. I believe there is a difference between "implied powers" and "a living document" and I believe scholars who use the term "living document" deliberately distort the plain meaning of the words. I believe the Tenth Amendment is not an afterthought. I believe some ideas in this paragraph are irreconcilable if taken as absolutes. I believe judgment must be granted to judges and that error is inevitable. I believe in government, and I believe in liberty. I believe the tension between the two is the surest guarantee that neither totalitarianism nor libertinism will win. I believe in flying the American flag proudly and regularly, and I believe anyone who thinks the United States' flag is offensive has no business living here, whatever passport he may hold.

In short, I believe the United States is a great but imperfect country. I believe that honest men and women who love her will write her future. I believe those don't love her have every right to say so, and I believe I will defend their rights to do so. I also believe I will be treating them with more respect than they treat me when I do so.

I believe God does and will bless America, but I believe we have to strive to be worthy of those blessings.

On the Trail of Anthrax

Several articles about an al Qaeda connection to the anthrax attacks have appeared in the Washington Post this week. They suggest that one of the WTC hijackers may have been treated at an ER for cutaneous anthrax. But this begs the question: What kind of knuckleheaded terrorists would deal with anthrax, but not make sure they had access to Cipro or some other method of treating an accidental ingestion or cut? Even the most asinine villain in Hollywood B movies always remembers to have "the antidote" nearby when he messes with poison or biological weapons. It seems improbable that people as organized as this would overlook the entirely reasonable possibility that they would be exposed. The risk to operational security of visiting a hospital ER to be treated for the disease (what if the doctor cultured the leg infection?) would dictate against this.

The only probable explanation is the true one: the terrorist cut his leg and sought treatment. If he did have cutaneous anthrax, he couldn't have known about it. Which means another person or persons unknown are the source.

Welcome to the Federalist Party of 1796.

This blog will take a generally Liberal (in the Classical sense) approach to the issues that are found in the pages of a Major Metropolitan Newspaper, be they political, social, academic, or otherwise. My philosophy is strongly informed by the thoughts of Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, John Marshall, John Adams, CS Lewis and others in these veins. I will use this spot to comment on some of my favorite web spots as well, including opinionjournal.com, nationalreview.com (including The Corner) and the editorial pages of the Washington Post. I am a practicing Roman Catholic, and will comment on appropriately public Church related issues from time to time. Check back often, but don't expect much in the first days of Easter Week, since I'll be traveling. I completely reserve the right to demonstrate cognitive dissonance whenever and wherever I feel like. Should you email me, I promise to read your message (at least throught the first swear word) but do not guarantee a response.