Commentary: Defending Gov. Palin

A Response to Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Sun-Times
By Judith M Kratochvil
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Ever since Senator John McCain (R-AZ) the GOP presidential nominee announced his surprise selection of Governor Sara Palin of Alaska as his Vice President Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell has been hammering away at Palin. This commentary is an attempt to respond to Mitchell and her charges.

Read More Here

MyOpenCongress: Network, Comment and Vote on Congress

MyOpenCongress is a social network that allows the American people to follow congress and track legislation. The member can select Congressmen, Senators, Issues, and legislation in which they are interested to track and create a personalized profile. It also allows individuals to comment on members of Congress, the Senate, and legislation. The pages for members or legislation also track news stories through google news and blog posts.

Americans can also show bill trackers on facebook by using the Congress.org application. They can blog a bill from the interface and more.

Reducing Teen Pregnancies and Abortions

by Janice Shaw Crouse

The first step in reducing teen pregnancy and abortion is to know the facts. Actually, we know what works. Child Trends and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy published their own data and the corroborating findings of a vast body of scientific research which found that the recipe for delaying sexual activity is parental involvement, good friends, strong faith and participation in church activities. The bottom line, they said, is that parents and friends have tremendous influence on their children, regardless of socio-demographic or economic background and characteristics.

Obviously, many of the nation’s adolescents don’t have those positive influences in their lives; researchers from the left and the right acknowledge the problems associated with single parent families, father absence, declining church attendance, and lack of community networks.

NEA boss praises Gov. Sara Palin

Robert Holland
The Washington Times

(Circ. 100,258) – In general, conservatives were thrilled with Sen. John McCain’s selection of the reform-minded governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, to join him on the Republican presidential ticket, while Democratic operatives cast aspersions on her readiness to be a heartbeat from the presidency.

So, what to make of the verbal bouquets thrown her way by one of the staunchest supporters of Democratic candidates and liberal causes, the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest teachers union? In an August 29 statement, NEA President Reg Weaver said, “the 3.2 million members [of the NEA] are pleasantly surprised” by the choice of Palin to run for vice president. One never ceases to marvel at how the NEA brass can presume to speak instantly on any issue for more than 3 million K-12 teachers, but that is the union’s standard operating procedure.

Read more in The Washington Times

Detainees and Habeas – An Open Letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham

I am also reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision and am disappointed in your over reaction to it. The one tweak that may be needed to satisfy the Court is to allow the review to be a habeas review. I thought that the procedures were generous and sufficient, but that does not equate to constitutional and in keeping with the habeas statute. I certainly don’t think you should make a statement like the one you have until you have completely finished reviewing the decision. I am a bit concerned about your constant warring with the Court.

In my reading so far I see nothing that says that they would have a right to sue. However, if the Court did have full review and found that an individual was wrongly detained; especially because of the length of time involved that justice ought to be rendered even if it meant a lawsuit against our government for improper detention.

Hilary Clinton, Sexism, and the Historic Presidentional Bid

Some of Hillary clinton’s supporters believe there is sexism at play in the defeat of their candidate. However, I couldn’t disagree more because I beleive that what ultimately did her in may have been Clinton-Bush fatigue.

 

No one in the media originally brough up the gender card. The Clinton brought gneder in to the race when she complained of being treated harshly by the other candidates, all male, because she was a women. After this incident what was supposed to be her coronation was over. Then you have the mocking by late-night comedians, which can be over-the-top. However, when these same comedians parody President Bush, of whom I am no great defender, and are over-the-top no one complains. Finally, you have the parody by Father Michael Pflager regarding her feeling entitled. While his parody was inappropriate for the environment in which he did it, the parody is something that would have went largely no comment and recieved no punishment if it were of President Bush.

 

If women want a female Presidnet and women want to run for president they are going to have to learn to deal with the same indignified parodies as male politicians do. We cannot laugh at parodies of George W. Bush or John McCain and then complain about a parody of Hillary Clinton. That is a double standard.

 

Until the air of inevitability came crashing down around her and she was not coronated she ran a campaign which looked like her saying she was entitled to the presidnecy, not because she was a woman but because she was a Clinton. Reality set in when Barak Obama started winning in the small contests she ignored. She felt entitled  and she was going to win the large primary states, so the caucuses did not matter.

 

Her hubris and sense of entitlement in the end is what beat her and not any parody, perceived sexism of the media, or the the challenge she got from the other candidates during debates. These were all fair challenges.

 

Women need to still be proud of the historic presidential bid of Hillary Clinton because as she said in her concession speech the highest glass ceiling has been cracked on many places.

Liberal or Conservative?: The use of Political labels to smear candidates

It is now the fashionable order of the day to use the political labels such as liberal or conservative as a smear for a person inside your group that thinks differently on major issues. For example, a Republican being branded liberal is a bad thing inside the Republican group, while a Democrat being seen as conservative is equally bad inside the Democratic camp.  This negative labeling brings up the question what are conservative and liberal other than labels we use to describe people either pejoratively or positively depending on who is using the label to describe an action that was taken.

 

I beleive that there are four categories of individuals inside both major parties: conservatives, liberals, moderates, and neoconservatives. This labeling gets more complicated because different actions can earn different labels for the same person. What is the meaning of each of these labels?

 

• Conservatives are those who adhere to a philosophy of conservatism which believes in tradition, stability, and established institutions. Core political political positions include lower taxes, limited government, limited regulation on business and investment, and a strong national defense.
• Liberals are those who adhere to a philosophy of liberalism which belives in progress and essential goodness of the human race. Core political positions include autonomy of the individual as well as protection of civi rights and civil liberties.
• Moderates are those that profess non extreme positions on the core issues of both liberals and conservatives.
• Neoconservatives are people who promotes the assertive promotion of democracy and the intervention of the United States in world affairs by military means.

(Definitions from Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.)

 

These thoughts are coming out of an article that is in The State newspaper this morning. Political columnist James Rosen chronicles Senator Lindsey Graham’s voting record in his article Graham : Liberal label inaccurate. The article chronicles the difference in treat he recieves from the media and political colleagues and that he recieves from the people, particularly of the upstate region he calls home.  Currently he gets defined by the relatively few times he crosses a party line to solve a problem. The actions looming largest in the minds of the voters are the following:

 

Immigration: Senator Graham supported a bipartisan compromise that included border enforcement and a set of rules that most liberals disagreed with to legalize the illegals that had been here for a certain amount of time. This seemed fair enough, but many just wanted them all sent back.

 

Torture: He questioned the administration’s policy on the definition of torture. This angered “conservatives” who thought that he should go along with the administration on this point. He questioned this policy based n his experience as a military lawyer. The military is, by nature, a conservative institution.

 

Hillary Clinton: Sen. Graham praised Hillary Clinton which recieved criticism from conservatives.

 

Gang of 14: Counted correctly as one of his accomplishments, but nonethe less highly criticized by fellow conservatives. He brokered the deal to preserve the instittution of the United States Senate.

 

Looking at each of these actions to measure his conservatism or liberalism is foolish becasue one has to measure his entire record. It is also not neccessarily conservative or liberal to walk in lockstep (which he hasn’t done) behind a president. Looking at each of these actions puts him n the moderate-conservative camp. I am not counting the praise of Hillary Clinton in the caluculation because I think that one can have no political agenda when praising a colleague.

 

I see the immigration compromise as moderate becasue it allowed people to recieve special visas after returnining to their country of origin and meeting certain requirements.

 

Sen. Graham’s response to the torture is conservative because it follows established precedent and laws. It also follows the experience of the military, which he loves and is a very conservative institution. In his response he also wanted to protect any member of our armed forces that may be held captive.

 

The Gang of 14 compromise could also be seen in a conservative light as preserving the institution of the United States Senate and allowing the confirmation of several formerly controversial nominees, as well as, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

 

Calling Sen Graham a liberal is using the term as a pejorative in order to gain political advantage and is espescially disingenuous when one examines his entire record and observes the hard right camapign he is running just to maintian his Senate seat.

 

We need to properly use the labels to identify people instead of as pejorative. I do not fell that either position of seeking progress or maitaining tradition is wrong. In fact I beleive that this country is about seeking progress within the existing traditions and institutions of the nation.

Letter Regarding Iran

I am gravely concerned that we are on the road to war in Iran. Considering S.J. Res. 23 (2001), S.Amdt. 3017 (2007) and Gen. Petraeus’s recent testimony I fear there may be either a resolution to take hostile action against Iran or the president claiming he has the authority to do so based on the aforementioned acts of Congress.

There are also the reports in the New York Times and Washington Post this morning about the Iran threat. This smells of being a reprise of the buildup to war with Iraq. It also doesn’t ease my fears that Adm. Fallon, who was trying to calm the frayed nerves of Middle Eastern countries, has resigned his post. He had said upon nomination that there would be no war with Iran on his watch. Now that we are not under his watch I fear that we will get ourselves whipped into a frenzy again and take hostile action against Iran.

ISI e-update

Memorial Service for E. Victor Milione, ISI President Emeritus Dear Judy Kratochvil, ISI has planned an April 12, 2008 memorial service in Washington, DC to honor E. Victor Milione. Victor Milione passed away on February 10, 2008. For thirty-five years, from 1953 to 1988, he was the guiding force of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, serving as executive vice president and then president. For more information on E. Victor Milione’s ISI legacy and memorial service, please visit http://www.isi.org/spotlight/milione/tribute.html “Vic Milione embodied the virtues of honor, integrity, and piety that are the essential human qualities of a free and humane society. His noble spirit continues to enliven the ISI mission. With heartfelt gratitude, we honor his memory.” -T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr., President, ISI

R.I.P.: William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), ISI’s First President For half a century, William F. Buckley Jr. was the most widely recognized and respected conservative public intellectual in America. He had also served in 1953–54 as ISI’s first president. The institute’s current president, T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr., said on his passing, “It was William F. Buckley who crafted the intellectual consensus that accommodated conservatism’s warring proponents of freedom on the one hand and of moral order on the other. Freedom, he showed, was the indispensable means for achieving moral order. The success of the modern conservative political coalition would not have been possible except for the antecedent intellectual consensus forged by Buckley in the pages of National Review.” For information on ISI’s tribute to William F. Buckley Jr., including video and audio lectures, articles, images, and more, please visit http://www.isi.org/spotlight/buckley/tribute.html

A Film Guide for the Thinking Cultural Critic ISI Books proudly announces the publication of God, Man & Hollywood: Politically Incorrect Cinema from The Birth of a Nation to The Passion of the Christ Buy now at a 45% discount until March 31st By Mark Royden Winchell List Price: $28.00 Sale Price $15.40 Beginning with D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation and ending with Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Winchell reveals the politically incorrect notions at the heart of eighteen classic films, including Ben-Hur, Patton, The Deer Hunter, and Gangs of New York. Along the way, he shows how a number of filmmakers, sometimes unwittingly, have produced unconventionally honest explorations of the nature and meaning of shared human experiences. Winchell ends with synoptic assessments of an additional one hundred politically incorrect films, from About Schmidt to Zulu. The result is an indispensable film guide showing that sometimes even Hollywood has done better than we typically give it credit for. Mark Royden Winchell is professor of English at Clemson University, where he also directs Clemson’s program in the Great Works of Western Civilization. He is the author of books on Joan Didion, William F. Buckley Jr., and neoconservative criticism and of authorized biographies of literary critics Donald Davidson and Leslie Fiedler, among other volumes. During the past quarter century he has published over 120 essays and reviews in such periodicals as Sewanee Review, the American Conservative, and Modern Age.

The Eric Breindel Prize for Journalism The Eric Breindel Memorial Foundation is again offering a $10,000 prize along with a paid internship at FoxNews or the New York Post to the writer whose work best reflects the values championed by former New York Post editor and columnist Eric Breindel. Read more about the award on its website: www.ericbreindel.org. Entries must have been written and published within the past year to qualify. Don’t feel constrained by the guidelines’ seemingly narrow focus: the judges are open to creativity. Last year’s winner, a Collegiate Network student from Claremont, took the prize with an article that examined homelessness in London in light of Burkean principles. If you would like to read the winning articles from the past two years or have any questions about the award itself, please contact Liz Persing of the Collegiate Network at epersing@isi.org.

Attend the Tuscan Classical Academy Located in a restored Tuscan hilltop estate 25 kilometers north of Florence, the Tuscan Classical Academy is based on long-standing traditions, ideals, and values. The Academy was founded by architectural restorer and educator Lynn Fleming Aeschliman, who started renovating the Capitignano property in the late 1960s. The Academy brings together talented and experienced architects, artists, teachers, and theorists who are devoted to the classical, medieval, and Renaissance traditions in the arts. The Academy Fellows promote the arts as essential to human flourishing and well-being as well as professional competence and growth. The Capitignano estate has several major buildings that contain a library, studio, lecture hall, salon, living and dining accommodations, as well as a swimming pool, tennis court, and lovely terraces. The Academy runs collaborative programs with the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, INTBAU, the Erasmus-Jefferson Summer Institute (University of Virginia), the Boston University College of Fine Arts, TASIS: The American School in Switzerland (Lugano), and for the past two summers with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America (New York). Independent students are welcome to apply to attend on a credit or non-credit basis. Please visit www.tuscanclassicalacademy.org or email Lynn Aeschliman at lfa@tasis-schools.org for more information.

ISI First Edition Silk Tie Act quickly to add this stunning first edition ISI tie to your wardrobe! Featuring the ISI logo, this classic blue, white, and gold tie is 100 percent silk. It was designed by longtime ISI friend Norma Lipsett, cofounder of the Philadelphia Society and designer of the Adam Smith tie, and handmade by an exclusive tie manufacturer in Brooklyn, New York. Only 200 of these first edition ties exist, so hurry and purchase yours today! Cost: $100 — Order Now Note: The cost of each tie includes a $60 charitable contribution to ISI, for which you will receive a tax-deductible gift receipt.

Join the ISI Books Readers Club Now you can build a thoughtful library with just a few clicks of the mouse. Join the ISI Books Readers Club for only $15 per year. In return, you get: Two free books from over 200 titles 40% off all other books throughout the year 50% off new titles within the first 30 days of publishing Free subscription to The Intercollegiate Review Additional Readers Club exclusive offers & events For more information, please visit the ISI Books Readers Club page.

Editorial: We recommend Mike Huckabee | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials

Editorial: We recommend Mike Huckabee | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials

Whatever Texas Republican primary voters do Tuesday, John McCain is all but guaranteed to be the party’s presidential nominee. It is mathematically impossible for Mike Huckabee, the last remaining major GOP contender, to capture the nomination. The former Arkansas governor even turned up on Saturday Night Live recently to poke fun at himself for not going away.

Let’s be clear: Mr. Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, remains our choice for the GOP nomination. But Mr. McCain has racked up by far the most delegates and leads among Texas Republicans by a wide margin in recent opinion polls. Though he can’t clinch the nomination Tuesday, victory is undeniably close.

Aside from his long experience and personal courage, he has a solid record of fiscal responsibility and has been on the right side of campaign finance reform and environmental issues. And he was correct and principled to lead the fight for comprehensive immigration reform last summer. Still, his age – 71 – and his choleric temperament gave us pause, particularly when contrasted to Mr. Huckabee’s sunny-side-up brand of conservatism.

Campaign and Legislative Update

Dear Friends,Since my last letter to you, a lot has happened in this race for US Senate.

Last Saturday I attended the Valencia County GOP Convention and was surprised to hear my opponent say that England had chosen to live in a ‘moral vacuum’ and that as a result, England exports more jihadist terrorists than any country in the Middle East.

February/March 2008 Florida Education Monthly

New Report Ranks Nation’s 21 School Choice Programs

Friedman Foundation

A new report by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, “Grading School Choice: Evaluating School Choice Programs by the Friedman Gold Standard,” grades the nation’s 21 existing school choice programs based on how well they live up to the standard of providing school choice for all.

At the head of the class is Florida’s McKay voucher program which earned top marks for providing options to the state’s special needs students. The other top graded programs were in Georgia, Arizona, Vermont, Ohio and Maine. Minnesota’s personal tax deduction & credit received the lowest grade.

For complete article click here: http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/friedman/newsroom/ShowNewsReleaseItem.do?id=20098

To download the complete report click here: http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/friedman/downloadFile.do?id=268

Class-size limits could be eased

Proposal would change way class sizes are measured

Tallahassee Democrat

By Jim Ash

School districts would get some breathing room from constitutionally mandated class-size limits under a proposal that advanced Monday in the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

Supporters say the measure that passed the Governmental Services Committee would save districts $3.6 billion over the next two years by allowing districts to calculate class sizes based on a district average rather than the school-based average mandated by a 2002 constitutional amendment.

The proposed constitutional amendment would have to be approved by 60 percent of voters in November if it makes it through other committees and a supermajority of the full commission. It would make it easier for districts to reach the mandated 18-student maximum for pre-K through third grade, 22-student maximum in fourth through eighth grades and 25-student maximum in grades nine through 12.

For complete article click here: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/CAPITOLNEWS/802260330/1010/NEWS01

Chancellor: no changes to Bright Futures scholarships this year

Associated Press

ByDavid Royse

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Bright Futures scholarships, which give top high school graduates a free ride to Florida universities, won’t be targeted for change this year, the state’s top university system official said Thursday.

University presidents and others have said the scholarships are costing the state too much and, with the state facing financial difficulties, officials have contemplated capping the program.

Students with a 3.5 grade point average and good test scores are eligible for full scholarships. Students with 3.0 GPAs and good scores can get partial rides.

For complete article click here:http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_BRIGHT_FUTURES_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-02-28-18-12-26

Lawmakers want to expand school vouchers

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers wants to double the size of one of Florida’s existing private-school voucher programs within the next five years.

Miami Herald

By Gary Fineout

TALLAHASSEE — In a year when money for public schools is likely to be cut, some Republican and Democratic lawmakers want to dramatically expand the number of children who get private-school vouchers.

The legislation, which would apply to a statewide program aimed at low-income families, would also increase the amount that vouchers are worth and would allow the voucher amount to grow each year.

Such a move could lead to thousands of additional South Florida students heading to private schools, since a quarter of all children already served by the program are from Miami-Dade and Broward counties. There are now roughly 20,000 children enrolled statewide, and the legislation would grow the number by 5,000 children a year for the next five years.

For complete article click here: http://www.miamiherald.com/295/story/438283.html

Speakers’ Bureau

Need a speaker for your next event? JMI’s team and network of scholars are available to headline or participate in your organization’s next gathering. JMI staff will help you match the topic with the appropriate speaker. To learn more contact Leanna at 850-386-3131 or Leanna@jamesmadison.org.

ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY WITH A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT TO JMI!

JMI accepts no government funding so we rely on contributions from people like you. Giving to the Institute is now easier than ever with our secure, online system powered by PayPal. Your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law; your greatest benefit will be a freer and more prosperous Florida. For more information about becoming a JMI member, visit our Membership page or contact Francisco Gonzalez at 850-383-4625 or FGonzalez@jamesmadison.org.

Sen. Graham Returns to Iraq for Military Service

Sen. Graham is in Iraq to complete a third tour of duty according to Stars and Stripes. He was in Iraq in May and August of 2007 as well for short tours of duty. He is an Air FOrce Reservist and teaches at the Judge Advocate General School in Alabama.

Graham told Stars and Stripes in an interview “I’d like to do more, but [with] the day job, you know in the Senate, it’s hard to get away for any long period.”

Graham is proving again that he is dedicated to serving his country, both in uniform and out. It may seem odd for a politician to be in uniform, but there is precedent stretching back in history and Sen. Graham is just another link in that proud history.

The Permanent Things

Exclusive ISI Volunteer Membership Deal Through February Only! Recruit 10 New ISI Members and Receive a Russell Kirk Poster and Copy of The American Cause! Simply… Print out this “Join the Battles of Ideas” recruitment form (PDF) Enlist at least ten (10) students and/or faculty for a complimentary academic membership with ISI (through which they’ll receive, twice annually, The Intercollegiate Review!) Mail your forms to: T. Kenneth Cribb, II Program Officer for Campus Leadership, Intercollegiate Studies Institute 3801 Centerville Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807 *Fax: (302) 652-1760

Spread the Gift of ISI on Your Campus Request Your Back-to-School Recruitment Package Today! Student and faculty membership is the backbone of ISI. As a Campus Representative or Faculty Associate, we depend on you to work aggressively on your campus to recruit new members. It is through ISI membership that our constituents receive The Intercollegiate Review and stay apprised of our integrated educational program. With the start of the spring semester, it is time to begin thinking of efficient methods of promoting ISI on your campus! Setting up an ISI exhibition table is one of the most fun and effective ways to enlist new students and faculty to join the battle of ideas. Optimal sites to set up your table are at student club fairs, back-to-school events, or any day in the most popular campus locations during peak class hours. Upon request, ISI will supply you with the materials needed to exhibit and recruit at your college or university. Please contact Kenneth Cribb, II at kcribb2@isi.org or (800) 526-7022, ext. 119, for your back-to-school recruitment package today! Don’t forget about ISI’s Membership Recruitment Rewards! For every 5 new members registered for ISI membership, ISI will send one free title from ISI Books. For every 25 new members, ISI offers 7 free titles. In addition to receiving free books, the ISI member that recruits the most members each month, will earn the title “ISI Campus Volunteer of the Month” and will be recognized in The Permanent Things for his or her efforts.

ISI Campus Volunteer of the Month Joshua Bachman, Regent University This month, ISI is recognizing Mr. Joshua Bachman, a joint degree-seeker in government (M.A.) and law (J.D.) at Regent University, for his outstanding efforts as founder and president of The Webster-Calhoun Debate Society, an ISI Associated Group comprised of students and faculty within the university community. For its inaugural symposium, The Webster-Calhoun Debate Society took on the resolution, “All government welfare programs ought to end.” The resolution was based on Frederic Bastiat’s classic tract on liberty, The Law. The ambitious resolution failed 16-12, Bachman reports, but not without playful “bouts of name-calling and finger wagging.” “I want ISI to be with me from intellectual cradle to grave!” exclaims Mr. Bachman, who first learned of ISI as a college-bound high school student through ISI’s bestselling college guide, Choosing the Right College. When he is not bogged down with coursework, Bachman likes to spend his time immersed in political philosophy and British and ancient history. Thank you for your tireless leadership as an ISI Associated Group Leader, Joshua!

Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose Deadline Approaching Fast! Turn Your Dream Into a Reality with $40,000! ISI has established the William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose to recognize graduating college seniors who are pursuing lives dedicated to and distinguished by honor, generosity, service, and respect. The William E. Simon Fellowship seeks to encourage a fresh appreciation of the importance of the moral and spiritual dimensions of life for all peoples and cultures. Projects may focus on a variety of causes, including education, the building of civil society, life issues, and service opportunities at home and abroad. The Simon Fellowship is a $40,000 unrestricted cash grant awarded to those graduating college seniors who have demonstrated passion, dedication, a high capacity for self-direction, and originality in pursuit of a goal that will strengthen civil society. In addition, two $5,000 cash awards are given to two other outstanding students. Examples of how recipients may use the award include: Engage directly in the civic life of their community. Help to create opportunity for others, including job creation. Advance their expertise (including pursuit of a graduate degree). Fund the ultimate realization of their noble purpose. For more information, please go to www.simonfellowship.org, or contact simon@isi.org.

Hey Students, Want to Work at ISI for the Summer? The Lehrman American Studies Center at ISI is looking for a bright, outgoing undergraduate or graduate student to fill its Summer Fellow in American Studies internship position. The deadline for applying is February 15, 2008.  Fellows will receive $4,000 in compensation plus all official travel costs. Apply today! Click here for a full job description (PDF). For more information, please contact Kelly Hanlon at (302) 652-4600, ext.135, or lehrman@isi.org.

ISI Volunteer Essay of the Month “Learning in War-Time (PDF),” by C. S. Lewis The essence of conservatism is grasped only through the rigorous study and deep reflection of the central (and competing) ideas of the conservative disposition. At ISI, we are committed to the exploration and celebration of the cultural, spiritual, and economic principles that define the West. Knowing that, each edition of The Permanent Things will contain one carefully selected reading by ISI staff . . . or by you. If you would like to recommend an essay, please send it to Kenneth Cribb, II at kcribb2@isi.org. Include a brief paragraph explaining the rationale for your selection. January’s essay selection has been recommended by the Institute’s newest addition, Mr. Douglas Minson, who serves as Executive Director of Educational Programs.  Mr. Minson has recommended C. S. Lewis’ timely essay, “Learning In War-Time,” for your edification. He offers the following introductory insights: “Unlike the students at Oxford to whom C. S. Lewis offered this lay sermon on vocation on the brink of World War II, there is little indication that American students are restless to leave their studies to join in our country’s own military efforts. Which is not to say that there is not a host of pressing concerns to draw students away from their studies. Perhaps a better analogue to Lewis’ time is the 2008 election season that is now in full swing. The conscientious and civic-minded young people who appreciate the work of ISI cannot help but find the campaign season alluring—as they rightly should. But even these substantial concerns must be considered in light of the permanent and enduring, and care given to one’s own existential obligations. ‘“Learning in War-Time” provides timely application of timeless wisdom. Lewis’ sage counsel is both a compelling charge and insightful aid to engaging in the Socratic Operation of self-examination. As the intoxicating enthusiasm of a presidential election mounts, Lewis offers a sobering chaser to the strong drink of retail politics.”

2008-09 Honors Conference Deadline February 28 This year’s Honors Program will examine “Civilization and Civilizations: The West in Context” and applications must be postmarked by Thursday, February 28, 2008. The Summer Conferences will be held in Québec City June 23-June 29 & July 28-August 3, 2008. The ISI Honors Program is a highly selective, year-long mentoring fellowship for fifty of the nation’s most promising undergraduates. Honors Fellows are assigned an Academic Mentor who guides them through reading projects and advises on intellectual questions and career options. Fellows explore the West’s intellectual tradition at a week-long, all-expenses-paid summer conference, at a weekend colloquia, and through an online listserv. Fellows receive an array of ISI publications, including American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia and Modern Age, and are notified of employment, fellowship, and internship opportunities. For more information on the Honors Program, please contact John Joseph Shanley at honors@isi.org or (800) 526-7022.

Coming to a Campus Near You ISI’s Culture of Enterprise Lecture Series Part of ISI’s ongoing Culture of Enterprise Initiative (COE)—an international educational and publishing initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation that also includes an undergraduate essay contest; significant book and article awards; and a new book series—the COE Lecture Series is designed each year to bring ten renowned scholars from the interdisciplinary field of humane economics and culture to major cities across the country for the purpose of examining, in an age of globalization, the cultural underpinnings of moral, prosperous market societies. This year’s line-up reflects the intellectual and professional diversity of our stable of speakers, as it is our intent to help bridge the gap that still exists between the theoretical world of the scholarly community and the practical worlds of business and public affairs, and will include speakers like: Dr. Thomas E. Woods Senior Fellow, The Ludwig von Mises Institute “Prosperity and Globalization: What Recent History Can Teach the Churches” (download) Dr. Roger Scruton Public Intellectual and author of The West and the Rest (ISI Books) “The Free Market and the Common Good: Wilhelm Ropke and the Future of the Humane Economy” Dr. Nick Capaldi The Legendre-Soule Distinguished Chair in Business Ethics Loyola University – New Orleans “The Ethical Foundations of Free Market Societies” (download) Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse Senior Fellow, The Acton Institute “A Humane Alternative to Modern Feminism: Free-Market, Family-Friendly, Faith-Filled” For more information about the lectures series and the overall initiative, please go to www.cultureofenterprise.org.

Notes from the Field Networking Advice from a Guide on the Side Take a look at this insightful perspective on giving and receiving career insights as prepared by the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Those serving as mentors as well as individuals seeking advice will benefit from this short guide to making the most of your next ‘networking’ encounter. http://www.actonmba.org/pdfs/NaiveNet_PROR1.pdf

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Letter to Senator Kit Bond regarding Foreign Intelligence Srveillance

I believe that your office is trying to cover up the President’s wrongdoing. According to the Washington Times there is an assessment from your office that says the following: “There is nothing new or aggressive about relying on Article II authority in the context of foreign intelligence surveillance.”

There would be nothing new or aggressive about relying on Article II authority in the realm of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance if there had been no FISA in 1978, no Patriot Act in 2001 & 2006 and the Protect America Act last year. These laws set a framework of how the President is supposed to conduct foreign intelligence surveillance. He cannot use Article II authority to do something that the law does allow. Congress makes the laws and the President signs them. Why should this be the case if we are going to allow a President to conduct activities that run a foul of the law and claim Article II protection so that anything can be done that the President likes; when the President likes. I keep emphasizing the President because this would apply to any President not just this one.