Matthew Yglesias » Jerry Taylor, National Review, and Executive Power

Feb 20th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Jerry Taylor, National Review, and Executive Power

I did a post this morning noting with amazement that the inauguration of Barack Obama was swiftly followed by a Corner post bemoaning excessive executive power, something that doesn’t seem to have been a big concern during the Bush years. I should, however, have been clear on the point that the author of the post, Jerry Taylor from the Cato Institute, hasn’t been engaged in any hypocrisy here. Cato and Cato personnel were always, and appropriately, very critical of the Bush administration’s actions in this regard. Taylor just wasn’t blogging at the Corner until very recently.

But therein lies the rub. Conservatives are suddenly rediscovering this topic and reaching out to the Taylors of the world. It’s funny.

Comments
17

Filed under: Executive Power, National Review,

17 Responses to “Jerry Taylor, National Review, and Executive Power”

cleek Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
your problem Matt, is that you have a pre 1/20/09 mindset. everything changed, on that fateful day.
Mr. Warmth Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
No it’s not funny, it’s pathetic.

What I look forward to is when Obama makes his Supreme Court nominations and watching all those Republican Senators calling for an “up or down” vote. (not)
Craig Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
There will be a special prize awarded to the first conservative commentator who calls the FISA court a “star chamber,” like they did back in the Clinton days.
joe from Lowell Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Props for clarifying this, Matt.
kid bitzer Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
still, when zombie montesquieu sees himself being quoted by the bush-loving, unitary-executive, authoritarian power-worshipers at the national review, he’s going to come out of his grave and eat rich lowry.

and then he’ll be sorry.
otey Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Isn’t moving from Cato to the Corner more like an intra-departmental move?
bh Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
You can tell something’s bad for Republicans when the Corner goes to radio silence on it. I wonder if that’s what K-Lo’s “editing” involves, ’cause God knows it’s not for style or content. Someone has to decide when it’s time to switch from sophistry to pretending the issue simply doesn’t exist.
Jon Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
If there’s anything we should learn from Iraq (and Vietnam before that) it’s that there is too much power in the executive right now. Should the balance be adjusted, or are we going to have to repeat a debacle like this with every generation?

This doesn’t affect your point that conservatives are being hypocritical and should be sent to the wilderness for a long time, which I agree with wholeheartedly.
pseudonymous in nc Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
If Taylor actually had any self-respect, he wouldn’t be contributing at Moron Junction.
Don K Says:
February 20th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I think it’s all about trying to re-create a majority by enticing a few libertarians back. The second part of this effort will be “they’re giving your money away to the (insert disfavored minority of the moment)” to try to wrest away enough working-class voters in MI, IN, OH, and PA to get the job done.
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February 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
You mean funny-weird or funny-hah-hah?
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Matt Yglesias

Jerry Taylor, National Review, and Executive Power

17 Responses to “Jerry Taylor, National Review, and Executive Power”

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