If Not Us, Who?

If Not Us, Who? is David Frisk's excellent new biography of William Rusher, the longtime publisher of National Review.  It explains how Rusher provided important links between the conservative intellectual movement and the practical world of Republican politics.  Anyone interested in how conservatism evolved from the 1950s through the 1980s should read this book.

An earlier version was Frisk's doctoral dissertation.  Accordingly, his research is thorough and his analysis is evenhanded.  (Declaration of interest:  I was on his committee.)   At the same time, the book is readable and engaging.  It is completely accessible for general readers and would be very appropriate for adoption in courses dealing with the intersection of ideology and politics.

Information about Campaigns and Elections

Useful Census graphs on the demographics of voting and registration.


The antecedents of Santorum's "Rombo" ad.


How postal cutbacks could affect voting by mail.


How copyright issues affect campaign rallies.

Gingrich's 1980 "Capitol Steps" event -- the forerunner to The Contract with America.

Latest Items on Newt

The little remembered Gore-Gingrich bill, which would have established the Office of Critical Trends Analysis.


A 1980 letter in which Gingrich told Jack Kemp that the Capitol steps event with Reagan had been a failure.


A 1990 speech in which Gingrich espoused a big-tent approach to party-building.


A list of times that Gingrich appeared in the Public Papers of the Presidents during the Reagan administration (exactly 7, of which 5 were pro forma acknowledgments during speeches in Georgia).


Historical data on Gingrich's approval ratings.


Video of a 1987 confrontation with Jim Wright and Carrie Meek's 1993 attack on Gingrich's ethics.

About Newt

Previous posts (here, here, here) contained links to information and documents about Newt Gingrich.  Here are some additional items:

• Gingrich notes in which he pictured himself and then-wife Marianne at the center of their universe;
• An attack ad highlighting his overdrafts at the House Bank;
• A draft book chapter by his former chief of staff;
• A new and improved version of "Gingrich Bingo."

Ron Paul Items

In his 1988 book, Ron Paul did not just disagree with Ronald Reagan, he repudiated the whole administration.

A former aide criticizes "the sheer lunacy of his foreign policy views."

As recently as 2010, Paul spoke to a John Birch Society meeting.  It is surprising that this item has not gotten more media attention.  Perhaps the reason is that so much of the campaign press corps now consists of twentysomethings who have no idea what the JBS stands for.

Gingrich Items

The next time you watch a Newt Gingrich speech or debate performance, try Gingrich Bingo, a game deriving from the former speaker's favorite words and phrases.

Gingrich has a longstanding admiration for Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt.

Nicholas Lemann's 1985 Atlantic profile has some fascinating material.

A Couple of Surprising Things about Newt

He once supported a value-added tax.

He once attacked House GOP conservatives as "the perfectionist caucus."

Gingrich Update

Newt's use of language.

A 1992 episode suggesting a pragmatic view of religion.

Newt's fascination with science fiction.

New survey data on the GOP race.

Tough new Ron Paul ad attacks Newt.

Fact-Checking

On CBS, Scott Pelley screws up a key fact about Super PACs

A misquotation on homelessness goes viral

Newt Gingrich makes some historical mistakes in his new book.

Gingrich, Maddow, and Public Goods

In MSNBC ads this year, Rachel Maddow has been making the public-goods case for government.

It is not surprising that she would offer such an argument. What might be a little surprising is that Newt Gingrich does the same thing.

More here.

Madison v. Gingrich

As a freshman House member, Newt Gingrich embraced the responsible party school, sounding a lot more like Woodrow Wilson than James Madison.

More here.

The Rise of Newt

With Gingrich's continue rise in the polls, some may want to see recent items:

Gingrich would abolish the Congressional Budget Office -- but has relied on its analysis whenever convenient.

Videos of Gingrich interviews.

A graphic display of Gingrich's self-image

"Five Myths about Newt Gingrich"

Of Misquotation and Emulation

The fake Tocqueville quotation has crossed the Pacific, with the leader of the Australian opposition saying that America is great because America is good.

Progressive activists are trying to draw lessons from the successes of conservatives ...

who drew lessons from the earlier successes of progressive activists...

who drew lessons from even earlier successes of conservatives ...

Budget and Management Fads

The public administration folks must be having a good laugh at current debates.

Six Sigma is not a new idea.

Neither is zero-based budgeting.

About Mr. Gingrich

Now that Newt Gingrich seems to be surging in the polls, there is renewed interest in his background. This eclectic collection of items may be relevant:

• His 1985 Oxford debate and a 1994 Oxford-style debate in the House;
• His history as a Rockefeller Republican;
• His record on brain research;
• His support for Lincoln-Douglas style debates;
• His ability to prosper amid bad poll numbers;
• His relationship to Tiffany's;
• His (mostly unhappy) relationship with Tom Coburn;
• His general background (including my 1996 APSA paper about him);
• His pivotal 1984 confrontation with Tip O'Neill;
• His lessons from government shutdowns;
• His affection for zoos;
• His largely-unheralded role in Reagan's 1980 campaign

Recent Data

Romney's religion could still be a problem for him.

The latest Pew survey details generation gaps on key political issues.

Gallup reports on religion and party identification.

Social Security is now cash-negative.

Survey data show that Americans want to replace the electoral college.

Ranked-Choice Voting

San Francisco is perhaps the most prominent jurisdiction to use ranked-choice (or instant-runoff) voting. Articles here and here describe how the current City campaign has unfolded.

Presidential Candidates

• Rick Perry misuses the word literally with amusing results.
• Perry channels John McCain and Barack Obama on energy and regulation.
• Newt Gingrich, formerly a Rockefeller Republican, accuses Romney of being ... a Rockefeller Republican.

Poli Sci and the Electoral College

Political scientists weigh in on the electoral college:

• Why Colorado could be pivotal in 2012;
• An argument against a proposed district system in Pennsylvania;
• Another argument against a district system;
• Indiana and the electoral college;
• Commentary on the National Popular Vote alternative.

Useful Phrase of the Week

"Kick-a-puppy syndrome" -- the belief that one's opponents are so mean that they would ... well, kick a puppy. More here.