On hiatus

A few people have emailed me to ask about my blogging hiatus. So - although it violates the spirit of a hiatus to post a blog entry about it - let me clarify the situation.

First, I shut down the comments thread for my last post because, as more than one reader correctly pointed out, the argument was becoming too heated on all sides. Tempers (including mine) were fraying. It was best to take a time-out.

I closed the other threads because I figured that if they stayed open, the argument would simply migrate over there. Plus, those conversations were mostly played out anyway.

For the same reason, comments are closed on this entry. I don't want the argument to start up again.

As I said on the other thread, I'm a little burned out on blogging right now. It gets tiresome to produce a post every couple of days, and to participate in the threads on a daily basis. I need a vacation. With Memorial Day weekend coming up, what better time could there be?

I also want to say something about politics. Some people have the impression that I am a wildly partisan Republican. I can understand this impression, but I think it is mistaken. If you go back and comb through the posts on this blog, you'll see that I was sharply critical of President Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina and that I dismissed his plan for partial privatization of Social Security as too risky. Long before the Surge, I complained that the occupation of Iraq was going badly and that a new strategy was needed. I have said that some form of universal health insurance is necessary in America, and that our economic system will inevitably move closer to the social democratic model of most European countries. I've also said, quite recently, that Hillary Clinton would be a kick-ass veep for John McCain. I don't think these are wildly partisan positions.

On the other hand, I am very much opposed to the probable Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, mainly because of his twenty-year political and personal alliance with the odious Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but also because he strikes me, on the basis of his thin resume and shallow grasp of international affairs, as supremely unqualified for the presidency. I am also turned off by the strangely messianic tone of his candidacy and the near-hysterical fervor of his followers. If Hillary Clinton or Bill Richardson or Joe Biden or even Chris Dodd were the nominee, I wouldn't feel the same way.

Anyway, that's just my opinion. I may be wrong. I have been wrong before, believe it or not. I supported Jimmy Carter in 1976, and he turned out to be probably the worst president of the 20th century. (People who passionately hate George W. Bush should be reminded that he is a president of the 21st century.) I opposed Bill Clinton in 1992, and he turned out to be a reasonably good president, policywise, though his ethical standards left a bit to be desired. Maybe Obama will surprise me and govern well if he wins, but I would prefer not to take the chance. There is too much at stake.

Enjoy the long weekend!