By the way, sounds like you’ve come up with a good plan. I’m thinking there will be a lot of tennis going on, where you’re bound. I liked everything there, but I think the heat would’ve gotten to me. The woods are awesome, the food is great, plenty of cultchah (as we say in Maine).

Denny and I are flying back to Maine in May to scout out some properties. The plan is to get a small house with a tenant already in it. Then, we have a landing pad for the future. No definite future plans, but definitely oriented in that direction.

Yes, ZS, right on all accounts. At the same time I read this essay I was listening to Os Guinness discussing some western Christian’s uncritical enthusiasm for capitalism, which he says acts as a “corrosive” to Christian culture and ideals by its very nature. CP sees liberalism as the counterbalance and, alas, if she were speaking of the kind of liberalism rooted in Christian social concerns (remember Charles Dickens, Wilberforce, Garrison, etc.?), then I think she would have a point. But, contemporary liberalism or progressivism lack both the moral authority and positivism to confront the social problems that may result from a free market. With the deconstruction and democratization we see around us, I think that sort of compassionate pH resistance will probably be provided by individuals and small groups of people banding together. Free market economics are expanding and will not go away, no matter how hard the socialists try. As CP says, it is by nature “Darwinian” and will find a way to survive.

Her views on Coulter are mine exactly. I think Coulter is a very intelligent woman, and also quite sexy. However, she seems to be regressing, instead of progressing. I’ve been very disappointed in her works lately.

Hillary Clinton will never be President of the United States. If the Democrats make such a huge deal about Howard Dean losing his cool (which I thought was no big deal), they haven’t seen anything yet.

And capitalism rules. It allowed me to accomplish what I’ve accomplished, and I appreciate it. However, she’s right that it does leave some good folks behind. The argument we probably would make would be how best to include everyone.