Curtis Bowman

James Traub on John Lukacs's "George Kennan: A Study of Character"

James Traub has written a review of John Lukacs's George Kennan: A Study of Character.

Kay S. Hymowitz on the Legal Barriers to Treating the Insane

By now the consensus of opinion is that Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech shooter, was seriously mentally disturbed. Therefore, one has to wonder why more wasn't done to prevent him from running amok.

Well, it's difficult to do anything if the person in question won't cooperate. Kay S. Hymowitz of City Journal looks at the legal barriers to hospitalizing someone who is obviously insane.

Noam Scheiber on Phony Populism

Noam Scheiber of The New Republic explains why the phony populism practiced by the GOP appeals to voters who are well aware of its phoniness.

Less Healthy Than Their Parents?

Rob Stein of The Washington Post reports that mounting evidence indicates that the baby boomers who are about to reach retirement age are less healthy than their parents.

Thomas Friedman on the Connection Between Oil and Tyranny

Thomas Friedman has written an excellent article on how oil wealth allows governments that are so inclined to restrict the freedoms of their citizens and flout the demands of the international community to reform their oppressive ways.

David Weigel on Thomas Schaller's "Whistling Past Dixie"

David Weigel of Reason has written a review of Thomas Schaller's Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South.

I've blogged about Schaller on several occasions, especially after the recent election seemed to prove his point that Democrats shouldn't look for electoral gains in the South any longer. These two posts — here and here — will give you some links to follow.

Theodore Dalrymple Reviews Mark Steyn's "America Alone"

Theodore Dalrymple reviews Mark Steyn's America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It .

Charles Krauthammer on Iran and the British Hostages

As far as Charles Krauthammer is concerned, Iran's latest escapade just demonstrates the impotence of the European Union and the United Nations when it comes to maintaining any semblance of international order.

Theodore Dalrymple on the Upcoming French Election

Theodore Dalrymple, now living the life of an expatriate in France, says that if he could vote in the upcoming election, then he would vote for Nicolas Sarkozy.