I had the privilege and pleasure of interviewing Bruce Herschensohn this week. He is bright, funny, and brilliant. I would expect nothing less from a Jewish republican. He was a U.S. Senate candidate in 1992, and is currently a professor at Pepperdine University.
One of his funniest self-effacing lines was during his Senate run. 1992 was the year of the woman, as several women, some of them unqualified, used the Anita Hill smear of Judge Clarence Thomas to get elected. Instead of asking why men vote republican, republicans had to be asked why women vote democrat.
Bruce Herschensohn then held a dinner with 400 conservative women in attendance. They loved him. He explained that he was scaring off some women voters because he was too darn macho. Some women are afraid to vote for a man “who looks and talks like John Wayne.”
John Wayne, if alive today, would be proud to know a tough but nice guy like Bruce Herschensohn. With that, my interview with him is below.
1) What have you been up to since 1992, and is there another run for political office in your future?
I have been teaching U.S. Foreign Policy at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy, writing, speaking, and a good deal of foreign travel. No possibility of running for office again. (The Senate was all I was interested in.)
2) Who are your top 3 American political heroes of all time, and who are your top 3 political heroes on the world stage? Who are your 3 favorite political inspirations that are not actual politicians?
Since so many of them are before my time, my contemporary political heroes, in order of service, are Presidents Kennedy, Nixon, and Reagan.
Those that are not politicians are personal and most of them are not public figures.
3) With regards to foreign policy, what have we done right, and what have we gotten wrong, in the last 8 years, and what steps can be taken to improve the situations that require improvement?
Both interventions — in Afghanistan and Iraq — on the War against Islamist Terrorism were absolutely right. The improvement I believe we should make is to stop fighting a politically correct war on battlefields and at home. We didn’t fight a politically correct war during World War II on the battlefields or at home — and we won that war. And it is justifiably called the Greatest Generation. Would it be if we had lost?
4) What have we gotten right and wrong with domestic policy?
Those things we think of as being entitlements, none of which are in the U.S. Constitution.
5) In general the media are seen very unfavorably. Do you believe this reputation is justified, overblown or even understated? If not overblown, what can the media do to improve itself?
It is correctly thought of as unfavorable. However, it is better than it was previously when we only had three television networks and few balanced news-gathering media. Talk-radio and at least one television network (Fox News) has created more balance than we had before. The media will only improve itself with more balance if the public demands it.
6) A large segment of our society seems to have an irrational fear of anyone deemed “religious.” Do you feel this is true, and how do you balance your commitment to your faith with the fact that some Americans may unfairly consider all expressions of religion to be equated with zealotry and intolerance? Also, does that faith play any role in either your career?
Of course my faith takes an important part in my life and career and those who are critical of that consume none of my time.
7) Given the liberal bias in education, how do you or anybody get through to the “South Park Conservatives” before they get indoctrinated? Should we all home school our kids and declare public schooling a lost cause?
School-choice and Home-school are the only answers I know at this late stage.
8.) Respected investor Jim Rogers once stated that “no nation has ever devalued its currency to prosperity” Is the falling dollar a crisis, or is this overblown? Is America declining financially? Is our nation as sound as the dollar, and is that good or bad?
I do not believe it is a crisis but it is a cycle that we have gone through periodically. I do believe in free trade, but we should only engage in free trade with free nations.
9) What would be the main qualities and criteria you would look for with regards to Supreme Court justices? Could they disagree with you on major issues, and still be qualified? Are there any cases, such as the second amendment cases coming up, that you are following extra closely?
The qualities and criteria should be the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution as its authors intended. To me, the Second Amendment is so clear in the people’s right to keep and bear arms, that I do not understand its frequent and intentional misinterpretation. Like most people, abortion is of much interest to me. I do not understand how “the right of privacy” has ever been a criterion in the taking-away of life.
10) What are your thoughts on the 2008 elections? What makes 2008 important to you?
The most important issue of our time is winning the War against Islamist Terrorism. I believe John McCain is the best qualified to do that. Wars are won or lost. If we lose, all other issues will be decided by an Ayatollah, Imam, or Mullah.
11) What are your views on the Bush Doctrine of preemptive military force? Do you feel we are headed in that direction with Iran? Should we consider that? How do
you feel on Israel taking preemptive action against any one of its enemies?
We have to take preemptive action. The alternative is waiting for another attack on the United States. We all knew that right after 9-11, and then we relegated 9-11 to history rather than the current. Since you asked about Israel, I believe Israel should take more preemptive action than it is taking. It used to take it which is why Israel is still a nation. But Israel now seems to be copying our politically-correct agenda, and that is very dangerous.
12) Besides you, who else should be on John McCain’s short list for Vice Presidential candidates? Do you have any predictions?
Not me, for sure. And I don’t think he should announce a Vice-Presidential choice until the Republican Convention. Luckily, the Democrat’s 2008 Convention takes place before the Republican’s 2008 Convention.
13) If you were given five minutes to interview President Bush or Vice President Cheney, what would you ask them? What would you say to them?
What I stated above regarding fighting politically-correct wars.
14) Given that there are many liberals in America, why are they failing in some segments of the media from ratings, and more importantly, a financial standpoint? Are Air America and the Jayson Blair Times anomolies, or typical of a larger problem?
They are typical of a larger problem. I believe they so often fail because they have even ceased to be interesting.
15) Are the many Clinton scandals involving Hillary such as Travelgate, Filegate, The Pardons, Whitewater, and the Commodities Trading, fair game for the 2008 election if Hillary pulls out the nomination? Even if it is fair, is it politically wise? Do you think it would hurt Hillary or have a boomerang effect that will hurt republicans?
I believe in keeping to policy.
16) Are the Clinton scandals specifically related only to Bill Clinton’s alleged sexual crimes fair game for the 2008 election? While Gennifer Flowers and Monica
Lewinsky involved consensual sex, should people be reminded that Kathleen Willey accused him of sexual assault and Juanita Broderick accused him of rape? Is this
a politically wise move, or do you think it would boomerang back and hurt republicans?
It would boomerang. And he isn’t running for office.
17) What do you think have been the most positive achievements of the Bush Presidency, and what has left you most disappointed? If you were writing the history book or the biography of the Bush Presidency, what would be its core theme?
He has enough critics without allies writing books in which disappointments are itemized. I wouldn’t think of it. The core theme of his Presidency is taking preemptive action and having the eventual goal of everyone in the world living in liberty. Not Bad.
18) You, Bruce Herschensohn, are President on January 20th, 2009. What are the first three things you do? What is your hundred day plan?
Win the war, no matter what it takes. (If the 111th Congress is like the 110th Congress, the president who takes over on January the 20th of 2009 might be impeached for winning it – but so be it.
19) What are the main positive and negative contributions to society that the blogosphere has brought us? What can be done, if anything, to as the song says, accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative?
I think it’s wonderful. It is the 21st Century version of the Town Hall. Only the readers can act to accentuate the positive. The real elimination of the negative will never occur.
20) What do you want people to know most about Bruce Herschensohn the person? What do you want most out of this world? What do you want people to remember about you
100 years from now?
I would be surprised if I’m remembered one year from now!
Mr. Herschensohn’s modesty notwithstanding, he will absolutely be remembered. He was very friendly, and he left a warm message on my cellphone thanking me for taking the time to contact him. As a Jewish republican and staunch supporter of the War on Islamofacist Terror, I am proud to have associated in any way with Bruce Herschensohn.
As I mentioned to him, politics is like sports. The fans often take losses harder than the players. America would have been blessed to have had him as a Senator, but between Bruce Herschensohn and Judge Kenneth Starr, Pepperdine is a beacon of intellectual light in what is often a darkened university system.
At the risk of ending the interview on a bittersweet note, an event took place the day after I interviewed him. It was a sad day for conservatives everywhere. At the age of 82, William F. Buckley left the world of man and Yale to join God. I asked Mr. Herschensohn to comment on Mr. Buckley’s death…and life.
"In answer to your question regarding William Buckley: William Buckley was a treasured friend who I always thought would live forever. And he will. Through his tremendous intellect, humor, and wisdom he changed this nation's political thought for the better, not just for his own generation but for all those yet unborn who will read and learn from his giant presence that cannot be undone."
Mr. Buckley was not just conservative. He was classy, dignified, and friendly. He raised the level of discourse. He advanced his own convictions without denigrating others.
It is that principled conservativism that I embrace. It is that principled conservatism that Bruce Herschensohn stands for. It was a pleasure getting to know Bruce Herschensohn.
I wish Bruce Herschensohn the best of everything, always.
eric
I love his take on the Clinton “scandals.” They were so petty, so malicious, so adolescently vindictive, all these “scandals” did waas make the Republican Party look a tween girl’s pajama party filled with all the usual gossip, teasing and pillow fighting. Which gets to this point – “Mr. Buckley was not just conservative. He was classy, dignified, and friendly. He raised the level of discourse. He advanced his own convictions without denigrating others.” The GOP these days could take a lessen from WFB.
JMJ
15) Are the many Clinton scandals involving Hillary such as Travelgate, Filegate, The Pardons, Whitewater, and the Commodities Trading, fair game for the 2008 election if Hillary pulls out the nomination? Even if it is fair, is it politically wise? Do you think it would hurt Hillary or have a boomerang effect that will hurt republicans?
“I believe in keeping to policy.”
So If I bring these things up about Hillary I’m referd to as a foolish misogynist.
And yet she points the blamefinger at everything around her as a scandal and conspiracy. And does not address issues, but only shifts blame to Bush , the media, and moderaters.
If she would actually address policy she wouldnt have half the problems that she has.
Has any one noticed how she wont even touch the subject of Al Queda in Iraq as McCain and Obama shoot back and forth on that subject ?
She should bring the focus onto herself by addressing an issue that is hot right now if she wants to save her ass.
But she can only bring the focus to herself by playing the ” oh poor me ” card.
So Jersey ! Yea. Hillary could learn a lesson or two from Buckley.
She should start promoting her cause without taking everything around her down in the process.
Taking what “everything” down? What are you talking about?
JMJ
Did you watch the debate before this last one ?
Almost every question was dodged and ended with a Bush bash.
George Bush this and George Bush that.
When you blame everyone else but yourself for your failures you are essentially dragging them down with you since you have no positive merits to accell yourself.
Anyway, if I have to explain that to anyone any further they are the one who needs to get out more often
I’ve got news for you Micky – George Bush is the president. It is his complete and total failure as president that has this country in the tank. It is his fault – and the fault of the complete and total failure of the GOP one-party state – not Clinton’s or Obama’s. The Bush presidency has “dragged everyone down” with it, not the Clinton campaign The Bush presidency should be bashed over and over and over and over. That’s a winning strategy.
JMJ
Yea, Its working real well for her right now.
When you base your opinion on a deraingment syndrome it will get you in trouble.
Like I said earlier, put up or shut up.
because Bushs accomplisments far outweigh the few accomplisments Hillary has made.
Any shmuck can talk smack about the other guy. But it doesnt make him look good.
It only makes him the person hes talking about look bad.
Besides that, shes not running against Bush.
It takes a real big person to run on percieved failures and mistakes of someone else instead of their own merits. Do you actually condone this behavior ?
Why doesnt she run on some her husbands mistakes that put Bush in this position ?
COMPLETE AND TOTAL ?
Everytime you have said that I have chewed you up and spit you out.
You always maintain that statement as fact, and you can never prove it.
Is that a winning strategy ?
In my sleep I can prove that GWB was not a total and complete failure.
You watch. Whoever gets the Dem nom is going to run against Bush as much as McCain, and they’re starting already. They can easily tangibly show the multiple failures of the Bush years, and then all they have to do is point out where McCain went along. McCain will be running both against his own record and theirs, and will try to use his maverick persona to drive down the political middle. He will repudiate both the far left and the far right. He has no choice. That’s why he reacted negatively to that goofy radio guy. That’s why he’s staying away from the anti-Obama screwballs.
McCain may be a little nuts, but he’s not stupid, and he has plenty of leeway with his maverick voting record. Lucky for him, he didn’t always go along with the party line.
“In my sleep I can prove that GWB was not a total and complete failure.”
Yes. When you’re dreaming. His poll numbers tanked ages ago and never came nor will come back. He’s done. Get over it. Far more Americans are worse off for him than are better off with him. If McCain ran as a “Bush III” he would lose. Again, McCain may be a little nuts, but…
JMJ
JMJ;
“You watch. Whoever gets the Dem nom is going to run against Bush as much as McCain”
You cant run against someone who isnt running. You can only say what percieved wrongs you will correct. And when perception comes into the picture such as your perception of Bush you need to start verifying with facts.
McCain will still run on the belief that Iraq was the right thing to do and he will do it better, but he will not sink to the levels of you and Hillary by over stating percieved the failures of Bush as ” complete and total”
McCain will also point out the numerous times he has not gone along with Bush or the GOP. Just as he recomended to Rumsfeld that the escaltion carry much bigger numbers than Rumsfeld wanted.
JMJ;
“Yes. When you’re dreaming. His poll numbers tanked ages ago and never came nor will come back. He’s done. Get over it. Far more Americans are worse off for him than are better off with him. If McCain ran as a “Bush III” he would lose. Again, McCain may be a little nuts, but…”
Still, you offer only opinion. I can show a list of accomplishments by Bush that far outweigh any list of failures.
Because in order for you to win this arguement you would have to prove that Bush failed at “EVERYTHING” he did.
Now.
This is about Hillary and her accomplishments , remember ?
Show me that she has done more for this country than Bush or get over your blind childish hatred.
Lets start here.
Published Dec. 27, 2007
In five years as the most influential Democrat in the Senate, Hillary has managed to get the following laws and resolutions enacted:
• Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site
• Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month
• Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
• Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall
• Name courthouse after James L. Watson
• Name post office after John A. O’Shea
• Designate August 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day
• Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day
• Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death
• Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
• Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men’s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship
• Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program
• Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda
• Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death
• Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton’s bills are, according to Morris, “substantive”:
• Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11
• Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
• Assist landmine victims in other countries
• Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care
• Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the Wilderness Preservation System
Pretty impressive for five years in congress.
LOL.
Micky, this is all beside my point.
JMJ
No its not. You’re just afraid to go there because you know you’ll take a butt whooping.
Micky, what do you have to say about this:
“You watch. Whoever gets the Dem nom is going to run against Bush as much as McCain, and they’re starting already. They can easily tangibly show the multiple failures of the Bush years, and then all they have to do is point out where McCain went along. McCain will be running both against his own record and theirs, and will try to use his maverick persona to drive down the political middle. He will repudiate both the far left and the far right. He has no choice. That’s why he reacted negatively to that goofy radio guy. That’s why he’s staying away from the anti-Obama screwballs.
McCain may be a little nuts, but he’s not stupid, and he has plenty of leeway with his maverick voting record. Lucky for him, he didn’t always go along with the party line.
“In my sleep I can prove that GWB was not a total and complete failure.”
Yes. When you’re dreaming. His poll numbers tanked ages ago and never came nor will come back. He’s done. Get over it. Far more Americans are worse off for him than are better off with him. If McCain ran as a “Bush III” he would lose. Again, McCain may be a little nuts, but…
JMJ”
?
JMJ
Thats been answerd in post #8.
And I am not in total disagreement with you over McCain, I never was, so why you want to stick him in the middle of all this os only evidence of you chickening out
But still that is not the issue here. It is you comparing Bush to Hillary.
She is running a negative campaign and she is a whiner and she has nothing in comparison to the accomplisments that Bush has.
And you want to try to circumvent this conversation to another subject because you got nothing to back up your consistent accusation that Bush is a complete failure.
For every negative you come up with I will come up with ten positives . I’ve done it before and you know it.
For every accomplisment of Hillarys I will show you 10 accomplisments of Bushs.
All above are the issues to be addressed, including Hillarys constant moaning and groaning about how the whole world is against her.
Whats the latest now ?
Oh , yea! She always gets the first question.
She needs to start running positive and stop all the complaining and bashing and bitching.
No matter what anyone says or thinks, Bush will not be our next president.
Putting anyone down to build yourself up is the weakest and most pathetic thing any person can do. In the end it only makes you look worse.
Which is exactlt whats happeneing to Hillary.
Hillary said”The kitchen sink is going to get dumped on Obama”. As Dick Morris said ” she doesnt even have a sink”
And then at the end of every statement like the retch that sge is she will throw in some accusation of Bush just to get a response from the derainged followers who think like you. It sounds good on tape, she knows this.
Obama does it too. All you have to do is preach to the choir one statement you know it agrees with and you get the “Hurrah!” and the cheers. But looking back, they said nothing.
Saying that we should stick to the issues and avoid all of the scandals is the only response he could legitimately make, given his own sex scandals involving strip clubs and pornography.
Herschensohn used to be (and maybe still is, I don’t know) a commentator on LA radio and I listened to him every morning for years. I didn’t always agree with him but more times than not he seemed spot on and my recollection is that he often took on the Reagan Administration. Maybe it was just the nature of the interview as opposed to a longer commentary with time to research and prepare, but I guess I expected more from him than just the standard Republican line.
Leap Year Leap Day Links
I just thought the photo above was beautiful, so I figured I’d add it. Something about it seemed to me to fit with the mysteries of Leap Year. I know, leap year is not all that mysterious, but the photo seems to me to be. I shamelessly grabbed t…
Well, Micky, we shall see. If I were a Dem advisor, you can bet your toast that’s what I’d tell them to do. As for Hillary “moaning” and “whining” – NOBODY WHINES AND MOANS MORE ABOUT THE PRESS THAN REPUBLICANS.
JMJ
They are not all running for office. And its not only the press she cries about, its everything.
Nothing is her fault, ever.
And you still have convince me or that her accomplishments outweigh Bushs or that Bush and the GOP is a complete failure.
No administration has ever been perfect. Some have been worse tha others. But none of them have ever been “COMPLETE” failures.
That kind of statement makes any debate pointless.
Especially when there is no way in hell you could ever prove it .
So once again a debate ends with you holding nothing more than your opinion, which is all you started with.
You have failed to educate me on any matters or issues.
Although I could quite easely prove you wrong just by bringing any number of lists that display our presidents accomplisments in the last 7 years.
The only 3 things you’ve really done here is to call me ” foolish” and a “misogynists” from the git go. And also displayed how the left operates by playing the race and gender card.
Great interview. Kudos.
Hillary and Obama are not running for your vote, Micky. They don’t really care what you think. You are of a small hard-core rightist minority. Obama and Hillary are running for the vast center/center-left, just as McCain will run for the center/center-right when he gets the nod. McCain will paint himself as quite different from Bush. Obama or Hillary will try to paint McCain as another Bush. Either way, the proof will be in the pudding: no one will be running on the “success” of the Bush administration. You’ll owe me lunch by the time this is over.
JMJ
Ha! All the times I kicked your but you owe me an all you can eat buffet with a seniors discount till I die.
Once again you have anal retention. I am not a small hardcore rightist. You fail to remeber my liberal positions I mentioned earlier. Jst because I believe in an enemy that you dont does not make me hard core right any more than I am a misogynist.
And you obviously forgot what I told you just yesterday that we are not on much disagreement on McCains platform or intentions.
But like some retarded broken record you keep bringing him up.
You are obviously defeated on the grounds that in no way can you prove that Hillarys accomplisments are anywhere near that of Bush
Bush is not a popular president, Micky. You are in the minority in liking him or seeing him as accomplished at anything. GEt with the program, man.
JMJ
You are lost in space by not reckognizing one of his accomplisments.
I may be in the minority, but that minority is part of the program.
I never said he was popular. But you said he was a “COMPLETE” failure.
You will never be able to prove that.
But I can prove his success in a host of issues wih facts to back it up.
You have your opinion , fine.
But thats all you have. I have facts. Thats called reality.
Get with the program of sustainable fact.
Most people who think he is unpopular are still not so full of irrational hatred that they cant find one good accomplisment to credit him with. Even the minority you claim I am a part of can find some reasonable achievments to credit Bush with.
You are the minority of derainged psychos who wont give him credit for one thing.
Its actually a form of extremism to not ackowledge one good thing that anyone has done.
Its irrational and unrealistic.
But while I’m at it dont forget that the congress you guys elected is the worst ever and has even lower approval than Bush.
They managed that in less than 6 months. Whats you excuse for that ?
And we are supposed to leave it up to the clowns on the left to elect a president ?
It obvious that the left these days is making some really poor choices since even you said you were leaning toward McCain this only makes it obvious.
The economy is in the tank, the dollar has been decimated, real estate has crashed, our military is “broken,” our international reputation is at an all time low, consumer confidence is rock bottom, our infrastructure is crumbling, the national debt is through the roof, our trade/accounts/debt deficits are ridiculous, education and healthcare inflation is rising unsustainably, crime is up, poverty is up, joblessness is up, illegal immigration is rampant, worldwide terrorism is up…
Micky, if you can somehow cull a success out of this malais then your are a very optimistic person. That may be laudable, but it’s certainly not realistic.
JMJ
You seem to take all the negative that has happened in the last six months on real estate as some kind of trend that has been happeneing for the last 8 years.
I bought my house 7 years ago. And had it not been for the incentives Bush infused into the economy I wouldnt of been able to do it.
All economies rise and fall. Ours has been rising and been stable for almost 7 full years now.
Our national defense is stronger than it has ever been in our history and there is nothing that indicates our miltary is broken. It is strained, yes. But broken is just the typical exageration that would come from you.
Our international reputation is fine with those that matter. I’m sure you got that piece of info straight out of Kofi Anans mouth.
How can we be such monsters in the world and at the same time be accused by the left of international trade that is somehow hurting us ?
Leftist morons want us only to go into other countries with our resources on that countries terms, sheez, screw them.
The point is that you are only using the most recent and worst examples you can come with.
When the FACT is this.
You cannot accurately say with any sense of sanity or reality that Bush is a “C O M P L E T E” failure.
You keep using that word. Its wrong, its false, its a lie.
Its a vicious childish attack that any competant person would yake seriously.
Has Bush failed at some things? Y E S !
Has he completely failed at everything? NO !
I’ll keep fighting you on this.
NOW, Show me or anyone by means of sustainable fact that Bush is a “COMPLETE failure”.
Typo correction.
Its a vicious childish attack that any competant person would yake seriously.
Its a vicious childish attack that any competant person would ” not ” take seriously.
Update: Bruce Herschensohn’s new book is “Above Empyrean.”
I recommend buying any book of his!
eric