Join John Randolph in Washington
A typical question we frequently receive: "Why don't you guys confront the political reality of our time, instead of going on and on about ancient history, Frog lit, and moral theology?"
The long answer, for which there is too little time, is that political reality, as we know it today, is a construct put together by the enemy, who dictates terms to left and right alike. Without some knowledge of the human civilizations from which we have degenerated, we cannot escape the trap. In other words, if we don't know where we were before we got lost, we can never find ourselves.
The short answer is that although we may not waste time discussing the relative merits of John McCain and Sam Brownback, we talk about political issues all the time. And the biggest event of our political year is the annual meeting of the John Randolph Club.
Another frequently asked question is, "What is the JRC and can just anybody come?" Let's start with the second question. Almost anybody can attend the meeting, except for known felons and liars. David Frum once attended one of our meetings, so we had to change the rule. If you are reading my column, you are probably a good person whose money we will cheerfully take. You might even find someone who will put you up for membership.
As for what the it is, the Randolph Club was started as a joint project between the editors of Chronicles and the disciples of Murray Rothbard. Murray had grown disgusted with the antics of professional libertarians and serious "conservatives" by 1989 had realized that virtually every conservative meeting had been taken over by con artists and neoconservatives, or rather by neoconservative con artists. Since the two groups proceeded from quite different principles to arrive at similar political conclusions--downsize all government, devolve power to the natural level, never invoke the federal government to settle a question of so-called rights--our meetings featured keen debates over principle and an atmosphere of convivial friendship.
The name was actually suggested by the Rothbardians. Randolph, the subject of Russell Kirk's master's thesis, was more Jeffersonian than Jefferson, whom he characterized as "St. Thomas of Cantingbury." It was Randolph, who, when asked about equality, made the famous reply: "Sir, I am an aristocrat. I love liberty, I hate equality." That remark has always served as the Club's informal motto
Murray and I alternated as president, and upon his death, two things happened: many prominent libertarians drifted away, and I became dictator--I mean president--for life. Call me Franklin. Founding member Pat Buchanan immortalized us as "beerhall conservatives," though most of us prefer whiskey or wine.
Meetings are always a great occasion, with excellent talks and even better debates and conversations. More recently, as part of an effort to woo a more uptown crowd--and more women--we have tacked on an extra day for historical sightseeing. Two years ago in San Antonio, we had a lively program on the heroes of the Alamo. Even more entertaining, if you like street theater, were the student demonstrators , who marched in front of the hotel, chanting John Randolph go home. There in a nutshell is the state of college education today--they thought he was an anti-immigration politician alive today. Some of the young male demonstrators were being paid openly by scary-looking feminists, who got angry with their hirelings. Two of our attendees got out a squeeze box and guitar and when they started playing music, the young men began dancing around to the music. "That's not what we're paying you for," shrieked the harpies. The young men realized, probably for the first time, that reactionaries have more fun.
This year's meeting is sure to be just as lively. Speakers include traditional conservatives like Tom Landess, one token libertarian--Justin Raimondo (just kidding, Justin), foreign policy pragmatists Srdja Trifkovic and Leon Hadar, as well as the indescribable (at least in polite language) Taki. To keep us on our toes, we have invited one of the great communitarian leftists of our time, Kirkpatrick Sale, and I know some of the members are already sharpening their barbs.
For our convivial introduction we have planned two walks, the first on the design of the city (a Masonic conspiracy!) and the second an "assassination tour." Thursday evening we have a dinner featuring Congressman Walter Jones, one of the few politicians honest enough to be invited to the JRC. You may remember Congressman Jones, who, believing his President, got so fed up with the French that he proposed changing the name of French fries to freedom fries. In the several years since, he has emerged as on of the Bush administration's most trenchant critics.
Whatever else you may be doing September 20-22, think about dropping it to join us in Washington, at the historic Washington Hotel, for the 18th annual meeting of The John Randolph Club. If you don't, you forfeit your right to complain about the lack of politics in Chronicles.
Entries(RSS)
I don't think too many JRC attendees would have too much to say about the "merits" of McCain and Brownback, but perhaps an invite to a certain Congressman from Texas is in order since many of us are convinced of his merits.
Since it is in DC, do you think Pat Buchanan can be talked into attending?
I hear enough about the merits of John McCain and Sam Brownback. This is my refuge!
Almost no one is discussing the merits of McCain anymore. His campaign is all but over.
Mr. Buchanan, a founding member, cannot attend, though he was kind enough to try to host a party for us--the logistics simply will not work.
As for McCain, I got tired of telling people a year ago McCain was not a serious candidate, unless Dennis Kucinich counts as a serious candidate. But I never get tired of reminding people about the fools and knaves that they, from time to time, take seriously. Last time around it was that goofy Rushdoonyite who was going to save America. For the sake of Ron Paul, I do hope that this quadrennial messianiac silliness does not overtake his campaign. If the usual crazies jump on his bandwagon, it will topple over before the first musician gets on board. Anyone heard from John Lofton?
Most of us who know Congressman Paul respect him, and we wish him well. What that has to do with practical politics, at least at this point, I do not know. A principled stand for Paul may turn out to be the best way of sending a signal to the powers that be. Alas, those powers generally refuse to receive signals.
I have been doing a little reading into his career and have found little that is disappointing, including his states rights stand against federal acts/amendments defining marriage. I always urge people to support a candidate they know something about and believe in. But politicians running for office, even the best of them, have little to add to any discussion. Their object, in making a speech, is to win votes. The only thing interesting in an election is what sort of sound-bites prick up the suckers' ears.
We hope to see some of you political junkies in DC. If you are going to spend so much time worrying about who steals what from whom, you may as well get some enlightenment--and some fun--out of it.
PS Like Santa Claus, we know who's been bad or good--good defined as sending money into this fundraiser, and if some of you regulars refuse to pony up, I may leave up Frum's ugly kisser forever.
God bless John Hackney, Charley Bowen, Terry and Mary, and Tom Piatak for starters.
"But politicians running for office, even the best of them, have little to add to any discussion. Their object, in making a speech, is to win votes."
That is where we disagree. I think Ron Paul is changing the debate at least marginally. (He is changing it on the right significantly, IMO.) From how to better fight the War in Iraq (Rudy McRomney) to questioning the whole assumption of interventionism. Early on when I would argue against the War on “conservative” sites, I was called all kinds of names and was very often alone. Ron Paul has made it acceptable to be a non-interventionist on the right. He has put the idea back on the map post 9/11, and made it acceptable for conservatives to voice. Without the Paul campaign, non-intervention would not be getting the hearing it is today.
Similarly Buchanan did the same thing with intervention and trade in '92 and '96. In modern America, for better or worse, campaigns are an important way to advance ideas, put together coalitions, etc. Whether those coalitions/ideas can endure beyond the candidate is another question.
This may be part of the problem. Politics is important in a politicized culture. In an ideal, decentralized culture politics would only determine whether the pot holes get filled, but unfortunately such is not currently the case.
On a somewhat similar note, Peroutka and the CP are not about the merits and flaws of either so much as it is a rightist protest of the current state of two-party affairs. Was Peroutka more of a Rushdoonyite than Howard Phillips? (Neither is a pure theonomist as far as I can tell. If anything, both use too much liberal rights rhetoric.)
I do think it is fair to call John Lofton a theonomist. He just happens to be a bit of a prickly one. Gary North, on the other hand, does not seem prickly at all.
TJF
I hope you put Roger Mcgrath on the same panel as Kirkpatrick Sale.
A few things to say about Human equality. Human embryos do not develope into crabs. This is not a trivial observation. In a biological sense, it is very coherent to discuss the notion of human nature, even if at the present point in time we don't fully understand human nature.
Second point. We should insist that the biological reality of human nature have great moral and ethical consequences.
There should to be very strong moral prohibitions against chatttel slavery,brutal wage slavery,workplace bullying-Americans bullied at work need federal law to protect them against workplace bullying-and gross economic equality. Without some concept of human equality-not the Clintonite cardboard variety used to justfy murdering Orthodox Christian Serbians-based upon the biological reality of human nature, the "respectable" men- and these days women-of means,property and lots of liberty will have complete life and death power over Humans who are in the economic underclass and those who are transitioning into the economic underclass(thhe majory White American population in 2007)
I very glad there are federal laws that protect Americans from being maimed and killed in the workplace. I wish they were much stronger.
Please put Roger Mcgrath on a panel with Kirkpatrick Sale. It would be a really intersting debate and discussion.
Boy, that was one of the most light-hearted and amusing posts TJF has written in ages.
Call me a shallow, emotion driven, illiterate, but it was enough to get me to renew my subscription to Chronicles (I let it lapse in June -- after 19 years of subscribing).
OK, maybe there's more to my renewal than that (like a craving for real conservative thought based on knowledge, understanding, and wisdom) but it is nice to sense some joy coming from TJF.
Ron Paul end IRS.
Go to sales tax... so one fine day, those trolls through our social security number which is like a concentration camp tattoo don't know what we had for breakfast. THEY are the actual terrorists... probably in more ways than one. Leave me alone and then I don't care who's stealing what from whom. Then all I say is enjoy your huge, dirty cluster f--k. Once you leave the farm it's all larceny anyway for the most part...what else could it be. I just can't abide them with their filthy nose up my ar'se as well, pretending to be 'just'.
That was lovely, Mr. Public. Reeaal nice.
Oops looks like I may have ruined both Bob's renewing of his subscription, and so possibly impinged a tad on TJF's joy. But love means never having to say you're sorry. How's that Bob I got some love back in the picture, ok? Go also for the paradoxical Bob - the worse you realize it is accurately - the more joy you can realize. See? Greatest hopes, least expectations - etc., etc. Is there a book in that acceptable to the regime's publishing houses, pertetre: "The Joy of Paradox" ? Maybe not - might have to go into exile... perhaps the French might like it, when the regime across the pond isn't looking or banning 'french' fries. What a country.
What happened to Peter Brimelow?
He wasn't mentioned in Dr. Fleming's post (above). Hope he hasn't fallen down the memory hole...
Join Thomas Fleming, Srdja Trifkovic, Tom Landess, Peter Brimelow, Leon Hadar, David Hartman, Kirkpatrick Sale, and Taki for candid debate on topics other conservative conferences refuse to touch:
Where's Paul Gottfried?
We invited Paul to be on the Saturday program, but he had a conflict. We do look forward to having him to a future JRC. Opposite Kirk Sale is Tom Landess, who performed magnificently in Charleston and at our 2006 Summer School. Peter Brimelow is very much on the program this year, and will likely also make up one of the debate team on Saturday night.
Those of you who have yet to register should not delay. The early-bird rate expires 15 August. Also, do not delay reserving your room at the hotel, and when you do, call and ask for "in-house" reservations. Tell them you are coming to the John Randolph Club.
We are particularly honored this year to have Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina speaking at our "Washington: Heroes and Villains" program before the JRC. I am honored to call this man my friend. He is a statesman and a Christian whose moral courage is as inspiring as it is execeptional. Don't miss the pre-program. Also: Eric Martin will lead two fascinating walks and chroniclesmagazine.org regular, Cort Kirkwood is promising a lively Friday lunchtime address on Washington's underbelly. Call me at the Institute, 815 964 5811, if you have any questions.
"We invited Paul to be on the Saturday program, but he had a conflict."
That is too bad, but thanks for the effort.
Red--
You're welcome.
Everyone should take note that we have added our film editor George McCartney, who will be making his JRC debut.
George McCartney-?-is he related to Paul Harrison? Has cloning already begun...
Re: Iraq although I love our troops of course - sadly they are misused
We're all pawns and fools of our age, of course, to some degree. It IS a world of degrees.
Sadly-
"To this I witness call the fools of time,
"Which die for goodness, who have lived for crime." -W.S.
Bring home the troops.
________
Very sad that Ms. Frum-Crittenden won't attend. She might learn something. Both shes.
hi nice post, i enjoyed it
hi nice post, i enjoyed it
Mr. Fleming - I came to see you, four summers ago, when you were visiting this campus, to speak at an unrelated event.
The issues we discussed - about the problems within the conservative movement, and how many conservatives, especially in the youth, do not understand what real conservatism is supposed to be about - those are still very relevant today (though I think that by now, more conservatives, young and old, have come over to our side - though for very-unfortunate reasons).
Please let me know what events the Rockford Institute is holding here in our state, in the near future. Rockford is very far from here... Will you be doing anything, further downstate?
I let my sub to Chronicles expire because although the magazine is great, their attitude toward their readers really sucked.