Click here to view original web page at amgreatness.com
A review of “Crisis of the Two Constitutions: The Rise, Decline, & Recovery of American Greatness,” by Charles R. Kesler (Encounter Books, 488 pages, $34)
How can we have a country together when we can’t even have a conversation?
Recently, in Law & Liberty, Charles Kesler’s important book was given a shrill, tendentious review by Professor Shep Melnick. That review denied the main premise of the book—namely, that America’s original Constitution is no longer authoritative, and that we live in many ways under a different kind of regime. But it also claimed that Kesler, or his argument, was much worse than simply wrong. The very suggestion that there is a second, illegitimate regime—hostile to our original Constitution—was deemed by the reviewer to be irresponsible, scandalous, and possibly even insurrectionist. Of course, Melnick does not see the irresponsible mote in his own eye when he attempts to link the urbane and even-tempered Kesler—of all people—to the mob violence of January 6 and even (in a tirade that was almost quaintly delusional) to the bogeyman of Trump’s “Russian collusion.”
I am sure that when Kesler responds to that overheated review, it won’t have the slightest effect on Melnick’s ideological fixations. (Melnick had no problem, incidentally, writing many times in the past for the Claremont Review of Books under Kesler’s editorship). The attempt to reason with a man who remains in full thrall to Trump Derangement Syndrome months into the Biden presidency would be as pointless as trying to hold a free speech rally at Berkeley these days. Yet the presumptuous certitude of Melnick’s angry scolding is, in a way, both the point and the proof of Kesler’s enlightening collection of essays.
Click here to view original web page at amgreatness.com
They’re Trying to Shut Us Down
Over the last several months, I’ve lost count of how many times the powers-that-be have tried to shut us down. They’ve sent hackers at us, forcing us to take extreme measures on web security. They sent attorneys after us, but thankfully we’re not easily intimidated by baseless accusations or threats. They’ve even gone so far as to make physical threats. Those can actually be a bit worrisome but Remington has me covered.
For us to continue to deliver the truth that Americans need to read and hear, we ask you, our amazing audience, for financial assistance. We have a Giving Fuel page to help us pay the bills. It’s brand new so don’t be discouraged by the lack of donations there. It’s a funny reality that the fewer the donations that have been made, the less likely people are willing to donate to it. One would think this is counterintuitive, but sometimes people are skeptical because they think that perhaps there’s a reason others haven’t been donating. In our situation, we’re just getting started so please don’t be shy if you have the means to help.
Thank you and God bless!
JD Rucker