CATEGORY: POLITICS (13 MIN)

Blueprint for leadership

Americans’ perception of our country’s leadership has plummeted. According to Gallup, congressional approval has not reached 40 percent since the mid-2000s. President Biden’s rating has also sunk below the 40 percent number. And popular conceptions about the government and its competence are by and large negative, sometimes comedically so.

How can America’s leaders reclaim honor and respect from our people? Maybe, ISI president Johnny Burtka argues, they should start by learning what leaders ought to do.

Burtka, editor of the new book Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill, sets out his prescription for U.S. political governance in The American Mind. He urges up-and-coming American leaders to dig into the history of “mirrors-for-princes” literature, which advises statesmen on moral and practical manners.

From this rich tradition, Burtka draws four points to help save the nation from its current malaise. He lays them out: a “politics of transcendence,” a new flourishing focus for the common good, a return to great aesthetics, and a rise of Americans with the moral backbone and practical skills to truly lead. If the country focuses on these classical steps, Burtka says hope for an American rebirth still lives.

Read Burtka’s entire article right here.

CATEGORY: POLITICS (9 MIN)

Tussle in Tuscaloosa

With the first Republican caucus in Iowa merely a month away, GOP candidates not named Donald Trump are growing desperate to cut into the former president’s huge lead. The depleted field of remaining contenders—Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie—took to yet another debate stage in Alabama last week looking for some way to set themselves apart as the clear Trump alternative.

Once again, the New York Times opinion staff, including ISI alumnus Ross Douthat and Modern Age editor Daniel McCarthy, provided their takes on the latest battle. McCarthy did not seem much impressed by the performances on stage, giving every candidate a 5 or less out of 10. His highest mark went to Ron DeSantis, who holds a narrow lead over Haley for second place in most primary polls. McCarthy said DeSantis’s attacks on Haley for her more moderate positions put him on better footing for the Iowa caucuses.

Douthat, meanwhile, argued Christie had the best performance of the bunch, rating him a 7 out of 10. Noting that Christie has essentially no chance of winning, Douthat said the former New Jersey governor took advantage of that freedom in his loose style. Douthat predicted Christie might possibly drop out before an early primary and endorse Haley.

To read all the debate thoughts from McCarthy, Douthat, and the NYT opinion staff, use our guest link here.

Weekly Poll

RESULTS: 12/7/23

Last week, we asked: Do you think young men today are struggling more or less than prior generations at flourishing as adults? Here are the results:

[A] Young men are struggling more than prior generations. - 90%
[B] Young men are struggling less than prior generations. - 1.1%
[C] Young men are struggling about the same as prior generations. - 7.8%
[D] Unsure - 1.1%

After the fourth debate, who is your favorite Republican presidential candidate?

[A] Chris Christie
[B] Nikki Haley
[C] Ron DeSantis
[D] Vivek Ramaswamy
[E] Donald Trump
[F] Unsure