Norm Ornstein - what are his politics?

[Sugarcoated]

He's the head of the AEI Institute, what looks like a conservative organization. Yet he's honest about the Bush administration's failures? How then is he the head of this conservative "think tank", how does he keep his position?

BTW, he's hosting a talk on Cspan 3.

[The Magistrate]

1. He Is In A Class, Ma'am, With Mr. Gergen

An honorable opponent, who does value the country itself.

[speedoo]

2. An excellent characterization, IMO.

Ornstein occasionally pisses me off, but lately his comments on the Franken show re. the failures of congress have been terrific.

[Sugarcoated]

4. Thanks Mr. Magistrate.

It just seems out of sync with the Orwellian partisan reality of politics today that there could be an honest Republican - and heading a conservative think-tank, no less. You would truly never know Norm Ornstein leaned right.

And I have the utmost respect for David Gergen - I value his opinions probably more than any political op-ed person.

[salin]

3. Read John Dean's latest book : Conservatives without Conscience.

Gives great insight into todays very screwed up GOP power structure - and differentiates between those folks with whom we disagree on political means (of how to improve the country for all citizens) but agree on the ends (to improve the country for all citizens), and those in and blindly supporting the very screwed up GOP power structure. Indeed how Dean describes himself (a "Goldwater Conservative" and now "independent" voter) seems to fit Ornstein as well.

[Sugarcoated]

5. Oh how I'd love to get to that book

If only I had the time. So many books I want to read. When I heard that Hagel and Snowe actually stood up to Roberts on that intel outing opposition to Bush leading up to Iraq I actually started to cry.