Drop me a line and I’ll be happy to send you the e-mail where I saw the Hayes post. JimantleATaol.com. As for Joe’s post, I read into it what I already knew about the kvetching.

Jim

As it happens, I do know that a lot of conservatives are down on the selection of Ross for this job, so I wasn’t going to quibble with the first sentence. Quite a few are very pleased with the selection, but there is plenty of criticism as well.

Joseph Lawler didn’t mention any such thing, at least in the linked article. What he said was:

Certain AmSpec contributors have voiced criticism of Douthat’s brand of reform conservatism in the past.

The three linked articles are as described, and ironically include Jim Antle’s review of Grand New Party.

I’m sure conservatives were complaining about Hayes’ post . . .

Faith is a gift. Do you actually know of any conservative having a word to say about the post?

If liberals don’t hate him to death then he’s not a true conservative. it makes no sense but neither does the belief that there is a conservative movement in this country. It’s a cult. To be a member you need to be angry and gullible. Actually understanding what conservatism is about is left to a small group, the inner party as Orwell described it. The rest make sure people are nodding and making the appropriate facial expressions as news is heard.

I’m sure conservatives were complaining about Hayes’ post, and that’s part of the problem. Your assessment that this kind of praise from Hayes won’t help him with many conservatives is correct. I am questioning why that should be so and challenging the kind of thinking that would lead them to find this healthy skepticism to be a flaw rather than a desirable quality. Your first sentences happened to describe the problem very succinctly.