Brain Trust - Jay Nordlinger

Jay Nordlinger, a Senior Editor at National Review, joined the Brain Trust today to discuss his to-be-released book on the Nobel Peace Prize, Peace, They Say. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

You call the Nobel Peace Prize the most famous and controversial prize in the world. True?

I imagine the Oscars are as famous, so probably they're tied. In fact, in one year, Al Gore won both.

But I definitely think the Nobel is certainly the most controversial, because of the nature of peace. People disagree about what peace is, and what adds to it and subtracts from it.

What has been the theme of the last few prizes?

I think we've had two very good Nobel Peace Prizes in a row, which has to be some kind of record.

In 2010 they gave it to Chinese dissenter Liu Xiaobo, although he wasn't allowed out to receive the prize. That was last year.

And this year they've given it to three campaigners for women's rights and human rights in general. Two are from Nigeria, and one is from Yemen.

I think this is a good prize. What I remind my readers, and frankly remind myself, is that women's rights are old hat here, but in other countries they are very new hat or even no hat at all.

Of the Nigerian women, one is a woman named Leymah Gbowee. During the second civil war there in Nigeria, she organized a Christian women's peace movement to appeal to the dictator. Later other women of other faiths joined this peace effort.

The other is the woman who became president after the civil war. She's a very canny politician.

If they keep giving out meritorious peace prizes, I'm going to have to change my tune.

Raising the debt ceiling without raising taxes? Republicans will have to "pull a Houdini"

Jay Nordlinger, a Senior Editor at National Review, was our "brain" today on the Matt Friedeman Show. On the agenda: marriage in New York, Congressman Wu, and, of course, the debt ceiling.

Four rallies across New York City trying to get marriage on the ballot. Any chance of that happening?

Sure, sure there's a chance.

Probably some people think it's a done deal. That there's no hope in New York. Now go on to other states.

I know they do it out of conviction. So they're going to give it their best effort.

I think a lot of the activists do what they do, because they think they must. Come what may.

What do we learn from David Wu type episodes?

Sometimes they go quickly - these congressmen and senators - and sometimes they linger.

I'm glad this particular congressman was found out.

A reader contacted me over the weekend, and asked what is the meaning of "unwanted sexual encounter." 

If it's rape, call it rape!

What is going to happen with the debt-ceiling?

I reach for the oldest cliche in the book. I think of the game of chicken.

It seems to me that this is what the Republicans and Democrats are doing right now.

I don't want to bear the bad news, but the Democrats have the advantage.

I think so far Obama has done a better PR job.

I think Republicans, if they can, should not acquiesce in this. That they should do something short-term.

Here comes another cliche, the voters are going to have to sort this out.

The decision they make...will determine how this looming armageddon goes.

Republicans are really up against it, aren't they?

My feeling is that the 2012 election will focus the mind.

It's a fool that says 2012 has nothing to do with this.

I couldn't agree more.

Do you suspect Republicans can get out of this without tax increases?

I think they'll have to pull a Houdini if they want to.

Is August 2nd a real date?

I think it's a semi-real date.

There ought to be a deadline. As the saying goes, the markets ought to be reassured.

I think Americans around the world...look a little bit silly.

People are right to sound the alarm. Republicans ought to play the cards they have, but darn it, they don't have the best cards.

It's really a black and white issue. There's not a lot of gray here. Republicans are dug in on one position. Democrats are dug in on the other.

This class warfare stuff is working.

We look so silly, I think.

Jay Nordlinger, thanks for coming on.

I'm sorry to be so depressing.

I think I can say this on this network. The government is on His shoulders.

"There's a sort of animal hate against her"

Today's Brain Trust interview, Jay Nordlinger, is a senior editor of National Review. The GOP debate, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Anthony Weiner were all on the agenda. 


What are your thoughts about the GOP debate tonight?

Well, it's a first look and a first hearing. A lot of Republicans are itching to beat Obama.

I know a lot of people on the Right side in particular...are really, really hungry to get at it.

It seems like Mitt Romney has the upperhand right now. But will the newly-minted term Obamneycare hurt him?

It seems like Governor Pawlenty was waiting to spring that one.

The electorate is pretty hot against Obama's healthcare law.

Romney could have denounced this Romneycare or chosen to defend it. He chose to defend it.

Is Texas Governor Rick Perry in? Or is he just playing the pundits?

It could be a bit of toying.

A lot of people on the Republican side think the field is too small.

These people keep demurring, so there's room.

Rick Perry is an extremely successful governor.

Perry's problem, of course, is that he's another Texas governor.

The media is going after Palin's 24,000 emails she sent as governor. Is this crazy, or what?

Nutty, crazy.

If someone found 24 of my emails, I guess I'd have to retire from life.

If this was supposed to hook or further embarrass her, I don't think it has.

What is it with them and Palin?

There's something about Sarah Palin that gets under people's skin.

There's a sort of animal hate against her.

According to establishment opinion, she has the wrong views.

She doesn't toe a line a lot of people expect her to toe.

It frustrates her that she's pro-life. It frustrates people that she went ahead and had this child with Down's Syndrome.

She seems to have a happy and loving marriage with a union man.

Hillary Clinton is a feminist, but her husband was president of the United States. I believe that Sarah Palin's husband works in the oil fields.

She bothers a good many Americans, not all of them liberal, but it would take a better psychologist than I to figure that out.

We almost made it through the whole interview without mentioning Anthony Weiner. What's your take?

I think he can weather this.

Memories are short. Certain electorates are very, very forgiving.

Bill Clinton gutted it out...the American people didn't seem to mind all the much.

His Democratic colleagues have turned on him.

I take a jaundiced views of voters, sometimes.