Author Archives: Walter Olson

About Walter Olson

Fellow at a think tank in the Northeast specializing in law. Websites include overlawyered.com. Former columnist for Reason and Times Online (U.K.), contributor to National Review, etc.

Open thread: Ayn Rand

Posted on January 10, 2009 by Walter Olson

Since one of the ongoing comment threads has gotten into a discussion of Ayn Rand, since she was in the blogs a lot this week because of this Stephen Moore article for the WSJ, and since few if any intellectual … Continue reading →

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Richard John Neuhaus, cont’d

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Walter Olson

Damon Linker has blog posts up at New Republic here and here, drawing a reply from Ross Douthat (earlier from Bradlaugh). I find this paragraph from National Catholic Reporter very puzzling: From the early 1970s forward, Neuhaus was a key … Continue reading →

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Ben Stein: “…That’s where science leads you”

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Walter Olson

Andrew Sullivan’s readers pick, among their choices for Worst of 2008, an interview excerpt from lawyer/comedian/commentator Ben Stein that Bradlaugh, at NRO “Corner”, accurately described as “dreck” and “shameful” (Godwin alert): Stein: When we just saw that man, I think … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Tagged , | 37 Comments

“‘Conversations With God’ Author Accused of Plagiarism”

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Walter Olson

What? Not ventriloquism? (via Althouse).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

The Elizabeth Dole “atheism” ad

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Walter Olson

Before the 2008 election cycle entirely passes into history, let’s take note of the TV ad that, according to some, helped seal Elizabeth Dole’s loss in her effort to hold on to her North Carolina Senate seat for the GOP: … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged | 8 Comments

Miscellany, January 4

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Walter Olson

Canadian blog Gods of the Copybook Headings — and is anyone here unfamiliar with the classic Kipling secular-rightish poem (bonus Bradlaugh content!) alluded to in that title? — interviews its founder/chief blogger about his classical liberal views (via); Bon mot … Continue reading →

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Obama oath-of-office lawsuit

Posted on January 3, 2009 by Walter Olson

Per Religion Clause, Michael Newdow’s lawsuit “asks the court to enjoin the Chief Justice– who will administer the oath of office– from adding ‘so help me God’ to the constitutionally prescribed presidential oath (Art. II, Sec. 1). It also asks … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 36 Comments

Our content, and its omissions

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Walter Olson

One of the disappointments that commenters often voice, in the current open thread and elsewhere, is: why do we have so many posts that discuss the role of religion in American public life, and so few that simply argue for … Continue reading →

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Open thread — topics we haven’t tackled

Posted on December 31, 2008 by Walter Olson

What topics haven’t we been blogging about on this site that would relate to our niche and make for interesting reading?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 43 Comments

Miscellany, December 29

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Walter Olson

Per John Tierney in the Times, a new review of the literature has “concluded that religious belief and piety promote self-control”, which may help explain why religious belief is often associated with greater success in such goals as personal health … Continue reading →

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