VDH talks! and the Hillary Test

Arthur Chrenkoff is going to have to turn in his official blogger pajamas if he keeps this up. He's providing more stiff competition for the "MSM" with today's interview with Victor David Hanson, who is a blogger on a technicality only. VDH writes very thoughtful essays on world politics and history and makes them available in a blog-like format, but he's writing several levels above most of us in the basement blogger brigade. Do read Arthur's excellent interview with Hansen.

One thing I wanted to comment on...VDH places the chances of success for the Democracy movement in the middle east at a strong 75%. He points to a new political indicator, the Hilary Test. The theory is that when Senator Clinton takes a public position its pretty much a done deal.

When Hillary speaks about the need to get on board and support the elected government in Iraq—and Hillary does nothing unless she is convinced that at least 51% of the people agree with her—then you can see positive momentum.

And he offers another good rule of thumb regarding interpreting the words out of Europe.

So we are on to them at last; here is the rule regarding these strange folk who peddle weapons to communist China, whitewash Hizbollah, fund Hamas, and looted Iraq: the degree to which Europe is amoral by either its commission or negligence is directly proportional to the degree we see in its media and state spokesmen moral posturing and invective against the United States.

And finally Hansen, a lifelong Democrat, has some advice for his party.

Such smug arrogance the elite left now shows. The Democratic Party reminds me of the Republicans circa 1965 or so—impotent, shrill, no ideas, conspiratorial, reactive, out-of-touch with most Americans, isolationist, and full of embarrassing spokesmen. I would listen to Lieberman, bring back Gebhardt, ignore Dean and Boxer, ostracize Sharpton and Moore, retire Ted Kennedy, and yes, let Bill behind the scenes triangulate Hillary to the middle-if they wish to win and resonate with Americans.

Great interview. Read it and savor.