Novak, Kristol, and ISI in South Florida

On Saturday, February 10, I the Federalist Leadership School, conducted by Dr. Donald Devine, vice-chairman of the American Conservative Union, who conducts these schools around the country through his faculty position at Bellevue University (Nebraska). Coordinating with Dr. Devine, I invited ISI students and professors in South Florida to attend this event and discuss the importance of our nation’s federalist principles. Students and faculty were treated to several lectures by Dr. Devine and a luncheon lecture by noted columnist and political commentator, Bob Novak.

Novak talked about the abandonment of federalist principles, but of course couldn't stay away from discussing 2008. He said it didn't look good for conservatives or Republicans. But he said if he had to put money on who would win the Republican nomination, he'd put it on Romney.

On Monday, February 12, I traveled down to the University of Miami, where the ISI Group, the “Advocates of Conservative Thought,” hosted an ISI soiree on campus. While only a handful of students attended, I met with the leadership of the group and we discussed how to build a larger and more effective group. I also introduced them to all of ISI’s resources and how they could effectively utilize these resources on their campus. The students expressed a strong desire to bring speakers to campus through the ISI Lecture program, as the university is bringing former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore on back-to-back days this March - UM's President is a former Clinton staffer, so go figure.

On Tuesday, February 13, FAU Faculty Associate Marshall DeRosa invited me to his afternoon political science class to discuss ISI and conservatism, where I gave a 30-minute lecture on the roots of the American conservative movement, introducing students to the thought of F.A. Hayek, Richard Weaver, Russell Kirk, and Whittaker Chambers. I also passed out ISI literature, including student’s guides and membership brochures and gave a brief history of ISI and the purpose of “educating for liberty.”

Later that evening, I gave presentations about ISI to two political science classes taught by another FAU Faculty Associate, Dan O’Connell. In these classes, I focused on higher education’s failure to “educate for liberty,” and provided results from ISI's Civic Literacy report and stressed the importance of getting a broad liberal arts education and learning the principles of self-government, set out by our founding fathers. I gave a similar presentation at Professor O’Connell’s political science class at Palm Beach Community College the next evening.

On Wednesday, February 14, ISI Campus Representatives Christopher Hinyub (Honors Fellow 2006-2007) and Kathryn Davis put together an ISI lunchtime soiree at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Most of the students that attended are enrolled in PBA’s honors program, previously established by ISI Faculty Associate Richard Gamble (who now teaches at Hillsdale College). Students were treated to a presentation about ISI, where I also walked them through the features on the ISI website via a projection screen in the classroom. Chris spoke about his great experience on the ISI Honors Fellowship program and encouraged other students to apply. Several students told me they were definitely going to apply for the ISI honors fellowship program.

On Thursday, February 15, I attended the ISI Donor Seminar in Fort Lauderdale (my mom was able to attend to!) ISI’s Senior Vice President, Jeff Cain, and former ISI Weaver Fellow and Weekly Standard editor, William Kristol delivered remarks at a luncheon. About 50 people attended, mostly donors, but a few students and recent grads from the area were there too.

Kristol, known more for his neo-conservative foreign policy, has not really impressed me before. But this time he was very impressive. He spoke candidly about higher education and its weaknesses, but gave mostly an optimistic and hopeful outlook that "the situation is getting better." He spoke about his experience teaching classes at Harvard, where the professors are liberal but the students are open-minded and open to conservative ideas. While his talk was mostly focused on higher education, he too could not stay away from talking about 2008.

The biggest thing he said was whether you agree/disagree with the front runners on the Republican ticket, you have to admit they all have impressive resumes and backgrounds. He said that each of us have at least one problem with almost every candidate, but that whoever is chosen, it will be a man of distinction. Newt, McCain, Romney, and Giuliani were who he discussed in this category. He also said 2008 was one of the most pivotal elections in our lifetime, as it really will shape the country's outlook and agenda for the next 20-30 years.