It begins...

Yes, everybody's favorite prudish ethicist says that we've entered, quoting Tom Wolfe, "The Great Relearning" that will rebuild our society. Bennett took delight in a marijuana decriminalization law's failure in libertarian-leaning Alaska. He proudly proclaimed that Church-going African Americans are angered by people who think that same sex unions are a civil right and he lauded the 11 states who seem to agree. He wrote, I'm guessing with a straight face, that George Bush "restored honor and dignity to the White House."

Bennett claims Bush has a mandate. A lot of people on the right will be claiming a mandate. Heck, they claimed it in 2000, so why not now? Bennett is unclear about what he wants, exactly to do with this mandate. His implication is that he wants to use Washington and the courts to legislate his brand of morality. He believes it will create a "long, cultural renewal."

That America needs cultural renewal is one of the points I'll grant Bennett. But it doesn't work the way he thinks it does. Bennett wants to regress and stagnate. Culture's only grow, however, through the power of radical ideas that empower an (obviously metaphorical) creative destruction.

To end this on an optimistic note, it is possible that this cultural rebellion from the right is just the last gasp of some old, faded ideas. We can hope. But most of all, we'll have to argue them on every point.