Buchanan Again

ERSTWHILE ASPIRANT TO THE GOP presidential nomination, Patrick Buchanan, between threats to move to Ross Perot's Reform Party and writing controversial books, has managed to thrust himself, unwanted, onto the national consciousness. Buchanan's activities are so numerous and complicated it is difficult to narrow down precisely what to think of this natural pundit.

There seem to be at least three questions raised by Buchanan:

1. If he believes what he says, if he believes the principles he argues for, is it wise for him to attempt to secure the Reform Party nomination for president?
2. How should the rest of the Republican Party react to Buchanan?
3. Is Buchanan a closet anti-Semite?

Should Buchanan Seek the Reform Party Nomination?

Buchanan claims that the two-party system has become an illusion. On matters of trade and immigration, there is a broad, though by no means complete, bi-partisan commitment to free trade and general openness on questions on immigration. Buchanan foretells a danger not only to our national wealth from these sources, but also a threat to our European-rooted culture.

On the other hand, Buchanan sounds like a Leftist attacking corporate greed and seeking to intervene to limit compensation of corporate executives.

Buchanan is correct in his assessment that neither Democrats nor Republicans are with him on immigration and trade. However, these are two issues among many. The Republican Party is Pro-Life, while Democrats are Pro-Choice. Republicans lean toward tax cuts, Democrats toward increased social spending. Nonetheless, given the general prosperity and lack of conspicuous problems abroad, one would hardly expect particularly broad policy differences. Both parties are drawn to the center.

One important area that distinguishes Republican and Democratic presidential administrations is future appointments to the federal courts, particularly the Supreme Court. The next president could appoint as many a three Supreme Court justices. Three additional liberal activist judges would likely give Democrats unappealable victories they could never win through the legislative process.

Buchanan has no realistic chance of being elected President as the Reform Party candidate. At best, he would have a neutral effect on the election's outcome. Like Ross Perot before him, Buchanan could make a Democratic victory more probable. An Al Gore or Bill Bradley presidency would not move the country closer to Buchanan's position on trade and immigration, but would move the judiciary to the Left. These judicial effects would last more than a generation.

I offer this little parable for Buchanan:

My younger son is predictably a Baltimore Oriole baseball fan. Unpredictably, his second favorite team is the rival and despised New York Yankees. Attending one of his first professional games he proudly and innocently volunteered to a elderly woman in an adjacent seat, ``My favorite team is the Orioles and my second favorite team is the Yankees.'' Without missing a beat, the woman looked down at him and responded, ``My favorite team is the Orioles and my second favorite team is whatever team is playing the Yankees.''