Over at National Review Online you can find this interview with John Bolton, about his political philosophy, what’s wrong with things in America today, and his chances of running for President in 2012.
Bolton describes himself as a “Goldwater conservative.” For libertarians that’s about as good as it’s likely to get at this point in history.
“I think that the level of federal spending, taxation, and regulation is way too high,” Bolton says. “It got way too high before the Obama administration. I think that our objective should be lower taxes and lower federal spending. . . . We have got to get the aggregate impact of the federal government on our economy way below what it is now and, in fact, below Bush 43 administration levels. Much of the spending should be decided at the state and local levels. So I would push the federal share of the economy much lower than it was even at the beginning of the Bush administration. . . . My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting ‘look at this.’ It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that is closer to the people is best of all.”
Of course, we’ve heard the like before and been disappointed. And it seems the power of the presidency to expand government and restrict liberty is greater than the ability of any one man in office to limit government and expand liberty.
For those of us concerned about national security and Obama’s kum-ba-yah touchy-feely approach to foreign policy, Bolton looks pretty good. He points out that the only defense against loose nukes getting into the hands of terrorists is pre-emption. He’s skeptical about nation-building and reportedly suggested that we should have deposed Saddam Hussein, left the Iraqis with a copy of The Federalist Papers and wished them the best of luck.
So will he walk the talk?
I’ve actually met John Bolton briefly, in a candid small-group situation. For what it’s worth, my impression of him is what you see is what you get.
And, he’s smart, articulate, knowledgeable and he’d rip Obama a new one in any debate.
This could be the first time in my adult life there could be a candidate that I could regard as better than damage control.
So run Johnny run! And don’t listen to the spinners – keep the ‘stach.
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