YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE, COUNSELOR. Some time ago, I purchased Laura Ingraham's Shut Up & Sing: How Elites from Hollywood, Politics, and the UN Are Subverting America. The book dates to 2003, just before the liberation of Iraq started turning into real work, and before the 2004 hopes by the Republicans of a permanent majority. Thus, to a great extent, the work is overtaken by events. That's unfortunate, as the author would like to make the case for majority rule, individual rights, equality of opportunity, and limited government, four things that are contested territory at the moment. Such a case is serious work, but a recitation of anecdotes held together with guilt-by-association and run through the Regnery rhetoric machine doesn't make the case. Begin at the beginning.

Meet the elites.

Who are they? Essentially elites are defined not so much by class or wealth or position as they are by a general outlook. Their core belief -- embraced with a fervor that does not allow for rational debate -- is that they are superior to We the People.

(On the other hand, the author later expresses surprise that South Dakota's Tom Daschle becomes a leader for these elites. I'm too tired to work through the implications of that.)

Thus, Book Review N^o. 30 is of an unsatisfactory effort to support political positions that are intellectually defensible. There is material, particularly in the sections on immigration and business, where stronger are necessary and feasible. The book is neither likely to change many minds nor to provide readers the intellectual ammunition to do so.

(Cross-posted to 50 Book Challenge.)