Setting the Standard

Let's face it most political mags are a drag. The Nation and Mother Jones are suffused with a suffocating earnestness that is completely offputting. TNR is smart but can be a drag, National Review is staid and Reason has not only become irrelevant it has adopted a hectoring tone. So where to go to have some fun? Why neo-con central of course - the Weekly Standard, which is celebrating 10 years in print. This is ironic because another magazine that started 10 years ago - the JFK Jr. vanity project, George, was supposed to be the irreverent one not the Rupert Murdoch production. George isn't around anymore but the Standard is still kicking.

The first piece has always been the hit or miss "Casual" column which rarely touches on politics and usually comments on the lighter aspects of life. The last thing on the mag is the more hit than miss "Parody" page, which is sometimes replaced by "Not a Parody" (my fav - a pic of Alan Keyes stage diving at a concert in Iowa). As the WaPost notes even better than the obvious lighter stuff on the ends is the stuff in between penned by Andrew Ferguson and Matt Labash. I'll be honest though and even though Ferguson and Labash are quite good Tucker Carlson was the best. Unfortunately Mr. Carlson has confused himself for a talking head and abandoned his true calling writing. Happy 10th Standard!