Dead Center

...mong political scientists, ship" asks for something more, a leader Burns and Sorenson recognize that James MacGregor Burns is who is or seems to be ahead of events Clinton was not dealt a strong hand: in A hall-of-fame class, a Pulitzer rather than merely reacting to them, able 1992, the cold war had ended, the rePrize winner (for his study to "shape change," as Clinton said in cession did not seem severe enough to of Roosevelt's leadership) whose writ- 1993, "lest it engulf us," someone who require heroic measures, and Clinton ings on American politics have been vindicates the human capacity for self- himself was elected by voters-less than stretching minds for a half-century and government...

...dence that convictions allied to public or combat...

...Thatcher, reminded us James MacGregor Burns and what looks to be a transformation of that even markets depend on political Georgia J. Sorenson American life-a "New Economy" fea- will, that they are human artifacts, even Scril'ner, $27.50, 416 pp...

...Clinton would speak ThE INSTITUTE OF differently now...

...The events that the public could not understand the are largely familiar, as are most of Burns policy and that politicians would corand Sorenson's interpretations, but their rupt it, preferring-disastrously as it retelling is useful, since the public is for- turned out-to hide its hand...

...public conflict, is inherently uncomfortMuch of the book is a re-examination able with partisan debate and with demof the Clinton administration, inter- ocratic argument generally...

...Sean Kealy, C.S.Sp...

...Regarding Al Gore as too com- V plicit in Clinton's "centrism," they allow PASTORAL STUdiES themselves to predict that Hillary Rodham Clinton will emerge in her own CONGRATULATES right as a "militantly progressive" political leader...

...very terms of politics...

...Clinton's politics, in practice, Dr...

...turing globalization, the Internet, and e- if we cannot make them behave as we commerce that is changing us down to please...

...By contrast, Clinton's presidency, the toenails, to say nothing of welfare re- far from revitalizing democratic life, is Wilson Carer McWilliams form and a balanced budget...

...luc.edu/depts/ips Commonweal 2 1 Apri121, 2000...

...El Q MMENJ AS THE FIRST CATHOLIC PRIEST TO SERVE AS Wilson Carey McWilliams, a frequent con- CHAPLAIN OFHE UNId SASTTETTE tributor, is the author of Beyond the Poli- >_ tics of Disappointment...

...Like a good many Harry Truman, that paladin of the of us, they thought he just might suc- moral center, loved the sound and smell ceed, and Dead Center is their entry in of political contest...

...Still, Mrs...

...http:// www...

...William Thompson • June 19-July 7 in advancing economic equality or self- Theology of Joy (three credits) governing citizenship...

...The great triangulator portunities and painful memories, the power can affect or redirect history...

...Bums and Sorenson suggest by a lack melancholy force as a tale of lost op- of conviction and courage, a failure of Commonweal 26 April 21, 2000 moral leadership...

...Clinton, tration's health-care strategy assumed and Vice President Al Gore...

...DAN COUqIILiN ever, Burns and Sorenson have it right: In a time of transformations, America has every need of leaders capable of re- ON HIS APPOINTMENT viving its faltering democratic faith...

...lege, he is a senior scholar of the James and Sorenson, progressive Democrats On balance, however, they conclude MacGregor Burns Academy of Leader- who wear their sympathies like badges that the fault was not in Bill Clinton's ship at the University of Maryland, of honor, speak rather kindly of Ronald stars, but in his disposition to a leaderwhere Georgia Sorenson, a policy ana- Reagan, who-his obvious shortcomings ship strategy that is happy to accomlyst in the Carter administration, serves aside-gave so many Americans confi- modate and cajole, but not to confront as founding director...

...Marilyn Schaub • July 10-13 sympathies aren't in doubt), zealous to Three-Week Courses promote a broadly shared material well- The Debate Between Rahner and Balthasar (three credits) being, but showing only a tepid interest Dr...

...Yet are getful to the very border of amnesia...

...On the major point, how- REV...

...C Perhaps Mrs...

...Now emeritus at Williams Col- This helps explain the fact that Bums hesitantly, with many second thoughts...

...Maybe she will...

...Paradoxically, the Perils of Moderation in fact, the president has presided over Reagan, like Mrs...

...of saying, quoting Tom Paine, "to begin Clinton-Gore Leadership and Clinton's defenders may protest that, the world over again...

...i~~7S~lind ~leartax~Sax~• Clinton, after all, has defied a considerable majority by opposing a ban SUMMER COURSES AT on "partial birth" abortions...

...Burns and Sorenson Q hope so...

...June 26-29 of "identity politics" (he fumbled on Prophetic Ministry: The Old Testament and Today (one credit) gays in the military, of course, but his Dr...

...By contrast, Clinton's a long list of efforts to explain our dis- tactical "centrism," with its distaste for appointment...

...running against Rudy Giuliani would turn al- IPS ALUMNUS ANd FORMER most anyone into a street fighter...

...She might as well have Phone (412) 396-6531 • Fax (412) 396-4904 DI praised her husband for his fidelity: dis- E-mail ministry@duq.edu Up UESNE enchantment with politics has never been URL http://www duq.edu/liberalarts/undertheology/theology.html NIVERSITY higher, and America's rush toward twotiered inequality has become downright frenzied...

...Or is a good part of their objection directed against the convictions he has...

...American Elec- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tions 1980-98 (Chatham House), among other books...

...a majority, at that-who chose change more...

...As Burns preted as an inevitably unequal tri- and Sorenson remind us, the adminisumvirate of the president, Mrs...

...Clinton did mastermind the ad- FACUlTy MEMBER ministration's cabalistic politics of health care, and American progressives would be wise to cultivate a few alternative champions...

...But Bums leaving an impression of politics as and Sorenson's "transformative leader- tawdry, inept, and irrelevant...

...We occasional triumph only highlighting have it in our power," Reagan was fond Dead Center the failed promise...

...Michael Cahill • June 12-15 has reflected a fairly consistent elite lib- A Jubilee Vision for the Millennium: From the Law to the Apocalypse (one credit) eralism, concerned with the categories Fr...

...he offend- DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY • PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA ed labor over NAFTA and trade policy Scripture in Ministry: Living Word for the New Millennium generally...

...Despite his ambitions, ClinThat star quality gives them access ton proved, when tested, to be a "transto high places: back in 1992, Bill Clin- actional leader," working within the ton told Burns and Sorenson that he existing political horizon, guided less hoped to be a "transformative leader," by convictions than by an instinct for one of those rare spirits who change the survival...

...George Worgul • June 19-July 7 Hillary Clinton told the authors (midStudy with distinguished Duquesne faculty • Summer liturgies and socials 1998, before the president's "confession') Credit and audit students welcome • Special rates available that the administration's greatest achieve- Options for degree, certificate, or continuing education in ministry ment lay in having restored the "legiti- Theology and Pastoral Ministry macy of democracy" and in "reknitting Duquesne University • Pittsburgh, PA 15282 the social fabric...

...Dr...

...We've spotted a Liberal Deinocrat- Clinton's shortcomings explained-as And the authors give the story a certain tlrey're extremely rare...

...and, though his list of accomplishments is thin, he hasn't wa- One-Week Mini-Courses vered much in his commitment to racial Two Millennia of Biblical Commentary: Food for the journey (one credit) equality...