I'd like to call attention to two really excellent pieces at National Review Online today. One by Kevin Williamson "Still the Stupid Party," and "Hume's Gentle Witness" by Peter Wehner. Both pieces are well-written and insightful, and also by lesser known NRO contributors. 

Williamson's piece argues that the GOP may well pick up seats in the midterm by simply being the opposition party, but they are doing nothing to inspire confidence in their ability to lead or govern this time around. This echoes the concerns of many on the right including Newt Gingrich. 

Williamson dissects Minority Leader John Boehner's platform and reveals a disappointing superficiality in the party's positions: 

"Item 1: 'We will lower gas prices and move America away from its dangerous dependence on foreign oil through an ‘all of the above’ energy reform strategy.' No, you won’t. Unless there’s an economic cataclysm that sends the United States back to the 19th century, we’re probably going to be a net importer of energy for the foreseeable future. The largest share of our 'foreign oil' comes from those perfidious Canadians, not from the perfidious Arabs."

"What else have Republicans got? The next item on Boehner’s list is: 'We will continue to fight for a more democratic, stable, and secure world by preemptively combating terrorism, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and isolating rogue nation states.' No. You. Won’t. Tied down in Iraq and Afghanistan with missions that are increasingly humanitarian in character, having less and less to do with direct questions of American national security, we are not preemptively combating terrorism or nuclear proliferation inside North Korea, Iran, or, to any great extent, Pakistan."

The GOP would do well to listen to Williamson's critiques.

Peter Wehner's pieces deals with the fallout from retired Fox News anchor, and current guest commentator, Brit Hume suggesting that Tiger Woods would do well to turn the Christianity for forgiveness and redemption.

Wehner mounts a spirited defense of Hume and, to a larger degree open discussion of religion:

"Lots of commentators have offered opinions on what Tiger Woods has done and what he needs to do to recover. What was clearly motivating Hume was the hope that Woods can reconstruct his life; Hume believes Christianity, which was central to his own journey out of a terrible valley, is the best way in which to do so... Most people commenting on Tiger Woods deride him; Hume seems genuinely concerned for him. Is that a bad thing?"

"... when Christopher Hitchens, whom I like and whose company I enjoy, appeared on television shows promoting his book God is Not Great he was far more critical of Christianity than Hume was of Buddhism. Yet I don’t recall the Left saying that those criticisms were inappropriate for public debate. In fact, they weren’t — and neither are Hume’s words."

Be sure to read both pieces in their entirety, they are worth the time.