A Major Award

Tomorrow, my two radio colleagues will be absent from the First Team NARN broadcast. Saint Paul will be in Madison presenting his mouth to beer taps throughout the capitol city. John Hinderaker will be in New York City presenting the first ever Power Line Book of the Year award:

We proudly announce our selection of World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism by Norman Podhoretz as the Power Line book of the year (2007). Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor, a contribution of $25,000 will be made in honor of the author to Soldiers' Angels, thus giving the award a larger financial component than any of the major book awards. By comparison, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle awards provide for a $10,000 payment to the winning authors. With this award it is our intention to raise awareness of one of the several outstanding books published by conservative authors last year that have been or will be given short shrift by the Pulitzer and NBCC judges.

Twenty-five large ain't nuthin' to sniff at and this award is another feather in the cap for new media. We understand that the runner-up to "World War IV" was Hugh Hewitt's "A Mormon In The White House." Looks like the boys at Power Line made the right choice for the award.

Next Monday we will host a gala dinner in honor of Podhoretz. Among the guests scheduled to appear and comment on the issues raised by Podhoretz's book are Henry Kissinger and Mark Steyn. We hope the occasion will provide a signal opportunity to reflect on the issues Podhoretz has engaged at a time when the Bush administration itself appears to be beating a hasty retreat from the Bush Doctrine in favor of Iraq Study Group "realism" or Clintonian vacuity on fronts other than Iraq. We plan to return with a report or two on the event next week.

JOHN adds: Monday night's dinner, which will be in New York, should be a fabulous event. We will present the Book of the Year award to Norman Podhoretz, and a check for $25,000 to Soldiers' Angels. Some of the most important thinkers on the issue of Islamic extremism, including Podhoretz, Kissinger and Steyn, will speak. C-Span may or may not cover the event, but either way, there should be excellent video footage available.

That's quite an impressive lineup and hopefully C-Span will cover the event. Look for updates on show times soon.

While Saint Paul's drunken rambles through the streets of Mad Town may not be as historically significant as the Power Line Book of the Year Award, they too should make for compelling viewing. Look for clips on You Tube or perhaps on next season's "Cops."

As for the radio show, I will be joined by King Banaian, who is coming up from the third-string to make his first start in some time. Let's hope the pressure of being on the First Team doesn't get to him. And we may have the pleasure of a very special appearance by Fraters own JB Doubtless as well. Tune in from 11am-1pm on AM1280 The Patriot for more must listen radio.

SP NOTES: Actually, I'll be in Madison presenting the 2008 Fraters Libertas Book of the Year Award to a worthy winner. It will be a private ceremony (just me). But I'm sure there won't be a dry eye in the house.