Kristol Predicts Post-Election Change

American conservative political writer William Kristol ’73 discussed the new era of politics, former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah L. Palin, and the changes that will result from the midterm elections last night at an event called “Kristol Clear” before a full Kirkland Junior Common Room.

The event—hosted by Conversations with Kirkland, the Harvard Republican Club, and the Harvard Salient—focused on the current state of politics for the Republican party.

“We’re now in an era where we continue to be very volatile, very fluid, very dramatic,” Kristol said of politics today.

From former U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan’s election in 1980 to former President George W. Bush’s re-election in 2004, Kristol described the American political system as generally conservative, characterizing even former Democratic President Bill Clinton as a moderate.

“In the last three elections, we will have had three change elections in a row; three elections with dramatic results and dramatic changes,” Kristol said.

Kristol predicted that after the upcoming midterm election occurring next Tuesday, current President Barack H. Obama will shift his stance to the right and the Republican party will gain traction.

“I think Obama will at least try to appear to be more of a fiscal conservative,” Kristol said. “My slightly contrarian view is that we will have more bipartisanship. I don’t think that Obama is such an ideologue that he will decide he doesn’t want to get anything done for two years.”

The dialogue and subsequent question and answer session were also littered with jokes about the Democratic party and cutting funding to National Public Radio.

“I have to indulge myself and ask the Sarah Palin question,” said Harvard Republican Club President Mark A. Isaacson ’11. “Is the woman running for president?”

“I really don’t know if she’ll run,” Kristol responded. “If you forced me to bet, I’d say yes. Why not take a shot?”

But he wasn’t certain about whether she would be a competitive candidate.

“Fairly or unfairly, she’s picked up a lot of baggage,” Kristol added.

When asked whether the Republican failure to address climate change would negatively affect the party, Kristol said that Americans are currently more focused on the economy.

“Honestly, I’d be willing to sacrifice some more climate change to get a few million more people out of poverty in India and China,” he said.

—Staff writer Monika L. S. Robbins can be reached at mrobbins@college.harvard.edu.