Expert: Mary E Webster - 10/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: What are some of the rhetorical strategies employed by Publius in these writings?

ANSWER: I would not call the author's writings "rhetorical strategies."  The editorials follow a very precise outline: why a new constitution was needed, how the new constitution was written, what the responsibilities of a federal government are, would the new constitution fulfill all the responsibilities of a federal government.  This is just a very quick overview of the outline.  This webpage fleshes out the outline a bit more.
http://66.116.170.228/gpage.html7.html

The real value of the series of editorials known as The Federalist Papers is the discussion of psychology and, more specifically, group psychology and behavior.  If you don't understand group psychology, it is impossible to form a government that will work and last.

I hope this helps you.
Mary E Webster
http://Mary.Webster.org

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QUESTION: Which current political party do you think has the better claim to being the intellectual heirs of the founders' thinking?

ANSWER: Since the US Constitution is not a "living" document, usually people who call themselves "conservative" tend to govern a bit closer to the Constitution.  No party does even a passing job of following the Constitution.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I promise this to be my last query. At this point, it is no longer about clarification, but I am enjoying your insight.

My question: If you were Hamilton, Jay, or Madison (as it relates to the Federalist Papers), what advice would you give to President Bush and his current administration?

Answer
I think they'd give President Bush a "that a boy!" for going after the enemy in Iraq and elsewhere in the middle east.  Remember Tripoli?  The current situation is very similar.  (Human behavior never changes.)

It's way late in the administration to do much more than to appoint conservative judges whenever there is an opening.  And veto spending bills!  The federal government's duties and responsibilities are specifically stated in the Constitution.  Most of the things that the federal government does are unconstitutional.

Check out my website:  http://Mary.Webster.org