Victor Davis Hanson // The Stanford Daily
Matt Larson (“Hoover has gone too far,” Nov. 19, 2020) cited me among others in his Stanford Daily angry attack on Hoover Institution scholars. He alleges that we at Hoover are purportedly “more interested in making money and promoting right-wing politics than in doing actual academic research.” Larson also charges that “Hoover fellows constitute a veritable wall of shame. They have been involved in just about every type of skeezy behavior imaginable.” These are serious writs against our institution and yet mostly leveled without substantiation.
My colleagues can address these particular loaded charges of “every type of skeezy behavior imaginable” in their own fashion. But to the degree that these unfounded stereotypes pertain to me, and for the record, I have never received any compensation for media appearances. I am not “making money” on corporate boards. Nor have I ever worked in “right wing politics” — or on any campaign of either party. I am a registered independent voter without party affiliation, and the author of over 20 scholarly books on classical, agrarian and military history and culture. Scholarship, and its dissemination among the broader public, are the major criteria by which all Hoover senior fellows are annually reviewed.
Writing additional political, cultural and social commentary, or appearing on air to discuss written work, is not spreading “disinformation.” That is a false charge that Larson also lodged by focusing solely on one particular television interview I did on Fox News — in part, ironically critical of election coverage on Fox News. But even within such a narrow focus, Larson’s allegations are an unfortunate conglomeration of falsehoods, misrepresentations and half-truths.
Discussion (8)
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Now that Your Apparent Policy of Censorship is Affirmed, Let Me ask You this Question , Professor Hanson, so Esteemed. At what Point would You support President DJT's Right and Obligation to Suspend Articles of the Constitution, which has been supported by the DNC and Democratic Governors as evidenced by Draconian Measures that they have put in place by Examples of Edicts Commanded as in California, as their Version of the New Rule of Government, that in Other Nations and Different Times have been judged as Rules of Totalitarian Authority and to further Declare Martial Law, and Demand a New Election for the Presidency, monitored and counted without the flagrant abuse we have witnessed and experienced and not permit Mail-In Ballots to be included in the Process. When General Flynn makes that Pronouncement, are we Approaching that Stage, when You would Endorse, those Steps or are You Content to stay Silent in this Issue and Remedy, after having been given the Platform to analyze and project the Thoughtful Positions that You have elucidated to Date.
Dr. Hanson, Drunk with power the Democrat supporters look ridiculous to anyone with two eyes. They insist that the new emperor is dressed, when everyone else can see the presumptive POTUS, VP Biden in the buff. Wasn’t he in the buff playing with his dog when he slipped and fell? Sorry, I digress. Dr. Larson is clearly projecting his own avarice onto the scholars at the Hoover institution. Mudslinging among academics is not news, but usually it is done behind closed doors. Please continue to be a compelling independent voice. I do not look forward to an administration that is not transparent and suppresses free speech. Noam Chomsky’s 5 filters for propaganda is missing any contesting factors as it was designed to explain media’s behaviors and those of the media elites media channels serve. The more bid tech controls the written and spoken word, the more the public develops a bullshit filter. The political class who will vote for the next war will be surprised that they will not be able to recruit young people into the military from the “basket of deplorables.”
I’m confused as to why you are so irritated by the opinions Matt Larson. I and very many others think you are the most scholarly person alive today. Larson is stupid. Everyone, except the uninformed, knows you can’t fix stupid. People have to tolerate what they can’t fix; in my opinion that includes most of America’s citizenry. You wrote a masterful article criticizing an idiot who denounced something you never said. However, I enjoyed reading your airing of a personal grievance. Your work is outstanding when you fry really big fishes.
Pertaining to voter fraud and the fact a majority of Americans think the recent Presidential election was not legitimate: Larson 'wishes' it’s all a conspiracy theory.
Professor Hanson, All I can say is bravo!! You eviscerated the vacuous charges of Larson and, for his sake, I can only hope all sharp objects have been removed from his home. I am not quite sure what motivates you but I am thankful on a daily basis for your vigilance and wisdom. You are a modern Paul Revere, and I can only hope others heed your warnings. Thank you for fighting the good fight.....you give me and others hope.
Ridiculous article. Either very poorly researched or defamatory. In writing this article, he attacked his own colleague, Victor Davis Hanson, who works for Hoover for free. It looks like a cheap political stunt. An apology is in order from SD and Larson.
The Hoover Institute needs to go after this person with as much vigor as he has gone against it. Don't be shy and don't hold back. This person needs to be publicly humiliated for his reckless statements.
Stanford has lost this alum, in fact they lost me many years ago. When it came time to make a class gift as my class entered the Cardinal Society, I made my gift to the Hoover. With few exceptions the public face of Stanford grads over the past few decades have been loony tunes if they weren't so damn dangerous. Schiff, Jarrett, Rice, Maddow, are a disgrace. Josh Hawley has some how bucked the trend. The people at the Hoover, for the most part, are voices of reason. ( I lived in Palo Alto before WW2, a few blocks from Campus, and watched the Hoover Tower being constructed)