THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

This business with Walker is one of those times when liberals have given professional conservatives permission to pretend they're fearless.

You can't be professional conservative unless you are a full time professional wimp. You say what liberals allow you to say or the media dump you. That means you are always dodging anything serious

But at some times and on some issues, liberals give professional conservatives permission to beat their little chests and shout. Militant support of Israel is one of these issues. Even George Will once said that liberals want the United States armed forces to be "strong enough to defend Israel."

So conservatives beat their chests and pretend to be war heroes every chance they get. No conservative would be allowed to snub Jane Fonda or to point out the outright treasonous aspects of the Love Generation. But they are allowed to be shouting militants against John Walker.

On the talk shows, liberal commentators let conservatives demand that Walker be lynched.

For one who knows what the real game is, it is pathetic to watch the respectables beat their little chicken chests.