For about 20 years, Ray Keating wrote a weekly column - a short time with the New York City Tribune, more than 11 years with Newsday, another seven years with Long Island Business News, plus another year-and-a-half with RealClearMarkets.com. As an economist, Keating also pens an assortment of analyses each week. With the Keating Files, he decided to expand his efforts with regular commentary touching on a broad range of issues, written by himself and an assortment of talented contributors and columnists. So, here goes...

Saturday, April 4, 2020

What’s Inside Ray Keating’s BEHIND ENEMY LINES?

What exactly is inside Ray Keating’s new book BEHIND ENEMY LINES: CONSERVATIVE COMMUNIQUES FROM LEFT-WING NEW YORK? The book offers a wide-ranging collection of columns and essays from Ray Keating covering politics, economics, faith, history, trade, New York, foreign affairs, immigration, pop culture, business, sports, books, and more. 


There’s a great deal to enjoy, learn from, agree with, get annoyed by, appreciate, reflect on, roll your eyes over, and argue with in this book that offers perspectives on where we are today, where we’ve been, and where we might be headed.

Following is the complete Table of Contents. 


I. What is Conservatism?                         

II. Politics: Unsavory and Not-So-Unsavory                                        

Introduction                                          

The Impact of President Reagan – 
Personally, Locally and Globally

Recalling William F. Buckley’s        
Charm and Generosity

Margaret Thatcher – Then and for the Future

Doubts About the U.S. Still Being 
a Right-of-Center Country

George W. Bush: The Right Speech            
at the Right Time

George W. Bush: Assessing 
the MBA President

Presidential Elections Mean Denial           
on Wall Street

President Obama was the Anti-Reagan

The Clintons – Yesterday and Tomorrow

A Day for the U.S. Constitution      

State of the Democrats at the                      
Dawn of a New Century: 
The Ethical Decline of a Once-Great Party

State of the Democrats in 2020:                  
The Journey Left Accelerates

State of the Republicans 
at the Dawn of the 21stCentury: 
A Party in Near-Perpetual Confusion

State of the Republicans in 2020: 
Deep Confusion

State of Conservatism            
at the Dawn of the 21stCentury: 
Influencing or Being Influenced?

State of Conservatism 2020:            
Seduced by Populists

State of Liberalism at the 
Dawn of the 21stCentury: 
Intellectually Bankrupt, But Politically Potent

State of Liberalism 2020: 
Still Advancing, Still Incoherent

The Character Question Isn’t New: 
When Giuliani Sought the Presidency

The 7 “C’s” of Voting as a 
Conservative Republican

Cracking the Republican 
Establishment Conspiracy

Any Pro-Life Room in 
Democrats’ Big Tent?

Embryos and Cloning:           
Life and Death in Politics

The Supreme Court Goes in 
Different Directions on Stealing

III. Economics Isn’t Dismal ... Unless Left to 
Politicians, the Media and Professors                                                               

Introduction

Conservatives and Free Enterprise:
Friends or Foes?

In the Age of Trump, Is Free Market         
Ideology a Bad Word?

The Morality of Free Enterprise

Whatever Happened to          
Economic Freedom?

A Walk on the Supply-Side

Less Romance, More Economics in Politics

The Founders and I Hate April 15, Tax Day        

Steps Toward a Rational, 
More Pro-Growth Tax System

Milton Friedman – An Economist 
Changed the World

All Uncertainty from Washington 
Is Not Created Equal

Entrepreneurs, Economists, Educators 
and Politicians, Oh My!

Can Professional Sports Help Us 
to Understand Economics?

Political Spin on the Obama Economy       

The Income Tax at 100 Years          

A Truly Pro-Growth Tax Package Includes 
Big Tax Cuts for the Rich

More on Taxes and the Rich

Kill the Death Tax, Kill the Muni Deduction       

Dying, Death Taxes, and the Economy

Obama-nomics: Incoherent Change

Does the Federal Reserve Really Matter?

Currency Weakness Harms the Economy, 
Manufacturers Too

10 Ways School Choice Would         
Boost the Economy

The Misguided Push for 
National Education Standards

Donating Big Bucks to           
Big Government Schools: 
Wasting Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

Infrastructure: If Concrete Pouring 
Were a Stimulant, the U.S.S.R. 
Would Be Booming

Welcome to Health Care Economics 101

Government Failed Fixes for 
Inequality vs. Private Charity 
Addressing Poverty

All Budget Deficits Are Not Created Equal

Abolition of the Senate's Byrd Rule 
Is Long Overdue

CAFE Mandates, Consumers           
and Auto Manufacturers

An Uncomfortable Shave 
from Antitrust Zealots

Government Takes on the 
Beer Monopoly – Really?

Why Does Government Impose 
Big Regulatory Burdens?

Five Ways to Fix Government’s 
Regulatory Mess

What Should Government Be          
Doing in Space?

The Unemployment Rate Is the 
Most Useless Measure of All

Greater Manufacturing Production 
and Fewer Manufacturing Jobs

Economic Doctors Have 
Misdiagnosed the Economy

Coronavirus Economy I: 
Is the U.S. in a Recession Right Now?

Coronavirus Economy II: 
The Realities of the Coronavirus Economy

Coronavirus Economy III:
The Economic Realities of the Coronavirus

Coronavirus Economy IV:
This Economist’s Top 4 Concerns

Labor Day I: What’s the Real Deal 
with Labor Day?

Labor Day II: Celebrate the Decline 
of Labor Unions

IV. Lessons from the 2008 Mess and Its Aftermath              

Introduction

Obama, Trump and 2% Growth

Heading Into the Mess: Why is this 
Optimist Down on the Economy?

The Mess Hits: Is More Government 
Really the Answer to Wall Street’s Woes?

Government Sucking Up Resources 
Makes No Sense

Stimulus from Government?

The Sad Economic Story: Now and 
for the Foreseeable Future

The Economics of 
President-elect Barack Obama: 
Repeal the Laws of Economics?

In the Economy, Failure Must Be An Option

Grading George W. Bush on the Economy

The Era of Silly Economics

V. Faith Matters                                                                                                                                                     

Introduction      

John Paul II: A Pope Who Reached 
Beyond His Flock

The Papal Office – Still a Subject of Division?

Billy Graham: History, Life and Death 
in Flushing Meadows

How Do the Major Faiths 
Respond to Disasters?

More to St. Patrick’s Day Than Beer,        
Parades and Corned Beef

Beyond Narnia to C.S. Lewis 
and Today’s Christianity

After Gibson’s “Passion,” Lent         
May Never Be the Same

What Holy Week and Easter 
Say About Christianity

Conventional Wisdom and Those 
Twelve Days of Christmas

A Season for Journeying Into 
Music and Faith

The Reason for Christmas 
Remains Central

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Catholic Church Scandal: 
Abuse of Children, Abuse of the Church, 
Abuse of the Faithful

The Big Issue Underlying the 
Methodist Divorce

Clergy Controversy Shows the Obligations 
of the Christian Life

Lutherans Escaping Scripture and Reality

One Church’s Effort to Keep the Faith      

The Fall Into Liberal Protestantism

God and Gambling

The Church Has a Limited But 
Critical Role in Politics

The Christian’s Responsibility in 
Time of War and Terror

Holy Week and Easter Comfort in 
Time of War and Death

Judge Roberts, and Faith at Work

History and a TV Star Show You 
Can Be Both Feminist and Pro-Life

First Motion Picture on 
Partial-Birth Abortion

From Catholic to Charter Education

The Pope Needs Lessons in Economics

A Liberal Definition of Fundamentalism

Two Popes on Relativism, Secularism       
and Islamic Fascism

Is Driving an SUV a Sin?

VI. Why Does Anyone Live in New York?                                                         

Introduction      

Leaving New York: No Mystery as to Why 
People Flee the Once-Empire State

A Golf Course Case Makes Clear 
Long Island’s Costly Dysfunction

Trump, Clinton and Sanders:          
Welcome to New York, America

New York Once Had a Principled, 
Conservative Senator

Governor Cuomo Bans Increased 
Economic and Employment Growth

The Numbers Tell New York’s 
Big-Spending Story

Cuomo and Obama Pander on the 
Minimum Wage

New York’s “Bread and Circuses” 
Corruption Bad for Business

Can this Conservative Columnist 
Be Nice to Governor Pataki?

Long Island Land Policies: The Economist 
vs. the Homeowner?

The Beauty and Politics of Jones Beach

Teddy Roosevelt’s Dark Shadow 
Across Long Island

It’s Agreed That New York City’s 
Public Schools Have Failed – Now What?

Can Government Patch Up a Leaky Pool?

New York Politics Adrift on a Sea of Confusion

The New York City Guide to 
Destroying an Economy

In the Green Room with Senator Pothole

Lessons for Long Island from U.S. Presidents

Why Not Truly Free SUNY and CUNY?

A Columnist Says Thanks for the Memories

Golden Retriever Optimism Needed 
for Long Island

VII. The Not-So-Ugly American                                                                                     

Introduction

Terrorist Fallout: War, Politics, the Economy

Yes, the World’s Policeman, 
But Are We Ready?

Shakespeare’s Henry V, President Bush 
and the Justness of War

Life at Home While the Military 
Risk Their Lives

9-11 Anniversary: Where Were You?          

VIII. Trying to Learn from History                                                                                

Introduction

Supply-Side Economics from 
the Civil War to Coolidge

Making Strides in Setting the         
Record Straight on Calvin Coolidge 

The Real Great Depression

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Great
Depression and the New Deal

Prohibition’s Lessons for Today’s 
Economics and Politics

President Jackson and the 2008 
Presidential Election

IX. Business Isn’t Evil                                                                                                                                           

Introduction

Trust and Entrepreneurship

A Moral Business Serves the 
Common Good of the Community

Work Matters  

Capturing the Capitalist Spirit      

Profits Aren’t Evil

More on Prices in the Economy       

Marx Was Wrong: Owners 
and Labor Work Together

Amazon.com and Corporate Welfare

Equating Disney to Thanos ... Seriously?

Hollywood's Views of Capitalism

Disney Expanding, Not Limiting, 
Epic Competition and Choices

Big Business the Disney Way

Experiences with Anti-Disney 
Customer Service

Disney and the Changing Movie Business

Dumb Ideas from Business Executives

Disney Says, “Take Back Your Subsidy”

A Silly War on Plastics         

11 Point Guide to Working at Home

X. Trade: Opportunity and Stupidity                                                                            

Introduction

Trump: Could-Be-Worse Trade Policy?

Yes, Free Trade is a Moral Good

Could Only Donald Trump Cut a 
Free Trade Deal with China?

U.S. Trade Leadership Has Been 
Absent Over a Decade

NAFTA at 20: Well Worth Celebrating

On Trade: Too Many Barack Obamas        

XI. Immigration: Hope and Opportunity                                                          

Introduction

Three of the Many Big Reasons to 
Love Immigrants

Don't Fear Immigration, 
It's Good For the Economy

Immigration, Faith and Economics

On Being a Welcoming Society        

Obama International: 
Opportunity on Immigration

Republicans, Immigration 
and Political Suicide

From Economic and Moral Perspectives,
We Should Embrace Immigrants

Immigrants Fighting and Dying 
for Their Adopted Country

Getting the Economics of 
Immigration Straight

Immigrants Embraced and Opposed 

Even Post September 11th, Immigration
Still Has Strong Support

Brad Paisley: Country Music Star 
and Economist on Trade and Immigration

XII. Pop Culture Ponderings                                                                                                       

Introduction

Bing Crosby: Entertainer of the 20th Century      

The Faith of Father O’Malley

Bob Hope’s Road to Becoming          
America’s Comedian

Huey Lewis and the News Storms 
Back with “Weather”

The Beach Boys: Fifty Years on the 
Beach and in the Music Business

The Return of WCBS-FM and Embracing 
Music Variety

Growing Older and the Allure of an 
Endless Summer

Bond, James Bond, on Long Island

James Bond in Ian Fleming’s Novels

Star Wars: 6 Big Reasons to Love 
“The Mandalorian”

Does Disney Have a Marvel Comic 
Books Problem?

Why Conservatives Should Love Chuck

Hollywood's Inconsistent Take on Cloning

Defending the Video Game Industry Against 
Bipartisan Political Attacks

Star Trek and Moral Clarity

An Exchange with Jonah Goldberg at       
National Review Online Regarding 
“Star Trek and Moral Clarity”

Human Nature in Outer Space: 
Star Trek vs. Star Wars

Faith, or Lack Thereof, in Star Trek

Jeffersonians in Space: Serenity Comes
from Individual Freedom

Jack Bauer and Just War

Can the Western Make a Comeback?

Classic Christmas Films As Meant To Be

Summer, Shakespeare and 
Marriage in the Park

Shakespeare Politics Yesterday and 
Today at Hofstra University

Controlling Arts Dollars – 
Consumers or Politicians?

Movies and Politics in the Park

XIII. Sports: The Great Diversion ... Mostly                                        

Introduction

Sports Beats Politics Every Time

A Baseball Pilgrimage

Was George Steinbrenner a Capitalist?

Would Letting Pete Rose Back into 
Baseball Be Just?

Cooperstown: What About Joe?

Hope Springs Eternal in Spring Training, 
Especially for the Reds 2020

The Super Bowl and the NFL’s
History Problem

Super Bowl: Big Game, But Not 
So Big for Economy

When Billionaires Build Stadiums, 
Taxpayers Get Whacked

Yo, Brooklyn! Get Real About 
Politics and Sports

Both Fans and Politicians Need to 
Keep Sports in Perspective

The NFL Oilers: A Case Study in 
Corporate Welfare

The Masters and Why Tradition Matters

Does the U.S. Open Boost Local Business?

An Appreciation of Private Golf Clubs      

U.S. Open Makes Clear That Is 
Golf Anything But Boring

U.S. Open Fans: Some Honored and 
Others Dissed the Game

The Long Island Classic – Bogey or 
Birdie for Nassau Taxpayers?

The Government’s Assault on Golf

Hosting the Olympics: A Dangerous 
Economic Event

New York Beware: Olympics Offer 
Short-Term Highs and Costly Lows

The Road Ahead for NASCAR         

Four Business Lessons at the          
Belmont Stakes

Is Soccer Un-American?

Sports and Religion at the Movies

XIV. Thoughts on Assorted Books                                                                                              

Introduction

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton
Have New York Politicians 
Changed Since the Birth of Our Nation?

1776: War and History on Long Island

Two Good Books About Presidents, 
Two Lousy Covers

A Definitive Case for 
Supply-Side Economics

Lessons for Trump from Supply-Sider JFK

Getting Freaky About Summer
Economics Reading

Appreciating The Cloister Walk

Substantive Spirituality: 
The Spirituality of the Cross

About That Hollywood Blacklist

Is James Bond a Good Guy?

Christian Fiction: Some Offer Thrills, 
But Dubious Theology

Wild Fire and the Response to 
Nuclear Terror

Want to Understand the Crusades? 
Read The New Concise History of the Crusades

Christianity Going South

Finding Happiness with Adam Smith

The Life of Adam Smith by
Ian Simpson Ross Leaves the 
Reader Wanting Even More

Appreciating Paul Johnson’s 
The Birth Of The Modern: 
World Society 1815·1830

CelebratingThe Creators: 
A History of Heroes of the 
Imagination by Daniel J. Boorstin


Pre-order the Kindle edition of BEHIND ENEMY LINES at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084ZF7THQ

Sale on pre-ordered signed copies of BEHIND ENEMY LINES at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/behindenemylines

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