James Joyner grew up as an Army brat, living in many different places in the US and Germany. He received his BA (1987) and MA (1988) from Jacksonville (Alabama) State University and was commissioned into the field artillery. He served as a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) platoon leader in Germany from 1989-92, with a combat tour in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. James returned to graduate school at the University of Alabama, finishing his PhD in 1995. He taught politics at Tennessee-Chattanooga, Bainbridge (Georgia) College, and Troy State from 1995-2002. He has worked as an acquisitions editor for Dulles (VA) based Brassey's Inc. He started his blog, Outside the Beltway, on January 31, 2003.
Why do you blog? > It allows me to spout off on all manner of things which interest me. Plus: fame, fortune and the adoration of women.
What has been your best blogging experience? > Interesting discussions with people literally from all over the world.
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger? > Don't try to be InstaPundit; there's already one of him. Write about things that interest you, write about them well, and you will gradually build an audience.
What are your favourite blogs? > PoliBlog, VodkaPundit and One Hand Clapping.
What are you reading at the moment? > This questionnaire. Also re-reading Walter Murphy's The Vicar of Christ, a superb novel.
What is your favourite movie? > Pulp Fiction.
Who is your favourite composer? > Jimmy Buffett.
Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind? > I've generally become less conservative and more libertarian over the past 10 to 15 years. I'm more inclined to accept gay marriage and more sceptical on the death penalty, for example.
Who are your political heroes? > Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. Historically, Teddy Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and many of the American Founders.
What is your favourite piece of political wisdom? > Man is the measure of all things.
If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be? > Term limits for both Congress and the Supreme Court.
What would you do with the UN? > Strip it of the notion that it is a world government, relegating it the humanitarian functions it performs quite superbly.
What do you consider to be the main threat to the future peace and security of the world? > Religious and political radicalism, especially Islamism.
Do you think the world (human civilization) has already passed its best point, or is that yet to come? > It's got to get better than this! Seriously, the rate of growth of scientific knowledge and the general trend toward more human freedom augur well for generations to come.
Do you think you could ever be married to, or in a long-term relationship with, someone with radically different political views from your own? > Hell, I can't manage long-term relationships with people with similar views. But, no, politics is too integral to who I am for that to work.
What do you consider the most important personal quality? > Integrity.
What is your favourite proverb? > Actions speak louder than words.
What commonly enjoyed activities do you regard as a waste of time? > Spectator sports, television and blogging.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently? > I've seen enough science fiction to know better than to mess with the space-time continuum.
What would your ideal holiday be? > A week long.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? > Glenn.
What would be your ideal choice of alternative profession or job? > Chief Justice of the United States.
Who is your favourite comedian or humorist? > Pre-1995 George Carlin.
Who are your sporting heroes? > Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Greg Maddux.
Which football team do you support? > The Dallas Cowboys.
[Previous profiles: Ophelia Benson (Nov 7); Chris Bertram (Sep 26); Alan Brain (Oct 10); Chris Brooke (Jan 2); Francois Brutsch (Dec 5); Michele Catalano (Feb 13); Anne Cunningham (Jan 23); Jackie D (Oct 17); Brad DeLong (Jan 16); Harry Hatchet (Oct 24); Saddam Hussein (Nov 14); Jeff Jarvis (Dec 26); Oliver Kamm (Nov 21); Ken MacLeod (Jan 30); Sheila O'Malley (Dec 19); Stephen Pollard (Feb 6); Glenn Reynolds (Jan 9); Natalie Solent (Nov 28); Roger L. Simon (Oct 31); Michael J. Totten (Oct 3); Bill Wallo (Feb 20); Brian Weatherson (Dec 12). The normblog profile is a weekly Friday morning feature.]