The new pope is Pope Benedict XVI, a conservative seventy-eight year old that appears to be best seen as a holding action. The NYT account summarized him this way:
In many ways, the cardinals picked John Paul's theological twin but his opposite in presence and personality. Where John Paul II was charismatic and tended to soften his rigid stands with warmth, the new Pope Benedict XVI is a less dynamic man - humble in private, his friends say - who pulls few punches in public about his strong beliefs.
And, many Catholics were upset, including one about the new pope's age:
"I'm not happy because he's too conservative and old and I would like to see a younger and more liberal pope in there," Ms. Cummings told The Associated Press. "I fear the church won't progress and will just become staid. We need a change."
I don't think one can hope for a pope that would support women priests or homosexual marriage, but this appears to be a particularly troubling case because he was known to especially conservative without the charisma that made his predecessor so popular. Some of the comments he has made in the past are especially blunt -- "people of faith" like Tom DeLay and Rick Santorum should be happy. Another situation where we are left with "let's try to ride out the storm ... this too shall pass."
Talking about those liked by conservatives, Andrea Dworkin, the bombastic feminist, has recently died. From what I know of her work, admittedly not enough to be totally fair, this account seems right. She was an unpleasant caricature of a feminist, and that results in a counterproductive tendency generally.
On the other hand, Dahlia Lithwick is right again about the latest development in the convoluted saga of Zacarias Moussaoui. And, true conservatives might agree as well. They might not like the latest developments respecting John Bolton, but those who want a truly competent UN ambassador should.