JUST WHAT IS A STRAUSSIAN, ANYWAY?

Take a look at Josh Cherniss's post critiquing this NYT piece on Leo Strauss's supposed influence on the Bush White House. My understanding of Strauss, for what it's worth, is pretty much in line with the last two paragraphs of Josh's post. But people can obviously differ here. I find it hard to see how any particular political direction is indicated by Strauss's writings, even though many people who are called Straussians are conservative. I know people who have grappled with Strauss who are both Democrats and Republicans, however, and who I imagine would take a variety of positions on the foreign policy of the Bush administration. One example would be the prominent centrist Bill Galston, who was -- wait for it -- an advisor to none other than Bill Clinton. Hmmm.