Comments on: UPDATE II: The Punditocracy Must Resign (T & A Show)

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:58:16 +0000

Love the Winger video. Indeed, the guy can still rock.

Gerson doesn’t understand that more damage has been done by well meaning governments to society than any so called benefit. How is turning people into wards of the state helpful to anyone and why does Gerson assume that if the state didn’t do these things (like SS) that they would starve in the street? I think the state is only really good at killing people and blowing stuff up which is why defense is the state’s responsibility.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:56:08 +0000

The RECIPE for a successful MAINSTREAM “conservative pundit” like Compassionate Conservative Empire-of-Evil Michael Gerson?

WEEK-1 column – write some mild mainstream rebuke of Obama saying how he certainly “means well” but must watch against veering too far to the extreme left and that he will need to control spending one day. This makes you an economic “conservative”.

WEEK-2 column – write blather about the utility of intact ghetto families or people should be kind to strangers or some other obvious subject. This makes you a cultural “conservative”.

WEEK-3 column – write something good about progress in some (interventionist) war and the need to stand united with our coalition “allies”. This makes you a national security “conservative”.

WEEK-4 column – Now that you are the Washington Post or New York Times (or whatever) designated “conservative” columnist, you can now spend 25% of the time completely trashing Palin, Paul (Rand or Ron), Armey, Bachmann, Arpaio etc. as “kooks”, “unrealistic”, “extremists”, “bigots” – You are, after all, a “respectable” “common-sense” conservative – not some uncaring nutcase.

Repeat ad tedium: Brooks, Parker, Douthat, Gerson and you are the designated “some of my friends are DECENT conservatives” Affirmative Action Poster Boy of the Establishment soirees.

By: Contemplationist

Contemplationist — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:21:18 +0000

Actually I’m getting more hopeful by the day. If vapid, air-headed, establishment idiots like Michael Gerson feel the need to diss libertarianism, it must actually have currency now within the mainstream. w00t

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:12:05 +0000

Myron asked, “Will some of these right wing “pundits” examine why we still have large troop deployments in Italy, Japan, Korea, and Germany?”

Pat Buchanan has advocated the dismantling of NATO and the return of US troops ever since the demise of the Warsaw Pact. Ditto for the troops in Japan and Korea.

By: Robert Glisson

Robert Glisson — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:47:41 +0000

Myron could add “Michael Gerson” to his list of 9:06AM; but I don’t know which category, vapid or consistently wrong, either one fits. I never thought of Libertarians as examples of ‘cold eyed uncaring Dirty Harry’ types, Maybe I need to spend more time in front of the mirror, find out what I’m missing. Ann’s article was more cute than accurate but I think Ilana nailed it to the wall.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:16:35 +0000

Ilana – if your blood pressure can take it, here is a “CONSERVATIVE PUNDIT” to raise it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070804274.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:06:53 +0000

Nice that there is some brain activity in Ann. Tony Blankley, George Will, and some other “conservative pundits” are coming around to the realization that turning Afghanistan into Switzerland is a giant crock. On the other hand, is some of this motivated by Anti-Obammunism rather than a serious examination of wars of convenience?? Will some of these right wing “pundits” examine why we still have large troop deployments in Italy, Japan, Korea, and Germany?

And the other farce is the lionization of Petraeus and celebrating the “surge” that turned Iraq into Norway. Some fresher air comes from Diana West:

http://www.dianawest.net/Home/tabid/36/EntryId/1457/Steeles-Trap-and-Petraeus-Human-Terrain.aspx

Sadly, by speaking TRUTH to power, you (Ilana) are not eligible for “mainstream” columnist fame unlike the consistently wrong Kristol, the consistently wrong Krugman, and the consistently vapid Brooks (no one can say absolutely nothing with as much style as Brooks of the Times). Using your brain and not towing the party line makes you dangerous.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:18:24 +0000

God help us if Ann ever decides to write a history book about the “War on Terror.” As a libertarian that was extremely hard to read without grasping my monitor and launching it across the room. The battle for contemporary history has already commenced and the truth doesn’t matter if you’re a neocon.

By: George Pal

George Pal — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:53:17 +0000

Ostensibly building nations when in reality they (Democrats) scorn the notion of nation and ostensibly spreading democracy when in reality they (Republicans) stupidly and enthusiastically enfranchise the undemocratic warrants a bit of easy reflection.

Ostensibilities aside, the reality is we are making the world over in our post Constitutional image.