Spare Us!
You’d expect something a bit more classy from the Gray Lady, but, no. Today’s The Conversation column titled, In Praise of Partisanship, is typical of the liberal media… Have a pseudo-conservative debate a super-liberal and call it bipartisan.
And, what does the pseudo-con say:
At the moment, I feel politically closer to Barack Obama than to House Minority Leader John Boehner (and that’s even while being greatly exercised about the current health care bills). On the other hand, I feel politically closer to Lindsey Graham than to Henry Waxman.
I could draw a sort of hot and cold chart, with various people in my inner rings. In the Senate, I’d somehow cram Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Chuck Schumer, Mark Warner and Ron Wyden into my ring of most admired, along with several others.
I don’t have anything against RINOs or moderate Republicans, but Brooks’ list doesn’t even come close to the center. All his Democrats score highly on ADA ratings- Klobuchar: 100; Liberman: 85; Schumer: 100; Wyden: 95. Collins gets a 75. The rest are just token cons. Add in Snowe and we’d have the perfect liberal list.
Would any sensible, moderate conservative or Republican ever include Schumer and Klobuchar? Oy Wyden? Schumer is so far left, he probably doesn’t even turn right when he’s driving.
Brooks goes onto write:
The first message is that the Republicans have disenchanted me a great deal over the past few years. I’m more likely to think of myself as a conservative independent.
Schumer is no friend of independents.
Second, I’ve come to think that mentality is more important than ideology when judging a politician. The people on that list have styles that somehow appeal.
Sure, raising taxes, progressive taxation and “fair trade” have tons of appeal.
Third, there is the repulsive force of teamism, which is the great corrupter in modern politics. It’s the way people crush their own personalities and views in order to fit in with the team.
Pelosi’s and Reid’s constant arm-twisting of their colleagues doesn’t qualify as forced teamism?
Fourth, there is journalism. Even those of us in the opinion business have a duty to stay aloof from the players on the field.
What a bust! If the media really did stay aloof, why aren’t we hearing any criticism of ObamaCare™ instead of just constant praise?
Gail Collins writes:
I hope the Republicans understand how deep a pit they’re in if you’re washing your hands of the team.
The GOP should rejoice that Brooks has finally left the team. Pop the champagne!
