It's like Christmas. A twofer of my current hobby horses.
David Brooks has been doing some sweating over the Obama administration. Things looked so rosy and cheerful. What could have gone wrong? Brooks:
Those of us who consider ourselves moderates — moderate-conservative, in my case — are forced to confront the reality that Barack Obama is not who we thought he was. His words are responsible; his character is inspiring. But his actions betray a transformational liberalism that should put every centrist on notice.
As a bonus, Brooks throws in another "intellectual" line. I scanned the article before reading it through, knowing I would find it. I wasn't disappointed. Everyone's using the word these days:
We moderates are going to have to assert ourselves. We’re going to have to take a centrist tendency that has been politically feckless and intellectually vapid and turn it into an influential force.
What a putz. Just so I'm clear: smart guys (i.e. "moderates") like Brooks thought Obama was the cat's meow. They spent months telling people that Obama wasn't anything to be afraid of. He was The One. He was The Speech Maker. The Saviour. Mr. Cool. But now that he's proven to be the regular tax-and-spend liberal that all of us dummies said he was, Brooks is bewildered and lost. He's looking to his "moderate" friends to turn around a dumb moderate-right population to become an "influential force."
Sorry, Brooks. You don't get back in the game that easily. If you're so smart, so intellectual, you should have seen this coming last year. But you didn't. Why, only last week you described Obama's team like this: "The people around Obama are smart and sober. Their plans are bold but seem supple and chastened by a realistic sensibility."
A week later and they're all dangerous left wing loons?
Realistic sensibility (what the rest of us call "reality") has smacked Brooks in the face and he doesn't like the bruises. He's lurching around for a crutch or someone to lean on. To use his words he's been "chastened," if not by Obama then by his own embarrassing willingness to get drunk on political Kool-Aid. Now the hangover's killing him.
Who's he to call anyone politically feckless and intellectually vapid? Take a look in the mirror, pal.
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