Letters to the Editor
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It Was A Miracle!
orbitboy:
That's why I wasn't critical of Bush's handling of the VT shootings. He bothed Katrina horribly, he wasn't going to ignore the next tragedy.
You're ignoring the obvious, ob: This was the rarest of all things in the BushCo years--a national tragedy for which Bush could not be blamed. Of course he was going to be there like white on rice.
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primarily a tribal matter, amongst the savage punderati.
And God help the intrepid explorer willing to study them in their natural habitat! I understand the place is infested with snakes, rats and other assorted vermin!
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At Times Like This
I always wonder what Frank Gaffney would say.
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Calling out Krauthammer is kinda like Atrios going after Richard Cohen
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Other folks may have a different impression than I do, but every time I see Krauthammer on the toob (which isn't all that often, not having cable in the house and rarely bothering with FOX "News"), it looks to me like his compatriots are literally cringing at most of his effluent, muttering darkly under their breath, and praying for him to STFU so they can go on to something important. It looks to me (talk about anecdotal!) that Krauthammer is endured rather than respected and/or admired by all but (perhaps) Brit Hume.
Who is himself more feared or dismissed than respected.
Just so, Cohen (who is nothing but a crank these days) isn't even read any more -- except when Atrios slams him for some idiocy or other.
What might be useful is for someone to actually point out other pundits who state that they admire and/or respect Krauthammer.
So far, all I've found is Glenn Reynolds saying as much -- in 2003.
As I say, Krauthammer is certifyable. He is put up with.
A question arises: why are these people kept in their sinecures? Why are any of them in the positions they're in?
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Good catch!
You're ignoring the obvious, ob:
Whether I was ignoring it or considered it too obvious to merit mentioning is open to question. If he was to blame or not didn't seem to be the point to me--Bush seems oblivious such realities anyway.
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A possible explanation
Why would someone be such an obvious hypocrite? It's not like Krauthammer could believe that no one would notice.
Is it possible that he is deluded enough to believe something like: my beliefs are so obviously true that when I state them I am only pointing out reality. I am not being 'political'. Those other guys, who are wrong, are political.
It is tough to make sense out of such behavior. I would love to see how he explains it.
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Casting Call
OK, so we all agree that Krauthammer is the Dr. Strangelove of the neocons.
Obviously, Dick Cheney is Gen. Jack D. Ripper.
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Getting slightly off-topic here
But Joel's point reminds me of something folks like Rove and DeLay do that bugs me to no end. These guys are such craven, extremely partisan characters, that critizing them in anyway makes the critic partisan, too, in their way of thinking. It's so childish, and so annoying.
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Oh, Absolutely!
orbitboy:
If he [Bush] was to blame or not didn't seem to be the point to me--Bush seems oblivious such realities anyway.
But Rove isn't.
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re: Casting Call
And W is obviously Slim Pickens. Yeeeeeee-haw!
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Slim Pickens
Oh my god... if Bush had the nads to ride a nuclear missile on its way to the target, I would have so much respect for him! Wouldn't that be so great? Hell, I'd vote for him posthumously!
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Krauthammer on TV last night
http://foxnews.com/specialreport
Special Report with Brit Hume
Thursday, April 19, 2007
[on Harry Reid and Iraq]
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: "American people have worries about the war, but saying it's lost is only a minority opinion."http://rasmussenreports.com/2006/War%20on%20Terror_Monthly_Update.htm
Rasmussen Reports
50% Think History Will Judge Iraq Mission as Failure
April 16, 2007
Thirty-three percent (33%) of American voters believe that history will ultimately judge the U.S. mission in Iraq a success. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 50% of Likely Voters believe the mission will be deemed a failure.Were I equally dishonest, could I, too, be on the TeeVee?
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The little people
You are all little people who do not know better, who the truth you cannot handle. I will administer to you. Just as the holy men who rail against homosexuality and drugs, while partaking of those very things, I must do what I tell you not to do. For looking down upon you, in my solemn wisdom, am forced in this by my awesome responsibility. May you all remain inscient and insouciant.
-- from the lost file of CK
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Psychiatrist, heal thyself...
Whenever anyone mentions Krauthammer, I'm reminded of M.J. Rosenberg's account of his behaviour at shul one recent Yom Kippur:
The rabbi had offered some timid endorsement of peace -- peace essentially on Israel's terms -- but peace anyway. Krauthammer went nuts. He actually started bellowing at the rabbi, from his wheel chair in the aisle. People tried to "shush" him. It was, after all, the holiest day of the year. But Krauthammer kept howling until the rabbi apologized. The man is as arrogant as he is thuggish. Who screams at the rabbi at services? For advocating peace?
Anyone familiar with the DSM-IV who would care to try their hand at a diagnosis of this man?
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Krauthammer, as *still* viewed by millions.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040212-2.html
THE WHITE HOUSE
For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
VP Remarks at the AEI Annual Dinner
Remarks by the Vice President at the American Enterprise Institute Annual Dinner
Washington Hilton and Towers
Washington, D.C.
February 10, 2004
7:35 P.M. EST
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thanks you. (Applause.) Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Thank you, Chris, and it's a pleasure tonight to join all of you in honoring Charles Krauthammer -- a man I admire very much, and am proud to call a friend. The Irving Kristol Award is named for one great American, and tonight we bestow it on another . . . I spent a time at AEI when I was a scholar . . . Lynne and I are truly grateful for our many years of association with the American Enterprise Institute. AEI has developed a reputation, well deserved, for disciplined scholarship, intellectual integrity, and fresh insight into public policy . . . you get used to the shifting attention and the passing enthusiasms that characterize so much of our political commentary. You learn to take it all in, and then to select out the well considered judgments of a serious thinker. You begin to listen through the chorus in search of that one clear note. And so often, that clear note is the commentary of Charles Krauthammer . . . Whatever the subject at hand, Charles gives the reader evidence and argument, never just sentiment and the conventional wisdom. His great intelligence is guided by principle and an understanding of the world as it is. These qualities produce special insights . . .
- - The Vice PresidentLike it or not, the Vice President still speaks for many millions of people. Krauthammer isn't just a fringe figure. Krauthammer is respected (even if not by Salon-dot-Com fans) and Krauthammer is influential. Why are we even debating whether he is?