So what is the `editor-in-chief' of TNR doing in the OpEd pages of the Wall Street Journal? Why, he is trashing Ned Lamont while extolling the virtues of his hero. Normally, this would be just another piss into the wind from the TNR crowd, but this one ain't normal, not by a long shot.
It is really quite remarkable how someone like Ned Lamont, from the stock of Morgan partner Thomas Lamont and that high born American Stalinist Corliss Lamont still sends a chill of "having arrived" up the spines of his suburban supporters simply by asking them to support him.
Got that?
Me neither.
But he is just getting warmed up.
At least in this sense, Mr Lamont comes to this campaign for the US Senate from absolutely nowhere - and it shows in his pulpy statement on public issues. Here is a paradigmatic one: "we need to provide parents and communities the support they need to assure that children start their school day ready to learn.
Hmm. Paradigmatic, eh. Where have I seen stuff like this before? Oh, that's right, at Lieberman's official Web Site
spearheaded efforts to reform America's educational system by boosting federal funding, expanding access to quality education, challenging educators to raise standards, and providing all Americans with the skills to compete in the global economy through the introduction of innovative legislation.
How much more `pulpy' can you get?
He has qualms about affirmative action. But who, in his heart of hearts, does not? He is appalled by the abysmal standards of our popular culture and our public discourse. Who really loves our popular culture - or at least which parent?
But that is not why he is in trouble. Is Marty Peretz really that dumb? Has anyone come out and said that Joe needs to go because he is a scold? Do you see a float following Joe that has a big finger wagging?
There are many reasonable and even correct reproofs that one may have for the conduct of the war. They are, to be sure, all retrospective
Yes, Marty Peretz is really that dumb. By definition, criticism of the conduct of war has to be retrospective. Unless you are dsquared in which case, you are a Prophet.
. But one fault cannot be attributed to the US and that is that we are on the wrong side. We are at war in a just cause to protect the vulnerable masses of the country from the helter-skelter ideological and religious mass murderers in their midst
We are losing our soldiers in Iraq so we can protect residents of Norwalk, CT from being killed by mass murderers living in Stamford, CT. Or something.
Dripping with condescension and sarcasm, Peretz the Putz takes on Lamont:
(Mr Lamont's views) are just simpleminded. Here, for instance, is his take on what should be done about Iran's nuclear-weapons venture: "We should work diplomatically and aggressively to give them reasons why they don't need a bomb, to give them incentives. We have to engage in very aggressive diplomacy. I'd like to bring in allies when we can. I'd like to use carrots as well as sticks to see if we can change the nature of the debate". Oh I see. He thinks the problem is not that they understand and so we should explain things to them and then they will do the right thing.
Screw you Putz, it is called Diplomacy. Hell, we are even using it with North Korea. So forgive us if the voters of Connecticut don't want to engage in wholesale bloodbath in the Middle East just to give you a hard on. Sorry, but we think our children are worth more than that. The appeasers that we are, we happen to believe that you don't respond to gang violence by going in with submachine guns and shooting everybody on sight. Yes, shocking. I know.
I cannot wait to see the handwringing that will start in earnest on Wednesday when Lieberman gets his clock cleaned by the voters of Connecticut. I am just sorry I am no longer a CT resident and am therefore denied the immense satisfaction of not just voting for a smart man but also against Holy `the kiss' Joe.