First, about a year ago, Matt Taibbi has a, "Come Up With the Ultimate Thomas Friedman Porn Title," contest, which is won by one ……… Thomas Friedman, with an opinion piece titled, "This Ain't Yogurt," and now this: (no link, because clicking through would just encourage him)
Which is why it is not surprising that I now often hear regular people — not high government officials — saying to me in conversation: “This is off-the-record.” Huh? What are you secretary of state?
Yes, mister, "I'm quoting yet another cab driver who says exactly what I am feeling" is now saying that cab drivers are asking for their comments to be kept off the record.
I have concluded that Friedman is just fucking with us.
Tom Friedman is engaging in some sort of Andy Kaufmanesque mocking of his own audience.
Hell, maybe he IS Andy Kaufman.
After all, have you ever seen them together?