Wanker Hall of Fame - Richard Cohen

I sometimes wonder if Richard Cohen doesn't wake up in the morning and ask the musical question "how can I fuck with Sir Charles today?"  Well, alright that may indicate a paranoid, self aggrandizing, and solipsistic state of mind, but it doesn't mean it isn't true. 

Today's gem can be summed up thusly -- Obama was never tortured by the North Vietnamese, therefore, he can never have the same "character" as John McCain.  And for that reason, Cohen can permissibly forgive McCain all of his myriad flip flops not simply because he likes the feel of St. John's manhood between his cheek and gums, but because, as a Platinum guest at the Hanoi Hilton, McCain seemingly has won a lifetime exemption from questioning by the Washington media.  According to Cohen, Obama's flip flops, on the other hand, "matter more than similar acts by McCain."  (No that really is a quote.)

Oh, by the way, did you know that a "presidential race is only incidentally about issues. It's really about likability and character."  That's what Richard tells me.  This is classic Village nihilism -- those pesky issues, are just so much detail.  Why if you spend time worrying about them it will limit your ability to hoover cocktail weenies.

You really need to read this piece as it is a classic of the genre. 

Our friends at Sadly, No! take him apart long form and with style. 

 

Comments

[low-tech cyclist]

Can we just feed Cohen to a pack of wild dogs or something? Gawd, his worthlessness is staggering.

Yeah, I'm sure if you manage to make megabucks by blithering like an idiot twice a week on op-ed pages across the country, issues might not matter to you. But to a lot of people getting the short end of the stick, whether the minimum wage increases every now and then really matters. As does the EITC, as does S-CHIP, as does Social Security and Medicare.

One party is in favor of strengthening and expanding these programs, and one party's against them. Fuck character and likability.

One of these days, if we don't rein in our CO2 production, we're going to suffer some nasty consequences. One party might eventually find the courage to address this; the other is firmly uninterested. Fuck character and likability.

War is almost always a really, really bad thing. It kills a lot of people, can destabilize the countries where the wars are fought, and costs a shitload of money that could be better spent on an infinitude of better things. War is an absolute last resort. One party believes this; the other just can't wait for another opportunity for a Glorious American Triumph. Fuck character and likability.

And while we're at it, fuck both John McCain and Richard Cohen with the rustiest piece of rebar that's lying around the nearest construction site's trashpile.

[Joe Klein's conscience]

Isn't Richard Cohen supposed to be one of the resident liberals in the WaPo's stable of op-ed'ers?

[Sir Charles]

Oh indeed JKC - as certified by Deborah Howell herself.

[Lisa Simeone]

My goodness, inane. Just inane. His column, I mean.

[Sir Charles]

But it's inane in special sort of way. A true classic of the style. After a quarter century in DC I feel like I am becoming a connoisseur of this kind of tripe.

[Lisa Simeone]

And yet half of America (most?) continues to blather that "the media has a liberal bias." I give up.

[Toast]

You really need to read this piece as it is a classic of the genre.

No, I really don't. ;-)

[low-tech cyclist]

Toast is right. Thanks, Chas, for reading Cohen so we don't have to endure the agony.

It's not quite as bad for most of us as listening to Vogon poetry is reputed to be, but it's getting gawdawfully close.

[low-tech cyclist]

Toast is right. Thanks, Chas, for reading Cohen so we don't have to endure the agony.

It's not quite as bad for most of us as listening to Vogon poetry is reputed to be, but it's getting gawdawfully close.

[Sir Charles]

I feel like some sort of scape goat.

And yet some of our internet brethren sacrifice more, delving into the demented worlds of Townhall and Free Republic, Pam Atlas and Michelle Malkin. It is to them that we owe a salute. How one keeps one mind after exposure to such toxic stupidity and meanness is a source of wonder to me.

[low-tech cyclist]

I dunno, my friend. At least I can stay awake when I read Malkin or the Freepers. They may be total lunatics, but at least they've got some energy and zest to their lunacy.

I can barely stay awake through most of the WaPo op-eds, very definitely including Cohen's columns. He's dishonest and stupid, and totally boring in his mendacious stupidity. Guys like him and Robert J. Samuelson are like Goddam in Bored of the Rings.