Richard Cohen - I've Run out of Wankerifics

Richard Cohen, best described by Atrios as "America's Concern Troll," has outdone himself again today. Yes, today he once again revisits the theme of the awesome maverickiness of John McCain, while asking what has Obama ever done that is admirable?  [Obviously Obama's impressive academic and electoral achievements mean nothing -- he wasn't tortured by the Vietnamese.] And don't tell him about no stinkin' speeches.

Well, the obvious answer is that in the Glorious Summer of War, Obama stood his ground against the foolish invasion of Iraq.  And did so for all the right reasons.  Cohen, grudgingly acknowledges this, but, of course, immediately dismisses it as a no risk gambit for a state senator from Hyde Park.  Obama's decision may look risk free from the post-clusterfuck perspective we can bring to bear in 2008; however, prior to the war this decision appeared fraught with risk for any politician with national ambitions.  Ask John Edwards or Hillary Clinton.  To be against the war was to be a dirty fucking hippy, inviting the scorn of wise men like Cohen, Tom Friedman, Joe Klein, and our other sages of the Op-Ed world.  It was simply not a popular position, despite Cohen's attempt at revisionism.  (Being for the surge, on the other hand is teh awesomest profile in courage yet.)

Once again, Cohen dismisses the fact that McCain has turned his back on virtually all of his previous high profile deviations from Republican orthodoxy.  Once again, no mention of the actual positions of Obama or McCain on issues, because we all know that the next president will have to raise taxes and cut benefits, and in the end, issues don't matter, character does.  Cohen's continued craven sucking up to McCain and his utterly sophomoric world view give new credence to a suggestion by a friend that the Post improve its quality and save money by simply running two blank pages at the end of the "A" Section in lieu of the Op-Ed pages.

A Post writer recently claimed in an online chat that the left blogoshpere's critiques of the mainstream media all essentially boiled down to journalists being either stupid or venal.  I think she left out the all important "stupid and venal'' category.            

Comments

[low-tech cyclist]

Cohen's continued craven sucking up to McCain and his utterly sophomoric world view give new credence to a suggestion by a friend that the Post improve its quality and save money by simply running two blank pages at the end of the "A" Section in lieu of the Op-Ed pages.

Which reminds me, I'm attempting a blog of my own: Everybody Laughs At Broder. Things have been pretty busy, so I've only managed one post so far, but I should be posting something later today. (Not on Cohen, though - I think I'll just link to your post here.) Feel free to stop by.

[Sir Charles]

l-t c,

I'll be adding it to the favorites. A niche that needs to be filled -- and remember, "no prisoners!"

[Stephen]

Hey low-tech, be sure to add your URL to the comment form here; it increases your link score and allows people, when they're blown away by your rhetorical brilliance, to make their way over to a steadier stream of said bulls brilliance, I meant brilliance!

[litbrit]

Does walking around with a Will Write For Barbeque placard hanging from your neck and a Bluetooth thingie in your ear signify stupid, venal, or both?

[low-tech cyclist]

I'll be adding it to the favorites. A niche that needs to be filled -- and remember, "no prisoners!"

Thanks, Chas - and we don't take no steenkin' prisoners!

Hey low-tech, be sure to add your URL to the comment form here; it increases your link score and allows people, when they're blown away by your rhetorical brilliance, to make their way over to a steadier stream of said bulls brilliance, I meant brilliance!

Done! (And it will be bullshit some days; the moments of brilliance come and go. But Broder and Cohen and Hiatt are a steady stream of inspiration, so there should be more good days than bad ones.)