The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

One Fails To Understand How David Brooks Breathes

Posted on | March 5, 2010 | 47 Comments

by Smitty

David Brooks excreted another verbal puddle of nonsense into the NYeT yesterday.
He sets out to compare/contrast people who are alerted to the Constitutional threat with…hippies.

About 40 years ago, a social movement arose to destroy the establishment. The people we loosely call the New Left wanted to take on The Man, return power to the people, upend the elites and lead a revolution.

OK, David.

Today, another social movement has arisen. The people we loosely call the Tea Partiers also want to destroy the establishment. They also want to take on The Man, return power to the people, upend the elites and lead a revolution.

Actually, it’s a political movement. There is no attempt to broach any new language, attire, or societal structure. Also, the interest is in preserving the Constitutional establishment. There has been a threatening buildup of debt, usurpation of power, and deployment of spineless tools (see your nearest mirror, David) to support a Progressive overthrow of all that is good in the country. There is explicitly No Revolution, David. Only the slow erosion of separation of powers and Constitutional levels of government which you have overtly and covertly supported.

There are many differences between the New Left and the Tea Partiers. One was on the left, the other is on the right. One was bohemian, the other is bourgeois. One was motivated by war, and the other is motivated by runaway federal spending. One went to Woodstock, the other is more likely to go to Wal-Mart.

Thanks for the trite oversimplifications, David. The sad thing is that your straw man cage match might be viewed as accurate by someone. Or some two. Beyond that are the people who actually attend the Tea Parties, and know that the attendance runs the gamut of the economic spectrum.

But the similarities are more striking than the differences. To start with, the Tea Partiers have adopted the tactics of the New Left. They go in for street theater, mass rallies, marches and extreme statements that are designed to shock polite society out of its stupor. This mimicry is no accident. Dick Armey, one of the spokesmen for the Tea Party movement, recently praised the methods of Saul Alinsky, the leading tactician of the New Left.

Wow, David. You behave as if:

  • There was something new under the sun when the Left trotted out these radical tactics–Alinsky was substantially cribbing Sun Tzu.
  • Mass rallies are somehow new or off limits because the Left “did them first”–no they didn’t.
  • Extreme statements such as “The country is frickin’ broke!” are inaccurate. Facts are facts, and the simple truth that Progressive idiocy has bred an extreme situation cannot be avoided while calmly pursuing a remedy.

Thus, accusations of mimicry are stupid. Who gives a flying French fornication if there is any discernible overlap between methods? Attack the godforsaken problem! The “logic” of Brooksism would seem to be that Americans should just keep on pluckin’ that chicken until some completely new, historically unheralded method becomes available.
Will that be pixie dust, or a magic wand, Mr. Brooks?

These days the same people who are buying Alinsky’s book “Rules for Radicals” on Amazon.com are, according to the company’s software, also buying books like “Liberal Fascism,” “Rules for Conservative Radicals,” “Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left,” and “The Shadow Party: How George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Sixties Radicals Seized Control of the Democratic Party.” Those last two books were written by David Horowitz, who was a leading New Left polemicist in the 1960s and is now a leading polemicist on the right.

Yeah? So? And? Are you denying the value of “know thy enemy”?

But the core commonality is this: Members of both movements believe in what you might call mass innocence. Both movements are built on the assumption that the people are pure and virtuous and that evil is introduced into society by corrupt elites and rotten authority structures. “Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains,” is how Rousseau put it.

You are so completely wrong here, Brooks, as to bring a halt to all commentary. There is simply no joy in flogging erroneous ideas the way I crush the occasional millipede that creeps into the house. The Tea Party understands that people are fundamentally corrupt, David, and that there Is No Virtue In Bureaucracy. Can I beat that drum louder? Progressive Utopianism cannot purge the fundamental entropy in the human soul. No. What the Founders did, and you and your ilk seem bent on undoing, David, is delegate a finite set of powers to a central government to accomplish a limited set of objectives.
A century ago, we lost our way. We have the debt, the cratered political system, and the cratered roads to show for it.
The Tea Party is a restoration, not a revolution, you nitwit. The erroneous ideas you gleefully espouse are going to be systematically brushed aside. The painful realities of entitlement sunshine blown up generations of American fundament are going to be faced. The clear, simple wisdom of the Constitution, and the lessons of history will again be studied, so that snake oil salesman and kool aid merchants like yourself can be gently laughed at and ignored.
Or my name is not Phineas J. Whoopie.

Update: Ed Driscoll-lanche!

Category: Progressivism

Comments

47 Responses to “One Fails To Understand How David Brooks Breathes”

  1. Jane Jamison
    March 5th, 2010 @ 11:54 pm

    David Brooks needs a good spanking. Why do liberals keep calling Brooks a conservative?
    Smitty rocks. Muah.

  2. Jane Jamison
    March 5th, 2010 @ 6:54 pm

    David Brooks needs a good spanking. Why do liberals keep calling Brooks a conservative?
    Smitty rocks. Muah.

  3. CGHill
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:32 am

    As the phrase goes, Tennessee Tuxedo will not fail.

  4. CGHill
    March 5th, 2010 @ 7:32 pm

    As the phrase goes, Tennessee Tuxedo will not fail.

  5. richard mcenroe
    March 5th, 2010 @ 7:44 pm

    “ONE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DAVID BROOKS BREATHS”

    Very likely the same way some proofread.

    Brooks doesn’t care whether this country stands or falls as long as his merlot is properly served…

  6. richard mcenroe
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:44 am

    “ONE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DAVID BROOKS BREATHS”

    Very likely the same way some proofread.

    Brooks doesn’t care whether this country stands or falls as long as his merlot is properly served…

  7. Your blog headline of the day goes to « The Daley Gator
    March 5th, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

    […] 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment Smitty, of The Other McCain for this gem. One Fails To Understand How David Brooks […]

  8. tnxplant
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:52 am

    I hope it’s just a typo, but in honor of National Grammar Day, “breathes” is the verb; “breaths” is the noun.

  9. tnxplant
    March 5th, 2010 @ 9:52 pm

    I hope it’s just a typo, but in honor of National Grammar Day, “breathes” is the verb; “breaths” is the noun.

  10. smitty
    March 6th, 2010 @ 3:24 am

    @tnxplant,
    Oops, thanks for the catch.

  11. smitty
    March 5th, 2010 @ 10:24 pm

    @tnxplant,
    Oops, thanks for the catch.

  12. kazoolist
    March 6th, 2010 @ 3:28 am

    Dear PBS’s “The News Hour”:

    I am writing you to request you get rid of David Brooks, and instead add Smitty as a political commentator.

    I believe you will find Smitty to be 10 times brighter, 50 times more conservative, and 100 times less pretentious than Mr. Brooks.

  13. kazoolist
    March 5th, 2010 @ 10:28 pm

    Dear PBS’s “The News Hour”:

    I am writing you to request you get rid of David Brooks, and instead add Smitty as a political commentator.

    I believe you will find Smitty to be 10 times brighter, 50 times more conservative, and 100 times less pretentious than Mr. Brooks.

  14. Paco
    March 6th, 2010 @ 3:57 am

    The only thing Brooks is good for is to serve as the grit for pearls like Smitty’s fisking.

    Linked.

  15. Paco
    March 5th, 2010 @ 10:57 pm

    The only thing Brooks is good for is to serve as the grit for pearls like Smitty’s fisking.

    Linked.

  16. Robert Birch
    March 6th, 2010 @ 5:50 am

    Support the new green job…the green starving artist..buy my artwork please.. http://tinyurl.com/ybkllwj

  17. Robert Birch
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:50 am

    Support the new green job…the green starving artist..buy my artwork please.. http://tinyurl.com/ybkllwj

  18. Super Fisk « The Camp Of The Saints [New Main Site]
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:24 am

    […] my friend Smitty has come through and given me an adeneline shot in the form of a superb Fisking of David Chauncey Gardiner […]

  19. Jef
    March 6th, 2010 @ 6:36 am

    “ONE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DAVID BROOKS BREATHS”

    That’s easy: he doesn’t.

  20. Jef
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:36 am

    “ONE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DAVID BROOKS BREATHS”

    That’s easy: he doesn’t.

  21. Stogie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 6:43 am

    An impressive dissection of an obnoxious toad.

    Smitty, it is obvious that you are quite educated and an expert in debate and expository writing. You are a lot more than just a sidekick, but more a warrior in your own right. Your essays have reached a high level of professionalism.

    I’m impressed.

  22. Stogie
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:43 am

    An impressive dissection of an obnoxious toad.

    Smitty, it is obvious that you are quite educated and an expert in debate and expository writing. You are a lot more than just a sidekick, but more a warrior in your own right. Your essays have reached a high level of professionalism.

    I’m impressed.

  23. M. Joseph Sheppard
    March 6th, 2010 @ 6:45 am

    fyi-this email nfp. trust this link-which is irony for the haters to suck on is of interest.
    Best,MJS
    http://recovering-liberal.blogspot.com/2010/03/arah-palin-diappearing-100000-peaking.html

  24. M. Joseph Sheppard
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:45 am

    fyi-this email nfp. trust this link-which is irony for the haters to suck on is of interest.
    Best,MJS
    http://recovering-liberal.blogspot.com/2010/03/arah-palin-diappearing-100000-peaking.html

  25. daveinboca
    March 6th, 2010 @ 10:38 am

    PBS Friday nite had a gentleman named Gerson, who seems to be a gentile version of Brooks, in its ten-minute hate and I guess there’s a cookie-cutter somewhere to mass produce vapid vacuous RINOs whose spines are not made for heavy lifting.

    Whew, Lehrer is enough of a bore and Shields has receded into a pre-Alzheimer mode of incoherent babbling, but on Brooks’ nite off they trot out a pasty-faced simper-smile clone out of the broom closet, I guess. Gerson might work on projection.

  26. daveinboca
    March 6th, 2010 @ 5:38 am

    PBS Friday nite had a gentleman named Gerson, who seems to be a gentile version of Brooks, in its ten-minute hate and I guess there’s a cookie-cutter somewhere to mass produce vapid vacuous RINOs whose spines are not made for heavy lifting.

    Whew, Lehrer is enough of a bore and Shields has receded into a pre-Alzheimer mode of incoherent babbling, but on Brooks’ nite off they trot out a pasty-faced simper-smile clone out of the broom closet, I guess. Gerson might work on projection.

  27. RebeccaH
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:38 pm

    Excellent work, Mr. Smitty! I must say I admire your use of language. Flying French fornication indeed.

  28. RebeccaH
    March 6th, 2010 @ 8:38 am

    Excellent work, Mr. Smitty! I must say I admire your use of language. Flying French fornication indeed.

  29. Reaganite Republican
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:27 pm

    Great post Smitty- I liked the “FFF” too, ha!

    Linked today at the Reaganite Republican…

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/full-metal-jacket-wrap-around.html

  30. Reaganite Republican
    March 6th, 2010 @ 9:27 am

    Great post Smitty- I liked the “FFF” too, ha!

    Linked today at the Reaganite Republican…

    http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2010/03/full-metal-jacket-wrap-around.html

  31. John Doe
    March 6th, 2010 @ 2:45 pm

    Wow. I read Brooks’ column and was one of the one or two in the world who didn’t see through his “trite over simplifications.” Reading this article was the refreshing cold water to the face that I required! [As I hang my head and slink away in shame for being sucked in by Brooksian “logic” in the first place…]

  32. John Doe
    March 6th, 2010 @ 9:45 am

    Wow. I read Brooks’ column and was one of the one or two in the world who didn’t see through his “trite over simplifications.” Reading this article was the refreshing cold water to the face that I required! [As I hang my head and slink away in shame for being sucked in by Brooksian “logic” in the first place…]

  33. FatBaldnSassy
    March 6th, 2010 @ 4:40 pm

    The Tea Party as aging selfish hippies meme was posted only last week on the LA Times blog by a couple of Democrat Party “strategists.” Now the NY Times resident “conservative” tries to peddle the same nonsense.

  34. FatBaldnSassy
    March 6th, 2010 @ 11:40 am

    The Tea Party as aging selfish hippies meme was posted only last week on the LA Times blog by a couple of Democrat Party “strategists.” Now the NY Times resident “conservative” tries to peddle the same nonsense.

  35. Bob Belvedere
    March 6th, 2010 @ 6:53 pm

    A quote from you was added to my permanent list of wise quips on my
    Live Free Or Die     page.

  36. Bob Belvedere
    March 6th, 2010 @ 1:53 pm

    A quote from you was added to my permanent list of wise quips on my
    Live Free Or Die     page.

  37. Roxeanne de Luca
    March 6th, 2010 @ 9:45 pm

    Like the New Left, the Tea Party movement has no clear set of plans for what to do beyond the golden moment of personal liberation, when the federal leviathan is brought low.

    Oh, Smitty, you stopped before some of the really brilliant parts!

    What David Brooks – nor any liberal – can understand is that our plan is simply to be left alone to live and enjoy the lives that are given to us. We do not need to be communally organised, nor to have the government run our lives for us; our plan is to get them out of our way so that we can live, eat, feed our families, work, and recreate in peace and prosperity.

  38. Roxeanne de Luca
    March 6th, 2010 @ 4:45 pm

    Like the New Left, the Tea Party movement has no clear set of plans for what to do beyond the golden moment of personal liberation, when the federal leviathan is brought low.

    Oh, Smitty, you stopped before some of the really brilliant parts!

    What David Brooks – nor any liberal – can understand is that our plan is simply to be left alone to live and enjoy the lives that are given to us. We do not need to be communally organised, nor to have the government run our lives for us; our plan is to get them out of our way so that we can live, eat, feed our families, work, and recreate in peace and prosperity.

  39. Ponderosa
    March 6th, 2010 @ 10:02 pm

    “Why do liberals keep calling Brooks a conservative?”

    Why does anyone call him an intellectual?

    Hey look! The Soviets have infantry, tanks and planes.

    So do we. Confusing.

    Me think me a Commie! Duh – no.

    Nice work Smitty!

  40. Ponderosa
    March 6th, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

    “Why do liberals keep calling Brooks a conservative?”

    Why does anyone call him an intellectual?

    Hey look! The Soviets have infantry, tanks and planes.

    So do we. Confusing.

    Me think me a Commie! Duh – no.

    Nice work Smitty!

  41. J.M. Heinrichs
    March 7th, 2010 @ 1:32 am

    ‘micturate’, not ‘excrete’.

    Cheers

  42. J.M. Heinrichs
    March 6th, 2010 @ 8:32 pm

    ‘micturate’, not ‘excrete’.

    Cheers

  43. Virgil
    March 7th, 2010 @ 8:10 am

    Amen…Brother(s)…a darn fine piece of analysis and writing.

  44. Virgil
    March 7th, 2010 @ 3:10 am

    Amen…Brother(s)…a darn fine piece of analysis and writing.

  45. Adobe Walls
    March 7th, 2010 @ 8:32 pm

    Perhaps this retort is too obvious but here goes he breathes through his mouth?

  46. Adobe Walls
    March 7th, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

    Perhaps this retort is too obvious but here goes he breathes through his mouth?

  47. Is Ed Driscoll spouting heresies? « The TrogloPundit
    March 9th, 2010 @ 9:07 pm

    […] Ed Driscoll spouting heresies? He writes: David Brooks is getting plenty of heat, and rightly so, for comparing the Tea Party movement to the New Left of the 1960s. On the other […]