The David Brooks All Stars

David Brooks tells us the young writers and thinkers that will lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness.

Comments

[Cecil Turner]

. . . young writers and thinkers that will lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness.

True, no doubt. But it'll likely be young Democrat writers and thinkers--whose brain-dead redistributionist and American apologist policies will finally become undeniably counterproductive--that'll precipitate real change.

[Rick Ballard]

Scott Walker or John Kasich or Susanna Martinez or Rick Perry could provide some tips based upon actual success in governance. I'm sure any of the four could come up with a list of writers who have had some influence in planning winning strategies. Brooks provides horrifying evidence of the after effects of invasion by Northeastern brain slugs. There is no future in the Blue Hells, there's just a dieing oligarchy without purpose for existence.

[Clarice]

Just got an email from the West campaign. He's throwing in the towel and will not further contest the election results on the advice of counsel. Sad. He's a reat guy. I' certain he will continue in some public role.

[jimmyk]

I hope these writers make a comeback.

[centralcal]

Well, darn it - I just woke up to that news about West, Clarice. Saw it on Drudge.

[pagar]

Once again the Democrats have shown their true colors. All their BS about caring about minorities is just that. The Democrats only care about minorities that follow the party line. How declaring a winner when the vote totals can't be reconciled is the right thing to do is not explained. As far as I can see there is just another fraudulent Democrat in office from the 18th Dist.

[Captain Hate]

The Repubs controlled the redistricting in Florida, no? And somehow a superstar like West is without an office because of it? Just what the hell is going on and what obscure backbencher was protected?

[Captain Hate]

Btw against my extreme skepticism I read the linked column (NYT bloghit FTL) and will defer to the others here with more insight on the people Brooks listed. Based on my very sketchy knowledge they didn't seem that bad.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Reuters saying no towel throwing by West.

[jimmyk]

I had the same reaction, CH, though find Brooks as patronizing as ever. "Oh, look, there are conservatives with cool names like Ramesh, so I don't have to be embarrassed by all the T. Coddington Van Vorhees VII types." As if that hasn't been true for decades.

[Jim Eagle]

Mel,

I heard West in his own words concede. Don't know where Rooters is getting its information.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Thanks, JiB that confirms quite a number of things for me, as it does for others, I'm sure.

[Army of Davids]

Questions that should be asked on Benghazi

1) Why was there substandard 9/11 security in the Benghazi consulate to begin with?
2) Why were repeated requests by Ambassador Stevens for increased security disregarded?
3) What is being done by the State Dept. so this doesn't happen again?
4) Were Navy SEALS/CIA contractors Woods and Doherty definitively told to stand down?
5) If Woods and Doherty were told to stand down...why?
6) Was anyone else at the CIA annex told to stand down?
7) If stand down decisions were made... who made the stand down decisions?
8) Why did they get no backup support despite repeated requests?
9) Were air assets really too far away to respond?
10) If they were to far to respond...why were they so far away?
11) Did Doherty or Woods laser a mortar as reported?
12) Did they assume they would have air cover when they lasered the mortar?
13) Were there commands to stand down on air support for Doherty and Woods?
14) If there were commands to stand down...who made those commands?
15) How many State Dept officials did Woods and Doherty save from terrorist attack?
16) Why has there been no coverage of the State Dept officials that Woods and Doherty saved?
17) What was the CIA doing in Libya?
18) Why has nobody done an interview w/ the accused filmmaker?
19) Who made the decision to have the filmmaker arrested?
20) Were the filmmaker's free speech rights infringed upon?
21) Why was the president unaware of Petraeus affair until 5 pm election day?
22) Was there political timing in Petraeus' resignation decision Friday evening 3 days post election?
23) Were the president, vice president, Secretary of State Clinton and UN Secretary Rice aware of editing of Petraeus intelligence memo?
24) Was National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon involved in the decision to redact "Al Qaeda affiliate" and replace with "extremist" in the CIA memo?
25) Was Petraeus sign off on edits to the intelligence memo compromised by his affair?
26) Was the CIA intelligence memo edited for national security purposes or to support a projected political narrative of the attack that would be favorable to the administration?
27) If it was edited for national security reasons why was this necessary for cabinet members (president, vice president, sec of state, UN secretary) who have the highest level of national security clearance?
28) Was the CIA intelligence memo edited because of concern of leaks within the administration?
29) Is there any merit to CIA Libya to Syria gun running rumors?
30) Did the president mean terrorism in Libya on his initial post Benghazi address or was he just giving a vague platitude on terrorism?
31) If he was implying terrorism in Libya (as both he and Candy Crowley said during the debate)...why did the administration then spend several days redirecting attention to the cause of the 9/11 attack as a natural spontaneous response to the film?

[Jim Eagle]

Cross posting from prior thread for CH.

CH,

Florida house did the best they could in redistricting. Remember there are more Dems registered in Florida than Reps. (albeit a small margin) but the repubs have 17 to 10 advantage in House seats. Even steven in the Senate but control the State Government. Although Scott is getting cold feet re: Health Exchanges and medicaid, etc.

The state is becoming more and more blue each year due to the number of retirees from the Northeast and Midwest who vote straight line party Dem. Unemployment doesn't affect them when they vote. The vote on SS and Medicare and other entitlements.

[Melinda Romanoff]

AoD performing "seagull management" techniques again.

[Threadkiller (Get off your couch and leave the GOP!)]

November 18th:

West's campaign, though, is calling for an emergency hearing over "concerns" raised during the recount process, including 900 votes it says were cast in precinct 93, where there are only seven voters registered.

Unofficial loss for Rep. West on day after mixed results for Tea Party Judge denies Rep. West's motion to impound ballots

"As usual, Murphy's people are full of garbage," West's campaign manager Tim Edson told the Post. "This is something the secretary of state and governor will have to sort out."

http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57551561&feed_id=999&videofeed=999

Now he concedes?? What about the fraud?

Either his campaigned lied about the extra 893 votes or they don't care about the integrity of the vote. Either way the RNC, and sadly West too, look like shit after West (I will walk thru Hell with gas cans, if that is what it takes) took the cowards route.

Maybe one of the legal eagles that has access to something better than Justia can analyze the DNC/RNC lawsuit and figure out if it has come into play.

Here it is again:
http://judicialview.com/Court-Cases/Civil-Procedure/Democratic-National-Committee-v-Republican-National-Committee/10/201975

I hope somebody asks West about his voter fraud claim before I get verbally attacked for bringing it up.

[Rick Ballard]

"they didn't seem that bad"

CH,

Some are decent expositors and some are bloviators, good only at slaughtering innocent pixels. There is an unwarranted presumption of continuity among the majority of them which is extraordinarily optimistic in the face of an economic reality which precludes the possibility of maintenance of the status quo for very much longer.

[MarkO]

"The fault, dear Brooksie, is not in our stars,
But in our electorate."

[matt]

last night was a new low. I posted something on FB about Obama and Hillary visiting two hobo nations with no real point while the ME spins out of control.

Erdogan and Morsi are ratcheting up the ululation and getting the natives excited while Hillary drunk dials Bill.

The response I got from a liberal friend was deeply disheartening. He would just as soon sell Israel out as get into another war in the ME. I fear this attitude has infected even the moderate Left in this country.The facts no longer matter. Glenn Greenwald took his shots in the Guardian the other day, and there really does seem to be a rise in anti-semitism. Israel is the aggressor under all circumstances.

None of these clowns have put it together that it is Iran in the background fomenting this nor do they even care what is at stake. The Iranians desperately need a win somewhere and are spending huge amounts propping up Assad as their economy goes further into the toilet. If we want to tilt Iran, we are getting closer and closer.

Instead, our feckless government has no policy. Sending a powerless, humiliated woman in to see people like Morsi and Erdogan gets us absolutely nowhere. They're laughing at our Benghazi brouhaha and consider us utterly incompetent as Islamism rises.

This is why Hamas think they can win. It is the political and perception battle that is more important to them.

Throw in the recent Syrian incursions and the Iranians are trying to redirect the animosity towards Israel.If successful, we are well and truly in trouble.

[Melinda Romanoff]

matt-

Ever notice that the BIG Hamas attacks are timed so as to elicit IDF response during EST airtime?

I always found that rather "unique".

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--"Oh, look, there are conservatives with cool names like Ramesh, so I don't have to be embarrassed by all the T. Coddington Van Vorhees VII types."--

For D Brooksie to be embarrassed by the T Coddingtons of the world would require a level of self awareness that I'm afraid he doesn't possess.

[Rob Crawford]

Sending a powerless, humiliated woman in to see people like Morsi and Erdogan gets us absolutely nowhere.

The president is going?

[narciso]

Will Weatherford, the House Speaker who's gone all splungy on the exchanges, exiled him in St. Lucie Cty, they lost his previous district to Frankel, so it was a full on fustercluck,

[James D.]

They're laughing at our Benghazi brouhaha and consider us utterly incompetent as Islamism rises.

I don't think they're wrong about that.

[narciso]

True, Matt, Arabia used to be the original funders of Hamas, re the records recovered duting the Intifada, the late Prince's Nayef,
and the current crown prince Salem being major benefactors, but the Pasdaran has taken up the slack,

[hit and run]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRJ!!!

I'll be raising a glass in your honor today, my friend. It won't stay full for long. It won't stay empty for long, either.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks Rick and JiB. In Ohio we had a state issue to do away with gerrymandering and instead have a relatively permanent group design the districts. At first I thought it was a good idea (back before I had any of the details) but then came to be almost completely against it, as were most other Ahia voters.

[James D.]

Brooks really is deeply stupid, and tarribly annoying as well.

If he says something that corresponds to something I believe, or praises someone I think highly of, I feel the need to reconsider my opinions.

[narciso]

It's better than Brooksie's usual, Luigi Zingales, is the real standout, on his analysis
of crony vs. entrepreneurial capitalism,

Happy birthday, Dr. J.

[Rob Crawford]

Thanks Rick and JiB. In Ohio we had a state issue to do away with gerrymandering and instead have a relatively permanent group design the districts.

Better described as "have the unions draw the congressional districts".

[Melinda Romanoff]

Happy B-day, DrJ!

[centralcal]

DrJ - Hope you have a wonderful birthday and year ahead.

[henry]

Happy B-Day DrJ! I'll raise a glass beaker in your honor today.

[Thomas Collins]

Happy Birthday to the man that basketball player was named after!

[narciso]

Yes, there was a nonpartisan group, ie; Soros Org
outfit, that 'nudged' the design of the districts,

[Janet]

If he says something that corresponds to something I believe, or praises someone I think highly of, I feel the need to reconsider my opinions.

Hah! That is really true for me too.

A very Happy Birthday to you, Dr.J!! Lots of love to you!

[narciso]

This belongs, in the Norwegian blue' thread;

http://barracknow.blogspot.com/2012/11/forget-susan-rice-who-gave-jay-carney.html

[Captain Hate]

Better described as "have the unions draw the congressional districts".

Yes, like a fool I signed a petition to get it on the ballot without having any of the details (Do you hate gerrymandering? Of course. Well here's how to do away with it.) and by the time election day rolled around I was ready to nuke it from orbit and pile salt on the ashes.

[Janet]

There's this video clip at Newsbusters - CNN's Don Lemon Bullies Conservative Guest On-Air, Who Lashes Out Afterward

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matt-hadro/2012/11/19/cnns-lemon-bullies-conservative-guest-air-who-lashes-out-afterward#ixzz2Cm643Bwd

I don't know the players or the topic...& I don't care...except it shows how the "news" media have become just a bunch of rabid dogs. They just yell at Republicans & argue with them. How is it news at all? It is WAY beyond bias.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Happy birthday Doctor J.
May your proteins misbehave, if only for a day.

[maryrose]

Happy Birthday Dr. J. Have a relaxing fun day!
Sorry to hear about Allen West. I hope the fraud will be revealed and the Walker woman replaced.Surely Scott can do that little bit toward making voting in Florida more reasonable.Repubs need to start like yesterday getting more republicans registered down there.Since it is always a swing state I would have thought that would be a top 2012 priority.

[Captain Hate]

HB DrJ

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

Brooks makes me puke.

[Melinda Romanoff]

11 yr sentence in A-Hia bomb plot, two more to sentence....

[rse]

Happy birthday Dr J! A toast with a lovely Zinfandel in your honor is called for.

matt-I noticed you made a comment about Obama's tour schedule on the previous thread. I think it looks like a Salute to Buddhism tour. I also think there is a reason for that.

Let's just say there is a belief that if you avoid using the M or B words, you are then free to impose the essential doctrinal practices with impunity.

I will report back on what the line is like to get a ham.

[NK]

Happy Birthday Dr. J!

[Janet]

and then this -

Morning Joe Rips 'Old White Guy' Republicans For Going After 'Younger Woman-of-Color' Rice

Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2012/11/20/morning-joe-rips-old-white-guy-republicans-going-after-younger-wom#ixzz2Cm9s2JmK

Nobody seemed to care when Code Pink attacked Condi or Sarah Palin's church was set on fire.

We don't have cable, we don't get a newspaper AT ALL anymore (recently dropped even the Sunday WaPo), no magazines,...
What else can I do to help defeat the MFM?

[Old Lurker]

HB DrJ!

[DrJ]

Thanks all! What a nice way to start the day!

[glasater]

HB DrJ!

[narciso]

Cecil Rhodes, says I give up,

http://www.therightscoop.com/idiocy-maddow-claims-she-doesnt-know-what-started-scary-flareup-between-israel-and-gaza/

[fdcol63]

No matter how many Republicans are in the FL legislature and no matter how they draw the districts, the bottom line is this:

Dems still hold a majority of the county supervisors of elections.

I don't trust them, and I don't trust all their staffs, vendors, or precinct volunteers.

[jimmyk]

What else can I do to help defeat the MFM?

Maybe support the non-MFM publications? Isn't the Examiner a decent alternative in the DC area? I subscribed to the NY Sun during its brief existence as a dead tree version.

In any case, the MFM is in its death throes. The WaPo seems to be in turmoil, Newsweek is basically done, newspaper subscriptions and network news ratings are plummeting.

Happy Birthday, DrJ!

[fdcol63]

The 2nd American Revolution needs to start soon, before the total economic collapse.

[narciso]

Of course, he had bring up, Conor F.who's been spectacularly wrong, these last four years,

[fdcol63]

The 2nd American Revolution needs to start by the targeted elimination of the worst ideologues in the MFM, academia, Hollywood, unions, and gov't bureaucracies ... peacefully, if possible through attrition, or otherwise.

Their continued lying, obfuscation, mis- and mal- information, and propagandizing will make it impossible for the American public to make sound, wise, and well-informed electoral and policy decisions.

[narciso]

It goes without saying, this was Franklin Davis's wordview,

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/11/cold-war-history-for-left-wing-dummies.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+powerlineblog%2Flivefeed+%28Power+Line%29

[sbw]

HB, DrJ!

[jimmyk]

Florida house did the best they could in redistricting. Remember there are more Dems registered in Florida than Reps. (albeit a small margin) but the repubs have 17 to 10 advantage in House seats.

West is worth more than most of that other 17 combined. Preserving his seat should have been a priority.

[Janet]

Thanks, jimmyk. We pick up the Examiner now & then. It is free.

[Threadkiller (Get off your couch and leave the GOP!)]

"What else can I do to help defeat the MFM?"

There is no need to defeat the MFM. All we need to do is send Jindal on 100% of their shows to woo them.

All kidding aside, Jindal's Akin-mouth comment has made anybody in the GOP fair game.

[Captain Hate]

Morning Joe Rips 'Old White Guy' Republicans For Going After 'Younger Woman-of-Color' Rice

Maybe RINO Scarborough should have to answer some of the truthers claims that he killed the female aide whose body was found in his office if he keeps coming up with garbage like this.

[AliceH]

Happy Birthday, Dr. J!

[Extraneus]

What else can I do to help defeat the MFM?

Firebomb their offices and assassinate their leaders as they run screaming from the burning buildings?

(Just kidding, mostly.)

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--The 2nd American Revolution needs to start by the targeted elimination of the worst ideologues in the MFM, academia, Hollywood, unions, and gov't bureaucracies ... peacefully, if possible through attrition, or otherwise.--

Knock on door from Thought Police in 3...2...1...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Ditto, Ex.

[Clarice]

HB Dr J.

I think that under Fla law it is difficult to get a full recount unless you are within .05% and he was just outside that. Rather than endure a costly, non productive fight for a recount it looks like he's going to spotlight the ease of election fraud in Fla.

He's not exactly going away but he's no longer contesting this election.
In the meantime, I hope Murphy fails utterly.

[narciso]

This is right around the point, that they sounded the Gong;

http://www.jammiewf.com/2012/clueless-bloomberg-on-sandy-911-chaos-the-technology-functioned-perfectly/

[Kat]

Clarice,
It depends on the definition of "failure". Is o successful? Yes, behind his wildest dreams. Is America under o successfull? Hmmmmm......

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Think about it; were King George and the British Parliament intruding into and managing the daily lives of the colonists even a tiny fraction of the amount our present day would-be monarchists are?
We may need to answer Patrick Henry's question again before we're through:

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery?

This message was approved by squaredance and does not necessarily represent the views of the proprietor of this establishment or his extensive staff.

[Dublindave]

The basic tenets of Conservatism are fine, it's the uncompromising, almost unrelenting religious devotion to their application. And it's also the 'Conservative paradox' of trying to succeed within a Democratic process that you fundamentally despise.

Bottom line: you keep being crazy, we'll keep running things.

[Kat]

Behind= beyond. Damn autocorrect....

[Dublindave]

Also, this new 'War on Negro women' has to stop. What the hell have women, trying to succeed in their careers, ever done to you? Why the hell do you hate black people so much that you'd go out of your way to denigrate and besmirch them?

I hope Latinos are watching what Republicans do to people who aren't white and who aren't male.

Justice for Susan Rice!!!!!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Justice for Susan Rice!!!!!--

As the old saw goes;
Justice is getting what you deserve,
Mercy is not getting what you deserve and,
Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
I'm thinking Susan is in need of 2 and 3 more than 1.

[Danube of Thought]

Have a great one, Doc.

[NK]

"Bottom line: you keep being crazy, we'll keep running things."

Dream on DD -- you've run out of OPM.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I take it the 'War on Negro Women' is also mysteriously behind the unrelenting calls for Tim Geithner's head and the desire to draw and quarter the decidedly dark skinned, nappy haired, ghetto rooted John Kerry.

[narciso]

This will work until the Chinese cut us off;

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/treasury-secretary-geithner-lift-debt-limit-infinity

[Danube of Thought]

What are we to believe made Natalie Khawam think she needed a lawyer? Was it Gloria herself? What should we suppose Natalie has asked Gloria to do on her behalf?

[henry]

Narciso, as DuDa just pointed out -- accountability is racist, so Geithner is avoiding it.

[Captain Hate]

The war on acting like an adult: http://www.jammiewf.com/2012/so-about-the-idiot-who-waves-in-group-photos/

[Dublindave]

Now that the Benghazi scandal has been fully neutralized (thanks to our heri-kari friends in 'intelligence') can we please get to work on 'gun control and the addition 'homosexual lifestyle' teachings in school curriculums?

We didn't stand me in line for Obama for 9 hours for the good of our health, people.

[Clarice]

Today, it's Clapper under the bus.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57552328/sources-dni-cut-al-qaeda-reference-from-benghazi-talking-points-cia-fbi-signed-off/

[narciso]

No, George 111 was a piker, compared to this;

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/federal-judge-hobby-lobby-must-offer-morning-after-pill/#

[Danube of Thought]

The always excellent Robert Samuelson offers a sober discussion of the very uncomfortable facts. Money line:

In 2011, "payments for individuals," including health care, constituted 65% of federal spending, up from 21% in 1955. That's the welfare state.

[narciso]

Well that makes it a virtually worthless document then, We're in the hands of Top Men.

[Melinda Romanoff]

DoT-

Could be that "Come And Go Blues" pass for MacDill.

[fdcol63]

Wait until Obama names the next 2 Supreme Court justices.

The US Constitution and America won't mean a thing then.

[Dublindave]

"Narciso, as a dudu just pointed out -- accountability is racist..."

Politics is about perception, not realty or 'facts'. Because GOP policies attack people of color and women it behooves them to avoid controversial showdowns with women, people of color AND especially women of color.

This is not complicated. This is simple. How does it look? What must you do to make it look a certain way that will benefit you?

[Janet]

OT - Anyone in the DC area that would like to come help pack care pkgs. for the Troops should come out to McLean Bible Church, Tysons campus at 7pm. tonight.

[Melinda Romanoff]

You would think Allred would be hitting a better cash register like Lohans for her retainers.

[narciso]

Heaton, was a W appointee, btw, he had to get past Voinovich, but their it is,

[Clarice]

Government Website For Immigrants: Come To America And Take Advantage Of Our Free Stuff By Michael Snyder November 19th, 2012 A website run by the federal government (“WelcomeToUSA.gov“) encourages new immigrants to the United States to apply for welfare benefits. This website is run by the Department of Homeland Security and it says that it “is the U.S. Government’s official web portal for new immigrants.” So your tax dollars were used to build and maintain a website that teaches immigrants how to come into this country and sponge a living off of federal welfare programs paid for by your tax dollars.
http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/government-website-for-immigrants-come-to-america-and-take-advantage-of-our-free-stuff

[maryrose]

I wonder if Clapper will assume the blame.Isn't he one of the yet to be heard from players in all this. After the holidays I want Rice, Clapper and Clinton in the witness chair and I would like "Army of David's" list of questions to be asked. Accountability is the key and someone must have seen Obama during the Benghazi timetable. Where was he, for how long and when did he leave the scene to go to bed and prepare for his trip to Vegas?

[centralcal]

Well the dictatorship is working overtime to keep us all in line. Sen. Leahy has put forward a bill giving the Feds access to virtually ALL internet forms of communication: any form of internet message - Facebook, IM, etc. - without warrant. http://vlt.tc/kxy

[Melinda Romanoff]

Clarice-

Wasn't that the Socialist Immigration model that Bat Ye'or wrote so lovingly about?

Gordon Brown isn't doing to much, maybe iBama can bring him over as a "first" gesture.

[maryrose]

clarice: Is any repub congressperson aware of this web=site and is it one of the targets in reducing spending during fiscal cliff talks? If not it should be.

[narciso]

Last time, Admiral Blair walked the plank, on the Abdulmultallab plot.

[centralcal]

maryrose - DNI Clapper has already jumped in to protect Rice per Drudge link to CBS report.

[Clarice]

Write your congressman, maryrose. I don;t have one, except in make believe non voting representation.