Further reason for thinking that Senator Edwards of North Carolina is the most electable of the Democrats (quite apart from the fact that he is also one of the most progressive, Kucinich aside): listening to National Public Radio yesterday morning, I heard a previously undecided New Hampshire woman, who usually votes Republican, explain why she liked Edwards's policy positions, positive attitude, etc. Then a moment later she added, "Not that this had anything to do with my support, but he is rather good-looking." Let us not underestimate the value of good looks. (We already know that they are a major determinant of student evaluations of teaching!) George Bush is many things--inarticulate, a ne'er-do-well rich kid, a student of such mediocre academic accomplishment that 30 years ago he could not get admitted to the University of Texas School of Law as a politically connected state resident (and so had to get a Harvard MBA instead)--but one thing he is not is handsome (those eyes are just too close together). Beady-eyed, stammering Bush at one podium, handsome, glib, upbeat Edwards at the other. This will not be a debate that advances the Republican cause.
Meanwhile, the slimy David Brooks opines that the Edwards pitch that "we are actually a nation divided between the top 2 percent, the rich, powerful insiders — 'those who never have to worry about a thing,' as Edwards puts it — and the 98 percent, us [sic: Brooks shouldn't be including himself] ordinary folks" is "sociologically, politically, economically and demographically false." In keeping with the cherished tradition of shameless right-wing lying, no evidence is cited by Brooks in support of his sociological, economic, and demographic claim, and for obvious reasons.
Of course, I take it there is also a good reason why there is a web site devoted to hounding Paul Krugman--Donald Luskin's Poor and Stupid (which, if retitled, "rich and stupid" would actually be autobiographical)--but not one devoted to hounding David Brooks: no one on the Left takes Brooks seriously since he's devoid of content, but Krugman scares the right-wing liars and scam artists to death, since he calls them out on their bullshit week after week.
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