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Is M.J. Rosenberg of TPM Cafe living in an upside-down world?
M.J. Rosenberg does not trust progressive Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman, for some obscure reason; but thinks the late Willian Safire is a "terrific writer" who is also savvy and not a "dim-bulb."
That's the same Safire who said that Iraq had chemical weapons, falsely accused the Clintons of wrong-doing in the Whitewater pseudo-scandal, lied about John Kerry, etc.
Can Rosenberg name the "smart" things Safire has said in his life that outweigh the above-mention lies? I very highly doubt it. Don't quit your day job, Mr. Rosenberg. You are not very good as media critic.
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You know Truth you totally missed it on this one. Calling someone a "terrific writer," Safire surely was one, is not the same things as saying you agree with what he writes. I loved reading Safire, did I agree with him on politics or policy rarely, if ever, on language a lot.
So please go back and read Rosenberg's piece and point me to the part where he says he agreed with Safire's positions or assertions.
October 2, 2009 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you boost an illegal war with lies and smear Democratic candidates, you are a "terrible," not terrific, because you are writing bullshit. Using big pretty words does not by itself make a writer "terrific."
In the real world, Krugman is savvy and smart, and Safire is not trustworthy. In Rosenberg's upside-down world, it's the other way around.
Why didn't Rosenberg add that he didn't trust Safire? That would have made his column a bit less bad.
October 2, 2009 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely correct, jsfox.
October 2, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 2, 2009 8:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, truthseeker! I posted, probably a year ago now, that I am tired of people telling me to respect the genius of Karl Rove. Rove is evil and deceitful and will destroy democracy. That is not genius, that is merely despicable. Safire is likewise no terrific writer, but of a similar vein, bordering on despicable, maybe only contemptuous.
October 2, 2009 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
People love slipping in "Nobel Prize Winning" in front of Krugman's name to add weight to his arguments.
The fact is that (a) people seem to have forgotten he was a Clinton hack during the primary season and (b) Milton Friedman was another Nobel Prize Winning economist.
If you believe that Krugman is deep and wise, his arguments alone should be all that is needed.
October 2, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The good news is that both Friedman and Safire are still dead!
October 3, 2009 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, to be fair, MJ was caught up in primary mania at the time where he criticized Krugman. I bet he's over it.
October 2, 2009 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink