Can they get fired? I figured Brooks's continued presence there constituted proof that op-ed writer is a tenured position. I mean, it's long been apparent that he has the intelligence of a colostomy bag, but is less useful.
Did anyone else see his book review today? He discusses the alleged fact that Jews are taking over America (this sentence is true, but perhaps uncharitable).
Reading Brooks is the worst kind of experience. He often reminds me of the sniveling tag-along I was in early high school, when I bought so deeply into the mythic superiority of the kewl kids. Brooks has the same kind of hard-on for the WASPy elite; witness the statement cited by slol, or his prior admiration for Bush's purported "never explain, never complain" ethic. It's embarrassing to be reminded of the idiot I was at 15; it's worse too see a man of 44 behave the same way.
OTOH, he may motivate me to read Portnoy's Complaint.
Um, you do know that you can read most of the Times Select columnists' complete pieces at truthout.org, right? (This Brooks column isn't there; but most of the pieces usually are.)
Brooks on the late Marjorie Williams was excellent. But that's because of Williams, an outstanding writer for the Wash Post who died of cancer earlier this year.
Reid really did upset them, didn't he?
Posted by jim | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 11:47 AM
Well, somehow, I didn't get the nod to be supreme court justice, so I guess I'll apply to be a New York Times columist. I can write pablum!
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 12:42 PM
But can you write irrational libel?
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 1:01 PM
Maybe he's tired of it and is trying to get fired.
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 1:24 PM
TimesSelect is the best thing ever to happen to David Brooks. Please don't spoil his blossoming readerlessness.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 1:52 PM
Can they get fired? I figured Brooks's continued presence there constituted proof that op-ed writer is a tenured position. I mean, it's long been apparent that he has the intelligence of a colostomy bag, but is less useful.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 3:06 PM
It wasn't very funny satire, I grant you that. But making fun of the mentally ill is fun, and you all are killjoys.
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 3:51 PM
I'm sorry, baa. I always ruin the good-natured jocularity of the New York Times.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 3:55 PM
Did anyone else see his book review today? He discusses the alleged fact that Jews are taking over America (this sentence is true, but perhaps uncharitable).
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 4:53 PM
Actually, I think the money sentence from that review -- the one that screams "David Brooks-brand NYT hogwash alert" -- is
Those old WASP bluebloods may have been narrow and prejudiced, but they did at least have a formula for building character.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 5:05 PM
Followed by:
Today we somehow sense that character matters
or, "I'm still trying to find some excuse for having voted for Bush!"
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 6:03 PM
Reading Brooks is the worst kind of experience. He often reminds me of the sniveling tag-along I was in early high school, when I bought so deeply into the mythic superiority of the kewl kids. Brooks has the same kind of hard-on for the WASPy elite; witness the statement cited by slol, or his prior admiration for Bush's purported "never explain, never complain" ethic. It's embarrassing to be reminded of the idiot I was at 15; it's worse too see a man of 44 behave the same way.
OTOH, he may motivate me to read Portnoy's Complaint.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 6:32 PM
Um, you do know that you can read most of the Times Select columnists' complete pieces at truthout.org, right? (This Brooks column isn't there; but most of the pieces usually are.)
Posted by Gary Farber | Link to this comment | 11- 6-05 7:57 PM
David Brooks is not a NYTOECILF, that's for sure.
(Just wanted to use that acronym.)
Posted by My Alter Ego | Link to this comment | 11- 7-05 10:44 AM
Yglesias, always the contrarian, "I liked David Brooks' review of Jerome Karabel's book, The Chosen..."
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 11- 7-05 10:51 AM
Brooks on the late Marjorie Williams was excellent. But that's because of Williams, an outstanding writer for the Wash Post who died of cancer earlier this year.
Posted by bill | Link to this comment | 11- 7-05 12:36 PM
And the legend grows.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 11-10-05 11:30 PM