In yesterday's Washington Post (2/6/11),David Broder likenedthe U.S. position on Egypt tobeinga fan of the hapless Chicago Cubs: Big things are happening all aroundyou, but you have noway to do anything about it. That is the reality that confronts President Obama today. His hands are tied while Egypt erupts. At first he expressed support and sympathy for the democratic forces filling the streets and appreciation for the Egyptian military holding fire. But when it became clear that Mubarak was on his way out, sooner or later, it dawned on everyone that the Muslim Brotherhood might seize on the resulting power [...]
Nov
18
2010
David Broder and Disquieting, Dodgy Dems
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Beware: The dean of the D.C. press corps is disappointed. In his Washington Post column today ("Dodgeball for Democrats," 11/18/10), David Broder leads off with this: When the rules of the House of Representatives forced the Democrats to confront a painful choice among their leaders, they did what Democrats are often inclined to do. They changed the rules. Usually, such a stunt would matter only to the members affected by the change. But this one sends a dangerous signal at a crucial moment, when both parties are being tested on their willingness to respond to the lessons of the last [...]
Nov
01
2010
David Broder's Economic Rx: War With Iran
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Washington Post columnist David Broder sees one way for Barack Obama to demonstrate leadership after the midterms–push for war with Iran. Lest one be accused of misrepresenting his argument, this is what he wrote in his October 31 column, which starts out talking about the how a president can influence the economy: What else might affect the economy? The answer is obvious, but its implications are frightening. War and peace influence the economy. Look back at FDR and the Great Depression. What finally resolved that economic crisis? World War II. Here is where Obama is likely to prevail. With strong [...]
Oct
25
2010
Election Coverage Meme: Obama Needs an 'Enemy'
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One strand ofconventional wisdom among elite D.C. reporters is that losing the midterm elections would be a good thing for the White House. Hence New York Times reporterPeter Baker (10/24/10): WASHINGTON â┚¬” Let there be no mistake: President Obama wants the Democrats to win next week's midterm elections. His voice has gone hoarse telling every audience that from Delaware to Oregon. But let's also acknowledge this: Although he will not say so, there is at least a plausible argument that he might be better off if they lose. The reality of presidential politics is that it helps to have an [...]
Oct
14
2010
David Broder Pines for the Day When More Pols Were Like Traficant
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David Broder–or an automated David Broderesque column-generator–bemoaned once again (Washington Post, 10/14/10) that "As the Gulf Between GOP and Democrats Widens, the Center Is Lost." To illustrate this dire situation, Broder (or the Broderbot) cited congressional voting patterns: Bill Galston, the Brookings Institution's resident political philosopher, was the first of the day to point out that, statistically speaking, the center had already disappeared. He was referring to the congressional voting studies, which I have previously cited, showing that, apparently for the first time, there is no overlap between the most liberal Republican in the House and the most conservative Democrat [...]
Aug
26
2010
Help Us, John McCain–You're David Broder's Only Hope!
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Some in the media just can't let go of John McCain. David Broder's column today is reallyheadlined, "John McCain, Your Country Is Calling." He explains that he wasn't"bothered by the doctrinal compromises the senator made to convince Arizona voters that he was, in fact, a conservative. McCain has always been a realist, doing what was necessary to survive a North Vietnamese prison camp or a tough political trap." So a senator willing to do whatever it takes to get elected is apparently a badly neededvoice of conscience in Washington. OK. McCain's role, according to Broder, shouldbe something likethis: One obvious [...]
Nov
23
2009
David Broder's (Selective) Deficit Worries
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Washington Post columnist David Broder rounds up some "non-partisan" budget experts– one of whom, oddly enough, was John McCain's Social Security adviser during his 2000 campaign — to agree with him that the Democrats' healthcare bills are too expensive. He closes with this: The challenge to Congress — and to Obama — remains the same: Make the promised savings real, and don't pass along unfunded programs to our children and grandchildren. This advice would be easier to take from someone who didn't just write that Obama should escalate the Afghanistan war because of the"urgent necessity is to make a decision [...]
Nov
16
2009
Media to Obama: Less Talk, More War
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From ABC World News, 11/11/09: CHARLIE GIBSON: We understand he's raising new questions about a number of plans that are in front of him. What new questions are there to be asked after all this time? MARTHA RADDATZ: Well, you would think he'd be through with the questions, Charlie. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times (11/15/09): Barack Obama is in danger of giving deliberation a bad name. David Broder, Washington Post (11/16/09– headline: "Enough Afghan Debate") It is evident from the length of this deliberative process and from the flood of leaks that have emerged from Kabul and Washington that the [...]
Jun
12
2009
Broder Column-Generator Strikes Again
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Washington Post columnist David Broder has made a career out of advocating a certain type of corporate centrism–earning him the honorary (?) title of the Dean of the D.C. Press Corps. The formula is pretty simple: Argue that Democratic politicians should move to the right. So with healthcare reform a major issue, Broder's formula is easy: Barack Obama should reject his party's support for a "public option" government plan that would compete against private insurance companies. Why should Obama do this? Well, according to Broder, the appealing thing is that some lawmakers–mostly Republicans, though he mentions Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden [...]
May
08
2009
Press Corp 'Dean' Preaches 'Purposeful Ignorance'
Quoting John Dewey's warning about "the proper role of the press in a democracy"–"a class of experts is inevitably so removed from common interests as to become a class with private interests and private knowledge"–Eric Alterman finds it (Nation, 5/6/09) "difficult to imagine a more telling–and disturbing–manifestation of Dewey's prediction than the current torture debate in Washington": Even after the disgraceful performance of so many armchair warriors during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, who would have dared predict the willingness, nay, eagerness, of respected journalists and pundits to argue in favor of purposeful ignorance? Sadly, many of them [...]
