July 15, 2006

Sullivan on Reynolds

Sullivan writes:

I don't think of Reynolds as a political animal. He has independent integrity. But when push came to shove, Reynolds never challenged in any serious way the abuses of power in this administration nor the extremism of the Malkinesque blogosphere. When a libertarian finds any excuses to ignore or minimize government-sponsored illegality and torture, then he has truly ceased to be a libertarian in any profound sense. If my opinion weren't so high of his abilities, my disappointment wouldn't be so deep.

As another guy who has looked up to Glenn as a major innovator of this medium, it is with sincere regret that I have to agree with every word Andrew writes here. Glenn's dimly repetitive primitive attacks on the "Yale Taliban" (only John Fund gave him a run for his money), or his blase, schoolyard jests about Guantanamo, or so much more besides (no need for a long bill of grievances here, it would tire us all)--all have led me to respect his oeuvre at Instapundit much less these past months (I also know, as he's told me, he feels the same way about B.D, so there you go).

I'd also add, and I say this with genuine regret as well, that his credibility on matters related to foreign policy is in free-fall--certainly if one judges the quality of his views by the standard of whom he links to approvingly, and routinely, re: varied matters. Often, what he links to can only be described as deeply embarrasing to anyone with a modicum of foreign policy knowledge and expertise--given how often the stuff is outrageously looney, laughable fare--showcasing a breathtakingly naive Jacksonianism, fused with some soi disant neo-conservative gloss. It must be said, many of these sophomoric policy prescriptions, if implemented, would probably find us in a series of 100 year religious wars, which is the only reason I waste time writing about it this morning--because I care about the future of the Republican party's foreign policy, and if people seriously believe this utter claptrap and horseshit in too great numbers, we're gonna have some serious problems on our hands beyond where we're already at. Look, Glenn, I know, is a nice guy--and I'd love to have a beer with him sometime, just as I enjoy listening to his podcasts like the recent one of McCain--but when you get over 100,000 readers a day, and are a very intelligent Yale-trained lawyer, there should be some responsibility shown. When there appears not to be, and with reluctance, I gotta call him on it.

But it goes beyond this. Glenn will routinely piss on people who have loyally served their country (see Generals Batiste and Swannack, for the most damning examples), if they dare to point out what is blindingly obvious to all but the residual denialist fringe of bloggers and columnists--who still believe our war strategy was basically sound in Iraq--rather than an epic blunder (at least to date). Just one random, somewhat related (but well evocative) example from this morning (which I'll admit, was the catalyst for this post, as we're only human), Glenn links approvingly to Tammy Bruce (whom I've never heard of before, but whatever), who writes, of Tony Blair (you really have to click through the link to appreciate how outrageous and cheap it is, and see the photo of Blair): "Yes, Mr. Blair, look down--it is difficult to look people in the eye when your dignity and courage have moved to the gutter. But we shouldn't be surprised, should we? This is a world, after all, that proves time and time again that they think nothing is worth fighting for." Oh give me a effing break. Tony Blair has proved "time and time again" that he thinks there is "nothing...worth fighting for"? What is this based on? Did the commissars of risibly under-informed blather-mouths like Tammy Bruce judge some Blairite comment on the unfolding events in Lebanon as insufficiently supportive of Israel? This is absurd. What bloody planet are these people on? I mean, seriously. We've had no better friend than Tony Blair these past years. People have to get their head out of their asses, frankly, and get some perspective. Seriously.