Seven steps to heaven
How many times do I have to see this before it stops?
Step 1. Some would be conservative “thinker” writes some kind of economic manifesto that actually uses numbers (here; here; here).
Step 2. David Brooks and Chunky David Brooks herald the birth of a major new conservative intellect (here; here; here).
Step 3. Kaplan publishes piece by/about said would be conservative “thinker” (here; here; here).
Step 4. Paul Krugman, Jon Chait, et al. find numerous errors in the piece (here; here) .
Step 5. Said would be conservative “thinker” makes half-hearted, failed attempt to address these errors (here).
Step 6. David Brooks and Chunky David Brooks say it’s okay because the manifesto was just a “roadmap” or that there’s some non-quantitative, non-falsifiable reason why said would be conservative “thinker” is really correct (here; here; here).
Step 7. Said would be conservative “thinker” is universally treated as a major new conservative intellect.
Sometimes there are a few steps missing. David Brooks and Chunky David Brooks never pimped Amity Shlaes that hard. And, in truth, it’s probably not fair to lump Manzi in with Shlaes and Ryan (most of what Manzi writes is fairly reasonable).
But it’s all so predicable.
March 15, 2010 5:13 pm
Posted in: General Stupidity, Good News For Conservatives
44 Comments
44 Responses
Brent - March 15, 2010 | 5:18 pm · Link
The oligarchy spends hundreds of millions every year to fund media propoganda to serve it’s interests. It is perhaps not entirely productive to spend so much time reading and reacting to modern versions of Mein Kamp. These bobo whores are paid handsomely to make the actions of cuthroat corporate fasicsts seem to be in the best interest of the average American. It is not easy, in fact it is impossible to the educated mind. But that is why these people are published.
jl - March 15, 2010 | 5:19 pm · Link
But where does Wonkette come in?
You forgot about what Wonkette has to say.
That is Seven Steps to Heaval Fail, if nothing on Wonkette’s influential expert doom.
DougJ - March 15, 2010 | 5:21 pm · Link
@jl:
I don’t understand this comment.
Kennedy - March 15, 2010 | 5:21 pm · Link
There is a much shorter way to illustrate this.
Step 1: Person has a pulse.
Step 2: Person espouses conservative ideals.
Step 3: Person becomes new conservative darling/celebrity.
See Scott Brown, Sarah Palin, VA Governor Bob McDonnell, Governor Jindal, etc.
It doesn’t matter who they are or what they have done, just by being a fresh face, they are the party’s future.
Donald G - March 15, 2010 | 5:22 pm · Link
So, is it “Amity Shales” or “Amity Shlaes”? Everytime I see the name in a blog post, it is spelled both ways, often within adjoining sentences.
Brian J - March 15, 2010 | 5:23 pm · Link
Via Krugman a day or two ago, here’s the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities providing a thorough response to the various objections raised by Ryan, et al. You should read it all, but here’s the money quote: “As outlined below, we examined every one of Rep. Ryan’s complaints about our work, and not a single one withstands scrutiny.”
Ooooooooo, BURN!
Short Bus Bully - March 15, 2010 | 5:23 pm · Link
I think that using the two words “conservative” and “intellect” in the same sentence should have some sort of penalty attached to it.
DougJ - March 15, 2010 | 5:24 pm · Link
@Donald G:
Shlaes. I corrected it.
calling all toasters - March 15, 2010 | 5:27 pm · Link
“Conservative Thinker”— I think that’s Jonah’s sequel to “Liberal Fascism.”
El Cid - March 15, 2010 | 5:29 pm · Link
From an abnormal distance, it’s kind of cute how the conservative-favoring establishment propaganda system continually works so hard to appear to have legitimacy.
It would be easier on them if they could just shout propaganda phrases in full North Korean fashion, but then people like Brooks and company would have a harder time justifying their role as major intellectuals, and couldn’t look at themselves as some sort of ideology-crossing contrarian rebels.
freelancer - March 15, 2010 | 5:30 pm · Link
So many links, I’m surprised that WP didn’t put the entire post in moderation.
John Arbuthnot Fisher - March 15, 2010 | 5:32 pm · Link
Because Paul Ryan is making tough choices for America’s future, truly third rail stuff like eliminating all non-defense spending, eliminating corporate, capital gains and estate taxes, and income tax cuts for the richest 5%. Oh, btw, taxes increase for the other 90% and we still have a huge deficit. Thank god we have a handsome heartland Republican to secure the family farms used in RNC ads and the inheritances of the great grandchildren of derivatives traders.
gwangung - March 15, 2010 | 5:32 pm · Link
You mean, like the Discovery Institute and the Creation Museum?
Hm. Not THAT cute…
demkat620 - March 15, 2010 | 5:32 pm · Link
Dude, thats maths. Jesus didn’t do maths.
Except for that loaves and fishes thingy.
Napoleon - March 15, 2010 | 5:35 pm · Link
@Brian J:
Ezra’s post on the subject is good also on this subject.
Clark - March 15, 2010 | 5:37 pm · Link
I read Manzi’s global warming article in National Review. He’s full of crap.
Loneoak - March 15, 2010 | 5:38 pm · Link
It struck me the other day that liberals really don’t anoint great new intellects in this fashion. I guess we’re just not elitist like that.
El Cid - March 15, 2010 | 5:41 pm · Link
@gwangung:
No, they would be in the North Korean / Albanian propaganda category.
I’m talking about the sophisticated contortions U.S. conservatives and their hawk allies go through to prove that what is not true is true, and that trivial and shallow untruths serving the powerful are really deep and sophisticated insights of daring rebels.
TR - March 15, 2010 | 5:49 pm · Link
Her last name is spelled K-N-O-W-N-O-T-H-I-N-G.
I loved the conservative effort to rally around her interpretation of the New Deal. Sure, it made things worse! And somehow all the historians and economists missed out on this obvious truth, but an English literature B.A. discovered it!
Martin - March 15, 2010 | 5:52 pm · Link
Shorter DC insiders: Look, some conservative super-genius has finally discovered the plan for free ponies with no taxes that we all knew was possible! All hail the conservative super-genius!
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 5:55 pm · Link
Outstanding! nothing to add.
I don’t get a song tie-in. Is there one?
WereBear - March 15, 2010 | 5:57 pm · Link
All long cons need some other grifters to pop up and exclaim over how well it’s going for them since they fell for the bullshit.
goblue72 - March 15, 2010 | 6:12 pm · Link
I think Paul Krugman’s response to this type of crap in his recent profile in the New Yorker puts it best:
joe from Lowell - March 15, 2010 | 6:15 pm · Link
It’s the soft bigotry of low expectations. Conservatives “intellectuals” are treated with kid gloves and given Self-Esteem Grades, so there’s no reason for them to strive for genuine accomplishment.
DougJ - March 15, 2010 | 6:18 pm · Link
@Restrung:
Miles Davis album.
TR - March 15, 2010 | 6:24 pm · Link
Supply-side theory is essentially the economic version of the All-You-Can-Eat Ben and Jerry’s Diet. “Indulge yourself! Good results will come not in spite of your gluttony, but because of it! Your salvation lies in your sinning!”
I believe Vitter, Ensign, Sanford and the other Family Values Republicans™ might have that last line trademarked.
Clark - March 15, 2010 | 6:25 pm · Link
At least they don’t elevate children as pundits. Oh wait.
El Cid - March 15, 2010 | 6:29 pm · Link
@TR: Gorge yourself thin!
Alex S. - March 15, 2010 | 6:32 pm · Link
I can’t really find a lot of thought within the conservative world-view. The conservative “thinkers” are only people who are able to formulate the same things in a contemporary fashion. Paul Ryan’s budget is just a new version of John McCain’s campaign platform, which was the 2008 version of Bush’s 2004 platform (privatization of social security) and that’s just the same stuff that the Heritage foundation, the Cato Institute, Grover Norquist and Newt Gingrich have been saying for decades.
me - March 15, 2010 | 6:47 pm · Link
I should go find the campaign office of the person running against Ryan and make sure they run an ad about his budget.
jake the snake - March 15, 2010 | 8:02 pm · Link
@ Dougj
You need a title update
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.....-satan.htm
Tax Analyst - March 15, 2010 | 8:13 pm · Link
@Loneoak:
Since conservatives don’t have to have any real accomplishments to be considered “great new intellects” within the party someone has to get out front and trumpet their soon-to-be-annointed genius status.
Yes, as DougJ noted in Heaven-Step 1, writing some kind of economic manifesto that actually uses numbers will qualify.
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 8:28 pm · Link
@DougJ:
You would. fkr. Must read more balloon-juce.
SFAW - March 15, 2010 | 8:41 pm · Link
That in-joke kind of blew.
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 8:41 pm · Link
@me:
I’m Hope’ing that Mr. “Paul Ryan’s a sincere guy and he has a beautiful family” can do that too.
The guy is not stupid. You know who I’m talking about.
SFAW - March 15, 2010 | 8:43 pm · Link
Of course, given other alleged typos, I guess we should be glad DougJ didn’t call him Mlies.
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 9:10 pm · Link
I’m listening to it on last.fm.
I don’t like trumpet much because it gave me a headache to play the bitch back in 8th grade.
Honestly, it still hurts a little to listen. I feel bursting vessels in my eye sockets. sorrry.
El Cid - March 15, 2010 | 9:16 pm · Link
By the way, it should be borne in mind that one of the hallmarks of early 20th century fascist movements was the disparaging of thought and the promotion of id-driven action.
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 9:31 pm · Link
@El Cid:
You’re bad. You should not have typed that comment.
edit: now that I mention it…
SFAW - March 15, 2010 | 9:47 pm · Link
Well, it’s not like you need to see him playing, ya know, so what’s yer problem?
Freakin’ liberal whiners want to have all the bennies with none of the work.
Restrung - March 15, 2010 | 10:13 pm · Link
Obviously, you’re not a golfer.
tc125231 - March 16, 2010 | 2:54 am · Link
@Brent:
“...It is perhaps not entirely productive to spend so much time reading and reacting to modern versions of Mein Kamp. ”
No shit Mr. Sherlock. A lot of time is spent here on daily refutations of Pravda. Pretty pointless.
“The revolution starts now.”
—Steve Earle
tc125231 - March 16, 2010 | 2:58 am · Link
@goblue72: Great quote.
Batocchio - March 16, 2010 | 2:59 am · Link
Well done.