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November 13, 2007
Calling Brad DeLong
Reading this Richard Cohen column, you wonder if he actually understands how Congress works, the process by which a bill becomes law, or that even Mike Bloomberg would have to assemble enough votes to pass his legislation. But the real money graf comes after Cohen channels Karl Rove to lambaste Congress for "No energy bill. No action on health care. No action on the mortgage crisis. No immigration reform." Segueing into a rapturous fantasy about a Mike Bloomberg candidacy, Cohen actually says, "how an independent can govern with a Congress composed of Democrats and Republicans is not the issue for the moment."
So the problem with Congress is that they can't pass anything. This is why we should consider Mike Bloomberg -- but not in context of whether he can pass anything. I'm overcome with snarky kickers here, and so I'll just let you all insert the closer of your choice.
November 13, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
That's Richard Cohen, Ezra. Not that Roger doesn't fire off some doozies occasionally too, but this particular brand of lunacy really is Richard's bailiwick.
Posted by: Glenn | Nov 13, 2007 2:31:34 PM
Ezra, you are reading Cohen as if he is trying to make sense. This is a mistake. Bloomberg has no more chance of becoming president than you or I. So why is Cohen taking up valuable op-ed real estate with this little fantasy?
My conclusion is that this is his way of saying that the Democratic candidates are for shit. When he calls Bloomberg "Mr Competent," his real point is that Clinton, Obama, Edwards, et al. are incompetent.
Remember, Cohen is the Post's liberal columnist. And why would the Post have a liberal columnist, if not to figure out new and creative ways to attack liberals?
Posted by: Bloix | Nov 13, 2007 3:28:26 PM
"channels Karl Rove to lambaste Congress for "No energy bill. No action on health care. No action on the mortgage crisis. No immigration reform"
It's amazing that Rove and the GOP media shills can turn around and blame the Dem-lead Congress (of one year) for lack of action on issues Repubs took 10 years on inaction to screw up!
Energy - Cheney's secret commission; Health care - $$$ prescription drug scam; Mortgage crisis - Bankruptcy bill ripoff; Immigration reform - wasn't this GWB's baby?
Posted by: CParis | Nov 13, 2007 3:41:07 PM
The entire rationale for a Bloomberg candidacy is that it would reinforce all the nice things that WashPo op-ed writers think about themselves. Cohen is not well-served by invoking the image of Pavlov's dog drooling, because that's exactly what this column is.
Posted by: SDM | Nov 13, 2007 3:42:01 PM
Anyone who is sniffing Bloombergs underpants as a solution to anything doesn't have a very firm grasp on reality. In particular they don't understand how power works in America and how conservative ideas are vigorously supported by media, academic and political rhetoric. Bloomberg would be able to pass conservative bills only, any liberal bill he tried to bring forward would be attacked to death and in the spirit of cowardice ..ooops I mean bipartizanship, he would cave and pass a conservative bill with liberal highlights.
Liberal partizanship is the the only way America can get back to the political center. The fact that important, intelligent, hell, elite people, who claim to care about the Republic, don't really understand this basic political dynamic, is very disconcerting. It makes one wonder if America can ever recover the middle ground.
Posted by: Northern Observer | Nov 13, 2007 3:43:24 PM
