Why I like David Brooks

My friend PZ excoriates David Brooks for being such an enemy of the people and I certainly don't agree with a lot of what Brooks says. But I really like the way he says it. And I like his fundamental understanding of America, even when I disagree with his conclusions. Last night was a great example of David Brooks saying what he really thinks -- a rarity on TV, especially when it comes to criticism of a rising star in his own party.

Check out this clip with Jim Lehrer:

I think Bobby Jindal is a very promising politician and I opposed the stimulus package because I thought it was poorly drafted, but to come up at this moment in history with a stale, ‘government is the problem’ argument is just a disaster for the Republican party. The idea that the federal government has no role in this, in a moment when only the federal government is big enough to actually do stuff . . . it’s just a form of nihilism. I think it’s insane.”

Or this one later on PBS (sorry I don't know the moderator's name):

“Bobby Jindal gave possibly the worst response to a Democratic speaker in the history of democracy. For Bobby Jindal to come out and say government is the problem . . . that is just insane. That was the best thing that happened to Barack Obama tonight. That response from the most promising Republican politician was just an unmitigated disaster.”

Whatever you think about David Brooks' politics, he has an understanding of American culture. I saw him at a seminar sponsored by HG Magazine in New York just after Bobos in Paradise came out and he really nailed some big cultural trends. And he approached the research findings with humor and humility, which I find appealing.

So, sorry PZ. David's the man. Or at least he was last night.