The thuggery of William Kristol (Beauchamp Barf Alert!)

The New Republic ^ | 08/22/2007 | Jonathan Chait

[inkling]

It's hard to believe that, not so long ago, neoconservative foreign policy thinking overflowed with ideas and idealism. The descent has been steep, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the pages of The Weekly Standard--particularly in William Kristol's editorials, which have come to consist of stubborn denials of any bad news, diatribes about internal enemies, and harangues against the cowardice of Republican dissenters.

Kristol's sensibility is perfectly summed up in one representative passage from a recent issue. The topic was The New Republic's decision to publish an essay by Scott Beauchamp, an American soldier serving in Iraq, detailing some repugnant acts he said he and his comrades committed. Legitimate questions have been raised about this essay's veracity. (We've been publishing updates on our continuing efforts to get answers to them at tnr.com.) But Kristol rushed past these questions, immediately declaring the piece a "fiction." Offering up his interpretation of why tnr would publish such slanders, he concluded, in an editorial titled, "They Don't Really Support the Troops"...

[inkling]

Jonathan Chait of The New Republic throws a flash pot to distract TNR readers from the Beauchump mess. However, it is interesting that TNR has now entered into Phase 2 of what I call "The Clinton Defense":

1. We did nothing wrong!
2. Well, you're guilty too!
3. Move on already, that's old news!

More details on TNR's current position here.

A brief summary of the entire Beauchamp scandal here.

[inkling]

We actually uncovered photographic evidence that Bill Kristol is a thug as Jon Chait claimed!

[denydenydeny]

They really, really don’t support the troops.

Seriously, they are ready believe the absolute worst allegations about the troops (Beauchamp, Haditha) at any time. Don’t tell me they support the troops.

[Argus]

Legitimate questions have been raised about this essay's veracity

Beauchamp already admitted to Army investigaters that he made the whole thing up. TNR is the Baghdad Bob of magazines.

[crazyhorse691]

It’s hard to believe that, not so long ago, neoconservative foreign policy thinking overflowed with ideas and idealism.

---

And it was just months ago that liberals were quivering with anticipation about the changing times and how the country and world would dramatically change under their care-taking. TNR is reduced to defending a discredited neojournalist by diverting attention away from the subject. Guess their high ain’t no more.

[Red_Devil 232]

Liberals see what they believe, Conservatives believe what they see.

[Enchante]

HA HA.... I love the spectacle of whiny liberal meltdowns...... not really, it is a truly sordid mess over at TNR, and the stench is revolting. If Mr. Chait thinks that flailing and ranting against neo-cons is any defense of TNR’s squalid, vicious Beachampgate then he’s really lost it.....

[keat]

For anyone who missed Kristol's piece that inspired this drivel, here it is. I thought it was excellent.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

When did Bill Kristol become a conservative?

[popdonnelly]

Mommy, Billy Kristol is a big thug!

Call a WAAAAAAHmbulance!

[newzjunkey]

He may be right about TNR and Beauchamp but Bill Kristol is still an ass.