David Brooks Shocked at Obama's Liberalism

NRO ^ | March 03, 2009 | Greg Pollowitz

[RobinMasters]

David Brooks today: "Barack Obama is not who we thought he was." Speak for yourself. . .

Those of us who consider ourselves moderates — moderate-conservative, in my case — are forced to confront the reality that Barack Obama is not who we thought he was. His words are responsible; his character is inspiring. But his actions betray a transformational liberalism that should put every centrist on notice. As Clive Crook, an Obama admirer, wrote in The Financial Times, the Obama budget “contains no trace of compromise. It makes no gesture, however small, however costless to its larger agenda, of a bipartisan approach to the great questions it addresses. It is a liberal’s dream of a new New Deal.”

Moderates now find themselves betwixt and between. On the left, there is a president who appears to be, as Crook says, “a conviction politician, a bold progressive liberal.” On the right, there are the Rush Limbaugh brigades. The only thing more scary than Obama’s experiment is the thought that it might fail and the political power will swing over to a Republican Party that is currently unfit to wield it.

[Travis McGee]

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day, America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."

~~Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate in the 1940s.

[mort56]

David Brooks is an idiot. That is why he is the New York Times’ “conservative”.

[Islander7]

Duh!

[smith288]

Brooks has to live with his decision. It could end up being a very regrettable and nightmare causing one.

[MrB]

Brooks:
Admit it, scumbag, you voted for the “cool black guy” and nothing else. You intentionally avoided any uncomfortable truths so that you could be “part of history”. Yes, you’re going to be “part of history” - the part where a bunch of dummasses voted to destroy our country.

[LeonardFMason]

David Brooks is an O-hole.

[roses of sharon]

It is time for all faux journalists and pundits to resign, and get real jobs.

They do not inform, educate, or protect.

[Paved Paradise]

Meanwhile he was singing Obama’s praises not too long ago.

[IbJensen]

I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked!

[xcamel]

Aermotor Conservative...

Whichever way the wind blows...

[chainsaw]

David Brooks today: “Barack Obama is not who we thought he was.” Speak for yourself. .

David Brooks today: “Barack Obama is not who I thought he was.” Speak for yourself.

Cretin Brooks should have spent more time on FR and listening to Rush.

[Professor_Leonide]

No conservative out there quotes David Brooks except as an example of someone who is “pretending”.

[TADSLOS]

But...how could such an intellectual elite like Brooks be so easily fooled...?

[JrsyJack]

Those of us in the moderate tradition — the Hamiltonian tradition that believes in limited but energetic government — thus find ourselves facing a void. We moderates are going to have to assert ourselves. We’re going to have to take a centrist tendency that has been politically feckless and intellectually vapid and turn it into an influential force.

Isn't this what they did in the election when they overwhelmingly supported Obama?

[pnh102]

David Brooks needs to join Christopher Buckley and jump off a cliff. This way, both will no longer feel the “shock and awe” at Obama’s leftism.

[coloradan]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, a typical Obama voter: http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/jaywalking-1028/798702/

[wombtotomb]

Obama left clues, out loud, all along the way. Any “moderate-conservative” who voted for him either knew this and went ahead anyway, or is full of it.

True moderate conservatives surely realized that even a RINO like McCain would have inflicted less damage to our country and its principles by virtue of their not being MARXIST socialists....... Don’t let them bs you into thinking they could not figure out Obama’s agenda when us simple country folk had him nailed! They talk about us flyover folks not understanding all the “complex” issues about the budget, bailouts, taxes, immigration etc. yet THEY can’t even see a marxist when he comes right out and says it? PU lease. Where can us everyday folks go to get these jobs and make a living calling it like we see it? I am sick of pseudo intellectuals making a good living lying and then being shocked at the results. I want in on that game! Any suggestions??

[raptor29]

“Brooks: Admit it scumbag, you voted for the “cool black guy” and nothing else. You intentionally avoided any uncomfortable truths so that you could be “part of history”.”

That is about as ‘spot on’ as can be. Outstanding post.

[throwback]

He assumes a premise that he thinks. Philosophy 101; don’t start with a faulty premise.