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You are here: Home / …And out come the wolves

…And out come the wolves

by DougJ|  December 14, 20096:44 pm| 42 Comments

This post is in: Assholes, Good News For Conservatives

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Maybe John is wrong and we shouldn’t defend Ezra Klein. Even a former editor of the liberal New Republic thinks Ezra is being too partisan (no link for Lane):

My colleague Chuck Lane accuses me of a “venomous smear” against Joe Lieberman today, which is fair enough. He’s hardly the first to see it that way. What is surprising is that Lane, well, agrees with my venomous smear. “I understand that [Lieberman] seems to bear a grudge against the Democratic liberals who tried to unseat him in 2006 because of his vote for the war in Iraq,” writes Lane, “and that he might be engaged in a little pay back right now.”

Lane is on the Kaplan editorial board.

It’s probably time to start an Ezra Klein Kaplan death watch.

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Previous Post: « Why You Should Be Defending Ezra
Next Post: Time For a Sternly Worded Letter »

Reader Interactions

42Comments

  1. 1.

    Comrade Mary

    December 14, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    He’s back in the hole where they got him livin’
    Like a rat but he’s smarter than that nine lives
    Like a cat take him to the youth authority home
    First thing you learn is that you got to make it
    In this world alone

    … not alone for real, I hope.

    God damn it, must we always eat our young?

  2. 2.

    Estragon

    December 14, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    The liberal New Republic??

    Uh, really?

  3. 3.

    BFR

    December 14, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Maybe John is wrong and we shouldn’t defend Ezra Klein.

    He knew what he was getting into when he signed up to work for WaPo. “Defending” him by sending clicks over Fred Hiatt’s way isn’t going to make Hiatt and the whole enterprise any less corrupt.

  4. 4.

    freelancer (itouch)

    December 14, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Can we just throw Stephen glass in lane’s face?

  5. 5.

    dmsilev

    December 14, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    I note with some amusement that Lane is yet to respond (publicly) to Ezra’s counter-attack. Any bets on whether he’ll have the guts to do so, or whether he’ll go the bureaucratic-warfare route?

    -dms

  6. 6.

    General Winfield Stuck

    December 14, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    It’s probably time to start an Ezra Klein Kaplan death watch.

    Maybe we should find out if Susan Sarandon is available to see him through this.

  7. 7.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Maybe we should find out if Susan Sarandon is available to see him through this.

    Not a bad way to go.

  8. 8.

    beltane

    December 14, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    This must be why Charles Lane won Atrios’s prestigious Wanker of the Day prize. The Washington Post has really been racking those up lately.

  9. 9.

    AB

    December 14, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    It’s not like nobody has his back though, TPM has been firing a few volleys at Lieberman too.

  10. 10.

    Jim

    December 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    Oh yeah, Lane is in high dudgeon wank-mode

    How else to explain the outrageous smear of Lieberman, posted earlier today by youthful policy wonk Ezra Klein on The Post’s Web site? […]
    Let me repeat: Klein essentially accuses Lieberman of mass murder because he disagrees with him on a policy issue about which there is considerable debate among people of good will across the political spectrum.

    Um, yeah, Chuckie. That’s about the size of it. People really do die because they lack health insurance. No one you know, of course. Which is a big part of the problem. And if you think Joe Lieberman is motivated by anything but vindictiveness, you’re a moron.

    Lieberman and McCain are exhibits A and B as to why American political journamalism sucks. Whenever their lying eyes contradict what “everyone knows” about Tweedledick and Tweedledouche, the Villagers stick to what everyone knows.

  11. 11.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    This must be why Charles Lane won Atrios’s prestigious Wanker of the Day prize.

    Believe it or not, that was for something else.

  12. 12.

    SteveinSC

    December 14, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    I have had it, again, with LIE-berman (I-Israel.) Fuck this sonofabitch. This asshole doesn’t mind sending American kids to defend Israel in the Middle East (they’re just goyim anyway). I wonder what kind or understanding AIPAC and Rahm Emmanuel and LIEberman have to hobble the “change” we thought we had? Weaken Obama, shoo him into a war in Afghanistan, closer still to Iran, and voila the Neocons get even more than they had with the Decider! Even that flaming asshole Kristol is loving Warrior Obama. Wake up Obama! You are being led down a path you should not tread!

  13. 13.

    Jim

    December 14, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    @DougJ:

    Looks like he got WOTD for this, though there was a post referring to his call to reduce the minimum wage as a solution to high unemployment. Quite a guy, Chuckie is.

  14. 14.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    December 14, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Even a former editor of the liberal New Republic

    haha! good one DougJ )

  15. 15.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Looks like he got WOTD for this,

    You’re right. Sorry. I found this one separately.

  16. 16.

    Comrade Mary

    December 14, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    WOTD?

  17. 17.

    Annie

    December 14, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    This is what is sickening. I hate this discourse.

    That they can even comment, as if this is some fraternity initiation, that Lieberman may be engaging in a little pay back right now, rather than acting like an adult and a legislator, is beyond belief. His utter failure to negotiate in good faith is the story, not his childish wish to get back at those who did not support him. As said over at TPM, Lieberman is basically mocking the Democratic Party by moving the goal posts, as if this is all a game and real people’s lives are not at stake.

    Lieberman should be mocked, marginalized, and held in utter contempt. Maybe we can send him to Gitmo and leave him there even after it is closed. Even that would be to good for him.

  18. 18.

    Midnight Marauder

    December 14, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    @Estragon:

    The liberal New Republic??
    __
    Uh, really?

    From THE LEXICON:

    “Even the liberal New Republic”– Phrase used by wingnuts, the conservative media, and others to pretend that there is broader support for whatever the nutty idea du jour might be. The New Republic, a center to center-left publication (albeit center-right anywhere else in the world) is hardly a liberal publication, and as hawkish as it gets regarding every use of military force and all things Israel. A frequent corollary is “Even the liberal Camille Paglia.” See also Center right nation.

  19. 19.

    Demo Woman

    December 14, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    Lieberman has been whining since forever. In fact some folks would think that he has to talk to his partner John before issuing any type of statement. I’m surprised that Hadassah is not jealous.

  20. 20.

    valdivia

    December 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Guys do remember also that Chuckie Lane advanced and supported the malicious death panel lie this summer. So it is even funnier to see him accuse Ezra of malicious smearing (something Ezra did not do) when he himself spent a good portion of the last few months doing that about HCR.

  21. 21.

    Midnight Marauder

    December 14, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    @AB:

    It’s not like nobody has his back though, TPM has been firing a few volleys at Lieberman too.

    TPM has been doing some yeoman’s work on the entire Lieberman debacle, including this post from them not too long ago:

    Lieberman: No Need For Medicare Buy-In Because Baucus Bill Was So Good

    However, as the first commenter on the article points out, Lieberman opposed the Baucus health bill when it was finally unveiled.

    Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday he will not support the healthcare bill set for a vote today in the Senate Finance Committee.
    __
    Though Lieberman is not a member of the 23-member committee that is set to approve the preliminary legislation crafted by Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the Connecticut independent is one of a handful of key Senate centrists who are shaping the fate of health reform this year.
    __
    “No, not the way it is now,” Lieberman said during an appearance on “Imus in the Morning” on the Fox Business Network this morning when asked if he could support the Baucus bill.

    He’s a regular Makewi, that guy.

  22. 22.

    John O

    December 14, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Beware The Man is a fundamentally sound world view.

    Ezra will be fine, WaPo or not. He’s tough and he’s smart, and he knows what he’s talking about.

    There will be a place for him, like there is for Elizabeth Warren. Outside of the Corporate Media’s interest.

    And it is time to get personal with Holy Joe. I wonder why more terminally ill Americans don’t show up in Washington sometimes, with nothing to lose, and chips on their shoulders…

    …I think that’s what I might do.

  23. 23.

    Estragon

    December 14, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    @Midnight Marauder: I remember reading once that TNR was a big read in the Reagan White House, scouring the pages for “liberals” who would sell out for them.

  24. 24.

    Morbo

    December 14, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    Wolves? Oh no, you’re being far too kind. These people are snakes at best; it may even be charitable to call them vertebrates.

  25. 25.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    December 14, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    WOTD?

    Wanker Of The Day

  26. 26.

    John O

    December 14, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Joe is WOTY.

    And that’s no small accomplishment.

    There should also be some lifetime achievement awards for WOTD.

    That way you could move on to new wankers of spectacular achievement.

  27. 27.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    Wolves? Oh no, you’re being far too kind. These people are snakes at best; it may even be charitable to call them vertebrates.

    It’s a reference to a Rancid album title.

    They don’t get enough credit.

  28. 28.

    Midnight Marauder

    December 14, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    @Estragon:

    I remember reading once that TNR was a big read in the Reagan White House, scouring the pages for “liberals” who would sell out for them.

    Yep. That sounds about right.

  29. 29.

    Malron

    December 14, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    I find it fascinating that the left isn’t trying to defend a good blogger.

    Not really.

  30. 30.

    Kryptik

    December 14, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    It’s probably time to start an Ezra Klein Kaplan death watch.

    It’s taken you this long to consider it?

    I’ve long been sounding the alarm bells on Ezra’s, Eugene Robinson’s, and Dionne’s tenures at the Post. I’m just waiting for when they find the right excuse other than the thin ‘Too blatantly partisan for our paper’ one they’re probably working on.

  31. 31.

    geg6

    December 14, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    I honestly think it was a huge mistake for Ezra to go to the WaPo and said so at the time. I even sent him an email emploring him to re-think the matter. So should they decide to dump him, I really think that would only add to his reputation for me. I have always loved Ezra’s work, but I simply won’t give the Kaplan rag any clicks ever again, not even for Ezra. In fact, especially for Ezra. I want him back working for a reputable organization. And I want the WaPo to die. Both things will improve our policy and political commentary.

  32. 32.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    It’s taken you this long to consider it?

    No, not at all. I just think it’s time to make it official.

  33. 33.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    I honestly think it was a huge mistake for Ezra to go to the WaPo and said so at the time. I even sent him an email emploring him to re-think the matter. So should they decide to dump him, I really think that would only add to his reputation for me.

    I think it’s tricky. If he keeps letting it rip and gets fired, I think he’s really accomplished something. If he tones it down to make Fred Hiatt happy, then you’re completely right.

  34. 34.

    RD

    December 14, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    The whole thing smells like the Fernholz v. Taibbi shit over at the American Prospect. (Taibbi handily won, BTW. Even Reuters jumped in and fact-checked Fornholz’s pearl clutching.)

    I think it is a little surprising to see this kind of polemic device from Ezra Klein, though. His style seems much more methodical and logical, peppered with snark.

    Either way, watching Klein afflicting the comfortable and then watching the comfortable and their apparent lackeys shit their pants should be something we all celebrate and defend.

    Klein’s argument was not an attempt to make a well sourced and solidly logical statement about Sen. Joe Lieberman [Bag of Syphilitic Dicks – Connecticut]. Obviously, Klein’s invective – taken literally – seems to fall under the cause/correlation fallacy. But so what? I don’t think it was necessarily the point of the observation. Klein was noting that a supposedly rational adult and sitting United States Senator is using his totally unearned leverage to settle petty political scores against members of the caucus he belongs to and is willing to prolong the suffering and death experienced by real human beings under a broken health care system to do so.

  35. 35.

    Napoleon

    December 14, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    Ezra is going to be on Olberman.

  36. 36.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    The whole thing smells like the Fernholz v. Taibbi shit over at the American Prospect. (Taibbi handily won, BTW. Even Reuters jumped in and fact-checked Fornholz’s pearl clutching.)

    I’m not so sure. I thought Fernholz made some good points and I think it took some guts for him to take on Taibbi in front of a mostly liberal audience. I’m not saying his overall take is right, but I respect what he wrote.

  37. 37.

    John O

    December 14, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    @RD:

    I saw Ezra get irritated with a moron at a DKos panel, and within the same half-hour or so spoke to him personally about someone hassling him on his blog at the time, and trust me, he writes politely, but underneath lies the heart of a blogger.

    He’s too young to draw any definite conclusions, there but for the grace of God and intellectual laziness go most of us, but I think his heart is in the right place.

    Just a personal take. The first time I met him all I said was, “Thank you, I really enjoy your work,” and he was most gracious and normal.

  38. 38.

    Thlayli

    December 14, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    It’s a reference to a Rancid album title.

    Black coat
    White shoes
    Black hat
    Cadillac

    The boy’s a time bomb….

  39. 39.

    Bobby Thomson

    December 14, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    @RD:

    Obviously, Klein’s invective – taken literally – seems to fall under the cause/correlation fallacy.

    Not really. The post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy occurs when pretty much the only causal argument is that B follows A, therefore A causes B. There are reasons other than timing to believe that a lack of insurance (or underinsurance) is the proximate cause of a statistically significant number of deaths. Maybe underlying poverty would also cause some deaths, too, but when people are going to work with walking pneumonia because they can’t afford an office visit, it’s hard to deny causation.

  40. 40.

    calipygian

    December 14, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    @Thlayli: That was really obscure and roundabout, but I like it.

  41. 41.

    DougJ

    December 14, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    That was really obscure and roundabout, but I like it.

    And a good song.

  42. 42.

    Elie

    December 14, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    @John O:

    ???

    “I wonder why more terminally ill Americans don’t show up in Washington sometimes, with nothing to lose, and chips on their shoulders…

    …I think that’s what I might do.”

    Hey pardner…??? Not to invade your privacy…

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