• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

The words do not have to be perfect.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

This really is a full service blog.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

We still have time to mess this up!

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Brooks Would Be a Lousy Whip

Brooks Would Be a Lousy Whip

by $8 blue check mistermix|  March 12, 20105:59 pm| 38 Comments

This post is in: Assholes

FacebookTweetEmail

On NPR’s All Things Considered, David Brooks was discussing how Nancy Pelosi would convince House members to vote for HCR. He said she would say something like, “Well, you’re going to lose your seat over this, but for the good of the country, you need to make this vote.”

Horseshit.

Pelosi would say the opposite: that failing to pass HCR would be a body blow to every Democrat, and if you’re in a tough district, switching your vote to oppose HCR will make you look like a waffling, unserious, gutless wonder. She’d also say that people appreciate consistency and loyalty, that they’re sick to death of hearing about this bill, and they’ll consider you a useless wanker for wasting their time yakking about reform while delivering nothing.

I realize that DougJ has the Brooks beat, but this was some of the most vapid “analysis” I’ve heard in a long time.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Bart’s Secret Army Retreating In Disarray?
Next Post: Coming Soon to a Textbook Near You »

Reader Interactions

38Comments

  1. 1.

    Incertus (Brian)

    March 12, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    She might throw in a little “earmark here if you vote for it, no earmark if you don’t” while she’s at it, and I’d be perfectly fine with that.

  2. 2.

    Mnemosyne

    March 12, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    Did EJ Dionne laugh in his face or did they turn his mike off? Dionne is usually the “counterpoint” to Brooksie on NPR.

  3. 3.

    robertdsc

    March 12, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Bobo is a Serious Person. /eyeroll

  4. 4.

    JGabriel

    March 12, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Brooks Would Be a Lousy Whip

    Yeah, he’s always struck me as more of a sub.

    .

  5. 5.

    Mike E

    March 12, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Bobo the Concern Troll. Obviously, the people with the most to lose are the ones lining up at Applebee’s salad bar.

  6. 6.

    Incertus (Brian)

    March 12, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    I should add that Brooks was probably being honest when he said that–honest insofar as he hopes the Democrats won’t control the House after the next elections, and that his “advice” would put them even closer to that end.

  7. 7.

    Bob L

    March 12, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    I see Brooks is concerned about the liberal agenda.

  8. 8.

    dmsilev

    March 12, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    Personally, I think “If you vote for this, you’ll make David Brooks cry” would be a pretty convincing argument in favor. But that’s just me.

    -dms

  9. 9.

    MikeJ

    March 12, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Calling Brooks vapid is being far too charitable. He knows it’s horseshit but it advances his story.

    What’s funny is Brooks is trying to push the unpopularity of HCR, and he ends up making the Dems look more courageous than they actually are.

  10. 10.

    J.W. Hamner

    March 12, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    I would be a lousy whip too, since I’d want to say:

    You’re going to lose your seat anyway, so why don’t you vote for HCR so you can at least have a story about how did something principled once in your life to toss out there when you’re standing around the watercooler at your K Street lobbying firm?

  11. 11.

    craptractor

    March 12, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    I agree, but along the same lines as I would that kittens are superbly cute. I mean, we’re kinda stating the obvious right? Let’s challenge ourselves.

  12. 12.

    mistermix

    March 12, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    @Mnemosyne: No, it was Clarence Page, who’s useless.

  13. 13.

    Cacti

    March 12, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    As March 18 draws closer, I’d expect to see a lot more Concern from the Serious People.

  14. 14.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 12, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    Thankfully, none of the rock throwers from the peanut gallery can stop the momentum to bring this thing to a close. It’s not a certainty, but concern trolling is over on this issue. Now dem members have to go face to face with the party leaders and tell Nancy Pelosi no. Nothin’ I’d want to do on hers and the presnits and our signature issue. They may fear the tea baggers in reddish districts, but the wrath of Nancy trumps that, I suspect.

  15. 15.

    Lancelot Link

    March 12, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Brooks would be a lousy journalist, too.

  16. 16.

    Cat Lady

    March 12, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    I suspect Nancy has Rahm’s Pen1s of Doom on speed dial. Also too.

  17. 17.

    kay

    March 12, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Well, that’s noble of the Democrats.

    David Brooks is telling us Republicans would never give up a seat for the good of the country.

    In so many words :)

  18. 18.

    Cacti

    March 12, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    They may fear the tea baggers in reddish districts, but the wrath of Nancy trumps that, I suspect.

    And having to explain to the core group of Dem voters in their reddish distrcit that they absolutely depend on…

    “Well, I voted against a 7-decade Democratic Party priority, but I promise, if you keep sending me back, we’ll get something even better some day.”

    That would go over well.

  19. 19.

    Cacti

    March 12, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    @Lancelot Link:

    Brooks would be a lousy journalist, too.

    He’s already a pretty lousy propagandist.

  20. 20.

    geg6

    March 12, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    All I have to say about Bobo is that the concern troll is concerned.

  21. 21.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    March 12, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    The political analysis seems sound to me. I’m just curious to see if the terms “Whip” and “David Brooks” are enough to summon the Project Wonderful high heels lady from her Fortress of Solitude somewhere out there in Google Ads land. Because that would be full of win.

  22. 22.

    Comrade Mary

    March 12, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    I suspect Nancy has Rahm’s Pen1s of Doom on speed dial.

    Dayum. That man has talent. Or maybe he’s packing a lot less Doom than I thought he was, those speed dial buttons being so tiny and all.

  23. 23.

    ruemara

    March 12, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    I listen to the oldies and rock radio stations now. Now my blood pressure is much lower and the hoarseness in my voice is from singing, not yelling at asinine David Brooks on NPR. Much happy is to be had from “Smoking In The Boys Room” done at 70 mph.

  24. 24.

    Napoleon

    March 12, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Jesus, Brooks was not trying to analyze anything. That was just his way of injecting the Republican talking points into the debate. That is what Brooks does, he may be another flavor of wingnut that is designed to appeal to the NPR crowd but he is just as much wingnut at any of the others.

  25. 25.

    cat48

    March 12, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    BoBo gets a pass from me today since he devoted his column today to his Obama love.

  26. 26.

    liberty60

    March 12, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    This is the meme of the day, that passage of HCR will spell doom for the Dems.
    Which would be laughable, if there weren’t gutless wonders tucked in their hidey holes, convinced they can buy the mercy of the Tea Party/ RedState Strike Force with a no vote.

    Do these people think for one moment that any Republican will ever, ever, relent in their drive for absolute power and Party purity, just because a Blue Dog voted it down?

    Considering that Lindsey Effing Graham is considered a traitor, and even Newt Gingrich is in danger of being purged from the Party (and airbrushed out of photos no doubt), the Dems have only two choices- absolute surrender or discovering a spine.

  27. 27.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    March 12, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    Okay bear with me here, I have basically been running errands for my boss all day so I have spent the majority of the day in the car listening to RWNJ radio all day (pity me). I listened to Ingram, Limbaugh and Hannity and then my local RWNJ host discuss the week with Dan Gainor from business and media. To a person they were all saying “if the dems pass this bill they are going to get slaughtered in the fall elections”. Dan Gainor said “they will be in the political wilderness for years” if they pass the bill. Soooooooooooo why are the RWNJ radio talking heads (and the tee-vee RWNJ talking heads) screaming so loudly? If passing the bill will DOOOOOOOOOOM the democrats why are they fighting tooth and nail against it? It appears to me that the RWNJ concern trolls are concerned. However, Limbaugh let slip a snippet of truth, “if the bill passes it will never be repealed, even if we have the house and the senate in November” Hmmmmm why would that be? Cause the people would not let them repeal it, cause they like it, just as they would never, in a million years allow anyone to repeal social security, once this bill passes, the people will never allow it to be repealed. So, to review the RWNJs are screaming against a bill that will DOOOOOOOM the democrats in November and the RWNJs will take back the house and the senate in November. Am I missing anything here cause I haz a confoozed.

  28. 28.

    jeffreyw

    March 12, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    …this was some of the most vapid “analysis” I’ve heard in a long time.

    Yeah, since his last offering, anyway.

  29. 29.

    DougJ

    March 12, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    @cat48:

    It was a good column, I agree.

    On other hand, I feel that any one of us could have written that column.

  30. 30.

    Zuzu's Petals

    March 12, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    I finally turned it off before my blood pressure blew.

    I’m not giving that outfit another red cent, even if it means having to see Ira Glass suffer.

  31. 31.

    Mark

    March 12, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    @JGabriel: Bobo’s had his nuts crushed by his dom a few times. I just wonder why he was so sketched out by the Senator who touched his thigh.

  32. 32.

    Zuzu's Petals

    March 12, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Which one of them said nothing would happen for four years even if it passed?

    Whoever it was, I can’t believe the host didn’t call them on it immediately.

    Oh wait, it was NPR. Ne-ver mind.

  33. 33.

    Pat

    March 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    That’s a good trick; I’ll have to remember that. “No no, I totally think you should do that thing I’m against. I mean, it’s great to martyr yourself. Die in a blaze of glory and all that. I’ll be sure to take care of your wife.”

  34. 34.

    Zuzu's Petals

    March 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    Sorry, that linked to the House bill stuff. Here’s what in the Senate bill that would happen right away.

  35. 35.

    Jay in Oregon

    March 12, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    @Zuzu’s Petals:

    This American Life is actually produced by Chicago Public Radio, not NPR, and you can listen to the podcast (and donate directly to them, if I remember correctly).

  36. 36.

    Napoleon

    March 12, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    @Jay in Oregon:

    Periodically on the podcast Chicago Public Radio will request donations to cover the bandwidth to put out the podcast.

  37. 37.

    Batocchio

    March 12, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    Brooks knows it’s horseshit. He’s concern trolling the issue, as was Tony Blankley on Left, Right and Center today. They don’t have many moves.

  38. 38.

    tc125231

    March 13, 2010 at 1:30 am

    Brooks is a professional at earnestly presenting BS as 24K gold for the benefit of his sponsors.

    His continued presence on serious outlets like PBS and NPR reveals the total intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of the American media.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8

Recent Comments

  • HeartlandLiberal on RIP Gordon Moore (Mar 25, 2023 @ 1:14pm)
  • sdhays on Pudd’n Boots (Open Thread) (Mar 25, 2023 @ 1:12pm)
  • Another Scott on Pudd’n Boots (Open Thread) (Mar 25, 2023 @ 1:10pm)
  • Ruckus on Pudd’n Boots (Open Thread) (Mar 25, 2023 @ 1:09pm)
  • KSinMA on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Nancy Smash, For the Children! (Mar 25, 2023 @ 1:07pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Classified Documents: A Primer
State & Local Elections Discussion

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

5/14  The Apocalypse
5/20  Home Away from Home
5/29  We’re Back, Baby
7/21  Merging!

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!