Palin’s popularity is the triumph of style over substance. This is not a good herald for our republic. That is why she is dangerous.

But, I’m having a difficult time understanding the particular problems with Palin that Conor and others are obsessing over. I mean, if it’s a sport, there’s more fertile ground with Pelosi, who has much more power, or with McCain, who still has power to do much damage, or Reid, or Snowe, or Obama — the list goes on and on. Why the emphasis on Palin?

BTW, I wonder if there was any cognitive dissonance left when Kristol/Continetti heard Palin’s near incomprehensible “spineless, Ivy-league” comment during the O’Reilly interview — probably not).

Matt started off as a young D. fkn Brooks wannabe. He wrote a book criticizing his own side for succumbing to the temptations of power and influence in the K street project, establishing cred as a young, honest con. who by implication couldn’t be bought (easily).

Anyway, round election time 2008 his articles and punditry for the Weekly Standard starting taking a different tone One article in particular I remember, in which he took exception to those recalling candidate Giuliani’s authoritarian streak as NYC mayor. According to Matt, Giuliani had a consistent philosophy, what he termed the “legalistic disciplinarian” school, the polestar the Rudy never turned from despite occassional tacks to left and right. It got more hilarious when he tried to deny that Giuliani had a personality problem focused on equating political with personal attacks. “There’s at least one elephant dung smeared Virgin Mary who might take issue with that statement Matt,” I thought

http://www.weeklystandard.com/content/public/articles/000/000/014/371rhqnv.asp

I also thought that was funny coming from someone who knew nothing but the disney safe streets of Time Square; who might not have even overcome his Catholic guilt over masturbation until maybe Rudy’s second term.

I gave up trying to figure our whether or not Matt was being serious after I realized what the purpose of the article was. Maybe if I write something flattering, some sort of reverse jujitsu thing that makes his perceived flaws into virtues — maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a ticket when he gets to the top. And thus began Matt’s refashioning from young principled con. into blow-job journalist, as articles on Mitt Romney and McCain soon followed that each had that “I’m special because I see the diamond in the rough” quality. I suspect it’s a familiar story regardless of ideology.

And now of course we have his “persecution” of Sarah Palin book. I’m not sure whether there was a formal ritual in the WS office transferring “Palin Prophet” status from Kristol to Matt, but you can be damn sure that in addition to plotting out his future career options, Matt is making The Boss very proud. Kinda like Palin sporting the I love Israel pin the other night. The whole affair is just so craven, and is an object lesson for the perils of puerile punditry.