Quotes of the day
posted at 10:00 pm on October 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
“By behaving in this manner and, frankly, by writing editorials insulting average Americans not fond of reading Hayek on weekends, the elitists in the conservative ranks may entertain themselves splendidly at cocktail parties, but they are doing little to bring liberty to people thirsty for it.
There is a difference between being an elitist and being an intellectual. Of course, the movement can always use more intellectuals. We need fewer elitists. Milton Friedman is a perfect example of an intellectual who was not an elitist…
Conservative elitists will be clutching their chests when I dare list these names together, but Milton Friedman (Free to Choose), Henry Hazlitt (Economics in One Lesson), Friedrich Hayek (Road to Serfdom), and Thomas Paine (Common Sense) have a lot in common with Limbaugh and Beck.
They made complex issues easy to understand in order to promote the concepts of liberty to the greatest number of people.”
***
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Sarah Palin
davidk on October 4, 2009 at 10:04 PM
We need less of both.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Who the HELL is Brooks to say with such arrogant conviction that Palin “will not be” on the ticket.
Their distain for the American people is stunning.
katy on October 4, 2009 at 10:07 PM
May I add HA’s own Doctor Zero to the smart, understandable voices of common sense?
publiuspen on October 4, 2009 at 10:08 PM
That’s what these people don’t understand, conservatives don’t need new ideas, the old ones work just fine when implemented.
thomasaur on October 4, 2009 at 10:08 PM
qft
Spirit of 1776 on October 4, 2009 at 10:09 PM
These people are insane!!!!!!!!!!
So Bill Ayers wrote Obama’s book was ok… but guilt by association is relevant only with Palin….. ok …?
katy on October 4, 2009 at 10:10 PM
good call on the brooks
AP
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 10:10 PM
All 5 men around that table are extemely irrelevent.
portlandon on October 4, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Sound like Brooks, Murphy and Schmitt should keep this in mind. The clowns do not realize they need us more than we need then. One thing is clear though I should correct my self and state we don’t need them at all. Shame one me for suggesting a ludicrous idea.
Clyde5445 on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Don’t know much about intellectuals or elitists … I’m neither. As an old military guy – I tend to judge success by marksmanship and body count …
In that … I judge folks like David Brooks, Kathleen Parker, George Will, and Peggy Noonan severely lacking.
While folks like Limbaugh, Levin, Hannity, Palin, and Huck are racking up a body count that makes them indispensable.
Results … and where are David Brooks’ results?
HondaV65 on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Ronald Reagan was the master of this. I don’t care who you are we need another Reagan.
highhopes on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 PM
I guess Maddow is a fan of LGF. She was talking about RS McCain. I’ve thought about this a lot and I think we’re all guilty of being connected to Kevin Bacon per CJ’s reasoning.
Free Constitution on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Far more people listen to Rush and Beck than know or listen to these
guys. How ironic.
I’m looking forward to Brooks eating his cup on the air.
datadriver on October 4, 2009 at 10:12 PM
O/T, but more important than Our Miss Brooks:
Mohammed el-Baradei, the UN’s beloved nuclear “expert,” says:
We should hand the UN their eviction notice tonight and give the whole bunch of antisemitic thugs, thieves, terrorists and leeches 24 hours to get the hell out of NYC.
If Osama Obama doesn’t grow a pair and deal with the Iranian situation, we are going to be in deep, deep, dung. Very soon.
MrScribbler on October 4, 2009 at 10:13 PM
If David Brooks reads Hayek on weekends it’s not to learn anything from it; it’s only to be able to tell people he works with that he reads Hayek on weekend.
BadgerHawk on October 4, 2009 at 10:13 PM
I don’t click on anything Brooks, he thinks he’s smart and I disagree. He is a waste of my time.
thomasaur on October 4, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Mike Murphy couldn’t resist the “spellcheck” crack, could he?
Should be interesting to see what the GreenRooms R.S. McCain has to say about the allusion to him, as well.
cs89 on October 4, 2009 at 10:16 PM
David is no Goliath
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I picked up Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny and found the work to be rather limited. I am very disappointed with the work 100 pages in and doubt I will finish it.
I figured that was relevant to this quote in some way.
jhffmn on October 4, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Obligatory, right Allah?
Lanceman on October 4, 2009 at 10:17 PM
He’s a babbling brooks.
thomasaur on October 4, 2009 at 10:18 PM
You gotta love how Maddow is the most masculine of the four.
barrythrowslikeagirl on October 4, 2009 at 10:18 PM
The elitists just don’t get it. We don’t need new ideas–maybe just some new strategies.
We want to be able to succeed or fail on our own. Wake up! Is it so hard for you people to understand that “failure” is for us who are resilient just a learning experience.
All we want from the Feds is a strong military who will keep us safe while we live our lives.
We don’t want government healthcare, retirement, education, sugar daddies.
Those clamoring for affirmative action may want the government to hold their hands and give them a sugar tit, but we conservatives don’t want it; never have.
mmm-mmm-MackDaddy, get out of my life.
davidk on October 4, 2009 at 10:18 PM
She won’t. No VP wannabe who failed makes it through four years later. It took Nixon eight. Lieberman didn’t try. Edwards didn’t try. Palin can do a lot for the conservative movement but this isn’t the time or way to become the face of the party. She needs to work behind the scenes as a king(or queen)maker.
highhopes on October 4, 2009 at 10:18 PM
who cares what these****heads think…they are not in any way in tune with America…get out of the way or get run over!
FloridaMike on October 4, 2009 at 10:19 PM
The evolution of my opinion of Brooks:
3 years ago: “This guy is interesting”
2 year ago: “At least he’s more logical than Maureen Dowd”
1 year ago: “Um, I guess his social commentary is okay. He should just avoid politics”
Now: “STFU”
Chiasmos on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
The people he works with read Marx and/or Keynes on the weekend…
Caper29 on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
I wonder if Mike Murphy rubbed David Brooks thigh after this appearance.
These two were made for each other. They hate conservatives, hate talk radio, hate Sarah Palin, and think highly of themselves. Barf.
cubachi on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
ditto, I haven’t finished it and the only way I will is if I get snowed in and can’t get to the book store this winter.
thomasaur on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Maybe he’s confusing Friedrich with Salma.
Those boobs could confuse anyone.
misslizzi on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
The clips of the GOP Elite (Frum/Brooks/Noonan/Parker/Murphy should be played in a loop for Sarah Palin’s ’12 campaign commercials.
The distain for this woman from the ivy league,arugula eating, pants crease obsessed DC Cocktail crowd has grown large these last few years.
2012 will be the year of the “outsider” if there ever was one.
portlandon on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Pay attention all cons… Maddow just uttered the words “Guilt by choice.” That’s right, Obama is guilty of all the things Van Jones, Jarrett, Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, and all are guilty of… Why? Because he chose to associate with them. At least that’s essentially the Maddow argument…
MeatHeadinCA on October 4, 2009 at 10:20 PM
What these idiots for get is Gov. Palin can read the pretzel logic called legislative language and distill it into easy to understand language.
Clyde5445 on October 4, 2009 at 10:21 PM
There is a reason why I don’t watch this show or pay any attention to anyone on it….
Stay in your bubble, Ssswwwwiiissshhhheeesssss….
It’s going to get popped!
Seven Percent Solution on October 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
There,it has been said…
ENERGIZED and PUT US AHEAD IN THE POLLS!!
Thats when SarahCuda joined the McCain Mutiny,
with Capt’n Queeg!!
canopfor on October 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I have read a lot of Brooks’ comumns and thought him pretty smart, until this recent diversion into the Bama Cult.
Well, David, if you think Hayek and Friedman, those great men, are something worth repeating, that they have a better angle on the truth of the human condition than Bama and his cadre of marxists…
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?
This whining that there are no conservative voices as eloquent as Hayek and Friedman…you are a smart guy and I thought you understood what those guys said.
The baton gets passed, and you can pick, do I carry it or whine that it has been dropped.
Pick your path, David. You have more horsepower than I do, so I hope you carry the message.
If not, and you understand what they said, shame on you.
Wimp.
Harry Schell on October 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
When (not if) Israel is attacked by Iran, the political dynamics will shift. The filthy lying coward in the White House will look like the fool he is. There will be a huge poltical backlash and Obama and his party will be the first victims beyond the Israelis.
highhopes on October 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Brooks?! haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Go Sarah!!!! As one of the MOMs that are going to help save this country we have your back! Please, please pray for the troops.
jeaneeinabottle on October 4, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Wonder what interesting figures we could find within a couple of degrees of association in Maddow’s past? Especially if some of the accusations can be made up….
cs89 on October 4, 2009 at 10:24 PM
There sure is. But most of these elitists are just pseudo-intellectuals, and they are too dumb to know it. Ignorance is truly bliss. When combined with arrogance, though, it’s really infuriating.
progressoverpeace on October 4, 2009 at 10:24 PM
My sentiments exactly–I didn’t click on him either. I consider Brooks a major d*ckhead…
lovingmyUSA on October 4, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Good one BB. He is more like Gollum.
Geochelone on October 4, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I heard she slept with women in her staff. Or was that Lettermen? Hey, it works either way.
portlandon on October 4, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Allahpundit,
Fantastic…
mjbrooks3 on October 4, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Actually, high, I believe both Liebercrud and the Breck Girl were in the primaries four years after the defeat (by my buddy W., by the way) of their ticket.
Lanceman on October 4, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I blame Bush for this.
BUSH, PEOPLE. Bush. GWB.
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 10:27 PM
There is a reason why I don’t watch this show or pay any attention to anyone on it….
Stay in your bubble, Ssswwwwiiissshhhheeesssss….
It’s going to get popped!
Seven Percent Solution on October 4, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Seven Percent Solution: Years ago,I watched the Sunday
Show talk circuit,and,gawd forbid
CNN!
Then,from Monday to Friday,listened
to Rush,and boy,talk about being li
ed to,the Left sure do paint some
rosy pictures!!
canopfor on October 4, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Palin may not be on any ticket, but I suggest to you that she’s in a position to form her own “wing” and what that wing supports – or, better yet, WHO that wing supports – will have a running start on one Helluva strong ticket. Sarah Palin might very well be the strongest, most influential politician in the country today. The Dems can laugh and make their “you can see Russia from here” jokes, but in their heart of hearts they know she’s extremely popular.
GoldenEagle4444 on October 4, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Where the hell is fogw when you need him? :)
Lanceman on October 4, 2009 at 10:29 PM
So…. her ghostwriter is a White Supremecist… she’s raaaaacist!
Here’s a DIRECT QUOTE from the MOST SENIOR (longest serving EVER) Democrat in congress… a certain Senator from West Virginia:
CC
CapedConservative on October 4, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Victor Davis Hanson
munchnstuf on October 4, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Between these yappers and O’s incompetence Gov. Palin may just decided to run.
Clyde5445 on October 4, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Yes, and he needs to start offering his posts to the Examiner.
Dusty on October 4, 2009 at 10:32 PM
By boobs, I’m assuming you mean Brooks, et al?
Feel Frida correct me.
profitsbeard on October 4, 2009 at 10:33 PM
These people are insane!!!!!!!!!!
So Bill Ayers wrote Obama’s book was ok… but guilt by association is relevant only with Palin….. ok …?
katy on October 4, 2009 at 10:10 PM
katy: Don’t leave out HilRod,I think Hillarys book was
ghost written as well!:)
canopfor on October 4, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Flush all of these smug pre-icks and I hope they eat the table cloth of the roundtable in three years.
RobCon on October 4, 2009 at 10:34 PM
No, Sarah Palin is a racist by association…
Just like apparently Obama is a pimp by association to ACORN
Just like Obama is a terrorist by association to Ayers
Just like Obama a communist by association with Jones…
Yeah, fits nicely for us, now doesn’t it?
MeatHeadinCA on October 4, 2009 at 10:35 PM
We need to vote Brooks out of the tribe. All in favor…
Laura in Maryland on October 4, 2009 at 10:37 PM
This may get me banned but here go nothing.
If I what any of their lip I will get it off my Z
Clyde5445 on October 4, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Great point.
RobCon on October 4, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Point taken lance, But they didn’t make it all the way to the nomination, which was my point (though I’m not sure that you are right about Lieberman’s viability but too lazy to google it).
highhopes on October 4, 2009 at 10:39 PM
We need to vote Brooks out of the tribe. All in favor…
Laura in Maryland on October 4, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Laura in Maryland: The long walk,er Grand Purge might
cometh,ahem!:)
canopfor on October 4, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Goldwater would have won.
Imagine how different the conservative movement would be, even now.
How do you know a pretend republican when you see one?
Their words make you sick to your stomach.
Speakup on October 4, 2009 at 10:40 PM
I’m stoked you’ve posted this excellent article by Lori Roman, AP. I like the distinction between static elitists vs. authentic intellectualism.
Typically, elitists aren’t really all that intellectual, despite their grasp of abstract linguistics. They’re ersatz intellectualism is consigned to pedigrees and what’s socially and politically in fashion. No heady ideas nor critical analysis.
What’s striking about Glenn Beck is that he, like other good teachers, takes a construct and creates a more palatable presentation of it’s relative components—In short, He makes learning fun, and the subject interesting. That’s exactly what the best thinkers do.
It’s irrelevant whether or not you like him or his verbal style. What’s important is that he engages a lot of people, who might not ordinarily have been engaged, in salient material. No matter what, that’s a very good thing.
anXdem on October 4, 2009 at 10:41 PM
say aye!
MeatHeadinCA on October 4, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Maddow is an embarrassment to NBC. Is this what MTP has come to? We have a long way to go before the next national election. Where was BO three years out of the last election. As for the talking heads on MTP are as insignificant as the host and his network.
d1carter on October 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM
In the White House.
I don’t know if Sarah Palin will ever run for president, much less win the nomination. Neither does Brooks. But he has to keep that she-devil at bay mentally to soothe himself and his lefty buds. Their heads would absolutely explode if she ever really got rolling.
ddrintn on October 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I believe there will be new tribe…. one that will accomplish more than most think. Most believe a 3rd party will ONLY be comprised by distruntled conservative Republicans. I believe it will be comprised of a much, much larger group… conservative Republicans, Democrats and independents that TRULY interested in returning to smaller government and actually prosecuting all the corruption.
CC
CapedConservative on October 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Aye!
CPL 310 on October 4, 2009 at 10:44 PM
These leftest “elitist” round table TV discussion groups have about as much insight into the thinking of the American people as does the column writing rightest “elitist” have. None.
If anything, the American people might be waking up to the burning coffee after the hangover of electing to office a socialist hell bent on dragging this country into the poor house for generations.
Kini on October 4, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Please… Meet The Press? Really?
(Morons Endlessly Entertaining Themselves)
WhoU4 on October 4, 2009 at 10:44 PM
SouthernGent on October 4, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Click through to the Washington Post article and you get :
Ok, something more..
How about the right to own property, to develop that property as you see fit, and not have it taken from you by government fiat ‘for the common good’.
How about the right to work without having to join a union.
How about the right to practice your religion presuming your religion doesn’t promote the mas murder of unsuspecting unarmed men, women and children just for the sake of world domination.
How about a national defense that is the best trained, best equipped, best prepared on the planet with weapons development that can not be matched by any other country.
How about a legal system where the laws apply equally without regard to race, social class, or political connections.
How about the right to speak one’s mind without being arrested, or accused of ‘hate speech’, or racism.
How about a public education system that teaches all students how to read, write, and do simple arithmetic. An education system that examines the consequences of all public policy issues in an honest unbiased manner. How about an education system that teaches common ethics, right and wrong, respect for one’s self, and others, and this country. How about an education system that shows what opportunities exist rather than making the claim that only government intervention can ‘make things fair’.
None of these ideas are complex. It doesn’t take great intellect to understand them.
Why do the so called ‘conservative’ elite appear so unaware or indifferent to these simple ideas? Too easy for them?
Skandia Recluse on October 4, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Aye aye
What a maroon.
Dhuka on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I’ve got to disagree. These psuedo-intellectuals know their own weaknesses and are rabid in attacking those who would expose them for what they are. They may be dumb but they have survival skills.
highhopes on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Actually, Brooks is more of an embarrassment to the right that he claims to be part of…
At least Madcow is representing well…
MeatHeadinCA on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM
We have tried and true ideas but we lacked a delivery persons until now.
Clyde5445 on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM
As if MSNBC or David Brooks have any real influence on the American people’s political views beyond the liberals that watch or read them.
The low ratings are proof positive that America has tuned out the liberals and the phony conservatives.
The elite, just like they were with the rise of Reagan and the GOP comeback in the 90′s, are out of touch and therefore useless to the American people.
I think Palin will make herself usefull by promoting canidates in the next election and will not even run for President in 2012 unless it’s clear that she has a shot at winning. I doubt she will determine that by consulting with the drones like Brooks.
LeeSeneca on October 4, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Intellectuals? Who are they today and why do we need them? Many so-called intellectuals are people that have never been out of academia and thus have little or no real world experience. Intellectuals be damned!!! I’m quite content with non-intellectuals like Palin, Rush, Hannity and the people leading and organizing the tea parties as they have better understanding and have more at stake than any intellectual.
docdave on October 4, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Still laughing nearly an hour after I read this.
aquaviva on October 4, 2009 at 10:49 PM
You beat me to the money quote. I weep with you.
d1carter on October 4, 2009 at 10:51 PM
No doubt. Roundtable of Pansies.
Gang-of-One on October 4, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Brooks is the “conservative” that these lib outlets like to trot out to show how out-of-touch and insane Palinites and tea partiers and Dittoheads and Beck fans and such are. He’s just an iguana on a leash or something.
ddrintn on October 4, 2009 at 10:52 PM
An irrelevant elephant!
chickasaw42 on October 4, 2009 at 10:52 PM
What a bunch of boobs!
MCGIRV on October 4, 2009 at 10:53 PM
David Brooks to me always looks like he’s wearing pink lipstick.
Wonder if Keith Olbermann is jealous of Rachel Maddow on Meet the Press.
That’s all, I didn’t watch the clip. On purpose.
Marcus on October 4, 2009 at 10:54 PM
David Brooks goes to a BBQ and asks for Cotes du Rhone instead of Heineken.
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Indeed, Limbaugh, Beck, Palin, etc. all play a utilitarian role in saying as much as possible to the most people…but theres a difference between using them to achieve a more constitutional government and handing them the keys to the policy agenda. This is where liking Palin need not translate into wishing she were President. She reaches people, and quite frankly at this point i prefer people following Palin poor reasons than people following Obama for any reason. But when it comes time to govern, please put up someone with a tad more intellectual heft…just a tad. it cant f*cking hurt.
ernesto on October 4, 2009 at 10:55 PM
I’m not going to switch to the Democratic Party just to vote Brooks out. They can keep him.
Dusty on October 4, 2009 at 10:55 PM
David Brooks asks for Dijonaise at the corner hot dog cart
blatantblue on October 4, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Well we do need someone to watch the POS, er uh the POTUS’ trouser creases. It’s a hard job but someone’s gotta do it.
Dhuka on October 4, 2009 at 10:56 PM
The woman in the video – her head contains only air.
Schadenfreude on October 4, 2009 at 10:56 PM
The fact these so-called republicans are on this show bad mouthing Republicans is a good tell: they’re more worried about being liked by their cocktail buddies than the grassroots.
aigle on October 4, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.
- John Kennedy (to a assembled group of scholars in the White House)
The quotes below help to illustrate this point.
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
-Thomas Jefferson
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
-Thomas Jefferson
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
-Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
-Thomas Jefferson
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
-Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
-Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants..
-Thomas Jefferson
MB4 on October 4, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Obviously they don’t offer Humility 101 at Ivy League schools?
PrincipledPilgrim on October 4, 2009 at 10:57 PM
+1
Caper29 on October 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM
The question is before the house, and for the moment I must answer “yea”.
I am well aware that some of these “conservagentsia” are trying to fight what they consider a rear-guard action against a liberal elite that has in the past often been able to set the rules of the game (or at least appear to) and thus often view a Beck as an impediment in that regard. I’ve only watched Beck once, for about ten minutes, so I don’t have a dog in that hunt. But what I will say is that as a matter of strategy it seems that if you are fighting a rear-guard action it is ipso facto because you–the conservagentisa–you yourself cannot win the fight.
That being the case, you might want to be dang sure you haven’t been standing in the way of the path to victory. Just because England was absolutely essential to holding back Germany 1939-1941 does not mean she was the center of gravity after the USSR or USA got into the fight. Sometime the operative phrase is lead, follow, or get out of the way.
Is Beck the solution? No.
Neither are you, or else you would have won already.
Sun Tzu speaks of normal and extraordinary forces. View yourselves and Beck/Limbaugh in that light. For it took both Adams and Paine to win the fight to declare independence–the learned and the articulate. Paine got the people. Adams got the decision makers.
Beck and Limbaugh need to make sure they do not froth overly much. The flip side of the coin is obvious–to not be so dang worried about what the liberal elite are going to do with Beck and Limbaugh to harm the cause, and instead be salivating at the prospect of using what that liberal elite says and believes to harm their cause, and end socialism and creeping statism once and for all.
Horatius on October 4, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Here’s a Kleenex, but weep only for a short time. The time to fight is now with whatever weapons you have.
SouthernGent on October 4, 2009 at 10:59 PM
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