July '08 Politically Speaking

I love the way this guy writes and thinks. You should read him often — or just read his latest one.

Great writing is succinct and precise. It doesn’t waste the reader’s time, yet it leaves the reader wanting more.

That’s how I feel about David Brooks. Read his column called Activist Age.

What struck me was the column’s vast amount of content in such a short space. And then I realized this: If this is the only column you read this political season, you will still have a sound and solid idea of what will be happening in American politics over the next few years.

He nails the five main problems we face that, in truth, our leaders have neglected over the past 10 years. (To that list I would add the problem of unfair election financing.) I’m not saying Brooks should run for office, but I think this column should be the blueprint for the next President and the next Congress – be they Democrat or Republican.

Brooks is so good that you forget that he’s labeled a conservative columnist with a liberal newspaper. The truth is this: truth is neither liberal nor conservative. The reason Brooks is so successful is that he doesn’t pander to any political sect like so many columnists and pundits try to do. They play to an audience’s comfort needs; Brooks penetrates their intellect.

As in this column, he blends a traditionalist’s view with a modern, forward thinking insight. He hits neo-conservatives and libertarians between the eyes. Get ready, boys, for more government in your lives. Brooks shows how the myopic notions of these GOP wings have been clearly out of touch with the history of the Republican Party. And without a doubt, if John McCain were truly a Teddy Roosevelt, there would be much less hullaballoo driving Barack Obama.

But Brooks is also careful to point out that drastic change in government did not happen under liberals. They happened when a conservative responded to the people and not to special interests.

You can also catch David Brooks on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer on PBS most Friday nights.

Disclosure: I have never met David Brooks and I have no financial gain from saying nice things about him.