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Thursday 23 February 2012

So. Farewell then, Bill Kristol

Monday, 26th January 2009

Tough news for neoconservatism. From today there'll be no more Bill Kristol columns in the New York Times. One could react to this news in a number of ways. Here, for instance, is Peter Wehner's view, courtesy of the good folk at National Review Online:

Kristol agreed to a one year commitment at the Times, and while there he offered views and facts to its readers that they otherwise didn’t get—and repeatedly made arguments that must have made Pinch Sulzberger’s skin crawl. That is a tribute to both the rightness of Kristol’s views and his unwillingness to temper them for the sake of the Times...Bill Kristol will survive and prosper. I’m not so sure the same can be said about the New York Times.

Here, with all due apologies to Britain's finest poet, EJ Thribb (aged 17 and a bit), is another:

So. Farewell then, Bill Kristol
You weren't very good,
Just rather boring.
Once a neocon. Now an old con.
Not missed, but nor forgotten.
I guess these are the worst of Times for you.
Sad, but true.

UPDATE: Isaac Chotiner, bless him, has the wit to mine PG Wodehouse for a sensible diagnosis of Mr Kristol's affliction.

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ben

January 27th, 2009 12:54am Report this comment

"He is easily among the most intelligent, creative, and articulate conservative voices in America—a fact, upon which I would be willing to bet a large sum of money, is what [sic] troubled the Times."

If that is a fact, it's one that should trouble modern conservatism more than anyone. As Keith Olbermann said, Kristol "writes a kind of how-many-mistakes-can-you-spot-in-this-picture column for the New York Times."

Frank P

January 27th, 2009 1:26am Report this comment

Perhaps if Bill sported an Irish like yours it would endear him to the Lefty arty-farty literati set?

Anyway, serves him right for joining that insufferable rag in the first place. Lays down with dogs, wakes up and flees. I can why the New Specstatesman hired you.

Mark Solomon

January 27th, 2009 1:28am Report this comment

Yawn yawn yet another superior/sneering anti-Conservative post by Alex Massie. Can't you get the 'New Statesman' to give you a blog?

The idea of the NYT getting rid of a Conservative columnist - their only one? - should not be something to be supported. His article on 9.8.08 about Sarah Palin and how she would be treated by the Left (and how McCain should have treated her) was remarkably perceptive.

Please explain why it is OK to use 'neocon' as an insult in the Spectator? That might be OK for, well, the New York Times for example, but we are worthy of more intelligent writing here.

Derek L

January 27th, 2009 2:18am Report this comment

I can't think of two things Bill Kristol predicted that came to pass. I would let him go for incompetance.

Fabio P.Barbieri

January 27th, 2009 10:36am Report this comment

Derek, before you charge anyone else with INCOMPETENCE, learn how to spell it.

Conservative Cabbie

January 27th, 2009 10:42am Report this comment

Ben

Your post was in jest right. You criticise Kristol by citing Keith Olbermann, a sports journalist. Don't tell me, next you'll be affirming that Chris Matthews and Jon Stewart are stalwarts of political commentary.

CG

January 27th, 2009 3:50pm Report this comment

It's a bit strange for National Review to complain about Kristol's views no longer being given an airing by NYT. I think that NYT and all papers should expose their readers to different points of view but National Review is hardly in a position to make criticism of other publications. When did you last see a column by, say, Maureen Dowd, in NR?
I also think that the conservatism espoused by Kristol and his ilk doomed the Republicans in the election and they will have to shake off these out of touch losers if they are to win again.

David Lindsay

January 27th, 2009 6:10pm Report this comment

Very good riddance indeed.

ndm

January 27th, 2009 6:46pm Report this comment

Who cares about Bill Kristol when we still have the ever-nutty Brett Stephens writing for the Wall Street Journal that "Guantanamo Is No Blot on U.S. Honor." These neo-cons are just so out to lunch.

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