Bon Mots and Good Men

"Somebody said he's a stupid man's idea of what a smart man sounds like."

This effort of a man in search of a bon mot is that of Paul Krugman speaking about Newt Gingrich. It is brilliant in many ways. First it is innocent; "someone"--that is "someone else, not me"--said...and I am not responsible for the arrogant, complex slur but you can spread it if you like. Second, it diminishes Gingrich (who could use some diminishing) indirectly; he is not being called stupid, only attractive to stupid people. Third, it diminishes his supporters, who clearly are not going to make a competent decision in the voting booth, and raises the question in the minds of anyone who finds Gingrich attractive of their willingness to be stupid by association.

As the Republicans search for a candidate, the media treats it like "wack-a-mole"; anyone who rises as a frontrunner draws their fire. Bachman, who sounds like an interesting woman, is attacked and is gone. Cain's accusers are nowhere to be found after a evanescent life of a mayfly. Paul is a constant crank. Romney, alone, seems not worth their time.

This cruel behavior is not limited to a party but it is limiting to the democracy. Some hard decisions are coming down the road at us and will be made by either us or circumstances. I hope we would do a better job than circumstances. But arrogance and soundbites are not a fertile field for solutions. The Supercommittee microcosm should be an alarming wake-up call for anyone who has continued sanguine about our political process. Crisis management should be a last resort, not a routine policy.

Obama and his supporters have had some opportunity here and the results are not stellar. At least a consideration of some alternative ideas seems reasonable.

But the Hatfields and the McCoys never look to the future.