NYT
Bringing David Brooks to the op ed pages of the NYT was a great idea. Brooks, a conservative, is a model of a fair and balanced commentator. When Brooks replaced the tiresome Paul Gigot as the “right-person” to the “left-person” of Mark Shields on the Lehrer Report, the discussions began to have some real traction. (When Oliphant was brought in temporarily as the “left-guy”, it was perfect – some of the best political discussion TV had to offer. Both very bright and fair.)
Brooks’ op ed yesterday celebrated the decency of Dick Gephardt. Brooks made the point that although the press corps see Gephardt as somewhat aloof, when he is with his constituency, there is a passion and conviction displayed that is impressive. He also noted how Gephardt stuck to his guns about NAFTA, feeling it was a bad deal for the average working person. Although Brooks disagreed, feeling that NAFTA “probably helped more people than it hurt”, Brooks nevertheless was able to see the fundamental decency of Gephardt and express his admiration. This speaks very well of Brooks.
This mention of Brooks’ being hired by the NYT is an indirect way of praising Bill Keller, who took the helm at the Times recently and has, quietly and without self promotion, done nothing but good for the newspaper. Keller recently hired an ombudsman, a man named Okrent. Keller offered his reasoning, saying that someone with no association with the paper would be better in this position than an insider. Keller himself, a very impressive man.
