This is a slightly expanded version of an email I sent to Jack Shafer of Slate in response to his column, "Who's Afraid of Bill Kristol?", and his suggestion that his readers send in nominations for a better choice. I also posted it on The Fray
Subject: William Kristol
I dislike him, not because he is a conservative, but because he is a lightweight, with only his name going for him. Why doesn't the Times go for the real deal and hire his daddy, Irving, or Norman Podhoretz? William Safire has a certain elegance and intelligence about him. A certain gravitas, if you will. I don't care much for columnists who are reflexively or predictably this or that. Hendrik Hertzberg or Anthony Lewis, for example. I like columnists who add something. I don't have to agree with them all of the time, or even most of the time.
I would suggest Krauthammer, but he is sometimes devious and plays loose with the truth. George Will is over-rated, mainly by himself. Despite his grandiose style and logic, he is sometimes inconsistent or makes mistakes, without of course realizing it. And then there are all his factoids!
H. L. Mencken was in a class by himself, as was Walter Lippmann.
Maybe the Times should hire me.
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