NYT columnist Bob Herbert’s latest is pretty much beyond parody. Start with the first two lines:

What’s up with the Republicans? Have they no sense that their policies have sent the country hurtling down the road to ruin?

Really, Bob? No recent news event or anecdote or statistic we’re going to peg this column to? Just, “What’s up with the Republicans?” That’s all you got? What level of Seinfeldian absurdity are we descending into? “What… is… the deal… with Republicans?” [cue funky slap bass]. I’m sorry, but having worked at an op-ed desk at two major papers, that is by any journalistic standard a profoundly lazy and needlessly off-putting way to begin a column. Frankly, I’m surprised it made it past the editors.