From a reader:
Jonah –
Great parry on Tomasky’s “review” in NRO. I came away from reading his original review and then your piece thinking about “A Few Good Men.” He really wants to say it, but he knows he cannot.
Tomasky: You want answers?
Goldberg: I think I’m entitled to them.
Tomasky: You want answers?
Goldberg: I want the truth!
Tomasky: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has injustice, and those injustices have to be corrected by men with laws, bureaucracy and coercion. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, KLo? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for your precious freedom and you curse the Progressives. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that fascism, while tragic, probably saves hurt feelings. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves hurt feelings…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me to be a fascist. You need me to be a fascist.
We use words like social justice, class, gender…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of coercion I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a placard and protest Halliburton . Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!
Goldberg: Are you a fascist?
Tomasky: I did the job you sent me to do.
Goldberg: Are you a fascist?
Tomasky: You’re goddamn right I am!!
That about sums up the argument in one page instead of Tomasky’s screed.
Keep up the great work.