Comments on: Friedman, You Are a Racist Idiot

By: svend

svend — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 06:54:09 +0000

Friedman has a gift for idealistic- and evenhanded-sounding slogans that leave the incorrect impression that he is moderate or “independent” on these issues. The reality is that for all his philosophizing his basic worldview differs little from Islamophobic hardliners. He periodically slips and shows his true colors, as in this case. Expect him to “balance” this out with some trivial, toothless criticism of Israel or other rhetorical gesture that, unlike offensive nonsense like this, has no impact whatsoever on policy. He’s a new, slicker practioner of hasbara.

The worst part is how sloppy he is, and with evidently no professional consequences. He regularly issues declarations that are embarassingly disconnected from reality or whose ideological blinkers would make Pangloss gag, yet he still gets billed as some kind of no-nonsense, pragmatic observer of international affairs.

By: octopus g

octopus g — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:53:53 +0000

Fully agree. Glenn Greenwald has done a good job ripping Friedman apart. Friedman is such a racist, idiotic, smug blowhard.

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 00:17:50 +0000

I admire the man… He says so much yet he says nothing and keeps making the best seller list as well keep a very prestigious job. He is my role-model!

By: Jonathan Dresner

Jonathan Dresner — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:22:46 +0000

ìGreat powers should never get involved in the politics of small tribes.î

They always do. Can’t think of a single great power that didn’t.

By: farangi

farangi — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:53:57 +0000

Well, yes then. I had meant to ask you if you’d read the whole “if their religion is so great, then why do the Israelis whoop their arses…” thing. So you have. The worst part is Friedman thinks what he wrote is broad-thinking, liberal, incisive analysis. He would be mortified to be told he’s a clueless bigot.