Sully's Legacy On Health Care Reform

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 04:58:34 PM EST
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Andrew Sullivan seems to be sitting out the health care reform debate this year (he's on a new Palinpalooza Tour right now), but we should never forget what he did to the debate in 1994, actions that reverberate to this day. d-day writes:

Unlike in 1994, when The New Republic allowed an abominable article by Betsy McCaughey to codify the Villager mindset on health care, this year they have one of the brightest wonks in the business, Jon Cohn, driving their coverage.

True enough. But d-day fails to mention who was running TNR in 1994 - Andrew Sullivan. Oh btw, he also pushed The Bell Curve into respectability and defends it to this day. Sully has a lot to answer for (see also his Fifth Column stuff, Luskin love, Gore hate and Krugman bashing).

Speaking for me only

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Sully's Legacy On Health Care Reform | 20 comments (20 topical)

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Well you can speak for me (5.00 / 3) (#8)
by Jjc2008 on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:51:20 PM EST

when it comes to Sully.
Despise the man......his arrogance, his elitism and his sexism.

One of the things that disturbed me so much during the primaries is how (some) progressives gave him a pass on everything because he hated Hillary....

true dat (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by dday on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:57:01 PM EST

I should have mentioned Sullivan's role. When the guy promoted The Bell Curve that was kind of the end of it as far as I'm concerned.

Well (none / 0) (#1)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:05:06 PM EST

I think we all agree with you about Sully or at least I do. Is this "wonk" any better than the other one?

: Cohn is good imo (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:06:00 PM EST

: IMO, NO! (none / 0) (#9)
by ChiTownDenny on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 06:35:55 PM EST

Sully is a wonk! An alien wonk at that! I look forward to his opinion about the dichotomy of the Clinton v. Obama presidencies to date. The actions of each presidency is documented. (BTW, I have no complaints with either, my pragmatism. Sully needs to explain himself.)

Don't forget (none / 0) (#3)
by dk on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:06:03 PM EST

Hillary hate, please.

Clinton Hate generally (none / 0) (#4)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:06:59 PM EST

: True, but when you (none / 0) (#5)
by dk on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:10:02 PM EST

add the extra dose of sexism, the Hillary hate was particularly obnoxious.

at first I read that as (none / 0) (#6)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:18:52 PM EST

Andrew Sullivan seems to be sitting ON the health care.

and its your fault. I really am going home now.

: That must have been (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Spamlet on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:47:06 PM EST

what Sully was sitting on during Bill Maher's show a few years ago, when he stood up as the credits rolled and gave himself a big two-handed butt massage.

Sexism plus elitism (none / 0) (#10)
by Sweet Sue on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 06:37:38 PM EST

Sullivan like Hitchens and the late Michael Kelly view everything through their CDS reality bending prism.
Funny how they hate the last two Democrats with major power who actually tried to help the working class.

I don't understand your fascination with (none / 0) (#12)
by me only on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 07:36:37 AM EST

Sullivan. One day you seem to be trying to make him seem not so bad, on other days you let loose on him. Have you considered ignoring him?

Accountability (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 08:19:11 AM EST

Accountability to whom? (none / 0) (#16)
by me only on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 09:14:16 AM EST

Do you pay for advertising on The Atlantic? Shirley you don't feel like you are accountable to me for your views. You should, you claim it at the end of every diary. (And yes, you deserve that equally bad joke after the Shirley joke AND the "all Latinos look the same" comment.)


Accountability to whom? (none / 0) (#18)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 10:42:17 AM EST

Is Sullivan a pundi/journalist?

do you compplain when I criticize Broder? The WSJ? Anybody?

What a silly question.


When was the last time (2.00 / 0) (#19)
by me only on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 01:04:39 PM EST

you tried to convince people to read the WSJ editorial page because you thought it was right?

Broder who?

You seem to be missing the point. When you criticize all of the other pundits, it is for the current column. You post links to it (sometimes make fun of it) and then provide your own commentary. In case you missed it, Sullivan didn't write anything.

Criticizing people for what they write is fine (if you didn't, I'm not sure anyone on the internet blogs would have anything to talk about). Do you think it is fair for someone to criticize you for not writing about Citizens United? You, like Sullivan choose to write about topics that interest you. So Sullivan isn't writing about health care reform. Neither is TChris. Why is this worth noting?

Why don't you criticize Coulter for not writing about Ensign and Sanford? She seems obsessed with Dems having sex, maybe she doesn't find her own kind (Republicans) attractive.


: I am remnding what he did in 1994 (5.00 / 0) (#20)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 09:18:22 PM EST

and all the rest of the examples I gave.
I do not want people to forget.
I suggest you read d-day's comment in this thread.
Or not. You are boring me now.

When all the books are written, (none / 0) (#13)
by Anne on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 08:04:41 AM EST

and all the documentaries aired, about the "legacy" of this administration, a considerable chunk will be devoted to how their golden opportunity to reform our health care system was squandered, how this administration led an effort that seemed to have been designed to make the insurance companies kissin' cousins to the banksters who were rewarded for bringing us to the brink of the financial and economic abyss; Andrew Sullivan will probably not even make it into the footnotes or the credits.

I like his blog. And no blog is perfect! (none / 0) (#15)
by lilybart on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 08:57:12 AM EST

I enjoy his blog for the extras, the Face of the Day, the View from you Window, the fun youtubes he posts...etc.

I appreciate his zero-tolerance on torture and that he keeps this issue front and center. His blogging after the Iranian election was one of only two places to go for news.

His series are helpful: the Cannabis Closet and Veiw from the Recession stories hightlight important issues. He also ran dozens of stories of women who needed late-term abortion services, though he opposes all abortion it seems.

this blog isn't perfect either!!

and yes, he does seem to ignore women but his blog is interesting on the whole

: To each his own (5.00 / 0) (#17)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 10:40:46 AM EST