Joe Klein, Bloody Careerist

Time Magazine's faux Liberal Joe Klein has taken a dive into the blogosphere with predictable results. Unprepared for the blast of public criticism any sensible person knew was likely to ensue, Joe fell back on the tried and true Rightwing meme of impugning his critics patriotism:

And so a challenge to those who slagged me in their comments. Can you honestly say the following:

Even though I disagree with this escalation, I am hoping that General Petraeus succeeds in calming down Baghdad.

Does the thought even cross your mind? As for me, it's easy--I've been rooting for U.S. success ever since the invasion because, after the overpowering arrogance and stupidity that led to this disaster, we owe some peace and stability to the Iraqis and the region. For the record, I'm outraged Bush is ignoring the election results and the reality on the ground in Iraq. I think he is sending more young American lives into an impossible situation. I am fairly certain that Bush will wallow amongst our worst presidents for getting us into this mess. But I hope events prove me wrong. I don't even care if Bush gets credit for the "victory" and smirks all the way back to Texas. --joe klein

I posted the following comment on Klein's blog. Any bets as to whether the "blog author" will approve it for publication?

Joe, it's 2007 not 1970. Everytime you trot out this tired line about "ill-liberal" leftists who label all U.S. military action as "criminal" you simply illustrate how hopelessly out of touch you are with events and public opinion outside the circles you move in.

You're upset with the vehemence and hostility your ignorant insults engender? Here's a newsflash for you. Abbie Hoffman is dead. Jerry Rubin is dead. There are no hordes of long haired radicals in the streets calling for victory for the Viet Cong.

Another news flash for you. Opponents of this misgotten essay in nationalist egotism and pointless slaughter have never sat around rejoicing in rising casualty counts and hoping for US military defeat. The fact is that they foresaw the bloody morass that the political class and its journalistic blood ticks were leading this country into. When they tried to speak out a warning they were smeared, vilified and marginalized.

Now that events have shown that they were far more prescient and realistic than those who promoted and enabled this disaster, you have the audacity to renew your apologetics for the mindless exercise of military force. More dispicable still, you imagine yourself the moral superior of the war's critics because, despite your asserted awareness that the "surge" has somewhere between a snowball and straw hat's chance in hell of succeeding, you prefer to salute smartly while being careful to play CYA with your muted reservations. Contra your slurs against your critics, this isn't patriotism on your part but sheer careerism.

Personally, I don't think your career is worth a single Iraqi or American life. That you would attempt to dress up this exercise in career management with a pious assertion that it was all motivated out of a concern for the Iraqi people and what the US owes them is morally repulsive.

Do us all and yourself a favor Joe, stop pretending that your primary concern is anything other than what's best for Joe Klein.

If you find this criticism overly acerbic and unfair, I suggest you think about it the next time you choose to imply that those who disagree with you are traitors.