David Brooks, smartest guy in the Beltway

[scandal 951]

I just love his analysis. He's got such an accurate take on the issues.

This is from the Newshour last night during the weekly Shields&Brooks segment.

On Energy policy:

DAVID BROOKS: You know, energy has become like a lot of issues sort of a microcosm of polarization. On the one side, President Obama has tried very hard with this green tech, which has had some success in building our renewals. It has been a complete failure in creating jobs.

And it is not only Solyndra. It is program after program. They are withdrawing the loans now. They have had training programs that are leading to no jobs. So that's been a big disappointment. And there is -- then the Republicans, on the other side, at least Rick Perry is back sort of in drill, drill, drill territory. And so we have got two very partial answers.

And yet, in the meantime, it's very clear over the long term we're going to have alternative sources of energy. Over the short term, we're going to have the fossil fuels. We're going to have oil, natural gas, coal. And we have got all these new technologies. You go to Western Pennsylvania, you go to all around the country, they have discovered these reserves based on the fracking technologies.

And yet nobody has kind of put that together. And Perry had an opportunity. I think he was just too much, let's drill offshore, which is part of the immediate short-term answer. But again, it's not the comprehensive energy strategy we have been searching for since the Nixon administration.

On Rick Perry and Mitt Romney:

JIM LEHRER: All right, let's go to the presidential race and the Republican side.

Perry -- the debate, for instance, the debate this week, what did you think overall, and how did you think Perry did?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, stunningly bad. He knew this was make-or-break to some degree. And he just had nothing.

He kept referring to his jobs -- his energy bill, which he wasn't going to announce, because he was going to announce it later. And so he sort of faded into the distance. And it was, I think, a sign of lack of preparation, lack of skill. And I think a lot of people are getting close to dismissive of him.

I'm not quite there because he does have a ton of money. He does have a very good ad company. They put out very good ads. And the other -- the thing that is striking about the polling right now is not only the rise of Herman Cain, but the ceiling on Mitt Romney, and that the guy has had a phenomenal month. He's had Chris Christie...

JIM LEHRER: Romney has?

DAVID BROOKS: Romney has.

JIM LEHRER: Yes. Yes.

DAVID BROOKS: He's had all these great debate performances. Everyone is jumping on ship, except for the voters.

And maybe they will get to him after they have their fun. But there -- it is astonishingly -- how little he has risen and how there still is this hunger for something else.

On Herman Cain and 9-9-9:

DAVID BROOKS: People are not going to like the 9-9-9 plan when they get to it. I like the idea. It has a consumption tax.

But if you are a middle-income earner, the 9-9-9 plan raises your taxes 32 percent. That's just not going to fly. But that's not what they are reacting to. He's -- as we have spoken about, he's a nice guy. He's a smart guy. He is a very dramatic guy. He's happy.

And he's not a normal politician. And, you know, I tend to think it has more to do with the season. And Mark has talked about this in the past. In primary season, you go for the fun. And then you go for the guy you like. And I think we are in the fun season, and he is certainly a fun guy to watch.

[웃 910]

Herman Cain Mentions Paul Ryan or Jim Demint as Possible VP Choices:

Edited October 15, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[mawilson 2,133]

I agree with him.

[Danno 1,228]

I used to listen to that program fairly regular on pod-cast, While Brooks does give thoughtful analysis I don't know if he gets "smartest guy in the beltway" award.

Main problem with that show is the imbalance, Shields is stanch Lefty and goes right down that line 90% of the time while Brooks is clearly a moderate masquerading as a rep of the "Right wing" view when the truth is he is decades of of step with the Republican party. An Arlen spector if you will.

The value of Brooks is, he is in the middle and can give a straight answer no matter what side it comes down on, that quality leans to a good news caster.

Mort Zuckerman is another guy who has no interest in talking points.

[scandal 951]

I used to listen to that program fairly regular on pod-cast, While Brooks does give thoughtful analysis I don't know if he gets "smartest guy in the beltway" award.

Main problem with that show is the imbalance, Shields is stanch Lefty and goes right down that line 90% of the time while Brooks is clearly a moderate masquerading as a rep of the "Right wing" view when the truth is he is decades of of step with the Republican party. An Arlen spector if you will.

The value of Brooks is, he is in the middle and can give a straight answer no matter what side it comes down on, that quality leans to a good news caster.

Mort Zuckerman is another guy who has no interest in talking points.

I agree with you. I don't like Shields all that much, and don't value his insights particularly.

I do like Brooks. He's not an extremist on anything, he is very much a centrist. That's precisely why I like him. We need a little more (a lot more!) moderation in our public discourse, and I think he provides that. And as you say - he gives straight answers.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Ain't it time now to change your siggy?

[mawilson 2,133]

Ain't it time now to change your siggy?