David Brooks, ever the self-hating Jew

My latest letter to my favorite Republican Jew:

Dear Mr. Brooks-

Sometimes you point out interesting scientific discoveries, such as the fact that we are all emotional irrational blobs of impulses that the rational mind pretends to have control over. Moving from there, I can see how you might find Al Gore's attempt at "rational discourse" discomfiting. It is after all an intellectual work that even references some rather well known academic scholarship. It reflects on you somewhat poorly to be so hostile to this sort of thing.

George Bush (well and Jimmy Carter too) has shown us what leadership from the heart looks like: it's not very effective, even if you do want to drink a beer with the guy. The role of our leaders is not to set the feel good agenda that you are so fond of, but to effectively and competently govern our country to insure the welfare of its citizens. This is often best achieved with a cold and calculating manner devoid of the irrational exuberance that brought us the war in Iraq, Terry Schiavo, Abu Gharib, New Orleans, etc.

Your faith in the Santa Claus like figure of the benevolent Republican really scares me, because you are smart enough to know better. I found myself wondering the other day if you had ever lived through an extended period of poverty or suffering. I am often troubled by Jews who are Republicans, it feels like something you only do if you're a self-hating Jew. My grandfather was a Republican who never went to synagogue and was obsessed with being a WASP. My assumption was that you hadn't truly suffered, and that maybe you weren't even Jewish, for all Jews suffer just by being alive, or surely you wouldn't fall for the "can't we all just get along with a nice warm hug" a la Mr. Rogers.