David Brooks a Conservative?

Hardly, as anyone who actually reads his columns will attest. In this video, from The Daily Caller Charles Krauthammer says what we all know

I never got the chance to delve into Brook’s latest column, where he, again, attempts to curry favor with the Left by licking their boots and at the same time criticizes Republicans for having balls.

A normal Republican Party would seize the opportunity to put a long-term limit on the growth of government. It would seize the opportunity to put the country on a sound fiscal footing. It would seize the opportunity to do these things without putting any real crimp in economic growth.

The party is not being asked to raise marginal tax rates in a way that might pervert incentives. On the contrary, Republicans are merely being asked to close loopholes and eliminate tax expenditures that are themselves distortionary.

This, as I say, is the mother of all no-brainers.

The thing that escapes Brooks is that raising taxes, and yes, David, yes, closing loopholes amounts to raising taxes. Hint to Mr. Brooks, if someone pays MORE taxes, then their taxes were raised. And increasing taxes right now is an awful idea. Now, I am all for simplifying the tax codes, get rid of the vast majority of those “loopholes”. As long as we reduce the rates of taxes at the same time. Our tax laws should be simple, the rates should be low. The time for reforming the tax laws is past due, and hopefully, the Republicans can start dealing with that soon

But we can have no confidence that the Republicans will seize this opportunity. That’s because the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.

Mr Brooks, these republicans you speak of in your elitist tone are standing on principles. Perhaps you are too “practical” to understand principles?

The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no.

Once more Mr. Brooks, if you think the deal the Democrats are offering is so sweet, then you are indeed a useful idiot, which of course, is why Leftists like Harry Reid and Chris Matthews are singing your praises.

The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.

Oh no, the Republicans, or perhaps Mr. Brooks thinks of them as the “Abnormal Party” are ignoring the “wisdom” of the scholars and intellectuals! How will our Republic ever survive such a calamity? I mean why would we want to ignore the advice of scholars and intellectuals. Well, other than these same scholars and intellectuals have, in many cases shown themselves to be educated well beyond their hat size.

You see Mr. Brooks, the issue with our deficit is not revenues. It is SPENDING! Under President Bush, taxes were cut, revenues increased, yet the politicians in Congress raised their spending even more. Mr. Brooks, the government takes in more than they should now, they spend billions upon billions on things the government has no  business being involved in. THAT IS THE PROBLEM!  If you REALLY want to take abnormal people to task Mr. Brooks, try aiming your scorn at the politicians who want to constantly raise taxes, rather than even thinking of reigning in their spending orgy!