Maureen Dowd: Pharisees on the Potomac

[babylonsister]

Pharisees on the Potomac

By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: July 18, 2009


Like cats that have lost their whiskers, the Republicans seem off balance now that they have lost their talent for hypocrisy.

They are still practicing the ancient political art of Tartuffery, of course, just without their former aplomb.

Who can forget the glory years, when the Gipper invoked God but never went to church? When Arlen Specter accused Anita Hill of perjury to distract from Clarence Thomas’s false witness? When Newt Gingrich and other conservatives indulged in affairs with young Washington peaches as they pushed to impeach Bill Clinton?

No one had more flair than W. and Cheney, crowing about making us safe as they made the world more dangerous, and bragging about fiscal restraint while they spent us into oblivion.

Now when Republicans get caught flouting the principles they dictate, they are not able to practice hypocrisy with such impunity.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19dowd.html?_r=1

[Kittycat]

1. Good article

The last few by her have been quite enjoyable.

[Warpy]

2. Ow! That punch line!

and for those who might miss the reference, Moliere having passed out of fashion until college level French, I submit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe

This is a character that should be well known even if the play isn't. He is the personification of the present Republican Party, as he was of toadying but scheming churchmen of Moliere's day. Needless to say, the pious tried to get this one suppressed.

[lib2DaBone]

3. I like Maureen. She's starting to get more snarky... like Molly Ivins...

..not that anyone could replace Molly.. but it's good to see for a change.

[tj2001]

4. Great description of the GOP

Grand Ol Pigs