Scratched Kristol

American Conservative, The, Feb 9, 2009

The neoconservative quotient at the New York Times dropped by half--the Old Gray Lady booted Bill Kristol off the editorial pages Jan. 26, after a year-long tryout. Scott Horton of the Daily Beast reports that Kristol's bellicose ideology was not the problem. Far from it: "Kristol's proximity to key Washington players ranging from Bush and Cheney to John McCain ... was considered a distinct plus. His leading advocacy of the Iraq War also added to his appeal." If ever there were any doubt, this ought to confirm that the Times can't tell the difference between a conservative and a hawk, or the Right and the Republican Party.

According to Horton, the Weekly Standard editor was dumped for a prosaic, but certainly valid, reason: "Kristol's writing wasn't compelling or even very careful. He either lacked a talent for solid opinion journalism or wasn't putting his heart into it." Evidently the Washington Post puts a higher premium on his talents, however: Kristol gets a monthly gig with Katharine Weymouth's paper as a consolation prize. Self-servingly, the Post headlined its story about Kristol's change of perch, "Kristol Severs Ties With the N.Y. Times." Anyone fact check that?

Neoconservative princes have a way of landing on their feet. As for the Times, no word yet on who might replace Kristol, but we have a feeling the paper won't be calling on Pat Buchanan or Bill Kauffman. Early betting has been on David Frum. Plus ca change ...