Foer's Follies: Why America is so politicized

Foer does it again.

In a recent subscription spam email, TNR's most recent Editor explains with blinding clarity why we live in the most politicized times in decades. It is, to use his own words, delicious. And completely self-derogatory. All I have to do is reprint it.

From:    Franklin Foer
Subject: The Christianizing of America?
Date:    29 Mar 2006 16:11:53 PST

Dear Reader,

As you drive behind bumper stickers and flip past the cable news networks, you may have realized that we live in the most politicized times in decades. If you want to really know what's happening in this passionate era, you won't really get the vital scoop from these TV gabfests, or even the New York Times. You need to read The New Republic--it's what the Times reporters read to know what's going on. Subscribe today for only $9.97, and you'll find out what I mean.

In the week's issue, we provide you with all sorts of delicious and important scoops. We have an essay on the real brains behind the religious right, a Catholic priest named Richard John Neuhaus. More than anyone else, he is the man responsible for the movement to Christianize this country. What makes this article so interesting? It was written by the guy who once edited Neuhaus's journal.

We also have a hilarious reported piece on Scooter Libby's defense strategy. Our reporter visited with the memory guru hired by Libby's lawyers to prove that he didn?t perjure himself.

Another essay takes you deep inside the Pentagon, where you can see how top brass have been seduced by some of the silliest ideas to emerge from business schools in recent years. It's an excellent window into the failings of Donald Rumsfeld.

Other pieces in this issue which I recommend highly:

An article by Amy Sullivan debunks all the hysteria surrounding the faith-based initiative. The truth is the program does nothing. Even its biggest boosters have conceded the failure of Bush's pet project.

Lawrence Kaplan visits Iraq, where he meets with the most persecuted group in the country: its Christians.

We also have a tragic-comic tale from the annals of Bush era diplomacy. Even our biggest friend in the world--a poodle named Tony Blair--has been the victim of a long series of slights. Now, the Brits are mad as hell with us.

Speaking of mad as hell, our editorial mounts a funny and vigorous defense of an underappreciated emotion: anger.

Don't take my word for it. Subscribe today to read these piece and discover the real story behind the headlines.

Best,
Franklin Foer
Editor
The New Republic

My only real trouble with this little bit of sanity is how to complete it.

Do I go for the clever reference to historical precedent with,

Ah, how I long for the days before objective journalism, when the Yellow Kid reigned supreme....

or do I twist the fork just ever so slightly with the more modern call for help,

Who is more foolish? The Fool, or the Fool who follows the Fool?

Help us Obi-Wan, you are our only hope.