Althouse: Bill Keller of the NYT advises Romney, at tonight's debate, "to demonstrate that you understand the world is a complex, unpredictable, subtle and rapidly metamorphosing place."

October 22, 2012

Bill Keller of the NYT advises Romney, at tonight's debate, "to demonstrate that you understand the world is a complex, unpredictable, subtle and rapidly metamorphosing place."

There's a list of subtopics, beginning with "Go easy on Benghazi."

75 comments:

Anonymous said...: And understanding that, as demonstrated by words only, will Romney also win the Nobel Peace Price without nothing more than a mere pose?; 10/22/12, 7:53 AM
Eric Jablow said...: As Mr. Keller wants President Obama to be reelected, his article is worthless.; 10/22/12, 7:59 AM
Larry J said...: "Go easy on Benghazi."

Yes, because we all know that the New York Times has Mitt's best interests in heart.; 10/22/12, 8:00 AM
Robert Marshall said...: Synopsis: Romney should affirm that Obama is right about everything.

Somehow, I don't think Romney's going to pay a lot of attention to Bill Keller's advice. Nor should he.; 10/22/12, 8:02 AM
Tank said...: Will Zero be looking to Sean and Rush for advice?

On Libya, Romney should be ready to pound the crap out of Zero. Not that I would vote for him, but let's get some truth and entertainment wrapped up together.

He should have a half dozen different approaches to slapping around the current Occupant's Libya fiasco, the before, the during, and the coverup.; 10/22/12, 8:04 AM
campy said...: Yes, because we all know that the New York Times has Mitt's best interests in heart.

So cynical.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but the Times hasn't printed their endorsement editorial yet, so they're clearly still impartial and unbiased.; 10/22/12, 8:04 AM
DCS said...: Bill Keller's advice: be Barack Obama.; 10/22/12, 8:08 AM
Comanche Voter said...: Bill Keller as the source of advice for a Republican?

Romney should no more take "advice" from Bill Keller than the captain of an aircraft carrier should take advice about how to dock the carrier from a 12 year old kid in the dinghy races down at Bill Keller's yacht club.; 10/22/12, 8:08 AM
Henry said...: The world is a moulting nymph. Thanks, Bill, for the insight.

Tag: Insect politics.; 10/22/12, 8:08 AM
Henry said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/22/12, 8:10 AM
virgil xenophon said...: What is really amazing is that people like Keller say such things with a totally straight face. Moi? A leftist? Nobody here but us chickens! Such people, I've come to realize, really do believe that THEY are the "normal" ones and everyone else is a neanderthal knuckle -dragging extremist.

"The last thing a fish thinks of is the concept of 'wet' "; 10/22/12, 8:11 AM
Henry said...: Four years ago the world was all butterflies. What happened, Bill?; 10/22/12, 8:15 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Bill Keller, concern troll.; 10/22/12, 8:18 AM
dbp said...: Bill Keller, concern troll.; 10/22/12, 8:19 AM
Bob Ellison said...: The quote you cited ("the world is a complex...") reminds me of Oliver North testifying during Iran-Contra. The President probably can't pull that off. Better to be all John Kerry, saying something like "there are nuances embedded in nuances, making America's position in the world both easy and difficult, superior and inferior, and we must chart our course through these waters with a steady hand and a a heartfelt heart."

Or so I hope.; 10/22/12, 8:20 AM
Rick Caird said...: I am sure Bill Keller has Romney's best interests at heart /sarc.; 10/22/12, 8:26 AM
J Scott said...: This is a great article.

All Mitt needs to do is the opposite on every thing on the list.; 10/22/12, 8:28 AM
john sager said...: Who were the other ones warning Mitt about talking about Libya?

David Brooks?

And?; 10/22/12, 8:33 AM
MadisonMan said...: Um, Bill Keller, concern troll?; 10/22/12, 8:35 AM
Mark O said...: More nuance. More cowbell.; 10/22/12, 8:35 AM
Mark O said...: The single thing that the country expected Obama to do was improve race relations. He was in a unique position to do so. He worsened them.; 10/22/12, 8:37 AM
Curious George said...: Keller's comments have nothing to do with trying to help Mitt. It's simply to set up the narrative that Romney is a war mongering neocon and a bastard for "politicizing" the death of four Americans. Because he knows Obama is not going to do well.; 10/22/12, 8:37 AM
SteveR said...: As goes Bill Keller so goes the nation; 10/22/12, 8:38 AM
Rick67 said...: I love it when lefties and Democrats offer "advice" to Republicans.

"Be more like us. Then you'll get elected!"; 10/22/12, 8:42 AM
Bob Ellison said...: Oh! I see that I misread the original blog post. Keller is counseling Romney, not Obama.

Weird.; 10/22/12, 8:45 AM
Henry said...: If you read through the full article you realize that Keller's advice for each subtopic is exactly the same:

Conciliate! Appease!

Even when I agree with Keller (about the stupidity of China-bashing, for example), the lack of intellectual reach is offputting.; 10/22/12, 8:46 AM
Cedarford said...: A possible path for Romney is to appear Presidential and unthreatening - that he wants to have the US safe and respected - but doesn't ache to start new wars like McCain did. That he wants to give Russia, China, Europe, and Latin America all the respect they should have and work with them for a world that fights the growing chaos and wants to get more peace and prosperity.

That Romney ties each issue back to wanting to make our foreign policy aimed at bettering not foreigner's lives, but men and women in America have more peace, prosperity, jobs.

To minimize the issues right wing saber rattlers want pounded on.
Namely:
1. Our special friend Israel and the new wars they want America to wage or meddle in. (Syria, Iran)
2. With Libya, I would have Romney just ask why under Obama is the public only just waking up to the fact that we had the 1st successful large scale attack involving Al Qaeda since 2001. And what kind of leadership has President Obama shown when he flew off the next day for fundraisers and to meet Beyonce` when Beghazi was a done atrocity and we had 11 other embassies under seige.
3. And ask what kind of leadership did Obama display if the public, a month later after the "2nd 9/11 attack", still does not have a clear understanding of what happened and who decided what and who was never informed adequately in A. The leadup to Benghazi B. What happened in DC and inside the military as they observed the 6-hour attack in realtime while the 3am phone was off the hook in the White House living quarters C. The myriad of conflicting stories and "narratives" the White House put out.

In short, hope Romney doesn't act as a prosecutor to ferret out the truth from a dissembling Obama - but leaves the people watching the debate in extreme doubt about Obama's leadership and integrity and competency of he and his Team.

4. Tie Latin America and China to trade and jobs.
5. Repeat that America will refocus on working constructively with all nations, but we will not apologize and grovel to get popularity of "Elites" in other lands.; 10/22/12, 8:49 AM
Patrick said...: I always get a kick out of lefties giving advice to the Right. "Really, the best way to do it is our way..."

Because they really care!; 10/22/12, 8:51 AM
Patrick said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/22/12, 8:51 AM
PatHMV said...: It's always the liberals, the guys who think the only solution to any social problem is to throw more tax money at it, who demand that conservatives "demonstrate that [they] understand the world is a complex, unpredictable, subtle, and rapidly metamorphosing place."

Some people have trouble buying insurance? Massive government program mandating that EVERYONE buy insurance, with taxpayer subsidies to a large number of folks who "can't afford" it. Yay, good answer! Argue that the health care economy is a complex thing, that subtle changes in regulation can drastically improve access to all? Boo, you want poor people to die!

Some kids not getting enough to eat? Mandated taxpayer subsidies for school breakfast and school lunch, available to all so as not to stigmatize those kids on welfare. Yay, good answer! Reduce the taxation and regulatory burden on business so that more people will have jobs and more people can afford to buy their kids food? Boo, you want poor kids to starve!

I'm sick of being lectured to on "complexity" and "subtlety" by the likes of Bill Keller, the liberals with the most simple minds I know.; 10/22/12, 8:54 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: The NYT giving advice? Really? Jut do the opposite of whatever they say and you will be fine.; 10/22/12, 8:54 AM
carrie said...: You'd think that the mainstream media would realize that writing stuff like this really turns off independents. I was a democrat (the insufferable kind) until I finally figured out that the press wasn't reporting the whole truth and that thought it had the right to filter the facts for people instead of letting people decide for themselves. Not only don't I trust the press anymore (and I cancelled my subscriptions to Newsweek and the NYT), but I vote republican more often than not. If the press hadn't been deceptive and manipulative, I think that I'd still be a democrat because the candidates that really turned me off to the democratic party (i.e., Bill Clinton, Kerry and Obama) would never have been on the ticket in the first place because they would have been fully vetted and rejected as being either unfit or unqualified for the office of president. Keller's liberal talking points are really saying that the American people don't need to know the facts or the seriousness of the issues in the middle east, which is insulting.; 10/22/12, 8:56 AM
MayBee said...: Romney should also get some advice from Aaron Sorkin.; 10/22/12, 8:57 AM
Sydney said...: Let's hope Romney is in the habit of ignoring the New York Times.; 10/22/12, 9:02 AM
Caroline said...: At any point did Keller say "go easy on Obama"? It would be more honest and direct.

I won't bother reading the linked article to find out. The NYT is too beholden to its biases to be credible anymore. They have become propagandists for the Obama administration.; 10/22/12, 9:04 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: I for one am prepared to cut Mr. Keller some slack if it turns out he just finished reading Ovid.; 10/22/12, 9:04 AM
Mike Tanis said...: Bill Keller?

Yawn.; 10/22/12, 9:04 AM
Roger J. said...: Apropos my friend's C4s comments--to spell out precisely what policy steps you might take (and this applies to either Obama or Romney) is simply not a good idea. No need to tip our enemies off what we may do is stupid.

I would rather see both candidates spell out their vision for what they regard as out national interest. The policy questions then flow from that formulation and should not be a topic for "debate" in the heat of a presidential election.

But that's just me.; 10/22/12, 9:04 AM
Insufficiently Sensitive said...: IN the closing weeks of debates, rallies and advertising, Mitt Romney has reinvented himself, or re-re-reinvented himself, as a technocrat with a heart.

This is the New York Times, doing its best to piss in Romney's soup after its previous derogations have been overruled by public opinion, once Romney has shown himself, rather than his media image, in the debates.; 10/22/12, 9:07 AM
Roger J. said...: With respect to "policy" I might point out that back in the late 1940s the then SecState Dean Acheson drew a line around countries that he said were within our national interest. He failed to include Korea in his etch a sketch and that did not work out well in 1950. Our enemies look at both what say and what we do. Deviations therein can be disastrous.; 10/22/12, 9:11 AM
bob said...: in fact, ignore Benghazi. you know, like obama did.; 10/22/12, 9:12 AM
Cedarford said...: I would add that the 3rd debate is not about out-Alpha-ing Obama and feeding red meat to war thirsty right wingers...
It is about appealing to women, moderates and independents and also send a reassuring message to people that like and favor Obama that he will be President for all the people -100% of them. And while Mitt Romney will work hard for the buried middle class and rural Americans -
He will work as hard to help the lives of blacks in the inner cities by making new jobs and paths off government available as he will to help the Jews and well-to-do white women Uptown.

Use the foreign policy debate to reassure Obama supporters that it not a life or death matter to get Obama reelected. That 4 more years of failure in foreign policy and economic matters will be their reward if they vote for Obama.

Its OK...folks....Romney is not a worrisome successor. He has the hope of something better than the dismal future and empty speeches of Obama here and abroad. You don't have to get out and vote for Obama at all costs.

I will work hard for 100% of Americans..to have jobs and be contributors and leave their kids with a better America.

I will do foreign affairs with respect and civility towards friends and rivals. I will not seek conflict, but I will also not betray our friends to appease our enemies.

I believe the half trillion in defense and security cuts Obama wants are unacceptable. But at the same time, I reaffirm that use of military force will be the last resort, when all other measures have failed and only when the safety of Americans stand in risk and Congress is consulted.

I will work relentlessly with Democrats to seek good compromise solutions that serve both party's constituencies well. Both domestically and in foreign policy. I will not repeat President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi's mistake of shunning negotiations and dialogue with the opposition. We Americans are all in this together.; 10/22/12, 9:12 AM
Phil 314 said...: "The world is complex" = "I can't figure it out"

Liberal corollary: "I'm smarter than you therefore there's no way in hell that you could figure it out"

(That's why the simpleton Reagan won the cold war.); 10/22/12, 9:23 AM
Tim said...: Why would anyone anywhere take advice from anyone who voted for Obama?

Don't the results speak for themselves?

Least experienced man ever nominated and then elected president.

And, unsurprisingly, a failed presidency.

Who is dumb enough to take political advice from an Obama voter?; 10/22/12, 9:24 AM
Anonymous said...: In short, I advise you to pretend that our enemies aren't enemies and our allies aren't allies.; 10/22/12, 9:26 AM
Joaquin said...: This is much better advice.
http://www.dickmorris.com/roadmap-for-mondays-debate/; 10/22/12, 9:28 AM
ricpic said...: Ooh, everything's so complex. Ooh, what'll I do? On the one hand on the other hand. Ooh, lost an ally. Ooh, there goes another. Ooh, I give up.; 10/22/12, 9:43 AM
Paddy O said...: Probably my suspicion of media going into high gear, but I'm almost apt to agree with Keller here on Benghazi. Not agree because I think Keller is right, agree because I think Keller knows Romney would not listen and so might want to prep the post-debate with inside knowledge.

Benghazi is a tricky topic precisely because the Obama administration can't keep a story straight, owns the media so there's no digging deeper, and that means that Obama could pull something out this evening that totally, once again, throws Romney off his game.

Lie or truth it doesn't matter, the Obama campaign will prepare something that is meant to make Obama sound much more in control than he was or is. There are enough other topics that Romney could emphasize, and in emphasizing those, go around the Obama' teams focus.

Benghazi is what the Obama team expects, and they're still formidable if they've had time to prepare.

This is, of course. my own Vizzini-like over-thinking of the situation.; 10/22/12, 9:48 AM
Henry said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/22/12, 9:51 AM
Henry said...: Paul Zrimsek wrote:

In short, I advise you to pretend that our enemies aren't enemies and our allies aren't allies.

Exactly.

Imagine you're Bill Keller and you have this word "intransigence" rattling around in your head and you really want to use it in your essay somewhere. Where do you use it?

From the link:

Why not tip your hat to the moderate modernizers like Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad ... who have struggled, despite the intransigence of Israel...

This game of Mad Libs for coastal elites always delivers the same results. Keller is parroting, not thinking.; 10/22/12, 9:51 AM
edutcher said...: Translation:

Since Barry practices with Lurch, the Romster needs to think like Lurch.; 10/22/12, 9:52 AM
traditionalguy said...: The NYT is getting antsy as the passengers on flight 92 are ready to roll. The NYT's advice is, "Whatever you do, don't rush the cockpit."; 10/22/12, 9:56 AM
Known Unknown said...: Is New York City one big f-ing echo chamber?; 10/22/12, 10:03 AM
Known Unknown said...: "The only person 'brought to justice' for what happened in Libya is a man in America who made a lousy video."

I would love for that to come out of Mitt's mouth.; 10/22/12, 10:06 AM
Anonymous said...: The NYT is getting antsy as the passengers on flight 92 are ready to roll.

Skimming the comments over there, i found the passengers remarkably docile. I'm not one of those people who believe that American Jews should (or do) put Israel before all else, but I still expected more pushback against the Netanyahu-bashing.; 10/22/12, 10:10 AM
mccullough said...: Romney might hit Obama from the left a bit by reminding/informing voters that Obama bombed Libya without Congressional support and that his assassination program, including targeting and assassination a 16 year old US citizen, was also undertaken without the support of Congress. Tie this in with his hot mike promise to Russia that he will subordinate US interests to Russia in his second term. The US needs a foreign policy that Congress has input into and that the people understand. Obama has failed on both fronts.; 10/22/12, 10:10 AM
Bob Ellison said...: EMD asked "Is New York City one big f-ing echo chamber?"

It's an interesting question. In the aggregate, lefties prefer and pander to urbanites, and righties prefer and pander to ruralites. Most urban communities in the world are roughly unipolitical. I propose that living that close together tends to cause such unipolarity.; 10/22/12, 10:14 AM
tiger said...: A 'By-lined member' of the DNC.

In politics you can always tell what the opposition is afraid of by what they warn us against doing.

And now the snark:
Why should Mitt prove he knows the world is a 'complex, unpredictable, subtle and rapidly metamorphosing place' when OBAMA hasn't?!?

I've never said this about a politician but I honestly think that Obama is delusional.; 10/22/12, 10:18 AM
Christopher in MA said...: As goes Bill Keller so goes The Nation.

A slight edit.; 10/22/12, 10:23 AM
dreams said...: Bill Keller is a liberal scumbag and I don't have any respect for anyone who respects him. I look forward to the bankruptcy of the NY Times.; 10/22/12, 10:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Go easy on Obama..; 10/22/12, 10:25 AM
tim maguire said...: I never tire of listening to people who don't understand Republicans, don't like Republicans, don't wish Republicans well give Republicans advice on what they should do to win.; 10/22/12, 10:26 AM
sonicfrog said...: While I don't agree with many of Romneys stances on stuff, this is one of the most inane pieces ever to appear in the NYT. He's telling Mitt to be Barrack!

is this the best they can do??? No wonder print media is dying.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=527_1205782611; 10/22/12, 10:27 AM
Michael K said...: "Lie or truth it doesn't matter, the Obama campaign will prepare something that is meant to make Obama sound much more in control than he was or is. There are enough other topics that Romney could emphasize, and in emphasizing those, go around the Obama' teams focus. "

I tend to agree. The Benghazi story was a trap with Candy Crowley a participant. Romney doesn't have to attack tonight. I think he needs to deal with Iran and make the case that we are projecting weakness and weakness invites aggression by our enemies.

Kennedy looked weak to Khrushchev at Vienna in 1961. The result was the Cuban missile crisis. We are dealing with another coming crisis. It is not the time for weakness. Biden may accuse Ryan of wanting war but Carter did the same at Reagan.; 10/22/12, 10:30 AM
RonF said...: Gov. Romney should pay careful attention to this article so that he can do the exact opposite of what it advises.; 10/22/12, 10:38 AM
viator said...: What can you expect from Pravda-on the-Hudson? CBS Radio news which has been spinning like a figure skater for Obama for months in a fashion also worthy of the old USSR suddenly broadcast a long piece this AM outlining Obama administration errors in Benghazi and listing debate points for Romney which could have been written by National Review.
Does CBS catch a whiff of regime change in the air?; 10/22/12, 10:44 AM
Cedarford said...: PHil 3:14

(That's why the simpleton Reagan won the cold war.)

Saint Ronnie didn't "win" the Cold War. He gets credit with many, many other people for taking actions that brought it to a close, bit by bit, over 50 years.

Credit goes to people like George Marshall, Kennan, Eisenhower, Josef Tito, leaders of the W Europe economic miracle of the 50s-70s, Jimmy Carter for initiating the defense buildup and orchestrating the shoving of "human rights" back down the commies throats.
Huge credit to Nixon for Detente and triangulating with China.
The Czechs and Hungarian rebels. The staunch opposition to the communists by Muslim countries.
The non-aligned nation movement.
Etc, etc.; 10/22/12, 10:49 AM
Sam L. said...: Well, we all know the NYT is completely unbiased!; 10/22/12, 10:58 AM
Chip S. said...: What an amusing premise this article has--that Romney will be deciding on his debate strategy on the day of the debate.

Obviously intended to lay the foundation for an indignant editorial tomorrow, to deflect attention from the beatdown Keller expects Obama to get.; 10/22/12, 11:11 AM
Sheridan said...: Romney needs to carefully highlight the probable impacts a nuclear Iran will have on the world. This video from TGP's site says it all.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/10/must-see-%e2%86%92-the-red-line/; 10/22/12, 11:33 AM
Anonymous said...: Other advice the NYT would give to Romney:

"Promise to allow abortion on demand, government-paid for, up until 5 years of age. Deciding if a human being is alive is above your pay grade."

"Offer to hug terrorists."

"Burn an Israeli and American flag."

"Two words: fascism works."

"Denounce Rush Limbaugh and call Michael Moore the genius that he is."

"State that anyone who makes a movie that upsets Muslim should be thrown in prison. After all, it's what Herr Obama did, and everything he does that is for leftism is perfect."

"Promise to murder Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and Sam Alito."; 10/22/12, 11:34 AM
dc said...: Bill Keller is not a lefty. He is a centrist.
It's not his fault if 70% of the population consists of fringe extremists.; 10/22/12, 12:01 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Debate advice to Romney:

Wad a piece or your note paper into the shape of a small white dimpled ball. This will remind your opponent of golf ball and stimulate that portion of his brain that would rather be somewhere else. PIck it up and wave it like a windshield wiper and set it back down without missing a beat delivering a policy position. The incongruent gesture will annoy, lodge and fatally distract. The whole rest of the time he'll be going why did that fucker make a golf ball out of that paper?; 10/22/12, 12:12 PM
Lydia said...: Paul Z at 10:10 a.m.: Skimming the comments over there [at the NY Times], i found the passengers remarkably docile. I'm not one of those people who believe that American Jews should (or do) put Israel before all else, but I still expected more pushback against the Netanyahu-bashing.

Are you really surprised by that lack of or weak pushback? Fans of the NY Times long ago got on the anti-Israel bandwagon.; 10/22/12, 12:15 PM
Alex said...: Sounds like a professional concern troll.; 10/22/12, 3:03 PM