But not to worry, Alterman's column, 'Altercation,' was promptly picked up by David Brock's Media Matters. For my sins I recently subscribed to the column's email list. Reading through this evening's edition, one thing emerges: Eric Alterman is one angry guy. In the course of one mere column, Alterman vents his bile in these diverse directions:
- "This notion of a leftist alliance with Islamic radicals is often trumpeted by crazy people like [David] Horowitz."
- "Virtually the entire world -- at least the part that's paying attention [hates Pres. Bush]."
- The editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal represent "intellectual contamination" that have made them "a sorry joke."
- "Jeff Greenfield is insane."
- "In smart countries . . . CNN International is not pitched toward idiots, like our CNN is."
- A Michael Kinsley column "is so bad it could have been written by Charles Krauthammer."
I don't know who did what to Alterman. But his anger burns so brightly that it blots out his substance, rendering it a virtual afterthought.
Finkelstein recently returned from Iraq. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
