Political Trolling

I’m a political junkie through and through. I watch Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow through iTunes, watch Meet The Press and read the New York Times. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I’m a policy wonk, since the (one or two) legislative bills that I’ve read have bored me to tears. I enjoy politics because of the interplay between people’s emotions, interests, and ideals. Not to mention the massive amounts of drama that is generated by people having a good old fashioned mud fight.

Since I read the New York Times on a weekly basis I read David Brooks’ column and usually get my liberal sensibilities all tied up in knots. I remember reading Ward Three Morality and I got so upset about how the column dripped snark. Until I realized the game that David Brooks is playing. He’s a real world troll. Probably the best, since I was trolled by him without even realizing it. He’s an excellent writer, but from that point forward I read his column keeping in mind that he’s attempting to troll me and I have to keep myself from falling for it.

David Brooks was on the ABC Roundtable this past weekend and I’m quite shocked since he really slammed the “Spending Freeze” that has been part of recent Republican talking points. The link comes from Huffington Post so some of the facts are a bit embellished and a few syllables of a soundbyte are stretched out to fill an entire article, but I’m stunned that Brooks is willing to call out Republicans, after Michael Steele had an electrode planted in his skull for his insolence.

When will David Brooks troll me again, or have I already been trolled by being surprised and agreeing with something he says?