I don't like apple pie, but that's pretty straightforwardly b/c I don't like the taste of cooked apples.

The whole thing feels like a desperate attempt to force everyone to agree that this deeply uninteresting, easily replaced political gossip columnist is THE MOST INTERESTING PERSON ALIVE.

Yes, centrists pundits love focusing on meta-commentary.

It's also a good way to hide the fact that they're often not knowledgeable enough to write intelligently on the issues they're addressing.

And they often do this in public writings that assert they agree with these views!

But that doesn't count... for some reason.

It's also weird from a person who seems to have made a career of being a "free speech" champion.

Of course, as with many otherwise positive things, being a "free speech" champion is a huge red flag in 2025.

Also, as I've heard atrios say more than once, if you want my public statements to help the Democratic Party, put me on the payroll.

I was a super diligent, successful student who loved learning, and I couldn't stand school for all the obvious reasons. What a baffling claim.

I've given students HST to read before, and they almost always just find it baffling. I do think it's very much of its time in a way many other writings are not.

And this isn't even getting into the fact that HST was actually a good writer and had real political commitments.

Taken together the whole thing indicates a weird dolt who bafflingly was, at the time, one of the most prominent journalists in America.