A Webb of Insults

Nick Gillespie and Radley Balko already covered the SOTU, but a day later this put-down of James Webb by former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson is still making the rounds.

Senator Webb made liberal use of cliches: the middle class is "the backbone" of the country, which is losing its "place at the table." I am not even sure there is a literary term for a mixed metaphor that crosses two cliches. And Senator Webb's logic was as incoherent as his language (the two are often related). No "precipitous withdrawal"--but retreat "in short order." Fight the war on terror vigorously--except where the terrorists have chosen to fight it. It is, perhaps, a good thing that James Webb earned a job as senator. As a speechwriter he would starve.

That's not much of an insult, is it? Senators hire speechwriters; speechwriters, generally, don't hire senators. It's a bit like saying "It's a good thing he earned a job as a CEO. As a call center manager, he would starve."

For a more damning take on last night, note Tony Perkins' grumbling response to Bush's speech.