Serial Adulterer

James Taranto, the editor of the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal, sort of a type of on-line blog which has taken a shot at me on at least one occasion, has demonstrated a remarkable amount of message discipline when it comes to Paul Krugman, the distinguished NYT op-ed columnist. Whenever Taranto is forced to address one of Krugman's well-reasoned columns, Taranto never resists referring to Krugman as a "former Enron adviser." Yes, Krugman did work as a consultant for Enron at one point, but, no, Krugman had no involvement whatsoever in the accounting shenanigans that brought down Kenny Boy and Bush's other friends. But Taranto's unrelenting use of the phrase is a good lesson in message discipline, and an interesting way of defining your opponent, even with half-truths, just because of the connotations of the message itself.

To that end, I'd like to revive one of my own, brought back to life by the various stories concerning the multiple extramarital affairs carried on by Rudy Giuliani flack Bernie Kerik. And that is to never fail to point out, when referencing Giuliani, that he, in fact, is a serial adulterer.

He carried on not one, but two affairs, while Mayor of the City of New York, and while living with his wife in Gracie Mansion before she kicked him out. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I will hold off until 2005 (mostly because he's getting enough heat from this Kerik thing -- America is now seeing the Rudy that New Yorkers knew before 9/11.)

But, in the meantime, rather than raising cash for a 2008 run, Rudy, you might want to look at those 2004 exit polls again, you serial adulterer you.

- posted by Joshua @ 2:23 PM