Michael Kinsley wrote a mindbogglingly stupid post extolling the virtues of austerity.
The response online was blistering, noting that he had his basic facts wrong.
Additionally, he proves the central criticism against austerians, that they fetishize other people's suffering when he concludes, "But the austerians deserve credit: They at least are talking about the spinach, while the Krugmanites are only talking about dessert".
In response Kinsley writes a pean to narcissistic whining where he wonders why people point out his factual errors, and call him a sadist. (He also expresses disappointment at the fact that people did not notice his article supporting anti-marriage equality homophobes [more after the squiggle on this]*).
There are far too many people out there, the Freakonomics people claiming that solar panels cause global warming, who try to prove a counterfactual, and are rewarded for it.
These people should be objects of scorn and derision.
One of the best ways to do this is through humor. Look what making Santorum mean, "The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex," did to Rick Santorum.
Well, I think that we need to popularize a similar neologism for Michael Kinsley. This man is a troll, and he has been achieving professional "success" through trolling for far too long.
Please post suggestions in the comments. All I can come up with is "Lying rat-bastard," but it lacks sufficient punch.
*Kinsley's defense of defense of noted Johns Hopkins Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is a staple of the contrarian hypocrite as wise man.
He says that it's unfair to disinvited him to be the graduation speaker, because, for example, "Carson denies hating gay people, while your classic homophobe revels in it."
He acknowledges that, "He should have left bestiality out of it. [His stint on Hannity] And any reference to NAMBLA—the “North American Man / Boy Love Association”—is pretty good evidence that we have left the realm of rational discussion and entered radio talk-show territory."
Opposing gay marriage might make one a homophobe. Comparing homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia DOES make one a homophobe.
No matter how you slice it, it is bullshit, but because he calls the sky green, and makes it sound vaguely credible, he gets props for being "serious".
Gag me with a spoon.