Try as I might to resist, I just can’t help but enjoy Jonah Goldberg Day. It’s possible you haven’t heard why<\/i> it’s Jonah Goldberg Day, so let’s review.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 8, 2005 — exactly two years ago today — Goldberg was engaged in one his pointless arguments, this time with professor Juan Cole<\/a>. Goldberg told his readers<\/a>:<\/p>\n “Anyway, I do think my judgment is superior to [Cole’s] when it comes to the big picture. So, I have an idea: Since he doesn’t want to debate anything except his own brilliance, let’s make a bet. I predict that Iraq won’t have a civil war, that it will have a viable constitution, and that a majority of Iraqis and Americans will, in two years time, agree that the war was worth it. I’ll bet $1,000 (which I can hardly spare right now).<\/p>\n “This way neither of us can hide behind clever word play or CV reading. If there’s another reasonable wager Cole wants to offer which would measure our judgment, I’m all ears. Money where your mouth is, doc.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To his credit, Cole took the high road<\/a>, telling Goldberg that would not place “a wager on the backs of human beings.” Clearly, that was the classy thing to do. In return, Goldberg taunted Cole and accused him of being a terrorist sympathizer. Clearly, this was not the classy thing to do.<\/p>\n In fact, because Goldberg was particularly obnoxious, political observers everywhere are today celebrating Jonah Goldberg Day, honoring the foolishness and inanity that has come to dominate the LA Times columnist’s work.<\/p>\n And how is Goldberg celebrating Jonah Goldberg Day? I’m glad you asked. One gets the distinct impression that Goldberg is feeling rather sorry for himself. After accusing Cole of practically being a traitor, he made a series of bold predictions about how successful the war in Iraq was going to be. As is usually the case, Goldberg was mistaken. Now it appears he’d prefer the political world not bother him by mentioning any of this. What a shame.<\/p>\n As for the “vitriol” coming from the left, perhaps now would be a good time to bring up the fact that Goldberg is writing a book<\/a> called, “Liberal Fascism: The Totalitarian Temptation from Mussolini to Hillary Clinton.” I’m sure it’s going to be mild, fair, and even-handed.<\/p>\n
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\nGoldberg acknowledged<\/a> in December that Cole “would have won [the wager], quite obviously.” Today, Goldberg followed up<\/a> on the subject, explaining that he has “nothing substantive to add,” except that, “[T]he vitriol and bullying of this crowd is something to behold.”<\/p>\n