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We'll summarize specifics shortly in a second part of this article. For now, Manzo seems a credible and indeed heroic figure from what we can tell so far. His opponents in government? Not so much.
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As for the top journalists whom we rely upon to inform us about such political battles?
In the spirit of continuing education, I visited the Washington Post's auditorium this summer to hear a lecture by Broder for fellow alums of the University of Chicago. It was hard not to be impressed at his spry style, especially after reading that he received his bachelor's degree at age 18 and celebrates his 81st birthday Sept. 11. But the substance was pure tweed-jacket, faculty-club conventional wisdom, with no hint of the disasters for unwary voters.
I raised my hand to ask a question about the role of dirty tricks in elections, but was vastly outnumbered by wonks and apprentice-wonks seeking insights about more conventional fare suitable for polite discussion. I didn't push too hard on it because Broder answered my question, in effect, by saying in a different context that he's not about to change what he's done for so many years.
In other words, he's comfortable with his world and its winners, like the "limited government" con man Chris Christie.
But how's that really working out for the public?
