“This is cynical”

Mike Murphy on the Palin pick. Gotta love those live microphones.

Ever wonder what the grifters say when they think you and me and the rest of the marks aren’t listening? Live microphones give us a chance to find out.

Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant, would never say anything like this (apropos the Palin selection) if he thought anyone outside the little pundit/consultant/ journalist club could hear him:

You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.

As an outsider, I find the notion that McCain isn’t cynical breathtaking. (Or maybe Murphy just meant that McCain has perfected the art of not seeming cynical.) But even his friends can’t swallow this.

Nor would Peggy Noonan (who has been oohing and aahing over the choice) say “It’s over” or call the choice “political bullsh!t.”

So ignore all the happy talk. The R’s know they’re hurtin’ for certain.

Author: Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com