Libertarian columnist Virginia Postrel is the latest to weigh in on the Kinsley-Estrich feud triggered by the IWF’s own Charlotte Allen. Her remarks are worth reading:
“According to this LAT report the spat between Susan Estrich and Michael Kinsley over whether the LAT runs enough women op-ed writers (a.k.a. enough of Estrich’s friends) keeps getting nastier. Estrich has revealed herself as a poorly read, though well-connected, hack–people who are interested in ideas know who Charlotte Allen is–while Kinsley has demonstrated why magazines are generally more interesting than newspapers: Magazine editors (and Kinsley is one, despite his current job) are paid to have vision and confidence, not to bend to pressure groups.”
Watching Susan Estrich pitch a feminist hissy fit has been more fun than a barrel of monkeys. But law professor and talking head Jonathan Turley, whose father recently died of Parkinson’s disease, isn’t laughing about Estrich’s sly and disgraceful hint that L.A. Times editorial page editor Michael Kinsley’s health may be affecting his judgment:
“Mike Kinsley will continue to flourish despite the ravages of either Parkinson’s disease or Susan Estrich,” Turley writes. “As for Parkinson’s patients and their families, however, we would ask for a small gesture from Ms. Estrich and her supporters. At the next scorched-earth campaign, just leave us out. We have our own problems right now.”
Oh, and can you imagine the outcry if a conservative had said anything remotely similar to what Estrich said about Michael Kinsley’s Parkinsons?