ombudsman – noun

A spokesperson hired by a newspaper to defend its practices against the slanders of its readership.

As a columnist, Mr. Brooks is entitled to his opinions, as readers are entitled to disagree with them. In this specific case, he quite clearly was using this writerly device to indicate his belief that critics of neo-conservatives think all neo-conservatives are Jewish. Thank you for your comments.

analyst – noun

Someone whose resumé bestows a veneer of objectivity to his sales pitches.

Diversion: Earl Scruggs and the Byrds

misspeak – verb

To say something that garners negative publicity and polls poorly.

leadership – noun

The ability to direct credit towards oneself and blame to others.

hope – noun

An idle wish that the future, contrary to the laws of induction, be less wretched than the past and present.

Diversion: Wilco

The last three years have been difficult. Probable back surgery is the latest turn.

At least there's music.

I know you're not listening
No I know you're not listening

kill - verb

To cause death without guilt.

COMMENT: Murder is, of course, one of the most egregious sins. One way to avoid it is not to kill people. The other is to kill so indiscriminately that the act becomes disconnected from intent, and therefore from guilt. Both are socially acceptable.

At least 21 civilians, including six children, have been killed in US air strikes in Afghanistan ... The deaths brought the total of civilian deaths to almost 100 in the past two weeks ... A spokesman for the US forces, Major William Mitchell, declared that the troops had killed a "significant" number of insurgents in firefights and the subsequent bombing. "We don't have any reports of civilian casualties" he said. " There are enemy casualties - I think the number is significant."

personal responsibility – noun

1. The capacity to accept blame for being victimized.

2. The solipsist's virtue.

3. A developed sense of deference to private-property rights.