“But look at that hang-dog expression. He’s learned his lesson. Let’s get him a present!”

Speaking of the fallacies inherent in paying attention to motives rather than results, much of the mainstream media’s ongoing ridiculous treatment of Paul Ryan is a classic case in point.  “I think it’s outrageous for Ryan to attack Obama on income inequality, given this extensive evidence that Ryan has devoted his entire political career to the massive upward redistribution of wealth.”    “But he did a Meet the Press interview at a bookstore, the kind that might be visited by pointy-headed, coffee-drinking urban liberals!”   Oh well, then.

It probably goes without saying that Weisman goes on to talk about all the bipartisan grand bargains Ryan might be able to get through Congress.  High Broderism never dies.