"The Prospect writer argues that “the problems Taibbi tries to describe aren’t some ridiculous cabal” but instead “come from group-think and structural influences.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is exactly my point. The issue with the modern Democratic party is that its leaders all share a world view that’s extremely narrow. They genuinely believe in Rubinite ideas, have grown accustomed to an incestuous relationship with Wall Street, and they probably think that the right people were put in charge. Their failure to look beyond their own “group-think” for solutions to economic problems is exactly the issue." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

This whole kerfluffle can best be summed up this way: Matt Taibbi is a excellent writer and a devastating master of snark when he clowns on people like Sarah Palin. But when he turns that spotlight on Democrats with heavy ties to Wall Street and calls them out, then he's a nutter. Sorry, Dems, but you can't have it both ways. - Steven Perez

The author of the weak attack on Taibbi, Tim Fernholz, was ripped up quite effectively on his own blog by many readers: http://www.prospect.org/csnc... Pretty funny, actually. What kind of "progressive" feels threatened by criticisms of Robert Rubin, Goldman Sachs and Wall Street? Someone who is a phony progressive -- often a neoliberal (a neoconservative in the Democratic Party). - Sean McBride