Lee Siegel discusses how Irving Kristol, revered as the father of neoconservatism and (not so much) of Wee Willie, was actually just a "tummler" (Yiddish for "master of ceremonies," or cavorter) whose interest was not so much in what the outcomes of his thinking were, as how he could ingratiate himself to the powerful. Siegel notes, "Having used intellect to discredit intellect, Kristol threw open the door to pure irrationality," thus the link to the likes of Beck, Limbaugh, and Hannity, who are the nihilistic tummlers of the day.
(Photo: Beck: "You mean Irving Kristol was my daddy?! Now I finally know!")
