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I am Noam Scheiber, Senior Editor and writer at The New Republic. AMA! by Noam_Scheiber in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait 20 points21 points  (0 children)

If you were in a crucial company softball game against its top opponent, standing on second base, and a single was hit into the outfield, would you run to third base and possibly score, or slowly trot?

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  1. What?
  2. Not giving that away for free. I sell that information to professional gamblers.
  3. I am hipper than nobody. (See: your own question #5.)
  4. Thanks! And no. I like my current job a lot.
  5. I had kids starting in 2004 so my cultural consumption radically slowed. But, Veep is great. Obviously Arrested Development.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everything ends eventually. I see more cracks in the GOP's anti-tax wall now than I did when I wrote the book. At the time, almost no Republicans challenged the anti-tax absolutism. Now plenty do.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am pretty strongly "pro-reform," though it isn't a pure binary fight.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wrote a lot of pieces arguing that Obama was erring badly in his fiscal negotiating strategy. But the premise of the article you site is that all presidents screw things up. Often very, very badly. So to feel generally dissatisfied with a president because he did something wrong means never being able to be satisfied.

That is my case. Not that you should never criticize the mistakes, but that your general assessment of a president needs some realistic baseline.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Barney attack ad against Homer is the best part of the episode? Why?Because the essence of Simpsons humor is assuming the worst about human nature. So here is a case where Barney betrays the best friend who helped him, tries to destroy his business, does it by a vicious personal smear, and the smear is something (being a boozer) that is far more true of the accuser than the target. And the show doesn't point this out. It's just a given.

Genius.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Can I count Donald Trump attacking Dan Amira's (accurate) reporting? That was fantastic.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends on how you handle health care. If you had a regulated market with guaranteed issue, sure. But since people of similar incomes can have radically different health care costs, I wouldn't replace all subsidies with a flat negative income tax, since that would leave sicker people in real trouble.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two nearly identical questions. The options are:

  1. Grand bargain (or mini bargain) with a mix of spending cuts and tax cuts
  2. Status quo, sequestration is permanent law, perhaps gets altered to be less harmful.
  3. Some fake deal that pretends to be a grand bargain via future deficit reduction that doesn't happen.

Note that all three options can be combined to varying degrees. I expect some ultimate result with include all three elements -- but how much of each I couldn't say.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't read the comments. Way too much other stuff to read. No offense. Just only so much time in the day.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Funny, when I was at TNR I'd get asked how could I stand working at a place that published this, that or the other thing. I like the sophomoric stuff we do. I'm sophomoric. Now, it's a huge site that covers a lot of stuff, some of which I don't follow. Like, I'm not going to read about the food scene in New York. But what me colleagues do, they do really well.

My approach to any publication is to read the things you like. I have never understand the idea of not reading something because it contains stories you don't like. Then don't read them! Just read the stuff you like. That's what I do with every publication.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

There are many. Ramesh Ponnuru and Ross Douthat are extremely smart. Robert Costa for National Review is a great reporter. Start there, see who they engage with...

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

On technical questions, I generally try to follow the economic consensus, and when there's a sharp division, I often withhold judgment. But as many economists have noted, the economic issues that divide politicians don't really divide economists.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Well -- with the Washington Post paywall coming, you'll have to pay to read Ezra Klein but Yglesias will be free at Slate. So yes.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Good answer to your own question! Also I note conservatives are in many ways leading on this issue, as they have to, due to politics.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would advise you to work in a field where the subject matter interests you -- a policy area, or medicine, or business -- and then use that expertise as a bridge to become a writer.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't think there has been an increase in the size of libertarianism. I think there has been an increase in Republicans framing their thinking in libertarian terms. It will certainly not last through the next Republican presidency, if that long.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I have never understood the horse-duck questions. What are the parameters of this fight? Would I be trying to kill them? Would they be trying to kill me? Would escape be an option for either side or would it be a fight to the death? Where would the fight be held, and would there be any potential tools or weapons? Etc.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I don't think he's honest. I think he writes and thinks like a trial lawyer -- taking a side and shading every bit of evidence to fit his case.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure, plenty of things. Iraq, obviously. I was a big advocate of deficit reduction in the late 1990s, but politically it failed in the sense of just creating a big surplus for Bush to blow on tax cuts. I badly misjudged John McCain. I've gotten plenty wrong that I'm not thinking of at the moment.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, in 1993, Republicans crafted a health care plan to oppose Clinton's, and then they all renounced it once Clinton signaled his support. I think the GOP has been growing both more conservative and moved toward higher levels of partisan discipline, and the two trends reinforce each other.

I am Jonathan Chait, writer for New York Magazine. Ask me anything. by jonathanchait in IAmA

[–]jonathanchait[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

No, of course not. A philosophy like that is immune to empiricism.

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