Bruce Bartlett vs. the Bush Smear Machine

The smear machine takes aim at Bruce Bartlett. Not a single substantive word contradicting Bartlett's lament at the hideous waste of opportunity that is the apparent collapse of Doha and free trade.

What is the charge? Read:

Digital Rules By Rich Karlgaard: Did Bush Blow Free Trade? And will the global economy suffer catastrophic consequences as a result? Bruce Bartlett thinks so.... Should we believe him.... A once-fine thinker who has gone off the rails.... Bartlett now occupies an intellectual celebrity's position--the Reagan supporter turned Bush scold--this position guarantees a spot on The New York Times editorial page just about anytime Bartlett wants it.

Bartlett may be correct in saying Bush blew Doha and put global free trade in jeopardy. But remember that Bartlett has books to sell and speeches to give and NYT columns to write--all with the purpose of bashing Bush...

So we see: Not a single criticism of Bartlett's arguments, only an accusation that Bartlett is mercenary.

At least they aren't calling him shrill...