UPDATE: Andrea Harris does the exhausting research on Dionne’s behalf and indeed: “Unless he’s talking about that TV show…?”
the past ten years were more like a “found decade” for a lot of people — as in, they found a sense of purpose, their political calling, their love of country, and so on.
As a friend said via email:
“Well, 8 years of Bush plus 2 crappy Obama ones does equal 10…”
***
Actually, EJ Dionne, I spend 12 hours a day attached to this computer, reading news and commentary about this very topic.
And I haven’t heard or read that expression once. Ever.
There really are two Americas.
PS: Did anyone else read this instant-classic paragraph…
American strength always depends first on our strength at home — on a vibrant, innovative and sensibly regulated economy, on levelheaded fiscal policies, on the ability of our citizens to find useful work, on the justice of our social arrangements.
And immediately get a Pythonesque image of a Very Serious Guy in a suit, somberly declaiming those words — right before a giant anvil falls on his head?
They really have that Famous Last Words, “End of History,” “Can’t act; can’t sing; can dance a little” mock-heroic wisdom that we’ll one day roll our eyes about. I hope.
By the way — TSA “security theater” training video discovered: