I rarely disagree with my longtime friend Christopher Caldwell—in the 1990s, while a senior editor at The Weekly Standard (when that weekly was excellent) he wrote the conservative but contrarian column “Hill of Beans” for New York Press, and I saw him fairly often, including an early-April 2004 Red Sox/Orioles game at Camden Yards. Talking between innings, we made a gentleman’s bet on that fall’s presidential race, and his prediction of a Kerry victory didn’t pan out. I’ve often pointed out that Chris, who can’t be found on social media, is one of the best political commentators today. That’s no slight, despite the pitiful competition, for Caldwell exists in a near-vacuum, writing what he wants, with no thought of click-bait.
Therefore, I was surprised to see his I’ve-got-nothing-else-to-write column, “Boomer Bust” in Spectator World a few months ago. It’s a full-on decimation of the Boomers (I’m one, as is Chris, although he doesn’t mention that, a rare omission of a simple fact), which is fair, since that generation has a lot to answer for, especially politicians. So does every demographic group, from “The Greatest Generation” (still propped up, usually by Boomers, as “America when it was uniformly noble,” disregarding the obvious that such a generalization is lazy; it’s not as if American torture began with Abu Ghraib), to “The Silent Generation,” “Gen X” and then the Millennials and Gen Z.
He writes: “Anyone who has felt oppressed by the baby boom—and this includes virtually every non-senior citizen in the country—will complain [their decreased influence] that it’s about frickin’ time. If the boomers are only now losing their influence, they long ago lost their marbles… There is going to come a moment when the boomers’ political power falls below the threshold to prop up [their vision]. It could happen before the next election. And then something is going to happen that no one has given much thought to: control over our politics and our culture is going to pass to a non-baby-boom generation—perhaps a much younger one—that looks at the world in its own, totally different way.”
Was Caldwell on auto-pilot when he wrote that true, but amazingly (for him) obvious paragraph? He’s right, as actuarial tables don’t lie, and not only does it make sense, but I’m looking forward to seeing younger people exert their influence over the country. They might be right, might be wrong, but that’s history. I’ve always thought the (made-up) designation of Boomers—1946-1964—was bogus; if you can’t remember JFK’s assassination or The Beatles arriving in America you ain’t no Boomer. Barack Obama was elected president when was 47—it’s always good to have leaders under 50, less time to build up a network of corrupt cronies—and he’s a Boomer, born in 1961.
That’s a problem with Caldwell’s generalization that Boomers “long ago lost their marbles.” Most haven’t, including Caldwell, Obama, Steve Winwood, Richard Russo and, one hopes, myself. Maryland’s senior U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen appears nuts—from his social media rants—but a friend of mine (Van Hollen’s cousin) assures me he’s completely cogent. Joe Biden notoriously slipped into another world, but he’s from the “Silent Generation.” Millions think Donald Trump’s off-the-charts-crazy, and an uninformed (or just disinterested) view might give that credence. But Trump, a performer most of his life, cultivates that image, and it continues to flabbergast me when journalists, who’ve covered him on the political circuit for over a decade, still take his expletive-ridden Truth Social rants at face value. An honest appraisal from, say, the verging-on-sundowner Peter Baker, from The New York Times, would confirm that Trump’s more in the brain game than Chuck Schumer or Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
That doesn’t let every Boomer off the hook. Writing in The Wall Street Journal last week, conservative Andy Kessler proved that liberal journalists/pundits don’t have a monopoly on saying nothing new. He wrote: “Late capitalism, postcapitalism, ‘America is in decline’ pronouncers, partisan professors, socialist mayor, ‘ICE out’-screamers—I’m tired of those rooting against us.” Thanks for the bulletin, or in today’s come-on, “Breaking News.” One might ask Boomer Kessler—as Richard Nixon did with Dan Rather in 1974—“Are you running for something?”
The accompanying photo is jam-packed with Boomers at a Johns Hopkins Spring Fair concert long ago. I can only identify two of them: Howie Nadjari (smoking a cigarette, a retired doctor and lifelong Democrat) and Peter MacGuire to his right (still working in finance; one buddy I don’t think I’ve ever discussed politics with in our 50-year friendship).
Take a look at the clues to figure out the year: Bette Midler wins “Best New Artist” and Robert Flack takes “Song of the Year” at the always-irrelevant Grammys; Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks join Fleetwood Mac; King Crimson breaks up (and later re-forms); Willie Nelson’s Phases and Stages and The Ohio Players Skin Tight are released; Seth Green is born and Tex Ritter dies; George Roy Hill wins Best Director Oscar; Fran Ross’ Oreo and Michael Cook’s Jacob’s Wake are published; and Joe Rudi wins a Gold Glove.
—Follow Russ Smith on Twitter: @MUGGER2023