Sometimes I think Bill Kristol’s function in American politics is to confirm liberal stereotypes of conservative pathologies. His latest Weekly Standard piece, deploring America’s “war-weariness” and calling for a New Reagan who will “honorably awaken us from our unworthy sleep,” is a case in point.

Brother Benen goes to town with this one:

While even the most hawkish Republicans on Capitol Hill steer clear of bellicose saber-rattling, Kristol has no similar hesitations. His piece goes on to implore Republicans running for president in 2016 to “awaken Americans” and prepare them for war. War against whom? Kristol doesn’t say; given his worldview, it may not matter. The pundit simply wants someone to step up and move the nation from war-weariness to war-eagerness….

Remember when we had a White House that took this man’s pleas seriously?

It could happen again. About the only attention Kristol deserves right now is from those of us who will watch for his 2016 endorsement as a warning of senseless wars to come if the wrong candidate is elevated to the White House.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.