Spengler goes too far and misses the point: Why the West is Boyle'd. One almost detects some loathing on his part of the masses in the United States and Great Britain. Susan Boyle, unlike many of the singers on any of the Idol shows (particularly American Idol), is far from being a mediocre singer. People want to be be appreciated for something other than their looks (or their lack of a pretty face). From Rod Dreher: Susan Boyle, Superstar . With the revelation of Spengler's true identity last week, people have been giving him (and First Things, of which Spengler, aka David P. Goldman, is now an editor) more scrutiny. Certainly, he gets this wrong:

There is an undercurrent of self-worship in the aptly-named American Idol and its British knockoff, which lifted Boyle to stardom.

Actually, Miss Boyle was on Britain's Got Talent, not The X-Factor (or its predecessor Pop Idol). Certainly there is much to be criticized in the entertainment industry of both countries, and the mass media. But this sort of guilt by association fallacy should not stand. Perhaps Mr. Goldman is himself unable to recognize singing talent. Grumpier than the staff at Chronicles, to the point of being insensible? Who would have believed it possible.

Steve Sailer's iSteve Blog: "Spengler" outs himself
Whoah! "Spengler"... (What's Wrong with the World)

Edit. Rod Dreher reacts to the column: Susan Boyle as a sign of the West's decline?. If you haven't seen her performance, here it is on youtube.