Does Kanye West's asshole-ish behavior at the VMAs signal the beginning of the end for America? The obvious answer to that question would seem to be, No, but patently stupid suggestions like that might be.

However, David Brooks — New York Times columnist and big Taylor Swift fan (apparently) — would disagree (for some reason)… 

I am heavily invested in Ms. Swift’s welfare and was grievously afflicted when Kanye West ruined her big moment the other night. My fear is this trauma will send Ms. Swift into the slough of despond and her next album will make Alanis Morissette seem like a trip to Disney World.

My secondary fear is that this moment will mark a turning point in World History, like the battle of Gettysburg, the defeat of the Spanish Armada or when Hot Lips became sympathetic on "M*A*S*H." I've really begun to get quite glum about the future of the republic.

In addition to the swiftboating of Swift, there is this fact: there is a broad consensus on what we need to do to solve many of our major problems, but no political way to get there… It all reminds me of a thesis that Mancur Olson came up with many years ago, which was nicely explained in Jonathan Rauch's book, "Demosclerosis." The thesis was that as nations age they develop entrenched relationships that close off certain avenues of change. This leads to the decline of nations.

Somebody needs to drive to David Brooks' house and make sure he's okay.

When he's not looking, you'd better pull all the knives out of the silverware drawer and hide them.

Everything about this story from David Brooks is horrifying…

BROOKS: You know, all three of us spend a lot of time covering politicians and I don't know about you guys, but in my view, they're all emotional freaks of one sort or another. They're guaranteed to invade your personal space, touch you. I sat next to a Republican senator once at dinner and he had his hand on my inner thigh the whole time. I was like, ehh, get me out of here.

HARWOOD: What?

BROOKS: I can only imagine what happens to you guys.

O'DONNELL: Sorry, who was that?

BROOKS: I'm not telling you, I'm not telling you.

Really, anonymous closeted gay Republican senator who may or may not actually exist?! David Brooks? You're going to risk outing yourself as an FOLC (Friend of Larry Craig) for David Brooks' inner thigh?! Really?! You just couldn't keep your hand away from that polyester-wrapped pile of uncooked Wonder Bread dough?

You're just crying out to be caught, aren't you?

In today's New York Times, conservative columnist David Brooks laments the GOP's gradual estrangement of large swaths of the electorate over the last two decades…

The Republicans have alienated whole professions. Lawyers now donate to the Democratic Party over the Republican Party at 4-to-1 rates. With doctors, it's 2-to-1. With tech executives, it's 5-to-1. With investment bankers, it's 2-to-1. It took talent for Republicans to lose the banking community.

Conservatives are as rare in elite universities and the mainstream media as they were 30 years ago. The smartest young Americans are now educated in an overwhelmingly liberal environment.

That's a lot of people, to be sure, but there are still some professions that reliably vote Republican…

* Unemployment office clerks

* White bespectacled female SNL and Mad TV aspirants

* Coat-hanger importers

* Flag-draped coffin moguls

* Flop sweat distillers