While his conversational style is grating, Friedman does write for a lay audience who would otherwise skim over long tracts riddled with academic jargon, if they bothered to read them at all.

The quotes you dropped in your introduction led me to believe this essay would be a provocative critique of a political culture that elevates commentators of Friedman's ilk. Unfortunately, I found myself skimming over most of the body as it appeared you were making a tedious argument that all of your readers no doubt accepted, that Friedman's writing leaves much to be desired if one holds him to the standard of academic or literary prose.

Your conclusion is a worthy appeal for better essay writing in the public forum. For this medium, my advice is this: arguments are made best when made brief.