I’m becoming more and more convinced that Liberal and Feminist icon Camille Paglia might be one of the most intellectually honest journalists/pundits writing today.

Skewering the Bush administration and Conservatives in general is easy and lots of Liberal pundits have made a life of it. Most of them with very little honesty and integrity. Paglia, on the other hand, has always seemed to be pretty fair-handed and consistent in her criticism of the Right. But what gains my respect for her is her ability to honestly and — at times — brutally criticsize her own party.

I’ve noted her ability and willingness to do that here, here, here, and here.

Today, at the Liberal Salon, she goes after Obama and his “stimulus” package. She’s right on target with this honest rebuke of Obama:

To defer to the House of Representatives and let the bill be thrown together by cacophonous mob rule made the president seem passive and behind the curve.

Most mainstream American voters are undoubtedly suffering from economist fatigue these days. This one calls for tax cuts; that one condemns them. One says we’re wasting hundreds of billions of dollars; the other claims that sum falls pathetically short. A plague on all their houses! Surely common sense would dictate that when Congress is doling out fat dollops of taxpayers’ money, due time should be delegated for sober consideration and debate. The administration’s coercive rush toward instant action, accompanied by apocalyptic pronouncements of imminent catastrophe, has put its own credibility on the line.

Even better is Paglia’s frustration with Liberals and their insane dreams of reviving the “Fairness Doctrine”:

Speaking of talk radio (which I listen to constantly), I remain incredulous that any Democrat who professes liberal values would give a moment’s thought to supporting a return of the Fairness Doctrine to muzzle conservative shows. (My latest manifesto on this subject appeared in my last column.) The failure of liberals to master the vibrant medium of talk radio remains puzzling. To reach the radio audience (whether the topic is sports, politics or car repair), a host must have populist instincts and use the robust common voice. Too many Democrats have become arrogant elitists, speaking down in snide, condescending tones toward tradition-minded middle Americans whom they stereotype as rubes and buffoons. But the bottom line is that government surveillance of the ideological content of talk radio is a shocking first step toward totalitarianism.

Which is why Paglia is my favorite Demcorat and Liberal. While there’s a lot we disagree on — she’s at least honest enough to admit her party’s own vast faults.