[aminuit]

The On Language column in the Times was written for about thirty years by a guy named William Safire. The column usually criticized some recent instance of language usage in popular culture. He was frequently peevish but managed to avoid coming across as acerbic. Safire died recently, and since then his column has been written by a series of guest authors. In this instance, the author is trying to recreate Safire's style and unfortunately fails miserably.

You see the same thing in the British automotive press. Everyone wants to write like Jeremy Clarkson, but nobody else can pull off his style without coming across as a total asshole.

[stilist]

Neither can Clarkson, based on my brief exposure.