Rick Perlstein on Right-Wing Retardation

[Sheilbh]

 

In terms of butch liberals I prefer Rachel Maddow.

Thundering indignation vs. smirking contempt.  Its a tough call.

Smirking contempt every time.  It's a British prerogative.

I'll search for those quotes tomorrow.  I'm going to watch an episode of Wallander now

[MadImmortalMan]

Such people tend to be louder and more obnoxious, sucking up all the air so that rational people get less attention. That distorts the overall conversation and makes it seem like they represent a larger faction than they do. If you ever attend any political events where a crowd gathers, the news people will ALWAYS gravitate to the kookiest and most flamboyant psycho in the crowd and report what that person says. Then everyone gets the impression that they speak for the crowd or their views represent those of the crowd. I am extremely skeptical that these health care crowds are primarily composed of death panel people. I just don't believe that. Any more than I think Code Pink represents the views of large swaths of Democrats.

[Razgovory]

On health care the right is far, far nuttier.  But you're leaving out things like globalization protestors, environuts, impeach Bushers, Rev. Wright America God Damners, Chomskyites, Naiderite corporation lynchers, Israel haters, etc. etc. etc.

p.s. Grassley is not intelligent.

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

[Admiral Yi]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters.

Pat Buchanan and that retard on CNN vs. a billion giant puppet makers. 

[Razgovory]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters.

Pat Buchanan and that retard on CNN vs. a billion giant puppet makers.

A Billion?  I remember a reported noticing that alot of people at those Anti-world bank rallies were right wingers who hated the idea that aid might be given to furreners.

[derspiess]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

Don't confuse populists with right-wingers.

[citizen k]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

Don't confuse populists with right-wingers.

[ulmont]

Populism comes in both left and right-wing flavors.  While not all populists are right-wing, there has always been a sizeable contingent of right-wing populists.

[Valmy]

Pat Buchanan and that retard on CNN vs. a billion giant puppet makers. 

Ah those crazy giant puppets of Bushitler

[Razgovory]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

Don't confuse populists with right-wingers.

You do know that there are right wing populists.  You wanna hear some right wing populist phrases?  "Limousine liberals" and "Liberal Media elites"

[Sheilbh]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

Don't confuse populists with right-wingers.

I think you're mixing up right-wing groups though.  I'd say Sarah Palin and Huckabee are right-wing populists, while the anti-Israel, anti-globalisation right is, I believe paleo-con.  A la Pat Buchanan and so on.

[Razgovory]

Globalization and Israel aren't the sole territory of the Left.  Quite a few of those were far righters. 

Don't confuse populists with right-wingers.

Pretty much any politician who gets elected is a populist.  They almost always portray themselves as the champions of the average man against the elites.

I think you're mixing up right-wing groups though.  I'd say Sarah Palin and Huckabee are right-wing populists, while the anti-Israel, anti-globalisation right is, I believe paleo-con.  A la Pat Buchanan and so on.

[Queequeg]

I think you're mixing up right-wing groups though.  I'd say Sarah Palin and Huckabee are right-wing populists, while the anti-Israel, anti-globalisation right is, I believe paleo-con.  A la Pat Buchanan and so on.
[/quote]
Off topic, but Sheilbh, how/why do you know so much about American politics?  Just curious, as you seem to command political minutia far more than I do, and I'm a native.   

[The Brain]

depressing article, as it suggests that public discourse is dead or dying.

on the bright side, languish can take pride is being ahead of the curve.

[Iormlund]

It is a bit sad that the ROTW will look at this and think "Gosh, the American right are all a bunch of raving lunatics!", since of course the media does not really bother to highlight the crazy left and pretend that it defines the left the way they do the right.

I'd suggest that the absence of anything remotely similar to our concept of "left" colours our perception quite a bit. The Dems would be considered a right-wing party in any European country.