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Rick Perlstein on Right-Wing Retardation

Started by Queequeg, August 21, 2009, 12:52:43 AM

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#90
Quote from: Iormlund on August 22, 2009, 02:22:53 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 21, 2009, 11:06:02 AM
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.

The Democrats quite certainly have a left. It's merely part of a coalition of elected officials that spans from self identified socialists like Bernie Sanders to conservatives like Ben Nelson. I'd guess that the left of the Democratic party barely constitutes a plurality.

DontSayBanana

Quote from: Queequeg on August 22, 2009, 01:09:22 AM
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.   :huh:
It seems to be a hobby with him- American politics isn't the only form where he tends to be unusually insightful. There's still remnants of wanting to pursue a poli. sci. degree with me, so I tend to devour his posts, so that I can check up on his sources. :blush:
Experience bij!

Sheilbh

Quote from: Queequeg on August 22, 2009, 01:09:22 AM
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.   :huh:
It interests me.  From my perspective it's like everything else about America strangely familiar and yet totally different.  When I'm interested in something I tend to end up reading a lot about it.

My interest goes in cycles though.  The amount of attention I give American politics tends to decline if something, anything happens in this country.  But we're in the long summer recess here and the even longer Brown dribble to 2010 :(

Plus from an arguing perspective Americans are more contentious. 

Languishite Brits disagree about the details but are united by a sort of gallows-humour view of our politics; they're a stale sitcom covering up an actually deeply worrying situation and there's nothing we can do but shrug and laugh. 
Let's bomb Russia!

Sheilbh

Incidentally, speaking of crazy I always like the groups who really double down on their crazy.  The 10% who either refuse to recognise or don't know whether Hawaii is in the US or not. 

In a similar vein I've nothing but love for the 16% of birthers who approve of Obama so far :lol:
Let's bomb Russia!

Eddie Teach

Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 02:51:47 AM
Incidentally, speaking of crazy I always like the groups who really double down on their crazy.  The 10% who either refuse to recognise or don't know whether Hawaii is in the US or not. 

Most of them are probably just dumb.
To sleep, perchance to dream. But in that sleep of death, what dreams may come?

Sheilbh

Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 23, 2009, 03:14:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 02:51:47 AM
Incidentally, speaking of crazy I always like the groups who really double down on their crazy.  The 10% who either refuse to recognise or don't know whether Hawaii is in the US or not. 

Most of them are probably just dumb.
I wondered if maybe they were just elderly.  People who still aren't sure whether or not Arizona's a state or the Grandpa Simpson brigade.
Let's bomb Russia!

PDH

Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 02:51:47 AM
In a similar vein I've nothing but love for the 16% of birthers who approve of Obama so far :lol:
I do love this as well - "Despite the fact that he is not really the president because he is not really an American, I have to say he is doing a bang up job for a secret Muslim infiltrator."
I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth.
-Umberto Eco

-------
"I'm pretty sure my level of depression has nothing to do with how much of a fucking asshole you are."

-CdM

MadImmortalMan

Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 05:28:07 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 23, 2009, 03:14:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 02:51:47 AM
Incidentally, speaking of crazy I always like the groups who really double down on their crazy.  The 10% who either refuse to recognise or don't know whether Hawaii is in the US or not. 

Most of them are probably just dumb.
I wondered if maybe they were just elderly.  People who still aren't sure whether or not Arizona's a state or the Grandpa Simpson brigade.


I seriously think a good number of them are Hawaiian secessionists.
"Stability is destabilizing." --Hyman Minsky

"Complacency can be a self-denying prophecy."
"We have nothing to fear but lack of fear itself." --Larry Summers

jimmy olsen

Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 24, 2009, 12:16:40 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 05:28:07 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on August 23, 2009, 03:14:57 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 23, 2009, 02:51:47 AM
Incidentally, speaking of crazy I always like the groups who really double down on their crazy.  The 10% who either refuse to recognise or don't know whether Hawaii is in the US or not. 

Most of them are probably just dumb.
I wondered if maybe they were just elderly.  People who still aren't sure whether or not Arizona's a state or the Grandpa Simpson brigade.


I seriously think a good number of them are Hawaiian secessionists.
In a poll of the entire United States they wouldn't show up though unless there was a huge oversampling of Hawaii.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point

MadImmortalMan

Quote from: jimmy olsen on August 24, 2009, 12:44:24 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 24, 2009, 12:16:40 PM


I seriously think a good number of them are Hawaiian secessionists.
In a poll of the entire United States they wouldn't show up though unless there was a huge oversampling of Hawaii.


Yeah, that's why I didn't say a majority or anything like that. You'd be surprised how many mainlanders sympathize though. I see it way more than I'd expect out here. Isn't there some kind of law now that gives "Hawaiians" a kind of independent status like indian tribes?
"Stability is destabilizing." --Hyman Minsky

"Complacency can be a self-denying prophecy."
"We have nothing to fear but lack of fear itself." --Larry Summers