I suppose that some Bush guy with a video camera with the temerity to show up at a Kerry campaign event in 2004 would have elicited a large helping of vitriol and even hyperbole from me.
<
p>And I am not sure, really, what these sorts of videos tell me. That the loud mouths that attend Republican rallies are like loud mouths everywhere? That only loud mouths go these events? That a lot of rally-goers are cracked in the head? That the Republican core is more dangerous than I imagined? Given that they’re surrounded by like-minded lunatics, they can be smug and dismissive. Very unpleasant viewing.
<
p>Do we learn something subjecting ourselves to this odd form of masochism by video?
laurelsays
what I took away from it was that the McCain campaign is soaked in bile and vitriol. The contrast to Obama crowds is stark. But as they say, art is what you make of it, so you may come away with a different impression.
… but left-wing crankery and crackpottery takes a rather different tone. The whole Obama-as-terrorist idea is so foolish, so nutty, and these folks seem completely at home with it. They’re sure of it!
<
p>I know from left-wing crackpots. Left wing cranks tend to rant in an incoherent, Chomsky-esque fashion, but it’s usually pretty factual, if highly subjective in tone. What’s the left-wing equivalent of “Obama’s a terrorist?”
<
p>Now, you could maybe find a few 9/11-Truth folks at an Obama rally … but they would be hard to find.
<
p>No. Unfortunately, the right is different. Many, many folks really are in an immense echo (or isolation) chamber, enabled and indulged by a well-developed alternative media. Their skepticism of the normal media, or of sources of information they don’t like, is total and suffocating. You cannot crank out the stuff that The Corner-ites put out, you cannot deny global warming, you cannot cheerlead the Iraq war the way they did, etc. if you’ve actually got a glimpse of reality.
<
p>Man, I would love smug and dismissive. I would settle for that. I fear it’s going to get worse.
…but this kind of vitriol? A “secret Muslim”? Bodily threats? I mean, I bet you could find plenty of people going to Obama who would savagely attack McCain on the war, the economy, and a host of issues. But this is the equivalent of claiming that he’s a Manchurian candidate for the North Vietnamese or something similar. It’s vitriol, fine, but with heapings of determined ignorance and bigotry.
Of course, you were only quoting a moron, so you’re exempted. đŸ™‚
laurelsays
if that statement fits, wear it.
geo999says
Document for me irrefutable evidence that the McCain Campaign has incited to violence.
<
p>And I regard personal slurs from whence they originate, so no offense taken.
<
p>Get busy.
lightirissays
There’s this low road:
<
p>
I think only a moron would say such a thing. Of course, you were only quoting a moron, so you’re exempted. đŸ™‚
<
p>Then this slightly rather ironic other road:
<
p>
And I regard personal slurs from whence they originate, so no offense taken.
<
p>Ah, yes. Personal slurs offend you. Morons and all. Yes, we see.
laurelsays
especially by ideologues bent on rejecting all evidence that doesn’t fit their pre-conceived notions. You provide us with a fine example of that. Thanks.
geo999says
As usual Laurel, all hat, no cattle.
<
p>And lightiris, don’t drink and blog.
joessays
and unfortunately, it should not be taken lightly, as it will be followed by a very high turnout on election day.
<
p>All the more reason to not let up, and make sure everybody follows through with voting.
Theodore Dreiser: “When fascism comes to America, it will be holding a Bible and wrapped in the flag.”
it’s Sinclair Lewis from his novella It Can’t Happen Here published in 1935.
I suppose that some Bush guy with a video camera with the temerity to show up at a Kerry campaign event in 2004 would have elicited a large helping of vitriol and even hyperbole from me.
<
p>And I am not sure, really, what these sorts of videos tell me. That the loud mouths that attend Republican rallies are like loud mouths everywhere? That only loud mouths go these events? That a lot of rally-goers are cracked in the head? That the Republican core is more dangerous than I imagined? Given that they’re surrounded by like-minded lunatics, they can be smug and dismissive. Very unpleasant viewing.
<
p>Do we learn something subjecting ourselves to this odd form of masochism by video?
what I took away from it was that the McCain campaign is soaked in bile and vitriol. The contrast to Obama crowds is stark. But as they say, art is what you make of it, so you may come away with a different impression.
Thank you for your response.
… but left-wing crankery and crackpottery takes a rather different tone. The whole Obama-as-terrorist idea is so foolish, so nutty, and these folks seem completely at home with it. They’re sure of it!
<
p>I know from left-wing crackpots. Left wing cranks tend to rant in an incoherent, Chomsky-esque fashion, but it’s usually pretty factual, if highly subjective in tone. What’s the left-wing equivalent of “Obama’s a terrorist?”
<
p>Now, you could maybe find a few 9/11-Truth folks at an Obama rally … but they would be hard to find.
<
p>No. Unfortunately, the right is different. Many, many folks really are in an immense echo (or isolation) chamber, enabled and indulged by a well-developed alternative media. Their skepticism of the normal media, or of sources of information they don’t like, is total and suffocating. You cannot crank out the stuff that The Corner-ites put out, you cannot deny global warming, you cannot cheerlead the Iraq war the way they did, etc. if you’ve actually got a glimpse of reality.
<
p>Man, I would love smug and dismissive. I would settle for that. I fear it’s going to get worse.
…but this kind of vitriol? A “secret Muslim”? Bodily threats? I mean, I bet you could find plenty of people going to Obama who would savagely attack McCain on the war, the economy, and a host of issues. But this is the equivalent of claiming that he’s a Manchurian candidate for the North Vietnamese or something similar. It’s vitriol, fine, but with heapings of determined ignorance and bigotry.
“the blood is on John McCain’s and Sarah Palin’s hands”. Thoughts?
Of course, you were only quoting a moron, so you’re exempted. đŸ™‚
if that statement fits, wear it.
Document for me irrefutable evidence that the McCain Campaign has incited to violence.
<
p>And I regard personal slurs from whence they originate, so no offense taken.
<
p>Get busy.
There’s this low road:
<
p>
<
p>Then this slightly rather ironic other road:
<
p>
<
p>Ah, yes. Personal slurs offend you. Morons and all. Yes, we see.
especially by ideologues bent on rejecting all evidence that doesn’t fit their pre-conceived notions. You provide us with a fine example of that. Thanks.
As usual Laurel, all hat, no cattle.
<
p>And lightiris, don’t drink and blog.
and unfortunately, it should not be taken lightly, as it will be followed by a very high turnout on election day.
<
p>All the more reason to not let up, and make sure everybody follows through with voting.