Quote of the day
Conservative Palin critic Rod Dreher:
terrorists Democrats!
Unlike Andrew Sullivan, I don't think this phenomenon is necessarily a sign of a unique sickness within the conservative movement. I think it's more an aspect of human nature than anything else -- a stage of grief, really. When one's "side" is losing, one tends to go through a phase that involves denial and lashing out in anger at "traitors" and other scapegoats. The "Angry Left" made this an artform between 2002 and 2006. Now the "Angry Right" is doing precisely the sort of thing that it has long denounced on the Left. That's disappointing, and it certainly punctures any notion that the Right is uniquely rational, introspective, or intellectually honest. But it's not terribly surprising, I suppose.
CLARIFICATION: When I say that conservatives' "side is losing," I am not referring to John McCain's current standing in the polls, which may or may not be ephemeral. I'm talking about the overall decline of the GOP and conservatism in this country. While the presidential election remains up for grabs, it is clear that the Republican Party is severely on the wane right now, just as it was clear that the Democratic Party was out in the political wilderness from 2002-2006. If McCain wins, it'll be in spite of the "R" next to his name, not because of it.
So I was on Larry King Live last night for one segment, talking about my doubts about Palin. Opposite me was the radio talker Lars Larson, who kept robotically repeating the line that he trusts Palin's "judgment," and that she talks in ways that the "East Coast media elites" hate, but that normal people understand. I should have pointed out that that's an insult to the people Larson thinks he's defending; if expecting a politician running for vice president of the United States to give clear, lucid answers to basic questions having to do with running the country is somehow elitist, and rattling off discombobulated talking points is how normal non-elitist people talk, I fail to see how that's an argument in favor of the masses.Dreher, Kathleen Parker and other conservative critics of Palin are now being called idiots and traitors -- and, by John McCain himself, "Georgetown cocktail party" faux-conservatives -- for daring to voice critical opinions of Palin. One supposes George F. Will will be next in line for excoriation and excommunication. If you're not with us, you're with the
Unlike Andrew Sullivan, I don't think this phenomenon is necessarily a sign of a unique sickness within the conservative movement. I think it's more an aspect of human nature than anything else -- a stage of grief, really. When one's "side" is losing, one tends to go through a phase that involves denial and lashing out in anger at "traitors" and other scapegoats. The "Angry Left" made this an artform between 2002 and 2006. Now the "Angry Right" is doing precisely the sort of thing that it has long denounced on the Left. That's disappointing, and it certainly punctures any notion that the Right is uniquely rational, introspective, or intellectually honest. But it's not terribly surprising, I suppose.
CLARIFICATION: When I say that conservatives' "side is losing," I am not referring to John McCain's current standing in the polls, which may or may not be ephemeral. I'm talking about the overall decline of the GOP and conservatism in this country. While the presidential election remains up for grabs, it is clear that the Republican Party is severely on the wane right now, just as it was clear that the Democratic Party was out in the political wilderness from 2002-2006. If McCain wins, it'll be in spite of the "R" next to his name, not because of it.
posted by Brendan Loy at
10/02/2008 08:20:00 AM
