Comments on: Identity Crises

By: Shredder

Shredder — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:24:40 +0000

If you look at it, Obama has brilliantly exposed some of the most offensive AND deeply-ingrained conservative narratives to fresh scrutiny. Whether it’s Wright, or “bitterness,” he is succeeding at re-inverting the populist narrative. He seems to have taken “What’s the Matter with Kansas” to heart.

The outcome, if he plays it right, which he has so far, is to discredit the entire edifice of right wing propaganda posing as “balanced” news, which is precisely why the heavies on the right are blowing such a gasket. Not only will the right-wing populist inversion run aground, landing former Reagan dems squarely back in the Dem camp, but the whole establishment media that played along with it for so long will find itself isolated, rejected, and most importantly, irrelevant.

Whether Obama pulls it off or not, he has given us a strong hint of what needs to be done and which neither the democratic party establishment nor the establishment media has been capable of doing: just telling the truth and letting the chips fall where they may. Until recently, it has been precisely the dems’ fear of speaking the truth that makes them look “wimpy.” But telling the truth nails them as “elitist.” It’s a “heads you’re a wimp, tails you’re an elitist” bait-and-switch tactic, and Obama has just thrust a deep stake into the heart of that zombie-narrative.

More please!

By: felicity

felicity — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:18:37 +0000

I just can’t help it. Obama’s Annie Oakley comment, very funny, evoked Hillary packing pistols which in turn evoked Walter Mitty which in turn evoked Hillary liberating the women of China, Hillary negotiating peace in Northern Ireland, Hillary ducking live-fire in Yugoslavia, Hillary saving the world when the ‘red’ phone rings at 3am.

By: paradoctor

paradoctor — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:34:59 +0000

BHO: People are angry and upset, and for good reason.
MSM: How dare you utter the obvious truth?

By: Swami

Swami — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:36:56 +0000

McCain says while talking about the bitter people referred to in the recent Obama flap..“These are people who produced the generation that made the world safe for democracy.”

I know McCain is old, and might be prone to a little disorientation, but wouldn’t the generation that made the world safe for democracy have been born around 1900, and the people who produced them have been born in the late 1800’s? How does a Woodrow Wilson campaign slogan fit in to the Obama flap? Maybe McCain just finished reading Johnny Got His Gun?

By: maha

maha — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:13:02 +0000

Obama’s elitism lies in thinking the working classes follow populist bullshit because they have been shafted by the elites

Are you saying that the working class won’t listen to a populist message even though they’ve been shafted by elites? Or are you saying that working people don’t know they’ve been shafted by elites?

I think either statement is wrong, note. I’m just trying to understand what’s being said so I can try to guess what’s “elitist” about it.

By: Dr Zen

Dr Zen — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:34:18 +0000

John Cole is striking a bum note though. You’re not an “elitist” because of belonging to the elite. Obviously, both of the candidates belong to the elite, and can’t pretend otherwise. Obama’s elitism lies in thinking the working classes follow populist bullshit because they have been shafted by the elites; Clinton’s lies in agreeing, and using populist bullshit to batter him with.

By: Swami

Swami — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:22:27 +0000

Carl Bernstien’s article is right on the money. He hit on every sentiment of disdain I hold for Hillary. I particularly like his usage of the term “scorched earth” to describe Hillary’s campaign tactics…it sums it up nicely. My inclination to express that same observation would be to revert to the vernacular of my New York construction worker roots, and say… The bitch will claw your balls off and hang them on her broom if you get in her way.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:51:07 +0000

Kristol is like W; he’s never had to work for any thing in his life. Talk about elitest. Probably couldn’t get a job on his own. His mother and father get him jobs.

By: felicity

felicity — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:30:31 +0000

Kristol is the NYTime’s version of a comic relief. Of course, he’s not comical, he’s not a relief so he must be sleeping with somebody. (That’s the Hollywood explanation for a talentless someone who reaches stardom.)

The righties have done a stellar job of convincing the American people that all their woes, fears and sleepless nights are the result of an America ruled by elites -tax raising, sushi-eating, leftwing freaks – rather than corporate America, the power-brokers who really pull the strings that activate their puppets in DC.

By: maha

maha — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:44:51 +0000

joan16 — Annie Oakley fans are already taking umbrage at TalkLeft. However, it’s not clear to me if Hillary Clinton should feel insulted by being compared to Annie Oakley or if Annie Oakley should feel insulted by being compared to Hillary Clinton.