The Fringe Right Bubble is Bursting

Americans are living though a new era of "pop" culture. First, the inflated financial bubble popped on Wall Street. Now the fringe Right bubble is bursting on main street.

During the Carter administration in which the economy suffered double digit inflation, the air was let out of old time liberalism. Reagan, Bush and more Bush brought pins to the table along with a thousand points of light and burst it.

In between, a changed and improved "liberalism" emerged. The new progressivism is a perfect fit for postmodern times and the American people. Bill Clinton ushered in an era of social justice tempered by fiscal responsibility. His ideology was mitigated by a situational approach to problem solving. In governing, Clinton practiced political moderation, even though the extremes sometimes took him over in his personal life.

The Clinton administration, however, could not complete the change. In politicking, they were required to fight the fringe on their turf. The obsessive-compulsive focus on scandal, the us vs. them mentality, the demonizing, and the-truth-is-the-truth-because-I-said-it attitude.

During the Bush/Dukakis campaign, the fringe Right voice emerged with the Willie Horton ads. During the Clinton administration, the fringe salivated over scandal and became emboldened. During the Bush/Gore campaign, they got downright arrogant. During the Bush/Kerry campaign they got outright giddy. To the disbelief and downfall of Kerry and his campaign, the swift boating stuck.

Thus developed a sense of invincibility leading the fringe to go this far and this low. Why not? It had always worked before, so they pushed on and pumped it up with an absurd litany -- pigs and lipstick; Bill Ayers; the socialist/tax-and-spend liberal label; pro-America vs. anti-America...

Everyone expects hot air in politics, however the air got so rank that the country began to suffocate under a paranoid and divisive mentality. In this climate, a domino effect took hold; the fringe Right bubble was too close to the Wall Street bubble when it burst. One took the other down.

Now we have Republicans, Democrats, and Independents walking away from and speaking out against extreme rhetoric and deeds. The country is ready for an Obama administration that will provide us with a sense of moderation; a fusion of ideas; a patriotic, yet global perspective; and a sense of unity in a diverse culture.

Follow Caroline Presno on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drcaroline09

Comments

[JayInDallas]

When you strip away all the distractions, rhetoric and window dressing, you still have the issues that face this country. From a stance of cold objectivity, the differences between the candidates we have to choose from are glaringly stark. It is from that standpoint that the American public should make its decision. Not because of any cult of personality, or tarnished badge of honor or ethnicity. If I'm on the operating table, I don't care if the qualified surgeon is black, white or martian green. What I want to know is 1) what he intends to do (in detail), 2) why and how that will improve my condition, and 3) does it make sense to me intellectually. I'm voting Obama because whenever I've seen him on TV or heard him speak, just after he says he's going to do something, he proceeds to tell me HOW. I've listened to McCain in the same way and have yet to hear the detail that demonstrates that he's thought about this issue and what it means to me. I think we as a nation are at that point where bright shiny objects, promises and rhetoric simply aren't enough. This is the biggest job interview on earth. You'd better bring your A-game or go home. There's too much at stake.

[DelbertR]

As a moderate conservative, I have to agree with this writer -- and the demise of the so called "fringe right" cannot come soon enough for me. The invention of the politics of polarization has been a temporary tool used by the far right and deep pockets to win elections and has been the major cause of our deeply divided American population of today. It has ignited the growth of extremism ranging from the power-hungry televangelists to the rebirth of hate groups. The fact that rally attendees actually scream terms about an opposing candidate like "terrorist," "communist," "socialist," and "kill him" show where this kind of political strategy had led our country, and it is shameful for the Republican Party. We're all waiting for people of integrity in the Republican Party to step forward and call for the end of control by all the Karl Rove rascals, the bellowing one-way microphones who have no credentials, the NRA and televangelists who say their way is the only way -- all these self-centered manipulators have to be put back on the bench, because they are the un-American ones. People like Chuck Nagel, Colin Powell, Arlen Specter, Chuck Grassley, it's time to take a stand -- because the public is fed up.

[CBS]

I really believe it is going to take at least a generation for America and Americans to recover from this disastrous administration. What are the chances that all of these incompetent people could get together and in a period of 8 years wreak such havoc? It has been some kind of Perfect Storm and I will be so happy to see it end. Hurricane seems to be the operative metaphor.

[Horus45]

The number one priority for an Obama administration will be to clean up Justice!

[1fliteup]

The people have been lied to, deceived, and ultimately forgotten by the very people whose salary's we pay for. Mostly because we have let them get away with 8 years of doing things that smack of ilegal.
A republican president and rubber stamp congress. I could hardly believe that americans were so dumb as to put W. in the second time. Well all I can say is "heck of a job Bush" you really topped anyone for incompetence. 9/11 was just start, we were in shock and told to get duc tape.
After having a president who was a Rhodes Scolar to an idiot was the dumbing down of America. It is about time we woke up and changed this around, Obama has McCain beat all to hell when it comes to brains. I'll vote for smarts any day.

[Horus45]

It is a mistake to add legitimacy to the Bush administration by saying he was "Elected" a second time or the first for that matter.
We all know that what occurred was essentially a bloodless coup in both 2000 and 2004.
Bush did not "Win" either election and we need to make that clear for history's sake.
Hopefully Obama will win with enough of an advantage that they will NOT be able to steal THIS election.

[JerryJerryJerry]

I could not agree more and particularly on the point regarding "Republicans, Democrats, and Independents walking away from and speaking out against extreme rhetoric and deeds." I think that in this election, Mr. Obama has created an awakening in those who have felt left out and insignificant when it comes to presidential elections. He's created an awareness that has made the right wing rhetoric of the GOP and Fox News suspect and not to be taken at face value.

[TXDogDemocrat]

Yes, there is a world out there!
And it is waiting for us to work with them in addressing the pressing issues of this century.
When the US team tried to obstruct progress on global warming earlier this year, the representative from Papua New Guinea told them "Lead, follow, or get out of the way!"
So that's what I say to the McCain-Palin followers who have no good ideas, only parroting back the same old tired GOP tactics. You know the story: cut capital gain taxes, help the corporation & screw the middle class. Now that my 401(k) is now a 201(k), I'm going back to work.
Oh, by the way, do we even have a middle class any more?

[ohioan73]

There's a huge black middle class demographic on the rise. And the numbers of them are probably already beginning to dwindle thanks to the deregulator crooks.

[billyboil]

"The country is ready for an Obama administration that will provide us with a sense of moderation; a fusion of ideas; a patriotic, yet global perspectiv­e."
You mean there is a world out there - Americis not alone???????