Arianna joins Keith Olbermann on Countdown to discuss the increasingly desperate state of the right-wing media and the dangerous statements of some Republican politicians.
Arianna joins Keith Olbermann on Countdown to discuss the increasingly desperate state of the right-wing media and the dangerous statements of some Republican politicians.
Visit msnbc.com ...
Arianna joins Keith Olbermann on Countdown to discuss the increasingly desperate state of the right-wing media and the dangerous statements of some Republican politicians.
Visit msnbc.com ...
A little bit out of left field but I was thinking a few days ago about a book I meant to read a long time ago (probably was on a recommended reading list back in high school or college) - The Paranoid Style in American Politics by Richard Hofstadter.
As I'm one of a handful of outspoken centrists left in the Republican Party, naturally I was thinking of the orthodox conservatives in my party. But I also thought of so much that is orthodox liberalism, too. I mean, I've been taken aback by the level of vehemence expressed towards the Fed here at HuffPo .
(Thanks to Wikipedia for the following)
"... there is a style of mind that is far from new and that is not necessarily right-wing..." -
Writing in 1964 after Barry Goldwater's successful bid for the Republican nomination, Hofstadter says
"American politics has often been an arena for angry minds. In recent years we have seen angry minds at work mainly among extreme right-wingers, who have now demonstrated in the Goldwater movement how much political leverage can be got out of the animosities and passions of a small minority. But behind this I believe there is a style of mind that is far from new and that is not necessarily right-wing. I call it the paranoid style simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy that I have in mind."
parrotista: A little bit out of left field but I was
More Hofstadter - describing the characteristics of someone caught in the sway of the paranoid style:
"...he does not see social conflict as something to be mediated and compromised, in the manner of the working politician. Since what is at stake is always a conflict between absolute good and absolute evil, what is necessary is not compromise but the will to fight things out to a finish. Since the enemy is thought of as being totally evil and totally unappeasable, he must be totally eliminated — if not from the world, at least from the theatre of operations to which the paranoid directs his attention. This demand for total triumph leads to the formulation of hopelessly unrealistic goals, and since these goals are not even remotely attainable, failure constantly heightens the paranoid’s sense of frustration..."
parrotista: More Hofstadter - describing the characteristics of someone caught in
Just thinking about it makes me salivate. The thought of Rupert Murdoch and his sock puppets and all the rest of them being taken in at gunpoint by the FBI for plotting to overthrow the government.
Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?
Dolmance: Just thinking about it makes me salivate. The thought of
I love how she cut directly to the chase so that the rest of the interview served as underscore to her thesis. It's either this fringe whacko appeal to low information voters, or defend their own history of un-regulation plus borrow-and-spend profligacy, benefiting only the most rapacious and predatory of corporatists, dating back at least to Reagan, probably to Nixon / Ford. Clearly, the most powerful influences in the GOP have chosen to avoid reform and intellectual challenges to their failed "ideas" by appealing to those who are incapable or unwilling to understand those challenges. It is a very dangerous game, and the way they play it only makes me more suspicious of what secrets they are still trying to protect. Or, is it just about whipping up the lunatic fringe to disbelieve the facts that the mainstream already knows about the faked WMD "intelligence" and the orders *from the Cheney/Bush White House* to torture prisoners?
ObjectiveRealist: I love how she cut directly to the chase so
I thought AH made some really good points and was unusually clear and understandable on KO's show. I don't know if it's just me, but often I have to turn down the sound because I get really frustrated trying to understand her. Not the case last night, though.
lessbs: I thought AH made some really good points and was
The difference between the left-wing report and the right-wing report is that in the left-wing report, there were actual terrorist groups names, such as the ALF. You, because they actually use terrorism to advance their agenda. The right-wing report, on the other hand, is vague. If your a veteran, your a domestic threat. Support the Second Amendment? Your a domestic threat. So to say that people like Malkin and Hannity are trying to associate with them is not true, they are already associated with them in the report. Nobodies making stuff up. This is what came out the Obama administration.
And can somebody please explain to me why National Socialists (aka Nazi's) are right-wing? Nobody on the right supports them. And if they were right-wing, they wouldn't have the word "socialist" in their name.
Policon: The difference between the left-wing report and the right-wing report
This report was called for by the bush administation not Obama..It was just completed .Do remember Obama has a whole neo con govt. of civil servants and military hat have been in place for years under him..They wrote this report..
bayside: This report was called for by the bush administation not
Trying to tie Hitler to American liberals with the word "socialist" is disingenuous, at best. The Nazis viewpoint, and goals, were facsist and extremely il-liberal. There are many similarities between Nazi political positions, and the politics of the extreme right in the US: bigotry, homophobia, adherence to strict orthodoxy and surpression of dissent (re: every Republican WILL kiss Limbaugh's ring). And let's not forget the skinheads and Timothy McVeigh.
I don't care if the Nazi's called themselves the Keebler Elves. The evidence on what they were is very clear.
bknott: Trying to tie Hitler to American liberals with the word
Notice that the pictures of the "Tea-Baggers" showed few to no Blacks, Hispanics, or Asians protesting? It showed primarily out of the mainstream whites that appeared to be part of a fringe element (an element that appears to be pro-gun and potentially violent). Many of the signs being carried were out right racist in their comments and caricatures of the President. Interesting that there were no "Tea-bagging" parties during the Bush years when spending was out of control and our country's surplus turned into record deficits. Clearly, this is an anti-Obama, not anti-tax movement, fueled by Fox News and other corporate conglomerates and the Hannitys and Limbaughs tapping into a minority of the country's unhappiness with the election of a Black president. That our President is Black is the real issue for these people.
Btline: Notice that the pictures of the "Tea-Baggers" showed few to
libs love to categorize our citizens. ensure to check for native americans, canadian americans, african americans, rich, poor, female, male, bisexual, transsexual, what else is there let's see theres
noleftturns: libs love to categorize our citizens. ensure to check for
Every societal group has kooks on right and left. They have the ultrareligious zealots and militias and we have the daily kos & DU fringers. I have seen a lot of rallies living in LA and the fringe groups that show up like Workers World, Marxists, World Can't Wait, La Raza, etc marginalize us and give plenty of fodder to the right to show us as wackos.
If we really want to get anything done, and keep the White House for multiple terms, trying to paint the right as wackjobs, like the Rush fiasco, will backfire on us in the midterms. Uber partisanship got them nowhere and will get us nowhere as well. Nothing rallies a group more effectively than calling them losers and declaring them dead. We should realize we won, and figure out how to work with them, and let them have a few little victories. It will get us much further.
InLosAngeles: Every societal group has kooks on right and left. They
You need to realize that the right does not want to WORK with anybody. They are totally against compromise. They pronounce loudly about not COMPROMISING their conservative principles. Their attitude is the same whether they are in power or out of power. They are completely recalcitrant and out of touch with the attitude of mainstream America. There is no talking to them. Whenever they do not get their way they obstruct legislation(stimulus bill), stage "grassroots" rallies (tea parties), fight lost election results (Minnesota senate race, or come up with gimmicks (Gov. Palin, Joe the Plumber). They are like little kids who throw tantrums whenever they do not get their way.
Leon72: You need to realize that the right does not want
i watched arianna last night. i disagree with her politically, but i respect her. olberman kept trying to bait her into taking unfounded and untrue shots at the rallies. she did not bite. it was almost as though she was doing the show for her fans, not because she wanted to do it. olberman refuses to let the facts get in the way of his commentary, Arianna showed class by not dignifying his baseless accusations. She was like a teacher listening to a child.
jayy44: i watched arianna last night. i disagree with her politically,
As I'm one of a handful of outspoken centrists left in the Republican Party, naturally I was thinking of the orthodox conservatives in my party. But I also thought of so much that is orthodox liberalism, too. I mean, I've been taken aback by the level of vehemence expressed towards the Fed here at HuffPo .
(Thanks to Wikipedia for the following)
"... there is a style of mind that is far from new and that is not necessarily right-wing..." -
Writing in 1964 after Barry Goldwater's successful bid for the Republican nomination, Hofstadter says
"American politics has often been an arena for angry minds. In recent years we have seen angry minds at work mainly among extreme right-wingers, who have now demonstrated in the Goldwater movement how much political leverage can be got out of the animosities and passions of a small minority. But behind this I believe there is a style of mind that is far from new and that is not necessarily right-wing. I call it the paranoid style simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy that I have in mind."
"...he does not see social conflict as something to be mediated and compromised, in the manner of the working politician. Since what is at stake is always a conflict between absolute good and absolute evil, what is necessary is not compromise but the will to fight things out to a finish. Since the enemy is thought of as being totally evil and totally unappeasable, he must be totally eliminated — if not from the world, at least from the theatre of operations to which the paranoid directs his attention. This demand for total triumph leads to the formulation of hopelessly unrealistic goals, and since these goals are not even remotely attainable, failure constantly heightens the paranoid’s sense of frustration..."
Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?
And can somebody please explain to me why National Socialists (aka Nazi's) are right-wing? Nobody on the right supports them. And if they were right-wing, they wouldn't have the word "socialist" in their name.
I don't care if the Nazi's called themselves the Keebler Elves. The evidence on what they were is very clear.
We all know who was at these public demonstrations (in Public Space, I may add (horrors!))
Work-a-day-white folks defending the rights of their master white folks.
The most gullible folks on the planet.
Even the poorest Asian peasant farmer knows who is real enemy is!
If we really want to get anything done, and keep the White House for multiple terms, trying to paint the right as wackjobs, like the Rush fiasco, will backfire on us in the midterms. Uber partisanship got them nowhere and will get us nowhere as well. Nothing rallies a group more effectively than calling them losers and declaring them dead. We should realize we won, and figure out how to work with them, and let them have a few little victories. It will get us much further.
stand up for the 2nd amendment = right wing extremist
calling on congress to stop spending our great-grandchildrens money = right wing extremist
They were in the White House for the past 8 years!