Stickybuffalo.com

Over the weekend, The Economist‘s Lexington columnist wrote:

The political puzzle that Barack Obama and the Democrats need to figure out is just why such a large chunk of America’s white middle class appears to feel that American honour and values are in jeopardy, and why they appear to blame this president for this perceived danger…. Why is it so widely believed? … I am genuinely perplexed.

I actually didn’t even leave a comment, aside from one directed at another comment which was shockingly racist and hate-filled, at any rate by the standards which usually prevail at The Economist site. I kept thinking about the question, though, and over night (yes, crazies, you haunt me even in my sleep) came up with probably the closest to an answer I can suggest.

Then I woke up and found that our scruffy pal at The Times had already written up the idea for me. He pretty much got everything; the only thing I would have specifically added was to connect the fact that “a significant number of Americans just don’t consider government by liberals — even very moderate liberals — legitimate” with a complete “us vs them” mentality.

Democrats are seen as illegitimate because we’re “the enemy,” and we’re the enemy not because of anything we do but just because we aren’t part of their “us.” After all, these people didn’t give a fart about deficit spending, expanding government, reduced individual liberties, etc., etc., etc., so long as the role of the big tribe’s alpha male was occupied by their guy.

Call it identity politics, whatever you want, but that’s basically what’s going on. In the sense of some kind of “substantive” explanation in terms of issues, there’s nothing for Obama, et al. to “figure out.” These people don’t have genuine, rational grievances that Democrats can somehow “understand” and respond to; Democrats, ourselves, are their grievance.

And, really, what can be done about that? Krugman, per his usual pugilistic instincts, suggests that Obama basically needs to fight harder, “on the economic front in particular.” But, of course, Krugs is also by this point well aware that such encouragement to activity is likely to go unheeded.

Man, I really don’t know if I can stomach another out-for-blood reactionary congress…

Well, that big health care reform legislative death-march for the sake of which pretty much every other priority was jettisoned sure was worthwhile, wasn’t it?

From NPR: California Approves Anthem Blue Cross Rate Hike

Remind me again, someone, of how we liberals are unreasonable and delusional for being so discouraged by the utter failure to pass meaningful energy/environment legislation, to advance the cause of gay rights, to close Gitmo, to quit dithering around in overseas quagmires, to challenge the ridiculous filibuster, etc., etc., etc.

Remind me, again, how we should be excited by President Obama’s and congressional Democrats’ major victories in saving the economy (for the finance industry, the auto industry and the super-rich; two of which three beneficiaries still loathe their benefactors anyway) and bringing about universal health insurance coverage (by the thoughtful method of introducing fines for failing to purchase the overpriced offerings of private insurance companies, for which a portion of the population will receive a grudging, flint-hearted subsidy, allegedly, someday, though in the meantime private insurers continue to push already unaffordable premiums up, with regulatory approval).

Yeah. I guess this great victory was so worth it, wasn’t it? I’d definitely rather have this wonderful reform which is doing so much to rein in health care costs than a start at securing sustainable energy supplies or a habitable planet for future generations.

In fact, let’s set priorities in all future Democratic governments (if any) by sacrificing everything else in favor of a halfhearted, sellout of an effort to achieve the pet project of the eldest member of the Kennedy dynasty. It’s proved to be such an absolutely fucking brilliant strategy this time, after all.

I kind of just want to record these comments, here, for myself as much as anything.

The context of the following quotes is America’s latest useless, brainless, hysterical hissyfit, that over the Cordoba center. The Cordoba center will be more familiar to most people, unfortunately, by its condensed and intentionally-charged, as well as critically-misleading name, “the Ground Zero mosque.” As usual, thanks to our “liberal media” for sacrificing both accuracy and objectivity in favor of attention-getting and, not coincidentally, inflammatory phrasing.

I should offer a gold star to The Economist, however, for not only its reasoned and mature perspective on the matter, but for absolutely piling on. A praiseworthy effort.

Sadly, many of America’s so-called “leaders,” have unfortunately been lacking any similar commitment to those national ideals (not to mention the plain, old-fashioned concept of “standing up for what’s right”) which are apparently inconvenient just now.

(more…)