"The creation myth of modern conservatism usually begins with Barry Goldwater,"says Neal Gabler in the Los Angeles Times, but was Goldwater really anything like Sarah Palin or George Bush or indeed any Republican president or candidate since his disastrous run?
Gabler thinks the true story bears no resemblance to the heroic epic of Goldwater, Reagan, and the Bush's, but rather that the blood line descends from Joe McCarthy to Dick Nixon to the Commander Guy. Wisconsin Senator McCarthy with his witch hunts, fake lists of Commies in the State Department, Hollywood, the schools and under your bed was the prototype; set the stage for the aggressive use of bogeymen to divide, antagonize and conquer.
"McCarthyism is a way to build support by playing on the anxieties of Americans, actively convincing them of danger and conspiracy even where these don't exist."
Even a man like John McCain couldn't resist the temptation to demonize, to invent doubt and suspicion, to enlist people like Sarah Palin -- and perhaps without the vertiginous descent of our economy, so reminiscent of the Biblical plagues upon Egypt, he would have succeeded.
All the pundits are pretending to ask themselves "whither the GOP?" Now that McCain has sold his withered soul and slithering Sarah is in the spotlight, supporting unscrupulous candidates and hunting witches. Gabler thinks he knows and I think I agree.
"There may be assorted intellectuals and ideologues in the party, maybe even a few centrists, but there is no longer an intellectual or even ideological wing. The party belongs to McCarthy and his heirs -- Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Palin. It's in the genes."Let's hope we acquire some immunity.
4 comments:
Playing on fears is one ploy. Outright lying is another. Here is what Conservapedia says about the Bush economy:
Bush has presided over a period of general economic growth. This is partially due to changes in the stock market that lead to a record high in 2007 … Corporations show profits growing by double digits growth.[5] Even the working class is benefiting from the Bush economy, as unemployment hits an all time low in March 2007.[6]
Who would have thought we had it so good.
The growth, of course, wasn't general at all, but you're right -- they're masters of deceit and they cover the lies with "inventive" attacks on anyone who doubts.
Today's conservative ideology is based on myth and legend. None of it is demonstrable historically.
The one thing they have done well is convince the masses that their view is "true" and "American" however ... I doubt even the impending deep recession will convince the faithful -- or even a significant portion of the "independents".
very true and as the man said, you can fool some of the people all of the time.
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