There's No Middle Ground in this 2008 Election Year
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Open Thread February 22 2025
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Yesterday, The Conversation newsletter included an article titled “Making
sex deadly for insects could control pests that carry disease and harm
crops.” I ...
2 hours ago
I am convinced that when I look back on 2008, I'll be glad and proud that I did. Real convinced.
ReplyDeleteHuffpo has a great article on elitism, which I think you'll appreciate.
ReplyDeleteThis Country Needs An Intellectual
If you want to see a really good example of people talking past one another, you need go no further than the charges of "elitism" being leveled at Barack Obama by the McCain campaign.
To those making the accusation, Obama's elitism seems self-evident. To the rest of us, those same charges seem ridiculous. McCain is far richer than Obama, and has been a "celebrity" far longer. Unlike Obama, he was born into privilege. With the notable exception of his time as a prisoner of war, he has led a charmed—even pampered—life. How in the world, Obama supporters ask, can he call Obama "elitist" and keep a straight face?
It's simple, once we realize that this "elitism" doesn't have anything to do with wealth or even privilege. It is an attribute of intellect. The charge of elitism is a manifestation of America's longstanding and unfortunate subtext of anti-intellectualism, and its use during this campaign is both revealing and disturbing.
You raise a perfectly applicable point, Stella. I support, maybe 40% of what Obama says he's going to do or not do. I support him 100% because of who and what he is. He's talent. He's a statesman. He exudes it. He's the opposite of what we have had for the last eight years and what we would get with the Palin-McCain ticket.
ReplyDeleteI especially like your final graf, which spotlights the conflation of "elitism" with aristocracy, laying it to the American affliction with know-nothing anti-intellectualism. You may have missed my earlier posts on MMA,
It's Settled: Aristocrats Do Not Like Elites and
It's Not Elitist to Own 13 Automobiles. Much more needs to be said on this issue, and I may have an additional comment after I read Huffington article.
This Republican tag that Obama is elitist is laughable, absolutely laughable.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't make sense when you compare the backgrounds of both candidates.
Can tell you that many of my European friends think those Republicans who came up with this silly tag don't understand what elitist or being elite means.
Hi Vig,
ReplyDeleteThis might interest you:
"Foreclosures are running at about 9,000 a month. This has provided the Republicans with another opportunity to suppress the vote. They are building “foreclosure lists” around vulnerable precincts in swing states. They intend to challenge any vote registered at a foreclosed address. Clever, eh? It might not be legal but it might be just legal enough to scare some people away from the voting booths. Lose your house; lose your vote – eighteen century disenfranchisement – the very issue this country was founded on. I can’t wait for the McCain band to strike up with “Happy Days Are Here Again”."
Over at Mick Smith's Times blog:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/mick_smith/2008/09/letter-from-t-2.html?cid=132005804#comments
A couple of 'bigs' from 'the Beeb' this morning to get off my chest before I forget.
ReplyDelete#1 Barrack Obama is so elite, he's overqualified for the Presidency, if anything. Especially, most especially by recently observed standards.
#2 Mad-Mike surmised on another thread that Colin Powell might endorse Barrack Obama. I'm hoping that might not happen, for the same reason Cornel West once remarked, "If I were running for President, I would hope no black man would endorse me because I am black, because that would mean that more whites would vote against me because I'm not white." Now, of course, Colin might easily support Barry for other reasons, but it's all about appearances, Baby! Ain't that right? So, I'm hoping the General will recognize this election is not about him, but about Barry.
#3 Re Indigenous Anti-Intellectualism: My fellow Americans like their movies in 216 hexadecimal colors, but they think only in two colors: good and evil, black or white. That is why they prefer movies about the European holocaust as opposed to their own. Because every one easily recognize those Germans as the bad guys. Because as Gunnar Myrdal taught me, in America, the bad guys live among us. And that's what is up for grabs in this election: as a country, we are wrestling with our American Dilemma.
An elite with one home and one car? Definitely not a fat cat elite. But we do not like them smarty pants who make us realize how damn dumb we really are. So we will vote in droves for Mcpalin--the flying pig with lipstick because they are just like us. Folksy and ignorant and backwards and ready to bring on Armageddon. We like women to make less than men for the same job, and we don't want safe, pregnancy-free sex, cause that's just nasty. I could rant on and on, but it's not my site, so I will now shut my mouth. Well, at least for a couple of seconds.
ReplyDeleteMcCain is down by 6-9% in Polls? Wants to back out of Friday's debate? I guess he didn't think he could stretch noun-verb-POW out for 90 minutes? Don't know about any one elese, but I'm having a Rick Davis Day!
ReplyDeleteI support him 100% because of who and what he is. He's talent. He's a statesman. He exudes it. He's the opposite of what we have had for the last eight years and what we would get with the Palin-McCain ticket.
ReplyDeleteOkay, for those reasons I'm now scared because H.L. Mencken once said: "The men the American public admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth."
I won't feel confident about the outcome of the election until Obama's hand is on the Bible on January 20th and he takes the oath of office.
Beach, I'm with you on that fear. If he does get elected will he live to be sworn in?
ReplyDeleteI thought about the ramifications of Colin Powell endorsing Obama Vigil. We share the same belief as to the possible result. The fact is America is a racist country and that is not going to change any time soon. Some of the biggest racists of all are the Krazy Kristians. The preach God on the one hand and hate on the other. How do I know this? I am so unfortunate to live in South Georgia (that would be the state Mrs. Palin, not the country that was invaded by the Russkis).
ReplyDeleteFinally Vigil hit the nail on the head when he spoke about Americans are quick to condemn the European holocaust. You rarely hear [us] talking about the millions of Indians we slaughtered, not to mention the Civil War where both sides murdered their prisoners.
In closing we are a nation that was built on God and hypocrisy and there is no daylight between either concept. I am with Beach and Utah: until Obama lays his hand on that bible (I refuse to capitalize it) I will continue to be worried.