Friday, November 19, 2004
Topical Nonsense
Of course we all know that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are “spokesmen for the Black community.” It’s not so clear, however, why Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, or Larry Elder aren’t (three insightful -- conservative -- black men). In the same scheme, Gloria Steinem is a spokesperson for “woman’s issues” and Phyllis Schlafly isn’t – go figure.
Michelle Malkin points out the inconsistencies in media regarding their new token darling, Barack Obama, and other not so well touted “minority” figures that happen to not share the “mainstream” media’s left-wing view of things.
“Obama isn't the only example of ‘the American dream that's around in politics,’ however. At least two other noteworthy minority politicians won unprecedented election victories last week. But you won't hear Andrea Mitchell or Howard Fineman swooning over their success stories -- because these invisible American Dream candidates belong to the wrong party and believe all the wrong things…”
Malkin notes something which should be obvious to most who appreciate the views and accomplishments of truly diverse citizens – that big media has a double standard regarding who’s to be respected and who’s to be sneered at.
The Caring Left
The Red and Blue two Americas concept gets an insightful analysis from Don Feder at Front Page Magazine.com:
“Compassionate, caring, blue-through-and-through Massachusetts has the second lowest per capita charitable giving in the nation. According to the Catalogue of Philanthropy, in 2004, the 10 states with the highest per person giving went for Bush, and the 10 stingiest states (per capita) voted for Kerry.”
Up to now, all I’ve heard are observations that the states that voted for Bush were somehow morally repugnant enclaves of bible-thumping fascism. Clearly there is more than one way to generalize on the attributes of “Red and Blue” states.
A “softer” more moderate Hillary
“According to a Quinnipiac poll of New Yorkers, Clinton's approval rating has steadily risen from 38 percent on Feb. 14, 2001 to 61 percent on Sept. 14, 2004. ‘ She's not the caricature that people thought," Carroll said. "She's not a '60s lefty. She's not a loony leftist and she works. She's a reasonably centrist liberal.’ ”
I can’t claim it to have been a particularly profound observation on my part, but in my last post I had described St. Hillary’s emerging skillful transition to moderation. The con is already beginning to work apparently.
From The Country That Surrendered To And Collaborated With The Nazis
As it turns out, some French mouthpieces of the Left are claiming that America is becoming a “Fascist” country. (Haven’t they always believed this?)
I don’t want to get on a French bashing tirade, particularly in view of the fact that not all French citizens are flaming Socialist snobs. But lets face it, the most vocal “spokespersons” of France – actually, all of Europe – are simply garden variety Leftists who have effectively colored the thinking of many of their fellow citizens.
…“There is no recognition here that the unemployment rate in France’s over-administered social-democratic welfare state is more than twice that of the United States, that the crime rate in France is far higher than that of the United States, or that the alienation from society found in France’s ghettoes is at least as great as that found in America’s, and furthermore that the alienated in France are far more heavily armed and dangerous to society as a whole. Self-examination has never been the strong point of French intellectual life.”…
In a short City Journal essay, Theodore Dalrymple reminds us that the French Left thinks Americans in general are Fascists – regardless of Bush. Of course, even the American Left thinks Americans are Fascists so, really, what’s their point?
Ah, the guardians of café life -- if we could only be as kind and loving as them.
In the Leftist’s Worldview; Everyone Is Equally Not-Special
Brent Bozell praises the new Pixar animated movie, “The Incredibles.” What caught my attention is this excellent quote from the movie where a superhero mother touches on issues of individuality and greatness with her son,
"Dad says our powers make us special," he protests.
"Everyone is special, Dash," his mother replies.
"Which is another way of saying no one is," Dash complains.
The dominant philosophy in America’s public school system, in a nutshell…
Michelle Malkin points out the inconsistencies in media regarding their new token darling, Barack Obama, and other not so well touted “minority” figures that happen to not share the “mainstream” media’s left-wing view of things.
“Obama isn't the only example of ‘the American dream that's around in politics,’ however. At least two other noteworthy minority politicians won unprecedented election victories last week. But you won't hear Andrea Mitchell or Howard Fineman swooning over their success stories -- because these invisible American Dream candidates belong to the wrong party and believe all the wrong things…”
Malkin notes something which should be obvious to most who appreciate the views and accomplishments of truly diverse citizens – that big media has a double standard regarding who’s to be respected and who’s to be sneered at.
The Caring Left
The Red and Blue two Americas concept gets an insightful analysis from Don Feder at Front Page Magazine.com:
“Compassionate, caring, blue-through-and-through Massachusetts has the second lowest per capita charitable giving in the nation. According to the Catalogue of Philanthropy, in 2004, the 10 states with the highest per person giving went for Bush, and the 10 stingiest states (per capita) voted for Kerry.”
Up to now, all I’ve heard are observations that the states that voted for Bush were somehow morally repugnant enclaves of bible-thumping fascism. Clearly there is more than one way to generalize on the attributes of “Red and Blue” states.
A “softer” more moderate Hillary
“According to a Quinnipiac poll of New Yorkers, Clinton's approval rating has steadily risen from 38 percent on Feb. 14, 2001 to 61 percent on Sept. 14, 2004. ‘ She's not the caricature that people thought," Carroll said. "She's not a '60s lefty. She's not a loony leftist and she works. She's a reasonably centrist liberal.’ ”
I can’t claim it to have been a particularly profound observation on my part, but in my last post I had described St. Hillary’s emerging skillful transition to moderation. The con is already beginning to work apparently.
From The Country That Surrendered To And Collaborated With The Nazis
As it turns out, some French mouthpieces of the Left are claiming that America is becoming a “Fascist” country. (Haven’t they always believed this?)
I don’t want to get on a French bashing tirade, particularly in view of the fact that not all French citizens are flaming Socialist snobs. But lets face it, the most vocal “spokespersons” of France – actually, all of Europe – are simply garden variety Leftists who have effectively colored the thinking of many of their fellow citizens.
…“There is no recognition here that the unemployment rate in France’s over-administered social-democratic welfare state is more than twice that of the United States, that the crime rate in France is far higher than that of the United States, or that the alienation from society found in France’s ghettoes is at least as great as that found in America’s, and furthermore that the alienated in France are far more heavily armed and dangerous to society as a whole. Self-examination has never been the strong point of French intellectual life.”…
In a short City Journal essay, Theodore Dalrymple reminds us that the French Left thinks Americans in general are Fascists – regardless of Bush. Of course, even the American Left thinks Americans are Fascists so, really, what’s their point?
Ah, the guardians of café life -- if we could only be as kind and loving as them.
In the Leftist’s Worldview; Everyone Is Equally Not-Special
Brent Bozell praises the new Pixar animated movie, “The Incredibles.” What caught my attention is this excellent quote from the movie where a superhero mother touches on issues of individuality and greatness with her son,
"Dad says our powers make us special," he protests.
"Everyone is special, Dash," his mother replies.
"Which is another way of saying no one is," Dash complains.
The dominant philosophy in America’s public school system, in a nutshell…
