Friday, April 09, 2010
"Breakdown of Civility"
Assholes on CNN this morning are worrying about whether the "breakdown of civility" is responsible for Rep Stupak deciding not to run again.
This is Leninist Gambit #1. Set up a situation where non-Commies are guaranteed to get upset, then call the non-Commies racist, sexist, homophobe, etc, etc, because they got upset.
You can see it most clearly when it's done by clunky amateurs, like the 'seminar callers' to brand-R talk shows.
Host: Howyadoin?
Caller: Howyadoin?
Host: I'm a GREAT AMERICAN. USA! USA! USA! We're NUMBER 1! Are you a GREAT AMERICAN?
Caller: Well, I've got about a thousand things I'd like to say...
Host: (sounding irritated) We don't have time for a thousand things. Pick one.
Caller: AHA! AHA! SEE, THERE YOU GO, YOU RACIST SEXIST BUSHITLER KLANSMAN!!!! YOU HATE FREE SPEECH!!! EVERY TIME SOMEONE TRIES TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, LIKE THE LIVING SAINT JOHN LEWIS, YOU RACIST SEXIST RACIST RACIST RACIST KLANSMEN HITLERS INTERRUPT US IN THE MIDDLE! GOTCHA! RACIST! GOTCHA! RACIST! RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST!!!
= = = = =
Another angle from a CBS commentator: "The poisonous partisan atmosphere has affected Stupak's relationship with his constituents."
No, you idiot. Stupak's betrayal of his constituents has affected his relationship with his constituents. This is how a parliamentary system is supposed to work, you idiot. Voters will forgive an apparent betrayal if the representative can show them why it was necessary. In this case it wasn't necessary, so no amount of explaining would help.
¶ 5:37 AM
This is Leninist Gambit #1. Set up a situation where non-Commies are guaranteed to get upset, then call the non-Commies racist, sexist, homophobe, etc, etc, because they got upset.
You can see it most clearly when it's done by clunky amateurs, like the 'seminar callers' to brand-R talk shows.
Host: Howyadoin?
Caller: Howyadoin?
Host: I'm a GREAT AMERICAN. USA! USA! USA! We're NUMBER 1! Are you a GREAT AMERICAN?
Caller: Well, I've got about a thousand things I'd like to say...
Host: (sounding irritated) We don't have time for a thousand things. Pick one.
Caller: AHA! AHA! SEE, THERE YOU GO, YOU RACIST SEXIST BUSHITLER KLANSMAN!!!! YOU HATE FREE SPEECH!!! EVERY TIME SOMEONE TRIES TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, LIKE THE LIVING SAINT JOHN LEWIS, YOU RACIST SEXIST RACIST RACIST RACIST KLANSMEN HITLERS INTERRUPT US IN THE MIDDLE! GOTCHA! RACIST! GOTCHA! RACIST! RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST RACIST!!!
= = = = =
Another angle from a CBS commentator: "The poisonous partisan atmosphere has affected Stupak's relationship with his constituents."
No, you idiot. Stupak's betrayal of his constituents has affected his relationship with his constituents. This is how a parliamentary system is supposed to work, you idiot. Voters will forgive an apparent betrayal if the representative can show them why it was necessary. In this case it wasn't necessary, so no amount of explaining would help.
¶ 5:37 AM
