We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore ( anti-Republican/Bush barf alert )

In These Times ^ | 8/26/04 | Garrison Keillor

[sushiman]

We’re Not in Lake Wobegon Anymore How did the Party of Lincoln and Liberty transmogrify into the party of Newt Gingrich’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk?

[Viking2002]

I think the man's brain is terminally frostbitten. He needs to stick to his parables about moose turds in Aunt Sadie's pie, or whatever it is that he does on our nickel.

[Joe 6-pack]

Sad to see the depths to which Keillor has sunk. Keillor was good friends w/ one of the bigs in our English Dep't at Gettysburg College and was a semi-frequent speaker on campus. I remember once in '88 or '89, prior to giving his talk, he had the entire audience stand and whistle the National Anthem...the strength and apparent harmony of the impromptu rendition was really quite stirring. He then went on to give more of a folksy / comedy routine that was generally apolitical.

Too bad he seems to be incapable of such these past few years...

[BenLurkin]

Hmmmm . . .

[coconutt2000]

Response: How did the Party of Franklin D. Roosevelt transmogrify into a Party of Screeching Harpies and Envious Magpies?

[NavVet]

I think it's safe to say, FDR, JFK would be turning over in their graves if they could see what the neo-comms have done to the Democratic party.

[isthisnickcool]

It’s a beautiful world, rain or shine, and there is more to life than winning.

Then he won't mind when Kerry loses.

[Congressman Billybob]

There was a time that I enjoyed Keiler for his gentle good humor and his love of folk music and clever word plays. But the sewage which has come from his pen and his mouth in recent years about politics, leave me no room to tolerate him any more.

I no more respect Keiler to talk about national politics, than I respect a cab driver to talk about brain surgery. He's over his head, and spreading ignorance, sort of like the worst of unionized teachers in elementary school (or middle school, or high school, or most colleges, you get the idea).

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "The Radio Talk Show Amendment, Or: Why John Kerry is Now Toast"

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[prognostigaator]

Garrison Keillor is no Victor Davis Hanson...........

[AmericanMade1776]

I wrote him a response and it is posted on his site:

Garrison,

Just want to say, Love your Radio Show, and Love NPR, you are one of the best storytellers around. I even laughed it up when you had Franken on talking about your book lines.

I am a Republican, who lives in Georgia, and lived in Massachusetts for 19 years and I still find you funny.

Even though you have a great talent for waxing poetic, and storytelling, I find you very short on abilities to protect this country from Al Quaeda or any future attacks.

One Question for you, when have you ever been bullied by a fundamentalist Bible Thumper? Just curious, and it might make for a funny talk episode on your radio program.

And this statement of yours “Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous.” You really need to get out of your small pond of Wobegon and get a grip, and realize that making sweeping generalizations about Republicans, Christians, and Southerners really just makes you look mean spirited.


You are in luck, Mr. Keillor, Mark Twain is here in your very hour of need and he has some kind words for you, to guide you. Mark Twain is telling you “GOOD BREEDING CONSISTS IN CONCEALING HOW MUCH WE THINK OF OURSELVES AND HOW LITTLE WE THINK OF THE OTHER PERSON”.

Keep the Faith, Keep the Humor, and I look forward to the next time I listen to NPR and you are doing your radio show.

God Bless America, God Bless our Troops, God Bless our President

[AmericanMade1776]

i wrote him a response and it seems it was deleted, and I reposted it.

[NYCVirago]

This year, as in the past, Republicans will portray us Democrats as embittered academics, desiccated Unitarians, whacked-out hippies and communards, people who talk to telephone poles, the party of the Deadheads.

If the shoe fits...

[DennisR]

Ah, the Left. Whenever intelligence, facts, and reality invade their territory, name-calling becomes Plan A.

[Love U]

I come from a long line of Upstate, NY Republicans, including an Assistant Secretary of State and several Assembly members. We were Protestants, farmers, hunters, conservationists, Free Masons, county assessors, and firemen. The Republican values I was raised with are not the values Republicans extoll today. I agree with Garrison.

[Neseattle]

As a 46-year-old male, who was a Nixon supporter in my youth, I must agree with Keillor. I think that Pat Buchanan's new book "Where the Right Went Wrong" makes many of the same points.

The problem with being led by the fanatical fringe is that it pushes the pendulum beyond what is prudent, and makes for a more radical swing the other direction. If people do not think that the pendulum theory of politics is valid, look at what the liberals did to their party in the 60's.

In embracing and promoting the lunatic fringe of any movement, the danger grows that it's not based on solid principles.

Living in the times that we do, it's easy to get blinded to the long-term effects of our actions. What President Bush is advertising is that he is going to do away with terrorism. Does anyone believe that?

What are the chances of one person killing hundreds or thousands of people in the future if America continues towards more and more conservative values? The chances are exactly the same as if America becomes more and more liberal. To believe that this, or any President of The United States of America can make us safe is folly. The fewer pissed off people we have around the world, the lesser the chances of widespread terrorism. To make this a "Crusade" is to do exactly what the lunatic fringe of Islam, or any other group wants.

Believe it or not, it really does make sense to keep the gap between the richest countries of the world and the poorest countries to a minimum. There will always be differences, and we will have more, but if we are to hold to the "Christian Values" that the majority believe in, in America, we can't ignore the effects of our own actions, or in-action.

Neseattle

[dighton]

Red carpets for two, s'il vous plait.

[Old Sarge]

The fewer pissed off people we have around the world, the lesser the chances of widespread terrorism.
Believe it or not, it really does make sense to keep the gap between the richest countries of the world and the poorest countries to a minimum.

So, redistribute wealth, and "Why Do They Hate Us, It Must Be Our Fault." And you signed up today to waste bandwidth with this?

The Republican values I was raised with are not the values Republicans extoll today.

And you, who have drunk so much Kool-aid, that you've forgotten

THIS!!!

Almighty and Most Merciful MOD, we your Vigilant Kindred, present unto Thee these burnt offerings, which hath been naughty in Thy site.

[BenLurkin]

Isn't Lake Wobegon the place where all the men are weak and all the women are homely.

[MadIvan]

It's only fair to point out that RR made training films rather than flying planes because he was very nearly as blind as a bat. Totally unqualified to be a pilot.

Correct. Our dear President Reagan mentioned this in his autobiography - he had to have an extremely strong prescription, and spoke of the difficulties in using some of the earliest contact lenses.

Regards, Ivan

[Slings and Arrows]

I concur. We've got tag-team trolls.

[MadIvan]

Believe it or not, it really does make sense to keep the gap between the richest countries of the world and the poorest countries to a minimum. There will always be differences, and we will have more, but if we are to hold to the "Christian Values" that the majority believe in, in America, we can't ignore the effects of our own actions, or in-action.

Oh do shut up. Even if redistribution were desireable (and it's not), if the United Nations cannot manage an Oil for Food programme for one country humanely, what in the name of GOD makes you think that anyone can do the kind of global redistribution of which you speak?

Secondly, most of the Al Qaeda leadership are sons of privilege, not poverty.

The real answer is for 3rd world countries to adopt policies which will enhance free markets and economic growth. There are even signs that the North Koreans get this. Which makes them marginally more intelligent than the Rockefeller Republican or the liberal Democrat.

Ivan