Hooked on conspiracy theories (David Brooks on Kevin Phillips' "American Theocracy")

NY Times via Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | May 07, 2006 | David Brooks

[neverdem]

From oil to AIDS to Armageddon, liberals are buying the bizarre claims set forth in "American Theocracy."

There's always been a strain of paranoia running through American politics. Back in the mid-1960s, when the right felt powerless, the John Birch Society thrived. Today, when the left feels disinherited, liberals seize upon the conspiracy fantasies of Kevin Phillips, whose book "American Theocracy" is in its fifth week on the New York Times' best-seller list. Phillips' method is pretty conventional for conspiracists -- he takes a single issue or set of data points and constructs an all-explaining story line to show how hidden cabals are controlling America.

In the first part of "American Theocracy," he describes the rise of the "fossil-fuels political alliance." Dwight Eisenhower was "born in oil country" and in 1952 became the first Republican to sweep the Southern oil centers. Richard Nixon too "had an oil-state childhood" and deepened oil's influence.

Pretty soon, Republicans could count not only on energy and automobile producers but also on "secondary cadres" including "racing fans, hobbyists, collectors, and dedicated readers of automotive magazines, as well as the tens of millions of automobile commuters from suburbs and distant exurbs."

By 1997, reasons were mounting to take over Iraq's oil, Phillips asserts. "A near-final decision to invade seems to have been made in early 2001," he adds, months before 9/11. The Iraq war was born.

The oil alliance melded with another hidden army, the "end-times electorate," Phillips continues. Relying on the fact that millions of people read the "Left Behind" apocalyptic fantasy novels, Phillips asserts that 50 to 60 percent of Republicans believe in Armageddon and are influenced by the argument that the "destruction of the new Babylon" in Iraq will hasten the coming of the Messiah.

Phillips says that the Bush White House sends...

[SAJ]

Ah, yes, Dwight Eisenhower, born in that world-famous major oil producing state...Kansas.

Always knew Phillips was a putzhead (thank you, Senator Pothole), but these types of statements are worthy of the Rubin-Hoffman-Dellinger University of Conspiracy Theory and Outlet Pantyhose.

[John Valentine]

This author is loonier than the people he thinks he is writing about.

[Manic_Episode]

bookmark

[neverdem]

This author is loonier than the people he thinks he is writing about.

Which author, David Brooks or Kevin Phillips?

[MississippiMan]

...Phillips asserts that 50 to 60 percent of Republicans believe in Armageddon and are influenced by the argument that the "destruction of the new Babylon" in Iraq will hasten the coming of the Messiah.

It's always SUCH a hoot to see liberals delve into and start explaining the motives and drives of Christian believers. The above is one of the more idiotic things I've seen. For while there's no doubt in my mind that a battle of Armageddon will take place, the notion that what we're doing in Iraq could even remotely begin to eventually evolve into the biblically prophesied destruction of Babylon is sheer, well, idiocy!

First, at the moment, Babylon is still pretty much just a dried up clump of ruins in the desert. What's to destroy? Second, the prophesied destruction of Babylon reads to me like a perfect prediction of a direct nuclear strike. Again, what on God's green Earth would make present-day Babylon a target for such?

SHEESH.

MM

[durasell]

Phillips isn't a liberal, but he's way off base with this one...basically pandering to the left

[TeddyCon]

I had the misfortune of coming across Q & A circle jerk session between Joe Klien and David Brooks on C-Span yesterday that I watched for about five minutes. But I had to change the channel for fear of my nausea's maybe bringing on an aneurysm.

Still, it must be nice being so right all the time even if their party's been proven so wrong.

[ModelBreaker]

In the first part of "American Theocracy," he describes the rise of the "fossil-fuels political alliance." Dwight Eisenhower was "born in oil country" and in 1952 became the first Republican to sweep the Southern oil centers. Richard Nixon too "had an oil-state childhood" and deepened oil's influence.

Of course, so did Earl Warren and LBJ and every other person born in CA, OK, or Texas. So there's plenty of points to connect. Dang, I was born in CA. Does that mean I'm in on the conspiracy? Then how come I'm not rich?

Phillips has really gone over the edge.

[neverdem]

I had the misfortune of coming across Q & A circle jerk session between Joe Klien and David Brooks on C-Span yesterday that I watched for about five minutes. But I had to change the channel for fear of my nausea's maybe bringing on an aneurysm.

Still, it must be nice being so right all the time even if their party's been proven so wrong.

Joe Klien is an apologist for Clinton. David Brooks wrote for the Washington Times and the Weekly Standard before the NY Times appreciated that their OpEd columnists needed a semblance of balance. I don't understand your comment.

[John Valentine]

The loon to which I refer is Kevin Phillips.

[neverdem]

I agree that Kevin Phillips fulfills the description of a loon. IIRC, he WAS A CONSERVATIVE, or at least a pubbie.

[ArGee]

Phillips asserts that 50 to 60 percent of Republicans believe in Armageddon and are influenced by the argument that the "destruction of the new Babylon" in Iraq will hasten the coming of the Messiah.

What's Phillips been smoking? If the Religious Right believed that actions taken by people could hasten the end, they wouldn't start with one of the last events. There are other events that the "Left Behind" interpretation of prophecy requires happen first.

Shalom.

[muir_redwoods]

"Ah, yes, Dwight Eisenhower, born in that world-famous major oil producing state...Kansas."

Go easy, the author would have had to do some serious research to distinguish Abilene KA from Abilene TX.

He was pretty close now, wasn't he?

[backhoe]

Moonbat, or...

[Just mythoughts]

Consider not only a physical state but 'spiritual' state, Babylon means confusion and is the title given to the pretender. Weapon of mass deception.

[Just mythoughts]

Oil means economy, and curious how the majority of possessors of oil are Marxist dictators. Like the final battle over 'freedom' as we in the US are accustomed to coming and going as we please.

[spikeytx86]

Liberals like to say that since we believe in armageddon we must be trigger happy madmen who once given power will do anything and everything to bring the day Jesus returns closer. What they (liberals) either fail to grasp or intentionally omit is the fact that scriptures states that not even the angels know the day of judgment only god.

I believe in Armageddon. But I don't know when it's coming. It could be today, tomorrow or 50,000 years from now and so on. Only God knows, I will live my life like it was my last and live my life as best as Jesus would and I will meet my Maker when I meat him be it judgment day, a Hillary presidency, or a heart attack when I am 85 and so forth. Most people including the most devout among us believe this. Liberals however just love to paint us as backwoods zealots sticking our hands into boxes full of serpents and beating up blacks and gays. And we are the intolerant ones.

[spikeytx86]

Actually you both are wrong. According to my handy dandy Texas Travel Guide the good General was born in Dennison, Tx.

[norwaypinesavage]

"This author is loonier than the people he thinks he is writing about."

Even more amazing is his status at NPR. This tinfoil hat nut-case is the one and only regular NPR Token Republican commentator.