Posted on 08/03/2004 12:09:31 PM PDT by dead
Opening Statement
Dear FRiends:
I once suffered two great frustrations in being a freelance political writer. First, the loneliness: you put an article out there, and you might as well have thrown it down a black hole for all the response you get. Second, the ghettoization: when you do get response, it would be from folks you agree with. Not fun for folks like me who reliish--no, crave and need--political argument.
Then came the Internet, the blogs--and: problem solved.
I have especially enjoyed having my articles in the Village Voice posted on Free Republic by "dead," and arguing about them here. The only frustration is that I never have enough time--and sometimes no time--to respond as the threads are going on. That is why I arranged for an entire afternoon--this afternoon--to argue on Free Republic. Check out my articles and have at me.
A little background: I am a proud leftist who specializes in writing about conservatives. I have always admired conservatives for their political idealism, acumen, stalwartness, and devotion. I have also admired some of their ideas--especially the commitment to distrusting grand social schemes, and the deep sense of the inherent flaws in human nature. (To my mind the best minds in the liberal tradition have encompassed these ideals, while still maintaining that robust social reform is still possible and desirable. My favorite example is the Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, author of the Serenity Prayer and a great liberal Democrat.)
Lately, however, I've become mad at the right, and have written about it with an anger not been present in my previous writings. It began with the ascension of George Bush, when I detected many conservatives beginning to care more about power than principles. The right began to seem less interesting to me--more whiny, more shallow--and, what's more, in what I saw as an uncritical devotion to President Bush, often in retreat from its best insights about human nature.
I made my strongest such claim in a Village Voice article two weeks ago in which I, after much thought, chose to say conservatism was "verging on becoming an un-American creed" for the widespread way conservatives are ignoring the lessons of James Madison's great insights in Federalist 51 that in America we are supposed to place our ultimate trust in laws, not men.
Finally, in what I see as the errors of the Iraq campaign, I recognize the worst aspects of arrogant left-wing utopianism: the idea that you can remake a whole society and region through sheer force of will. I think Iraq is a tragic disaster (though for the time being the country is probably better off than it was when Saddam was around--but only, I fear, for the time being).
I am also, by the way, a pretty strong critic of my own side, as can be seen in my latest Village Voice piece.
So: I'm yours for the day--until 7:10 pm CST, when I'm off to compete in my weekly trivia contest at the University of Chicago Pub. Until then: Are you ready to rumble?
Respectfully,
Rick Perlstein
lessons of James Madison's great insights "
Like his belief that financial institutions and capitalism were bad? How he and Jefferson took pride in not understanding the basic concepts of finance while Hamilton had to push for a capitalist society.
You really wear your socialism on your sleeve... don't bleed on me commie.... your bleeding heart pumps black death
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Forgive me for suggesting that even some FReepers might agree that calling Jefferson and Madison socialists smacks of un-Americanism.
Let me lay out a scenario based on the Madrid bombings. The question is how will John Kerry and the Democrats respond to an attack similar to Spain?
IN Spain, the terrorists knew that the left was behind going into the election. An attack timed such that "cooler heads" could not prevail was launched. Instantly, overnight the left took to the streets accusing the governement of "LYING" and not protecting the people. Thousand marched with pre printed signs. The election went to the left.
IF AN ATTACK OCCURS ON U.S. SOIL BEFORE OUR ELECTION>>>WHAT WILL JOHN KERRY SAY ? ARE THE SIGNS FOR BUSH LIED AND HE CAN PROTECT US ALREADY PRINTED?
again: turning it into a terrorist MEAT GRINDER.
a "haven" is a place you go to hide, a place that is safe.
a "meat grinder" is where you go to die - and that is what the foreign arab jihadis are doing.
take off the peacenik blinkers for just one minute and you will see that this is a very good thing.
I have the opportunity to challenge a young college age friend to think. We have been e-mailing our thoughts and politics for some time. He sent me a piece written by Howard Zinn.
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Why does everyone left of center get equated on this site? Zinn is a horrible historian with no respect among his colleagues. His only readers are radical partisans. Forgive me for tooting my own horn, but my biography of Barry Goldwater was solid enough to receive glowing reviews in the National Review, Weekly Standard, and Human Events, AS WELL AS left-wing outlets.
Psh, I'll have to ask you which part of my chain of reasoning you disagree with.
Chain of reasoning? What chain of reasoning? I saw no chain of reasoning in your post. Oh, you mean these new arguments you are now adding? Okee dokee.
I argue:
no, you assert. Argument demands statements of fact, not assertions of rightness
1) The essence of American ideology being a government of laws not men,
Find and dandy, with you so far
those who specifically base their argument about the rightness of a politician on claims for the inherent goodness of his heart
And those folks would be? Where has that been asserted? By whom? Certainly not by me.
2) Many--not all--conservatives have begun making arguments on the rightness of Bush based on claims for the inherent goodness of his heart.
What arguments? I see no examples, sources, fact? Many, not all, liberals have been making arguments for decades that conservatives are evil, racist, hate mongers and liberals are good, caring and well intentioned. I see no evidence of either conclusion and can cite plenty of examples to prove the contrary case. First and foremost is the analysis by Daniel Patrick Moynihan (that well know right wing kook), that the liberal solutions to poverty and racism have destroyed the minority communities in this country. Given that well documented and reasoned position liberals still insist that conservatives opposition to those remedies are racists, and liberals blind devotion to those hateful solutions are enlightened and caring. Go figure!
Which part do you disagree with, (1) or (2)? After we establish that, we can argue whether I'm being McCarthyite or not.
Um, both? And McCarthyite tactics consist of blind accusations without any evidence, meant to attack and enemy and destroy them based on the accusation, sans proof. Seems like you've proven my case for me.
Again, I'd repeat what a wise Freeper wrote me about people here:
"I'm a conservative, and will vote for Bush because everything that is wrong with him is a defining characteristic of Kerry, but you are 100% right on the Federalist papers and the undue adolation of Bush. It's one thing for kids and teenagers to revere the President in such a manner, but grown adults should know better."
Ah, I see. Your evidence consists of a "freeper" who agrees with you and is therefore a wise freeper? Therefore anyone who disagrees is, by definition, unwise? Circular logic. You weren't educated by Jesuits, were you? There's this marvelous concept that they teach that revolves around logical discourse. You might like to look into it sometime.
As for New York Times editorials, weren't they they most consistent voice outside of the Wall Street Journal calling for Clinton to resign?
Um, no? I guess you never actually READ the New York Times, either.
They were one of the most consistent voices saying that he wouldn't be able to survive the vicious attacks by right wing fanatics and that his minor peccadilloes (perjury, obstruction of justice, using the FBI, IRS and all of the levers of the Federal government to destroy his enemies) shouldn't be important given the overwhelming "good" that he was doing for the country. Of course, they never cited what that "good" really was. Can you? Not he helped, he fixed, he did. What actual actions, laws, executive orders, hirings or firings did he perform that helped anyone except himself? I never saw anything.
You're imposing your liberal philosophy on others. Liberals believe that the great unwashed must be guided by the enlightened wisdom of the elites. Conservatives believe that if you create the right environment, you can let the force of will of the Iraqi people take over. And so far it's working - the insurrection is mostly from the deposed Baathists, parasites who have lost their status as oppressors and want it back. The average Iraqi just wants a better life and a new car and a bigger house - the old market forces at work.
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Than why did the Bush administration give up on privatization in Iraq at the first sing of trouble? They SOLD OUT those for market forces in Iraq.
I believe there was a place in Iraq called salmon pak (name may be wrong) But it was a terrorist training camp.Thus are going there could not turn it into a terrorist haven it already was.
If that were true you would have said "election." Sorry. You appear to have been caught in a lie, whether concious or not. Won't wash. Nice try though.
Hey Rick-
I used to have an office in the same building as the Voice (36 Cooper). Do you still have those replusive trannie freaks working for you guys? And why do you hire them? Do you have some kind of affirmative action program for cross-dressing sickos? It used to make everyone cringe to see them in the elevators.
Love, montag 813
Oh the sad state of a liberal (and a Liberal's) education these days. Saul Alinsky was, among other things, Hillary Rodham's mentor. She (and most of the other current hard left radicals who have siezed the reigns of power in the Democrat party) lives by his teachings and principles. His "Rules For Radicals" spells out most of the techniques used by leftists (and unconciously aped by unprincipled and unknowing right wingers, as well), including yourself.
Read it sometime. You might find it familiar.
As to specifics, I've responded with far more specific than you have provided to date. I will respond to specific questions with specific answers. Unfounded accusations notwithstanding.
Shiznat, I have to go to trivia now.
I think this would be an interesting team sport: internet debating.
Anyone wanting to follow up can write me at rperlstein@villagevoice.com. I'll be back when FR has a thread about my article on the Republican convention, but probably won't be able to spend five hours doing nothing else!
Thanks, it's been fun.
Moral equivalence?
Pick your turning point. Whatever it is, there is another before it. Bush said they were not going to criticize a prior admin. They haven't. The prior admin did little but criticize their prior admin. Dems have been attacking for a decade. Republicans have pretty much stayed above that.
When did you stop beating your boyfriend?
Actually I'm not "in" the Hazardous Materials or EPA, air quality type business...I just slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night..
Seriesly tho...as part of the big bad Pharmaceutical Industry, I'm aware of the EPA work that must be done for introduction of new drugs and packaging to the marketplace.
We must perform an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT as to the residuals of our drug products and packaging during manufacture, use and disposal...
So it kinda follows, eh?
G
Worst lie: After the September 11 attacks, the EPA told New Yorkers it was safe to live and work near Ground Zero.
Were they going to shut down the freaking city? Do you realize what sort of economic impact an out-of-control EPA would have had at that moment in time?
Not only that, they didn't say it was perfectly safe to live and work near Ground Zero - there was a multi-million dollar program of grants to provide certain EPA-recognized brands of HEPA air filters and vaccum cleaners to individuals living in the area.
I may even still have the form around somewhere.
For the most part, the criticism of Bush that has anything to do with policy are lies (example: Claiming that Bush said Iraq was an imminent threat when he said that we should not wait until it becomes an imminent threat).
As to non-policy related criticisms, leftists continually protray him as an imbecile -- that is, when they're not portraying him as the brilliant mastermind behind evil conservative conspiracies.
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