The War's Over, But the Fighting's Getting Worse (W. Post Mentions FR and Garofalo Awards Again)

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 4, 2003 | Todd Gitlin

[kristinn]

The combat in Iraq may be over, but political combat at home threatens to swell. Bitterness is likely to thrive for the duration of the Bush administration, not only because of domestic policy differences between the right and the left, but because of continuing anger on both sides stemming from their fight over the Iraq war.

The warriors who supported Bush's Iraq policy, mostly on the right, are still facing off against the antiwarriors, mostly on the left. At first glance, this doesn't look like much of a fight. The antiwarriors mustered large demonstrations but were outmuscled by a Republican-dominated government and overwhelmed by an eventual popular majority.

But this isn't the impression left by right-wing talk shows, Web sites and commentators. They portray the antiwar left as dangerous, feral and shockingly, awesomely effective. Accordingly, ultra-conservative rhetoric, already elevated before the war began, remains at high pitch -- a flaming red alert. A few examples:

SNIP

• FreeRepublic.com, a right-wing super-site based in Fresno, Calif., rails against "terrorist supporting leftists," and gives "Garofalo Awards" (after antiwar comedian/actress Janeane) for excessive defeatism about the Iraq war. (Prize: "a stuffed ready-to-eat crow on a silver platter.")

[FreeTheHostages]

Oh, THAT stuff. You mean our Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. Got it. Well, this reference to "super" surely is a close cousin of "vast" -- I should have guessed.

[stand watie]

!!!!!!!

[SkyPilot]

Jonathon Alter wrote something similar in Newsweek. He opened the piece by quickly trying to level the moral playing field...kind of a lefty journalistism "Can't we all just get along?"

He said the "ultra-right wing" should admit it was wrong, and the left should to. Don't follow the logic? That's OK--no one can.

Oh, he said that "Liberalism" was the vanguard against tyranny and opression too. That was at least funny.

[Area51]

I saw Johnnyathon on the Today show with little Miss "up your @ss" girl.

She would have tried to french kiss him but she was to busy trying to lick off what was left of the Clinton DNA from his chin.

Crying about Bill Bennett and gambling. Boo hoo Bill Bennett shouldn't say mean things against the Criminals like the Arkantrash Hillbillies, Like it makes the Clintons felonies including accusations of Rape okay.

Yeah, Johhny don't dribble.

[capitan_refugio]

Sad, isn't it? I wonder, had the truth of the financial state of the State was known before the election, that Simon might have won. (I still have my Simon sticker on my truck.)

[capitan_refugio]

I'll take you guys' word for it! You know the back end of a German tank much better than me. ;^)

[Bigg Red]

The little whiny babies....

[FreedomPoster]

At least we had our stories straight. ;-)

[GretchenEE]

Something other than logic is at work here. Republicans, right-wingers at that, control every branch of the national government -- the White House, both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and, increasingly, the lower federal courts. Why, then, this intense wounded rage?

I won't be satisfied till the free press is in the hands of reasonable, balanced, well-taught journalistic minds in people who love this country and stand up for why it exists.

[tgslTakoma]

FreeRepublic.com, a right-wing super-site based in Fresno, Calif., rails against "terrorist supporting leftists," and gives "Garofalo Awards" (after antiwar comedian/actress Janeane) for excessive defeatism about the Iraq war. (Prize: "a stuffed ready-to-eat crow on a silver platter.")

32 hand-dyed "dead" birds, and glue - $45
10 "silver" and "gold" platters - $20
1 bunch of fresh parsley - $.89

National media coverage more than a week ago resulting in thousands of still-apoplectic leftists - Priceless!

[tgslTakoma]

Isn't it amazing to see what a small group of imaginative, good-humored and committed people can do?

And we didn't have to overturn and burn any motor vehicles, or strip nekkid and spell out "Garofalo," to get all the media attention, either. (Thank God!)

[sauropod]

OK. Where's my secret decoder ring?

The one you promised was in the mail. ;-)

[sauropod]

Effect on tgslTakoma having insomnia on account of having "the Birds" in her bathtub?

Priceless!

[sweetliberty]

I guess crow isn't real digestible.

[sweetliberty]

You're being much too anyalytical. The whole right/left controversy can be explained very simply. We're right and they're what's left.

[sweetliberty]

"Where's my secret decoder ring? The one you promised was in the mail"

You too? I haven't gotten my new one either!

[nunya bidness]

Where the hell are the pics?

[tgslTakoma]

Here's your damn picture !

;-)

[tgslTakoma]

How 'bout this one?

Photo of Benedict Arnett and his prize.

[tgslTakoma]

More later, if you behave yourself.

;-)