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.")

[nunya bidness]

Behave? I thought I was.

I better look that word up.

[UmBongo]

Yeah, stick it to 'em fox, the only people to tell us the truth - Europeans are cowards and we should go get all the damned terrorists now. Fox fights the liberal bias like the communist CNN and MSNBC. They shouldn't be allowed to broadcast.

[FreeTheHostages]

See -- I think your post #40 above was very witty. :) It's particulary funny because, like all really funny things, it has the element of truth: there are Plenty of leftists out there who would believe your post 40!

[Imal]

Ironic, how Todd Gitlin speaks of a "high pitch -- a flaming red alert" with an article that is composed with, well, a high pitch, and reads like a flaming red alert!

Clearly, this guy is upset that the U.S. won the war, and that the glories of Marxism don't smother our society with its oppressive love. A mournful piece that seems to lament the fall of the Baath Socialist Party. An ode to fallen comrades in Baghdad and Hollywood.

Give him a Garofalo!

[Imal]

"You know, we're an all-in-one, one-stop shopping web site [...]"

Hey, a lot better than Democratic Underground! I registered there, and all I got was a Palestinian flag, a copy of Mao's Little Red Book, a balaclava and can of red spraypaint (for "protests"), a "Death to America" tee shirt, a picture of Bill Clinton with smeared lipstick on it and a bottle of French wine.

The Free Republic gives out much better stuff!