(London) Times: The fascist spectre that stands behind Arnie

[muriel_volestrangler]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-843349,00.html
(may not be available to non-British readers - sorry)

"IF a politician campaigns on the theme of “trust me”, there is only one correct answer, and that is “not on your life”. Tony Blair has entered the inter-governmental conference on the European constitution saying “trust me”. A more immediate issue is that Arnold Schwarzenegger is asking the people of California to trust him in tomorrow’s vote. They would be foolish to do so."
<snip>
"What worries me is that Arnold Schwarzenegger is relying on the appeal of fascism, whether or not he is personally a fascist. He does not run on experience. He has been a politician for only eight weeks. He does not run on policy. He relies on catch phrases and on empty generalisation. He does not debate the issues. He has taken part in only one debate, and then relied on frequent references to his old films, which do not deal with economic policy issues. His campaign exists outside rationality, in the world of celebrity and sensation. The politics of mass emotion are the politics of fascism.

The core of all fascist movements is the direct relationship between the leader and the masses, not mediated through the institutions of democracy. What does the leader do? He provides leadership. What allows him to provide leadership? The strength of his will. What is the evidence of the leader’s will? The exciting feeling he creates of ultimate ruthlessness. How does Arnold Schwarzenegger demonstrate this ruthlessness? By having played a machine — not even a man — which killed hundreds of people.

Gray Davis has not been a good governor. One can understand that the people of California want to get rid of him. But, though he may be a ghastly hack, he was democratically elected after a process of public debate, and Democrat majorities in both Houses of the California Congress were elected alongside him. This is now a straight conflict between the democratic principle and the Führer Prinzip (leadership principle), the issue of 1933.
"

Background: Rees-Mogg used to be the editor of The Times, and is a paleo-conservative. He was born in 1928, so was a teenager during the Second World War, and had more direct experience of fascism than most of us. Most of the rest of the article is about deficits (Rees-Mogg was an economist), and ends: "One cannot expect the US always to elect competent economists, but it is dangerous exclusively to elect political hacks, economic illiterates, circus freaks and bodybuilders."

[barbaraann]

1. Thank you.

Oh, god, I hope the people of California realize what might happen.

[UpInArms]

2. when a population is propagandized for

many years, they have turned off their brains and just follow blindly - it's easier than thinking, because that makes their head hurt -- their thoughts conflict with what they are being told and the scurry away from the pain like rats in a maze

[Eloriel]

3. Pretty powerful stuff

His campaign exists outside rationality, in the world of celebrity and sensation. The politics of mass emotion are the politics of fascism.

Very powerful. Thanks.

Eloriel

[whirlygigspin]

4. Popcorn! Popcorn!

Get your popcorn here!

the show's about to begin, get your popcorn!

:party:

[Thoth]

5. Popcorn at 1:00 am???

Bubbly, perhaps ;-)

[Judi Lynn]

6. Appreciated this observation, too

He has taken part in only one debate, and then relied on frequent references to his old films, which do not deal with economic policy issues.

He relied upon heavy reference, in all his recent "speeches," to his retardo movies. Surely there can't be that many people who never get deeper than fleeting images from movies designed to entertain eight year old boys.

Some sly, brutal people appear to think they are managing things. I hope the public will find a way to shed them.

This is a TERRIFIC article. We need far MORE of its kind.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Slightly edited version available

at this Australian site.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,7484799%255E2703,00.html

[teryang]

8. Ahnold, the state religion

Arnold is a projection, a myth...a religious icon, a substitute for rational thought. He is the ultimate propaganda man, the proverbial superman or fascist ideal "man of action." What Ahnold actually does or accomplishes is irrelevant because the regressed political mindset in America does not concern itself with reality, only with barely articulated and poorly understood myths. We do not see the dead, the suffering and the unemployed, we only see glory.

"The absolute claim of a Civitas Dei that is represented by man bears an unfortunate resemblance to the "divinity" of the State, and the moral conclusion drawn...("the end sanctifies the means") anticipates the lie as a political instrument in an exceedingly dangerous way." C.G. Jung.

"You are the real terminators" Ahnold