Kinsley: Why Bush* Angers Liberals

[kskiska]

We have our reasons, and that is why we're so pragmatic about 2004
By MICHAEL KINSLEY

Conservatives are alarmed about the tone of our political debate. Interviewed last week in TIME, Fox TV talk-show host Bill O'Reilly trumped the standard definition of chutzpah — a man who kills his parents, then pleads for mercy as an orphan — by complaining that the country is "as polarized as it's ever been in the history of the Republic." In TIME two weeks ago, essayist Charles Krauthammer expressed astonishment at the level of antagonism toward President Bush among liberals. Newly anointed New York Times columnist David Brooks has deplored both the viciousness and the shallowness of today's politics, compared with the Athenian atmosphere he recalls in the 1980s.

(snip)

So why are liberals so angry? Here is a view from inside the beast: it's Bush as a person and his policies as well. To start, we do think he stole the election. Yes, yes, we're told to "get over it," and we've been pretty damned gracious. But we can't help it: this still rankles. What rankles especially is Bush's almost total lack of grace about the extraordinary way he took office. Theft aside, he indisputably got fewer votes than the other guy, our guy. We expected some soothing bipartisan balm. There was none, even after 9/11. (Would it have been that hard to appoint a Democrat as head of Homeland Security, in a "bring us together" spirit?)

We also thought that Bush's apparent affability, and his lack of knowledge or strong views or even great interest in policy issues, would make him temperate on the ideological thermometer. (Psst! We also thought, and still think, he's pretty dumb — though you're not supposed to say it and we usually don't. And we thought that this too would make him easier to swallow.) It turns out, though, that Bush's, um, unreflectiveness shores up his ideological backbone. An adviser who persuades Bush to adopt Policy X does not have to be worried that our President will keep turning it over in his mind, monitoring its progress, reading and thinking about the complaints of its critics, perhaps even re-examining it on the basis of subsequent developments, and announce one day that he prefers Policy Y. This does not happen. He knows what he thinks, and he has to be told it only once.

more…
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031013-493326,00.html

[Sagan]

1. Amen!

Especially about the Homeland Security thing. That was a freakin' no-brainer! But, since Chimpy doesn't have a brain.....

[kcwayne]

2. I love the line:

"He knows what he thinks, and he has to be told it only once."

So true, so true

[realFedUp]

3. Bush and grace don't fit in the same sentence - n/t

.

[streakr]

4. It is so sad..

that conservatives march in lockstep (goosestep?)behind this nitwit who still after three years cannot speak a coherent sentence that does not sound rehearsed.

There are so many good open minded R's who think shrub is just what we need as a leader. God help us.

Streakr

[newyawker99]

6. Hi streakr!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Martin Eden]

5. Kinsley only scratches the surface.

Everything he says is quite true, but the rage of "liberals" (and progressives and even some genuine conservatives) has more to do with how Chimpy and his henchmen have exploited the 9/11 atrocity to pursue an ulterior agenda.

They have played upon the grief, fear, anger, patriotism, ignorance, and trust of the American people. While draping themselves in the flag, invoking God, and proclaiming American ideals, they are subverting our democracy by waging war under false pretenses, comitting atrocities in our name, and smearing the reputations of honorable citizens who point this out.

If the sheeple who wave flags in support of this usurper in the White House could ever see through the propaganda they've been swallowing, and swallow enough pride to admit they've been played for fools, they would be the most outraged of all. Those of us who are already enraged are more so because of the frustration of trying to get the sheeple to wake up and smell the stench.

[Martin Eden]

7. LTTE

The article provides a link to send a letter, so I sent the following:

Our anger at the Bush presidency goes much deeper than policy or personality. We are furious at how this administration has exploited the grief, fear, and patriotism of the American people for political and financial gain. Our nation has been plunged into war under false pretenses, our young people in uniform are being needlessly sacrificed, and our grandchildren will be footing the bill. The question should be, why aren't more of our fellow citizens angry?

[Barrett808]

8. I always put "presidency" in quotes

Usually I don't even refer to the "Administration" or the "President", but rather "the Bush people", when I'm feeling gracious, or the "occupant of the White House" when I'm not.

[Manix]

9. Kinsley does a fine job here...

...of course everyone has their own ranking of reasons for anger at BushCo, I fear the arrogant dissing of the world community will have negative consequences for years to come.

[coda]

10. Dayum!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Quite the tone for Kinsley.


This dynamic works on facts just as it does on policies, making Bush a remarkably successful liar.


But guess what? Ignorance and lack of curiosity are terrific fortifications for dishonesty.



And then this one. LOL

Steeped as liberals are in irony, it took us a while to learn what a powerful tool an irony-free mind can be.