John Quixote, Sarah Panza, and the Windmills of 2008
Barack Obama has too many good ideas to choose decisively. John McCain has no ideas but is decisive about them anyway. It's "Smart but weak" vs. "Dumb but determined." Both claims are caricatures, of course. But only if you make the second one do people call you an elitist for calling their guy stupid.
Columnist Thomas Friedman got away with that on Monday, though, in an interview with NPR's Terry Gross. "You have pretty strong feelings!" the normally unflappable Gross almost gasped after Friedman denounced McCain's positions on energy as "disgusting" on the grounds that "He's making people stupid!"
The reasons Friedman got away with it might be instructive to certain pundits who merely insinuate their preferences instead of arguing forthrightly for what they really want us to believe. Few who listen to Friedman's interview would call him "elitist," because he was too substantive, and too outraged, to be talking down to anyone. And, wow, did he land his punches.
He said that Saudis or Venezuelans observing the Republican convention's chant, "Drill, baby, drill!," must have been "high-fiving each other in their skybox" as McCain supporters trumpeted their continuing addiction to oil in the dawn of alternative energy. It was as if they'd celebrated IBM Selectric typewriters in 1996, he said, by chanting , "Type! Type! Type!," just when the Internet was retiring all typewriters.
McCain was "making people stupid" especially by touting his proposal for a gas-tax holiday this summer, Friedman said. He noted that McCain had skipped eight Senate votes on a bill to extend existing tax-incentives for alternative energy, including a huge, jobs-creating windmill project in Arizona. I'm tempted to call McCain a John Quixote for tilting at windmills (and against history), but he's doing it for the oil industry, not as a knight in shining armor.
Amazingly, he's actually idealistic in doing it, so maybe he is John Quixote, with Sarah Palin as his Sancho Panza. "Fight with me! Fight with me!" he implored the convention, and no wonder: Few there really had a clue on how to fight oil companies -- or an inclination.
Former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge urged a fight to make "the federal government... get itself under control and out of our way." Does that mean getting out of our way as during Katrina, when "we" -- the private sector -- patrolled parts of New Orleans with armed Blackwater guards? Does getting out of our way mean deregulating predatory lenders and their high-end enablers?
McCain's dearth of ideas really does subvert his knightliness. Of elected officials who earmark pork-barrel projects, he vowed, thrillingly, "I will make them famous, and you will know their names!," sounding like a lone gunman ordering everyone out of Dodge. But he didn't threaten to make famous anyone who drives the private-security boondoggles and predatory lending and buys the very legislators McCain says he'll expose.
When you think about those legislators, the Republican Party, and, indeed, Washington, McCain's "Fight with me!" does sound lonely. The cheers at the convention only made it seem for a moment as if, running on guts and decency, he really can rouse millions of citizen-Minutemen to end not just earmarks but the metastasizing corruption of the American Republic by incorporated greed.
If you studied the crowd, you knew that McCain, Palin, Ridge and the manaical Rudy Giuliani weren't rousing and empowering anyone. They were only channeling lost civic love, wounded pride, and indignation over dispossession, all against wrong but easy targets such as Obama, who is at least considering serious reforms, and against the elite media -- like Friedman, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, and countless reporters working to separate fact from fiction -- who expose bad leaders, not those who follow them.
"To mobilize the masses of ordinary people in the service of an ideal which they are incapable of upholding is prelude to tyranny," writes the philosopher Yirmiyahu Yovel. McCain's idea-less idealism could do this country and its political culture so much damage that it's scary to imagine what kind of leaders might follow him.
That makes his crusade all the more poignant - but, yes, also "disgusting," as Friedman had the guts to say in protest against how McCain is miseducating his followers.
The lesson of such candor for pundits is that, far from berating or psychoanalyzing "the masses," they should write more directly about those who mobilize them so badly. If more commentators were substantive and forthright, rather than insinuating and tactical, like David Brooks and William Kristol, the country's real elitists might get more of what they deserve.
And, just by the way: If even Tom Friedman can land a punch in this campaign, when will Barack Obama?
Friedman was having an off day, I think to use the word stupid. That's unacceptable at his level -- even though you might think it. It actually dumbs down your own arguments. Liberal bloggers have that rhetoric nailed down. Friedman has a responsiblity to elevate the debate on another level.
September 9, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is why I don't fear a McCain presidency as much as say a Romney or Ghouliani one.
HE is the quintessential politician with no real ideas or convictions of his own. He has demonstrated time and again his willingness to do whatever is politically expedient.
This could be dangerous given the right climate but with Democratic majorities in the congress and with their positions (at least) enjoying support, McCain will sign the popular legislation they send him.
I'm not saying things would be great, and we'll certainly be better off under Obama, but the dude doesn't bring any ideas or idealism to battle the Dem agenda.
As a for example take his new found position on Iraq.
September 9, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stupid is a perfectly good word. (Friedman has actually been making a little sense lately. He seems to be taking a break from rearranging the world to make it fit his failed predictions.)
Elite is not a bad word either. USA! USA! USA! Isn't #1 elite? Better to be elite than stupid.
September 9, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Count me as one who like the fact that Friedman didn't pull any punches. What McCain proposes on energy is stupid. What is wrong with calling it is what it is? Would it be wrong for the media to call out McCain for the lack of details on what he claims he will change or call his policies 'stupid' when they are on their merits? Or reporting that Gov. Palin has no record of opposing earmarks and in fact has always been a grateful recipient of them? Would this somehow hurt their vaunted 'impatiality' because by doing so they would criticized for taking sides? Does the media have to be parrots and only report exactly what is said and let others worry about the veracity of what is reported?
Kudos to Friedman for calling a proposed stupid energy policy what it is...
September 9, 2008 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Conservatives are elitists too but skillfully insult those who can't relate to that class of thinking and end up as well, voting against their own best self-interests....
It's been reported the Obama campaign hauled in $55 million for August, but the Obama advertising quality has suffered at times.....in his acceptance speech Obama said this campaign "was about you," which should have then been followed by some more populist rhetoric, something like 'it's about your future, working for a better tomorrow for ourselves, for our children, for our community, for the country we love....etc etc etc.......
Obama says 'it's about you" but then whenever criticized or praised, he reverts in his use of words and explains things in terms of "me".
Obama also needs to modify his comments of "I will think about you in the White House." Say what!???, he's gonna "think" about us....how about, I will fight for you every day at the White House, bringing the promises I made to you during on the campaign of real Change and Hope of a better America, quality and affordable Education, Healthcare, Job creation, better international relations and trade deals, respecting the Constitution and the rule of law, etc.........
September 9, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
John Quixote and Sancho Palin. That is too right!
Please don't mind if I use that. I will try to give credit.
Thanks
the american populace would appreciate forthright and substantive pundits, rather than the insinuating and tactical ones like david brooks and Wee Willy Kristol. I do know this....people used to have a pretty good tuner for lies. After so much slanting and propagandizing, their tuner is a little off. And stark truth against brazen lies is a very good match-up and I give people credit for their ability to differentiate in that circumstance.
The problem is, that so much of what comes over tv and radio is almost-lies, damn lies, and damn dirty lies.
One last note....the corporate media connives with it's republican sidekicks...to turn everthing into positive press for the republicans. And negative press for B H O. The biggest lie ever told is that there is "no such thing as bad press" because there sure as hell is. And these guys have it down to a science. Every repub. turd gets polished. Every minute possibility of a dem flaw get's magnified and lighted and shown to the audience, over and over again.
Any time a Dem makes a slight gaffe or mis-states a fact.....an avalanche of never ending coverage, and get out of Jail Free cards so the media/repubs can play it again and again. You bring up a fair point against the repubs and all the public hears is what a horrible, leftwing media hitjob is taking place.
Remember this as you hear the repubs cry foul over and over and squeal about the liberal media.
The media doesn't mind. Like a Nascar team-mate letting you take first place ahead of himself, for the team. Or a baseball player, leaning into a 90 mph pitch to get on base, taking one for the team. The repubs. squealing about the liberal press does not hurt the press. It actually gives them credence with the Left, without actually being at all Left. THey can go right on ahead carrying the republican's water....with their Left Cred somehow still intact.
Yet....have I ever heard even a small voice or movement calling out the press for being Too Corporate, Too RightWing? After 8 years of absolute Gestapo Stenography, not even a peep except on the blogs and bill moyers.
September 9, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
.Again I find myself impressed by Jim Sleeper's thinking.
Barack Obama has too many good ideas to choose decisively. John McCain has no ideas but is decisive about them anyway.
McCain's message to those who are vulnerable to it (which is quite a few), is that we (the the American people) have been screwed over (by whom they are not sure and show little interest in informing themselves on that subject) and we are going to kick some ass at home and abroad to get back to our former [Shock and Awe, Mission Accomplished] heydays when our military power was at its peak and our economic future was painted by Ronald Reagan as “Morning in America”.
He blames a lot of people for our current woes. An oldie but goodie is blaming those Americans who are not sufficiently patriotic or put in another way those Americans who were repelled and alarmed by the unleashing of military power around the world conveniently fueled by the tragedy of 9-11.
He casts blame on those who aspire to regain respect for our country by the international community. We don't need anybody's respect we just need to be feared. After all we are America
While it is a sentiment that resonates with many Americans, it is also a sentiment that will perpetuate our downward spiral if acted out as McCain seems to want to do.
To sum it up what McCain/Palin promise is just not doable.
So it is empty rhetoric aimed at the irrational side of a populace used to getting its way all the time.
On the other hand what Obama promises to deliver is also somewhat inflated but at least it is not outright bamboozle but a series of aspirations that are worthy of pursuing.
McCain/Palin is total cynical bullshit but it has a kind of infectious power in various directions: Palin appeals to some of the Hillary Women who haven't forgiven Obama. McCain appeals to (ironically) the guys that have been screwed over the most by the Bush/Cheney regime because it appeals to their vulnerabilities: excessive jingoistic patriotism, latent racism, resentment by middle class people who find themselves slipping into unemployment and poverty with no clear light at the end of the tunnel, etc.
To mobilize the masses of ordinary people in the service of an ideal which they are incapable of upholding is prelude to tyranny," writes the philosopher Yirmiyahu Yovel.
Well said.
BTW: Yovel's writings on Spinoza and the advent of secular Judaism is very much worth reading
September 10, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
.Again I find myself impressed by Jim Sleeper's thinking.
Barack Obama has too many good ideas to choose decisively. John McCain has no ideas but is decisive about them anyway.
McCain's message to those who are vulnerable to it (which is quite a few), is that we (the the American people) have been screwed over (by whom they are not sure and show little interest in informing themselves on that subject) and we are going to kick some ass at home and abroad to get back to our former [Shock and Awe, Mission Accomplished] heydays when our military power was at its peak and our economic future was painted by Ronald Reagan as “Morning in America”.
He blames a lot of people for our current woes. An oldie but goodie is blaming those Americans who are not sufficiently patriotic or put in another way those Americans who were repelled and alarmed by the unleashing of military power around the world conveniently fueled by the tragedy of 9-11.
He casts blame on those who aspire to regain respect for our country by the international community. We don't need anybody's respect we just need to be feared. After all we are America
While it is a sentiment that resonates with many Americans, it is also a sentiment that will perpetuate our downward spiral if acted out as McCain seems to want to do.
To sum it up what McCain/Palin promise is just not doable.
So it is empty rhetoric aimed at the irrational side of a populace used to getting its way all the time.
On the other hand what Obama promises to deliver is also somewhat inflated but at least it is not outright bamboozle but a series of aspirations that are worthy of pursuing.
McCain/Palin is total cynical bullshit but it has a kind of infectious power in various directions: Palin appeals to some of the Hillary Women who haven't forgiven Obama. McCain appeals to (ironically) the guys that have been screwed over the most by the Bush/Cheney regime because it appeals to their vulnerabilities: excessive jingoistic patriotism, latent racism, resentment by middle class people who find themselves slipping into unemployment and poverty with no clear light at the end of the tunnel, etc.
To mobilize the masses of ordinary people in the service of an ideal which they are incapable of upholding is prelude to tyranny," writes the philosopher Yirmiyahu Yovel.
Well said.
BTW: Yovel's writings on Spinoza and the advent of secular Judaism is very much worth reading
September 10, 2008 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
"[McCain's] making people stupid!" Thomas Friedman
But the word "people" is such a generality. Shouldn't he have specified the Democrats in Congress who are working hard on legislation to get that off-shore drilling up-and-going?
As Nancy Pelosi said, "[This legislation] will put us on the path to make America energy-independent."
"Stupid" is as "stupid" does.
September 10, 2008 8:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pelosi is under no illusion about "Energy Independence" or about the gullibility of the American People and that's why she is rushing to get on the bandwagon of drill, drill, drill because if she (and the Democrats in general) don't get on that bandwagon, we are toast in November.
So in politics it is not necessarily "stupid is as stupid does". McCain seems to have learned that lesson by picking an absolute bimbo as his vice presidential nominee simply because the focus groups told him she would “electrify” the people, something that a tired soul such as he is not capable of doing.
It's always been about bread and circus.
September 10, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are on to something. The 'strong' meme vs the 'weak' meme. This is reticular activation stuff. Lizard brain stuff. I wrote about the ideas behind the marketing archetypes here:
Mooks and Mid-Riffs
September 10, 2008 8:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
To Andrew Strat -- Great to hear that you are familiar with Yovel's important work. The quotation I provided is taken from an unlikely book of his -- "Dark Riddle: Hegel, Nietzsche, and the Jews" -- which is really only for the very philosophically inclined, although it illuminates a lot of political history and has been a formative influence on some of my thinking about what drives some of our post-post-modernist political "thinking," if one can call it that.
September 11, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink