Thursday, April 5, 2012

Deconstructing Delusion


If there was such a thing as "Bush derangement syndrome," as defined by Fox "news" tool and former shrink Chas. Krauthammer, then what to call the right's reaction to President Obama?

I've never denied my powerfully negative thoughts about the Bush presidency, but I can reel off a long list of things he actually did to win my solid disapproval. With teabaggRs, and their soon-to-be nominee, the picture they draw of Obama has nearly nothing to do with what, in the world of reality (not a familiar place to them, I'll warrant), he has or has not done. No one needed to lie about George Bush's devastatingly damaging presidency to hate what he did. Not so, when it comes to the right and our president. I've listed their departures from factuality too many times here to repeat them now. Suffice it to say: it encompasses pretty much everything they say or believe about him (or, in the case of Mitt Romney, likely doesn't believe but says anyway).

I just read something that helps explain the disconnect.

From Andrew Sullivan's site, a comment from a reader, who points to this quote from James Baldwin:
"An identity is questioned only when it is menaced, as when the mighty begin to fall, or when the wretched begin to rise, or when the stranger enters the gates, never, thereafter, to be a stranger: the stranger's presence making you the stranger, less to the stranger than to yourself."

Makes sense.

7 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the Star Trek trivia...
    and I'm impressed, your old enough to have watched TOS during its initial network run...
    But lets be logical.
    All those thangs Bush did that you find Ill-logical?
    His-Muslim-Faith-Ness has done most of em to, except the overall tax rate is some 2% less than when "W" stumbled off into the sunset.
    Not that I'm complaining.
    And you know how they say Ronaldus Maximus couldn't win a RepubicKKKlan Primary today?
    WELL JFK COULDN'T WIN A DemoKKKratic Primary today either!!!
    He didn't supportion Abortion, his Civil Rights Record was mediocre at best, and he made John Edwards look like Rick Santorum.
    That last bit I actually admire...
    Oh yeah, that whole Vietnam Thang?
    JFK started it, I don't care what Oliver Stone says.

    Now if you'll excuse me I have some3 Dimensional Chess to play with an Ill-logical Human.

    Frank

    ReplyDelete
  2. Think about it, Frank: you just made my point.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant. Great quote. Love coming to your blog when feeling most discouraged about the lies and character assassinations hurled by the Right. It feels good to know others of us of like-mind exist. I've been sharing your blog with all my friends...you speak for so many of us. (I'm starting feel like a "groupie" here -- no creepiness intended; just gratitude.) :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. By Dog Sid, I think Frank's got a man crush on you! Amazing what happens when you cut him off once or twice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Comments appreciated and valued.

    ReplyDelete
  6. @ Cory

    What is this "Man Crush" of which you speak? While your Human emotions of love and hate are incomprehensible to me, even Vulcans can admire the combination of Dexterity, Intellect, and Judgement required of those who cure illness with sharp steel and suture.
    And if it wasn't for Surgeons, I wouldn't have a job.

    LLAP,

    Frank

    ReplyDelete
  7. HA! @ Frank- Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.

    ReplyDelete

Comments back, moderated. Preference given for those who stay on topic.

Popular posts