The phony in American politics: how voters turn into suckers.

There is still great journalism happening on "Fleet Street". I am increasingly becoming a big fan of the Guardian (UK), who seem to take their name very seriously.

Here is great journalism.

The phony in American politics: how voters turn into suckers.

It begins with an historic flourish that quickly segues to the 21st century:

For most of history we had an excuse. Emperors, pharaohs, czars, kings, queens, sultans, sheiks, they descended on us via peremptory power structures and the vagaries of genetics. If the king was a warmongering dolt or half-mad egomaniac, it wasn’t our, the people’s, fault. The best we could do was keep our heads down and suffer as God almighty seemed to want us to. Occasionally there would be regime change, a new family of dolts and psychotics in charge, but for the mud-dwellers of the 99%, life was largely a cowering slog through the nether regions of obedience.

Donald Trump recycles the hits in arena gig to the Tampa thousands
American democracy was supposed to change all that. No more twits or hysterics ruling over us, no more beef-fed murderers in ermine robes; we would choose for ourselves, a system that assumes some skill for discernment on the part of the chooser. Rare is the candidate for high office who announces he intends to screw the common folk. Policy is always put forth in the name of the greater good, to be judged as better or worse, sound or flawed based on reasoned analysis and experience, but beyond policy a more instinctive, earthier judgment is taking place about truth, character, authenticity, all in search of the straight talker who means what he says and intends to carry through. Americans care a lot about authenticity, rightly so. Every election is a quest for the genuine article. This is precisely what makes the long con of American politics such a rich and mystifying study.

The rest of the article does not disappoint. Although not a straight polemic, the argument, and the language has that perfect UK irreverence, just on the edge.

Much historic context here, the writer obvious read A level history at some notable school.

Regardless, this is why I go to The Guardian on occasion just to discover gems like this.

More:

Let the record reflect: the American people are a bunch of suckers. “Weapons of mass destruction.” “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” “Read my lips.” “I am not a crook.” “We still seek no wider war.” And these whoppers are merely a sampling from a handful of recent presidents. To strike the broad pure vein of American credulity one need dig only a bit to turn up such gems as Wilbert Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel of Fort Worth, Texas, a Depression-era salesman for the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company, producer of Light Crust Flour. In the early 30s, O’Daniel began hosting a radio show featuring the soon-to-be famous Bob Wills and the Light Crust Doughboys, though O’Daniel’s soothing, fatherly voice and easily digestible patter quickly became the real draw of the show. At 12.30 each weekday the broadcast opened with a country matron’s request to “please pass the biscuits, Pappy”. For the next 15 minutes, listeners – many of them housewives taking a midday break – were treated to twangy renditions of gospel and hillbilly tunes, interspersed with Pappy reading scripture, ad copy for Light Crust Flour, sentimental poems, and tributes to motherhood, Texas heroes, and good Christian living. His popularity grew to the point that he left Burrus Mill and started his own company, Hillbilly Flour, and began blasting his show over the 100,000 watts of XEPN, a pirate radio station across the border in Mexico.

This is high art. The author, Ben Fountain, delves deep into the pond of US politics. And yes, "Tail Gunner" Joe McCarthy also figures prominently, as well as Pappy O'Daniel who, yes, became governor of Texas.

Fountain wraps it up in a flourish, however this must read is all about how one gets there:

If 2016 is any indication, it seems fair to say that the phony, like the rich, will always be with us in American politics. Hairstyles and clothes may have changed, and the enemy goes by a different name, and technology has pushed the political message system into every crease and capillary of waking life, but the schtick remains the same. The celebrity, the man of God, and the national security bully are still at it, trying to separate us from our brains and our better angels. So the antidote might go something like this: hang on to our brains. Consult regularly with our better angels. And Pappy can keep his damn biscuits, thank you.

I highly recommend a click through. One can maybe understand that a couple of photos from decades ago, or a whatever contrived controversy is bubbling up today on DU, are irrelevant.

Regardless, click through, and The Guardian is nearly always a worthwhile click through.

My best to you all.