Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Stabbed in the Back, a history of the right... good read

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (01/01/06 through 01/22/2007) Donate to DU
 
WannaJumpMyScooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-14-06 09:01 AM
Original message
Stabbed in the Back, a history of the right... good read
http://harpers.org/StabbedInTheBack.html

Every state must have its enemies. Great powers must have especially monstrous foes. Above all, these foes must arise from within, for national pride does not admit that a great nation can be defeated by any outside force. That is why, though its origins are elsewhere, the stab in the back has become the sustaining myth of modern American nationalism. Since the end of World War II it has been the device by which the American right wing has both revitalized itself and repeatedly avoided responsibility for its own worst blunders. Indeed, the right has distilled its tale of betrayal into a formula: Advocate some momentarily popular but reckless policy. Deny culpability when that policy is exposed as disastrous. Blame the disaster on internal enemies who hate America. Repeat, always making sure to increase the number of internal enemies.

As the United States staggers past the third anniversary of its misadventure in Iraq, the dagger is already poised, the myth is already being perpetuated. To understand just how this strategy is likely to unfold—and why this time it may well fail—we must return to the birth of a legend.

and... very prescient for the Democratic party...

Not only did the Republicans lose a presidential election against a badly divided, national Democratic Party; they also lost the congressional majorities they had just managed to eke out in 1946, following fourteen years in the political wilderness. It now seemed clear that the Republicans would never return to power merely by supporting Democratic policies, or by promising to implement them more effectively, and the right wing gained traction within the party.

when will they learn? or, in bushspeak... am our congresscritters learnin?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
WannaJumpMyScooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-15-06 03:22 AM
Response to Original message
1. Kick... thanks for those votes
This is a great article.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Oilwellian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-15-06 05:42 AM
Response to Original message
2. Read it last night
Great historical perspective of the rightwing propaganda machine.

:kick:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
C_U_L8R Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-15-06 07:51 AM
Response to Original message
3. When I think of Republicans
I think of Mr Potter in "It's A Wonderful Life"

Bitter.... Angry.... Greedy .... Pathetic

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
TacticalPeek Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-15-06 08:44 AM
Response to Original message
4. K&R
The Big Talking Point

:kick:

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-15-06 07:44 PM
Response to Original message
5. the pages of the repuke playbook are very
old! It seems that we should be able to figure out what they're doing, and find some way to counter...last chance at the okay corral!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Voltaire99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-16-06 02:54 AM
Response to Original message
6. Superb essay from our best monthly magazine. (nt)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 03rd 2024, 02:08 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (01/01/06 through 01/22/2007) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC