July 1, 2006
UP IS DOWN; BLACK IS WHITE
This was originally pointed at in James Taranto's "Best Of The Web" feature in the Wall Street Journal's site, but I figured it deserves some proliferation. The current administration--like most--has mutliple faults, misdeeds, and blunders. I personally don't think those mistakes are as great as others do, but, I will admit they exist. Critics, however, persist in parodying themselves to the point of easy dismissability.
Jon Carroll, a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, tried to have it both ways yesterday, asserting that Bush was an anti-Semite for pandering to anti-Jewish sentiments, while at the same time assiduously working to advance Jewish interests.
The Times is a good target. People who believe in the "left-wing media" believe that the New York Times is the leftiest of them all. The people who believe in the "mainstream media" believe that the Times is the mainest of them all. Hardly anyone has a good word to say about it, except that it's the best newspaper in the country. But really, how important is that?Also, the name of the New York Times contains the word "New York." Many members of the president's base consider "New York" to be a nifty code word for "Jewish." It is very nice for the president to be able to campaign against the Jews without (a) actually saying the word "Jew" and (b) without irritating the Israelis. A number of prominent Zionist groups think the New York Times is insufficiently anti-Palestinian, so they think the New York Times isn't Jewish enough.
So The New York Times is Jewish, but not Jewish enough? By God that Bush is a crafty bastard. He may even be Jewish himself! Have people officially gone on the record as being completely insane? This reminds of the dichotomy of people altnerately and simultaneously characterizing Bush as a dunderheaded moron and an evil Machiavellian genius at the same time.
For God's sake. I've written this multiple times and I will write it once more--I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. The lack of a credible opposition negates any legitimate criticism one may have against a standing administration. Making rhetorical and literal fools of yourselves does no good. Healthy democracy requires viable opponents to a ruling party. Being total jerkoff jokes does not help the opposition or the cause of democracy.
NB: Both Carroll and his editor should simply be executed or exiled for fact that the non-word "mainest" ever reached print. "Mainest"? Really? Are you serious? Shame gentlemen, Shame! Is the SF Chronicle's style guide a folder of crumpled napkins with crayon scrawlings on it?
Tagged:Posted by Lexiphane at July 1, 2006 4:05 AM
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