It's been discussed before, but the author of "What's the Matter With Kansas?" is on John Stewart right now talking about the Conservative tendency to paint themselves as victims.
Clearly the anti-everything crowd feels emboldened right now, as we see in any number of cases...the drawing and quartering of Arlen Specter, the quasi-banning of Saving Private Ryan.
I can't help but think they're going to push it way too far and lose all their power. Much as the conservative, buttoned-down 50s erupted in the leftward political movement of the 60s and 70s (anti-establishment, down with materialism, don't conform), which in turn eventually fizzled and became the materialistic, "Team America" 80s (and, arguably, 90s). I think things have been pretty stabilized for a while now, but we're seeing the tipping point in which the extremists start to send people fleeing in the other direction. Bush was lucky, he got re-elected JUST under the wire, at the point when conservatives wielded the most power. Of course, it's the re-election and the emboldening (these people were kept honest by the knowledge that Bush and the conservatives didn't really have a mandate last time) that could easily contribute to this tipping point anyway.
I know the argument has been, "Well, they turned a blind eye to everything Bush did until now", but this isn't about Bush so much as it is social conservativism and activist groups. I think we're getting a sense that these people, now that "their side" won the election, are cutting loose and demanding supreme power, which is going to really scare everyone off. I mean, you have to be pretty hardcore conservative not to think the FCC/SPR thing is stupid...indeed, if there's a movie conservatives in general can get behind, it's SPR, and watching it get slapped down probably won't sit right with most normal people.
I just don't see the usual rhetoric about "the forces of paganism" encroaching on America having much clout outside the usual circles in the next little while. And indeed, that Liberals will legitimately be able to claim victimhood before much longer, and have people take them seriously.
Clearly the anti-everything crowd feels emboldened right now, as we see in any number of cases...the drawing and quartering of Arlen Specter, the quasi-banning of Saving Private Ryan.
I can't help but think they're going to push it way too far and lose all their power. Much as the conservative, buttoned-down 50s erupted in the leftward political movement of the 60s and 70s (anti-establishment, down with materialism, don't conform), which in turn eventually fizzled and became the materialistic, "Team America" 80s (and, arguably, 90s). I think things have been pretty stabilized for a while now, but we're seeing the tipping point in which the extremists start to send people fleeing in the other direction. Bush was lucky, he got re-elected JUST under the wire, at the point when conservatives wielded the most power. Of course, it's the re-election and the emboldening (these people were kept honest by the knowledge that Bush and the conservatives didn't really have a mandate last time) that could easily contribute to this tipping point anyway.
I know the argument has been, "Well, they turned a blind eye to everything Bush did until now", but this isn't about Bush so much as it is social conservativism and activist groups. I think we're getting a sense that these people, now that "their side" won the election, are cutting loose and demanding supreme power, which is going to really scare everyone off. I mean, you have to be pretty hardcore conservative not to think the FCC/SPR thing is stupid...indeed, if there's a movie conservatives in general can get behind, it's SPR, and watching it get slapped down probably won't sit right with most normal people.
I just don't see the usual rhetoric about "the forces of paganism" encroaching on America having much clout outside the usual circles in the next little while. And indeed, that Liberals will legitimately be able to claim victimhood before much longer, and have people take them seriously.
