Tag Archives: populism

Ed Kilgore on the old in and out (groups)

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Santi Tafarella

At the New Republic today, Ed Kilgore has a new essay analyzing American attitudes toward broad Enlightenment values and civil libertarian principles. His bottom line: most Americans want to know whether you’re “in” or “out” before worrying about whether you should have liberty, justice, … Continue reading →

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Republican Cognitive Dissonance and Rep. Joe Barton’s Apology to BP

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Santi Tafarella

At Salon today, Gabriel Winant asks a good question: The right hand of the GOP plays a waltz for the party’s dance with big business; the left hand beats out a populist rhythm. Somehow, the two don’t cancel each other … Continue reading →

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Did Sarah Palin write this Amazon review?

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Santi Tafarella

I thought that the below Amazon review of Michael Hyde’s The Life-Giving Gift of Acknowledgment  (Purdue 2005), in its unironic anti-intellectuality and impatience with anything not conventionally “normal,” inadvertently channelled Sarah Palin. It was as if the person had accidentally walked into the … Continue reading →

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Fox News 101: What Every Authoritarian Knows

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

Hermann Goering to Captain G. Gilbert, Nuremberg, 1945: “Naturally the common people don’t want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country … Continue reading →

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Glenn Beck Friday: Creepy, Maudlin, Hysterical Populism on Display

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

The clip below is illustrative of how religious emotionalism is easily translated, by a charlatan like Glenn Beck, into political emotionalism. And notice the Nazi-like volkish essentialism at work here. Implied by Beck is the notion that all true Americans can tap their inner … Continue reading →

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Oklahomans on the Couch

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Santi Tafarella

Denver Nicks, of The Daily Beast, explains Oklahomans’ general dislike of Obama: President Obama is from many places, including one (Indonesia) outside of the United States. He is a living mosaic who neither looks nor speaks like any president this … Continue reading →

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Orwell’s 1984 Comes to Election 2008: Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic Reports That VP-Pick Sarah Palin WON’T Be Taking Press Questions Anytime Soon

Posted on September 5, 2008 by Santi Tafarella

How gross is this? A candidate for vice-president, brand new to the national stage, will not be allowing herself to be subject to press questions? How can you evaluate a person’s position on issues, and the quality of her mind, if … Continue reading →

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Cindy McCain’s $300,000 Heartland Outfit: Alex Koppelman of Slate Ironically Skewers the Faux Populism of the Republican Convention

Posted on September 4, 2008 by Santi Tafarella

Alex Koppelman of Slate on the third night of the 2008 Republican convention: You know, when the days get darkest for me, when it seems like there’s no hope left in this country, I’m always cheered by the fact that … Continue reading →

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