What else am I going to do while being snowed in this weekend?
As the Thomases told us a long time ago, "If men perceive a situation as real, it is real in its consequences."
--Immanuel Wallerstein (referring to W.I. Thomas and Dorothy Thomas)
I don't know how long ago the Thomases made the point. Wallerstein doesn't cite original sources (this was part of a lecture series, which obviously presumed a lot of knowledge on the part of the audience). But it could likely be sixty or even close to seventy years ago. The point is, the Bush cult leaders have not discovered anything new. They're just not afraid to act on this bit of knowledge which has been around for such a long time. Why are liberals so timid about doing the same thing? Well, maybe they're not timid. Maybe they're just more comfortable in the role of enablers and collaborators. Take the so-called debates in this past presidential campaign. Kerry really didn't win any of the debates. He just did a better job of reinforcing official fairy tales than Bush. Kerry and Bush were nothing but a pro-wrestling tag-team. Plenty of people wanted, and want, a real opposition. They just needed, and need, to latch on to one when it offers itself to them. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Democratic party to offer any real opposition. That party is over.
--Immanuel Wallerstein (referring to W.I. Thomas and Dorothy Thomas)
I don't know how long ago the Thomases made the point. Wallerstein doesn't cite original sources (this was part of a lecture series, which obviously presumed a lot of knowledge on the part of the audience). But it could likely be sixty or even close to seventy years ago. The point is, the Bush cult leaders have not discovered anything new. They're just not afraid to act on this bit of knowledge which has been around for such a long time. Why are liberals so timid about doing the same thing? Well, maybe they're not timid. Maybe they're just more comfortable in the role of enablers and collaborators. Take the so-called debates in this past presidential campaign. Kerry really didn't win any of the debates. He just did a better job of reinforcing official fairy tales than Bush. Kerry and Bush were nothing but a pro-wrestling tag-team. Plenty of people wanted, and want, a real opposition. They just needed, and need, to latch on to one when it offers itself to them. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Democratic party to offer any real opposition. That party is over.