People say the most ASTONISHING things

[zvi_likes_tv]

So, I generally don't pay any attention to the speech of nationally prominent Republicans, because the Republican Party hates me - black, lesbian, poor, atheist, with socialist tendencies.

Well, tonight I was listening to NPR while cleaning the kitchen, and Sam Brownback said in primetime, on at least one television channel, that he believes in

Comments

[mecurtin]

I, for instance, was astonished that a congressman would publicly and on purpose say something like he believed in American Exceptionalism

Are you kidding? Dude, they do that *all* the time. I don't know if any national-level politician could get away with saying that American *isn't* the absolutely greatest country in the history of the world & time & space.

Andrew Bacevich's new book is all about how American Exceptionalism has poisoned policies across the political spectrum. I'm looking forward to it, but it's something that a lot of Americans want to hear.

[zvi_likes_tv]

No, no, no, I expect politicians to say that America is awesome, YAY! I even believe that there are things about America which warrant saying yay about it. I am even willing to go so far as to say that the political ideals upon which this country were founded have the potential to render us the greatest country since the founding of the nation-state.

But he specifically said, "I believe in American Exceptionalism." It was a little like hearing George Bush say, "I'm an ultranationalist. Those Christian Dominionists are right on guys."

It isn't the shock so much that he espoused the ideas inherent in American Exceptionalism, as that he claimed the ideology by name.

[mecurtin]

That's one of the things Brownback is *for* -- moving the Overton Window.

I am not watching the RNC because destroying electronic equipment in rage is bad for me.

[sholio]

Oh god! I thought you meant that he expressed the sentiment, not that he actually said that. *boggles*

[zvi_likes_tv]

I know, right!