Umberto Eco on Fascism
First pointed out by Bob Harris- Umberto Eco- author of the truly wonderful Foucalt's Pendulum has an article written back in the last century- 1995 to be exact- in which he lists out a number of philosophical ideologies that make fertile soil for fascism. It's like Karl Rove read the list and used it as his roadmap to the '04 election.
A sampling:
"The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism.
In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge. For Ur-Fascism, disagreement is treason."
"Besides, disagreement is a sign of diversity.
Ur-Fascism grows up and seeks consensus by exploiting and exacerbating the natural fear of difference. The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition."
Friday, November 12, 2004
Thursday, November 11, 2004
WTF?
The Shrubster wasn't elected by people who are afraid of gays and the repulsively uninformed- he was elected by GOD.
Gee- the religious right wonders why they scare the living daylights out of those of us who are even remotely rational.
A sample:
Richard Land, a leading Southern Baptist who participates in a weekly strategy call between the White House and evangelical leaders put it this way: “Whoever won, it would have been God’s will.” But because Bush won, Land told Beliefnet, God has clearly shown America his blessings. If Kerry had won, it would have proved God was cursing the United States. “The Bible says godly leadership is a sign of God’s blessings and a lack of godly leadership is a sign of God’s judgment. I don’t see Kerry as a godly leader.”
Truly marvelous stuff.
The Shrubster wasn't elected by people who are afraid of gays and the repulsively uninformed- he was elected by GOD.
Gee- the religious right wonders why they scare the living daylights out of those of us who are even remotely rational.
A sample:
Richard Land, a leading Southern Baptist who participates in a weekly strategy call between the White House and evangelical leaders put it this way: “Whoever won, it would have been God’s will.” But because Bush won, Land told Beliefnet, God has clearly shown America his blessings. If Kerry had won, it would have proved God was cursing the United States. “The Bible says godly leadership is a sign of God’s blessings and a lack of godly leadership is a sign of God’s judgment. I don’t see Kerry as a godly leader.”
Truly marvelous stuff.
Rove's Legacy
Carl Rove has been called lots of things- but dumb is never one of them. While the democrats fumble around trying to decide how Republican they can act in '08, Carl is already very hard at work wrapping up then next election for whatever wingnut next sucks in the nomination. McCain and Ghooliani probably shouldn't hold their breath- Bush will hand pick his successor and he's gonna be someone the American Taliban- Sam Smith's term for the far right- can really get behind. Why? Becuase that's Rove's strategy. Step one: Shore up and strengthen the already electrified American Taliban base- and second- here's the bigee- take the Hispanic vote away from the Dems entirely- thereby opening up California to the Repubs in '08. What he's doing- first Hispanic Attorney General and the work visa for aliens issue- is obvious and quite brilliant- but it's going to be really difficult 4 years from now to listen to the damn morons in the news media talking about what a surprise the whole thing was and how the Dems were just outmanuevered again.
Carl Rove has been called lots of things- but dumb is never one of them. While the democrats fumble around trying to decide how Republican they can act in '08, Carl is already very hard at work wrapping up then next election for whatever wingnut next sucks in the nomination. McCain and Ghooliani probably shouldn't hold their breath- Bush will hand pick his successor and he's gonna be someone the American Taliban- Sam Smith's term for the far right- can really get behind. Why? Becuase that's Rove's strategy. Step one: Shore up and strengthen the already electrified American Taliban base- and second- here's the bigee- take the Hispanic vote away from the Dems entirely- thereby opening up California to the Repubs in '08. What he's doing- first Hispanic Attorney General and the work visa for aliens issue- is obvious and quite brilliant- but it's going to be really difficult 4 years from now to listen to the damn morons in the news media talking about what a surprise the whole thing was and how the Dems were just outmanuevered again.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
I know he thinks he has a mandate but things are getting out of hand.
You would think anyone who would reccomend Zell Miller to replace COlin Powell as Sec. of State would just be a wingnut right. Well, I'll still argue this guy's a wingnut but a contributing editor to the National Review thinks it's a good idea.
But that's just a guy talking- this one's a whole lot spookier.
President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Dr. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. His views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women.
In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient.
You would think anyone who would reccomend Zell Miller to replace COlin Powell as Sec. of State would just be a wingnut right. Well, I'll still argue this guy's a wingnut but a contributing editor to the National Review thinks it's a good idea.
But that's just a guy talking- this one's a whole lot spookier.
President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Dr. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. His views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women.
In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
No Child Left Behind
Yeah. Bush's Police State won't leave anyone behind.
I'm still reeling from the election. Trying to understand how 1/2 of this country hates gays so much they'd reelect Bush IN SPITE of the fact that Kerry's poisition on the gay marriage thing is nearly as unsupportive of gays as Shrub's. Civil unions- sure- step right up to the water fountain- it's not the same as our water fountain- but it's just as nice.
Oh, and now you have to ride at the back of the bus.
The Daily Mirror put it best- How can 55 million people be so dumb?
Yeah. Bush's Police State won't leave anyone behind.
I'm still reeling from the election. Trying to understand how 1/2 of this country hates gays so much they'd reelect Bush IN SPITE of the fact that Kerry's poisition on the gay marriage thing is nearly as unsupportive of gays as Shrub's. Civil unions- sure- step right up to the water fountain- it's not the same as our water fountain- but it's just as nice.
Oh, and now you have to ride at the back of the bus.
The Daily Mirror put it best- How can 55 million people be so dumb?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
