Dumbing down U.S. Politics

[benfranklin1776]

By Linda McQuaig, Toronto Star

"{i}t's hard to imagine anything populist about the mega-millionaire
Schwarzenegger, whose candidacy was championed by wealthy Republicans,
and whose vow not to raise taxes, despite an $8 billion deficit, makes deep cuts
to already-ravaged state programs almost inevitable — cuts that will hurt
ordinary people.

Populism used to mean defending the interests of ordinary people, championing
the little guy.

Now, new-styled right-wing populists like Schwarzenegger and George W.
Bush claim to be close to the people — not by defending the interests of the
people, but simply by being uninformed, slow-witted, even inarticulate. ("Laura
and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an
objective analysis," Bush told Meet The Press in April, 2000.)"


http://tinyurl.com/qn5z

Great article by Linda McQuaig (as usual) who starkly captures the essence of the level to which modern political campaigning by the right has descended.

[Dudley_DUright]

1. Linda McQuaig is consistently topnotch

I read this earlier today at smirkingchimp. Thanks for posting it here.

[benfranklin1776]

2. My pleasure.

She is always on the money.

[camero]

3. Not only that

but the deficit will go up to $12 billion after the cuts in the car tax. I think Americans really fear people who are smarter than themselves, so they elect people that are dumber.

[realFedUp]

4. this was a good one.

[otohara]

5. Most Excellent Column

Chuckles and a big ole dose of Merikun reality.