No one should ever count on the people naturally seeing through demagogues.

[phantom power]

Greg Sargent says that Democrats are gleeful about the "I Have A Nightmare" gathering because they think these people will expose themselves to America as the kooks they really are and the people will reject them. But what if they don't? There's ample historical precedent for kooks to break through into the mainstream and it can lead to some very unpleasant outcomes. Yes, Beck is nuts. But he's also the most important figure in the Tea Party movement, which in case anyone hasn't noticed is in the process of taking over one of the two major parties in the most powerful nation in the world. You can deride these people, as I do every day. But it's a mistake to not take them seriously or underestimate their appeal in times like these.

No one should ever count on the people naturally seeing through demagogues. Their power lies in their ability to be convincing even when it doesn't make rational sense and the truly talented ones can change the world. It remains to be see if Beck and his fellow travelers have that kind of juice. But I wouldn't be so sanguine that they don't.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/triumph-of-wingnut-rally-motivational.html