Contributors

Thursday, October 02, 2008

The Big V

Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should "off" myself.

Sound familiar? It should because it sounds exactly like something I would write here on Notes From The Front demonstrating clearly and accurately the type of attitude I get every day from conservatives. It might surprise you to know that the person who wrote the above statement is none other than Kathleen Parker, CONSERVATIVE columnist for the National Review and Washington Post.

Ms. Parker recently wrote a piece in the National Review which called for Sarah Palin to quit the VP slot on the ticket due to her complete lack of experience and knowledge regarding...just about everything. "She's out of her league," wrote Parker last week week, "she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion." I urge you all to read it as she points out several quotes which demonstrate that Palin has no clue what she is talking about.

After the article went up, Ms. Parker received about 8000 emails. According to Parker, they had the general tone of the first paragraph of this post. She goes on...

Some of my usual readers feel betrayed because I previously have written favorably of Palin. By changing my mind and saying so, I am viewed as a traitor to the Republican Party -- not a "true" conservative.

The fierce reaction to my column has been both bracing and enlightening. After 20 years of column writing, I'm familiar with angry mail. But the past few days have produced responses of a different order. Not just angry, but vicious and threatening.


And she's surprised about this? It's what I have been saying all along about the right. It's not just the crazies, folks. That IS their base. Total vindication. The Big V, baby!

But what is a true conservative? One who doesn't think or question and who marches in lock step with The Party?

Anyvone who disobeys our vill will be liquidated. Seig Heil!

Some of Palin's interview responses can't even be critiqued on their merits because they're so nonsensical. But even that is someone else's fault, say Palin supporters. The media make her uncomfortable.

Someone on the right FINALLY recognizing the "non victim" victim culture just like me.

The picture is this: Anyone who dares express an opinion that runs counter to the party line will be silenced. That doesn't sound American to me, but Stalin would approve.Readers have every right to reject my opinion. But when we decide that a person is a traitor and should die for having an opinion different from one's own, we cross into territory that puts all freedoms at risk. (I hear you, Dixie Chicks)

OK, now I just love Kathleen Parker and want to read every one of her columns now forever and ever. Yes, she is a conservative. Yes, I disagree with her on many issues. But at least she is finally seeing the same insanity that I have been seeing for eight years: the Republican Party has been hijacked by lunatics.

I'm sure it is coincidence that, upon the Palin column's publication, a conservative organization canceled a speech I was scheduled to deliver in a few days. If I were as paranoid as the conspiracy theorists are, I might wonder whether I was being punished for speaking incorrectly.

Unfortunately, that's the way one begins to think when party loyalty is given a higher value than loyalty to bedrock principles.

And what do we call that, Ms. Parker?



















Now, I hope all of you can see how ridiculous Jonah Goldberg (and Kool Aid drinkers) look right now.

As far as tonight's debate goes, look no further than the post below for my thoughts.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't figure out why the right thinks the left are like Nazis. Fascism is traditionally considered right and socialism/communism are left. I would say recent behavior such as that mentioned here is more fascist and demonstrative of the right.

Anonymous said...

It's just another example of the very successful twisting of reality the right has been able to accomplish, chas. Similar to Orwell, War is Peace.

Anonymous said...

Congrats M. on Godwinning the thread before the thread even started - that may be an Internet record.

And she's surprised about this? It's what I have been saying all along about the right. It's not just the crazies, folks. That IS their base. Total vindication. The Big V, baby!

I'm going to capture not just this line, but this whole page M. Because you'll be eating those words when the wolves start howling in the second year of the Obama Administration (and fully Democratic Congress). Not the wolves of the right, who will be plotting their electoral revenge in the mid-term elections. No, I'm talking the wolves of the left, of which you may even be one, howling with RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION at the betrayal of your holy cause.

And on that day, I will trot this out and say "Hello Pogo".

@Chas - the 'conservatives' of late (i.e. big govt conservatives like Bush and young Kristol) I grant fit your definition. Even a paleocon like Buchanan might. But there are many you consider to the right of yourself that are appalled at the notion. Least of all can libertarians, who are usually categorized as 'right' by those on the 'left', be impugned with the fascist sobriquet - at least not with the perjorative having any meaning at all.

Anonymous said...

Here is markadelphias base. Quite informative as to what the average obama voter on the street thinks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PgV3_1_qlc

Mark Ward said...

Juris, after Goldberg's book, Godwin is irrelevant.

Anonymous said...

Sure M, the other guys are so evil that there is no limit to the slime you may hurl at them. Right?