Frank is a fine and accomplished public intellectual, but such people are ignored by the GOoP leaning MSM and the pinhead populace, frankly.
What he says is absolutely accurate, but it will only ever be perceived and understood by a few thinking people---less than 10,000 in a country of 300 million.
In a real democracy, with an indpendent press, his story of consrvative corruption, failure and the effects of gub'mint hatred would become part of the 2008 campaign, and the supposed opposition party (us) would seize on it as a narrative to help explain the catastrophic failures of conservatism (and its apogee under Bushco) and as a way to actually smash this vile "movement" and its shitbrain special (business) interest "philosophy".
But it simply won't be mentioned---by any Dem. Too "intellectual". Of course, My Pet Goat would be "too intellectual" for most folks today.
But thanks for the post, this is great stuff.
Posted by euzoius at September 2, 2008 05:20 AMOutstanding post, Mary. You don't have to go much beyond the $1.1 trillion in Corporate Welfare in comparison to the $29 billion in the program called Welfare to understand that something is seriously wrong with capitalism as it's practiced in the United States. It's Socialism without the social controls or concerns.
It's very interesting that Frank uses Abramoff as his allegory for all that is wrong in Washington. And guess who got a donation from Jack and pals? Sarah Palin.
Posted by phidipides at September 2, 2008 06:16 AMThis book is funny, fast, vivid read, with great stories of outrageous people and events. If anything will penetrate, this will. Frank's best book by far.
Posted by coral at September 2, 2008 06:33 AMIf this book is half as good as "Fiasco" I want it. Your post is great Mary, great job!
I think that these people feel that we need a ruling class in America. The haves vs. that have-nots. The haves get to chose how the have-nots live their lives and make rules and laws that only affect the have-nots. Should a member of the haves get caught with their fingers in the cookie jar, they get a pass because they are a member of the haves.
Fortunately this is not a third world country and we have the rule of law. We are a country of laws and not of men and not one, including the president is above those laws. Now lets throw the bombs out!
Posted by angryman at September 2, 2008 10:29 AMopps! Fiaco was by Ricks. LOL
Posted by angryman at September 2, 2008 10:31 AMso in other words...republicans are FASCICSTS
Posted by headxray at September 2, 2008 11:17 AMmake that FASCISTS
Posted by headxray at September 2, 2008 11:19 AM