Are We Really Extremists?
In today’s D&C editorial, Pride Aside: Area congressman getting heat from both sides on war decision
Extremists on the left are screaming that the only reason he capitulated is because he faces a tough re-election bid next year from Democrat Dan Maffei, a war opponent, who nearly beat the moderate Republican last year.
Then there are the angry Republicans, who’ve been calling Walsh’s office since he announced earlier this week that he’d no longer support President Bush’s war strategy.
Can we talk about language for a second, here? Let’s look at how they’ve painted the left and the right…
Right: angry Republicans
Left: screaming extremists
Screaming extremists? We, sir, are not screaming extremists. We take considerable exception to that characterization.
First of all, nobody’s screaming. I know, I know, it’s metaphor, but come on. What about disgruntled? Displeased? Exasperated? At least we’re not “shrill voices”, I guess…
Second of all, extremists? A position that that’s held by 70% of Americans (that we should end the occupation as soon as possible) cannot by definition be extremism. We represent the views of the vast majority of patriotic Americans.
We are what used to be called political centrists, before the collective madness of war-lust and the Fox-newsification of the media landscape. We are mainstream political moderates who are sick and tired of the insane rightward turn that this country has taken, and are doing our best - as volunteers - to turn this ship around.
We are capitalists, business-owners, parents, and commuters. We are your co-workers, and your neighbors. We are your cousins, aunts and uncles. We are YOU.
Remember, D&C, you got suckered by the Bushies too. You bought into the war rationale, and you repeated (unchallenged) the lies of the Bush administration. You neglected your duties as the fourth estate and are partially responsible for the mess we’re in today. How is it that we could see through the lies and spin, yet you were unable to even ask an intelligent question, mush less actually challenge the Bushies?
And now we’ve been proven right: the war has turned out to be a complete disaster. How DARE you to attempt to minimize us by painting us as extremists? Shame on you.
Related posts:
Good post. I may do a follow up.
Perhaps, the D&C has become an extremist publication in regards to certain issues?
Hopefully, they’re just misunderstanding what everyday folks consider moderate positions, because they haven’t been doing enough investigative reporting on their end (i.e. they’re staying in their “ivy towers’). Or maybe they’re being fed this type of information, because of the sources they use? I dunno, but its curious why they are so out-of-touch with the general sentiment on certain issues.
Huh, I guess they consider Walsh an extremist as well now that he’s joined the majority?
By association they’d have to be calling our military who donate to Democrats as extremists as well, or supporting extremists.
Pretty much. That’’s James Lawrence for you.
Bah - don’t give them more credit than what’s due. There are always extremists - both to the RIGHT and the LEFT. It’s my HOPE and my INTENTION that they continue to only look at the EXTREME LEFT and don’t see the massive push from the PROGRESSIVES located somewhere on the color chart of Red State/Blue State in the PURPLE ZONE. That’s where I’m hanging out - and it’s nice to know we’re able to push forward full steam ahead, and still not show up on their radar.
The great part about the purple zone is those removing themselves from the extremist right are moving towards the middle, same from the left. Rapidly, the power is transferring to a “new generation” of constituents.
It’s because of the crazy ramblings of the media, and the refusal of either side to believe a word of it, they’ve done this to themselves.
Will Walsh still suffer in the election? You bet. He can try to transfer to the “purple zone” now…but neither side will let him forget he came from the extremist right, and that switching your entire philosophy and belief system 2 months before an election looks like a coward.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck - it’s either Jim Walsh, Tom Reynolds or Randy Kuhl.
Further - An April 2007 D&C article by Joe Spector hinted at the fear by the “fearless” Minarik to distance themselves from their own “extremist” Bush and reads as follows:
“Minarik conceded that Republicans locally face a challenging environment because of President Bush’s low approval rating and voters’ disapproval of the war in Iraq. Earlier this year, Democrats won a seat for the first time on the Pittsford Village Board, and Democratic enrollment in the county in recent years has outpaced Republican enrollment.
“It’s this general feeling of anti-Republicanism because of Bush and the Iraq war,” Minarik said. “I don’t think there is anything that I would point to about our incumbents” that raises voters’ concerns.
And he stressed: “We’re a party that’s led by Maggie Brooks and not by George Bush.”
That of course was before he knew the Dem’s weren’t going to run any opposition.
This line in particular:
“It’s this general feeling of anti-Republicanism because of Bush and the Iraq war”…
AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK.
…does that count as a potential for TREASON considering the source?
I submit that the “radical left” is almost entirely a fiction created for rhetorical effect by the Republican Right. The right-wingers I know are still demonizing Jane Fonda, for goodness sake.
Try to name an extreme-left position. What would that be? Nationalization of corporations? Where’s the support for that?
We certainly hope to.
Now, if I was on the other side of the aisle, I’d be calling for a stay in “Gitmo” for Mr. Minarik.
Read this article of ours, in which stlo7 interviews some extremely mainstream war protestors.
It’s no different than this who effort they have going about “Betray Us” and Moveon.org. They claim it’s a sin worse than all sins to speak poorly of a military leader.
Too bad they didn’t think of that when they decided to attack JOHN KERRY with their “Swift Boats”…
It’s an eye for an eye - you just have to keep reminding people that every coin has two sides. In my biased opinion, we’re “head’s up” each and every time!
Itchy, most excellent post. Just got back in town and read it. Added my 2 sense (pun intended) to the D&C forum. Havin some fun with this.
Those pictures up above of EMPTY REPUBLICAN SEATS and EMPTY ADMINISTRATION TABLES at the Monroe County Legislative session are EXTREMIST if ever I saw one.
Public employees, ELECTED public employees, who don’t even have the kahunas to show up for WORK when the PUBLIC pays their salary, and the meeting in session involves their CRIMINAL wrong doing.
…yup - that’s pretty extreme.
Oh Maggie, my dear Maggie - what has become of you?
OK Itchy - perhaps you could do further research on the actual psychological disorder that they are suffering from: Authoritarianism Syndrome. I read a report on it earlier, and have found that the closer they come to losing control by their head lemming, the more agressive they become.
Know that this isn’t just a “tag” like the word “extremist”…it’s an actual sickness. Here’s a link:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3852/is_200001/ai_n8885946
The trouble isn’t that Bush is an extremist, it’s that he’s a terrible president whose positions don’t even make sense, let alone appeal to people in this area.
[...] « Are We Really Extremists? [...]
I read the entire study. Here’s the take home message:
“authoritarians may be generally closed-minded and intolerant, but within their own groups of family and friends they are as caring and prosocial as anybody else.”