Andrew Sullivan: America's left surrenders itself to the giant sulk

The Sunday Times (U.K.) ^ | 03/31/2002 | Andrew Sullivan

[Pokey78]

Ping for the ASPL.

[LarryLied]

But cynicism and alienation do not make for a coherent liberal critique of the current administration or the war. And American democracy — and the world — is poorer for lack of that debate.

Dialectics is not a good in itself, Andrew. Sometimes right and wrong are as simple as, well, right and wrong.

[JAWs]

The need to rebel is something most of us have felt at one or more points in our lives.

I personally rebelled against liberalism. Still am.

[Phil V.]

But Moore is equally furious at the Democrats. He describes Bill Clinton as one of the most successful Republican . . .

Damn! Is that true?

Well hell, I guess ol' bubba ain't that bad after all!

[DallasJ7]

Wow. Sullivan has a great way with words. He is of course right. The best that the left can produce right now are bottom-of-the-barrel, uncomprehendably bitter morons like Michael Moore.

[DB]

Andrew did a great job of laying Moore to waste... I enjoyed it, thank you.

[Free State Four]

give Donald Rumsfeld the political version of Viagra.

Andrew, there is so much to agree with in this article. But I'm tellin' you here and now. Rummy doesn't need Viagra ~political or otherwise! VaVaVaVooooooom! :o) fsf

[okie01]

Andrew Sullivan holds Michael Moore up to scorn, as a ridiculous talisman of the left.

Meanwhile, back at the NYTimes, Frank Rich offers a column that holds up Moore up as a paragon worth emulating.

The Wimps of War

Together, the two pieces offer a simply stunning opportunity for "compare and contrast"...

[Amelia]

But cynicism and alienation do not make for a coherent liberal critique of the current administration or the war. And American democracy — and the world — is poorer for lack of that debate.

I'm sure that if Andrew really wants to see the debate, he's bright enough to come up with some arguments for the liberal side. If he wants to.

[AM2000]

And you know this, how?

[doosee]

Andrew Sullivan holds Michael Moore up to scorn, as a ridiculous talisman of the left. There's always Alec the bloviator Baldwin. The funny thing about Baldwin is he actually believes himself when he is sounding off and frothing at the mouth about his goofy Republican hate venting.

[Revolting cat!]

He describes Bill Clinton as one of the most successful Republican . . .

There is a kernel of truth in that if you consider Bubba's policies and those promoted by the dominating wing of the RINO Party. That said, I still wonder how such idiocy as Moore's book makes it to the top of the bestseller list. Who buys this garbage?

[alcuin]

Over-written (as usual), but still good stuff.

As usual.

ALWAYS worth the read.

[Revolting cat!]

Who buys this garbage?

I guess I'll have to I'll answer my own question. The thinking unthinking reading public that's who. A depressing thought to be sure. There are lines to see this obese moron at book readings, folks. Maybe, it's the obesity that's so attractive in a nation that's half obese, I dunno. I've just bought a couple of books myself that rank 19,756 and 176,385 on the Amazon list today and am thinking of buying two more that rank 12,300 and 97,728, but then I'm a freaking 'elitist' cat according to some. This boy here's outta touch, think I'll go kill m'self!

[Squire]

We haven't seen anything in a while from the always incisive Paglia. But at least Sullivan is still writing.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Free State Four]

And you know this, how?

'Cause nobody C-SPANS me like Rummy! OOOOOOO baby. Yeah. Larry King can go snap his suspenders. Give me some more Rummy. :o) fsf

[garbanzo]

Who buys this garbage?

My guess is that people just as bitter and envious as Moore is who hate everyone more successful than themselves.

[IncPen]

“The truth is,” Walzer writes, “the guilt produced by living in such a country and enjoying its privileges makes it impossible to sustain a decent (intelligent, responsible, morally nuanced) politics. Maybe festering resentment, ingrown anger and self-hate are the inevitable result of the long years spent in fruitless opposition to the global reach of American power. Certainly, all those emotions were plain to see in the left’s reaction to September 11, in the failure to register the horror of the attack, the barely concealed glee that the imperial state had finally got what it deserved.”

Or, as my father used to say, "The liberal's reward is self-disgust"