TNR: Ball Fake [The Loony Left Loses Another Liberal]

The New Republic ^ | 01.21.05 | Tom Frank

[West Coast Conservative]

wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be at a ball, a genuine inaugural ball with tuxedos and presidential-seal-emblazoned square napkins and succulent miniature crab cakes. Regrettably, we're a liberal magazine and, consequently, many of us are less than perfectly organized (although, at TNR, some of us prefer to think of ourselves as neo-disorganized)--and, well, I failed to honor certain press-credentialing deadlines. Now, instead, I would be covering "counter-inaugural events." As a result, last night I was sitting in a low-budget church on G Street in downtown Washington listening to speakers at an International Socialist Organization-sponsored gathering by the name of "Town Hall: Empire and Resistance."

Needless to say, this wasn't much fun. I could have thrown a stone as far as my strength allowed and still have been certain of not hitting a crab cake. On the other hand, everyone else seemed to be having a good time. The hundred or so people there frequently applauded and hollered, and, as expected, phrases like "exposing Bush for what he is--a cold-blooded killer" were particular hits. I didn't even think there was much to report on. After all, who cares what the ideological fringe of the losing side has to say? But the more I heard, the more I became convinced that I had discovered something truly threatening: This band of socialists was the most effective recruiting tool for the Republican Party I'd ever encountered.

To begin with, there were the posters on the wall: MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION, NOT FOR WAR AND OCCUPATION. Let's leave aside that the meter is somehow dissatisfying (nine syllables followed by eight--no flow at all). The main point is, if the shallowness of this statement bothers you, to what party do you look for comfort? To the Democrats, many of whom condemn building firehouses in Baghdad and closing firehouses at home? Or do you say to yourself, in that moment, "I don't much care for Newt Gingrich--nor does anyone else--but I bet he hates that goddamn poster as much as I do"? I know where I was leaning.

Then there was the pooh-poohing of elections--any elections. Former soldier Stan Goff (supposedly of the Delta Force, Rangers, and Special Forces) spoke at length about the evils of capitalism and declared, "We ain't never resolved nothing through an election." This drew loud, sustained applause. Nothing to get worked up about, I thought; just a leftist speaker spouting lunacy. But today it seemed particularly bad. It wasn't just that I was missing what might be lovely canapés (or perhaps spring rolls being brought about on trays with delectable dipping sauce); rather, it was the thought that the speaker was dismissing something that Afghanis of all ages had recently risked their lives to participate in, something Iraq's insurgents view as so transformative that they are murdering scores of Iraqis to prevent it. No, what I needed to counter this speaker was not a Democrat like me who might argue that elections were, in fact, important. What I needed was a Republican like Arnold who would walk up to him and punch him in the face.

But the worst came with the final speaker, a woman by the name of Sherry Wolf, who is supposedly on the "editorial board of International Socialist Review." She talked, and talked, and talked; terms like "architects of the slaughter," "war criminal," and "Noam Chomsky" wafted about the room; and my eyes grew so bleary that I ceased taking notes. But then she brought up the insurgents in Iraq. Sure they were bad, she admitted: "No one cheers the beheading of journalists." But, she continued, they had a "right" to rebel against occupation. Then she read from a speech by the activist Arundhati Roy: "Of course, [the Iraqi resistance] is riddled with opportunism, local rivalry, demagoguery, and criminality. But if we were to only support pristine movements, then no resistance will be worthy of our purity." In sum, Wolf said, the choice boiled down to supporting occupation or resistance, and we had to support resistance.

So there it was. I even forgot about the Constitution Ball for a minute. Apparently, we were to view the people who set off bombs killing over 150 peaceful Shia worshippers in Baghdad and Karbala as "resistance" fighters. And the audience seemed entirely fine with this. These weren't harmless lefties. I didn't want Nancy Pelosi talking sense to them; I wanted John Ashcroft to come busting through the wall with a submachine gun to round everyone up for an immediate trip to Gitmo, with Charles Graner on hand for interrogation.

I left early (I couldn't stomach the question-answer session) and made my way to the Metro. In the station were people wearing fur coats and tuxedos and lovely gowns and shiny shoes. I assumed they were in town to celebrate Bush's reelection, and, for a moment, I wanted to join in. After my session with the ISO, they suddenly looked--well, so appealing.

Having attended college in New York City, I know what it's like to be confronted with some of the more irritating forms of campus leftism. Yet I never quite understood why, ultimately, such leftism should drive sensible people away from liberalism. But yesterday's display made it a little more understandable: Maybe sometimes you just want to be on the side of whoever is more likely to take a bunker buster to Arundhati Roy.

[cripplecreek]

"Of course, [the Iraqi resistance] is riddled with opportunism, local rivalry, demagoguery, and criminality. But if we were to only support pristine movements, then no resistance will be worthy of our purity."


Wow.

[Graybeard58]

The farther left the democrat party goes the more people they will lose.

I can't believe that most democrats in this country are traitors and believe the things the loony left believes.

Let them spout this nonsense. It's our gain.

[cripplecreek]

"I didn't want Nancy Pelosi talking sense to them; I wanted John Ashcroft to come busting through the wall with a submachine gun to round everyone up for an immediate trip to Gitmo, with Charles Graner on hand for interrogation."


To quote any given hip hop artist "I'm down with that".

[Theresawithanh]

I also liked when the author said he wanted Arnold Schwarzenegger to slug someone!

[al_again]

I will say it time and time again - the disintegration of the Democrats is not good for this country. The Democratic party will continue to lose the blue-collar constituency and will become absolutely powerless. This will leave the Republicans with no opposition and will inevitably lead to widespread corruption.

[cripplecreek]

Kinda makes me wish I had room for it in my tagline box.

[Nevada Mark]

Let's join hands and sing... Where have all the liberals gone? Long time passing. Where have all the liberals gone? Long time ago. Where have all the liberals gone? Off to Canada everyone. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

[cripplecreek]

LOL

[texasflower]

I don't think you will find many people who wish for us to have a one party system.

But these nutcases are taking over the democratic party. They need to go.

[Choose Ye This Day]

This is great. E-mailing now to my loony left relatives.

[Darkwolf377]

This guy is a sane liberal--i.e. his heart is in the right place, no matter how much I might disagree with how he thinks certain problems should be solved.

The people he describes, on the other hand, are anti-Americans. Both sides have a tendency to spout rhetoric, but for me the test is simple--put the words these people say into the mouths of people during WW2, and instead of terrorists and insurgents they're saying these things about the Nazis.

[Graybeard58]

The Democratic party will continue to lose the blue-collar constituency and will become absolutely powerless. This will leave the Republicans with no opposition and will inevitably lead to widespread corruption.

As long as the country as a whole is moving toward conservatism. The democratic party becomes less and less relevant. Eventually they will truly be a fringe party. I don't see that as a bad thing because people will still lean the way they do now but will just come up with a new name.

For a two party system I would suggest, moderate Republicans and conservative Republicans, with todays democratic party having about the same influence as the green party has now.

The views stated in this article are without any redeeming value whatsoever. Let them fade into oblivion.

[cripplecreek]

"I don't think you will find many people who wish for us to have a one party system."


I agree. I would feel a lot better if the democratic party were in the hands of sane men.

[dangus]

Yes! When the Democratic Party fails to appeal to "normal" liberals, the Republican Party of today will become the Democratic Party of tomorrow. And then where will we be?

[clee1]

But you got the vernacular all wrong!

It's: "I'm DOWN wid dat!"

[spinestein]

Don't worry. Republicans will have plenty of opposition soon enough. The tens of millions of voters in this country who still depend on Big Government everyday will make sure of that.

[formercalifornian]

What I needed to counter this speaker was not a Democrat like me who might argue that elections were, in fact, important. What I needed was a Republican like Arnold who would walk up to him and punch him in the face.

[ChicagoHebrew]

The New Republic, every conservative's favorite liberal magazine. One of the last respites of sensible liberalism.

[clee1]

We'll become the "Conservative Party".

[ChicagoRighty]

This is great. I'm going to email to those I know that lean left. Although they are still in so much denial that they probably won't read much of it.

Thanks for the post.

[thoughtomator]

The greatest part of it all is that the loonier they are, the louder they are. Sense and sensibility have no chance in the Democrat party, an institution for which the phrase "bad manners drive out good manners" was invented.

[hunter112]

I would feel a lot better if the democratic party were in the hands of sane men.

All that needs to happen is for the Rats to lose an election by a sizable amount. Something on the order of the LBJ victory in 1964. That transformed the Republican Party into the entity that produced a Ronald Reagan as President. Well, maybe its just wishful thinking that the Rat constituency would unite behind someone thoughtful and decent, their last attempt at this was to back Clinton, and look where that got them!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Good read. I don't think people like those at the gathering he attended are that few and far between...but maybe that's because I'm in Seattle, and I've seen a lot of 'em.

[KC_Conspirator]

Wow is right.

They do hate America and do support terrorists.

I was at the inauguration last week and saw some leftists assault a black woman cop down at D and 7th street. The whole day was filled with them harrassing women and children and getting violent. This is what the left has to offer.

[Ahban]

Conservatives can hope that the Dems go to the dustbin of history and that the Constitution Party becomes the 2nd party in America.

[Ahban]

Conservatives can hope that the Dems go to the dustbin of history and that the Constitution Party becomes the 2nd party in America.

[EveningStar]

Good find! Thanks! :)

[jocon307]

"some of us prefer to think of ourselves as neo-disorganized"

LOL, I like that!

[Sthitch]

Former soldier Stan Goff (supposedly of the Delta Force, Rangers, and Special Forces) spoke at length about the evils of capitalism and declared, "We ain't never resolved nothing through an election."

So from what I can gather, this rocket scientist must be making a statement on the poor state of our educational system. I have never read a quote so poorly put together in my life. Which leads me to believe that he was actually driving trucks at Fort Bragg, and since he occasionally drove past the special forces training area he could claim that he was one of them.

[jocon307]

"What I needed was a Republican like Arnold who would walk up to him and punch him in the face."

LOL, that's good too!

Thanks for posting this, what an amusing article. I'll bet this reporter never misses a pubbie party again, maybe in ANY sense of the term.

[Publius6961]

"Of course, [the Iraqi resistance] is riddled with opportunism, local rivalry, demagoguery, and criminality. But if we were to only support pristine movements, then no resistance will be worthy of our purity."

The beauty of this statement is that it not only works for the near-impossible task of defending Americans W style, but does so in spades.

And it brings to crystal clarity the moronic "deal with only pristine individuals" when gathering foreign intelligence law from the 80s.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I will say it time and time again - the disintegration of the Democrats is not good for this country. The Democratic party will continue to lose the blue-collar constituency and will become absolutely powerless. This will leave the Republicans with no opposition and will inevitably lead to widespread corruption.

Well yeah the corruption and likely because those smart liberals who flee will enter the Republican big tent, and that will drive the party left, as it moves left Conservatives will jump ship in increasing numbers. Hey it's already starting, Rudy for Pres - Condi for Pres - Arnold for Pres anyone? What's wrong with that saith the new FR RINO? You some kind of radical commie DUer extremist traitor type? Well sort of I guess. I still agree with Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton.

[American in Israel]

The Left is sinking, but the polls still show them at half the country. Let me guess, the polls are conducted by the left.

[EveningStar]

I don't think people like those at the gathering he attended are that few and far between...but maybe that's because I'm in Seattle, and I've seen a lot of 'em.

How far out of Seattle do you have to go in order to get back to the US? :D

[LibertarianInExile]

You must be one of those third-party nutjobs. /sarcasm

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I think the reason I've seen a lot of these types is that I've been one of those fighting the battle against tent cities being set up all over King County. The nuts never fail to come out in support of that.

[rockrr]

"Now I know the reason lions eat their young"

[brushcop]

Now THERE'S an interesting thought...

[Southack]

"After all, who cares what the ideological fringe of the losing side has to say? But the more I heard, the more I became convinced that I had discovered something truly threatening: This band of socialists was the most effective recruiting tool for the Republican Party I'd ever encountered."

Boom!

[okie01]

I will say it time and time again - the disintegration of the Democrats is not good for this country.

But it is. It has become apparent that the Democrat party is beyond redemption. Accordingly, nothing good can come from it.

However, once disintegrated, new coalitions can form around new ideas and a healthy opposition party can begin to form -- perhaps including disaffected portions of the GOP.

I will stipulate that the country needs two healthy parties, both of whom are prepared to protect and defend the Constitution. And that, if one becomes omnipotent, it will become corrupt (see Democrats, c. 1993). But I no longer believe "reforming the Democrats" is a feasible proposition.

Instead, they must be squashed like a bug.

[Liberty Valance]

"...on G Street in downtown Washington listening to speakers at an International Socialist Organization-sponsored gathering..."

What a dolt. He should have gone to Hooters for hot-wings and brewskis.

[vpintheak]

Those kind of people are the used up gum stuck to the bottom of the bench of the United States.

[MCH]

I will say it time and time again - the disintegration of the Democrats is not good for this country. The Democratic party will continue to lose the blue-collar constituency and will become absolutely powerless. This will leave the Republicans with no opposition and will inevitably lead to widespread corruption.

My worry too. What we really need is the emergence of a new party on the right (not the traditional nationalist right mind you, rather the individualist right). Then we can leave the Democrats on the trashheap of history as the leftist fringe whackos they're becoming, and redefine the more centrist Republicans as the new left. Not sure which party should emerge as mainstream and less socialist than the Repubs, but it should be one that believes more in the principles of individual rights that this republic was founded on, and less on all this collectivist crap espoused by many Repub RINOs and centrists.

[Boiler Plate]

After watching the History Channel's "The French Revolution" it is pretty easy to see how these Wackos have been around for altogether too long. What is scary about them and the islaomonuts is that the solution to every problem involves killing and never does it involve freedom and individual rights.

[California Patriot]

Why all this hope for the recovery of the Democratic party from its madness? This madness has been a long, long time in developing. It didn't come out of nowhere.

I say we're better off with the destruction of this party. Inevitably there will be two parties. But the successor to the Democrats could well be moderate and reasonable if they implode. Look at all the RINOs in the GOP. With the Rats out of the way, I'd welcoming their leaving to form a responsible third party.

[California Patriot]

Correction: I mean, a responsible SECOND party.

[freebilly]

"...no resistance will be worthy of our purity."

This way to the showers, Ladies and Gentlemen!

[Bob J]

Lighten up Delia.

[Bob J]

wOW. 'Nuff said.