From John Birchers to Birthers - The right's paranoid political style has gone mainstream

WSJ ^ | 10/20/09 | Thomas "don't call me Barney" Frank

[pissant]

Next month will mark the 45th anniversary of the publication by Harper's Magazine of Richard Hofstadter's famous essay, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics," a work that seems to grow more relevant by the day.

I was not always a fan. When I first read it two decades ago, I thought Hofstadter was being needlessly insulting by equating political views with mental illness—despite his insistence that he wasn't using the word that way. Besides, I thought, who really cared about the strange notions that occurred to members of marginal groups like the John Birch Society? Joe McCarthy's day was long over, and even in the age of high Reaganism, I thought, the type of person Hofstadter described was merely handing out flyers on street corners.

As the historian himself admitted, "in America it has been the preferred style only of minority movements." Why bother with it, then?

How times have changed! Hofstadter's beloved liberal consensus has been in the grave for decades now. Today it would appear that his mistake was underestimating the seductive power of the paranoid style.

The essential element of this mindset, Hofstadter explained, was its predilection for conspiracy theory—for understanding history as a theater in which sinister figures control the flow of events from behind the scenes, nudging us constantly and secretly in the direction of communism.

Back in Hofstadter's day this sort of thinking at least had something supremely rational going for it: The existence of the Soviet Union and its desire to bring the West to its knees.

But take that away and the theories become something far more remarkable. Consider, by contrast, the widespread belief that President Barack Obama's birth certificate was forged. What could have been his parents' motives for committing such a bizarre deed, or his home state's motive for colluding

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

It does cause health problems.
Binds with essential electrolytes preventing their proper absorption in metabolism.
Kidney problems, neurological problems, etc., decalcifies bones ultimately,
making them more brittle. Osteoporosis.
No one, especially infants and small children, should be ingesting that much fluoride. It's a scam of dental quackery, brought over in Paperclip from Germany
because it was thought to make the population more docile and submissive, reducing natural resistance to government mind control.
Combined with aluminum, it appears to be linked with brain damage and
Alzeimer's. So the colonel in Dr. Strangelove was closer to the truth.

Fluoride and the Brain

Fluoride's Neurological Effects

Fluoride, Aluminum and Alzheimer's

[1rudeboy]

So the Commies conspired to give us all kidney problems?

[altair]

You're not forbidden per se. I'm not Jim or a moderator.

Wikipedia has never been a particularly useful source for citations and they are now especially tainted for their role in spiking El Rushbo's NFL football ownership deal - leaving inaccurate biographical details stand without fact checking.

Not everyone here likes Rush, but he was at one time a FReeper.

[snarkybob]

“As as Joe Walsh put it, You’re Never Alone With a Schizophrenic.”

I believe that was Ian Hunter from Mott the Hopple

[dfwgator]

You could be right, the old memory is starting to go on me.

[snarkybob]

“You could be right, the old memory is starting to go on me.”

Understood. I’m sorry who are you again? LOL

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

There are other groups and secret societies conspiring against Americans
other than just card-carrying Communists or pampered Alinskyites from Harvard and South Chicago.

[SuperLuminal]

"I was not aware that Barney Frank was in the habit of defending Fundamentalist Protestants from their opponents. "

Sorry you misunderstood my allegoric use of Barney Frank...Let me re-state and simplify my response for more clarity:

Phew! That's the biggest a big load of Barney_Frankisms B.S. I've ever heard...(This last struck section wasn't, with daylight consideration, true.)

[STE=Q]

“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. (George — THE PARANOID — Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796)

“It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government” (Thomas — THE PARANOID — Paine)

STE=Q

[PA-RIVER]

(George — THE PARANOID — Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796)

Laughing so hard, tears in my eyes! Almost fell out of my chair!

But seriously, we can elect foreign citizens now. Its a whole new constitution! No amendmant required! Like magic!
The power a president has is now, in fact, in a foreign citizens hands. This fundamentaly alters the entire construction and functionality of the Constitution going forward. We now live at the whim of a Kenyan.

[driftless2]

"red flags"

I've said as much in past articles pertaining to Jews who hold on to liberalism despite is own anti-Semitic elements. Many older Jews identify the Republican Party as the party that discriminated against them and made them feel unwelcome. Most modern conservatives don't know that old time conservatism was not very friendly to Jews or other minorities. That was when rich, elite Pubbies really did control the party. I think since it's become more democratized i.e. more controlled by small town and even (gasp) religious conservatives, it's a lot more friendlier to Jews. There's no doubt conservatives are a lot more pro-Israel than liberals, Pat Buchanan not withstanding (and good riddance to Pat.)

[Zionist Conspirator]

Agreed.

[driftless2]

"Liberty Lobby"

I remember this guy bringing that rag to work. I perused it one time, and the whole thing was basically a rant against Jews, Israel, and (ahem) the Zionist Conspiracy. I dismissed Carto as a nut, and since I was a Dem at the time, wondered how many conservatives thought like he did. It's not to difficult to understand how many average non-political types would associate conservatism with anti-Semitism.

[Yardstick]

I guess he missed the punchline about Joe McCarthy, where in the aftermath of the cold war we found out that he was right.

The left refuses to hear the punchline. Somehow they have arranged their minds so that the fact of McCarthy being proven right simply does not exist. It has been un-facted. Or maybe they've convinced themselves that it doesn't matter. Either way, it's surreal.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I’m talking about the global-communist plot and the many avenues-of-approach they predicted they would take and that are coming to pass.

Like losing the Warsaw Pact? Sneaky Commies, lulling us into a false sense of security.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Exactly. Putin is just as sneaky as Stalin. And Obammie the Commie is just as stupid and egotistical as FDR.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Exactly. Putin is just as sneaky as Stalin.

I agree. And what better way to capture Europe than to move all your forces back into Russia itself? Why just invade West Germany form East Germany, when you can fight all the way through Poland? Nothing like adding hundreds of extra miles to execute a sneaky plan.

[BertWheeler]

Another cliche ridden article by tired, reactionary Thomas Frank. My God this guy is boring!

[April Lexington]

I value your insight and I keep an open mind. I know that many conservatives believe in a world conspiracy of Jewish communists who are pushing for a New World Order. One need only look at the current cabinet and insider group to see why this fantasy has legs. But, I am strongly in support of Israel and I don't see any communist Jews hiding under my bed this morning. So...I'm not willing to throw conservatives under the bus because the situation is, frankly, much bigger than Jews these days! Shalom!

[Zionist Conspirator]

I value your insight and I keep an open mind. I know that many conservatives believe in a world conspiracy of Jewish communists who are pushing for a New World Order. One need only look at the current cabinet and insider group to see why this fantasy has legs. But, I am strongly in support of Israel and I don't see any communist Jews hiding under my bed this morning. So...I'm not willing to throw conservatives under the bus because the situation is, frankly, much bigger than Jews these days! Shalom!

I don't "throw conservatives under the bus," though there is a certain type of "conservative" I want nothing to do with. And I don't trust the JBS.

Thank you for your kind words.