My breakfast with Eric Alterman

Self | 01/26/2003 | LiberationIT

[LiberationIT]

Brussels, Belgium

January 26, 2003

Ok, I didn’t really have breakfast with Alterman, but I sat close by in the posh dining room of the ultra luxury Hotel Amigo in Brussels while Alterman held court with two unidentified associates this morning.

[LiberationIT]

My breakfast with Eric Alterman

Brussels, Belgium

January 26, 2003

Ok, I didn’t really have breakfast with Alterman, but I sat close by in the posh dining room of the ultra luxury Hotel Amigo in Brussels while Alterman held court with two unidentified associates this morning. While dining on a 26 euro ($28) bacon and egg breakfast and demanding “more warm milk” in mouth full of food, rapid fire English, Alterman discussed many topics including;

Encouraging his tablemate to attend more socialism conferences as it was time well spent.

Alterman said Clinton’s health care program was “too ambitious” and he spoke of a meeting with Paul Begala where Begala blamed the media for not doing their job and explaining the complicated Clinton medical takeover. This was, in Begala’s opinion, why it had failed.

Alterman said the Bush tax cut plan was likewise too complicated for the average person to understand. He felt this was a smart move by Bush.

He faulted Bill Clinton by not doing more to explain his positions to the “Clinton Haters.”

Alterman also found fault with the “anti-war movement” for ignoring his advice if “it would not fit on a placard.”

He opined the 2002 election was a guaranteed win for the Republicans as they had “support at every level” and “used it.”

Alterman was silent when his tablemate lamented the last elections marking the end of the Left in power.

“9/11 changed me” Alterman said, and as a result he would support the Iraq war if it started (“Saddam Hussein is truly awful,”) but Alterman felt there were “more pressing issues.” Such as Pakistan which he considered to be a bigger threat for providing weapons to terrorists.

Alterman also felt the Palestinians should have a “small state of their own.”

After breakfast Alterman argued with the front desk for requesting his charge card again (usual procedure in Europe,) and charging him for phone calls which he claimed were failed internet connection attempts. Then jumped into a taxi and was whisked away for his 9:55 am flight.

It was interesting to hear Alterman without all the sarcasm and vitriol that normally accompany his writings. He seemed a nice fellow, but smugly convinced that the world would benefit immensely from his guidance on all problems. I was surprised to see a committed socialist staying in a hotel where standard rooms can go for 460 euro ($483) per night. I was also surprised to see him using a taxi when public transportation was available close by.

Alterman clearly needs to work on his multiculturalism. Using not a single word of the local languages and speaking loudly and rapidly to people for whom English is a second or third language, displayed an abysmal lack of sensitivity.

This report filed by the alternative media.

[WorkingClassFilth]

I love this site - it is the news before the news. Analysis ain't too shabby either.

[winin2000]

I was surprised to see a committed socialist staying in a hotel where standard rooms can go for 460 euro ($483) per night.

Why, for Heaven's sake? This part and parcel for the elite left: luxury for themselves but they get to prescribe that the "rich" who actually work to earn their living be taxed into oblivion to furnish the bare essentials to derelicts and layabouts. To "spread the misery evenly" as El Rushbo coined the phrase.

[LiberationIT]

Thanks. I love this site too. I'd rather interact with a hand full of Freepers watching and reporting than the combined staffs of NYT, CBS, CNN, NPR, ABC, Time, etc., providing more filtered, meaningless drivel

[LiberationIT]

You're right. I should not have been surprised. I'll save my surprise for when I encounter a socialist with principles.

[cactusSharp]

if Alter caught fire right then and there
I wouldn't even pizz on em.........he is a godless
devil enabler set loose on the wimmens and chillens

well, not w/o a fight

[cgbg]

Thanks for the great post.

Alterman has a lot to learn from you, because, as you have proven, we are not learning when we are speaking. We only learn when we listen. ;-)

It is encouraging that 9/11 got his attention. Sometimes these Clintonoids gave you the impression that only two by fours to the head wuold get them to rethink their positions.

Listening carefully in public places is one of my favorite activities as well. :-)

[Auntie Mame]

This is wonderful!

But who is Eric Alterman?

[LiberationIT]

Auntie,
Alterman is a resident socialist on MSNBC.com - you can see some of his opinion pieces and his weblog over there. I used to waste some time reading him.

I too like Mark Twain. One of my favorites is "The best way to tell a lie is to tell the truth up to a point then quit talking." By this standard much of the mainstream media are liars.

Regards.

[wizardoz]

This part and parcel for the elite left: luxury for themselves but they get to prescribe that the "rich" who actually work to earn their living be taxed into oblivion to furnish the bare essentials to derelicts and layabouts.

Well said.

[aculeus]

Thanks for the interesting post.

[texasbluebell]

I was surprised to see a committed socialist staying in a hotel where standard rooms can go for 460 euro ($483) per night. I was also surprised to see him using a taxi when public transportation was available close by.

It just points to the type of commie he is.

I once heard Hitlery described by a radio talk guy (not sure now who), as a Leninist, meaning she and her ilk believe that there is a ruling elite who doesn't have to suffer from the depridations the "peasants" (that would be us) would have to go through.

The elite get all the perks at our expense. Why would they want to suffer any hardships, that's for the little people. The media, many of them, are working in collusion with the hidden commies in our govt to get this to come to pass in the US.

At least, that's my understanding now of that form of communism, though I've not made a study of it.

Thanks a lot for posting this very interesting look at the guy.

[LiberationIT]

TBB,
Thanks to you (and the other posters,) for the feedback. Your point is interesting in that Alterman is sporting a very Lenin like goatee and mustache. Perhaps he is imitating someone he respects. He and Lenin sure look to be separated at birth.

Hook em Horns!

[bandleader]

Yes,Why Is Anyone Surprised By What These Limousine Liberals Do?All you have to do is read"Animal Farm".Orwell pegged these LiboCrites for what they are long ago."All Of The Animals Are Equal,But Some Are MORE Equal"!!!"HildeBeast" and"BeelzeBubba" LOVE LUXURY(as long as someone else is paying for it)!!!!!!!!!!!

[LiberationIT]

You've hit it. IMO Alterman clearly seemed to feel he was above the proletariat. Although, I would characterize his behavior towards the staff as oafish and inconsiderate, rather than rude. He was not offensive, but he clearly lacked empathy for the working hotel staff.

[Auntie Mame]

Alterman is a resident socialist on MSNBC.com

Aha! Thank you.

Your piece is VERY well written, VERY interesting, and a credit to this website.

[syriacus]

I was surprised to see a committed socialist staying in a hotel where standard rooms can go for 460 euro ($483) per night

I hope he has some money left to tip the hotel employees.

[baseballmom]

Excellent report. He sounds boorish.

Freepers are everywhere. LOL

[liliana]

i saw only the last few minutes of alterman on c-span and i heard him say that people in iowa (people in fly-over country) thought that barbra streisand was the most important liberal in this country. we're know-nothings to him.

[LiberationIT]

How true. There is a certain, smug, arrogant sense of superiority that many liberals have. Barbara Striesand is important though, if for now other reason, to show that that sense of superiority is self delusion rather than reality.