Alterman The Angry: America Country of Idiots, Thinking People Hate Bush, And More

Media Matters-Eric Alterman/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

How out there on the left wing is Eric Alterman? MSNBC, the network of Keith Olbermann, he who has accused Pres. Bush of fascism and called for his impeachment - fired him, presumably for being too extreme.

But not to worry, Alterman's column, 'Altercation,' was promptly picked up by David Brock's Media Matters. For my sins I recently subscribed to the column's email list. Reading through this evening's edition, one thing emerges: Eric Alterman is one angry guy. In the course of one mere column, Alterman vents his bile in these diverse directions:

• "This notion of a leftist alliance with Islamic radicals is often trumpeted by crazy people like [David] Horowitz."
• "Virtually the entire world -- at least the part that's paying attention [hates Pres. Bush]."
• The editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal represent "intellectual contamination" that have made them "a sorry joke."
• "Jeff Greenfield is insane."
• "In smart countries . . . CNN International is not pitched toward idiots, like our CNN is."
• A Michael Kinsley column "is so bad it could have been written by Charles Krauthammer."

I don't know who did what to Alterman. But his anger burns so brightly that it blots out his substance, rendering it a virtual afterthought.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Alterman-the-angry ping to Today show list.

[Brilliant]

We are a country of idiots. Afterall, we did elect the Democrats to run Congress.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Somehow, I don't think Alterman meant it in quite that way ;-)

[padre35]

Hatred is never pretty to look at, is shows a dementia of the soul and bankruptcy of reason.

Mr. Altermann makes his living (presumebly) from writing, if that is the depth of his ability, well he may need to reconsider his career path.

A junior high poster on Myspace writes more coherently than Mr. Alterman's vapid scribbles.

[popdonnelly]

Sounds like a little smartass to me.

[Izzy Dunne]

For my sins I recently subscribed to the column's email list.

What, pray tell, were your "sins"?

[D.P.Roberts]

Probably had a spat with his boyfriend.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Being in the habit of commenting on the liberal media, I suppose.

[Brilliant]

No, but he's too stupid to realize what he said.

[omniscient]

Terminal BDS. The incoherent babbling is a dead giveaway. Also note the slight frothing of the mouth, and the dead, glazed look in the eyes.

[Billthedrill]

You generally see chronic anger and this "smart people think like I do" obsession as an expression of fear and a desperate insecurity of the writer as to his own intellect. In Alterman's case the insecurity is fully justified.

I gently suggest that what he's really trying to state in all this is that the United States isn't one of those "smart countries" because if it were he'd be more influential than he is. That sort of sentiment speaks far more about speaker than subject. IMHO.

[crazyhorse691]

Living on the Left Coast, I hear similar progressive loathing proclaimed as truths delivered nonstop. At least in a written piece you are not subject to the lunatic eye bulging or the flying spittle.

[technomage]

Eric Alterman is one angry guy

That can be said of all liberals at any time in their lives.

[Howlin]

Well, he's an equal opportunity hater.

[Anti-Bubba182]

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Forgive my ignorance: who's Eric's evil twin?

By the way, there's something in the way Alterman poses that makes me think he sees himself as some kind of old-fashioned, heroic/romantic 'Man of the Left'.

[Bahbah]

What in the world! Greenfield hates conservatives and the President. Why would Alterman take out after him?

[expatpat]

....because if it were he'd be more influential than he is.

That's the story with most of the intellectual elite -- they can't understand why such a smart person isn't ruling the world. It frustrates the hell out of them, and makes them bitter and angry.

[expatpat]

Is that Trotsky?