HomeDebate
What’s the Matter with Democrats?
Thomas Frank has a notion of what’s wrong with the Democratic Party – why it repeatedly snatches defeat from the jaws of victory:
The answer to the riddle is as plain as the caviar on a lobbyist’s spoon. Democrats don’t speak to angry, working-class people because a lot of them can’t speak to angry, working-class people. [...]
A genuine documentary film on the Tea Party movement?
Vadim Rizov laments on the IFC Blog that we probably shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for a “real” (i.e. non-partisan) documentary film on the Tea Party movement:
American political documentaries tend to either center around campaigns (“Primary” and its many heirs), specific issue-focused activism, preaching to the choir (Michael Moore and Robert Greenwald) or retroactive explanations [...]
Time for a sequel?
LiberalArtsDude has posted a thoughtful review of “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” in which he gives the movie a solid 4/5 star recommendation but is left wanting more:
Fast forward to 2010 where conservative activism is explicitly angrier, economically populist and increasingly organized as in the rise of the Tea Party movement. I go back to [...]
Scott Roeder found guilty of first-degree murder of Dr. George Tiller
Today, the Wichita Eagle reports, a Wichita jury found Scott Roeder guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Dr. George Tiller. He faces a life sentence for the crime.
For those who feared that the trial would become a referendum on the abortion issue, or the Pro-Life movement, or that a lenient verdict would embolden [...]
What’s the Matter with Massachusetts?
Liberals across the country are stung by the loss of one of the most secure Democratic Senate seats to former underwear model Scott Brown.
The sudden victory by a conservative politician, backed by the Tea Partiers and conservative talk show hosts, in Massachusetts of all places, is a liberal nightmare. How could this happen?
Voters in 2008 [...]
The Tea Party takes over?
According to the New York Times, the “Tea Party” activists are actively working to take over the Republican Party at the grassroots level.
Across the country, they are signing up to be Republican precinct leaders, a position so low-level that it often remains vacant, but which comes with the ability to vote for the party executives [...]
Pro-Life groups react as trial set to begin for Scott Roeder
Scott Roeder, who was seen by eyewitnesses to shoot and kill Dr. George Tiller in his church last May, is set to stand trial in Wichita next week. After having his “necessity defense” rejected (that’s based on the idea that he was preventing some greater harm by killing Dr. Tiller and preventing future abortions) Roeder [...]
“Tea Party” more popular than Republicans or Democrats
NY Times columnist David Brooks is worried by a recent Wall Street Journal / NBC News Poll which shows the “Tea Party” demonstrators to be more popular than either of the two major political parties. He sees a revolt against “the educated class,” of which he — and his readers — are presumably members.
The Wall [...]
Thomas Frank: Watch out for GOP Populism
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Thomas Frank profiles Republican House member Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who’s adopted some fist-shaking anti-big-business rhetoric that would make some lefties weak at the knees. More tellingly, he’s critical of business at a time when Democrats shy from economic populism, perhaps compromised by their role in giving vast handouts to [...]
Sarah Palin for Something in 2010
As the year winds down, we students of conservative populism will make one prediction for 2010: we’ll all be hearing a lot more from Sarah Palin.
While Politco notes that she’s the second-most admired woman in America, the New York Review of Books makes an excellent case for her relevance, and her genius for prompting conservative [...]
Larryville.com knows what’s the matter
The Staff of Larryville of Lawrence, KS made it to a recent screening at Liberty Hall, and “armed with popcorn and beer” took a reflective journey into the politics of their home state. We feel that they may have found the heart of the movie, as they conclude:
The character selection in this documentary showed some [...]