Confused and Befuddled

I'm in lecture-writing mode today and am not really supposed to be looking at the blogs. But I couldn't resist clicking on a link that my dad sent to me to Victor Davis Hanson at NRO Online. Hanson writes,

The latest polls reflecting Obama’s near-collapse should serve as a morality tale of John Edwards’s two Americas — the political obtuseness of the intellectual elite juxtaposed to the common sense of the working classes.

For some bizarre reason, Obama aimed his speech at winning praise from National Public Radio, the New York Times, and Harvard, and solidifying an already 90-percent solid African-American base — while apparently insulting the intelligence of everyone else.

He goes on to explain that Obama's speech was the worst speech ever and that all the non-brie eaters hate his guts now.

Did I miss a major story? Is Obama out of the race? So, I ran over to check the headlines at the Times. No headlines. The opinion writers both talked about Obama, but nothing about a "near-collapse." Herbert thinks it was the best speech ever, but many people might miss the point. Brooks is wondering why Hillary doesn't resign already.

Maybe Hanson is confused.

Comments

[MH]

Since we mentioned Jacobins, and as a way to end my contribution to a long series of comments, I offer my song "French Regimes Since 1789." Sing to the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas.

Five French republics,
Four with no DeGaulle,
Three ousted kings,
Two emperors,
And a Vichy fascist regime.

Obviously, it isn't much help with dates (and it doesn't scan perfectly), but it has helped me.

[Doug]

Like the song!

[Amy P]

I know some of you guys are going to hate this because of the Fox News connection, but here goes:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/27/obamas-former-pastor-builds-a-multimillion-dollar-retirement-home/

I had been wondering in view of Wright's and TUCC's condemnation of middleclassness, what Wright's level of personal consumption was, and now I know. It's a rather unappealing combination, gross consumption using money made (in part) by feeding paranoia and hopelessness (Why strive to live a decent middle-class life if all these vast, malevolent government forces are conspiring to give you HIV, sell you drugs, and keep you down?). I know what Obama has said about TUCC's day care centers, and HIV outreach, but it's pretty hard to find a church that doesn't have a significant degree of charitable activity. Plus, the financial transactions behind that house just smell funny. I suppose that Wright probably won't have to pay property tax, because it's probably TUCC church property. Ugh.

[MH]

Thanks Doug. That last line just popped in my head when I was reading something about French government. From that it was easy except for the fact that I can't think of a plausible item for 6 and up.

[Doug]

There probably aren't six sainted Louis, which is too bad because it's both alliterative and in the proper meter. I'm sensing a potential huge time sink here, but "burning martyrs" also scans properly. Francophiles might want to substitute "an Edict of Toleration" for the Vichy reference, but it's not quite as amusing that way. Other possibilities include "Capetian kings," Merovingians, Huguenots and guillotines. I see lots of fun here, but if I want to get anything else done this weekend, I'd better stop now.

Amy, Russel Arben Fox seems to know a good bit about Wright. Why not ask him what he thinks?

[dave.s.]

I've stayed in a church whose minister vexed me - nothing as extreme as what Wright seems to be, but silly platitudes over real issues and presenting at shiny-and-new the last three months of NY Times editorials as insights. I felt attached to other congregants, I had a little responsibility on some committees, and time passed and there I was.

It does seem to me that Obama has had a lot of concern about racial identity - Steve Sailer's article about his half brother who has almost no interest in the issue is interesting - and that that was likely a factor in his attraction to a church where there was so much churning about the whole thing. But it seems to me likely not a big deal going forward.

[Amy P]

"But it seems to me likely not a big deal going forward."

The TUCC connection is instant campaign ad fodder, especially since there are extensive quotes in an Obama book detailing his early involvement with TUCC and what attracted him there. Particularly valuable is the fact that Obama recorded the audiobook, so the quotes will be available in his voice. I don't think McCain himself will run the most pointed ads possible, but there's already a McCain ad up that I think is pointing obliquely at Obama's apparent ambivalence about the US. Third parties creating advertisements will be more direct.

On the other hand, McCain really knows how to annoy fellow Republicans. When he's right he's right (like his recent housing statements) but when he's wrong, he's so wrong.

[Doug]

"but there's already a McCain ad up that I think is pointing obliquely at Obama's apparent ambivalence about the US trying to gin up anti-Obama sentiment and attack his patriotism."

There, that's fixed.

This sort of thing has gone from the last refuge of a scoundrel to the first. Unless we think that McCain's so unlikely to win that he's already on his last refuge. Hm.

I wonder if he can be arrested for violating campaign finance laws? Wouldn't that look great for the law n order party.

[Amy P]

The question remains, why should we make you president of a country that you don't seem to like very much?

[bj]

Ah, because "in no other country is my story even possible." Recognizing that your country, the only possibility at all for you is imperfect, does not mean that you don't like it very much, merely that you believe in what it can be as well as what is.

[Doug]

"The question remains, why should we make you president of a country that you don't seem to like very much?"

Indeed. And I, for one, am not satisfied with the answers that McCain has given.

What is all this "national greatness" business? Is America not great as it is? Is the new generation not awesome? Why does he think they should all be drafted engage in forced mandatory national service? This American who's planning on voting for an American in American elections for American president to run the American government wants to know.

(On the other hand, if the point of McCain's tactic is to set up Republicans as the nativists and Democrats as party of immigrants and their descendents, go right ahead with that. I might even send a check, made out to the "Pete Wilson Republican Majority Fund.")

[MH]

What? One of the reasons McCain wasn't the first choice of many Republicans is because of his support for amnesty for those who immigrated illegally. Also, your comment is the first time I've read a "Republicans are going to draft you" comment since 2004. Congratulations on taking things down-market before the primaries have even ended.