America's Stalinist Right

[OneBlueSky]

interesting comments by Matthew Lenoe, Assistant Professor of History at Assumption College and author of Closer to the Masses: Stalinist Culture, Social Revolution, and Soviet Newspapers . . .

http://www.enlightenmentman.blogspot.com/ . . . (scroll down past first article) . . .

(snip)

As a student of the origins of Stalinist culture and propaganda, I have become more and more aware of the Stalinist tactics and mentality of much of the American Right since the virulent Clinton-hating publicity campaigns of the 1990s. The words "treason," "traitors," "unity," and "patriotism" are a good place to start in understanding this. Stalin was a great patriot and hunter of "traitors." Accusing political opponents of treason, lack of patriotism, or lack of resolution in the face of an external threat is quintessentially Stalinist. It has become a staple of Republican rhetoric since the September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda massacre. On right-wing talk radio and conservative websites, and in publications of such commentators as Ann Coulter it is routine to accuse the entire Democratic party of treason. These accusations erode the assumption, essential for a functioning democracy, that there can be a patriotic "loyal opposition" to the party in power.

(snip)

Efforts at intimidation and scripting public discussion are aimed at enforcing the administration’s view of reality. Increasingly the administration's "reality" is completely at odds with the real world. Huge federal deficits do not affect the economy, our operations in Iraq have been a big success, human-caused global warming is not occurring - these "facts" are gigantic falsehoods. Incompetence and ideology caused the administration to make two catastrophic mistakes, invading Iraq and passing major tax cuts regardless of budget deficits. As the real world consequences of these mistakes develop the administration and its supporters have been forced to work harder and harder to disseminate and enforce their "reality."

(snip)

The drive to sustain the administration's alternative world, and the blind hatred and rage of many of President Bush's supporters, may well have disastrous consequences for America. The only answer is relentless efforts to puncture the "hyperreality" and expose publicly those who use accusations of treason, false personal accusations, and raw rage to make political gain.

- more . . .

http://www.enlightenmentman.blogspot.com/

[crickets]

1. Kick

for a good read.

:dem:

[Hatalles]

2. Very nice.

The author should look into submitting this essay around.