"It went on for hours and it makes Twitter look insane"
The fantabulous Joan Walsh urges President Obama's "base" to avoid a primary challenge, and starts a race war:
I'd begun to have several other people zinging me. And that political attitude is toxic, divisive, destructive, mean -- and part of why Democrats are so weak. (Read my upcoming book, titled, non-ironically, "Indivisible." It'll be out early next year, if I can get off Twitter.)
Then I started getting Tweets from a slew of people I don't know, mostly critical. I tried to respond to questions, like:
cindyloveseric
@joanwalsh @truthrose1 @AngryBlackLady Who do YOU think is the base? 🙂
And I answered:
@cindyloveseric @truthrose1 @AngryBlackLady Progressives of every color and class are the progressive base.
The reply:
cindyloveseric
@joanwalsh @truthrose1 @angryblacklady Ok. I was gonna let it go, but fuck it. Of course Black people are his base. And what about it??!!!
The who's-blacker conversation is never terribly illuminating, but the hubbub over how to characterize a political base and public worries about allowing challenges within a zero-sum system are stark reminders that if political affiliation is a big part of how you find your bliss, you've already lost. Good thing libertarians don't do this kind of thing.
Increase the peace! Show the pride! Remember the achievements of the past with the Old Negro Space Program:
Update: Commenters point out that Walsh and Reason Editor Matt Welch debated who should feel white-guiltier back in the day. Can't we all be sisters under the skin?
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
WTF?
^Yeah, what he said. WTF?
I've read this three times and it's like reading Proust to my dog.
And I have a really dumb dog.
What a coincidence. I have a really dumb Proust. Maybe we should breed them and see what happens.
I luvs me a good, upbeat minstrel show.
This may be an example of not being aware of all internet traditions. 'Angry Black Lady' is the nom de cyber of a regular Balloon Juice contributer
'Angry Black Lady' is the nom de cyber of a regular Balloon Juice contributer
Translation: "Race-baiting imbecile."
I'm sure this is obvious to most here, but it is worth saying as often as possible. The biggest hindrances to moving beyond race and eliminating racism are these fucking people who look for racism in every statement they hear.
Race will be a problem until racism is considered a complete joke by polite society (i.e. the appropriate reaction to a racist is to laugh and mock him, not to get all serious and concerned) and nobody cares who says "nigger".
For using the N word you should be banned, tracked down, fired from your job, publicly humiliated and kicked in the ass.
But otherwise it's a valid point.
Exercising my freedom of speech, even abhorrent speech does not give you the right to violate all my other rights. This is the same thinking that equates burning a Koran to murdering people. Fuck you Tim, you nigger nigger.
I'm sorry, they chained me to my desk and ITS MAKING ME FEEL UNHINGED
The way she's totally flustered and terrorized by people she thinks are black talking back to her, and goes on at nervous coke-head repetitive length trying to head them off and STOP THESES DAMN VOICES!, is ________.
A) funny
B) not racist at all
C) fully self-aware
D) Janeane Garofalo
yes
Can't be Janeane. She is just outraged at black conservatives.
Better examples of libertarians engaging in sectarian infighting abound, much more recently than 2006. And there was plenty of it well before then too.
a lame old hipster progressive being shouted at by the people she proclaims to care about and want to help for the crime of uttering the word black is the best thing i've read in years. i really mean that. thank you. this is classic.
Joan Walsh is a hipster? Can we ban people for such flagrant misuse of that term please?
I'm with you on that one.
Can we ban people for such flagrant misuse of that term please?
Yeah cuz it is important to correctly identify ironic fashion.
On a side note I once wore a trucker's hat and meant it. Plus big aviator mirrored sunglasses do keep the sun out of your eyes.
hipster is the yuppie of the oughties; a nice mythical other, a mantle claimed by no one but blamed by all.
I think Sanchez claimed to be a hipster.
Joan Walsh, quoted in the comments: "Obama got where he is largely because he makes white people feel like he knows we're all trying real hard. And we really like it when black people make us feel that way."
That's just... so... fucking... precious.
Really.
a lame old hipster progressive being shouted at by the people she proclaims to care about
"What's WRONG with you people?"
What do you mean "you people"?
Pronouns, how do they work?
What do YOU mean, 'you people'?
what do "you" mean
Let the infighting begin! I have $200 riding on Obama not being on the 2012 ticket. The reason I made the bet is everything Obama has done so far is the same thing as someone who doesn't want the job would do.
He'll be on the ticket because he loves the perks.
I've thought about that and always come to the conclusion that "no reward is worth this"
Not talking to Michelle or her two little clones between 9 and 5?
Okay, the kids did not get that Klingon forehead, so they are cute.
he will be on the ticket because his boss told him to.
"It sure is fucking cold up here. Yes sir! I about froze my motherfucking nuts off.
I'll take that bet.
I don't think there's a chance in hell of him not being the nominee. The Democrats aren't retards. Nobody mounts a challange to an incumbent president, it's political suicide. There *might* be a challanger. But the onyl such challanger would have to come from progressives like Nader, and they actually like Obama more than the usual Democrat. He hasn't betrayed them any mroe than Bill Clinton, who got reelected.
Reagan nearly toppled Ford. Went on to win the presidency four years later.
But yeah, it's not the most likely outcome.
Nobody mounts a challange to an incumbent president, it's political suicide.
Obama's base is mostly is tribal (racist!) and doesn't give a flying fuck about ANYTHING having to do with his record... which is the whole point of this H&R post...
What I'm saying is, although I didn't need the extra ammo that I bought in October 2008 in the event of a McCain victory and civil unrest, it's sure as hell sitting in my gun safe waiting for November 2012. If and when Obama is defeated in an election, whether it's a primary or the general election, it will not be pretty in certain urban areas of this country for precisely that reason.
Some of these same people riot over sports teams winning or losing. They'll sure as hell do something bad over something so much more primal to them than that.
Dennis Kucinich doesn't have any fear (or sense) of political suicide. He'd twist up the true lefties pretty good. Russ Feingold is another one who could stir things up. I just don't think Obama's heart is in for a slog.
Didn't seem to hurt Ted Kennedy much.
Holy fuck.
I just tried to read that link. What a heaping helping of incoherent, self-absorbed gibberish.
Why would anybody give a shit about the musty junkpile which is Joan Walsh's consciousness?
Seriously, I came in here to curse Reason for linking to that and making me read the whole thing. At least it didn't have comments.
Rather is Joan Walsh?
Most excellent Mr. Brooks. You use your tongue purtier than a 2 dollar whore.
I don't care what people say, the limitations of Twitter make it the absolute worst place to have a useful dialogue or disseminate information. Sure, we know that Cindy loves Eric, but is the feeling reciprocated? Twitter falls woefully short giving us answers.
Titter and its tweeps are the e-version of bathroom stall graffiti.
It's actually kind of hilarious watching vpeople attempt to have intellectual arguments on twitter. Especially when so many superior forums are easily available.
@HazelMeade ur dissing Twitter? #fembot
My brief experience on Twitter included @RabbiSchmuley stringing together no less than a dozen tweets to make a long statement on several occasions.
Terrible, terrible medium.
I hate the very idea of twitter
Works fine for me.
Always makes me think of this.
"Matt Welch: Today was a good day"
LOL!
Here is 2009 Tony's comment from that same thread.
Tony|9.11.09 @ 12:25PM|#
Here's the thing. So much of the criticism is simply not based in fact. Few people seem to be against his actual legislative priorities: they're just ranting hysterically about socialism and what not. Given the right's history with racial code language and racial resentment, don't be surprised if liberals are a little touchy when old, angry southern white guys are going nuts arguing against not any specific policy proposal that exists in reality but truly the mere fact that Obama is president. The sentiment "We want our country back" may not have a molecule of racism behind it, but it does pose the question of who exactly "we" is supposed to be.
Now that we are only hours from Obama shutting down the federal government I wonder if today's 2011 Tony still thinks "Few people seem to be against his actual legislative priorities"
Few people seem to be against his actual legislative priorities
You see, JC. Everybody agrees with liberals because basically we are all good at heart. Some people, libertarians most obviously, have grown callous over the years and it is unfortunate but they'll likely die from the poison in their veins. Sad because all they need to do to heal is listen to what their hearts tell them. Others who have done well for themselves are so distant from the everyday struggle that they no longer hear what there hearts are saying. They too just need to listen, and their hearts will lead them to do the right thing (Vote Donkey!).
Dear Joan,
It's not Twitter's sanity which is in doubt.
XOXO
I remember the last time everyone thought the Democrats only represented minorities and government employees...
That was right before Ronald Reagan took office.
If black people are President Obama's base, they'd be pretty stupid to insist that is it so.
Is AngryBlackLady actively trying to alienate progressives?
So now we bein kep in da basement? Dat's RACIST! Don't matter who's in charge, black man always gets the short enda the stick. Mmm hmm....
Good thing libertarians don't do this kind of thing.
Well, it's a lot easier to keep order and alignment when there's only 3 of you.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! But I keed! OK, not too far off the mark, really...
What would Black America do without the support of condescending white elitists?
You know who else surrounded himself with condescending white elitists...
Michael Jackson?
The original Black Panthers guy?
Michael Bloomberg?
Every presidemt of a large public university?
Jesus!
Fist once again wins teh internet!
Gen. George McClellan?
Barack Obama?
ME?
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr.?
a copy boy at the New York Times?
Rachel Maddow...?
What would Black America do without the support of condescending white elitists?
This?
"Have it your way", indeed...
who else?
Jesus fucking christ, that link is so stupid I can't tell if it's hilarious or if it just destroyed what remained of my faith in humanity.
Joan, darling, your big mistake is giving a rat's ass what anyone thinks about what you say about "African Americans" - ever the more so when when you said absolutely nothing about them. It is a fool's errand that many of us gave up a few decades ago. Yes, it must be a shock to a lefty Salon editor but believe me it is a rather mundane, routine occurrence. Let it go babe; it means nothing.
"People [progressives] who want to create a society where wealth and power and opportunity aren't distributed based on the color of your skin or your economic class ..."
They want a society where wealth isn't based on economic class?
I want a society where none of those things are "distributed".
It is a delight to see a racial hustler such as Joan on the receiving end of the bitter resentment she has so devoted herself to creating.
Who the fuck is Joan Walsh? I mean it....I have no idea....love the hat though.
Appropriate cultural homage, or dumb white-girl outburst? Let the readers decide.
Appropriate cultural homage, or dumb white-girl outburst?
That is a distinction without a difference.
So "C" all of the above.
oooooooooooh...ching chong ching ting tong...ooooooooooh!
Good thing libertarians don't do this kind of thing.
Why doesn't the article to this link have any comments?
http://reason.com/archives/200.....assacre-of
Now i am wondering if the article was so inflammatory that Reason actually took the rare step of deleting them or if in fact no one cared back in 2006 to write a comment
That political attitude is toxic, divisive, destructive, mean -- and part of why Democrats are so weak.
Toxic, divisive, destructive and mean...
How can that make the Democrats weak? Without those you have eliminated 90% of the Democrat's platform.
On a side note if you took out those 4 things from any Shrike comment you would only have incomplete haikus consisting of floating "buts", "ands" and "ifs" the rest being white space.
Doherty's linked column has an interesting link to the Boston Tea Party. I believe that is the first "tea party" outside of the original.
Their platform:
The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.
The libertarian party conventions seem like a chaotic mess, I bet it's a blast. I'd love to go and do a Hunter S. Thompson thing and get ripped on drugs while walking around the unfortunate host city yelling "Slaver!" at random passerbys. I bet that's what all the loserdopians do, though. No wonder they can't get anything done.
Have fun in the political wilderness assholes.
C+.
Points deducted for actually thinking the convention would be big enough to necessitate being in a city.
The convention in Doherty's article was in Portland. Hippies, and loserdopians, and bicycles...Oh My!
Points deducted for actually thinking the convention would be big enough to necessitate being in a city.
I should offer to let them have it at my house, we could bbq.
Anyone here ever been to the LP convention? Is it fun(drugs, guns, etc)?
Years ago there were people around here that used to throw LP parties in the mountains for fundraising/registration, I have heard that there was much imbibing going on.
Anyone here ever been to the LP convention? Is it fun(drugs, guns, etc)?
I seem to remember a Reason photo or video of Nick holding a red plastic beer cup and you could clearly see he had a black t-shirt covered pot belly poking out between the zippers of his leather jacket.
Also I remember an image of Bob Barr talking to some hulking biker dude.
Basically i imagine it much like how a middle aged dungeons and dragons convention would be.
In other words completely fucking AWESOME!!!
My god, I just read the Walsh article. The fact that it was printed(and reprinted here: drink!) just affirms my suspicion that humanity has turned into a mass of self-gratifying indulgent twats. Jesus H Fucking Hasselhof, I am going to drink so much cheap beer tonight to make the feeling go away.
I think that I may be turning into a misanthropic luddite. I think I'd rather just cut off the internet, and everything else, and live in the woods eating meat over a fire than subject myself to this crap everyday.
Would it be so bad; not ever having to read another article like the one posted above?
eh
If poeple did not say and do crazy shit the world would be far to boring.
Do not drink angry and with malace.
Instead i suggest you click through this site:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/
And drink the vast entertainment humanity provides you.
oh to start you off see this and remember people are awesome!
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81159325/
Wow...I never knew there were non porn videos on ebaums.
Dr. Fingeroot.
My sociology professor - I didn't know he was in a documentary!
Go Fresno State - the Harvard of Fresno County!
Is that her Kweester bonnet?
I like what you have said,it is really helpful to me,thanks!
What a coincidence. I have a really dumb Proust.