10/30: He Came, He Saw, He Kowtowed
Posted by Editor on October 30, 2009 · 9 Comments
Jonah Goldberg: It seems Rocco Landesman, the head of the National Endowment for the Arts, didn’t get the memo, literally.
On September 22, stung by controversy over the administration’s effort to turn the arts community into proselytizers of its very special brand of hope and change, the White House issued a stern warning to all government agencies: Keep politics out of the arts.
The White House denied that was ever the intent. Many in the media, as is their wont, took the Obama administration at their word.
To call Jonah Goldberg, who is a libertarian conservative, a trotskyite is a gross distortion, a lie. While it’s true that he did quote Lenin and Mussolini, it was in his book, Liberal Fascism, and the quotes were hardly in a favorable light other than discussing how successful they were. In any case, this is so typical of what progressives do. Instead of discussing the issues, they either try to trivialize them or make personal attacks on the source. As far as this being a culture war, that’s exactly what it is, but it’s hardly trivial. It’s an attempt to fundamentally change the American culture by attempting to change people’s beliefs and that’s where the real battle is going to be won or lost, not in the political arena, and the use of government funds. As far as the continuation of wiretapping, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the corporate bailouts, those are nothing but red herrings trying to deflect attention from the issue at hand which is that the government is using public funds to promote its own views and influencing those, who request federal funds, to promote a political agenda. If this isn’t illegal, it should be and it’s definitely unethical. This is the type of things that happens in dictatorships.
You’re right, it’s not illegal, but it is totally irrelevant.
I have a serious question for all the “patriot” teaparty folks that frequent this site and follow whack jobs like Jonah Goldberg.
Here it is. Where were you people, flags wrapped around your patooties, waving Constitutions and photoshopped pictures of Obama as Hitler, where WERE you when Bush told us there were WMD in Iraq and demanded that Congress invade? Where WHERE you when Bush laughed about “his constiuency” and joked about not finding those WMD under his desk in the people’s White House while our brave men and women were shedding THEIR BLOOD in Iraq? Where was the OUTRAGE when CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame Wilson was outed for political revenge?
Does your movement have even a SHRED of integrity? What exactly are you trying to accomplish besides sitting on your hands while your OWN ELECTED OFFICIALS lied us into a war, stole your 4th Amendment rights, used the Constitution as a doormat time and time again by breaking a number of things including Article VI, seized unprecedented power from Congress, used torture, denied habeas corpus, made 100s of signing statements saying which part if any of the law he was going to follow, I could go on and on.
So WHERE WERE YOU?
I don’t buy your story. I don’t believe you when you show me a Constitution. What gives? Astroturf?
Read David Swanson’s book Daybreak and then give your response, please.
-Wexler
Thanks, I’ll put it on my read list.
So, what are major issues to you? If I take a clue from your writings here…
Valerie Plame. A single CIA agent was outed for political revenge. She might not have been outed had her husband been honest and she kept herself out of the line of fire like a good CIA operative would. She and her husband wanted to play ball and she got whacked. Maybe I’m a cynic but sounds par for the course in Washington to me. Also, where’s the outrage at the DOZENS of CIA operatives being outed directly and photographically to foreign and terrorist forces?
WMD’s in Iraq. In context, at the time of those claims, almost every intelligence agency had the same beliefs. There are still very credible accounts that the WMD’s were moved to Syria prior to the invasion to remove the ’smoking gun’ in case the US did invade. At best the argument here is hypothetical and using hindsight as foresight, which it cannot be. There is no definitive proof either way. All we know is that no significant amount of WMD’s were found.
Jokes as President. Our current Commander in Chief has already had a few gaffs on this. Where’s the outrage? President Bush was under fire and took responsibility for his actions. I have yet to see that from this current administration. Just more deflection and silence. I’d rather hear a joke that accepts responsibility than silence or recriminations on others. Humor is a common method to deal with heavy issues. The joke is that our troops are dying right now, the President will not grant his generals request of sending more, he only saw the man once in many months after appointing him. If that is the case, pull out altogether and stop the loss of life of US forces. Sure, thousands of Afgans will die when the Taliban retake power but that’s a pittance to pay to satisfy the far left ideological base. What about their blood? Does it count? Where’s the outrage.
Don’t speak so strongly from such a strong ideological leaning. I understand your arguments and even respect them. What I disagree with is your lack of understanding of other arguments and your lack of respect for where these people are coming from. If you don’t get it, don’t attack, just move on. There is no need for your attacks. You have your conspiracy theories, the right wing idologues have theirs. You cannot prove yours any more than they can prove theres. So unless your writings here are cathartic, you’re not going to win any converts, why bother?
I’m surprised that you would have an article by Trotskyite Jonah Goldberg who claims to admire the writing of collectivist Lenin and fascist Mussolini. If someone took an NEA grant and wrote a book like those he mentioned he’d be howling like a small child.
This is obviously a culture war issue that should be of extremely low importance to anyone who is interested in fundamental change. Seriously, with the Bush Administration’s illegal wiretapping still continuing, with two illegal wars still being waged, with habeas corpus seriously compromised, with the outright seizure of trillions of dollars for bank and financial bailouts, what does the NEA have to do with anything?
It’s a minor issue, as are most of the 9/12 issues. Get real.
-Wexler
Once again, Glenn thumps the White House and it’s band of marxist thugs!
I love How Glenn continues to expose them! There is no way that they can justify their actions so they just don’t respond…the red phone is waiting anytime they decide to dispute the TRUTH. SHADIEST White House ever!
This is a little strange after all the stuff this new dude was spreading out definitely pushing the Robot’s agenda. Seems Glenn’s expose may have reached the WH and now they are backtracking! The WH is quickly becoming the “nut” house filled with a hugh number of real radicals! God help us!
Did the White House ever say what there intent was?
That’s a funny question. It wasn’t their intention, that would have been too small! They were looking for a grand Museum & Stadium. Keep an eye out for Free Concerts with artist that have “new releases” next.