Krugman: The Rambo Coalition

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/24/opinion/24krugman.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

Almost a year ago, on the second anniversary of 9/11, I predicted "an ugly, bitter campaign - probably the nastiest of modern American history." The reasons I gave then still apply. President Bush has no positive achievements to run on. Yet his inner circle cannot afford to see him lose: if he does, the shroud of secrecy will be lifted, and the public will learn the truth about cooked intelligence, profiteering, politicization of homeland security and more.

But recent attacks on John Kerry have surpassed even my expectations. There's no mystery why. Mr. Kerry isn't just a Democrat who might win: his life story challenges Mr. Bush's attempts to confuse tough-guy poses with heroism, and bombast with patriotism.

One of the wonders of recent American politics has been the ability of Mr. Bush and his supporters to wrap their partisanship in the flag. Through innuendo and direct attacks by surrogates, men who assiduously avoided service in Vietnam, like Dick Cheney (five deferments), John Ashcroft (seven deferments) and George Bush (a comfy spot in the National Guard, and a mysterious gap in his records), have questioned the patriotism of men who risked their lives and suffered for their country: John McCain, Max Cleland and now John Kerry.

How have they been able to get away with it? The answer is that we have been living in what Roger Ebert calls "an age of Rambo patriotism." As the carnage and moral ambiguities of Vietnam faded from memory, many started to believe in the comforting clichés of action movies, in which the tough-talking hero is always virtuous and the hand-wringing types who see complexities and urge the hero to think before acting are always wrong, if not villains.

[A_Possum]

1. Perfect

How well he put it.

[grytpype]

2. Wow!

The gloves are definitely off, folks!

[Nite Owl]

3. You can always count of

Krugman to write something worth reading. The last line "If you tell the truth, your courage and sacrifice count for nothing" , says it all about the tactics of the right. They are so afraid of the truth getting out about anything they do. This whole thing about the SWL is like a punch in the gut to all veterans and it's backed by people who wouldn't serve.

[Pallas180]

4. Krugman deserves to be read.

so :kick:

[Dudley_DUright]

5. Another home run

from PK. BRAVO.

[acmavm]

6. I'd be willing to guess that he is definitely NOT on George and Laura's

Christmas card list again this year.

[Moderator]

7. Kick

:kick:

[Stuckinthebush]

8. Krugman is pissed!

He is going after Bush with a vengence.

He is a strong, critical thinker. And as Bill Clinton said, "When people think, Democrats win."

[UpInArms]

9. kick

:kick:

Read the entire article - not a word misspent.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Bush as macho man

How have they been able to get away with it? The answer is that we have been living in what Roger Ebert calls "an age of Rambo patriotism." As the carnage and moral ambiguities of Vietnam faded from memory, many started to believe in the comforting clichés of action movies, in which the tough-talking hero is always virtuous and the hand-wringing types who see complexities and urge the hero to think before acting are always wrong, if not villains.

The problem here is that Kerry's nuance is not the naive one displayed by characters giving the hero bad council in Hollywood action movies.

No serious or intelligent person thinks that Osama bin Laden is some misunderstood reformist trying to get our attention so we can talk about his grievances. If he were that, he would at least owe up to planning the mayhem he is behind after issuing a fatwa urging his followers to kill any American or Jew anywhere in the world.

The problem is that Mr. Bush has done little at all and nothing effective toward the end of making us safer from Osama. Invading Iraq, which had nothing to do with Osama or his mayhem, and strutting around on an aircraft carrier in a Halloween costume did nothing but cost lives and money and breed more resentment.

Krugman is right. Bush is all style and no substance. In real life, those who appreciate complexity and moral ambiguity are the more fit to lead.

[KoKo]

11. Says it all! Great read....

:kick:

[Moderator]

12. Kick

:kick:

[HuckleB]

13. Please go to the Times, and E-mail this piece to friends and family.

Put it at the top of the most E-mailed articles list and keep it there.

This should be read far and wide!

Cheers!

[struggle4progress]

14. Lovely! eom

[librechik]

15. genius, as usual...

Krugman is the best

:kick:

[mediaman007]

16. I suppose that includes John McLain (Bruce Willis) and of course

the Terminator (Ahnold). Apparently, the Rambos don't like to read and can't deal with nuance. (Sound familiar: with us or against us)