Robert "Buzz" Patterson, who is associated with right wing nut case David Horowitz, is planning a new book in which he will argue that the greatest enemy that the United States government has to face is the "American left".
I have one question for Col. Patterson. Just exactly what fucking "American left" are you talking about? There is no movement within, or even outside of, American politics that would quality as leftist anywhere else in the world!
Hey wait! I think I’ve just saved America from the "Red Peril"!
I have one question for Col. Patterson. Just exactly what fucking "American left" are you talking about? There is no movement within, or even outside of, American politics that would quality as leftist anywhere else in the world!
Hey wait! I think I’ve just saved America from the "Red Peril"!
3 comments:
Hey Yank
Thanks for the post. First, I think if you'd actually speak to "nut case" David Horowitz you might come away with a different opinion.
Secondly, you want "Leftists?" How about Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Ward Churchill, Sean Penn, Michael Moore, Dennis Kucinich, Henry Waxman, Medea Benjamin, etc. If you can, in good conscience, deny that those are not leftists, we will have a great debate.
Buzz
Thirdly, you must be psychic in addition to being a "Yank in London." You haven't read the manuscript, which is still in production, you've possibly seen a few PR releases advancing the book, and yet you still feel qualified to pass judgement on a yet-to-be released book? You truly are amazing or, I dare, so convicted to your false idols that you don't wait for the truth. I'm guessing the latter. When the book comes out, I'd be thrilled to debate you anytime, anywhere. But, please, read the material you feel so confident blogging about before you actually comment. Just a service to your readers and myself that should be assumed if you are a professional blogger and not a wannabee.
Although I have not spoken to Mr. Horowitz I have heard him speak in person. He is, like Michael Moore, a polemicist, is full of vitriol and enamoured of the ad hominem attack. I never heard him speak when he was on the left but have read some writings and his style is absolutely unaltered. Only his allegiance has changed.
His "crusade" against the leftists he finds behind every desk in American academia (business schools excepted) is laughable. There may be some minor prejudice in some Universities and College but it is not widespread and it is not a conspiracy. I suspect the reason that you find a dearth of right wing ideologues on campuses is because, in general, they prefer the pursuit of wealth to the pursuit of knowledge. There is also a severe shortage of liberal or left wing thinkers in the corporate world, in which I work, probably for the same reason.
The point I was trying to make is that there is no organised political left in America; either engaged with or disengaged from the political process. Yes there are isolated thinkers and writers but they are in the minority and often apolitical. Of those you mention I would agree that most are left of centre but few are what could be termed "far left".
I would especially pick out Chomsky and argue that few of his positions are leftist. He is anti-Imperialist but that is not isolated to the left. He is anti-militarist. He is opposed to the military industrial complex but so was noted lefty Dwight Eisenhower. He believes in human rights; a position I refuse to consider solely belonging to the left. He believes in the rule of law both nationally and internationally. The position of his that one can best argue is indeed left of centre is his opposition to an unfettered and unregulated "free market" globalised corporatocracy. This is indeed left of centre but again not hard left.
I hope that enlightens you!
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