Clancy and I watched the "blogumentary" over the weekend, and it occurred to me that it would be curious if everything this person believed about the world turned out to be literally true--especially the stuff that contradicts the other stuff. Granted, the flu's been keeping me from teaching Borges.
I thought the ominous boom-boom drumbeat as he touched the metal table was a good touch, but his focus was off. He wasn't talking to the camera, and he wasn't talking to the guy next to him. Like a blog, he was spouting off into space, or into his own head.
Jonathan, that made me laugh out loud. And Tripp, yes, that's a really good point. These people are a little off to begin with, and now, with all this attention...oy.
I've never been so ashamed to have attended Dartmouth as I am when it is revealed that the Powerlinesmen are my fellow alumni. BTW, Thinking about the Powerline (and the Right in general) as a fraternity tends to help me understand the way they operate.
I'm trying to figure out what I can do locally. Hmmmm.
This guy is into the power, but many of the right-wing followers truly feel defeated. They honestly hate the world today and feel powerless to change it. That is why even after electing Bush they did not rejoice. It didn't really change anything for them, and they can't admit it made things worse.
The problem for the rest of us is that as self-perceived victims they will do irrational things that don't help themselves and that may hurt the rest of us.
The thing that I found unnerving about the video (apart from the fact that I've watched it like ten times) is the way Hindrocket sort of jiggles and shuffles in the beginning of the clip, like he's improvising around a familiar riff and getting into the groove.
The other thing that's weird is how gleeful he is-- as if he were glad that we all hate America, because that would make for some good blogging.
At least HindRocket can admit that no amount of logic or reason or vast tomes of empirical evidence is strong enough to sway is position. Now that is some fine resolve. I'm not sure which is more frightening; the fact that this wing-nut is a fountain of nonsensical vitriol or the fact that his readership buy into this crap.
Clancy and I watched the "blogumentary" over the weekend, and it occurred to me that it would be curious if everything this person believed about the world turned out to be literally true--especially the stuff that contradicts the other stuff. Granted, the flu's been keeping me from teaching Borges.
Posted by Jonathan | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 1:45 AM
Is this clip from blogumentary (I haven't seen it)?
Where do they come up with those nicknames. They are interesting?
This is all so crazy. Aaaaaaaaaaaah.
Posted by Balasubramani | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 8:11 AM
I thought the ominous boom-boom drumbeat as he touched the metal table was a good touch, but his focus was off. He wasn't talking to the camera, and he wasn't talking to the guy next to him. Like a blog, he was spouting off into space, or into his own head.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 8:20 AM
D. Neiwert's observation, that you call best tell what a conservative is up to by looking at what he accuses "the left" (tm) of, is useful here.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 8:34 AM
Jonathan, that made me laugh out loud. And Tripp, yes, that's a really good point. These people are a little off to begin with, and now, with all this attention...oy.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 8:53 AM
I've never been so ashamed to have attended Dartmouth as I am when it is revealed that the Powerlinesmen are my fellow alumni. BTW, Thinking about the Powerline (and the Right in general) as a fraternity tends to help me understand the way they operate.
Posted by diddy | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 8:59 AM
diddy,
I found out this guy lives and works in my state!
Yuck!
I'm trying to figure out what I can do locally. Hmmmm.
This guy is into the power, but many of the right-wing followers truly feel defeated. They honestly hate the world today and feel powerless to change it. That is why even after electing Bush they did not rejoice. It didn't really change anything for them, and they can't admit it made things worse.
The problem for the rest of us is that as self-perceived victims they will do irrational things that don't help themselves and that may hurt the rest of us.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 9:13 AM
The thing that I found unnerving about the video (apart from the fact that I've watched it like ten times) is the way Hindrocket sort of jiggles and shuffles in the beginning of the clip, like he's improvising around a familiar riff and getting into the groove.
The other thing that's weird is how gleeful he is-- as if he were glad that we all hate America, because that would make for some good blogging.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 5:00 PM
Ok, you made me watch it again. Overwhelming impression this time:
Kobe Bryant:Michael Jordan::John Hinderaker:Dick Cheney
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-23-05 5:05 PM
Ooooh! Ooooh! I wanna play!
John Hinderaker:Dick Cheney::G.G. Allin:Jean Genet
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-24-05 9:35 PM
Deacon:Hitchens::Brezhnev:Mothra
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-24-05 10:04 PM
I agree completely, but I think your bar of 5 biologists might not be as low as you think. Note that Bob Jones "University" has a biology program.
Posted by Russell | Link to this comment | 02-25-05 2:55 AM
At least HindRocket can admit that no amount of logic or reason or vast tomes of empirical evidence is strong enough to sway is position. Now that is some fine resolve. I'm not sure which is more frightening; the fact that this wing-nut is a fountain of nonsensical vitriol or the fact that his readership buy into this crap.
Posted by Brian | Link to this comment | 02-25-05 9:15 AM