“She (Sarah Palin) is not just the party’s biggest star and most charismatic television performer; 
she is its only star and charismatic performer. Most important, she stands for a genuine movement: a dwindling white nonurban America that is aflame with grievances and awash in self-pity as the country hurtles into the 21st century and leaves it behind.
“. . . The politics of resentment are impervious to facts. Palinists regard their star as an icon of working-class America even though the Palins’ combined reported income ($211,000) puts them in the top 3.6 percent of American households. They see her as a champion of conservative fiscal principles even though she said yes to the Bridge to Nowhere and presided over a state that ranks No.1 in federal pork.”
Frank Rich’s analysis has the ring of truth, pointing up a logical follow on to the sentiment that motivated so many on the right to support George W. Bush long after it became clear his misleadership was grossly incompetent and worse, deviously antidemocratic.
That motivation was spite: the more thoroughly unacceptable the political left found Bush, the more what Rich identifies as nonurban white America cheered and defended him. Bush was their sharp stick in the eye of the rest of us.
This politics of resentment and spite is corrosive. It has weakened and damaged our government and deeply divided our society. It continues to poison our politics. It allows no compromise, disdains civil discourse and, as Rich notes, is even impervious to facts, logic and truth.
No surprise, then, that Palin, who blithely accused Barack Hussein Obama of “palling around with terrorists” and parroted questions about his citizenship, would be the darling of those steeped in anger, resentment and self-pity.
Rather than stand by while Palin or someone like her exploits these resenters for political gain, the rest of us would do well to find some way to help them back to reality.
Spite and resentment have driven these people since the early ’90s, at least. I never paid any attention to talk radio loudmouths, but all during Clinton’s presidency, it seemed like their whole purpose was to hate Clinton and all of the Yuppies and “elitists” who voted for him.
And it’s even worse today. I don’t recall Palin, Limbaugh or any of the others ever saying “my solution is _____________.” It’s always “those Hollywood elitists,” “ivory tower liberals,” “too much government!”
Thank God that demographic is shrinking. Someday they’ll just be a footnote; an item of curiousity.
a dwindling white nonurban America that is aflame with grievances and awash in self-pity as the country hurtles into the 21st century and leaves it behind
Ring of truth? That’s whole truth and nothing but the truth, baby!
Helping them back to reality – got any ideas? Other than a serum that would render their memories null and void to anything before Clinton…
Tom, their numbers might diminish, but I expect they will always be with us. I hope some day their effect on politics and public policy will be looked on as an aberration.
Bee, the only thing I can think of to help at least some back to reality is engagement. The suggestion box is open, if anyone has another idea.
From what I’ve heard she’s finished in politics. She can’t run for any office now. Nobody’d vote for her except her loyal shrinking base. She can’t campaign for anyone they don’t want her help. So I guess that leaves a book that nobody will read and maybe a talk show but who will translate?
Spite and resentment have driven these people since the 60s, Tom.
Demeur, you offer a comforting conclusion. Unfortunately, I recall too well how many times it looked as though Nixon was all washed up — before he bacame president. Creeps like Gingrich and DeLay should be too self-conscious (I don’t think shame is possible for them) to show their faces on TV. But they show up with nauseating regularity. Either could end up in public office again. You might be correct, and I hope you are. I just wouldn’t bet the house on it.
Randal, you’re right about the timeline. It can be a little confusing because when Reagan was president they were like kids on a sugar high for several years.
I can do engagement…now what did I do with that uzi I was tinkering on last week…
Careful, Bee, or you’ll take Sarahbellum’s place between the ears of the NRA crowd.
Living near Washington, DC, as I do, the politics of spite is quite familiar. Around here we know it as the Marion Barry effect, and it’s a very odd phenomenon, indeed.
Indeed, Jeff, Barry was (is?) the inner-city black community’s rendition of the 1950′s anti-communist hawk’s statement about a Central American despot: “He may be an SOB, but he’s our SOB.”