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PeaceNikki

(27,985 posts)
25. Be very very wary of broken clocks...
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 10:54 AM
Jun 2014

You cannot and should not ignore everything else he says, WHY he says it and ignore the fundamental incompatibility of Ayn Randian thinking with anything remotely resembling a progressive or even humane worldview. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and even the most retrograde political candidates are capable of stringing together a few ideas that make sense. Even David “The Holocaust was made up by some Jewish script writer in Hollywood,” Duke. Libertarians want to repeal the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, and allow companies to discriminate in the name of “free association.”

This is EXACTLY equivalent to what Tim Wise stated regarding Ron Paul:

http://www.timwise.org/2012/01/of-broken-clocks-presidential-candidates-and-the-confusion-of-certain-white-liberals/

... progressives who sing the praises of Ron Paul, all because of his views on domestic spying, bailouts for banksters, and military intervention abroad, the fact that 90 percent of his political platform is right-wing boilerplate about slashing taxes on the rich, slashing programs for the poor and working class, breaking unions, drilling for oil anywhere and everywhere, and privatizing everything from retirement programs to health care doesn’t matter: the fact that he’ll ostensibly legalize drugs is enough. And this is so, even though he has merely said he would leave drug laws up to the states (which means 49 separate drug wars, everywhere except maybe Vermont, so ya know, congrats hippies!), and he would oppose spending public money on drug rehab or education, both of which you’d need more of if drugs were legalized, but why let little details like that bother you?

Yessir, legal weed and an end to the TSA: enough to make some supposed leftists ignore everything else Ron Paul has ever said, and ignore the fundamental incompatibility of Ayn Randian thinking with anything remotely resembling a progressive or even humane worldview. And this is so, even though he wouldn’t actually have the authority to end the TSA as president, a slight glitch that is conveniently ignored by those who are desperate to once again be able to take large bottles of shaving gel onto airplanes in the name of “liberty."

...
[you] don’t have to think about how it sounds to most women — and damned near all progressive women — when you praise Paul openly despite his views on reproductive freedom, and even sexual harassment, which Paul has said should not even be an issue for the courts. He thinks women who are harassed on the job should just quit. In other words, “Yeah, he might be a little bit sexist, but…”

In short, regardless of what Paul may believe on certain issues, and which may fall squarely in the orbit of that which is progressive or left, his hard-core acolytes (and the ones who would be empowered most by his success) are anything but that. They want the government to stop taking their tax dollars and “giving them” to Mexicans and blacks, or anyone of any race or ethnicity who in their mind isn’t smart enough or hard working enough to have their own private health care. They don’t want the government to help homeowners who got roped into predatory loans by banks and independent mortgage brokers: instead they blame the homeowners for not being savvy enough borrowers, or they blame government regulation for ostensibly “forcing” lenders to finance housing for minorities and poor people who didn’t deserve it.

And no, you can’t separate the man from his movement, so don’t even try.

When you support or give credence to a candidate, you indirectly empower that candidate’s worldview and others who hold fast to it. So when you support or even substantively praise Ron Paul, you are empowering libertarianism, and its offshoots like Ayn Rand’s “greed is good” objectivism, and all those who believe in it. You are empowering the fans of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, in which books they learn that altruism is immoral, and that only the self matters. You are empowering the reactionary, white supremacist, Social Darwinists of this culture, who believe — as does Ron Paul — that that Greensboro Woolworth’s was right, and that the police who dragged sit-in protesters off soda fountain stools for trespassing on a white man’s property were justified in doing so, and that the freedom of department store owners to refuse to let black people try on clothes in their dressing rooms was more sacrosanct than the right of black people to be treated like human beings.
So if that was the game changer, things really have become much more interesting. Thank you. Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #1
So are we going to have a Brat Pack at DU now? BootinUp Jun 2014 #2
We had a brat pack before there was a Brat. NV Whino Jun 2014 #6
lol nt BootinUp Jun 2014 #7
Is that what you took away from the info? I imagine you could see many good aspects from this Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #8
He picked one populist theme to win an election big deal. BootinUp Jun 2014 #14
That is not the point, IF this is why he won, and he wins and does not deliver, we have learned what Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #19
We separate what he said (all lies) to what he believes, I mean what he said sounds good randys1 Jun 2014 #79
That may very well be, but what I am concentrating on is IF he won for that purpose. If so, Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #82
And winning there would be earth shattering stuff, i wish we could figure out how to randys1 Jun 2014 #87
We need to vet the facts out about why he won these voters over..it may be that he spewed enough Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #90
A targeted GOTV effort that identifies Dems, Independents, and moderate Repubs tblue37 Jun 2014 #114
All true laundry_queen Jun 2014 #24
Exactly. It will be like Nixon campaigning to end the Vietnam war, in '68 villager Jun 2014 #70
That last sentence is spot on. nt laundry_queen Jun 2014 #72
Worse, he believes Ayn Rand cult, john gault's greed philosophy. saidsimplesimon Jun 2014 #100
Nope, but he's shown us some strong evidence that America is fed up with business running gov't. Scuba Jun 2014 #22
This is the lesson the grass-root Democrats need to learn. Take advantage of America movement rhett o rick Jun 2014 #88
Exactly. We cannot be timid about this. We have been begging TPTB to be Nay Jun 2014 #97
Well not really... charliea Jun 2014 #96
Exactly Scuba! At least we're better than that a-hole with an (R) after his name is no longer enough raindaddy Jun 2014 #115
Brat 2016? Cali_Democrat Jun 2014 #34
Brat PAC. grahamhgreen Jun 2014 #135
Interesting. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2014 #3
Oh I Don't Agreee With Him On 99.9% Of Things... That Said... WillyT Jun 2014 #9
Yeah. We oversimplify our opposition at our own peril. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2014 #11
Left/Right agreement on one or two key issues pscot Jun 2014 #29
Yes, precisely why Elizabeth Warren will be our next POTUS. InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2014 #86
.... 840high Jun 2014 #127
Elizabeth Warren doesn't "Jesus this" and "Jesus that" in every other sentence. valerief Jun 2014 #4
Hear, hear! Here, here! ChairmanAgnostic Jun 2014 #67
Hair, hair! :) valerief Jun 2014 #130
This is marketing -- they listen to the customer (voter) then speaks back to them in the phrases KurtNYC Jun 2014 #5
Most important thing to know is, is that what got him elected. If that is true, it means the Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #10
Thank You !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #18
I am very encouraged WillyT...very much so. Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #20
I disagree that this is encouraging laundry_queen Jun 2014 #28
The problem with that, and I am not saying you're wrong about the Republican motive, is that their Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #33
Well laundry_queen Jun 2014 #43
I hear you! It is difficult to remain hopeful. Again, IF this is truly why they switched over, Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #46
That was a low turnout PRIMARY election. Fuddnik Jun 2014 #81
Yes, that is why I feel it is critical to understand how Brat won..absolutely. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #84
A correction -- it was not low turnout compared to similar elections in the Nay Jun 2014 #101
I completely agree with you. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #59
Right, and the voters dont know that he was created by their allies, CATO randys1 Jun 2014 #85
You forgot how much the south hates gay people too. Jamastiene Jun 2014 #105
I stand corrected, hatred of Gay people makes me physically angry...I cant say how much randys1 Jun 2014 #110
Spot on underpants Jun 2014 #62
LOL. JaneyVee Jun 2014 #12
+1 Bobbie Jo Jun 2014 #15
I'll be the first to say it: Fuck Rand Paul FSogol Jun 2014 #13
Twice on Sunday Blue Owl Jun 2014 #31
He's a Libertarian. octoberlib Jun 2014 #16
"I'd like to see some Democrats campaigning on getting rid of crony capitalism." - Me Too !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #36
That's what I got from it, thanks for the post. navarth Jun 2014 #76
+++10000 - I don't know why the pundits find it so hard to "categorize" him. spooky3 Jun 2014 #120
Democratic party election committee should be on the ground out there as we speak. They should be Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #17
Right now Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Chuckie Shoomer are looking to find our own CoC candidate. Fuddnik Jun 2014 #83
Brat is an Ayn Rand libertarian,comparing him sufrommich Jun 2014 #21
Consider how he won and why so many voters dumped the status quo..that is the important Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #27
Utter bullshit.Brat ran against Cantor voting with democrats. sufrommich Jun 2014 #35
So you are certain he did not win as a result of his anti Wall Street campaign. Ok, the OP claims Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #41
This article from NPR is sure: FSogol Jun 2014 #48
Thank you for that info. No where is there any mention that he is being attacked by Ingraham for his Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #55
He won because Cantor was such a crappy politician he ignored his district. Since FSogol Jun 2014 #60
That was part of if, I agree with you there. I don't want Brat to win, I want to learn for certain Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #64
+1. NPR ran a story on it. FSogol Jun 2014 #49
I'm amazed people are ignoring this.It's also important sufrommich Jun 2014 #53
There are libertarians and libertarian sympathizers on DU as well as FSogol Jun 2014 #57
White House: Cantor’s Problem Was Cantor, Not Immigration octoberlib Jun 2014 #54
Brat ran against Cantor by promising not sufrommich Jun 2014 #63
and pretending he would be willing to work with Democrats on anything is naive FSogol Jun 2014 #32
totally agree--the only legitimate point is that both have genuine concerns about corporate power spooky3 Jun 2014 #121
This article is absurd Oilwellian Jun 2014 #23
I think you meant 'antithesis'...but anyway navarth Jun 2014 #74
Ah, you're correct Oilwellian Jun 2014 #95
No worries navarth Jun 2014 #106
Be very very wary of broken clocks... PeaceNikki Jun 2014 #25
PeaceKikki, excellent example of critical thinking, brava sweet pea saidsimplesimon Jun 2014 #102
+1 BootinUp Jun 2014 #109
Its more of a circle than a line IronLionZion Jun 2014 #26
Rhetoric vs actual policy proposals BootinUp Jun 2014 #30
I think Dems could gain some support on these types of issues IronLionZion Jun 2014 #37
That's true of both sides, every 2 years Doctor_J Jun 2014 #38
I am not sure what you mean BootinUp Jun 2014 #40
Not at all Doctor_J Jun 2014 #42
I generally find the Democratic rhetoric to be far more BootinUp Jun 2014 #51
Are the Dems going to let the tea party steal the populist outrage from them? tularetom Jun 2014 #39
Already been done once Doctor_J Jun 2014 #47
I agree that it is horrifying that our party has let it come to this. It's such a Nay Jun 2014 #91
The problem is governing this way after you're sworn in Doctor_J Jun 2014 #44
Both the left & the right are fed up with business as usual. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #45
I'm with you, esp on your bolded statements. I'm so mad I could throw Nay Jun 2014 #107
More and more of us 840high Jun 2014 #128
He also wants to gut social security, Medicare, and shut down the IRS Triana Jun 2014 #50
Of course not, the point is why the voters left the status quo behind. It leaves an opening for us Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #61
I don't know if this is good or bad but... Kablooie Jun 2014 #52
"Brat is the Elizabeth Warren of the right". BS - Warren is quite mainstream, unlike Brat, and NorthCarolina Jun 2014 #56
That is part of the point -- Warren is actually mainstream, but TPTB in the Nay Jun 2014 #94
Is he really a teabagger? Or is this just a smoke and mirrors strategy? DesertDiamond Jun 2014 #58
He's making himself out to be a populist... joeybee12 Jun 2014 #65
Yes, and the Dems ought to be jumping on it. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #69
Yup...but there's too many idiots in control of the Dem Party joeybee12 Jun 2014 #80
Capitalism, Mr. Brat, corrupts democracies and government. Yavin4 Jun 2014 #66
People, it's not about whether Brat would be good for the country. Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #68
Thanks, I have been trying to get that thought across several times in this thread. Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #75
There has been this niggling thought at the back of my head-- Jackpine Radical Jun 2014 #116
Well, the MSM proved themselves capable of not doing their duty in the lead up to Iraq. Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #117
When It Came To Wall St., David Brat Actually Ran As Elizabeth Warren Jefferson23 Jun 2014 #71
Good point. n/t Bonhomme Richard Jun 2014 #73
Interesting read....Thanks! So many different explantions for Brat's Surprise win... KoKo Jun 2014 #77
Yep... The Media Initially Tried To Pedal Immigration Reform As The Reason... WillyT Jun 2014 #89
Thanks, WillyT!!! Our candidate better have a stronger anti-MIC line, or about 95% of independents Zorra Jun 2014 #78
Dark money from the Kochs and our tax dollars as well helped Brat navarth Jun 2014 #92
''Big Business in Bed with Big Government''? Octafish Jun 2014 #93
Brat also had a very racist stance against immigration reform, so theres also that. Erose999 Jun 2014 #98
That's very interesting. Autumn Jun 2014 #99
What we need to do is think out of the box: the old left/right paradigm doesn't work anymore Jack Rabbit Jun 2014 #103
Thank You For That !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #111
I'm pretty sure Brat won because he wasn't Cantor. TeamPooka Jun 2014 #104
TWO MORE Articles On This... One From Slate... One From The Nation: WillyT Jun 2014 #108
I made the same point about Brat's ostensible economic stance the day after he won. tblue37 Jun 2014 #112
I am still trying to understand the Brat fandom I am seeing here on DU. Jamastiene Jun 2014 #113
No Fandom... It's Not WHO Won, So Much As HOW He Won... WillyT Jun 2014 #118
So how do we get Laura Ingraham to help us? BootinUp Jun 2014 #122
Bought & Paid For 12kbush Jun 2014 #119
Updates Kick !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #123
Update 3 Kick !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #124
Yet, the anti-gov't mindset favors deregulation Zambero Jun 2014 #125
So How Do We Encourage Those That Oppose Deregulation, And Keeping And Improving The Safety Net... WillyT Jun 2014 #126
So he's a fascist, neat. joshcryer Jun 2014 #129
G'Night Kick !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #131
Last Kick... For Today... WillyT Jun 2014 #132
There is so much spin out there it is impossible to discern what information should be believed Samantha Jun 2014 #133
That's Why It Would Be Smart To Get A Good Dem Polling Organization To... WillyT Jun 2014 #134
HUGE, HUGE K&R Watch the patterns. These are signs that we can become the 99 percent. woo me with science Jun 2014 #136
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