“Those who have been keeping up with me know what I have to say about how this happened: The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially. Despite the claims of right-wing culture warriors, modern cancellations have largely been a phenomenon of the left towards others dissenting liberals or leftists, and we are finally witnessing the consequences of this approach on the tribe as a whole: they have mutilated themselves. Having purged anyone capable of disagreement from their ranks, they are blind and helpless and likely to remain that way.”
This is precisely correct. Thank you for articulating it so clearly.
"The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially."
When the American Left converted en masse to the Social Justice faith it also adopted (mostly unknowingly) the habits of thought and behavior of the Social Justice priesthood aka the academic Left.
What's happening to the Democrats now reminds me a lot of the atmosphere in campus Humanities depts of the 1990s and of other "Left spaces" of the past generation or two, esp involving ideology and activism: a hothouse quasi-Maoist environment of constant accusation and recrimination where everyone has to walk on eggshells in case they say something politically incorrect, an intensely moralized and policed environment based on ideological purity and fealty, with the ideology itself being rigid, dogmatic, punitive and absolutely intolerant of dissent.
The main difference now being that these prior battles took place in classrooms and faculty lounges, but now the virus has escaped the lab and infects one of our 2 political parties and almost our entire thinking and culture classes.
I think ideological frenzies are similar to cult movements, where the True Believers will do or say anything in order to not admit that the cause they gave their lives to turned out to be false and destructive. In the case of the Social Justice Left (which provides the brains and cash for the Dem Party), only a massive social cataclysm or a massive electoral repudiation will snap them out of their ideological fever. We shall see which one hits them first.
Most people on the left want Biden to step down. The ones in power can’t physically force him, so they have to convince him. They are trying that now. If that fails, they will have to convince his delegates. What specifically are you suggesting they should do differently?
Yes, I’m angry at Biden and his team, who made the wrong choice about running, and covered up his condition. But, last I checked, they are not identical to the left, writ large.
I'd be interested to see what you have that points to Trump's cognitive deficiency. I watched his RNC speech last night and only saw a man capable of speaking clearly and inspiring an audience. He was—in stark contrast with Biden—a very good public speaker. He made off-the-cuff jokes, correctly recalled at least a dozen people's names, and spoke powerfully. Biden can't do that to save his life... Nor, unfortunately, our country's. I have never been a Trumper, but I must say I was impressed.
Eh, I don’t know. In the winter the NYT and WSJ both ran articles with anonymous sources about age related decline, but one of the only named sources was Kevin McCarthy, who last summer had commented how sharp and tough Biden had been in debt ceiling and budget negotiations.
There were lots of opinion pieces last year from people in the left when he announced he was running again. Ezra Klein and David Axelrod both repeatedly talked about it, but after the State of the Union they both said Biden did a lot better than they anticipated.
Until very recently the Biden White House was famous for running a tight ship. Reporters frequently complained about how difficult it was to get any leaks. Oliva Nuzzi said it was a stark difference from the Trump White House, where her biggest challenge was figuring out which leaks to believe.
Point being, I think it’s a stretch to say the media was coveting for him. There are lots of ambitious reporters who were trying to get leaks for Pulitzer-worthy bombshells.
> "The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially. ...."
Amen to that. Had some reason -- or another of a dozen or more -- to consider a NYTimes story of more than a year ago now that had asked, "What if We’re the Bad Guys Here?":
Purged anyone cable of disagreement from their ranks? Oh the irony.
Even if this is to a large extent true there’s still a million times more disagreement and acceptance of disagreement amongst the Democrats than Republicans.
We’ve just seen plenty of internal disagreement that’s culminated in the President being convinced not to run.
Anyone who even vaguely disagrees with Trump is either driven out or eventually cravenly debases themselves to him.
One example to the contrary is not sufficient to prove a trend incorrect, but if you want to bury your head in the sand (as many have before you), go right ahead.
By the handlers comment, I was implying a lack of transparency and accountability. It is not a conspiracy, you are correct. It is simply the truth.
“Those who have been keeping up with me know what I have to say about how this happened: The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially. Despite the claims of right-wing culture warriors, modern cancellations have largely been a phenomenon of the left towards others dissenting liberals or leftists, and we are finally witnessing the consequences of this approach on the tribe as a whole: they have mutilated themselves. Having purged anyone capable of disagreement from their ranks, they are blind and helpless and likely to remain that way.”
This is precisely correct. Thank you for articulating it so clearly.
"The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially."
When the American Left converted en masse to the Social Justice faith it also adopted (mostly unknowingly) the habits of thought and behavior of the Social Justice priesthood aka the academic Left.
What's happening to the Democrats now reminds me a lot of the atmosphere in campus Humanities depts of the 1990s and of other "Left spaces" of the past generation or two, esp involving ideology and activism: a hothouse quasi-Maoist environment of constant accusation and recrimination where everyone has to walk on eggshells in case they say something politically incorrect, an intensely moralized and policed environment based on ideological purity and fealty, with the ideology itself being rigid, dogmatic, punitive and absolutely intolerant of dissent.
The main difference now being that these prior battles took place in classrooms and faculty lounges, but now the virus has escaped the lab and infects one of our 2 political parties and almost our entire thinking and culture classes.
I think ideological frenzies are similar to cult movements, where the True Believers will do or say anything in order to not admit that the cause they gave their lives to turned out to be false and destructive. In the case of the Social Justice Left (which provides the brains and cash for the Dem Party), only a massive social cataclysm or a massive electoral repudiation will snap them out of their ideological fever. We shall see which one hits them first.
Most people on the left want Biden to step down. The ones in power can’t physically force him, so they have to convince him. They are trying that now. If that fails, they will have to convince his delegates. What specifically are you suggesting they should do differently?
Way to totally ignore how they hid the reasons they now want him out. It must be painful to realize you have been lied to for years.
Yes, I’m angry at Biden and his team, who made the wrong choice about running, and covered up his condition. But, last I checked, they are not identical to the left, writ large.
Were there any introspection or repercussions for the people who knew and hid the fact that Reagan had Alzheimer's?
After Biden drops out, will you or anyone talk about Trump's obvious cognitive deficiencies (which, to be sure, are less salient than Biden's)?
I'd be interested to see what you have that points to Trump's cognitive deficiency. I watched his RNC speech last night and only saw a man capable of speaking clearly and inspiring an audience. He was—in stark contrast with Biden—a very good public speaker. He made off-the-cuff jokes, correctly recalled at least a dozen people's names, and spoke powerfully. Biden can't do that to save his life... Nor, unfortunately, our country's. I have never been a Trumper, but I must say I was impressed.
Eh, I don’t know. In the winter the NYT and WSJ both ran articles with anonymous sources about age related decline, but one of the only named sources was Kevin McCarthy, who last summer had commented how sharp and tough Biden had been in debt ceiling and budget negotiations.
There were lots of opinion pieces last year from people in the left when he announced he was running again. Ezra Klein and David Axelrod both repeatedly talked about it, but after the State of the Union they both said Biden did a lot better than they anticipated.
Until very recently the Biden White House was famous for running a tight ship. Reporters frequently complained about how difficult it was to get any leaks. Oliva Nuzzi said it was a stark difference from the Trump White House, where her biggest challenge was figuring out which leaks to believe.
Point being, I think it’s a stretch to say the media was coveting for him. There are lots of ambitious reporters who were trying to get leaks for Pulitzer-worthy bombshells.
> "The American left is deeply, dangerously isolated both ideologically and increasingly, socially. ...."
Amen to that. Had some reason -- or another of a dozen or more -- to consider a NYTimes story of more than a year ago now that had asked, "What if We’re the Bad Guys Here?":
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opinion/trump-meritocracy-educated.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8U0.KW6F.s-SEOheHLLFK&smid=url-share
Duh. Maybe the pennies are starting to drop -- the Democrats should be buried in them by now. Decent elaboration on the theme from Sasha Stone:
https://sashastone.substack.com/p/yes-david-brooks-you-are-the-bad?triedRedirect=true
Purged anyone cable of disagreement from their ranks? Oh the irony.
Even if this is to a large extent true there’s still a million times more disagreement and acceptance of disagreement amongst the Democrats than Republicans.
We’ve just seen plenty of internal disagreement that’s culminated in the President being convinced not to run.
Anyone who even vaguely disagrees with Trump is either driven out or eventually cravenly debases themselves to him.
Here's an example of introspection: https://open.substack.com/pub/matthewyglesias/p/i-was-wrong-about-biden
It's actually fairly easy to look up the names of Biden's inner circle, no need to imply shady conspiracies.
Blaming this on 'cancel culture' is silly and shows you as a hammer view everything as a nail.
One example to the contrary is not sufficient to prove a trend incorrect, but if you want to bury your head in the sand (as many have before you), go right ahead.
By the handlers comment, I was implying a lack of transparency and accountability. It is not a conspiracy, you are correct. It is simply the truth.
To be honest I'm here precisely because Sarah keeps nailing it.