|
what's hilarious in this is that obama is simply using the same techniques for getting political messages out that the reagan administration developed. what differs is that obama actually fields unscripted questions from audiences and the press--conservatives haven't done that. so their use of the message channels was from its inception far more staged in order to appear more "strong" or "decisive" (you can insert any of a host of terms here that indicate the conservative preference for a fantasy father figure). because conservatives in general seem to have trouble investing in obama as a fantasy father figure, but seem in general to remain committed to the structure that enables them to like fantasy fathers, they turn obama into some Persecuting Other. and from there, it makes some sense that conservative activists would find traction for an action that basically does nothing except pander to this underlying desire for a Strong Decider Image who make them feel Safe because he's o so manly by pandering to its paranoid inversion.
that this is a pathological game is i suppose only a problem if you dont see it as a game at all, but rather as an expression of your political views.
i don't see much latitude for interpreting this nonsense without reference to paranoia.
it's irrational.
it's conservatism these days.
__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear
it make you sick.
-kamau brathwaite
|