Barack Obama has NOT "brought us together"
Stuart Rothenberg herein exposes the nonsense so devoutly espoused by the media that we somehow "came together" to elect Barack Obama president, or that his election ushers in a new "Era of Good Feelings" in American politics.
Actually, as I've pointed out before, deep and nasty division have been the norm rather than the exception in American politics throughout our history. All the Keith Olbermanns and the Rush Limbaughs do is to give voice to, and encourage the expression of, the partisanship that has been a regular part of Homo politicus Americanus ever since 1776.
Is this a good thing? Obviously not. Anything reasonable that can be done to turn down the volume of our national debate would be a good thing. But it' considerably less than reasonable- and in fact arguably dangerous to our democratic system- to see the ideal as an era of unity and general niceness in which we all get behind our post-partisan Beloved Leader- whatever his name or party might be.
Actually, as I've pointed out before, deep and nasty division have been the norm rather than the exception in American politics throughout our history. All the Keith Olbermanns and the Rush Limbaughs do is to give voice to, and encourage the expression of, the partisanship that has been a regular part of Homo politicus Americanus ever since 1776.
Is this a good thing? Obviously not. Anything reasonable that can be done to turn down the volume of our national debate would be a good thing. But it' considerably less than reasonable- and in fact arguably dangerous to our democratic system- to see the ideal as an era of unity and general niceness in which we all get behind our post-partisan Beloved Leader- whatever his name or party might be.
Comments
" doubtful.