Blog Credo

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H.L. Mencken

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Culture Shock

One of the fascinating effects of the Trump-Pence ticket is how thoroughly it has alienated cultural figures.  The "Right" has struggled with this for years, and Chris Christie can certainly still feel the pain where his idol Bruce Springsteen kicked him.

But Trump's blustering racial demagoguery and Pence's febrile culture warfare have really created a perfect storm where you have even small incidents like this.  Cultural conservatives have long lamented the effects that Hollywood and New York have on American culture.  Their loss on gay marriage, for instance, was a direct byproduct of shows like Will and Grace and Modern Family.  You can't win the culture wars by alienating those who make the culture.

And now we can add on top of it, Trump's propensity to stiff subcontractors to the list.  Even the shitty, atonal fascism-lite mewlings of those poor girls can now be used as an exhibit against Trump.

I remain confident that Clinton will win the election.

I remain distressed and disgusted that it could possibly be close.

No comments: