Leave it to an economist...

Well, I have a few days on my own so I may be able to post a few things and revive this blog from its vegitative state (sorry couldn't resist). I hope to get back to analyzing the rhetoric of various Horowitz-inspired sites regarding the present and past of American liberal-leftism.

For now: Leave it to an economist to be the voice of NYT Op-Ed warning regarding the religio-media circus that has usurped the fading life of Terri Shiavo (I think of this episode as the ultimate example of how modern conservatism is about controlling women's bodies). Paul Krugman's commentary today goes beyond the tut-tutting of most mainstream journalism (and the complete scandal mongering of the TV "news" programs) to point out the dangerous dynamic pushed by Randall Terry and other heroic "Defenders of Terri."

"America isn't yet a place where liberal politicians, and even conservatives who aren't sufficiently hard-line, fear assassination. But unless moderates take a stand against the growing power of domestic extremists, it can happen here."

And by moderates, I'm afraid he doesn't mean me and the five other people who read this blog. It's time to dust off our copies of Sinclair Lewis's 1930s play about domestic fascism, "It Can't Happen Here."

Also, if you haven't read it yet: Frank Rich's "The God Racket" is great. This guy is on fire with righteous, witty, liberal indignation. I enjoy his atypical lack of reluctance to attack sacred cows. And unlike so many other liberals who like to attack liberal sacred cows and thereby score points with some imaginary political centrism, Frank Rich seems most a home and most engaging when pointing out the hypocricy of the Right. Keep it up!