September 16th, 2008 @ 11:14am by Allison Kilkenny
The idea that “the people” will take on and destroy “the establishment” is a utopian fantasy that corrupted the left before it corrupted the right. — David Brooks
This election has hosted some interesting stages in the evolution of rhetoric. John McCain has shown us that Change means four more years of the same Bush Doctrine that brought us wars and conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and soon to be Pakistan, and Iran. Oh, and Russia. I’m sure I’m leaving out countries, too.
In Obama’s world, Change means losing the election the same way as every modern Democrat before him. Barack Obama has shown us that Change means repeating the same mistakes of Triangulation as John Kerry, and before him, Al Gore, and before him, the daddy of Triangulation, Bill Clinton, who did manage to win an election but sold the Democratic soul with his win.
The evolution is most evident in the way pundits are throwing around words like Elitism and Populism.
Simultaneously, citizens are reminded that they should not be Elitist in their dismissal of Sarah Palin as unqualified, but they are also unequipped to lead a Populist, Democratic revolt in order to pump some new blood into the Washington machine.
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