Janeane Gerafalo Said Something Interesting on "The Daily Show"

[Direckshun]

She was talking about the polarization of America's politics.

How it seems most everybody following the politics of our country has taken extreme positions on the right or left, due to the desperation of the current circumstances that Bush has put us under. Everybody keeping up with the Bush administration has been so emotionally affected by what this administration has been doing, that they've retreated to either the far left or the far right as a result.

Do you think she has a point? Do you think Bush has deeply polarized American politics? And do you think DU might have been one of the casualties of this polarization?

Indulge us with your thoughts. :)

[Sandpiper]

1. I don't think it was Bush

That polarized the country as much as it was the way he ascended to the White House.

[wtmusic]

2. Absolutely

but DU only benefitted from it.

You either get it, or you don't. You either blindly trust the man, or you don't. You either see why the war is morally wrong, or you don't.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. The last time this country was this divided

was 1860

Draw your own conclusions

Personally if bush wins, we will see a civil war... and if Kerry wins... we may see calls for insurrection from the Right.

This is how bad this may be... our uniter has done a fine job indeed

[Cascadian]

17. Does anybody really think we could have turmoil?

I do see cracks appearing between people. Look how polarized the Congress was during the Chimp in Chief's State of the Union address. Most of the Democrats were sitting on their hands. I also have never ever seen the intensity of hatred between average people have have differing political opinions. It is moving from simple and civil debate to almost violent confrontation. Where does it go from here? I know people are already getting assaulted physically because they disagree with Bush. Where do we go from here?


John

[neverborn]

24. ehh.. I'd say 'nam

[asthmaticeog]

40. Let it happen.

If the country literally splits, I have no problem with that. Right-wingers seem to really love Montana and Idaho. They can have 'em. Wall 'em off, let 'em trickle-down their way to poverty and leave the rest of us out of it. See if the hoi polloi wake up with no liberals to falsely accuse for the problems that conservatives cause. I exaggerate 'cuz I'm in a crap mood, but I'm not too terribly far from thinking two countries might be a decent idea.

[Arugula Latte]

44. We get the coasts, though!

No way will I be landlocked ... water ... I need water ...

[asthmaticeog]

49. Oh, hell yeah, we get the coasts!

Other than Florida, the coasts are mostly blue anyway. What are they gonna do, boot us? HA! Furthermore, a relocation of that sort would mean we had their asses surrounded at all times -- unless they wanted to escape... by boat... to Cuba.

[Christ was Socialist]

4. he stole a damn election and

50 percent of the country have shown themselves to be raving lunatics. This is the most greedy, jingoistic country to yet exist. The thing is we have yet to learn like europe did. sO we are susceptable to a third reich type system here, and even people on du can't see it.Us socialists have done so much and gotten so little credit, we are sick of taking it. The publishing industry use to be ours, but now 10 companies control 80% of the industry, fuck, im sick of the right, soon there will be a revolt, it will just take a catylyst. And i'm not talking about that soft shit that went on during the 60's.

[Union Thug]

11. I'm right there with ya...

Times they are a changin'.... and we must be the catalyst...

[maggrwaggr]

5. let me share the e-mail I just received from the Condi2008 guy

I didn't expect to hear from him, of course, and my e-mail to him was pretty nasty. But here ya go:

I wrote:

Condi Rice for President? Of what? Her bridge club in the Federal Penitentiary?

Yeah, I'll vote for that.

She should be in prison. She has lied to the American people, lied to the 9/11 commission, and has basically committed treason.

It was on her watch that 3,000 Americans were killed in the worst attack on American soil EVER.

And you think she should RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

Are you out of your FUCKING MINDS?

To which [e-mail] replied:

yeah, anybody who doesn't think exactly like you is out of their minds...

clearly you're confused (remember: i read your email)

i can't debate with someone whose logic is as convoluted and tortured as yours, but i have to say, you are one of a very small minority who would phrase 9/11 as "the deaths of 3000 people happening on Condoleezza Rice's watch."

the 19 hi-jackers snuck into the country or overstayed their visas on Clinton's watch...they had the money wired to them on Clinton's watch...they learned how to steer 747s (not land or take off, mind you, just steer) on Clinton's watch...they got multiple driver's license's and other fraudulent documentation and identification under Clinton...they plotted and planned the whole thing during Clinton's watch....

yes, they worked within the existing FAA rules for what you could bring on an airplane, i.e. box cutters, etc. yes they paid for tickets with cash and flew one way and had little luggage, but the FBI and CIA and other authorities couldn't talk to each other and the reservation agents couldn't flag the transactions as suspicious and report it to anyone because of, among other things, the strengthening of the WALLS between agencies by Clinton people lick GORELICK who now sits on the 9/11 commission, when she should be on the other side of the table, testifying.

but being a leftist means not having to think...seriously...think about all the criticism of pres bush for appearing with cheney and not testifying under oath...why didn't i hear a peep...not one word from the left when a week earlier, pres clinton testified NOT ALONE...but with his nsa bruce lindsey and his white house counsel and it was BEHIND CLOSED DOORS with NO TV CAMERAS and it was NOT UNDER OATH...but only bush is castigated for it.

that is called intellectual dishonesty and that is just one of thousands of examples that i could point out to you, but it is worth noting that pres bush, according to everyone in attendence, "answered most of the questions himself" and stayed for as long as they wanted to (over 3 hours) a far cry from the 1 hour that the left was screaming aboout for months and how he was bringing dick cheney along to answer the questions b/c he couldn't answer them.

fyi - i get 1000 pieces of email a day. 950 are from people who agree with US!

the other 50 are almost word for word copies of what you wrote...complete with the profanity (always signals a lack of substance)

do yourself a favor, instead of repeating cliche's from the extreme, far left--forget. Think for yourself. You can't read a Michael Moore and/or Al Franken book and think you're knowledgable on current events.

(end of e-mail)

So yeah, I'd say we're pretty polarized.

[Direckshun]

7. No doubt.

Who is that guy you wrote to, maggrwaggr?

[maggrwaggr]

42. It's the "rice in 2008" website. I hit "contact us"

http://www.rice2008.com/

Amazing that anyone would want this incompetent amateur to run for president.

Heck, it's almost as stupid as hiring an actor to play a president ..... oh wait, didn't they already do that?

[cornfedyank]

9. if shrub et al are so intellectually honest then pay for the war NOW.

if i grant them whatever premise they want, they have to answer the question. just say i'm sorry but unexpected bills came up. do not put it on the national credit card. THEN explain to me how 100% estate tax exemption is good for this country and our posterity.

the acknowledged national debt is $7,187,533,198,466.

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

[w13rd0]

14. Clinton, clinton, clinton....

...clinton, clenis, clinton...that's what the RW said...pffft.

[nonconformist]

16. When in doubt, always blame the Clenis

"Yeah... that's the ticket!"

[rfranklin]

20. The parents of the hijackers were born on Eisenhower's watch...

and the airplane was invented on Teddy Roosevelt's watch!

[ComerPerro]

25. And the hijackers were probably born under Carter's watch

[ufansdilligaf]

29. What a flaming illiterate

The 19 hi-jackers didn't "snuck" into the country...they SNEAKED.

"Snuck" is not a valid word.

[ShaneGR]

45. Actually, a lot of that is untrue

The majority of the money they received they got in the opening months of the Bush Administration. Almost all of their flight-training was done in the late spring. They started flying those flights (Atta took the same flight 6 times before) in late summer. They rented their apartments on Bush's watch in Florida (both of em).

Personally, I'm not LIHOP and I think Condoleeza is just incompetant, not criminal, so I think you're both polarized. I've been trying to look at things from the middle lately, because that's the line of thinking of the people I NEED TO VOTE FOR KERRY. Every political conversation I have now, unless I'm talking to an uber lefty, is under the guise of independence.

[pacifictiger]

6. I think the 24/7

"news" channels have certainly helped the divisiveness. They seem to revel in having as guests polarizing ends of the political spectrum so they can have a verbal gutter street brawl. Add in edited film clips for cutesy sound bite effect and you have an infotainment ratings draw which means $$$$$ for the owners. Never mind the long term harm it does to sensible and civil political discourse.

[VolcanoJen]

8. Supporting Bush is a "character flaw."

Excellent point, Janeane. After watching "Frontline" last night, and really having someone pull together all of Bush's radical religious beliefs, I'm even more worried than before.

A large amount of the population will support Bush simply because of their fervent religious beliefs. Another, smaller but significant and wealthy amount will support Bush just out of spite, as Janeane put it. Spite. Talk to them, if you get the rare chance. It is spite, it is denial, it does represent a sinister aspect of American politics.

We are a polarized nation, and there will be no more political landslides in the foreseeable future. It's going to be a nail-biter, and if it isn't obvious already, we are going to have to fight onehelluva lot harder.

on edit: corrected my redundant redundancies

[bullimiami]

10. no. i disagree.

its the bush mafia that has declared with us or against us.
even moderate people are now demonized.
i think people have the same basic values they always had it is the madness of this administration which is out of step.

[nonconformist]

12. She's spot-on

We are a country divided - quite an amazing feat when you think about the camaraderie everyone had after 9/11.

What's really ironic is that it's yet another example of how everything Bush says ends up the exact opposite of what happens.

"I'm a uniter, not a divider." -- George W. Bush

How everyone hasn't figured out that everything this man touches turns to shit is beyond me.

[huellewig]

13. I considered myself Republican in 2000.

I'm pro freedom, fiscally Conservative. Pay for it as we go along kinda guy. I do think Education and Health-care should be the responsibility of the state. Farm subsidies, monuments, pork should go. We could easily pay for the important stuff if we cut the crap. Like "the war on drugs" pump 10% of that cost into education on drugs. Make drugs free, give away clean drugs and nobody will rob your house. If they want to die let them. Spend the cash on drugs for old people.

Oh, and I voted for Nader in 2000. Kerry in 2004.

sorry about the rant..

[w4rma]

15. Democrats are pro freedom. (nt)

[Gore1FL]

19. So are real Republicans

The real ones aren't electable in the current GOP.

[Hekate]

18. We were polarized before W was selected...

...that's why the election was a statistical dead heat. He and his minions have just managed to make it infinitely worse by their actions and attitudes.

It started when the radical right (of religion and politics) declared a culture war on the rest of us, that is on anyone who didn't agree with them. Through a concerted effort over many years plus some billionaire funding is specific areas, the RR went from being a fringe group no one would take seriously into being what Hillary called the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.

Hekate

[kentuck]

21. Let's not make the mistake of talking about the victims.....

and let the perpetrators slide. The perpetrators being George W Bush and the Republican Right - that have so divided this nation.

[ithacan]

22. There is NO far left in this country!!

I don't think you are quoting her correctly here, this does not sound like her. She knows better than that.

There is no "far left" in this country.

The polarization that exists is one between people who will back Bush no matter what kinds of extremist policies he pursues, and the moderates who see his policies as destructive of this country.

This sounds more like an RNC talking point: Anyone who opposes Bush is "far left".

Sorry, it's bullshit.

[Direckshun]

51. No "far left"?

Out of curiousity - what would you define as "far left"?

[no_hypocrisy]

23. Hate to admit it, but 1984 with the Reagan/Mondale election was last

reasonably civilized, non-partisan election, maybe 1980 to be certain.

1988 debuted Lee Atwater's scurvey tactics against Dukakis with personal attacks against the candidate's wife, Willy Horton as a wedge issue, and pinning the pollution of Boston Harbor solely on Dukakis (among other things).

And it's been downhill thereafter . . . No more debates, just soundbites of personal attacks and avoidance of an indepth analysis of the issues

[bmbmd]

38. Reagan was the last president

to have any form of bipartisan support, and was the last president to be mostly beloved. He was able to lead our country in spite of his shortcomings. That is why I supported Clark-I felt like he was a non-polarizer. McCain fell into the same category. There are leaders out there who are capable of uniting us as one people, we are just too stupid to elect them. Perhaps party politics contributes to that.

[maggrwaggr]

43. I disagree with you about Reagan, but I was hoping Dean would be the guy

who could unite the country.

I'm worried that with Kerry, it's going to be the same old polarized crap.

Oh well. Maybe he still can, down the road sometime.

[Az]

26. The Culture wars and the evolution of the republican's candidates

It all ended with Nixon. Richard Nixon was the straw that broke the RNC's back. His manipulation of the system was beyond their control and cost the party dearly. After they suffered through Ford and Carter they took control of the office of President.

To this measure they put forward one of the dumbest men ever to sit in the office (beaten only by the boy chimp). Ronald Reagan had the qualities they required. Charismatic and empty. With George Bush behind him he was the perfect front. He even served to bring in the religious right with his apparent religious zeal.

The point of Reagan was that he could convey a very simple message to a people that wanted a very fixed idea. He was able to present things as good or evil. Right or wrong. The trouble of course is that life is not that simple. Good and evil are not so easily discerned. But Reagan believed and that belief came through to those who needed to believe as well. He was the perfect beacon to rally the hordes of individuals that were tired of the complexity of modern life.

But then his 8 years were up. Bush was the heir apparent. But he was not the same model as Reagan. He was more in the roll of puppet master than puppet. He was rolled into the office by weight of Reagan's popularity. But the new Republican tactic did not work under him. He could not convey the sincerity of the con the right needed to sell to the believers. Thus he failed to win reelection.

Thus it took 8 years of Clinton for the right to find their next puppet to appeal to the right. Again they went for charismatic and empty. He even came with his own religious conversion story.

It is through this path that the republican power makers have courted and won over the religious right. Looking to a people who hold to a social structure that should have long since faded away the republicans make use of their fear of social change. Their desperate need to mandate moral authority gives the right the perfect mob with which to tear apart the institutions that stand in the way of the Corporate entities behind them. It is in this way that these people who were on a path to irrelevance were galvanized and rejuvenated.

[cclark401]

30. Excellent post

I wonder when, if ever, our society will wake up! Sooner or later they (the far right) will be seen for what they really are by the masses. Things in this country will get so bad that even one's religious beliefs will not be reason enough to stick with "bad policy."

[lulu]

39. A radical dystopia

is how Janeane Garafalo described George Bush's vision for America on AAR last night. You outline that vision perfectly.

[bhunt70]

27. yes I agree, it was headed that way but the election made it a...

"your team vs my team" rivalry

[ufansdilligaf]

28. She makes a very valid point

AT the polar rate that things are going we could very well end up with a shooting civil war here in America. The bad news is that most of the guns are in the hands of conservatives. Perhaps Kerry can help rid us of the massive gun ownership problem before the shooting starts. There is no reason for any American to own anything more than a single shot hunting long gun. This should be mission one for Kerry when he takes over next January. Any household should be allowed only one approved hunting rifle except where local and city laws prohibit it. We must prepare for any future civil war by disarming the wingers first.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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[napi21]

31. I do see potential violence. I will tell you, I am afraid to put

a Kerry sign in my yard! There are so many extremist Bush supporters living here in Ga. that I'm afraid they would try to burn my house, torch my car, etc. just to get us out of here!

I've seen things like this many years ago in very clanish parts of the North East and things like that WERE done. I see it again.

We could have violence in the country, I'm sorry to say.

[revcarol]

33. Don't forget Newt's "Contract on America."

He made all the freshman class of Republicans toe the line. Republicans got used to walking in lock-step with fanatics.

[nostamj]

34. Doonesbury on 'polarization'...

[theboss]

35. Janeane's wrong....Low voter turnout created this environment

The attitudes towards Bush are a symptom of the problems in American politics, not the cause. Both parties have managed to turn off over 50 percent of Americans from caring at all about politics. So all you have left are the core members of the two parties.

Politics is no longer about appealing to the "great center." It's about activating your base and getting them to the polls. Bush's handlers realize that there is little sense in appealing to moderates because they don't vote so there is no gain. Nixon had to do things like environmental reform because there were voters who would consider him for it. Today, those people just don't vote.

So you have no moves to the center. Meanwhile, losing just one percent of conservatives to apathy or a third-party candidate could be disastrous for W. So, it's nothing but red meat to the zealots.

And that in turn pisses us off to no end.

[Direckshun]

52. Good thoughts, theboss.

"The attitudes towards Bush are a symptom of the problems in American politics, not the cause. Both parties have managed to turn off over 50 percent of Americans from caring at all about politics. So all you have left are the core members of the two parties."

Very good insight.

[davsand]

37. Yeah, it IS polarized.

I am amazed at HOW polarized it is, to be honest. I've been on the front line for many years--for several issues that are pretty hotly contested, and I have never seen this kind of division.

Abortion is a big one--and I've been out front on it since I became politically active in the late 70's. I've been called a lot of things and had a bunch of discussion and debate, but I rarely felt as threatened as I do now. The same goes for GLBT rights and Universal Health Care.

I've talked about this on here before, but I actually had an old lady screaming at me in the grocery store a while back because she didn't care for the Bush LIED button on my purse. Similarly, I can't begin to tell you about the number of folks who see those same buttons and comment that they WANT one or that they agree...

IMO, this is no longer about activism or even political passion, it is about folks expressing values. This has come down to the difference in views and values held by the citizens of this nation. As with all values issues, this is hotly contested and passionately debated.

THIS TIME IT IS PERSONAL!!!!!


Laura

[randr]

41. She also said that repugs are in a state of denial

propped up by a false sense of pride and are embarrassed by the situation. I loved it when she said that to be supporting * is to exhibit a character flaw.
It is becoming more apparent that the supporters of * are acting in a most unAmerican way and this needs to be pointed out.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

46. Janeane: "Anybody who still supports Bush has a character flaw"

n/t

[SharonAnn]

48. Yeah, I loved that.

And it's true!

[0007]

47. I watched Jeaneane last night and she was indeed great.

I forgot what she said, A vote for bush is a ___________I forgot! Please help me somebody.

I got it!! I got it!!! Edited to read; "character flaw"

[JHB]

50. She's half-right

Yes, it's more polarized, but I'll argue over how much anyone has moved to "the extreme left". Democratic Underground isn't exactly the Weather Underground, y'know.

Things are polarized because the far right is organized enough to enforce a drumbeat of conform or be purged.