Why the Politics?

I guess it was the trolls who inspired me.

Back in January 2009 I posted a 1991 single by Seattle punk-metal band Coffin Break (see HERE). I pointed out that the single's A-side, "Kill the President" wasn't about politics at all but was in fact "...a bright pop song about insanity. The narrator is like Travis Bickle just as the Prozac wears off." Then after sparing a brief thought for the relationship between punk and politics, I cast a wary eye upon the next four years:

And it does seem like everyone’s in a sincere mood these days doesn't it? It’s kinda like watching that besotted couple who, in their first flush of passion, offer loud, wild promises that make you wince with the pain of regret to come. So, when the inauguration spectacle is packed away, when the word historical gets a well-deserved rest, there’s gonna be some ugliness. The American Right thinks everyone (but them) is a communist and the American Left thinks everyone (but them) is a fascist and they both love political bloodsport. America may well be in a better place in four years but by then the axe-grinders that dictate public discourse in the U.S. will have tossed all this non-partisan sincerity aside.

Well my crystal ball was a little cloudy (how was I to guess that the American Right  would brand the Left as communists AND fascists!). On the other hand, I did call the cynical malaise that would soon cloud Obama voters view and rightly noted that no good deed by Obama would be acknowledged by the axe-grinding class.

However, despite the cautious, not-terribly partisan nature of the post, the trolls heard me tromp-tromp-tromping over their Bridge to the 19th Century and came out howling:

Anonymous January 18, 2009 3:16 PM

You're an idiot. The Left blamed GWB for everything. He kept integrity. Iraq did have WMD, did use them, and Iraq and the world are better off now than before. The economic crisis was created by Dodd, Obama and Frank - the Dem congress. 0bama's "career" was built on fraud and waste and maybe the clueless crowd you hang with is "optimistic", but there is fear with an inexperienced person whose only idea is raising taxes and restricting personal rights among most of the free thinking adults.

What? The? Fuck?


Honestly, I was a little shocked (ah, such naivete) at how high the level of hatred BEFORE THE MAN EVEN TOOK OFFICE but just then a blogging legend dropped by to offer a little tutorial on trolling:

Joe Stumble January 20, 2009 7:27 AM

CLASSIC Troll move. He starts off by calling you an idiot thereby shutting the door at the get-go on any meaningful conversation. Then he proceeds to regurgitate right wing nonsense that he's picked up from Rush or Ann or whomever. Finally he does it all anonymously. When did conservatives become such whiny sissies? 

Not one to allow the noble art of trolling to be so besmirched, a new voice shouted out:

Maria January 24, 2009 1:08 AM

Bush never tried to limit anyone's constitutional rights.
Everything obama says he is going to do is completely wrong.
You are like the morons that vote based on sunshine logos and bubblegum speeches.
You should look up the term "useful idiot".

Now comparing me to a Stalinist showed an ignorance of history (plus a terribly limited array of snappy put-downs) but I realized that if you can express an opinion with a minimum of clarity you're a threat to these reactionary types. And no, I will not sully the word conservative, a legitimate political philosophy, by letting these people take that name upon themselves when they can be more accurately labelled reactionaries. These aren't people of a different view who want to debate ideas and interpretations, no they want to hurl inflammatory invective and then run away and hide in anonymity.


So I knew I had to keep going on this blog, to do my part to show those people on the fence that this kind of hate-filled, tongue-tied, Fox-fed know-nothingness is an integral part of this imbalanced modern Republican Party which needs to be brought back to sanity.

Snip-snap-snout 
this tale's told out....