Monday, September 7, 2009
Irony in Van Jones Resignation
I think we can safely say that were it not for Glenn Beck's constant attention, Obama's "green jobs czar" Van Jones would not have resigned over the weekend. Yet what's amazing is that the primary "sins" which made him a political liability are:
(a) Calling Republicans a-holes, and
(b) Signing a petition calling for an investigation into whether top government officials purposely allowed the 9/11 attacks to occur.
Now here's why this is funny: The most hardcore Glenn Beck fans--the ones who don't merely find him entertaining and enlightening, but who literally thank God that Glenn Beck is on the radio and TV, trying to wake up the country to the bloodless coup that has occurred--would agree that the Republicans are a-holes (think TARP and "not securing the southern border"). And though they might not agree with the particular conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, they certainly can't fault someone for believing it possible that high-level federal officials would sell out the country for their own sinister reasons.
Note, I am not saying Glenn Beck's criticism of Van Jones has been inconsistent; I don't remember Beck ever saying something like, "And what kind of nutjob would sign a 9/11 petition?" (Maybe Beck did; I'm just saying I never heard it.) When I've heard him discuss Van Jones, it has always revolved around his self-avowed belief in communism, and Van Jones' public statements that could be interpreted to mean Van Jones is part of a long-range plan to overthrow capitalism. In fact, when Beck quoted the infamous a-hole line, Beck said something like, "Now everybody is going to go on and on about the a-hole line, but that's not what I want to focus on. Listen to what he says after that, and you tell me folks...Is Van Jones just referring to his plans for the Republicans here, or is he talking about what he has in store for the whole country?"
Man I can't stand our political system. Even when I like a particular outcome--in this case, Van Jones having to resign--it's for reasons that I find irrelevant. It's like when Ron Paul got mad that people were wanting to impeach Bill Clinton for the wrong reason.
UPDATE: Google Alerts brought this post to my attention because one of the commenters is a "robert murphy seattle." (It's not mine baby, really!) Wow those progressives have potty mouths! Am I just innocent for traveling in family-friendly blog circles? E.g. are there right-wing blogs where every other comment is, "Let's close the border and keep those effin Mexicans from stealing anymore more of our jobs"?
(a) Calling Republicans a-holes, and
(b) Signing a petition calling for an investigation into whether top government officials purposely allowed the 9/11 attacks to occur.
Now here's why this is funny: The most hardcore Glenn Beck fans--the ones who don't merely find him entertaining and enlightening, but who literally thank God that Glenn Beck is on the radio and TV, trying to wake up the country to the bloodless coup that has occurred--would agree that the Republicans are a-holes (think TARP and "not securing the southern border"). And though they might not agree with the particular conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, they certainly can't fault someone for believing it possible that high-level federal officials would sell out the country for their own sinister reasons.
Note, I am not saying Glenn Beck's criticism of Van Jones has been inconsistent; I don't remember Beck ever saying something like, "And what kind of nutjob would sign a 9/11 petition?" (Maybe Beck did; I'm just saying I never heard it.) When I've heard him discuss Van Jones, it has always revolved around his self-avowed belief in communism, and Van Jones' public statements that could be interpreted to mean Van Jones is part of a long-range plan to overthrow capitalism. In fact, when Beck quoted the infamous a-hole line, Beck said something like, "Now everybody is going to go on and on about the a-hole line, but that's not what I want to focus on. Listen to what he says after that, and you tell me folks...Is Van Jones just referring to his plans for the Republicans here, or is he talking about what he has in store for the whole country?"
Man I can't stand our political system. Even when I like a particular outcome--in this case, Van Jones having to resign--it's for reasons that I find irrelevant. It's like when Ron Paul got mad that people were wanting to impeach Bill Clinton for the wrong reason.
UPDATE: Google Alerts brought this post to my attention because one of the commenters is a "robert murphy seattle." (It's not mine baby, really!) Wow those progressives have potty mouths! Am I just innocent for traveling in family-friendly blog circles? E.g. are there right-wing blogs where every other comment is, "Let's close the border and keep those effin Mexicans from stealing anymore more of our jobs"?
Comments:
What struck me about that Ron Paul video is how legitimately angry he appears to be. Not that I ever doubted his sincerity, but I think maybe he's mellowed out a bit in the last ten years. And I can't recall ever seeing a press conference where another national politician was recognizably outraged, and not just in a phony way.
As for Van Jones, it's good that he's not in a position of power any more. I suspect he'll just be replaced by someone who is less dramatic, but equally inclined toward quasi-Marxist central planning.
As for Van Jones, it's good that he's not in a position of power any more. I suspect he'll just be replaced by someone who is less dramatic, but equally inclined toward quasi-Marxist central planning.
# posted by 
: September 7, 2009 at 7:16 AM
: September 7, 2009 at 7:16 AM
I had the same feelings this morning about reading MSN's coverage. I thought... wait a minute, 90% I heard from Beck was this guy is a commie; 10% was the stuff they listed.
MSN's story was titled something like 'what Van Jones said'. Not ONE mention he was a communist; "what has capitalism done for you"; etc.
For the conspiracy theorists you can't help but see the news ignoring the reason this guy is gone. Beck isn't stupid enough to call a guy out on 9/11. That spin from MSN and NYT is ridiculous.
MSN's story was titled something like 'what Van Jones said'. Not ONE mention he was a communist; "what has capitalism done for you"; etc.
For the conspiracy theorists you can't help but see the news ignoring the reason this guy is gone. Beck isn't stupid enough to call a guy out on 9/11. That spin from MSN and NYT is ridiculous.
# posted by : September 7, 2009 at 8:42 AM
: September 7, 2009 at 8:42 AM
The people spoke. Beck fanned some flames but it was the opinion of the general public which caused him to step down. No one person or administration can withstand the opinion of the public if it is strong enough.
RB
RB
A Very and good related article, I have enjoyed a lot.
london Escorts
london Escorts
# posted by : September 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM
: September 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM
What I found funniest about his 'resignation' is what Robert Gibbs said about it:
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones "continues to work in the administration."
Well, seems like he has lost a certain title, but he is still one of the close advisors of the administration.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said only that Jones "continues to work in the administration."
Well, seems like he has lost a certain title, but he is still one of the close advisors of the administration.
Re: Update: I can't speak for 'right wing' but from the top UK libertarian blogs numbers 2, 3 & 4 are all full on swearblogs.
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