Dr. Socks says hi
Hey everybody. I’m doing well; healing up nicely. I feel better every day. Thank you all for your kind wishes and support. I think I must have the nicest commentariat in the world.
Everybody keeps telling me not to look at the news in case I pop my stitches. So of course I just checked Memeorandum to see what’s going on. The Obama guy in New Mexico dismissing Krugman and liberals as the loony left—priceless. Couldn’t ask for a clearer demonstration of exactly what the O Team is all about.
One of my problems as a writer is that once I’ve completely figured out a story, I get a bit bored with following it out to its conclusion. In some ways the Obama presidency is like that. As I predicted in 2008, the effect of the Obama takeover of the Democratic party is to drive out any remaining semblance of Democratic policies. (Note Jane Hamsher’s summary today: “It’s clear that the [Obama] Democrats want to marginalize liberals in 2012 for basically promoting the same values and saying the same things we’ve said during every presidency since time immemorial.”) It’s depressing and tedious to have to actually live through it.
It’s especially depressing and tedious when you’re one of the people who actually needs Social Security and Medicare and who genuinely cares about the economic health of this country. Which, I note, does not describe most of the pundits and political bloggers currently on the scene. Even the so-called “firebaggers” who reject Obama: too many of them are simply playing at politics. From that same post by Jane Hamsher:
Atrios says, “politicians gotta do what they gotta do and if attacking the Jane Hamshers Of The Left and KRGTHULU is the way to get money, love, and votes, then more power to them….If.”
I totally agree, if they’re doing this because they think it’s a good campaign strategy, do what you have to do. The qualifier, of course, is the if.
Of course Jane is set for life, as is Atrios. As is Obama. As are all the staffers who work for Obama. As are all the Serious People. And all of the young blogger-pundits certainly think they’re set for life, whether they are or not. It’s all politics to them. It’s all a game.
For the rest of us, it’s no game.
I was wondering the other night about FDR. What motivated the man? He was rich, he was upper class, he was set for life. Why did he fight so hard for the working folks? Whatever it was, we need to bottle it and spike the drinks of everyone in Washington.
One other thing: I haven’t read the latest Rebecca Traister piece in the Times, but I have read Falstaff’s superb post in response to it. Go read it, please. Falstaff is a great writer and I love it when he posts.
UPDATE: One more, since I’m doing the stitch-popping roundup: excellent post from Digby about Obama’s beyond-ridiculous shoe-shopping metaphor. The only thing I disagree with is her reference to it as a “passing comment” in the stump speech. Yeah, but it’s clearly part of the new campaign message, so it’s been thought about and approved. God, this president is a jerk. Such a jerk.
And to think, this is the “super feminist” that Ms. Magazine put on the cover, that Naomi Wolf—no, wait, stop. Gotta stop. Stomach starting to hurt. Need alpaca pictures.
36 Responses to “Dr. Socks says hi”
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gmanedit says:
Henry James said the most beautiful words in the English language were “Sunday afternoon.” I always thought they were “Set for life.”
August 18th, 2011 at 1:10 am EST -
myiq2xu says:
Re: Digby, it gets worse:
I wrote earlier about President Obama comparing negotiating with the congress to negotiating with his wife by babbling something about her buying dresses and him keeping his golf clubs. But I missed this one:
“Everybody cannot get 100 percent of what they want. Now, for those of you who are married, there is an analogy here. I basically let Michelle have 90 percent of what she wants. But, at a certain point, I have to draw the line and say, ‘Give me my little 10 percent.’ ”
Yikes.
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myiq2xu says:
Oh, and welcome back Violet, glad you’re feeling better.
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angie says:
I was wondering the other night about FDR. What motivated the man? He was rich, he was upper class, he was set for life. Why did he fight so hard for the working folks? Whatever it was, we need to bottle it and spike the drinks of everyone in Washington.
One word: Eleanor.
True story.
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Ugsome says:
Wow, what a condescending dick. I feel sorry for Michelle.
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myiq2xu says:
Lawmaker defends comments pinning higher rates of STDs on gas drillers
A state lawmaker said he stands by his comments that workers at natural gas drilling sites are causing a rise in sexually transmitted diseases.
Democratic Representative Mike Sturla of Lancaster County wrote in an e-mail to a reporter that workers at well sites are “spreading sexually transmitted disease amongst the womenfolk.”
It’s okay, he’s a Democrat!
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Darren Hutchinson says:
That “political rookie” reference to Krugman isn’t even original. Some angry blogger responded to Krugman’s criticism of the debt deal with a post using this language. I think this letter probably lifted a large part of that blog. Interesting. A condemnation of the left using a so-called leftist blog to do so. Here’s the original . Do the comparison. http://www.thepeoplesview.net/.....r-how.html
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Darren Hutchinson says:
Sorry – I now realize the original article quotes the blog post. No theft, but still interesting use of “angry” blogger to condemn angry bloggers.
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Kali says:
I was going to comment about Eleanor and saw that angie already did. Yes, FDR had to be pushed into a lot of stuff he did by Eleanor – and Francis Perkins.
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falstaff says:
Props squared, Doc. I’m very glad you’re on the mend (though the passing parade does add new coloration to the old idea of busting a gut).
Like you, I find the sink that is our political culture to be a combination of dispiriting and enervating — but (a) new depths do make one’s writin’ fingers itch and (b) even the dimmest glimmer of a hope for a primary challenge (not to mention a Hillary re-candidacy) gets the juices flowing again.
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lee says:
Enjoyed all the links and am glad you are healing. Reading Digby is like observing someone awakening from a spell. Can we hope the collective delusion is abating?
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Carmonn says:
Glad you’re feeling better. Apart from everything else, the whole “Firebagger” thing is so immature, it’s ridiculous. What happens when you hand over wholesale control of your party to a bunch of puffed-up, insanely arrogant, clueless, reactionary, juvenile frat boys with zero political sense? I can’t wait for the next convention, it should be quite a show. While Obama tries to channel Ike and expects his wife to play the part of Gracie Allen, he better keep a close eye on those golf clubs lest his no-boundaries blogger buddies are outside using them to drill likely voters in the forehead.
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cellocat says:
re: miq quote above: but Ms. Magazine says he’s a feminist, so I’m sure he didn’t *mean* it that way. Stop being so sensitive!/snark
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propertius says:
Don’t minimize the importance of Francis Perkins, as well.
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Violet Socks says:
Angie and propertius, I know about Eleanor Roosevelt and Frances Perkins. I revere both of those women, in fact. But that doesn’t explain FDR’s response. He could have ignored Eleanor. He could have ignored people like Perkins. What made him take it on board?
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Branjor says:
Wasn’t that Frances Perkins, with an “e”, not an “i”?
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angie says:
propertius — I can’t believe anyone would seriously think that my comment is minimizing the importance of Frances Perkins. However, I actually, truly believe that FDR’s marrying Eleanor was the life-changing event that altered the course of his political priorities & thinking. It was Eleanor, not Frances, for example, who took FDR to see the tenement houses where she volunteered, when he was “courting” her. Yes, Frances Perkins worked tirelessly & is greatly accomplished, but without first having the influence of Eleanor, would FDR have appointed Perkins Sec. of Labor? We can’t know that.
I honestly mark FDR’s turning point as Eleanor, and I wasn’t being “flip” about it. True, FDR could have ignored Eleanor, but (obviously) he didn’t. No one can ever know another person’s exact state of mind, so I’m not 100% sure what Violet’s question in #15 is asking. What I do know is whatever else FDR was or did, he truly respected Eleanor’s opinions, listened to & was influenced by them. I, personally, don’t find much to wonder at that a person is influenced by the opinion of someone he respects. And, obviously, there was that whole Great Depression thing which could have made FDR more open to that influence then he otherwise would have been.
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Woman Voter says:
Glad you are doing well :-)
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Sameol says:
Wasn’t the liberal establishment spooked by the prospect of a viable Socialist movement, to some extent? He might have not been as receptive with different dynamics at play. Or, he might have felt guilty about everything she put up with in the marriage.
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Kali says:
Maybe his dependence on Eleanor due to his paralysis was a factor in why he did not ignore her. Also, the guilt about the Mercer affair. Eleanor was ready to divorce him for that but that would have ruined his reputation. He had to keep her happy in some ways at least.
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scott says:
With FDR, I’ve read several biographies of him, and I think it comes down to a (now dead) sense of noblesse oblige among the New York Dutch landed elite of the period, a truly massive and impenetrable ego formed by an adoring mother, and a fascination with understanding people on their own terms in order to lead/influence/manipulate them. FDR really got jazzed by dealing with people and listening to their take on things, and that (spurred on by influential people in his life like Eleanor and Frances Perkins) led him to a greater degree of sympathy and empathy for the problems of ordinary people than you might have expected from someone of his class. But never underestimate the ego – he wanted to make a splash. Sure, he could have clipped stock coupons on the Hudson, consorted with people in his own class, supported their interests, etc. But that would have been normal, expected, boring, a non-event. Sticking it to your own class while standing up for a bunch of people routinely derided by them? That was the sort of massive challenge that would have appealed to his ego, his confidence in his ability to understand people and influence events, and a whimsical (if slightly sadistic) sense of humor. FDR thus was a complex blend of empathy, insight, ambition, ruthlessness, confidence, and inner calm. Even his biographers struggle to get their arms around him!
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angie says:
Or, he might have felt guilty about everything she put up with in the marriage.
Ha! The fate of the nation depends on the guilt felt by a philandering husband.
Good theory & of course, possible, but I doubt it because with people of their “class” (and Eleanor was from the same class as FDR) especially during that era, I don’t think fidelity from one’s husband was as expected as it is today.
I think “the being spooked by viable socialist movement” (because of the Great Depression) has better legs, but I still credit Eleanor as being the turning point for him. She is the one who, I believe, first opened his eyes to the living & working conditions of the common man.
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Violet Socks says:
scott, without ever reading a full biography of FDR, I have nevertheless always suspected that his ego and desire to emulate—even surpass—Teddy Roosevelt were driving factors. As a nation we are fortunate that the ego was channeled in the way it was. Theodore Roosevelt was a progressive and author of the Square Deal, so that set the right direction; and of course Teddy’s niece Eleanor was an incredibly compassionate and compelling visionary who exerted a lifelong influence on her husband.
angie, Eleanor Roosevelt was a giant. I don’t think anyone can doubt that she was the true humanitarian in the family. But FDR was no puppet, and so the question is about what moved him to accept Eleanor’s influence.
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Sameol says:
I didn’t just mean the philandering. I’m sure things being what they are, Sara Delano gets a bad rap, but still. Then there’s losing their son, not all of her troubles were his fault, obviously, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there was some guilt there, especially with his caregiving falling on her.
But yeah, no doubt guilt (if it even existed, who knows), paled in comparison to the larger issues, like Eleanor’s influence, reforming capitalism to save it, or whatever else he was motivated by.
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propertius says:
In no particular order:
1) Yes, “Frances” with an “e”. No more comments in the wee hours – I can’t type then.
2) Eleanor is definitely a heroine of mine – I’m old enough to (vaguely) remember her as active in public life.
3) I just think Perkins is generally underappreciated. I think she’s one of the most important public figures of the 20th Century.
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angie says:
Ah, I see what you mean — FDR was certainly no puppet (and I didn’t mean to make him out to be although I can see it can be read that way). I don’t think the answer can be pinned down to one thing though — it is probably a combination of all the things mentioned here — ego & ambition to outshine Teddy, the specific circumstances of the Great Depression, fear of a viable socialist movement, Eleanor’s influence, even his personal struggles with polio — all, and possibly more, combined in a perfect storm. And maybe a little bit of fate too — how many votes happened before the DNC chose FDR in 1932? 4, I think. I admit I don’t completely discount that aspect.
It is difficult to comprehend with what we see with most people in politics today who only seem out for themselves regardless of the consequences to other, but sometimes circumstances come together in such a way that a person is willing to “rise to the occasion” and take actions that even he (or she) would have never thought/considered before.
That’s the best I got! :-)
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daisydeadhead says:
So this means I dumber than a stick? I know, I should have gone to college. (Never had the money to do that, sorry.)
In any event, dunno why I was moderated, but wishing you well all the same!
(sobs)
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Carmonn says:
Eleanor knew, based on her aunt’s experience, how constricted the role of First Lady could be, and worried about the way in which her activism would be negatively impacted. Then, like Michelle Obama, she was cast in the role of the power-crazed schemer forcing her hapless husband into a role he didn’t want. It would have been insensitive for FDR to not have given her opinions weight. Granted, it wouldn’t necessarily have been unusual for a man of his class to have been so disrespectful, but there was that divorce conversation, and he was also a politician, and her humanitarian worldview was an asset in bringing about political realignment.
What’s even more mysterious is why today’s Democrats aren’t interested in trying to bring about a political realignment. It may not be in their interests to disturb the status quo, and the two-party duopoly isn’t going anywhere, but by always playing along waiting for the Republicans to overreach, they could be out of power for a long, long time.
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Violet Socks says:
dunno why I was moderated
It’s automatic if you’re not a regular commenter. Thanks for the good wishes!
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scott says:
Best wishes on a speedy recovery. For what it’s worth, your site, Anglachel and the Confluence have been my go-to sites for about three years on what’s happening to the Democratic Party, and you put it into words way before anyone else. Thank you!
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gxm17 says:
Hi Violet, Just dropping in with well wishes. Hope the recovery is going as painlessly, and as quickly, as possible!
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albrt says:
More best wishes.
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Jay says:
It’s a good observation I haven’t seen made in too many places: Obama is a JERK. If suing Daniel Choi for missed time because he was discharged from the military doesn’t convince you, google “Obama Rajon Rondo” for another story.
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djmm says:
Still more good wishes for your continued recovery, Violet! I agree about TR’s effect on FDR, though I also agree with other comments mentioning Elanor and Frances Perkins. Elanor was close to TR which may have been one of her initial attractions for FDR. And maybe he just had a heart. Some people are born with one, though they do not usually go into politics.
djmm
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Nessum says:
All the best, Violet.
Keep on doing well and hopefully better and better. Have missed and will be looking forward to your sane, wise, knowledgeable take on things. Witty too, not least important. ;-)
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tdraicer says:
Actually I thinki most biographers would agree that if there was one word to explain FDR’s passion for helping people in trouble it would be “Polio.”
