Hypocrisy
When Maureen Dowd wants to put the knife in, she usually conjures up a member of her family to do the job for her. On Saturday, she deployed her sister Peggy – a Republican who, she says, voted for Barack Obama in November, 2008 -- for this purpose.
Peggy now has regrets, and at the heart of her objections is a single observation about our current President: “He does what he wants but then he tells us to do other things.”
When I read these words – which are, indeed, apt – I could not help but think of the contrast between what Al Gore preaches and the way he lives. I could not help but think of the contrast between what John Kerry preaches and the way he lives.
The hypocrisy identified by the dowdy one’s sister is a species of hypocrisy typical of the most prominent members of a certain political party and of the class most devoted to its dominion. It is helpful to remember that, in Greek, the word hupokrites means actor.
- Comment (22)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Nice.
Steyn had a great line two weeks ago while subbing for Rush: "Environmentalism has become a racket to restore the divine right of kings."
Edited on Sep 13, 2010 at 7:43amJul '10
Re: Hypocrisy
The Soviet apparatchiks all had gorgeous apartments and lavish villas. They consumed Western luxury goods while the proletariat subsisted on buckwheat. They could travel abroad while their citizens couldn't even travel from one city to another.
Brezhnev had a collection of exotic cars that rivals Jay Leno's
It is always and everywhere the same.
Aug '10
Re: Hypocrisy
"Hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue." - Matthew Arnold
They are damned because their behavior proves they know the difference between right and wrong, and are willing to live with the massive lie that they're virtuous. It's rather like taking pride in one's cancer. I don't recall any time in my life when so many of these bad actors went unnoticed.
An extremely politically distorted atmosphere prevails, and causes blindness, I suspect. The press in former days would have made most of it painfully public, don't you think? Or am I indulging in false memory?
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
I'm glad to see you're a regular contributor now.
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Is this officially true? If so, fantastic.
Aug '10
Re: Hypocrisy
When I was in Quito, Ecuador a few years ago on a mission trip, I was shown a statue of one of their past-presidents. I don't recall his name but his claim to fame was that he was the only one who was poorer after leaving office than he was on entering office. He didn't grow wealthy at the public teat. When I look at the jack-legs who are in office right now, I see them almost all growing fat at the public trough and that is the height of hypocrisy: to aggrandize ones self whilst "serving" the public good. It disgusts me and the right is just as guilty as the left!
Jun '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Imagine if Hypocrisy were a disease akin to herpes and a hypocrite couldn't get a date for love nor money. Would this be a great world, or what? Bring back the scarlet 'H' I say.
Jul '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Scott Reusser
Is this officially true? If so, fantastic. · Sep 13 at 8:16am
Agreed, wonderful choice for a new full-time contributor. Welcome aboard, Dr. Rahe!
Aug '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Scott Reusser
Is this officially true? If so, fantastic. · Sep 13 at 8:16am
Yep. Official. Check out his mug-shot on the Contributors' Page.
Welcome, Dr Rahe!
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Speaking of contributors, I don't recall Melanie Graham ever starting a thread.
Is it that Kenneth has left no room for further snarkiness? Or is Ricochet prejudiced against Crimson Tide fans?
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
I honestly don't see the disconnect between the advice and behavior of Obama and Gore as "hypocrisy" as such. As you mention the word means actor, and I don't think that's entirely apt. They are being more honest about themselves than we realize.
Rather, these fellows are telling us, the ordinary folks, what they in their brilliance know we should be doing. They feel entitled to do otherwise themselves because they are very different from us, exceptional people who are not bound to the usual rules. They don't feel compelled to follow the instructions given to us because they are not one of us.
This is not hypocrisy but rather massive egotism. Of course it's pure crap too, but let's get our diagnosis right. Like many on the left, they are more deluded than false.
Jun '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Aaron Miller: Speaking of contributors, I don't recall Melanie Graham ever starting a thread.
Is it that Kenneth has left no room for further snarkiness? Or is Ricochet prejudiced against Crimson Tide fans? · Sep 13 at 9:58am
Well, I'm prejudiced against Bama fans. War Eagle!
(That said, Alabama looks primed for another run at the title, which annoys me to no end).
Jun '10
Re: Hypocrisy
And therein lies the key to the erosion of their influence. The more transparent they become about their class-based, egotist worldview, the more people will see them for what they are. Whenever the left goes on like this, more and more people are offering a collective eye roll and dismissing their arguments and their hyperbole. The negative, of course, is that someday the proverbial wolf may really attack, and no one will be listening.
Edited on Sep 13, 2010 at 10:16amRe: Hypocrisy
Aaron Miller: Speaking of contributors, I don't recall Melanie Graham ever starting a thread.
Is it that Kenneth has left no room for further snarkiness? Or is Ricochet prejudiced against Crimson Tide fans? · Sep 13 at 9:58am
Well, Kenneth does deliver his fair share. But my guess is that Melanie is a chimer-in-er.
Jul '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Rob Long
Aaron Miller: Speaking of contributors, I don't recall Melanie Graham ever starting a thread.
Is it that Kenneth has left no room for further snarkiness? Or is Ricochet prejudiced against Crimson Tide fans? · Sep 13 at 9:58am
Well, Kenneth does deliver his fair share. But my guess is that Melanie is a chimer-in-er. · Sep 13 at 10:42am
Gentlemen, you wound me.
I'd have thought the terms "piquant" or "puckish" would be more applicable.
Oh, woe!
I will not gladly suffer such calumny from my own ideological brethren.
Not so long as I still have in my hands my unpublished manuscript, "Rob Long: the Wonderland Ranch Years."
Sep '10
Re: Hypocrisy
I read Maureen Dowd's article, "When Peggy Left Barry."
Frankly, it doesn't sound like Peggy Dowd was ever a real Republican, in any meaningful sense of the word. So she was a poor choice as cat's-paw.
And the article contains a line that defies all logic and common sense:
"And [Peggy] lights up at the mention of ... vice president Joe Biden."
Really??? Well, so much for Peggy Dowd's good judgement.
Seriously, I almost herniated myself laughing...
Edited on Sep 13, 2010 at 12:44pmAug '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Kenneth
I'd have thought the terms "piquant" or "puckish" would be more applicable.
Oh, woe!
Erm... Too easy to get images of Kenneth spread over a hot dog, or prancing about on goaty legs, with horns and little cloven hooves...
Oh, woe!
Are you sure "piquant" and "puckish" are the words you're after, Kenneth?
Maybe "snarkiness" isn't so bad after all.
Edited on Sep 13, 2010 at 3:42pmJul '10
Re: Hypocrisy
While reading Soft Despotism last night I came upon an idea that seemed to take hold. You were discussing the "French Disease". My understanding may not be correct, but what I got was that the left, like the French, abandoned religion and with it any moral structure. It is that moral structure which holds Democracy together. It is the ultimate glue, integrity, that keeps the demagogues from grabbing power and destroying the system.
Though, I am by no mean religious, I was raised in the Church and it has influenced my choices throughout my life. What I have kept is the ethical standards, the concept that we must act as though we are answerable for our choices. I think that the elite of this country, the Gores, the Clintons, the Soroses, to Obamas and the rest have not only left the The Church, they have freed themselves from the restraints that religions place on their adherents. For these people there is no absolute right or wrong. It is all situational. A Democracy such as ours can not survive and will trace the course of the French if we allow them to remain in power.
May '10
Re: Hypocrisy
How ironic! I once received a reprimand (albeit deserved) for my own snark from the puckish, piquant man in black. I guess he's just really protective of his role. Probably a really insecure guy, deep down. Sad.
Jul '10
Re: Hypocrisy
Scott Reusser
How ironic! I once received a reprimand (albeit deserved) for my own snark from the puckish, piquant man in black. I guess he's just really protective of his role. Probably a really insecure guy, deep down. Sad. · Sep 13 at 6:59pm
Ah, you've pierced my veil and discovered my sensitive side.
But we must define "snarky". To me it means a sarcastic attack upon another Member. (Contributors do not count - they get the big bucks and as elites, deserve whatever one dishes out).
Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen a single instance of real snark on Ricochet. Your comment that time came close, but it lacked the blunt-instrument quality and came from a well-meaning impulse.
I knew instantly, looking at that pastel avatar with those lovely children that you hadn't a mean bone in your body.