James Walcott interrupts his usual snark today for a thought-provoking piece on the U.S. economy, and the nation’s short-term political direction. (I like the snark, by the way.)
After quoting at length from a Stephen Roach memo to Morgan Stanley investors worrying that the Chinese and Arabs who now hold our notes are getting sick of our attitude, he neatly summarizes the public mood in the person of CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.
Walcott notes that Dobbs probably did more than anyone to turn the Dubai Ports deal around, and then notes some of his other bugbears — immigration, pensions, deficits, the middle class squeeze.
Much of Dobbs’ work in this area is good, but sometimes, as on the issue of China, he goes off into a jingoism "like something out of the National Review circa 1958." (There’s a present in that link.)
Walcott’s larger point is that Americans are not heading left nor
right, but toward a simpler nationalism we practiced before World War
II. Isolationism is too simple a word here. But the desire to both
retreat and scapegoat is real. He concludes:
One of the great paradoxes of our age is how the US can be so dimly
complacent and so sharply fearful in the same breath. We’re in a
constant state of sluggish agitation, worked up into a righteous state
of indifference.
Is this a good thing? It sort of depends on Lou Dobbs. He can continue the Howard Beale
impersonation toward its natural conclusion, or he can start trying to
right the ship, interviewing people with real solutions to propose.
But you know what really scares me?
It’s that Time-Warner might prefer he become Beale. Boost the ratings, you know.
MR DOODS– THE PROBLEM IS THIS– DEMOCRATS– YOU VOTE FOR THEM, THEN THEY DO FOR THE MAJORITY — NOT THE PEOPLE, THE REPUBLICANS DO THE SAME THING– THEY AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PARTRY.. WE — NEED TO DO AWAY WITH TH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES– WILL SAVE MONEY — OVERALL.. VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WILL DO THE JOB BEST…. YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE– OR CHANGE IT TO AN EVEN NUMBER OF PERSONS ELECTED IN EVERY STATE… YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE TAXES ON BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR…. ALSO TAX CIGERATES MORE AND SMOKLESS TOBACCO… ALS THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM—- TAX THE HECK OUT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND ALL ALLIENS,ETC.. ALL AMERICAN ELDERLY— SHOULD HAVE FREE HOSPILIZATION, FREE DRUG (PRX) CARE, THIS IS AMERICA– IHOPE???? PEOPLE THAt apply for citizenship shoul be taxed more– to live in the u.s. …. have a united states lottery– every week— with the funds going where needed— also strictly montired.. lessen the time to receive unemployment… lessen the time for medicare for pregaNT MOTHERS– INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS… QUIT REWARDING MOTHER FOR STAYING PREGANT– THIS IS BULL CRAP– THE WELLFARE NEED TO HAVE SHORTER RESTRICTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS APPLYING– ITS BEING ABUSED… SPECIAL TAXES FOR THE ALLIENNS,, TAX TRUCKERS COMING THROUGH BYOUR STATE.. WELL THATS ENOUGH– IF I COULD RUN THIS I WOULD PUSH FOR… ALSO WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER IN IRAQ, NORTH KOREA, AND VENEZULA, ETC THANK YOU MR. DODDS — DO YOU AGREE WITH ANYTHING.. LYLE C RICHARDSON, 2105 PINECREST AVENUE, HOPE, ARKANSAS– WHITE– MARRIED FOR 35 PLUS YEARS WIUFE AND MYSELF –DISABLED –LES THAN 20,000.00 YEAR..
MR DOODS– THE PROBLEM IS THIS– DEMOCRATS– YOU VOTE FOR THEM, THEN THEY DO FOR THE MAJORITY — NOT THE PEOPLE, THE REPUBLICANS DO THE SAME THING– THEY AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PARTRY.. WE — NEED TO DO AWAY WITH TH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES– WILL SAVE MONEY — OVERALL.. VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WILL DO THE JOB BEST…. YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE– OR CHANGE IT TO AN EVEN NUMBER OF PERSONS ELECTED IN EVERY STATE… YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE TAXES ON BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR…. ALSO TAX CIGERATES MORE AND SMOKLESS TOBACCO… ALS THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM—- TAX THE HECK OUT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND ALL ALLIENS,ETC.. ALL AMERICAN ELDERLY— SHOULD HAVE FREE HOSPILIZATION, FREE DRUG (PRX) CARE, THIS IS AMERICA– IHOPE???? PEOPLE THAt apply for citizenship shoul be taxed more– to live in the u.s. …. have a united states lottery– every week— with the funds going where needed— also strictly montired.. lessen the time to receive unemployment… lessen the time for medicare for pregaNT MOTHERS– INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS… QUIT REWARDING MOTHER FOR STAYING PREGANT– THIS IS BULL CRAP– THE WELLFARE NEED TO HAVE SHORTER RESTRICTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS APPLYING– ITS BEING ABUSED… SPECIAL TAXES FOR THE ALLIENNS,, TAX TRUCKERS COMING THROUGH BYOUR STATE.. WELL THATS ENOUGH– IF I COULD RUN THIS I WOULD PUSH FOR… ALSO WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER IN IRAQ, NORTH KOREA, AND VENEZULA, ETC THANK YOU MR. DODDS — DO YOU AGREE WITH ANYTHING.. LYLE C RICHARDSON, 2105 PINECREST AVENUE, HOPE, ARKANSAS– WHITE– MARRIED FOR 35 PLUS YEARS WIUFE AND MYSELF –DISABLED –LES THAN 20,000.00 YEAR..
MR DOODS– THE PROBLEM IS THIS– DEMOCRATS– YOU VOTE FOR THEM, THEN THEY DO FOR THE MAJORITY — NOT THE PEOPLE, THE REPUBLICANS DO THE SAME THING– THEY AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PARTRY.. WE — NEED TO DO AWAY WITH TH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES– WILL SAVE MONEY — OVERALL.. VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WILL DO THE JOB BEST…. YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE– OR CHANGE IT TO AN EVEN NUMBER OF PERSONS ELECTED IN EVERY STATE… YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE TAXES ON BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR…. ALSO TAX CIGERATES MORE AND SMOKLESS TOBACCO… ALS THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM—- TAX THE HECK OUT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND ALL ALLIENS,ETC.. ALL AMERICAN ELDERLY— SHOULD HAVE FREE HOSPILIZATION, FREE DRUG (PRX) CARE, THIS IS AMERICA– IHOPE???? PEOPLE THAt apply for citizenship shoul be taxed more– to live in the u.s. …. have a united states lottery– every week— with the funds going where needed— also strictly montired.. lessen the time to receive unemployment… lessen the time for medicare for pregaNT MOTHERS– INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS… QUIT REWARDING MOTHER FOR STAYING PREGANT– THIS IS BULL CRAP– THE WELLFARE NEED TO HAVE SHORTER RESTRICTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS APPLYING– ITS BEING ABUSED… SPECIAL TAXES FOR THE ALLIENNS,, TAX TRUCKERS COMING THROUGH BYOUR STATE.. WELL THATS ENOUGH– IF I COULD RUN THIS I WOULD PUSH FOR… ALSO WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER IN IRAQ, NORTH KOREA, AND VENEZULA, ETC THANK YOU MR. DODDS — DO YOU AGREE WITH ANYTHING.. LYLE C RICHARDSON, 2105 PINECREST AVENUE, HOPE, ARKANSAS– WHITE– MARRIED FOR 35 PLUS YEARS WIUFE AND MYSELF –DISABLED –LES THAN 20,000.00 YEAR..
MR DOODS– THE PROBLEM IS THIS– DEMOCRATS– YOU VOTE FOR THEM, THEN THEY DO FOR THE MAJORITY — NOT THE PEOPLE, THE REPUBLICANS DO THE SAME THING– THEY AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PARTRY.. WE — NEED TO DO AWAY WITH TH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES– WILL SAVE MONEY — OVERALL.. VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO YOU THINK WILL DO THE JOB BEST…. YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE– OR CHANGE IT TO AN EVEN NUMBER OF PERSONS ELECTED IN EVERY STATE… YOU HAVE TO PUT MORE TAXES ON BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR…. ALSO TAX CIGERATES MORE AND SMOKLESS TOBACCO… ALS THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM—- TAX THE HECK OUT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND ALL ALLIENS,ETC.. ALL AMERICAN ELDERLY— SHOULD HAVE FREE HOSPILIZATION, FREE DRUG (PRX) CARE, THIS IS AMERICA– IHOPE???? PEOPLE THAt apply for citizenship shoul be taxed more– to live in the u.s. …. have a united states lottery– every week— with the funds going where needed— also strictly montired.. lessen the time to receive unemployment… lessen the time for medicare for pregaNT MOTHERS– INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS… QUIT REWARDING MOTHER FOR STAYING PREGANT– THIS IS BULL CRAP– THE WELLFARE NEED TO HAVE SHORTER RESTRICTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS APPLYING– ITS BEING ABUSED… SPECIAL TAXES FOR THE ALLIENNS,, TAX TRUCKERS COMING THROUGH BYOUR STATE.. WELL THATS ENOUGH– IF I COULD RUN THIS I WOULD PUSH FOR… ALSO WE HAVE TO BE TOUGHER IN IRAQ, NORTH KOREA, AND VENEZULA, ETC THANK YOU MR. DODDS — DO YOU AGREE WITH ANYTHING.. LYLE C RICHARDSON, 2105 PINECREST AVENUE, HOPE, ARKANSAS– WHITE– MARRIED FOR 35 PLUS YEARS WIUFE AND MYSELF –DISABLED –LES THAN 20,000.00 YEAR..