Sober Sunday: Why Iggy is Doomed
It has been torturous watching Michael Ignatieff try to defend intellectual freedom. It's like watching someone screaming Japanese at a room full of Greeks. The reason he can never be leader of the Liberal party is that, by his nature, he must defend the right to think and express critically considered ideas. To the detriment of democratic expression, that is no longer a priviledge that politicians enjoy. The constraints involved in neatly packaging ideas for the mass mainstream media and the dominance of communications theory in the political and bureaucratic realms have destroyed a politician's freedom to express critical, complex thoughts. Being smarter than the rest of society is no longer something to be respected, but presents a critical flaw. Lofty essays are ignored by the public, unless their contents can be expressed in a single sentence or economic equation.
In short, Iggy is a square apple in a box full of round oranges. No one likes a smarty pants.
In short, Iggy is a square apple in a box full of round oranges. No one likes a smarty pants.
posted by K-Dough at 9:29 AM
24 Comments:
K-Dough,
that post was too long. can you sum it up for me?
(smart post, btw).
Strange that you use the issue of intellectual freedom as evidence for Ignatieff's failings. If, as you say, we are in the era of tight soundbites and simplicity, does it not follow that "intellectual freedom" discussions will not be part of the political lexicon? There won't be a torturous explanation, because no wants to debate complex ideas right?
I don't see why Ignatieff is handicapped because of his ideas, so long as his handlers can craft them in a clear, coherent way.
Steve- I just inserted a link to today's Star in the post re: what I was talking about. Check it out and get back to me on that point. I may be wrong here, but it strikes me as an odd propsosition to say a guy like him will listen to his handlers. This "Special to the Star" op-ed attempt at clarifyng his perspective on torture certainly wasn't suggested by a politically adept "handler".
arghhhh- blogger is being temperamental right now:
here is the link:
Ignatieff Op-Ed
k-dough
Thanks for the link. I guess my point is we are witnessing a "dumbing down" of message, Ignatieff's comments are irrelevant because no one is paying attention anyways. Ignatieff has articulated this theme: "I am not running against fellow Liberals, but against the Conservatives agenda". That is a good soundbite, which I have heard him use twice now. The challenge for intellectuals like Ignatieff is if they can breakdown complicated issues into general themes. I don't see him as unique in this regard, all campaigns need to make the arguments concise. In a leadership campaign, there is more room for long arguments because the people engaged are generally political geeks like you and I.
Steve, I'm not so sure.
WK had a nice smear job about Ignatieff's writings on torture over on his blog. For every "ideas" person in the party there are five fundraisers, handshakers and carpetbaggers.
Candidates like Ignatieff and Rae are going to have as much difficulty getting their thoughts out in the party as they are in the public.
Having been to Liberal conventions, filled with 20-somethings puking up rum and coke on the Centre block marble, it's hard for me to think that we'll suddenly see brandy snifters and guys looking to the writings of John Rawls and Isiaih Berlin for guidance at LPC leadership policy meetings.
K Dough's ironic post captures this problem very nicely. I also think it's why a guy like Kennedy will probably take the brass ring, because we all think he's smart, but unlike Ingatieff and Rae, we don't know it!
"Having been to Liberal conventions, filled with 20-somethings puking up rum and coke on the Centre block marble"
Ah, democracy!
Steve- gotcha. The thing is delegates to the leadership convention will also be looking for the shiniest objects with the most trite, simplistic messaging. Don't get me wrong here, I would love for someone with substantive depth to win this thing. I'm just not betting on it. I mean how the fuck did a guy like Martin ever become PM?
Just Society: True enough about Kennedy! Re: "WK had a nice smear job..." So what else is new. If the guy added a little fucking humour to his posts I might start to read him again. Remember, a punk without humour is like a squirt gun that squirts jelly, or a train with square wheels: a misfit toy.
Just Society: Gerard will win, but because he's hot.
K-dough, "Remember, a punk without humour is like a squirt gun that squirts jelly, or a train with square wheels: a misfit toy." Or a Leafs fan?
homo- you horny lil hab groupie!
Hey... congrats on K-Dough's blog being mentioned in the Citizen for its involvement in the MacIsaac story...
www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=b8955777-8808-4848-87b1-23bbc8865c2b
Yup, it's true. You've officially made the Petfinder, A2.
I bet this means u no hew will bee bakc.
K-Dough,
What's Iggy's position on hockey, booze and pussy. He hasn't articulated on anything that interests the common man so I'm of the opinion that eggheads don't like pucks, fucks or pissups. So, what normal Canadian would want someone like that for a leader? Now if I could imagine Iggy on skates, smelling of booze and cunt, I just might vote for him, but my imagination ain't that strong!
Sheena- thnx for the heads up on the article. The reporter tried to contact me yesterday but I didn't get the msg till today. I guess he couldn't wait for my reply before he ran with it.
Oh well, whacha gonna do?
Squid- the tapestry of darkness that you weave with obscenity never fails to disturb (and eerily delight) me.
Disturbing Thought #2:
Can you imagine MacIsaac and Ignatieff debating? Jesus christ.
K-Dough,
Watching Iggy and Craig Oliver go at it on Question Period today was bad enough, but Iggy and the Cape Breton Island Tooth Fairy???
Jesus Christ man, take it easy on an old man's heart, will ya?
Imagine:
Mac: Iggy, what's your position on fudge?
Iggy: The descending colon has an important function, which, if properly imbubed with Liberal philosophy, will junctionalize itself beyond friction, which will in turn, destablize the running of the Kentucky Derby beyond imagination!
Mac: Right on,dude!
Iggy: Vote for me on the second ballot?
Mac: Right on,dude! Fudge?
Oy vey- Squid- if that is your bait, I can't imagine the switch.
K-Dough,
If the Ottawa Citizen reads K-Dough, then the Ottawa Citizen reads Old Squid.
Time to start wearing a suicide belt!
:)
K-Dough,
A definition of an honest politican:
"One who, once bought, stays bought".
With that definition in mind, lets hear from your readers how it could apply to Brison, Belinda, and Emmerson.
Please be kind Squidly.
I have experience this "smarypants" rule first hand.
Good grammar is also a handicap and so I aspire to less.
Indie- well, you're battin' 1,000 in my books!
Cheers.
I agree that the evolving system of soundbytes is reducing the message and dumbing down the platform of any leader/party. It's reducing a candidate more to the people they have in their corner (e.g., the Guy Giorno & Mike Harris sound byte system).
The leader is now, essentially, the mouthpiece. Iggy is being almost criticized for having a brain and speaking with intelligence.
Perhaps if the public (& media) had an attention span longer than 20 seconds, then voters might be able to attain more of a grasp of the associated platforms and stances of their respective candidates.
Btw, bon voyage Homo - bring back Scotch (the drink, not the men).
This is very interesting site... 1974 19751976 chevrolet pickups Gas cooking and heating stoves handjob cumshot images free 15 flat monitor screen 1990 mazda miata parts Add logical patition external harddrive on notebook Cellulite massager ice machine cuttr wire Greenway ice machines + where to buy
Post a Comment
<< Home