Doomed If you can get past your preconceived notions that Glenn Beck is an idiot, right wing conspiricist. You should watch his show or listen to his radio program. Some of the things he brings out in the open is frightening and of course backed up by evidence. Or at least it appears to be bonafide evidence. Many times it takes the lone voice crying in the wilderness for a long, long time to finally be heard. I have been crying about the Democratic march to Fascism since last summer....I hope people are starting to at least glance in my direction.

Michael van der Galien Doomed: I'm glancing at ya.

Doomed Good to know Michael. Im not a conspiracy theorist. The Acorn thing is not a conspiracy. Its a well oiled machine thats been being put in place since the 70's. Let me repeat. ACORN is not a conspiracy theory. Its a bonafide Legitimate organization thats goal is to socialize America. We need to take notice of its roots and its direction. Because one Barak Obama worked for them, is beholden to them and to understand Acorn you will understand Obama. I repeat....ACORN is NOT a conspiracy theory.

Michael Merritt I GUESS the liberals have got to take their licks for eights years of calling W. a fascist and some of their own actions. But then can we stop this stuff under the next president? Pretty please?

Doomed I dont think that Acorn is a communist organization from what I've read and studied. I think they are very far left and they are actually into socialism that goes a bit beyond Europe. Now socialism is not in and of itself bad other then as a nation America would have to have its very foundations shattered and destroyed and rebuilt in order to become the type of socialistic nation that Acorn I believe pines for. It is because they pine for this type of change that I think the American left and right have drifted so far apart in the last decade. As I mentioned I believe that the left and right of this country have moved so far apart that they have become anathema to one another. Their very principals are becoming diametrically opposed to one another and each wishes for America to move off in another direction. It is this perpetual drift apart that is splintering America and I do not see it getting any better in the months and years ahead. Other people see this too. Thats why it was so easy to elect Barak Obama. Many, many saw his as a way to bring the two sides back closer together and to bring compromise back to the table. Many of us are now sorely disappointed so far but one hope is his 4 years is not over yet.

Michael Merritt

I dont think that Acorn is a communist organization

Unless they're arguing for the dismantling of the state, probably not.

Jeb

I GUESS the liberals have got to take their licks for eights years of calling W. a fascist and some of their own actions.

and yet again those that decried the Bush books are cheering the Obama books and vice versa. Hypocrisy abounds on all sides.

It is because they pine for this type of change that I think the American left and right have drifted so far apart in the last decade.

The differences are only stark on several hot button issues and are certainly no greater than they were 40 years ago. What has changed in the past couple of decades is the news cycle and the relentless harping on the hot button issues online and on cable. Hard partisans now gather there information almost exclusively within their chosen echo chamber (FOX or MSNBC, KOS or Redstate). Misinformation is spread quickly and repeated in countless forums. Even less hard partisans are swayed by these echo chambers.

Jason Arvak

and yet again those that decried the Bush books are cheering the Obama books and vice versa. Hypocrisy abounds on all sides.

Then why is it that we only hear the "all sides" bit when the specific incident of the day is in regards to liberals' hypocrisy? And when conservatives are criticized as hypocrites, the presentation is always thoroughly one-sided, as if conservatives were uniquely and even exclusively guilty of hypocrisy? Personally, I am getting tired of this stupid game. Liberals played the "fascist" card for 8 years solid (actually far, far longer -- I heard it during the Reagan administration) and waving a vague "all sides are guilty" canard now that they have YET AGAIN shamelessly changed their supposedly principled position does not constitute an excuse or even a relevant response. You should concede that liberals' hypocrisy is not acceptable and stop trying to change the subject back to focusing on conservatives, Jeb.

Jeb

Then why is it that we only hear the “all sides” bit when the specific incident of the day is in regards to liberals’ hypocrisy?

Perhaps because that is where you are looking for it.

And when conservatives are criticized as hypocrites, the presentation is always thoroughly one-sided, as if conservatives were uniquely and even exclusively guilty of hypocrisy?

The presentation is generally one sided in any partisan environment (political blogs for instance). Pushing a Malkin book and pushing a Michael Moore production are of the same cloth. If you are about fairness and improving the political dialogue then you praise neither.

You should concede that liberals’ hypocrisy is not acceptable and stop trying to change the subject back to focusing on conservatives, Jeb.

Hypocrisy is a common human failing. It is not limited to one side of the aisle. That said, Malkin further coarsens the debate as do the other shouting heads on both sides. We should not be praising them for further coarsening the debate. The only conclusion one can reliably draw from the success of the Clinton, Bush, and Obama books written by their political rivals is that bitter partisanship thrives. You presumably were critical of the Bush books written by his political rivals. At the least I am guessing you did not defend them. Why the change of course here?

Jason Arvak

The presentation is generally one sided in any partisan environment (political blogs for instance). Pushing a Malkin book and pushing a Michael Moore production are of the same cloth. If you are about fairness and improving the political dialogue then you praise neither... You presumably were critical of the Bush books written by his political rivals. At the least I am guessing you did not defend them. Why the change of course here?

You have yet again failed to notice that the person you are talking to in comments is not the person who wrote the article, Jeb. Given that you have been called on this error several times before, I have to conclude that either you are willfully lumping together everyone on this site or you at least don't feel bothered to be careful in differentiating among them. Accordingly, it seems fair from now on to reciprocate by treating you as undifferentiated from the rest of the liberals in the blogosphere. Since you have so frequently done the same to the writers here, I trust you will have no complaint about that?

Doomed Jeb Wrote: """The differences are only stark on several hot button issues and are certainly no greater than they were 40 years ago.""" Interesting that in 1970 Acorn was founded and has become a dynamic PAC moving deep within the government infrastructure now. Almost 40 years ago and the debates rage on as the two sides are kept stirred up about? Interesting indeed. No?

Jeb

You have yet again failed to notice that the person you are talking to in comments is not the person who wrote the article, Jeb.

You are a managing editor, the author is the proprietor, and you were defending the post, so excuse if I lump you together for this argument. I would be happy to 'unlump' you if you like. Did I misunderstand your comment? Where you not defending MVGD's praise of Malkin's book and his interpretation of the meaning of its popularity?

Jeb @Doomed no

Doomed @Jeb Of Course.

Jay_C Lets focus on finding the truth of the questions that Malkin / Beck are presenting. Not changing the subject, or painting each other into a corner to serve our own political bias, just the truth, what are the factual answers to their questions. We are where we are now, lets deal with it.

Jeb @Jay_C If past is prologue listening to Malkin or Beck is not a valuable use of time. Malkin and Beck deserve just as much time and respect as Michael Moore and Mos Def. If they have legitimate questions then someone sane must be asking them as well. Let's focus on them instead.

Doomed Whole Foods is facing a boycott because its CEO John Mackey wrote an Op-ed in the Wall Street Journal opposing government run health care. Careful what you wish for. Someone with less power might attempt to investigate Obama and Acorn and end up like this poor guy for rocking the left wing boat.