For a long time, I've been thinking about what I like to call the Lindbergh voters -- the 20% or so of the American electorate in interior parts of the US, for the most part (although the largest numerical concentration may be in southern California), who think in terms of Lochner-era jurisprudence, hard currency, and America First foreign policy. World War II forced the Lindbergh voters into the background, although they are clearly evident in the McCarthy era. Reagan clearly appealed to them, although the Cold War muddied the waters; the Lindbergh voters were staunchly anti-Communist but were always uncomfortable with entangling alliances, etc. The end of the Cold War . . .
Antisemitism is a marker for the Lindbergh voter, most of whom are Protestant and, traditionally, lived in areas where there were few Jews. It's a marker because Lindbergh voters need a way to 'explain' why the world rejects their small-town vision, and conspiracy theories, including Antisemitic ones, have always filled that 'explanatory gap.' (Really since the Populist era.) I like the comparison of Antisemitism to pornography -- the most salacious form of something that starts with "New York banks" and ends with the Rothschilds . . .
The Lindbergh voters, who pre-date Lindbergh, aren't going anywhere. The problem for US politics is that in a 50-50 electorate, they have become effectively half of one of the two major political parties (half of a half). During the years of Democratic majorities, they were kind of an afterthought. During the Reagan years, when the Republican coalition was at its peak, they were a minority in that coalition and their concerns were suppressed by the Cold War (and economic growth). The GWB years, though, ran that coalition into the ground with the Iraq fiasco and the financial meltdown. Within the remnant, the Republican "rump" coalition, they are wrecking havoc.
Just like pornography, there will always be Lindbergh voters (and Antisemitism, alas). But it's the political situation that makes them particularly dangerous.
Endlessly fascinating that "christian" antisemites seem to be unaware that Jesus of Nazareth born, lived and died a Jew, making antisemitism the vilest form of anti christianity imaginable.
Young Elon Musk: "I want to become a titan of the auto industry. I want to be a new Henry Ford!"
Old Elon Musk: "Welp, if I can't make good cars, I can at least be an antisemite!"
For a long time, I've been thinking about what I like to call the Lindbergh voters -- the 20% or so of the American electorate in interior parts of the US, for the most part (although the largest numerical concentration may be in southern California), who think in terms of Lochner-era jurisprudence, hard currency, and America First foreign policy. World War II forced the Lindbergh voters into the background, although they are clearly evident in the McCarthy era. Reagan clearly appealed to them, although the Cold War muddied the waters; the Lindbergh voters were staunchly anti-Communist but were always uncomfortable with entangling alliances, etc. The end of the Cold War . . .
Antisemitism is a marker for the Lindbergh voter, most of whom are Protestant and, traditionally, lived in areas where there were few Jews. It's a marker because Lindbergh voters need a way to 'explain' why the world rejects their small-town vision, and conspiracy theories, including Antisemitic ones, have always filled that 'explanatory gap.' (Really since the Populist era.) I like the comparison of Antisemitism to pornography -- the most salacious form of something that starts with "New York banks" and ends with the Rothschilds . . .
The Lindbergh voters, who pre-date Lindbergh, aren't going anywhere. The problem for US politics is that in a 50-50 electorate, they have become effectively half of one of the two major political parties (half of a half). During the years of Democratic majorities, they were kind of an afterthought. During the Reagan years, when the Republican coalition was at its peak, they were a minority in that coalition and their concerns were suppressed by the Cold War (and economic growth). The GWB years, though, ran that coalition into the ground with the Iraq fiasco and the financial meltdown. Within the remnant, the Republican "rump" coalition, they are wrecking havoc.
Just like pornography, there will always be Lindbergh voters (and Antisemitism, alas). But it's the political situation that makes them particularly dangerous.
Endlessly fascinating that "christian" antisemites seem to be unaware that Jesus of Nazareth born, lived and died a Jew, making antisemitism the vilest form of anti christianity imaginable.