by Thomas Neuburger at Naked Capitalism
Yves here. It is remarkable to see the Democrats, in less than a generation, become close-minded, authoritarian bullies. Taibbi makes clear that he’s not only gained political enemies by not toeing the Democrats’ tribal lines, but also lost friends. But in America, what passes for friendship is often shallow.
By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at God’s Spies
Matt Taibbi testifies before Congress, March 9, 2023.
Estragon: Nothing to be done.
Vladimir: I’m beginning to come round to that opinion.
This may appear to be a piece about Matt Taibbi. It’s really a piece about why the Democratic Party has such a hard time winning against competition as palpably soft as modern Republicans.
Matt Taibbi often takes time on Twitter to answer honest questions from regular people, normal voters and citizens, unlike many journo-celebs who only talk to each other. Sometimes (actually often), other regular people comment on the exchange.
In that light, consider this exchange:
Are you still a Democrat?
— shyyguy (@shyyguy52) March 28, 2023
I’m an Independent now. https://t.co/BtvqYwLVXf
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) March 28, 2023
Which means Republican
— LeonRunciter (@LRunciter) March 28, 2023
No, it doesn’t. But talk like this is a big part of why I left the Democratic Party. It’s always “Vote for us or you’re a right-wing insurrectionist Putin-lover,” which is the opposite of persuasive.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) March 28, 2023
Nice soft close: “which is the opposite of persuasive.” Stylistically very Taibbi. But let’s look at this a bit more closely.
‘Character Assassination’
The self-styled left (and some of the actual left) is so closed off to Taibbi at this point that he’s fair game for any sort of attack. “Which means Republican,” as in the tweet above, is actually mild.
As Ross Barkin put it in a 2021 New York Magazine profile: “Few journalists, in polarized 2021, divide the New York-D.C. nexus more. Taibbi is viewed in more liberal quarters with increasing suspicion bordering on outright disdain, a remarkable development for a magazine star once considered Rolling Stone’s successor to Hunter S. Thompson.”
“Outright disdain” indeed. “Brutal” is more accurate.
In an entirely gratuitous and dishonest insult,…
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