that even David Brooks of the NY Times gets it!
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Fair usage of a much longer opinion piece by David Brooks, normally a squish liberal, who deconstructs identity politics (and thus DEI and critical race theory) in the New York Times (of all places)!
Why we got it so wrong
A certain worldview that emphasizes racial, gender and ethnic identity has been prevalent in the circles where highly educated people congregate. [Say it, David! In the faculty lounge and in the NY Times newsroom] … In this model, people are seen as members of a group before they are seen as individuals. …
When Biden picked his running mate in 2020, he had promised to pick a [black] woman, and when he picked his Supreme Court nominee in 2022, he had promised to pick a black woman. In both cases her identity grouping came before individual qualities. … this mind-set has just crashed against the rocks of reality. … people are exhausted by the crude generalizations that are so common today.
David Brooks resumes:
For example, analysts talk about gender wars and hypermasculine Trump supporters. But in most elections, as in this one, there’s not a vast difference between how men and women vote. … [Analysts] are so imprisoned by their mental models, they can interpret these results only in identity politics terms: Harris lost because America is racist (even though she did virtually the same as Biden did among white voters). Harris lost because America is sexist (even though she underperformed among women). …
If the election didn’t come out the way we wanted, it must be because of their groups’ bigotry against our groups. — David Brooks, NY Times
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Please get this to Paul Fanlund and Dave Zweifel and staple to bulletin boards at the coffee house and teachers lounge nearest you.
31 responses to “We’re so tired of identity politics”
I like the photo of Madeline Kahn as The Teutonic Titwillow in Mel Brooks’ brilliant movie, Blazing Saddles! I think we all could use some post-election rest and relaxation.
Which politico will be the last to play identity politics? It will never end. Humans are too tribal.
terrible movie!!
Why was it so terrible, Steve? Did the movie offend you in some way? Look on it as satire on western-style movies. You probably prefer some other genre. No big deal.
From the incomparable Jonah Goldberg,
“Or look at it this way. Lots of liberals are telling themselves that Harris lost because she’s a black woman. There may be some truth to this at the margins, but we can’t rerun the experiment with a white male liberal candidate. Moreover, sometimes voters do things for subconscious reasons. The taller candidate usually wins, but very few voters consciously make their decision based on height.
Regardless, it’s not true that everyone who voted against Harris (or Hillary Clinton in 2016) did so for sexist reasons. Just because you think that her race or gender was a compelling reason to vote for her doesn’t mean that everyone who voted against her did so for the opposite reason. If Nikki Haley had run this year, most Democrats would have voted against her and most Republicans would have voted for her. That wouldn’t have suddenly meant that the Democrats were sexist or bigoted against Indian-Americans. Monocausal thinking makes idiots of geniuses and morons alike. “
He compares well to other propagandists repeating lies about Trump:
https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1852448408679666088
I agree with Blaska on this. BUT, he also said, “In this model, people are seen as members of a group before they are seen as individuals”…AFTER he labeled academics as all progressive and of the same mind-set. In other words, he sees THAT group not as individuals but as progressive idiots. Being a former academic and conservative, who knew quite a few colleagues of like mind, I object!
We can only wish that someday, individuals like yourself and colleagues can resurface and balance Madcity. I’m sure I’ll be long gone by then.
Statistically, academics ARE of the same mindset. Numerous empirical studies have proved. Find the conservative in the sociology department — or the school of education at UW-Madison.
Despicable Lefty generally, and their Sacred Cow (Identity Politics) specifically, were spectacularly -n- humiliatingly repudiated, in no uncertain terms, by Vox Populi.
Think they’ll learn anything from it?
Neither does The Gotch; they’re too busy pointing fingers and screaming RAYcism/SEXism from a secular On High.
It gets worse…or better if you’re a Righty.
After p!$$!ng away Well_Over_A_Billion in but a few short months, the Kacklin’ Kamala campaign’s still >$20 million in the hole.
And worse (or better) yet.
The Kackler’s campaign paid virulent RAYcists Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton obscene amounts ($1 million/half a million, respectively) for comically fawning interviews
Funniest thing, the NYT, et al, doesn’t deem that monumental breach of journalistic standards/ethics as NEWS_THAT’S_FIT_TO_PRINT.
Them still wondering why they got embarrassingly shellacked? Priceless!
The Gotch
Dear President Trump, convene a constitutional congress to make an amendment providing term limits to congress. Debate the limits then get an up and down vote.
Drain that swamp too.
To how many terms would you limit Ron Johnson? He’s on this third.
Three terms max? Two? Let them thrash it out.
Dementia Don’s campaign rarely pays anyone. El Paso would still like their money. What you wrote about Oprah and Al is false. Your guy won; good for you. That’s our system. Now we get a guy with worms in his brain, a part-time news guy who got his job after knocking up a Faux News exec., and a drug addict who loves to screw minors. And more to come. Congrats.
Only generational half-wits ignore facts; to wit:
FACT: Kacklin’ Kamala Campaign Pays Sharpton $500K
FACT: Chicago Tribune Criticizes Kacklin’ Kamala Campaign For Paying Massive Sums To Oprah And Other Celebs
Hmm; wonder what the Trib’s saying about the pitiably pathetic midgets of the midway, today…?
The Gotch
Wokerati scams die hard, when they do, despite their initial popularity, no one wants to be caught near the rotting corpse.
Lefty Considers Rebrand After Trump Win: Want To Avoid Freak Show Party Label
How’s that working?
Not too well; to wit:
Centrist dems: “Identity Politics” is “ABSOLUTELY KILLING US“
Money Quote: “Democrats spend way too much time TRYING NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face […] I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS, I DON’T WANT THEM GETTING RUN OVER ON A PLAYING FIELD BY A MALE OR FORMERLY MALE ATHLETE, BUT AS A democrat I’M SUPPOSED TO BE AFRAID TO SAY THAT.” HoR Seth Moulton (D-MA) (bolds/caps/italics mine)
The reward for “brutal honesty“?
Echoing nearly all despicable Lefties, Salem city Councilor Kyle Davis: “I’m not looking for an apology from [Moulton], I’m looking for a resignation.”
The Gotch
Perhaps the Dems lost because the prog elements in the party refused to support a VP candidate who was marketed as a gun totin’ service member who never had girls trying to pass themselves off as boys on the teams he coached. BTW, according to trade journals, the most popular costume this Halloween was Elmer Fudd (repurposed as Walz).
“the most popular costume this Halloween was Elmer Fudd (repurposed as Walz).”
Thanks for the update, brynstane; The Gotch thought it was the comically inept Bi-Polar bares masquerading as an NFL team.
One more thing:
After Further Review, The bares STILL SUCK!
The Gotch
Breaking: Badgers Fire Phil Longo
The Gotch
no one cares and off topic
I hope they don’t get a bowl game. Something to stick in their craw in the offseason.
Hey didn’t the Packers win a nail biter? I forget who they played.
“I hope they don’t get a bowl game. Something to stick in their craw in the offseason.”
Jeepers, OE, a little harsh, don’t you think? The Gotch bleeds Badger Red (Cardinal, for those scoring at home), and no LUV for the players?
“Hey didn’t the Packers win a nail biter? I forget who they played.”
Heh! The 13 Time World Champion Green Bay Packers held a Block Party @Soldier Field against the monumentally pathetic, 5 Alarm Dumpster Fire Bi-Polar bares.
You want some real laughs? Tune into Pardon The Interruption (ESPN/04:30 p.m.) and listen to Chicago native/Northwestern alum Michael Wilbon eviscerate the laughably inept midgets of the midway.
The Gotch
Harsh? Maybe. I think a win/loss record (much like elections) should have consequences and the Oprah style “You get a bowl game!” blunts those consequences.
Yep; the pathetic pack won by one point only because a lineman got a finger on the ball. MASSIVE WIN. BEAT YOUR CHEST. WE ARE THE GREATEST.
Oh My Goodness…WHAT A FINISH!
The Gotch
Timur Kuran on X:
“The shift in political winds is sending shock waves through all woke-dominated sectors. Pronoun use had served mainly to signal wokeness. Now that being woke has turned into a political handicap, a pronoun shedding cascade is gathering steam.”
“ ‘The shift in political winds is sending shock waves through all woke-dominated sectors.‘ ”
Ever wonder how many talentless Indoctricated intellectual strays are currently matriculating through Didn’t Earn It programs after being led to believe there’d be beau coup Didn’t Earn It positions AND Student Loan Forgiveness awaiting the completion of a grade-inflated/diploma factory issued degree?
The Grievance Gravy Train is coming to a screeching halt, ergo, they best burnish their what size fries with that abilities…
The Gotch
only a generational half-wit would believe the GRIEVANCE GRAVY TRAIN has stopped. Just look at Dementia Don’s recess appts without vetting. Starting in Jan if you fools still want to watch faux news you will have to tune in to the WH daily press briefings. DEI// It now means Drop Down and Eat. Do that and DD gives you a job.
NYC democrat Congressmen Blast Party For IDENTITY POLITICS
“Never Interrupt Your Enemy When He Is Making A Mistake” N. Bonaparte
Lefty-on-Lefty Porn/Circular Firing Squad/Mass Seppuku…it’s almost too much to take.
Almost.
The Gotch
Now shall we talk about the “identity politics” on the right? Did that part-time news caster-full time womanizer earn his appointment? What qualifies Mr. Wormbrain for his job? Tulsi the commie? Musk? It looks like all you need to do is kiss Dementia Don’s fat a$$ to get hooked up. This is the gop version of woke; nothing more. He wants “recess appointments” which is nothing more than an attempt to skirt the law and the spinless republicans are going along with it just to keep rump from trashing them of faux news. Deportation will be a sh$$show. Bring in the military=sh$$show. Tariffs=sh$$show. The republicans are now in charge of everything=shitshow. Try bringing in prayer and the bible into Madison schools and see what happens. You can’t even keep kids from bringing in guns how are you going to make them pray? If you think for one minute that you are going to get Jewish and Muslim kids to pray to your Christian god you are out of your mind and you better be ready for a fight. If you guys think all this trump “day one” crap is going to really happen you’re nuts. Dimwit Don is in it for the pardons, having court cases dismissed and playing golf. Identify with that.
Yeah. President Trump’s appointments will only seem bad because we’ve been so spoiled by the competence of their presecessors.
predecessors