As IF Times

link Why is Karl Rove taking shots at Sarah Palin and Christine ODonnell? – CSMonitor.com.

The same kind of affliction that savages the left also exists on the right.  That is to say, neither side are completely monolithic in their worldviews and certainly strong personalities within the groups will differ on specific philosophies.  While the left claim to represent the common working man, the truth is, the dominant figures are unabashedly elitist and have as much to do with the common man as sweet breads have to dough. 

When you have uber rich people like Nancy Pelosi, James Cameron, Warren Buffet, Al Gore and George Soros telling people how to best conduct themselves, it’s a head scratcher as to why people who are actually working class,  would identify with them.   As if Warren can identify with paying a mortgage or feeding the kids.  As if Al burns fluorescent bulbs in his villas.

While they claim the high roads of compassion and tolerance, their most vocal proponents in the media have never travelled them.  Many couldn’t find those roads with a box of GPS’s and a guide dog.  It’s great TV to watch the insane outbursts of a Joy Behar or a  Bill Maher or the more subtle guffaws offered by nonsensical people like George Stephanopolous or Katie Couric. 

But no doubt, many saner residents of the left cringe when someone who claims to represent them spouts off with some irrational outburst; Keith Obermann comes to mind.  As well, the antics of the Black Panthers and SEIU are sure to send lefties scurrying to hiding their membership cards.

On the other side of the political fence, conservatives no doubt grimace every time Meghan Mccain, with her valley girl lilt,  deigns to speak for the right.  At the moment, there is an obvious rift between the ‘established’ right, represented by Karl Rove and the ‘new right’, represented of course by Sarah Palin.  Conservatives like Rove have to be careful because much of the elitist accusations that have been thrust at Democrats apply to the GOP as well.  I wonder how Karl felt about Ronald Reagan in his time.

Rove, while certainly a political genius, has spent all of his life in this space.  The disdain he shows for upstarts such as Palin and Christine O’Donnell smacks strongly of  elitism.  Like the other side, he is in danger of proposing that politics become a club for professionals only and that common people need not apply. 

This kind of mentality is what led to the decimation of the Republican party and which perception lingers in the minds of voters despite the reality.  Not everyone can be a professional BS’er.  Occasionally people with real lives are valid candidates.  The last thing we need are two elitist parties.

link Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Exclusive: James Cameron Talks Tough, Runs From Fight, Lets Flunkie Take Blame.

There is very little for me to add to this internet article.  Suffice to say, this showcases the intelligence of those arguing the charade of global warming. 

It’s one thing to pontificate in front of  adoring fans and acolytes about a position, but it’s entirely different when you are up against informed opponents in real time debate.  Having people cheer your pronouncements does not legitimize the opinion, it only means they’re all drinking the same thing.  As an example, at any bar in Florida on spring break, it’s probably not that hard to convince all the girls to flash their breasts.  As numerous psychological studies have shown, the mob mentality is very strong in humans and the secret of success in most cultures is to be in front of the mob and pretend you are leading them.   It’s always curious that a person like James Cameron and for that matter, Al Gore, who are wildly succesful in their own areas of work, feel so compelled to push an issue upon people as if they had divine insight.  An issue such as global warming has drawn passionate debate on both sides of the discussion, but only one side demonizes and belittles opposing thought.   Despite ample evidence to the contrary, warming adherents dogmatically stick to the talking points disregarding any rational evidence. 

It’s pretty well accepted that in any kind of debate, if one cannot win on the facts, then the next tactic is to resort to ad hominem attacks on your opponent.   In the debate on global warming, Cameron somehow declines to be on the same stage as other informed people, implying that they are beneath his ‘level of debate’.    While it may be easy to sound convincing to an empty room, defending your thesis is quite another issue.  Put another way, it’s easy to be a crack marksman, until others start shooting back. Our hero James is a better storyteller than scientist.   He mistakenly thinks people will accept his beliefs as willingly as they accept his stories.  News to James: they pay for your stories, not your beliefs.