THE SPINE NOVEMBER 13, 2010
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I wonder why a Yale professor of English, David Bromwich, would put his fastidious critique of our “fastidious” president in the oh, so chic London Review of Books. It certainly isn’t to convince voters.
Still, the truth is that I agree with some of his 4500 word essay. And the rest? Well, it is instructive to read. And paradigmatic of the left’s new antagonism to Barack Obama. Which is an expression of its shock that, as candidate for president, he was reckless with his promises, cynical, and intoxicated by his own words. I don’t think that he lied exactly. The problem was that the smart ex-editor of the Harvard Law Review and lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School didn’t really grasp politics or, for that matter, the language of politics.
The irony is that he still appears convinced by his rhetoric which his audiences no longer believe.
7 comments
Why does a Yale professor of English consider himself to have authority enough to judge on military matters? Anyway, I liked his concluding statement: "The president on whom so much depends is a peculiar person, stranger than any of us realised when we voted for him. He may be most real to himself when he is promising something." which is more in line with his expertise.
- noga1
November 13, 2010 at 6:56pm
"The problem was that the smart ex-editor of the Harvard Law Review and lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School didn’t really grasp politics or, for that matter, the language of politics." Again Marty you endorsed him and apparently Bromwich voted for him. You were both wrong then, and why should I trust your perceptions about political figures now? I have read a couple of Bromwich's books on Romanticism and didn't think highly of them. So there is no danger of me ever taking him seriously on any issue. I never trust scholars who combine a love for Romanticism with politics as Professor Bromwich does.
- jdyer
November 13, 2010 at 7:37pm
"I never trust scholars who combine a love for Romanticism with politics " I made a similar comment recently hereabout. Can't remember in what context.
- noga1
November 13, 2010 at 7:52pm
why are so many people only now realizing the candidate ...oops, no, he only grasps politics - the problem was so many people thought he transcended politics.
- K2K
November 14, 2010 at 12:59am
K2K "why are so many people only now realizing the candidate ...oops, no, he only grasps politics - the problem was so many people thought he transcended politics." You need to ask that question of Bromwixh and Peretz who voted for him and now complain that they 'were deceived.'
- jdyer
November 14, 2010 at 11:10am
This article by "just journalism says it all:" "London Review of Books: Ten years of anti-Israel prejudice" "UK’s London Review of Books uses public money to malign Israel, while sympathising with designated terrorist groups." "The report, entitled, ‘London Review of Books: Ten years of anti-Israel prejudice’ is a comprehensive review of the 92 articles commissioned to external writers on the subject of Israel-Palestine between 1 June 2000 and 31 May 2010. The findings show an unremitting hostility to the Jewish state, embodied by the views of editor Mary-Kay Wilmers who has described herself as “unambiguously hostile to Israel”." http://justjournalism.com/special-reports/london-review-of-books-ten-years-of-anti-israel-prejudice/
- jdyer
November 15, 2010 at 10:53pm
Here is the link again" http://justjournalism.com/special-reports/london-review-of-books-ten-years-of-anti-israel-prejudice/
- jdyer
November 15, 2010 at 10:54pm