rant on Christopher Hitchens

Slate.com has an editorial by Christopher Hitchens on why Gore should run, and basically why America and the Democrats suck. You can read it here, and really should if you want to get the most out of my rant.

Here's my rant, which was originally a reply to the email Cindy sent me with the Slate piece:

Who is this guy? I think I read a review of his book in the New Yorker. It was not favorable, I think, and if this article is indicative of his writing and reasoning, then I can understand why. Does he really wonder what the connection between global warming and peace is? Does he actually think that societies who are starving because of drought will just quietly die and let those of us with favorable rain survive? Has he forgotten that Nixon wasn't actually all bad and in fact looked pretty good at the time he was elected, and that people do have at least a smidgeon of respect for Carter now, when they have none for Bush? And if Gore decides not to run, that does not necessarily mean that he doesn't have what it takes and never did, nor that we all wasted our time and effort trying to get him elected 8 years ago. He may think that this society will never elect anyone worth electing, and that he can do more in the private sector. Plus, people were calling Hillary "Hillary" years ago - mostly Republicans, who used it as an epithet, but it's not new. And while I can understand feeling bitter against the most powerful country in the world, I hope that I would also recognize that to be an illogical reaction to its power. He resented the fact that American voters could influence European lives, but ignores the fact that if Europe were stronger, that wouldn't be true. He didn't mention America screwing up European lives (though he missed a good argument by ignoring Middle Eastern, Central and South American, and African lives), and if his omission means that he thinks that America didn't screw up their lives, then what is he so resentful about? It sounds like he and the Europe that he claims to represent have a big chip on their shoulder, like the puny kid who is bitter because he is not the star quarterback. While it may be understandable, it's not reasonable. What an idiot. It makes me proud to be in any country that he is attacking, which was probably not his point.

That was my rant. I think he's an idiot. Not a complete idiot, because his book is right in that religion has caused a lot of problems. And my pride in being an American will probably fade by tomorrow morning, but then again, I have Season 2 of the West Wing here (and a cold), and that show helps. I thought the line about how the president "likes surrounding himself with smart people who disagree with him" was very sharp - what a nice contrast to the current president.