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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)
Ed Brayton also blogs at Positive Liberty and The Panda's Thumb
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Posted on: July 20, 2009 9:02 AM, by Ed Brayton
A blurb for Joe the Plumber's book:
Joe's story is the iconic American tale. He's a patriot who became instantly famous for simply asking a question that millions of us wanted asked. As my friend Sean Hannity would say, Joe is a great American! -- Mike Gallagher, Syndicated Talk Radio
There really is no limit to how utterly idiotic the populist right can be.
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Comments
To be fair, the populist anything isn't known for sense and sensibility.
Posted by: Nils Ross | July 20, 2009 9:23 AM
Iconic American tale??? For asking a question?
Posted by: Adrienne | July 20, 2009 9:40 AM
Does this mean that American History classes will now boil down the Declaration of Independence to the Founding Fathers writing a letter to King George III asking, "Why are we part of England?"
Posted by: Umlud | July 20, 2009 9:47 AM
There really is no limit to how utterly idiotic the populist right can be.
Of course not. This is a movement that prides itself on ignorance and mediocrity.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | July 20, 2009 10:08 AM
And the question that the great "patriot" asked that millions of others wanted to ask?
Wasn't it "How can I pay less taxes"? Now that's patriotism Republican-style all right.
Posted by: Gingerbaker | July 20, 2009 10:22 AM
What am I missing? This looks entirely correct to me.
Joe is an American. He certainly became an icon, a symbol of far greater significance than the actual person. It's not his words or actions that keep both the Right and the Left writing about him. It's his status as a symbol. So his tale is that of an iconic American by definition.
I've little doubt Joe loves the USA. I've also no reason to believe there aren't millions of Americans who wish they'd asked that question, or something like it. That is indeed what he became famous for.
Okay, being friends with Hannity is a kind of stupid. I'll give you that. Calling Joe a "great American" may be a bit excessive. But accidentally stepping in something good and milking it for every penny is as American as baseball and apple pie. So it's not completely out there.
I don't like Joe, or more correctly since I don't really know him, I don't like what he represents to me. But coming from someone whose political leanings are more in alignment with his, I can't find any fault in that statement.
Posted by: Abby Normal | July 20, 2009 10:23 AM
Abby @6:
Joe is an American. He certainly became an icon, a symbol of far greater significance than the actual person. It's not his words or actions that keep both the Right and the Left writing about him. It's his status as a symbol. So his tale is that of an iconic American by definition.
OK, so he's an icon. A very transient one. The way the writeup reads, it's as though he's somehow accomplished some extraordinary feat to laud through the ages by asking one stupid question.
In fact, the book itself is proof of his desperate attempts to extend his very transient iconic status.
Posted by: Adrienne | July 20, 2009 10:27 AM
In a democracy popularist commentators on all sides will invariably become more well known and influential than low key but highly competent people.
Therefore we should throw out democracy and replace it with a Confucian style meritocracy.
Discuss. :-D
Posted by: David Durant | July 20, 2009 10:35 AM
Abby so you think "Joe is an American"? Have you seen the long form of his Birth Certificate issued by his State of Birth (assuming he was born in the USA. I mean what kinda weirdo foreign name is Wurtzelbacher, anyway) and signed by the Doctor who delivered the kid? (Perhaps we need to 'talk to' this so-called doctor (Anyone seen his Birth Certificate? License to practice Medicine? Any documents at all?)) Has anyone ever seen any of these documents? No? WHY NOT? ALL THEY'VE GOT TO DO IS POST THEM ON THE INTERWEB THINGY! WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE????
Spread the controversy!!eleventy-one!! ;)- DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | July 20, 2009 10:41 AM
David Durant
A meritocracy clearly decimates out our congress. While I approve, I really cannot muster the energy to have another election so soon.
Merit seems to indicate intelligence and capability rather than money. Sadly, that will never fly here.
Posted by: MikeMa | July 20, 2009 10:42 AM
LOL, DJ! You win the thread.
Posted by: Adrienne | July 20, 2009 10:53 AM
DJ,
Stop teasing the birthers. They are very sad that their cases keep getting dismissed. :D
Posted by: MikeMa | July 20, 2009 10:57 AM
But, but, but.... IT"S SOOOO FUUUNN.
Besides, if mockery can make their allies think twice about enabling thier idiocy...:) -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | July 20, 2009 11:10 AM
You've got me there DJ. (Bravo!)
@Adrienne
I certainly hope his time in the limelight ends soon and he melts back into the mediocrity which spawned him, an obscure piece of trivia in some future $200 box of Jeopardy. For now though, in the eyes of his fans, he's the boy who told the Emperor he has no clothes and for that they love him.
Of course there's a down side to being that particular archetype, one I think Neil Gaiman summed up quite nicely.
Joe has played his part perfectly.
Posted by: Abby Normal | July 20, 2009 11:24 AM
But, but, but.... IT"S SOOOO FUUUNN.
Besides, if mockery can make their allies think twice about enabling thier idiocy...:) -DJ
If they thought at all, they would not be the plumber's helper's allies.
Posted by: democommie | July 20, 2009 11:28 AM
It's the name dropping in a blurb that gets me.
Posted by: Rob H. | July 20, 2009 11:52 AM
Demo - Do you actually think they care about a Plumber's Mate like Wurtlebacher?
They don't want him, he's just a Trojan Horse, a Higgs Boson to attract the 'faithful', a Manchurian Candidate. Once he's used up his last few seconds of fame, once nobody believes in the Plumbing Fairy any more*, it's back to blocked toilets and shonky backyard drainage for G.I. Joe, if he's really, really lucky.
The Enablers will be well and truly onto their next victim, sucking them to dry husk, all for the 'Republican cause' naturally. - DJ
__________
*If and when, not even a standing ovation will save the poor, dumb shmuck from the ravening wolf pack prowling in the wings.
Posted by: DingoJack | July 20, 2009 12:07 PM
Abby:
Yes, Joe is an American icon, but the quote does not say that Joe is an icon. It says that his tale is "the (singular) iconic American tale." There are plenty of Americans who are icons, but that does not mean that all of their tales are, by definition, "the iconic American tale."
Posted by: Dr X | July 20, 2009 12:09 PM
Geez, Abby, you are in a generous mood today.
I would say that "Joe's" actions were as American as cheating on your taxes and exhorting trickle-down economics. ;D
IIRC, "Joe" lied about his name, lied about the nature of his business, and lied about his income tax liabilities. And he wasn't honest about his political operative responsibilities. Not to mention his lovely homo- and xenophobic statements of late.
If his is "an iconic American tale" half this country doesn't know what American values are all about. We're doomed, I tell you, doomed!
Posted by: Gingerbaker | July 20, 2009 12:19 PM
I've little doubt Joe loves the USA.
I don't think that Joe really loves this country. Rather, I think that he loves a fantasy vision of it that never really existed but that RWAs are convinced did, not too long ago. He's the type of "patriot" who pounds his fist in the air when hearing "USA" chanted ritualistically, but he couldn't be more disgusted with America as it actually exists and the people whose lifestyles don't please him.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | July 20, 2009 1:06 PM
DingoJack: You forgot to capitalize Blocked Toilets. What were you thinking?
Posted by: xebecs | July 20, 2009 1:11 PM
Whether or not Joe loves America is irrelevant in the context of this blurb. That's not what Gallagher means by "patriot". He means, "someone who agrees with my political opinions".
Posted by: Taz | July 20, 2009 1:17 PM
Maybe it's just me, but I don't really care whether someone loves America. I care about whether they love (or at least respect and tolerate) AmericaNS. I'm pretty sure Joe falls down on that one.
Posted by: xebecs | July 20, 2009 1:24 PM
But asserting there's only one iconic American tale would be utterly idiotic...
*ding*
Well played Dr X, well played.
Posted by: Abby Normal | July 20, 2009 3:16 PM
Sadie Morrison - great analysis.
Posted by: Michael Heath | July 20, 2009 6:09 PM
Michael Heath, Sadie Morrison,
I also agree. Joe has no accurate picture of America. A Ward Cleaver skewed vision maybe...
Posted by: MikeMa | July 20, 2009 8:28 PM
He's a patriot who became instantly famous for simply asking a question that millions of us wanted asked.
And he continues to be "famous" for not taking "Your taxes won't go up" as an answer.
Posted by: Grumpy | July 20, 2009 8:44 PM