Permit a late word or two on Newsweek’s thoroughly in-the-tank cover story for Al Gore. Sharon Begley oozed about Gore’s favorite quote in his book – but never seems to note that Gore’s "philosopher" expert is a Marxist. It comes near the very end of the piece:
His favorite quote in [his new book] Our Choice is from the philosopher Theodor Adorno (1903–1969): "The conversion of all questions of truth into questions of power … has attacked the very heart of the distinction between true and false."
Adorno, and his colleagues in what is called the "Frankfurt School," are Marxists. Al Gore and his liberal admirers in the press (see this Seattle Times dispatch) aspire to make it through Adorno's impenetrable prose. British journalist Alastair McKay brightly reported that in Scotland in 2006, Gore lauded the entire school of Marxists:
"After World War Two there were a group of very thoughtful, humane, decent philosophers – Germans – who were so horrified, humiliated, shamed by what had happened in Germany that they became what is known as the Frankfurt School – Jurgen Habermas is probably the best known.
They devoted themselves over decades to exploring the question: what in the hell happened? And one of them, a philosopher named Theodore Adorno – conducted a philosophical autopsy of the Weimar and the emergence of the Third Reich. And he identified the first significant symptom of their descent into hell. He said this: ‘All questions of fact became questions of power’.
Gore's entire construction of the global-warming debate is between reason (that's the we're-almost-roasted-marshmallows doom) and unreason, superstition, and capitalist propaganda (that's conservatives). We face a "democracy crisis" because people have failed so far to bow to his genius. After a windy account of how the Enlightenment and the printing press allowed a new "rule of reason," Gore launched into an attack on television for ruining democracy:
"The information ecology defined by the printing press was displaced 40 ears ago in my country by the television, and it’s now so dominant that the average American watches television for four hours and 39 minutes a day. It has a quasi-hypnotic effect, and the internet’s a great source of hope and it replicates that meritocracy of ideas but it does not have that hypnotic effect that television has.
"I see the internet as a source of hope. To use the Star Wars analogy, the rebellion is alive and well on the internet on some far galaxy, connected to ours, and it is growing, and I do believe that it is changing the operation of our political dialogue, democratising it, opening it up, so that questions of fact become questions of truth instead of power, so that there’s not censorship of global warming studies."
Notice how Gore is always making conservatives into the unspeakable evil in his analogies: the Nazis, in the Frankfurt School analogy, and Darth Vader's forces in the Star Wars analogy. Press him, and he denies the analogy is exact; but that's how he wants his liberal allies to feel about themselves, that they are the anti-Nazi Skywalkers in this perilous ecological era, fighting "the Assault on Reason."
But it's more amazing that Gore seems to place the blame for our "democracy crisis" on television news -- as if all the liberal networks haven't swallowed Gore's theories whole and lauded him as a global genius, like Newsweek does.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It Doesn't Surprise Me
November 10, 2009 - 07:19 ET by GeneralAlIt doesn't surprise that Gore references the internet as "I see the internet as a source of hope"! After all, he invented it!
Their so-called "Thinking Man" was a college dunce...
November 10, 2009 - 08:33 ET by jazbo"In the tank" indeed.
"Democrats; Breeding voters like farm animals since 1962"
Geez people, gimme a break!!
November 10, 2009 - 09:54 ET by Patriot IIIs this the first inkling people have had that this lying maggot is a socialist/communist? where in H has your head been??
When Algore speaks, only freaks listen
November 10, 2009 - 07:36 ET by WorriedThis moneygrubber has managed to brainwash an entire faction of society and the stuff that comes out of his mouth is strange.
"So that questions of fact becomes questions of truth instead of power, so that there's not censorship of global warming studies."
Does this sentence make sense to anyone? I think I am living on that far out galaxy.
Algore rhythms
November 10, 2009 - 07:58 ET by Tim GrahamI suspect he's referring to how the Bush administration tried to edit down some of the "algoresque" prognostications of liberals inside the EPA and other government agencies.
There is something comical about Gore's arrogance. From the Seattle Times dispatch I linked to:
On Gore's arrogance
November 10, 2009 - 16:37 ET by CO2MakerThis is how his bio in Wikipedia begins:
"Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American environmental activist and former politician who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under PresidentBill Clinton."
He (or a surrogate or ghostwriter, or maybe Tipper) identifies himself first as an environmental activist.
That accounts for the Lear Jet and big power consumption at home on rocky top.
"The conversion of all
November 10, 2009 - 08:15 ET by JerryThe conversion is complete. Algore has obliterated truth for the sake of power and greed.
There is absolute truth, and it is Jesus. Without this yardstick by which all things can be measured, everything is morally and situationally relative. At the heart of liberalism is the rebellion of man against God.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
NO MORE LIES...
November 10, 2009 - 08:33 ET by danybhoyIt's not really hard to understand why Al Gore & Newsweak continue to lose credibility. Both Gore & Newsweak keep giving the people reasons to say BS to most of what they say/write/"report".
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
the real title "a pseudo thinking mans pseudo thinking man"
November 10, 2009 - 08:40 ET by lunaticcringeradioa mere con artist snake oil salesman who preys on people who feel guilty for being successful, and of course because they feel guilty, like misery, they want company.
lunaticcringeradio
"The conversion of all
November 10, 2009 - 08:54 ET by PeskyDane"The conversion of all questions of truth into questions of power … has attacked the very heart of the distinction between true and false."
In the world inhabited by men, this is known as "bullshit."
And I do believe that is my first profanity in my 3 1/2 years here at Newsbusters.
It may be
November 10, 2009 - 09:09 ET by JerIt may be "bullshit", but it's no more Marxist than a Town Hall meeting.
Jer
→ Jer
November 10, 2009 - 09:19 ET by Cool ArrowJeffrey Dahmer came home from school one day and said "Mom, what's for dinner?"
Parents who hear these words from their children should apparently be very worried.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Kudos, Cool...
November 10, 2009 - 09:24 ET by JerPrecisely my point. Perfectly made.
Jer
The Volkskammer
November 10, 2009 - 09:57 ET by UnsaneI agree. After all, many of the town hall meetings were called by, and featured, members of the Volkskammer. Many of whom you slavishly support, being a party man.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Volkskammer
November 10, 2009 - 14:30 ET by stratmanThat was an impressive connection, Unsane.*
Jer, while the words may be taken as unconnected to Marxism, the manipulation of words by these Marxist lovers is unmistakable, not to mention the high regard certain American politicos hold for Marxism and other Leftist ideologies. (Buh-Bye Anita Dunn)
The insidious and invidious rhetoric of Al Gore needs to be exposed and publically humiliated. Whatever Gore's initial motivation was with the environment, he is now corrupt. Using Marxist ideology/methodology to propel his aspirations is neither endearing nor acceptable to me.
*Edited for clarification regarding Unsane's post.
Your interpretation was Marxist. Mine wasn't.
November 10, 2009 - 19:51 ET by JerDoes the fact the devil can quote scripture rob the verse of its divinity?
Gore may be evil...he may be a Marxist...God knows he's a Democrat! But why not let his words stand or fall on their own merit, rather than dismiss them--and demonize him--because of their questionable pedigree.
Jer
Did you seen the interview
November 10, 2009 - 20:00 ET by Jack BauerDid you seen the interview Gore did last week?
Forget Marxist. The guy is totally BOTOXIST.
Swear to God, I haven't seen skin stretched that tight since I was last in a Drum Shop (three weeks ago, by the way!)
No doubt he's counting on
November 10, 2009 - 20:12 ET by JerNo doubt he's counting on Global Warming to cause a little slack. Al is a forward thinker.
Jer
Jack... Lol...I've
November 10, 2009 - 20:16 ET by bigtimerJack...
Lol...I've noticed as well, I remarked to my other half as well, saying Gore and Pop-Up-Pelosi were in competition to see who had the best doctor.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
"Does the fact the devil
November 11, 2009 - 11:44 ET by stratmanInteresting point. However, context is key.
Your preconception of the Devil, his intent, vocal inflections, body language, etc all color your perception of his words.
An earthly example would be a child abused by a pedophile who professes his "love" to the child before, during and after the abuse. Do you think the child will not have an altered perception thereafter when people use the same words that were weilded so grotesquely by the pedophile? That may be an echo that never goes away completely.
So, yes, the Devil can rob the verse of its divinity.
Gore's words were carefully chosen by himself or his speech writer with full knowledge of whence they came from, their significance, and to whom it may communicate the "insider" message.
Gore has had an obsessive apocalyptic view of Earth for decades. The number of times he's declared the world's ending should have been a red flag for the public. What may have begun as a benevolent interest, maybe as atonement for his own commission of polluting and association with polluters (his daddy and Armond Hammer), devolved into a grotesque profiteering enterprise that simultaneously and hypocritically, particularly on a personal level, promotes Marxist redistribution of wealth scams under a one-worlder umbrella while enjoying the spoils of Capitalism in extremis.
I don't think Gore is evil, though what he promotes will lessen/worsen people's lives. But his craven refusal to debate/be questioned about AGW while demonizing his opposition (who's the Devil here?) and lining his pockets places him in the uber huckster category, requiring exposure and humiliation to, hopefully, put a stake in this global vampire junk science for years to come.
What do you think Gore meant with his lifted phrase?
BTW, did Gore attribute his quote, or, is this another example of plagiarism?
Your first point is
November 10, 2009 - 19:14 ET by JerYour first point is irrelevant. Your second is--and always has been--absolute rubbish [for which Republican beneficiaries of my support are no doubt grateful].
Jer
You have Republican
November 10, 2009 - 19:23 ET by general companybeneficiaries?,,,,who knew?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Quite a few.
November 10, 2009 - 19:59 ET by JerQuite a few. And now...you.
Jer
Like they say
November 10, 2009 - 20:22 ET by general companyWith friends like you
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Weak as usual
November 10, 2009 - 22:13 ET by UnsaneMy first point is correct. The town hall meetings were called by members of the Volkskammer, an institution I used to call the House of Representatives until they decided to vote to take over my budget and freedom in the name of babying me with something I am more than happy to pay for all by myself like a grown adult.
Please dispense with the intellectual dishonesty. It is on the money and always has been. It isn't my fault that you are too embarrassed to admit to your party hackery.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Your first point is your
November 10, 2009 - 22:41 ET by JerYour first point is your personal opinion, to which you are certainly entiltled, but remains irrelevant to the topic at hand. And...the embarrassment with which you would normally be engulfed as a result of your comically lame [and pathetically unsubstantiated] second point is avoided only by your stunning narcissism.
Jer
I was mocking the
November 10, 2009 - 12:57 ET by PeskyDaneI was mocking the pseudo-intellectual slant of this. Pompous drivel like this means less than nothing in the debate of ideas.
You seem to agree - I would welcome you to the ranks of men, but you seem to have been here all along. Too bad you and I can't agree on more.
gore
November 10, 2009 - 09:03 ET by charlietexasGore is a pompous, arrogant ass who is the ultimate hypocrite. I'm sure that after his speeches, he gets into his heavily armoured suburban and goes to the airport and flies off in his huge private airplane. The biggest carbon footprint however, is his large bloviating mouth and lungs.
TRANSLATION:
November 10, 2009 - 09:17 ET by CrashFor the 44 suckers born every minute ... there's a used car salesman who needs to speak to his manager.
Thinking man?
November 10, 2009 - 09:38 ET by mattmIf you call figuring out how to scare people into accepting socialism while getting rich in the process 'thinking,' well fine. But I call it scheming. If Al could have gotten the same fame and fortune pushing a H1N1 scare or an Asteroid scare, he'd have done it.
I guess Newsweak thinks he's a thinking man because they're so flipping stupid that they bought his crap.
It's SNAFU every day at
November 10, 2009 - 09:46 ET by ThoreauIt's SNAFU every day at Newsweek. Pay no mind to them.
The media claims that
November 10, 2009 - 10:22 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonThe media claims that algore 'thinks', but they neglect to mention his 'thought patterns' mirror the thought patterns of Pol Pot, Stalin, Lenin, Idi Amin, chairman Mao, the little fool in North Korea, Hitler, and the rest of the very long list of predators that gained control over their fellow citizens and set out to 'teach' their subjects how to think the 'right way' or die.
Just because he 'thinks' is no reason to worship him.
http://gjresult.com
Green is the new Red.
November 10, 2009 - 10:34 ET by NikaGreen is the new Red. Think watermelon, green on the outside and red on the inside.
Charlatans
November 10, 2009 - 11:19 ET by iveseenitallAl Gore is a charlatan who's made it big (financially). He's obviously a dolt, but he's shrewed and he knows that he can fool millions of people. His family gave him a start in life that so many citizens never get. You'd think he'd appreciate it and do some good. But, like so many spoiled morons, he has chosen to take the low road. Sad.
BTW, The media continues its laughable habit of establishing people like Algore and Barry Obama as "thinking" men. It's almost funny to anyone who knows or has known true intellectuals. Guys like Barry and Al are mental dwarfs compared to real "thinkers". Then again, consider the source of their undeserved praise. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
The "Thinking Man's"
November 10, 2009 - 12:01 ET by fitzfongThe "Thinking Man's" "Thinking Man"? More like the terrorist's terrorist.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Frankfurt School and Obama
November 10, 2009 - 13:39 ET by John Galt1776Herbert Marcuse was a well known member of the Frankfurt school
Herbert Marcuse (German pronunciation: [marˈkuːzə]) (July 19, 1898 –
July 29, 1979) was a German-Jewish philosopher,
political theorist and sociologist,
and a member of the Frankfurt School. Celebrated as the "Father of the New Left,[1]"
his best known works are Eros and Civilization, One-Dimensional Man and The Aesthetic Dimension. Marcuse was a major intellectual influence on the New Left
and student movements of the 1960s
http://en.wikipedia....
Marcuse taught at Columbia where he established the Frankfurt school curriculum.
In 1952 he began a teaching career as a political theorist, first at Columbia University,
Obama and Bill Ayers are big devotees of Marcuse and the Frankfurt school
His book
One-Dimensional Man (1964)
was the manifesto for Ayers "Weather Underground" terrorist oganization
Known for
Founder
and former member of the Weather
Underground
http://en.wikipedia....
Product Description
Originally published in 1964, One-Dimensional Man quickly became one
of the most important texts in the ensuing decade of radical political
change. This second edition, newly introduced by Marcuse scholar Douglas
Kellner, presents Marcuse's best-selling work to another generation of
readers in the context of contemporary events.
"Marcuse shows
himself to be one of the most radical and forceful thinkers of this
time."
—The Nation
http://www.amazon.co...
Bringing the
War Home: The Weather Underground, the Red Army Faction, and
Revolutionary Violence in the Sixties and Seventies
http://www.amazon.co...
The One Dimensional Man is cited in the above book
Three things
November 10, 2009 - 16:26 ET by CO2Maker1. What's with the William Tell cover? Apple on Al's noggin? I'm not getting the metaphor.
2. His BFF philosopher is Teodor Adoorknob? Really?
3. Okay, the DMCA is failing me here. I came up with "Algorithm" and "Mao See Tongue" a month or more ago, and now I see I'm being plagiarized right and left (actually, farther right) in wanton acts of thievery that rival the best of Napster, Doris Kerns Goodwin, and Joe "Kinnick" Biden.
Anyone ever bothered to
November 10, 2009 - 19:19 ET by RR GOPAnyone ever bothered to think about why and how the "Frankfurt School" ended up over here? Or are we still holding on to memes invented by Communists?
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Baseball
November 10, 2009 - 20:26 ET by CO2MakerFrankfurters are always a big hit at baseball games.
D'oh!
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