The Germans probably have a word for that
Neil Sinhababu agrees with Michelle Malkin's argument that conservatives should purge moderates from their party. But what do you call the sort of agreement that relies on sharp disagreement about both end goals and the means to achieve them?
We've got to come up with a nifty word for the kind of agreement about what would be good that is the product of a disagreement in goals times a disagreement about what would bring about those goals. Misagreement? If you've got a better one, suggest in comments.
Any ideas?
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Ezra Klein
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November 5, 2009; 11:00 AM ET
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Not the Germans, the Russians. Stalin called it Yezhovshchina when he purged the communist party, delved into extreme surveillance, throwing people in Gulags, and sending others to the electric chair.
I have no doubt a good amount of this would make Michelle Malkin's socks go up and down just to think about it.
Posted by: zeppelin003 | November 5, 2009 11:22 AM | Report abuse
Well, no matter what angle you hit a parabola at, the focus is the same. So I would recommend calling the situation where your goals and means to achieve them are completely different, but your focus is the same a parabolic agreement. The only thing you have in common is one single point, and every other thing lies upon on differing coordinates and a different trajectory.
Posted by: benkrok | November 5, 2009 11:25 AM | Report abuse
I've read Neil's question more than five times and I think he has the wrong word in the question:
"We've got to come up with a nifty word for the kind of AGREEMENT about what would be good that is the product of a disagreement in goals times a disagreement about what would bring about those goals."
This is what I think he meant:
"We've got to come up with a nifty word for the kind of ARGUMENT about what would be good that is the product of a disagreement in goals times a disagreement about what would bring about those goals."
Even the revised wording is, as one used to say, clumsy, or something.
There doesn't need to be a new word, IMO. Mixing goals and tactics is part of the human makeup, particularly on the political frontiers. Ideological cross-dressing, as a phrase, sums it up nicely.
Posted by: JimPortlandOR | November 5, 2009 11:33 AM | Report abuse
You don't call it anything because you're not in agreement. At all. If anything, it's called "uneasy coexistence" by most people. And successful American political parties used to call it a "big tent" before they got ideologically sorted. The Democrats still have a sort of big tent. The conservative grassroots doesn't want a big tent, though.
Posted by: precisioncontrol | November 5, 2009 11:37 AM | Report abuse
Your excerpt doesn't capture the concept very well. I think he's agreeing that the conservatives should purge the moderates and at the same time is thinking about the conservatives "Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out." Another example is pessimists and optimists agreeing that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The emotional stance of the two is completely different even though they agree on the facts of the matter.
Posted by: daniellstevens | November 5, 2009 11:45 AM | Report abuse
Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. They'll carve up Poland and then go after each other.
Posted by: gdcassidy1 | November 5, 2009 11:57 AM | Report abuse
I would say they are in ironic agreement, or in German: "ironische Zustimmung".
Posted by: daniellstevens | November 5, 2009 12:00 PM | Report abuse
Nacht der langen Messer (Night of the Long Knives)
Posted by: wimprange | November 5, 2009 1:04 PM | Report abuse
Nader-ize
Posted by: shearnpool | November 5, 2009 1:18 PM | Report abuse
I think Neil S. is just being patronizing about Malkin's strategy. Patronize, condescend. You don't need German words. A party that respects the thought process of another party would never come to a point where there is agreement on tactics but polar opposite views on strategy. Patronize and condescend cover it. He's mocking her, not agreeing with her.
Posted by: jamusco | November 5, 2009 1:18 PM | Report abuse
The extreme ideology and actions of the far right doom it. Conservatism is about providing drag in the form of a stabilizing force preventing the misdirection and promiscuity of unfettered progress. You cannot stop progress as it is endogenous. When conservatism advances from drag to a desire to return to the past, it becomes dysfunctional. All previous actions to bring about such a return to the past resulted in massive human suffering. I submit there will be a new conservatism crafted to the modern speed of cultural progress. Political necessity requires it. The danger will come from adherents who refuse to accept reality, strap bombs to their ass and go to the mall to change the world. "Gegenungskeit mit schlag".
Posted by: BertEisenstein | November 5, 2009 1:49 PM | Report abuse
How about schadenfreudefreude, to refer to the joy Democrats experience at the misplaced joy extreme right wingers experience at the failure of moderate Republicans... not sure if that is exactly what he means, though.
Posted by: horsecow | November 5, 2009 5:29 PM | Report abuse












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