Know Your Enemy

When the Clock Broke (w/ John Ganz)

57 snips
Jun 24, 2024
Writer John Ganz discusses the transformation of America and conservatism in the early 1990s. Topics include Sam Francis's radicalism, Pat Buchanan's 'culture war' speech, Ross Perot and POW-MIA, Carroll Quigley's influence on Bill Clinton, John Gotti's appeal, and how these paved the way for Donald Trump.
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INSIGHT

1990s Crisis of Confidence

  • The early 1990s saw a crisis of confidence and hegemony in America, with people rejecting old ideologies.
  • This created a chaotic political interregnum where forces like Ross Perot's unconventional candidacy gained significant traction.
INSIGHT

Sam Francis and Right-Wing Populism

  • Sam Francis believed a white middle-class radical population was rising, but his analysis lacked nuance and realism.
  • Right-wing populism is a mob phenomenon, lacking mass democratic consent, unlike true hegemonic politics.
INSIGHT

Ross Perot's Dual Symbolism

  • Ross Perot embodied a contradictory mix of nostalgic Americana and a technocratic vision for government reform.
  • His image symbolized both a yearning for a lost past and hope for a technological fix to political dysfunction.
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