[lbo-talk] Thomas Frank on tour

[Chuck0]

Thomas Frank is on tour again, in conjunction with the publication of 
the paperback version of "What's the Matter With Kansas." The crowd 
tonight in Kansas City was less than last year, but Frank was really on 
tonight. None of the hometown self-consciousness that affected his 
appearance here last year. He also sequed into some schtick from his 
books and notes. He was quite funny about the Great 2004 Liberal Attack 
on Christmas.

Frank mostly talked about class in America and related it to his 
standard talk about the conservative backlash. He dug into the Democrats 
more this time, talking at length about what a boneheaded decision it 
was to run Kerry, who the conservatives have been bashing since 1971. He 
also had some funny anecdotes about hobnobbing with the Republican elite 
at last year's RNC convention.

Frank was pretty pessimistic about third parties, pointing out that the 
system is simply rigged against them. He expressed some hope that the 
Dean movement with it's raising of small donations may break the 
corporate hold on the party hierarchy.

Chuck