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<DIV><FONT size=4>There's a strange mode of argument on this list, in which
criticism of Hofstadter is seen as synonymous with romanticizing movements from
below. This is a logical leap that I don't see anybody on this list
making. This is a little like saying that criticism of Beard
constitutes admiration of fascist rule. Get hold of yourself,
Mike.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Jesse Lemisch</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mike_larkin2001@yahoo.com
href="mailto:mike_larkin2001@yahoo.com">mike larkin</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org
href="mailto:lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org">lbo-talk@lbo-talk.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 10, 2006 5:32
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [lbo-talk] Why Richard
Hofstadter Is Still Worth Reading</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR><BR><B><I>Jesse Lemisch <<A
href="mailto:utopia1@attglobal.net">utopia1@attglobal.net</A>></I></B>
wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Fair
enough, Doug, but continuing the discussion of Hofstadter, the point
of<BR>Rogin et al is that the orgins of "McCarthyism" (note the quotation
marks)<BR>were not with what you call the "toiling masses." This offers
the<BR>possibility that mass movements from below might be seen more
optimistically<BR>than Hofstadter and his gang saw them. Relate to Daniel
Bell's "pluralism,"<BR>which is explicitly agreement among LEGITIMATE
interests, rejecting popular<BR>participation.<BR><BR>Man, I used to buy
this lefty line. But I've come to realize that even if McCarthyism and other
right wing phenomena originated with elites, they never would have
taken hold without active and energetic popular support. Wasn't it Thomas
Ferguson who said that lefty celebrations of historical "movements from
below" suffer from a colossal inability to get to the point?</BLOCKQUOTE>
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