Well, despite being on to something, this Taibbi screed is terminally confused.
[WS:] Dismissing critics like Taibbi is certainly possible. With the right legal team, one can raise reasonable doubt that the sky is blue and the sun rises in the east, I suppose :). But the question is, to what end?
A self-congratulatory attitude is bad even when things are going well, but it is delusional or even suicidal when they are really tough. In such situation, critics like Taibbi are like Cassandra - they bring an unpleasant reality check to the crowd inebriated with self-congratulatory delusions. Not taking their warning seriously can be deadly, as it was the case of the Trojans.
The left is not even in the dog house today - it's been kicked out of it way to the left field. So why deluding ourselves that 'we' did great, while it is painfully obvious that 'we' did not. In fact, 'we' fucked up big time when 'we' had our chance to win lasting victories, first in the 1930s and then in the 1960s. So who gives a shit that 'we' fought valiantly a battle or two, when 'we' lost the war. It is time to wake up from the 'American dream,' smell the coffee and learn from those who have been more successful. Every schoolboy understands that - he copies his homework from honor students, not from failures and losers.
Self-criticism used to be an important element of communist party discipline. I think it is worthwhile to revive that practice.
Wojtek