Part II

Here's Part II of "The Future of Party Politics" with Ross Douthat, Marc Ambinder, David Brooks, and yours truly (remember: you're in good hands with Allstate). Official description: "In this installment, Matt talks about the notion of an enduring Democratic majority, and David Brooks speculates on whether Hispanics are Jews or Italians. There's also an interesting discussion about whether parties have better ideas when they're out of office than when they're busy running the country."

As the world's premiere Jewish/Hispanic political pundit, I feel like I really should form a firmer opinion on the "are Hispanics like Jews" issue.

Comments

this seems to prove attractiveness is inversely proportionate to unwarranted self-regard.

Posted by James | July 4, 2008 12:47 PM

As the world's foremost Hispanic/Jewish pundit, shouldn't you be blogging in Ladino?

Posted by calipygian | July 4, 2008 12:59 PM

No, no, tan but still no, and no.

Y'all definitely not bringing the sexy back.

That said, I enjoy these Atlantic Table video-thingys.

BTW: I thought Asians were Jews and Latino's were Irish. Now I'm confused.

Posted by Shine | July 4, 2008 1:01 PM

They're neither, and I'm positive that Brooks wouldn't look very good at all if I ever got the chance to ask him a series of questions.

There are many reasons why the current situation is different from the past, but here are just two data points:

1. A former GreenParty candidate for president (PeterCamejo) thought that anyone with Indian blood should have free movement throughout the Americas. Needless to say, no previous group has thought that they had a race-based right to come here at will.

2. See this ChicagoTribune article for other examples, including a very interesting quote from someone appointed to lead an ImmigrationPanel by IL's Democratic gov.

And, from the last article:

Irish, German and Polish immigrants eventually melded into Chicago's landscape, their ties to their native soil largely sentimental. But Mexican immigrants today are linked to their homeland like no group before, scholars say, connected by NAFTA, satellite TV, the Internet, cell phones and cheap non-stop flights.

Posted by TLB | July 4, 2008 1:15 PM

hehe think highly of yourself much?

Posted by Mike | July 4, 2008 1:40 PM

BTW: I thought Asians were Jews and Latino's were Irish. Now I'm confused.

My understanding is that Asians are Jews and Latinos are Italians. African Americans, despite not being immigrants, are the Irish. At least per Michael Barone.

Posted by John | July 4, 2008 1:49 PM

A former GreenParty candidate for president (Peter Camejo) thought that anyone with Indian blood should have free movement throughout the Americas. Needless to say, no previous group has thought that they had a race-based right to come here at will.

So Peter Camejo, a leftist fringe politician who was born in the US to upper class Venezuelan parents and who is thus, presumably, of nearly 100% European heritage, represents all Hispanic immigrants? This is just ridiculous. Who cares what Peter Camejo said? It's also worth noting that prior to 1924 there were virtually no restrictions on immigration from Europe to the United States.

Posted by John | July 4, 2008 2:01 PM

First, PeterCamejo was a VP candidate (and also ran for CA gov).

Second, Mike needs to read my site; Brooks wouldn't have an answer for the points I'd make to him. See, for just one example, this classic from 2005. Now, imagine if that had been Brooks and I'd caught it on videotape for Youtube.

Posted by TLB | July 4, 2008 2:03 PM

No one needs to read your site, and your blogwhoring just underscores the point. What you need to do is start working with a therapist and possible get a prescription for your wierd, monomaniacal obsessions.

Posted by Ed Marshall | July 4, 2008 2:14 PM

As the world's premiere Jewish/Hispanic political pundit

You're not even the world's premiere overweight Jewish/Hispanic political pundit.

Posted by Yglesiass | July 4, 2008 2:47 PM

Happy 4th, Matt.

As for the whole hispanic/jewish punditry thing.

One word: Geraldo.

For now, you're still a pretender. Of course, now would be a smart time to start growing the mustache if you eventually want to ascend to his pioneering heights.

Posted by SoCalJustice | July 4, 2008 2:50 PM

I think the word you're looking for is Jewban, Matt.

Posted by Sandy | July 4, 2008 2:52 PM

The problem with Hispanics being the new blacks, and Asians being the new Jews is that for the Republicans there is no demographic group to be the new Mormons.

Thus, virtually every trends is the U.S. is going to be producing more Democratic voters than Republican voters. So why would anyone donate funds, work for, and run for office for a party that has no chance of successing the the long run.

Intead of talking about the soon to be irrelevant Republicans, wouldn't be more interesting of how party politics in the U.S. will change once the Republicans become totally irrelevant?

Posted by superdestroyer | July 4, 2008 4:02 PM

I've seen several comments from "superdestroyer" along those same lines, and I wonder whether it's serious or whether it's trying to send a warning to the GOP that the Dems are more than willing to engage in activities more appropriate to the Balkans (or even worse places/times) to gain power. Which is it, "super"?

Posted by TLB | July 4, 2008 5:09 PM

Needless to say, no previous group has thought that they had a race-based right to come here at will.

If I recall my history correctly, my English ancestors in the 1600/1700s thought they had a race-based right to come here at will.

Posted by Tom | July 4, 2008 5:12 PM

No warning intended. The Republicans know that the demographic trends are all against them. That is why Karl Rove and President Bush believe that they must pander to Hispanic voters and supported unlimited immigration and open borders. There are many Republicans who believe that Hispanic voters are natural conservative (they are not) and that they can be turned into Republicans (they cannot).

Posted by superdestroyer | July 4, 2008 7:30 PM

TLB sounds like my father - and that ain't good because he was a bigot on a par with Archie Bunker. (My mother was an idiot on a par with Edith Bunker, except less noisy.)

(And, no, I wasn't "Meathead".)

Oh, by the way, Matt, to add to the incompetence on your site, I just got this trying to load the video:

"THE VIDEO YOU ARE TRYING TO WATCH IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON."

Yeah, right, I'll sure do that.

Get off your fat ass and complain to your bosses that they're making you look like an absolute moron (not that that's hard) by completely screwing up your blog with stupid server errors, bad links, and no videos.

Christ, this site is run by George Bush.

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | July 4, 2008 11:34 PM

Tom writes: If I recall my history correctly, my English ancestors in the 1600/1700s thought they had a race-based right to come here at will.

So, you're saying that was bad? And, you're saying that in support of those who think the same way? There seems to be a bit of a conflict.

Also, it was hopefully obvious to everyone else that the "previous groups" I referred to were those who came here through EllisIsland and similar.

Posted by TLB | July 5, 2008 4:32 PM