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Paul Levinson

Paul Levinson
Location
New York City, New York, USA
Birthday
March 25
Title
Professor
Company
Fordham University
Bio
Paul Levinson's The Silk Code won the 2000 Locus Award for Best First Novel. He has since published Borrowed Tides (2001), The Consciousness Plague (2002), The Pixel Eye (2003), and The Plot To Save Socrates (2006). His science fiction and mystery short stories have been nominated for Nebula, Hugo, Edgar, and Sturgeon Awards. His eight nonfiction books, including The Soft Edge (1997), Digital McLuhan (1999), Realspace (2003), and Cellphone (2004), have been the subject of major articles in the New York Times, Wired, the Christian Science Monitor, and have been translated into ten languages. New New Media, exploring how Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogging have changed our lives, was published in September 2009. Paul Levinson appears on "The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "The CBS Evening News," the “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” (PBS), “Nightline” (ABC), and numerous national and international TV and radio programs. He reviews the best of television in his InfiniteRegress.tv blog. Paul Levinson is Professor of Communication & Media Studies at Fordham University in New York City

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 3:38PM

The "Petulant, Irritable Grouch"

Rate: 9 Flag

"He's a petulant, irritable grouch" ... Quick - Who could that be? I bet you don't need three guesses.

It was said about John McCain, in particular the tone of his response to the Wall Street crisis, by Steve McMahon on MSNBC's excellent Race to the White House with David Gregory yesterday.

McMahon may be a Democratic strategist, but his characterization has an unmistakable ring of truth. In addition to being funny, it gets at a serious difference in temperament between the two Presidential candidates. Obama has been cool, unruffled in the face of this crisis, sounding much like FDR in saying one of the most important things is not to panic, not succumb to financial fear. In contrast, McCain has been petty and carping, preferring to take shots against Obama.

Obama indeed raised the question of John McCain's temperament in his address at the Democratic convention. It's something that is not talked about often enough. But it gets precisely at what we most want in the person with a hand on who knows how many triggers in the White House. That would not be a "petulant, irritable grouch," even if that candidate did not have a record of poor judgment in just about every economic and foreign policy issue facing our country.

 

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Well stated, and we certainly do need someone in the White House who is cool, calm, collected and pretty darn smart!
Well , I heard the same thing that you did and it struck me as just as important. Chicago Guy must also be on this wavelength as his most recent post is "Financial Meltdown: Dou you pick anger or calm?"

It's a clear choice that more folks ought to be focusing some interest upon.
I found it interesting that he received the nickname McNasty while still in college, before Vietnam. That speaks volumes in my book.
Thanks, designanator and Susanne.

Excellent point - for real! - pretend_farmer.
This is why I thought way back two years ago that McCain wouldn't be the Republican nominee. His mean-spiritedness and temper would get the best of him on the campaign trail. I guess he's kept himself in relative check and the media haven't really made it an issue for the most part.
And don't forget, McCain was one of the enablers of the savings and loan crisis of the '80s, something eerily similar to today's panic on Wall Street.
Take a look at Obama's recent two-minute ad on the economy if you haven't yet. The difference in his tone and delivery from McCain's is remarkable. He sounds like someone who knows what he's talking about. McCain says in his ad "I've taken on tougher guys than this before." What the hell is that?!
Take a look at this history of the US gov't bailouts on this page

Link above, but also here: http://www.propublica.org/special/government-bailouts

We need someone who is sensible and responsible, not tainted with the savings and loan scandle/bailout, not some g-ddamned hothead who doesn't understand economics.
there are several examples of his temper on You Tube.