How does one of the leading thinkers on the left view Ahmadinejad?

Why, as a classic "Right Winger", of course.

Ahmadinejad is in most ways a classic right-winger, a demagogic nationalist and cultural conservative. In a manner somewhat reminiscent of a Sarah Palin, however, he clothes this right-wing politics in a language of class resentment, painting his more pragmatic and reformist opponents as decadent elites out of touch with ordinary people. Unlike the populists of the American right, however, he merges this rhetoric with something resembling an actual populist economic agenda. The main element has been the use of oil revenue to expand the state sector of the economy in an attempt to distribute wealth more broadly throughout the country. This approach has gained Ahmadinejad a loyal following among the rural poor and public employees, but Iran’s objective economic performance has been disappointing, even during the great oil boom years.

Yeah, except that whole "distraction" about Israel needing to go away, he's a classic "Palinite".

Sheesh.

Posted by: eddiebear at 09:50 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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