James Bowman has an interesting essay on The American Spectator this morning, reconsidering the politics of the remake of The Manchurian Candidate. The film's director has been explicit on claiming to be anti—Bush, and the obvious intention to cast a firm reminiscent of Halliburton as the sinister manipulators/assassins seeking to have the first wholly—owned president under their control certainly seems anti—Bush.

But the archetypes say otherwise. The pawn character strongly resembles John Kerry in a number of respects: a candidate running on his war heroism, accompanied by his fellow veterans proclaiming his heroic virtue, manipulated by a wealthy woman, and contemptuous of ordinary people, for starters.

Bowman humorously invites Michael Moore to investigate the 'conspiracy' which produced an anti—Kerry movie masquerading as an anti—Bush movie. I think the cause is far simpler: the archetypes have a basis in (Democratic) reality.

Posted by Thomas  8 10 04