Zombies and Politics

In lieu of substantive posting (there's some coming, I promise -- if you want to be prepared, you can start by reading this), here's a funny opinion article on the movie "Land of the Dead." Whose idea was it to use zombies as political symbols? Anyway, here's the funniest part:

The greatest irony here is that, were Romero not obsessed with having the zombies be the underdog heroes of his story, there are several other prime targets in today's political world just begging for the kind of rich, symbolic commentary that only zombie movies can provide.

For example, consider the rhetorical position of many in the right wing who feel oppressed by the tattered remnants of the left. Republican politicians claim their agenda is being thwarted, despite the fact that they control the presidency, both houses of Congress, and a soon-to-be-increasing majority on the Supreme Court. Hawkish neocons claim that, despite getting their way in every key decision related to the Iraq war, it will be liberal dissent that dooms the mission. Conservative Christians, despite being spectacularly influential in the government and society at large, claim they're being persecuted by secular liberals.

Like the zombies of "Land of the Dead," the right wing seems content to live out an empty parody of American life, happily pursuing the surface appearance of days gone by until disturbed by outside forces. Then they unite, marching forward, becoming better organized, smarter and more dangerous, until at last they overwhelm all those who foolishly place themselves above the fray.

Only once all resistance has been destroyed do they return to their former state of existence, a vast monoculture that stretches from sea to shining sea. (Except for a few wacko holdouts in Canada.)

The thing is, I thought Rove, Limbaugh, Hannity, Ann Coulter, and the like really were the right-wing undead. Heck, Coulter even looks like a zombie.