The Hippies Finally Score Two Generations Later

P. J. O'Rouke points out a angle in the whole Gen. Stanley McCrystal fired because of a Rolling Stone interview debacle--after 40+ years, the hippies finally scored.

I am echoing the same exaggeration as O’Rourke, but the observation does have merit. Rolling Stone, a magazine libertarian O’Rourke has written for, has along counter-culture lefty tradition. The magazine is largely written by young liberals for barely literate rock fans and aging hippies who cannot quite get over the fact the Summer of Love ended 43 years ago.

But look, no amount of John Lennon bed ins, doobie rolling, or peace signs ever forced a command change in Vietnam. Flower Power could only dream of forcing out Westmoreland.

I am neither celebrating the “accomplishment” or overselling it. Rolling Stone and its antiwar philosophy has not won a thing. Our policy in Afghanistan will continue, perhaps under better management with Gen. David Petraeus in charge. But I do have to note we have not had such low class media wield such influence before.

It was kind of funny when the National Enquirer blew the lid off the John Edwards lovechild scandal. It will be interesting if they got it right about Al Gore’s sexual assault rumor. But affecting a change in military command/ that is a bit uncomfy.

You should read all of O’Rouke’s article for a detailed take on the foreign policy angle.