Peter Berkowitz, Policy Review:
[…] it was Obama’s decision — against the advice of several of his closest advisers — to seek comprehensive health care reform in the face of an historic economic crisis and to resolutely pursue it month after month despite vocal majority opposition instead of concentrating on reviving the economy and creating jobs that sent a loud and clear message that the president placed progressive political transformation ahead of the will of the people.
The seeds, however, for voter indignation and anger that culminated in the electorate’s decisive shift in November 2010 toward the Republicans — and not only on the national level but also in races for governor and state legislative chambers — were sown by Obama’s 2008 election strategy. It has been frequently remarked that he put forward two quite different faces on the campaign trail. He was the progressive candidate of hope and change. But he was also the pragmatic and post-partisan candidate. He ran a relentlessly anti-Bush and anti-Republican campaign. But he also proclaimed his determination to heal wounds and bring the country, red and blue, together. He repeatedly declared himself dedicated to a new kind of politics, and he repeatedly styled himself a new kind of politician. But his inside men — David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, David Plouffe — were old school, rough and tough, bare-knuckles Chicago-style political operatives. Nearly two years in office have gone a long way toward showing that Obama’s vaunted moderation, pragmatism, and post-partisanship were, if not elements of a pose to conceal the hardball-playing partisan progressive, then qualities that stood for something other than the devotion to balance, accommodation, and conciliation that the terms in their ordinary, everyday sense suggest.
Some of us saw that “something other” very early on, and were vilified by our own “side” for saying so.
And that “something other” — whether you label it socialism, stealth socialism (which stealth socialists themselves simply call “progressivism” these days), or liberal fascism — is still today ascendant in the Obama Administration, lately made explicit in attempts to raise tax rates on a struggling economy, cut off cheap energy by placing a moratorium on drilling, and increase the price of nearly everything by expanding the regulatory state through either “food safety” measures or “eco-friendly” initiatives that merely provide cover for naked power grabbing.
Recognizing and describing what it is we see — even if doing so requires of us use of some unhelpful labeling — is precisely the kind of honest assessment this country needs right now.
And if that leads to the foregrounding of “unelectable” conservatives or the kinds of strident, insistent voices on the right that might not sellwell with moderates, then so be it: the goal of conservatism and classical liberalism going forward should be to inform and persuade “moderates” and “independents” to adopt our beliefs, not to hide those beliefs behind a veneer of pragmatism and false comity.
After all, Obama used that same gambit to get elected. And I’d like to think that we’re better than he.
Racists. Denounced and condemned.
For instance, we’ll not be expected to hear — let alone produce — criticism of Wickard v Filburn, for after all, it was a unanimous decision. Science!
And if that leads to the foregrounding of “unelectable” conservatives or the kinds of strident, insistent voices on the right that might not sell well with moderates, then so be it: the goal of conservatism and classical liberalism going forward should be to inform and persuade “moderates” and “independents” to adopt our beliefs, not to hide those beliefs behind a veneer of pragmatism and false comity.
This isn’t a tough sell, no matter what the entrenched interests might try to tell us. Keeping the fruits of your labor is quintessentially American. Looking after yourself and your family is quintessentially American. Neighbors banding together to tackle community issues is quintessentially American.
We had a handful of flaky candidates last time around. Unfortunate, but hardly unexpected for a fledgling political movement. Even so, we made huge gains at the federal, state and local levels. Going forward, we’ll find better and better candidates with each election cycle. The statists’ policy ideas? Their bad-faith arguments and obfuscation of their true goals? Not so much.
And that’s not even mentioning the fact that they’re quickly running out of Other People’s Money. They’re dying of gangrene, and they think that upping their Advil dosage from 20 pills to 24 is going to fix everything.
o/t, but why didn’t someone alert me to the Barrett Brown stuff on RSM’s blog?
An email, or something. You guys could have dropped me a line. I was busy this past weekend.
Just like the Tea Party is quintessentially American. (Pull quote via Glenn Reynolds):
Who the fuck is Barrett Brown?
He used to comment here occasionally.
It was usually entertaining.
He left because we didn’t accord him the respect he deserved. (Which was not the case. We just didn’t accord him the respect he believed he deserved, which is a much different animal.)
Which part of “Cheap-jack wannabe messiah and Outfit-approved fixer” was fuckin’ UNCLEAR? Assholes.
As opposed to a slate of flakes. The Democrats sent Biden to the Senate for how many terms? And then made him first-in-line should Obama keel over?
Close, Squid — Brown got pissed that he was accorded precisely the respect he was due. You’re exactly right in saying it was not the amount he believed he was due.
the video, over at McCain’s, really puts it all into perspective.
Which is why the tea partiers support the HCR’s policy of cutting wasteful Medicare benefits…
So AJB, just how would you rate your own standing with regard to J.S. Mill’s injunction?:
Not so hot in the fairly representing and quality of reasoning parts there, I’d say, and if you can’t fairly represent an argument, you’ll hardly be able to successfully parry it.
AJB drools on itself when standing upright.
That’s exactly how I pictured AJB.
Medicare is something we all have to pay for on top of our regular taxes. As such, some people expect benefits from it. Furthermore, you are required to be on Medicare if you accept social security (which is another benefit we paid for on top of other taxes). The fact that I don’t expect to collect on either “investment” does not preclude my anger at being shafted, nor does it preclude others from demanding what they were promised.
Furthermore, both are regressive payments that are cut right out of your pay, at a rate of 15.2%, no matter what else happens. The fact that for most people half of that is hidden does not mean they aren’t paying for it in lower wages.
Yes, everyone, I know I’m wasting my time on the meme-repeater.
BTW, as 1099 worker, the pain of handing every other paycheck to the government is keenly felt. Every dime I make goes through my bank account, and half goes back out to uncle sugar and the state.
#18 – you remind me of one of the few times I saw my father truly angry… he had finally totalled up his income taxes, FICA, property taxes and realized he was keeping 45% of every dollar he made. This was before Reagan got elected. And I am sure the hidden excise taxes, sales taxes and other meant it was actually lower than that.
He ran a chemistry lab. He wrote a book about Laboratory electornics and medicine. Not exactly a trust fund parasite or Chuck Shumerian super-villian “rich guy”…
Yeah, but all that education and experience he had? The result of winning life’s lottery.
I’m not even close to being “rich” according to the current definition. If I were, I would actually be able to keep more of my money overall because after around $90K every dollar over only gets about 3% taken off the top, rather than 15.2%. They are trying to raise that ceiling as well, of course.
Your liberty includes the right to die in agony if you can’t afford medical care. And before we go all “christiany” about my attitude: You ain’t my brother, and you ain’t my responsibility. Pay your own way or die. I don’t care which.
Which is why the tea partiers support the HCR’s policy of cutting wasteful Medicare benefits…
Actually, AJB, you may have stumbled on a nugget of truth here. I would love to be freed of this nation’s wasteful Medicare program. I would love to take all the money I’ve thrown away on this horrible monstrosity and instead pour it into a medical savings account from which I can make choices based on my own self-interest. I’ll be you dollars to doughnuts that the quality of care I received by paying for services with my own damn money would be a far sight better than the quality of care received with “free” government money from physicians forced to provide services at whatever level and remuneration a bunch of idiots in Washington decided for all of us.
I will take care of myself. I will take care of my parents. I will take care of my children. I will give money and support to local charities that will help those whose medical needs outstrip their resources. But I absolutely loathe the fact that I’m required to squander thousands of dollars every year on a mishmash of mandated services that are managed and priced for political ends that have little to do with medical outcomes, quality of care, or customer satisfaction.
The fact that you want to consign yourself and your loved ones to decades of indentured servitude to pay for later decades of mismanaged care is something for which I pity you. The fact that you want to consign me and my loved ones to the same fate is something for which I abhor you.
Of course, if I like you, then I might be inclined to help you out. Others will feel the same way. The moral of the story is: Don’t be an asshole unless you can cover your own freight.
Uh oh…
Obama as LBJ. Oh, this is going to be fun sometimes.
And if the charity wants to impose such things as becoming clean / sober, working at whatever job is available, or just requiring you to sit quietly and listen to the sermon before handing out the goodies, I will say “More power to them”, and donate extra.
Putting aside your animosity for Obama, it would appear that you are trying to ignite another party. If so, why? Haven’t your cuddle-dud Rethugs given you absolutely everything?
Oh, I noticed a response from Mojo, who looks like a honey bear but should be a pit bull. Nice sentiment, creep.
Who is this addressed to?
And what does it mean? What other party is being ignited, and how? What are cuddle-dud Rethugs? What have they given me?
Jeff, please. You guys have gotten everything you demanded from this disgustingly gutted faction (it’s not a party anymore).
Jeff, I think Cynn’s been rummaging under the sofa cushions and found the good red pills.
Jeff, please. You guys have gotten everything you demanded from this disgustingly gutted faction.
The only thing I’ve ever asked for was lower spendings, and that’s still nowhere in sight. You’re an idiot and a liar, and with every lying stupid comment you leave, you just reinforce your reputation.
Hope you’re enjoying your hangover, cynn.
All I want for Christmas is a coherent interlocutor.
If the faction has been gutted disgustingly, then the dresser did it wrong.
Dull knife, I’d reckon. No surprise, really; it is cynn we’re talking about.