…to the AP convention.
If it wasn’t already, Obama is making clear the message he will use as a re-election pitch: The GOP supports the 1%, and they are looking to strip away the social safety net and return America to the days of tenements and factory-fires and unfettered free markets ruled over by robber barons and a network of white, male, corporate fat cats.
And the only thing standing in the way of that is President Obama’s championing of the working man and the middle class and the American Dream, which he describes in a way that has become redefined largely because the variables in the equation, as progressives have adopted it and massaged it to fit their world view, have been carefully deconstructed and then reconstructed to signify their opposites: to wit, “radical vision” is now used to describe the foundational principles of this country, from free markets to individual autonomy to a limited government; “fair” refers to equality of outcome, not equality of opportunity, with the government responsible for all wealth and its proper distribution; “opportunity” itself is centralized and dictated by the government, with winners and losers selected by a ruling class allied to corporate partners in a form of liberal fascism; “outward growth” is characterized as springing from the centralized plans of the Leviathan State; and checks on the expansion of a massive, unfunded entitlement society deep in debt is refigured as “gutting” the engine of economic growth — while resistance to a command and control economy is characterized as a desire to “gut” the infrastructure necessary to run a compassionate, moral government.
This, despite nearly a trillion dollars of a supposedly one-time stimulus now built permanently into the baseline budget; this despite Obama’s own budget proposals being defeated in the House and Senate, when voted on, without a single affirmative vote; this despite the demonstrable failures of Obama’s policies built around the expansion of the entitlement state to create jobs or economic prosperity; this despite the campaign by Obama to massively increase dependency on government while simultaneously waging war on private entities designed to work as social safety nets.
In other words, the left has kept the signifiers that intimate a fidelity to the American Dream; but they have changed the signs. And they’re hoping that reasonable men won’t be able either to see the difference or else convince others of the subterfuge. In this way, they have completed their subversion of the language — with our tacit institutional assent.
And Obama doesn’t have to answer for his failed record so long as he can keep our eyes focused toward an apocalyptic future that is sure to emerge in his absence.
The president called the [GOP] budget proposal primarily crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., the chair of the Budget Committee, “a Trojan horse,” and “thinly veiled social Darwinism,” painting an apocalyptic vision of what it might mean to the public if enacted.
Addressing a convention of the Associated Press, the president said the Ryan budget is “disguised as deficit reduction plans” but “really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country.
“It is antithetical to our entire history as a land of opportunity and upward mobility for everybody who’s willing to work for it,” he said, speaking sternly, “a place where prosperity doesn’t trickle down from the top, but grows outward from the heart of the middle class. And by gutting the very things we need to grow an economy that’s built to last — education and training, research and development, our infrastructure — it is a prescription for decline.”
And who will the GOP run against such a carefully crafted, decidedly Marxist message?
A Wall Street “vulture capitalist” who is often ashamed of his own wealth — and who more often than not, when it comes to policy, is progressive lite.
Frankly, without a principled and impassioned conservative response to the rank socialist rhetoric of the New Left progressives, the kind of messaging Obama and the Democrats plan to employ — based as it is on populist bromides and an implied conception of “freedom” that consists of cradle to grave governmental protection against a cruel and predatory world of unchecked and competing liberties — will likely resonate with people still looking for “hope”.
And Romney has shown absolutely no affinity for understanding conservative or classical liberal principles beyond the occasional ability to convincingly pronounce the words involved without a lot of fumbling and stuttering.
So. If Americans truly are as dumb as both Obama and the GOP establishment believe them to be, say hello to four more years. And say goodbye to the American Experiment.
(h/t Bill S, Terry H)
****
update: More, from Jim Pethokoukis: “We’ve gone from hope and change to slash and burn.”
[…]
Obama’s rhetoric seems even more divisive when you understand what he’s railing against. House Republicans passed a budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan — and generally reflecting Mitt Romney’s economic platform — which would cut debt and boost economic growth by doing the following:
– lowering tax rates while broadening the tax base … just like Obama’s debt commission recommended.
– block granting Medicaid to the states … just Democrats and Republicans did with welfare in the 1990s.
– eventually converting fee-for-service Medicare into a premium-support system … just like a bipartisan Medicare commission recommended in the 1990s.
Smart ideas all, but hardly radical — at least if your goal isn’t the perpetual expansion of the welfare state and America’s transformation into a European social democracy.
Those of you who read the very measured Pethokoukis regularly will recognize the exasperation here. This is happening, people. Liberty is, in a very real way, fundamentally at stake.
Use it or lose it.
Well, he *was* speaking before his most rabid partisans. You have to expect a little red meat for the fanatics.
A hundred OUTLAW!s in Congress could go a long way toward saving the experiment. A dozen recalcitrant governors wouldn’t hurt, either.
mittens 2012: at least he’s not a communist!
Jeff, what say you to drafting a letter to the Romney campaign that states clearly what our concerns are and how dismayed we are that he, as the presumptive nominee is not addressing them adequately? You are a very persuasive fellow and write an excellent letter.
I know you’re a little busy these days, so disregard my suggestion if you think it silly.
At the risk of prognosticating, the GOP could run a monkey with a note in his mouth against Barack and easily take 49 states.
President Obama now has that Carteresque scent of failure lingering about him, and Americans of all stripes, even the red striped ones, despise failure; it’s bad for business.
the GOP could run a monkey with a note in his mouth
You do realize that would be racist?
Then again, I suspect this is the year we discover breathing is racist, so it really won’t matter, will it?
Romney only responds or addresses friendly media. He knows in the end I’ll back him because it’s either he or Obama for President.
So his best bet is to just keep his mouth shut and ride out conservative concerns until he can pitch himself as Obama’s slightly less ideological brother from another mother.
OT: It would be good to hear from Maggie Katzen and our other BigD area friends. Check in when ya can ya’ll, eh?
Well, that’s depressing, but not unexpected, Jeff. I got ahead of myself in the problem-solving department once again.
If we could be running a monkey,
why in the hell are we about to run Romney?
I think if we are talking running lower order primates against Obama, at least opt for a chimpanzee or an orangutan or perhaps a silverback gorilla.
Monkeys have tiny brains and are phenominally stupid being only slightly smarter than lemurs or Obama, for that matter.
Turning himself into a bellowing moron suits Obama. Nice to see he’s finally found a character that fits! And so endearing.
Because it’s Romney’s turn, Ernst. The monkey has to get voted out of a couple offices and lose some primaries before it’s the monkey’s turn.
Can we run the orangutan from the “Any Which Way” movies?
Wanna bet, Mr W? Oh, that’s right. You don’t pay your wagers like an honest person.
Ben Shapiro over at the Breitbart sites piqued my interest in this from communist economist Robert Reich:
” According to an analysis of tax returns by Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty, the top 1 percent pocketed 93 percent of the gains in 2010. 37 percent of the gains went to the top one-tenth of one percent. No one below the richest 10 percent saw any gain at all.
In fact, most of the bottom 90 percent have lost ground. Their average adjusted gross income was $29,840 in 2010. That’s down $127 from 2009, and down $4,843 from 2000 (all adjusted for inflation).”
Reich goes on to decide that this information means we need to begin wealth redistribution post haste… of course, but the real story here is that Obama’s economy is 1% all the way
Mitt’s fundraisers to donors: If Mittenz doesn’t take the nomination before the convention, you might get some of that Sarah Palin on you!
I wish I could share your enthusiasm. Note, however, that unlike the Carter mis-administration, we have nearly 50% of all Americans not paying taxes and a nearly equal percentage receiving government benefits.
Therefore, all Obama has to do is hammer home the message “Vote for me, or the free [stuff] stops”, and he wins in a landslide…
I guess it is playing nice to include a link. I won’t include the one for Reich’s site because he wants to take away my money and give it to someone else so fuck him.
Here’s Shapiro’s story: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/04/03/Robert-Reich-Obama-Recovery
Reich goes on to decide that this information means we need to begin wealth redistribution post haste… of course, but the real story here is that Obama’s economy is 1% all the way
Statism always benefits those most able to manipulate the state. More statism would just benefit them even more.
If people really cared about the poor, they’d support property rights, contract rights, and weaning people off the public teat.
Oh, Steve, it’s not just your money that he wants to take away. He wants to make sure you know you spend a sizable portion of your life working for what he wants, not what you want. He wants you to be — part time only, of course — his slave.
Right turn, Clyde.
…Romney has shown absolutely no affinity for understanding conservative or classical liberal principles
Even if the electorate votes for Bush Lite and we get rid of the Unicorn Oil Salesman, by April 2013 we’ll be lectured by Practical Republicans Who Won High Office that politics is about winning first, principles later, and ooh look, scary mid-terms, don’t talk like unhelpful ideologues!
So the Marxist in chief essentially acuses Ryan of promoting eugenics (which is essentially what social Darwinism is) and you guys are bashing Romney? Talk about what you want, I guess, but Romney is a poor candidate, not the enemy,
Romney is a bowl of political philosophical jelly, a man without a backbone willing to bend in whatever direction will attain to him his aims. He ain’t anybody’s friend but his own, and could hardly be better designed to thwart the needs of the current national situation. Worse still, he hasn’t a clue as to his inadequacies.
I’m multi-tasking. If you look around you’ll see that I’ve been bashing Obama viciously here for the last couple days.
Romney is being mentioned because he is both the presumptive GOP presidential candidate and the candidate least at odds with Obama and his agenda. Which I posit makes him precisely the wrong candidate to put up against Obama.
Is that “bashing”? Or is it “bashing” in the same way that pointing out we don’t have money to spend and can’t continue spending it is “gutting”?
That was rhetorical.
ot some good energy news
link
Telling the truth is “bashing.”
I thought that was obvious.
What would a genuine patriot do? He’d examine his nation’s crisis, then examine himself: if finding himself inadequate to the crisis at hand, he’d step aside for a better candidate more fit to the tasks everyone can foresee. That’ s what a patriot would do. Mitt Romney? Oh hells no, he’s going for the brass-ring, another chit in his “victory” column. Fuck him.
At least there’s a 50/50 chance that my simian candidate wouldn’t hate America.
And we all know that a well written note goes a long way in certain foreign policy circles.
At least there’s a 50/50 chance
the odds of mr. w. paying out?
Harrison County, OH is near the country’s second oil boom, so it’s not surprising they’ve had luck up there. I remember driving through there in the early ’80s and seeing oil wells just pumping away — and in recent decades NOT seeing them.
On the other hand, land prices are going up all over eastern Ohio, and some in eastern Kentucky. I may have missed my chance to buy a country retreat. Dammit.
What are the odds of you writing something fresh and interesting for once, newrouter? You know, something that elevates the discourse? Invective is a sure sign of a lazy intellect, that’s why the liberal blogs are positively swimming in it.
You appear to be laboring, like RD, under the illusion that ‘unpleasant’ is the same as ‘clever’.
It isn’t.
You may wish to reflect on how this may be at least partially responsible for what I imagine to be your less than satisfactory social life.
Next?
What are the odds of you writing something fresh and interesting for once, newrouter?
it is odd you be always speaking about odds. but you be an odd dude mr. w.
Oh leave nr alone. He’s an iconoclast.
here’s mittens/patton tonite
“Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight, is a crock of bullshit. Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight. When you, here, everyone of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.”
then put it in the nicole wallace/john mccain translator
Iconoclasts are supposed to endeavor to be interesting, leigh. It’s a rule.
Iconoclasts are supposed to endeavor to be interesting, leigh
odds are mr w. is not interesting or informed
He’s actually pretty witty, Mr. W.
“Deadbeats misendeavor on making good their markers” is another rule.
He hasn’t even made good on changing his handle like he said he would.
Geez, never thought I’d see leigh jump in to defend newrouter’s honor.
What I want to know is if matt used to post here as “joe”?
mittens 2012: at least he’s not a communist!
romney 42
santorum 38
@ 71%
Why wouldn’t I Lee? He’s an equal opportunity insult generator. Every blog needs one.
Patton speech
You know what’s liberating about not supporting Mitt Romney?
Not feeling obliged to defend him.
Listen to Rep. Ryan.
Obama is a simple moral monster who has no compunction about lying with his every word.
You did it to yourself Mr. W. No one hurt your reputation but you.
Trying to pretend it didn’t happen is a waste of time.
Fortunately his lies are fairly easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for.
” . . . once you know what you’re looking for.”
Heh, like his mouth is open.
I was thinking more a long the lines of casuistry. But yeah, if you’re weary of parcing every speech he gives, it’s safe to assume he lies like Lillian Hellman.
You know what’s liberating about not supporting Mitt Romney?
Not feeling obliged to defend him.
This.
But the GOP has decided differently. They’d rather spend 75% of their energy in the general trying to create daylight between the various positions taken by the Weathervane over his career and those of the President.
Because there’s nothing more electable than a serial flip-flopper. Independents love them.
Here’s the transcript of Romney’s victory speech in Wisconsin last night, where he was introduced by Ryan. What you won’t find: a reference to the snarling viciousness Obama leveled at Ryan, pushback on Obama’s libel against the court and founding principles including the separation of powers. Instead, bland criticism of Obama’s “government centered society” and bromides about getting back to business and holding our heads high again. What a missed opportunity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-wisconsin-primary-speech-transcript-video/2012/04/03/gIQALzmEuS_blog.html
Just like the entirety of the 2008 campaign outside Palin. Who the GOP and our “conservative” leaders in the blogosphere jettisoned soon thereafter.
Worse, actually, since in 2008 you actually had to do a little digging to figure out who Obama was, and his speechifying was more polished than his recent blatant attacks. If Romney wants to stick with this “obama’s a nice guy in over his head” approach, the only hope is that he chooses a more forthright running mate. I like Palin’s recommendation of Allen West.
From the gang that never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity?
And you’re surprised because?
The emotion I’m feeling is not surprise.
So then, what’re we talking about here?
Denial? (I can’t believe they’re this fucking stupid!)
Anger? (There’s no way they’re this fucking stupid!)
Bargaining? (Please, please, please don’t be this fucking stupid!)
Depression? (They deserve to lose, they’re so fucking stupid!)
Acceptance? (The GOP used to stand for something that wasn’t stupid.)
I’d suggest that, at least until you have a better sense of where I’m coming from, you don’t try reading my mind.
Huey Long’s “We Propose“, courtesy Mark Levin.
How about we Americans propose that tyrants like Huey Long and Barack Obama keep their filthy thief hands off our property and our lives.
” Just like the entirety of the 2008 campaign outside Palin. Who the GOP and our “conservative” leaders in the blogosphere jettisoned soon thereafter.”
Now, now Jeff.
Ace has announced that there is no “republican establishment” shooting down its own unwanted candidates and promoting the same old damp wash-rags as electable. That’s just a conspiracy-nut bogey man made up by “purists” and “stupid co-cons” and embarrassingly uninformed, loud, shrill, and just plain unwashed “tea party types” who are bringing the Republican party down because they don’t want to win anymore and just want to make pointless gestures that turn off independents and reasonable people.
No we are experiencing true democracy here. Nobody is pulling stings, or poisoning wells, or just bullshitting angry republicans to sleep so they can pull the party leftward.
It’s all an imaginary bogey man tapping on the window.
Well, you can either explain where you’re coming from, or let me have my fun with the “just win baby!” stereotype.
Which I’m going to do anyways.
Yes, I know, palaeomerus. There is no GOP establishment, and no campaign to separate out from the “sane” portion of the serious rightwing new media all those who don’t hew to this particular view. And it isn’t being led mostly by a bunch of pre-911 liberals, many of them lawyers, who have essentially snagged all the big media gigs, or created the proper network for which blogs are referenced and indexed and which are studiously ignored.
That’s all a phantasm!
A diorama of how I see the modern Republican party:
Mr. Howell rebukes Gilligan (who just broke Mr. Howell’s lawn chair to obtain materials to patch the boat, because he saw some headhunters on the island this morning) for his overactive imagination.
Skipper, who is embarrassed because Mr. Howell is embarrassed, says, ” Shut up about the head hunters, little buddy! Everybody knows that there are no headhunters on the island. If there were we would have seen them by now! You’re just scaring everybody over nothing!” and in his frustration lightly slaps Gilligan’s with his captain’s hat.
Out on the beach, the professor finds a chipped spear head and says ” Hmmm.”
Mary Ann says “I believe you Gilligan” and Ginger says ” Oh, don’t encourage him!”
Mrs. Howell is of course knocked out on a pitcher of “castaway” Bloody Marys.
Obviously from the point of view of any reasonable observer, any reference to South-pacific polynesian headhunters as a danger or threat is racist and an example of xenophobic ‘sitcom’ thinking and yet the bit about the Republican party being all white, stupid, inept, and trapped on an island or in a bubble for ever is probably pretty accurate and apt.