hi JJ…Yup. You can’t put it more succinctly than that, or more depressingly than this:
In short, the Democrats did more than just cave. They actually adopted the Republican position, and then engaged in a debate on how extreme that Republican position would be (offering far-right crazy in opposition to the Tea Party’s all-out, society-changing crazy).
The consensus seems to be that Obama did that to punt the issue out of the way of the next election. But I think he missed a great opportunity to damage the Teabaggers, and kickstart the real debate that the U.S. needs to have.
The consensus seems to be that Obama did that to punt the issue out of the way of the next election.
I can see how it was important to get it out of the way before the frenzied election season ramps up in earnest. Can you imagine all this madness going on for 6 weeks while they’re trying to campaign?
But yeah, I think if I was an American liberal I’d be very depressed today. The teabaggers are in their ascendancy.
Re the difference between Democrats and Republicans … well, I hate to cite P.J. O’Rourke, but he used to be funny when he wrote stuff like this:
“When Republicans ruin the environment, destroy the supply of affordable housing, and wreck the industrial infrastructure, at least they make a buck off it. The Democrats just do these things for fun.”
OB – You’re welcome to quote PJ anytime around here I like him, even when I don’t agree with him.
But you’ve got a point. In the states, they basically have 2 conservative parties, the only difference being the degree of mental illness that infects them and how beholden they are to Big Oil & Wall Street. (Goldman Sachs was Obama’s biggest campaign contributor.)
You have to admire how the GOP fights, though. The Dems continually draw lines in the sand and erase them. The GOP draws a line, says my way or the highway, and puts on the brass knuckles.
Err…mostly right. I would submit that they are both business class parties and that when viewed through the lens of how they are serving their base, they are doing great.
The US seems to be pulling off its own ‘structural readjustment program’, although with no IMF or WB holding the stick. What is most impressive is the utter media complicity that confounds the American people and occupies them while the features of their country that benefit them are stripped away or left to wither on the vine.
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Wouldn’t they be called Republicans then?
No, one thing the GOP has shown is that it doesn’t cave — even at the risk of economic calamity. Its amazing, really.
i believe someone had a name for them (Democrats) — Wimpocrats.
I can see why the Dems’ liberal base is so disappointed in this administration. They just don’t know how to fight.
hi JJ…Yup. You can’t put it more succinctly than that, or more depressingly than this:
In short, the Democrats did more than just cave. They actually adopted the Republican position, and then engaged in a debate on how extreme that Republican position would be (offering far-right crazy in opposition to the Tea Party’s all-out, society-changing crazy).
The consensus seems to be that Obama did that to punt the issue out of the way of the next election. But I think he missed a great opportunity to damage the Teabaggers, and kickstart the real debate that the U.S. needs to have.
I can see how it was important to get it out of the way before the frenzied election season ramps up in earnest. Can you imagine all this madness going on for 6 weeks while they’re trying to campaign?
But yeah, I think if I was an American liberal I’d be very depressed today. The teabaggers are in their ascendancy.
I don’t want to — it’s too scary.
Brian!!!
I was hoping you’d come back
Are you happy with this deal?
Re the difference between Democrats and Republicans … well, I hate to cite P.J. O’Rourke, but he used to be funny when he wrote stuff like this:
“When Republicans ruin the environment, destroy the supply of affordable housing, and wreck the industrial infrastructure, at least they make a buck off it. The Democrats just do these things for fun.”
If there’s any other difference, I’m not sure I see it any more.
OB – You’re welcome to quote PJ anytime around here
I like him, even when I don’t agree with him.
But you’ve got a point. In the states, they basically have 2 conservative parties, the only difference being the degree of mental illness that infects them and how beholden they are to Big Oil & Wall Street. (Goldman Sachs was Obama’s biggest campaign contributor.)
You have to admire how the GOP fights, though. The Dems continually draw lines in the sand and erase them. The GOP draws a line, says my way or the highway, and puts on the brass knuckles.
jj: basically have 2 conservative parties,
Err…mostly right. I would submit that they are both business class parties and that when viewed through the lens of how they are serving their base, they are doing great.
The US seems to be pulling off its own ‘structural readjustment program’, although with no IMF or WB holding the stick. What is most impressive is the utter media complicity that confounds the American people and occupies them while the features of their country that benefit them are stripped away or left to wither on the vine.