Our country is roughly divided between those who believe that “free trade,” deregulation to “set companies free,” and tax cuts will increase their chances for a better life, (more or less based on “Reaganomics” or more accurately Milton Friedmanomics), and those who believe that social spending is a good thing and that government regulation of business and finance can result in policies that protect American workers and jobs, the environment and the economy from the abuses that have currently landed us in recession, war and environmental destruction.

Conservatives will always distort the historical record of their policies, and I suppose liberals will as well. But our current situation is that the country has been led into deep trouble by conservative policies and there is a huge backlash against those policies. Liberals appear poised to make big gains both in Congress and in the presidency. I see absolutely nothing to suggest that leaving the Republicans in charge of appointing judges, setting foreign-policy or stewardship of the economy has any merit whatsoever. I think most voters agree with me.

Our country is roughly divided between those who believe that “free trade,” deregulation to “set companies free,” and tax cuts will increase their chances for a better life, (more or less based on “Reaganomics” or more accurately Milton Friedmanomics), and those who believe that social spending is a good thing and that government regulation of business and finance can result in policies that protect American workers and jobs, the environment and the economy from the abuses that have currently landed us in recession, war and environmental destruction.

Conservatives will always distort the historical record of their policies, and I suppose liberals will as well. But our current situation is that the country has been led into deep trouble by conservative policies and there is a huge backlash against those policies. Liberals appear poised to make big gains both in Congress and in the presidency. I see absolutely nothing to suggest that leaving the Republicans in charge of appointing judges, setting foreign-policy or stewardship of the economy has any merit whatsoever. I think most voters agree with me.

The 'democratically controlled Congress' that is blamed for inaction by everyone on the Right and Left, is actually made helpless by what was presumed to be the premier guarrantee of bipartisanship. The strength of the minority was assumed to guarrantee cooperation. What we got instead was round the clock filibusters and obstruction, and there is less bipartisanship than ever.

You can't take lessons from the past either. When the Republicans forced Clinton to change course on some issues, that was possible because Clinton was a pragmetic politician who understood the art of the deal. and so were many GOP members of Congress.
Today's GOP has far fewer pragmatic politicians and far more extreme ideologues or extreme party loyalists making duplication of the past impossible.

After thinking about it, I've come to think that this call for a divided house is just a way to either A) hamstring Obama if he is elected, or B) to use a Democratic sweep as a scare tactic, the way they tried to use Pelosi in 2006.

The 'democratically controlled Congress' that is blamed for inaction by everyone on the Right and Left, is actually made helpless by what was presumed to be the premier guarrantee of bipartisanship. The strength of the minority was assumed to guarrantee cooperation. What we got instead was round the clock filibusters and obstruction, and there is less bipartisanship than ever.

You can't take lessons from the past either. When the Republicans forced Clinton to change course on some issues, that was possible because Clinton was a pragmetic politician who understood the art of the deal. and so were many GOP members of Congress.
Today's GOP has far fewer pragmatic politicians and far more extreme ideologues or extreme party loyalists making duplication of the past impossible.

After thinking about it, I've come to think that this call for a divided house is just a way to either A) hamstring Obama if he is elected, or B) to use a Democratic sweep as a scare tactic, the way they tried to use Pelosi in 2006.

It's an open question if the equivalent or stronger Democrat will emerge if the House goes as strongly Democratic as I suspect it might. (Reid will already be strengthened by a more Democratic Senate.)

It's an open question if the equivalent or stronger Democrat will emerge if the House goes as strongly Democratic as I suspect it might. (Reid will already be strengthened by a more Democratic Senate.)

** CORRECTED **

** CORRECTED **

No, we didn't like the Blue Cheerleading Society (who forms part of the Obama cult this year) back then, nor do we now. But one thing I'd say is that I don't think Gore peaked early. He seemed stronger than Bush all the way to the debates (Bush was the “brand name” desperation GOP candidate in 2000, don't forget). I and everyone I know and all the public discussion I was following assumed Gore was going to win. It was the shocking loss by Gore to Bush in the _debates_ (!) which surprised everyone and gave non-liberal voters a glimmer of (true) Hope (pun intended). “Hey, this guy [Bush] might actually win!” Which, of course, he proceeded to do — Gore went downhill in the debates and never recovered. (Trying to steal the election he lost and get illegitimate entry into the White House only made Gore and the Dems look worse.)

No, we didn't like the Blue Cheerleading Society (who forms part of the Obama cult this year) back then, nor do we now. But one thing I'd say is that I don't think Gore peaked early. He seemed stronger than Bush all the way to the debates (Bush was the “brand name” desperation GOP candidate in 2000, don't forget). I and everyone I know and all the public discussion I was following assumed Gore was going to win. It was the shocking loss by Gore to Bush in the _debates_ (!) which surprised everyone and gave non-liberal voters a glimmer of (true) Hope (pun intended). “Hey, this guy [Bush] might actually win!” Which, of course, he proceeded to do — Gore went downhill in the debates and never recovered. (Trying to steal the election he lost and get illegitimate entry into the White House only made Gore and the Dems look worse.)

The elitists in media, academia, and government (well left of the US public) know what's best for us, anyway. No more elections means they might even someday get laws passed that have no chance of passing through legislatures receptive to public opinion, common sense, and wisdom.

The elitists in media, academia, and government (well left of the US public) know what's best for us, anyway. No more elections means they might even someday get laws passed that have no chance of passing through legislatures receptive to public opinion, common sense, and wisdom.

Haha………Good one, Jim!!!

Thats what Im talking about.

Haha………Good one, Jim!!!

Thats what Im talking about.

However, Kristol makes a good point. There is something more than a little unsettling in the MSM's fait accompli attitude to the Annointed One's ascension.

Elections…schelections. We don't need no stinking elections.

Imagine 3 more months of “Obama in the Highest” refrains from the MSM bombarding the American public. The Obama campaign needs to avoid peaking early.

I always cite this wonderful piece from Saletan in “Slate” (September 2000) – “Why Bush is Toast” – on the MSM's popular wisdom about definite outcomes being wrong.

http://www.slate.com/id/89619/

Gore, like Kerry…peaked early…and the American people decided they didn't like being dictated to by the MSM (pro-Gore and pro-Kerry…and now are even more pro-Obama).

However, Kristol makes a good point. There is something more than a little unsettling in the MSM's fait accompli attitude to the Annointed One's ascension.

Elections…schelections. We don't need no stinking elections.

Imagine 3 more months of “Obama in the Highest” refrains from the MSM bombarding the American public. The Obama campaign needs to avoid peaking early.

I always cite this wonderful piece from Saletan in “Slate” (September 2000) – “Why Bush is Toast” – on the MSM's popular wisdom about definite outcomes being wrong.

http://www.slate.com/id/89619/

Gore, like Kerry…peaked early…and the American people decided they didn't like being dictated to by the MSM (pro-Gore and pro-Kerry…and now are even more pro-Obama).

I don't believe the public wants “divided government” now, not to the extent they remain dissastisfied and expressed this in the 2006 elections and will do so again in November. Many of us actually don't fear what ordinarily would be frightening for Americans to contemplate, a thoroughly Democratic controlled Congress _and_ a liberal Democratic president who would invite the left wing of the Democratic Party as well as many of its more mainline members to consider all kinds of ambitious, conceit-driven plans for “change.”

Yes, under normal circumstances, but 2006 made it clear these are not normal circumstances. The Republicans (think Half Trillion Dollar Deficit) are not in any way appealing even as the lesser of two evils to people, who are tired of them.

Obama shouldn't be president. His ears look too funny.

Kristolian logic seems to be to posit a series of observations and then take a complete detour from the logical conclusion and jump over to something completely out there.

That's because his conclusion is never in doubt. “Vote for Republicans.”

Pick one according to his or her policies or whatever other criteria you use. That's all that's necessary. (I'm talking to superdelegates and regular folk here). ; )

And next to the scandal, the looming possibility of democrat fascism (oxymoron alert) with them controlling both Congress and the Whitehouse pales in comparison.

Obama has a lot to be worried about. But more than that, those who support him advidly no matter what had better braces themselves for a very big let down. Even if some slim chance allows him to overcome looming obstacles and he makes it to the Oval Office.

Be careful what you wish for. Obama has a history and not all of it is pretty.