I don’t agree with everything Ezra Klein says here, not nearly. Nevertheless, I liked it so much that I’m going to break two of my blogging commandments** and tell you to read the whole thing. It’s one of the most original, thought-provoking, and snappiest pieces of writing on the overall U.S. political situation, that I’ve seen in a while.
To summarize and oversimplify: Ezra’s basic argument is that while Bush is one of the most conservative/right-wing/reactionary/what have you Presidents we’ve had in a while–he talks like a Democrat. And that given the choice between fake Democrats and real Democrats, voters will choose real Democrats in the end.
My main disagreement is with his optimism. The news media, taken as a whole, is neither liberal nor conservative, but incompetent. They allow you to fool most of the people most of the time. The Republican Party is very, very good at this. The Democrats have been very, very bad at responding. They aren’t as dishonest as the Republicans, but they’re not honest either; they won’t stand up for their own views on many issues but they will take cheap and easy shots. This is the worst of both worlds.
Also, in some areas Bush does use more conservative/Republican rhetoric. All the God talk, all the talk about “destroying evil,” the very simplistic explanations for everything, war and tax cuts as panaceas. The Democrats have ceded plenty of rhetorical ground too, and unlike Bush they’ve made a lot of policy concessions too. And Bush is not the entire Republican party–you still have your DeLays, your Hasterts, your Santorums yearning to breathe free. I haven’t noticed much tolerance on their part, and they’ll still be here even if we manage to get rid of Bush.
So much as I’d like to believe that
it is only once Baron Von Killpuppy has world domination in his grasp that Bond actually gets close enough to foil his plans, destroy his organization, and let loose with a barrage of witty remarks.
I’m not optimistic about Bond’s chances in this case. But it’s worth reading.
*This represents my views only, not the views of my cobloggers. That’s probably obvious.
**Thou shalt not use too many cliches; Thou shalt not act like Glenn Reynolds.
Bush the… Progressive?
Bear with me on this one, folks. I realize the title borders on apostasy. Via Katherine over at Obsidian Wings (to whom I seem to be linking a lot these days) comes a really fantastic post over at Pandagon. I…
Ezra’s basic argument is that while Bush is one of the most conservative/right-wing/reactionary/what have you Presidents we’ve had in a while–he talks like a Democrat.
Thank You!
I’ve been trying to say that for months now, but hadn’t found the words…on to your article…
Actually I bumped into Mr. Bond at lunchtime on Vauxhall Bridge, and he said Ezra Klein seems unaware that he (007) can’t run for President.
Furthermore I am advised that policy regime in the United States of America is not (currently) one of the priorities of Her Majesty’s Government.
But don’t piss us off any more, okay? I mean, you saw what happened to Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He also had spaceships, and nukes, and three names, and… well actually the comparison ends there, but I’ve made my point.
Sorry. Let the serious comments commence.
he talks like a Democrat.
Spends like one, too, according to Cato and the WSJ. Add in the protectionist moves on steel, and you’ve got quite a mix.
As usual, Katherine, you’re right: the fact that the public should like a real Democrat better than a fake one doesn’t do you much good when the language of political discourse is talking points, TV commercials, and news blips. 30 seconds is not long enough to describe all the ways in which Bush’s “Medicare prescription drug benefit” or “Healthy Forests Initiative” or “No Child Left Behind Act” are actually the opposite of what they sound like.
Talks like a Democrat, spends like a Democrat…can we get him to quack?
Just kidding, really. But to characterize Bush as a right-wing Republican is simplismé, no?
I find it highly amusing that you think Bush is a right wing conservative.
Prescription drugs, unconsitutional campaign finance reform, and increased federal spending on education are hardly conservative issues.
Face it. Bush is a 60’s Democrat.