I don’t have much time on this (cold cold) day, so I’ll limit my remarks to the following:
1. Bush claims that he’s a fiscal conservative. If so, he’s a fiscal conservative in the same way that Orson Scott Card is a Democrat.* Bush has presided over one of the longest and loudest arias of discretionary spending that we’ve ever experienced. Only a modest portion of it has anything to do with 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, or “homeland security.” Andrew Sullivan is pissed enough to (almost) claim that Bush either “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” or is “lying.” Let’s remove the “almost,” Andy.
2. Bush is thinking about going to Mars. This is a wonderful idea, for which I’d like to offer unqualified support. What’s holding me back? See item #1.
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*Moe Lane ruminates on Orson below.
Bush is thinking about going to Mars.
I’ll pitch in to buy his ticket…it is one-way, no?
Hey, big tents all over. Card may very well be a voting Democrat; believe it or not there have been conservative Democrats. But conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans are finding unfriendly neighbors in their respective camps.
Lotsa outdoorsy references; maybe me subconscious is telling me to go backpacking.
But conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans are finding unfriendly neighbors in their respective camps.
Amen — having had some personal experience with the phenomenon.
Conservative Democrats? Liberal and Moderate Republicans?
Hey, I remember them. Having a political system made of two “big tent” parties offered us superb natural protection against domination by those with extremist views. Americans are crazy people, but our political system has been rock-solid and I’d like it stay that way.
That’s why I can’t stand this new-fangled I’m-always-right/good-and-you’re-always wrong/bad, Democrats=Evil Liberals and Republicans=Evil Conservatives nonsense.
Why can’t all these ideologues see that we don’t live in a black-and-white world, so black-and-white parties are bound to get us into deep trouble?
I think what this proves is that Congressional Republicans are fiscal conservatives only when they’re in opposition/obstructionist mode, while Congressional Democrats — who, save for war spending, wanted to spend MORE than Bush in all areas — aren’t even dependable fiscal conservatives when in the opposition. (The Reagan era proved that, too.)
It looks like the best situation for voters who vote with the nation’s fiscal health in mind is a centrist Democrat President and a partisan Republican Congress. Gridlock, ahoy!
The only thing I’m willing to be a hypocrite about, in terms of deficit spending (excluding war and reconstruction costs in Afghanistan and Iraq) would be a human mission to mars. I mean, the old people have a government connection for their junk, right? Why shouldn’t I be able to leave this godforsaken planet so I don’t have to pay for this insanity?*
* Incidently, low-gravity environments such as the Moon or Mars would prolong the lifespan of the elderly. I smell a “third way” here, folks!