tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post7505794882531070961..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Catch of the DayJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-59427560568751351642013-10-02T00:36:02.509-05:002013-10-02T00:36:02.509-05:00C'mon. The thinking by critics is parallel. Th...C'mon. The thinking by critics is parallel. The actions by the various politicians and party actors are not, but that doesn't change the first point.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-36249380998910707552013-10-01T15:53:36.676-05:002013-10-01T15:53:36.676-05:00I think a big part of the problem is that criticis...I think a big part of the problem is that criticism is a lot easier than the work to put together a proposal. Especially if that proposal is a compromise that takes into account a lot of different interests that are otherwise conflicting. <br /><br />There was a great article recently on the Heritage Foundation's glory days back in the 1980's; I think you linked to it. Not only is HF lost its courageous ideas, but groups like ALEC that stepped in to provide conservative proposals put out ideas that literally kill people (Stand Your Ground, anyone?)<br /><br />The failure to consider, acknowledge, or accomodate the concerns of others is destroying the conservative movement.Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-71384290952608161302013-10-01T09:33:57.690-05:002013-10-01T09:33:57.690-05:00"Note, of course, that what we're seeing ..."Note, of course, that what we're seeing here is exactly parallel to the magical thinking about the presidency that many liberals have fallen for throughout Obama's presidency."<br /><br />Exactly parallel except for the fact that there are 0 liberals who are shutting down the government or risking debt default if Obama doesn't get cap-and-trade, card check, or single payer enacted. Or in other words not parallel at all.Ron E.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-49355907317410117762013-09-30T13:35:58.893-05:002013-09-30T13:35:58.893-05:00What Klein overlooks is that, assuming for the sak...What Klein overlooks is that, assuming for the sake of argument that W won Florida, Bush didn't run on a promise to shred the safety net and get the "takers" off the government teat; indeed, he specifically promised prescription drug coverage for seniors. Could he have won Fla, hanging chads and butterfly ballots and all, if he'd said "Seniors need to recognize that Uncle Sucker isn't going to help them pay for drugs. They need to look to charity or the good offices of their children if they're experiencing hardship."? He didn't get Hispanic votes by promising to let them self-deport, but by promising immigration reform. Surely the promise of education reform got him more votes than a promise to shutter the Dept. of Ed would have. <br /><br />I know Klein can't admit it and still get published in TWS, but, while the constituency for "spending is out of control" is huge, the constituency for the Paul Ryan budget is much smaller (maybe even smaller than the Repub House caucus). The Ryan budget is a pale imitation of the sorts of ideas conservatives ran on when they were "The Party of Ideas"* (*that would be great, as long as liberals don't co-opt them, in which case we have to drop them like a hot potato), partly because the conservatives with ideas knew they had to deal with voters' real concerns, and partly because the idea people actually believed they were good ideas and an improvement over the status quo.Geoff Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17117921607237662932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-67786501406816039142013-09-30T12:44:35.599-05:002013-09-30T12:44:35.599-05:00The problem seems to be 'opposite party: REJEC...The problem seems to be 'opposite party: REJECT LIKE THE WIND' 'same party: SUPPORT TO THE GRAVE NO MATTER WHAT' and there's no compromise or willingness to make amends or move in a different direction unless the current direction has them hanging off a cliff.Annamaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18146049512730288147noreply@blogger.com