William Ward, writing in American Thinker, believes we have reached a decisive point in American politics. Libertarians and conservatives have reached death ground, that point in the battle from which there is no retreat.
In the face of such aggressive liberal grasps for American liberties, the majority conservative base is now starting to wake up and jump off the fence. People who once rebuked the Minuteman protesters for going to the US/Mexican border to protest lax immigration enforcement in 2004 are now themselves going to town halls and organizing Tea Party protests of their own, and public opinion polls are now taking decided shifts into traditionally conservative directions.
In short, the American conservative base has been marshaled onto the political equivalent of Sun Tzu's death ground, and the ideological pawns are finding fewer paths of retreat from the advancing onslaught of the liberal agenda.
Progressives know we're there. Consider Bill Clinton's words to the Netroots in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago.
“We have entered a new era of progressive politics which, if we do it right, can last 30 or 40 years,” Clinton said.
Doing it right means getting full control now. This is the crucial moment. If the libertarian and conservative voices demanding the preservation of our liberties can be overwhelmed now, they'll never heard from again. Read the entire essay. It's a good one.
Update: Per Drudge, Clinton knows what's at stake.
“We need to pass a bill this year. Doing nothing is not only the worst thing we can do for the economy, it’s the worst thing we can do for the country. It’s also the worst thing we can do for the Democrats,” Clinton said, because Americans expect Democrats to deliver when they elect them. (My emphasis).
He's wrong about one thing. This mess of a health care reform bill is not what Americans ever wanted or expected Democrats to deliver once they got into office. Passing this health care bill is unlikely to do anything good for the economy, and it will be the worst thing for a great many elderly Americans. If there are any savings to be had from health care reform they will be brought about by limiting treatment for seniors. If there are beneficiaries of passing this trillion dollar travesty, they are Democrats salivating at the opportunity to dole out money and benefits as they strive for a permanent grip on political power.
Well, Tom, the Libertarians and conservatives have allowed us to come to this point by supporting Bush's expansion of government and the debt that went along with it. Then they followed up by nominating more of the same in McCain. I still say if the GOP wants to make any hay they need to adopt congressional term limits as a campaign cornerstone. If they would do that and get back to constitutional basics they could again have an impact and stop the "change" we've been experiencing for entirely too long.
Posted by: Ol' BC | August 30, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Well BC, couple of things come to mind. One, it's hard to worry about Bush's deficits when you see 'em stacked up against Obama's. The second thing is, it wasn't conservatives and libertarians (either capital-L or small) that allowed it. Republican politicians took a fearful beating at the polls for their role in it. If we make it through this mess, it won't be with the same collection of Republicans that have just kept goin' along to get along.
Posted by: Tom Bowler | August 30, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Term limits come with the disadvantage that lame ducks can vote their personal pocketbooks without fear of the next election. Consider that please before you invest too much effort in promoting them BC.
Posted by: PJ Smith | August 30, 2009 at 11:42 PM
I'm for term limits. Too many voters are unaware of the issues. They go into the booths and just look for a name they recognize and pull the lever/ push the button. If you want to see the end result of no term limits, just take a look at Arlen Specter. What a disaster he is.
Posted by: Mike | August 31, 2009 at 08:22 AM
I'm opposed to unilateral GOP term limits for the obvious reason. I'm on the fence on term limits in general because it is possible to have a talented and honest representative or senator that you might like to keep around for a while.
What I think we ought to consider is pay reform for congressmen and senators. I see no reason for congressmen and senators to be paid the comparatively low salary of $165,200 when baseball players, actors, and CEOs make millions. I'm not sure what the number ought to be, maybe $5 million per year. Along with that I would favor a law that guarantees jail time for any congressman or senator that accepts a gift of any kind. I'm thinking of Christopher Dodd's sweet mortgage deals.
In addition there would have to be elimination of that mess they call campaign finance reform, and in its place require full disclosure and publication of all campaign contributions in any form, be it candidate, party, or PAC contributions.
Posted by: Tom Bowler | September 01, 2009 at 02:06 PM