07 November 2012

This, Too, Shall Pass

One of the many consolations of being conservative is that we can't be too depressed at people voting for the status quo.

24 comments:

erp said...

... but did they or did the socialists learn from Gore's failed coup?

I feel like I woke up in Soviet Gulag.

Peter said...

About ten years ago, we were driving along the Delaware River between NJ and PA with our eight year old son in the back. He and I had the following conversation:

He: "I think there are alligators in this river."

Me: No, sport, alligators are in the South. We're much too far north. It's impossible."

He: "No, Daddy, we're in the United States. In America, anything is possible."

Of course it will pass. May I be permitted the temerity of offering a slogan for the GOP in 2016:

IT'S THE SUBURBS, STUPID!

erp said...

Peter, tell that to all the people enslaved by socialism and communism over the past 100 years. This time it'll take much longer because the old U.S. of A. won't be around.

Bret said...

David,

What exactly is it that will pass?

Our remaining prosperity? Our remaining freedom? Western civilization? Obama as President? The trend towards ever bigger government? Democratic gloating?

Which part of the status quo are you referring to?

Ultimately, all we are is dust in the wind, so yes, everything shall pass. That's not necessarily a good thing.

David said...

Bret:

It's not good or bad, but it's true and it didn't change yeserday.

Harry Eagar said...

The population is 100 times bigger than it was in 1789. Why shouldn't government be 100 times bigger?

'That government which governs least governs best' is pithy and catchy, but history gives us no warrant for thinking so.

Harry Eagar said...

The population is 100 times bigger than it was in 1789. Why shouldn't government be 100 times bigger?

'That government which governs least governs best' is pithy and catchy, but history gives us no warrant for thinking so.

erp said...

harry, i guess logic isn't your first language.

David said...

Harry:

That is a little disingenuous. The government is doing more than it did at the founding, not just more of the same.

Also, a 100 times? If only our current budget was 100 times our first budget.

In fact, according to the Treasury, from 1789 through 1849, the federal government budgets total were about $1 billion. I'd be thrilled if your budget deficit was just 100 times the total budgets for the first 60 years of the Republic.

Harry Eagar said...

For the first couple decades of the Republic, 10% of ALL federal expenditures were tribute the Barbary pirates.

Washington, Adams and Jefferson all wanted to stop that but needed appropriations for a navy, which the small government Congress refused to give.

Sometimes more is more. And sometimes the smallest government is in Somalia.





David said...

I think we've reached consensus on not paying tribute to the Barbary pirates and having a big enough navy to make our first consensus stick. It still doesn't explain the federal budget.

Peter said...

I think we've reached consensus on not paying tribute to the Barbary pirates

Well, there you go. Baby steps. See, if you try to build on what unites rather than divides, you'll rope in that ornery deficit in no time.

David said...

Peter:

Actually, I meant that Harry and I have reached consensus. The Democrats, on the other hand, are planning on giving the Barbary pirates reparations and a heartfelt apology for missing 200 years of tribute now that Obama is safely reelected and they don't have to kowtow to the right-wing war mongering class.

Peter said...

Ah, I see. Funny, I would have thought reaching a consensus with Obama would be child's play compared to reaching one with Harry.

erp said...

Peter, actually there is no reason for Obama to try to reach a consensus with any man or beast now that's he's firmly entrenched on the throne. Harry doesn't understand that yet.

You won Harry. Now try to live with it.

Susan's Husband said...

Yes, Obama is now a lame duck so he can be more "flexible". He has absolutely no accountability at this point, because he could start holding human sacrifices on the White House lawn and still be de facto unimpeachable. Just like the Chicago Machine.

Bret said...

Hopes for a decent legacy and the House may keep Obama in check. Clinton did not tach significantly left in his lame duck session, we'll see about Obama.

The thing about being a lame duck is that Obama can also tell his leftist constituents to go to hell.

Susan's Husband said...

But Clinton tacked right before his second term, which Obama didn't, so in effect Obama has (comparatively) already tacked left.

I can't imagine a legacy being an impediment either - Obama will never believe his legacy isn't great regardless of what he does or the results, because he is The One.

The thing about being a lame duck is that Obama can indulge his leftist tendencies while telling the voting public to piss up a rope. IMHO it is a complete misreading of Obama to think he's gone left because that is what his base wants. It's completely the opposite.

Susan's Husband said...

Woops, forgot to note about the House restraining Obama - just consider AG Holder. He's basically told the House to piss up a rope, the House held him in contempt, and then ... what? Nothing. Holder doesn't care and clearly Obama doesn't care, so why would either care about the House in the future?

Harry Eagar said...

Obama should adapt and adopt New Deal principles but I am not hopeful.

The idea that he is a ravening leftist seems comical to most of my leftist friends. They see him as a centrist.

Susan's Husband said...

So we can repeat the 1930s instead of the early 2000s? I disagree, I think prosperity is a good thing.

David said...

Start a World War? I'm not hopeful either

erp said...

World War III has already started with Obama's blessing in the Middle East with the Islamists trying to take us approximately 1300 years further back than the 30's.

Baffling thing is leftoids are with them even though most of them (gays, feminazis ...) will be the first to be purged) and without us in the mix, this time the forces of evil will probably win.

Mazel tov -- Jews are with them too.



Hey Skipper said...

Perhaps this is a good time to review some historical documents.