President Obama and the Bush Legacy
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Barack Obama is our president-elect. He ran an efficient campaign, with incredible fundraising efforts, tight organization, and an astounding get-out-the-vote operation. It is impossible on this night to absorb or to even outline the historical significance of electing a black president. As others have pointed out, legal discrimination against blacks occurred within living memory for many people.
As much as we should credit Obama’s unique set of political talents, and a changing American electorate for this stunning result, there are others who had a hand in creating this year. President Bush, the Republicans in Congress, and the institutional conservative movement made this night possible. In fact, it’s hard to imagine what more they could have done for Obama and the Democrats. Their incompetence and corruption have moved moderate non-ideological voters over to the Democratic side, perhaps for a generation.
As much as the racial elements of this election will be examined, the most salient shift has been socio-economic. Professional whites are now almost entirely in the Democratic column. They abhor incompetence, fear anti-intellectualism, and no longer trust Republicans to be stewards of their economic success. This is why Obama won the white vote CORRECTION: increased the Democrat’s share of the white vote tonight.
Conservatives should welcome tomorrow. President Obama and the overwhelmingly Democratic Congress will give Republicans and conservatives a choice: reform, or be scattered to the winds. Our next president will have overwhelming power, but it will be handed to him in incredibly unfavorable circumstances. Two wars, a terrible international reputation, potential economic contraction, a lawless border. Events will force him to be disciplined, or he will quickly lose his working majority in Congress.
Notes: The Senate is overwhelmingly Democratic and will likely remain so for the next four years.
New England’s last Republican House member, Chris Shays, not only lost but was blown out by Goldman Sachs vet, Jim Himes. This race perfectly reflects the shift of professional whites into the Democratic party. Moderate Republicans have been punished for the mistakes of conservatives. In fact almost all moderates–office-holders and voters– are Democrats.
Lou Barletta, a promising champion of real immigration reform lost to 12-term incumbent Paul Kanjorski. He was the best chance Republicans had of picking up a seat from a veteran Democrat. We will likely discover in the next few days that McCain and Palin’s constant campaigning in his section of Pennsylvania cost him his unique brand.
Social conservatives had a mixed evening. Pro-life measures failed in South Dakota and Colorado. But anti-gay marriage ballot measures passed easily in Florida and Arizona. As of this writing, California seems to have passed Proposition 8 – overturning that state’s pro-gay marriage Supreme Court ruling. Connecticut failed to initiate a Constitutional Convention to overturn its Supreme Court’s pro-gay marriage ruling. Overall social conservatism had a better evening than Republicans, though much of the blame for Republican defeat will be, implausibly, laid at their feet.
Filed under: Election, Politics
Obama DID NOT win the white vote.
See http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1
A well written response which addresses the real underlying reasons for this loss, which lie overwhelmingly with the Republican Party and the current narrow definition of the conservative movement. Every loss presents an opportunity for renewal and change (yes, change). From this vantage point, conservatism as it has been presented in the post-Reagan era needs an overhaul. True conservatism is not anti-intellectual, not narrowly defined, and not closed minded to new ideas. Conservatives need a new voice (not Sarah Palin, please) and need to be defined by powerful ideals rather than what we are against. Let’s hope new voices will be found that can articulate this renewal.
Too soon to know for sure, but it seems possible that the elevated black turnout for Obama in California may play a key role if Prop. 8 passes.
“… the historical significance of electing a black president.”
My sincere congratulations to Obama for being our first ethnically-mixed president.
Since he has one non-black parent, calling him our first “black” president is and forever will be a foolish misnomer. The man is as much white as he is black, both genetically and culturally; otherwise, white liberals who wrongfully look down their noses at black people and are patronizing to them would have never supported him in a million years.
I guess mixing blue and yellow together now makes blue rather than green according to the new logic. I am holding off on declaring racial reconciliation in this country until we actually have a president who was born of two non-white parents. I wonder how many more years that will take …
Hopefully, conservatives will take this as a repudiation of neo-conservatism, and will return to non-interventionism.
White liberals elected him hoping he would be the messiah come to rid them of their guilt and prove they are not racist -the utlimate sin in our multicult society – they are soon going to find out the hard way he’s not a messiah, but a madhi. Of course, they will see the punishment as medieval monks say self flagellation- as cleansing their worldly sin.
The neoconmen are already spinning the election as the failure of “social conservatives” and “Joe the Plumber”; all with full complicity of the dominant media. David Frum was on NPR this morning claiming that the GOP needed to reform its policies to deemphasize social issue (“we need more than Joe the Plumber”). As Mr. Dougherty opined, Frum blamed social conservatives for the defeat. Ironically, it was the Democrat who essentially noted the convergence of events (highly unpopular President, failed war and failed economy) as being largely responsible for the outcome. All true, of course, and all magnified greatly by the failed GOP policies perpetuated under GW Bush.
The neocons took the moderate republican out back, called him a traitor, a RINO, and then beat the s**t out of him. Now he’s a democrat. And the republicans lost the White House to a black guy. If they keep screaching socialism we’ll know they aren’t learning any lessons.
A preview of how certain members of the rightwing punditocracy plan to transform themselves from cheerleaders to “hostages” of the GOP :
From Tony Blankley (hardly such a reflective conservative throughout the Bush years): http://www.creators.com/opinion/tony-blankley.html
“As a force in electoral politics in any given season, conservatism, like all ideas and causes, is hostage to the effectiveness of the party that carries its banner, the candidates and leaders who articulate its principles and programs, and the engagement and spirit of the people who are its natural adherents …Moreover, the Republican Party, our reluctant champion, naturally (if, in a few instances, unfairly) was held to account for two unpopular wars, manifest corruption and managerial incompetence, a collapsed housing market that resulted in a 20-50 percent crash in the home values for most Americans, and a financial crisis that threatens world prosperity and has reduced the value of the average American’s stock portfolio by about 40 percent.”
Funny how the NYT and NPR and other MSM turns to Frum, Kristol, and the neocons for ‘answers’ and the ‘conservative viewpoint’ – asking the neocons why the republicans failed is like asking Greenspan why the economy tanked.
Compare these two statements:
“This race perfectly reflects the shift of professional whites into the Democratic party. Moderate Republicans have been punished for the mistakes of conservatives. In fact almost all moderates–office-holders and voters– are Democrats.”
“Overall social conservatism had a better evening than Republicans, though much of the blame for Republican defeat will be, implausibly, laid at their feet.”
As one of those moderates, I can tell you that the reason I voted a straight D ticket for the first time ever was the social conservatives. If the Rs want to recover, they need to come to terms with the social conservatives. There isn’t a political majority there and if the litmus test issues prevail, the Rs will be a minority for a very long time.
TWAS THE NIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION
It was the night after the election and all across the nation,
Not a creature was stirring (except for those on welfare and the middle class—BOTH full of expectation)
The campaign promises and rhetoric had been placed in each speech with care,
And damn, don’t you know it, the adulation of the crowds had also been there!
The young voters were nestled in their beds,
While visions of a Rock Star danced in their heads.
And those wanting “change,” not having used their thinking caps,
Kicked up their heels and settled in for post-election naps.
When out of the Nation’s Capitol there arose such a clatter,
More than just the conservatives rose to see what was the matter.
Away to Fox “Morning” News (not ABC CBS or NBC) I flew like a flash,
Turned on the Cable and watched the stock market–once again–threaten to crash.
The glean in the eyes of Oprah and the tears of Jessie Jackson,
Gave hidden meaning to all of the moderate political posturing and action,
And what on Washington Avenue to my wondering eye should appear,
But a tricked-out Cadillac with eight questionable characters–all with a leer.
With a young charismatic driver, who filled me trauma,
I knew in a moment it must be President Obama.
More rapid than suicide bombers, his riders they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“On Pelosi! now Reid! now, Biden and Oh yes! all my forgotten friends of the night!
On Richard Daley! on Ayers! on Resko, and yes, even Rev Wright!
To the top of the Senate! To the top of the House!
Now Daschle away, Tom Daschle–hey! Democrats for all!”
As laundered 25 dollar contributions before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with higher taxation, and mount to the sky.
So up to the Washington and Lincoln Monuments they flew,
With a tricked-out caddy full of radical socialist agenda, and President Obama too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the Supreme Court,
The prancing and pawing of potential judges of every liberal sort.
As I heard the Fox headlines and was turning around,
Into the Oval Office came President Obama with a bound.
He was dressed in Saks Fifth Ave from head to foot,
But his ethics and political record was all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of hollow rhetoric he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a campaign-promise peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes–how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His charisma was like roses, his oratory like a cherry!
His shortness of stature was smug as a bow,
And the depth of his arrogance; finally out for all to know.
The stuff America had been “smokin” he held in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
With devilish grin and a newly-patriotic First Lady by his side,
He knew that the voters had been taken for a ride.
He had taken illegal campaign contributions, given millions to voter fraud,
It was certainly no wonder that extremists like Ayers would happen to laud!
But that winning smile and a twist of his head,
Once again he assured the masses they had NOTHING to dread!
He spoke no more lofty speeches, but went straight to his work,
and filled American with hand outs, and then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up to change the State of the Union he rose!
He sprang to his Commander in Chief role, gave his congressional majority a whistle,
and away from Iraq, America’s Finest flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he continued to legislate,
Welcome to my world, and the next four years–you’ll soon learn to hate.
- THE END
I can tell you that the reason I voted a straight D ticket for the first time ever was the social conservatives.
I am with you on the issues, but I just don’t have the same level of reaction.
Social conservatives don’t bother me because they really do not affect my life. Evolution will survive. Abortion will be legal in most places. Gays can marry in all but name.
Now, the war was something that moved me away from the Republican party – spending and death bother me. And the bailout sealed the deal.
But social conservatives just amuse me.
on prop 8 oh come on, like the liberal/neocon elite are going to just accept the law? Look how they have ignored the anti affirmative action quotas.
Republican heavyweights are already meeting to discuss the debacle. They have avoided any criticism of the policies of the past seven years, focusing instead on such issues as alleged voter fraud committed by the community organizer group ACORN and a failure of leadership at the RNC. Newt Gingrich is being suggested as the next possible head of RNC to make things right (pun intended). Newt will no doubt be looking around for paleocon peaceniks who stabbed the party in the back. There has been no mention of two unsucessful wars, a tanking economy, and a health care crisis all of which developed on the Republican watch.
But it is good to see that the Democrats can be as stupid as the Republicans. Rahm Emanuel has already been named Obama’s chief of staff. Emanuel, and Israeli-American dual national, chose to serve in the Israeli Army rather than the American one during Desert Storm. He is pro-war and while chairman of the House Democratic Caucus he routinely denied any funding or support for candidates who were too critical of Iraq or soft on going after Iran. Pro-war Dems were carefully nurtured and given funding and organizational support. How this squares with a Democratic party base that would like to see American soldiers leave Iraq soonest and not get into any new entanglement is hard to figure.
For the second time the Conservatives have taken a political whipping.
First in 2004..now in 2008.
This should sound the alarm for conservatives to take a closer look at their future in politics.
The old anti immigration, anti gay, anti abortion, anti taxes, anti government mantra is getting old. A whole new generation of young people with liberal ideas are entering the stage. An older generation of American post war baby boomers are exiting.
If conservatives don’t want to get left out in the political cold they are going to have to reexamine their core beliefs and decide to change…or wither away.
Norris, so you propose:
pro taxes – how high
pro immigration – how many people we already have 300 million here – and we’re adding 1 million a year – oh and btw, the republican party heads specifically marginalized any talk of immigration reform despite the wide spread – left and rigth – reaction against amenesty. …
pro abortion -how would you like to extend it? partial birth, like obama?
and if we do adapt all these things (as mccain tried to do) why would any liberal want to vote for the GOP when they can vote for their own.
Yes a whole new generation of brainwashed white kids, identity politics ethnic kids are here, thanks to the 60s marxist revolution… judging by your post they aren’t too bright.
The professional classes and no longer trust Republicans to be stewards of their economic success.
That may be because so many are on the government gravy train directly or indirectly. From the social worker to the immigrant resettlement counselor to the scientist sucking in the government grants, to the lawyers dependent on more and more regulations being issued. Milan Djilas’s new class , right here in river city.
McCain was no conservative on any issue that mattered – I don’t consider this outcome a loss. The Republicans had no laurels to display to gain uncommitted votes. A GOP triumph would have been a defeat for conservatism.
Obama was the right man at the right time at the right place to fill a power vacuum. He has risen from community organizer to leader of the free world with only the weakest of opposition. Yes, including Hillary with her “high negatives.” Now Obama the leftist empty suit becomes Obama the CEO and Commander-in-chief. Time for a rude awakening. Carter years in replay. Maybe even worse.
http://rightklik.blogspot.com/
Could the people put off by the social conservatives be a bit more specific in what turned them off? “Anti-gay” is a pretty vague term.
In my view, the GOP hasn’t emphasized social issues in an election since 2004, and McCain was hardly the SoCon standard bearer.
I am completely disgusted by all who voted against gay marriage, and have 0 respect for them as human beings.
To completely disregard the rights of your fellow humans and to blatantly violate the Constitution which guarantees the pursuit of happiness and equal treatment under the law, to mandate and control the personal lives of others, is not only un-American, it is fascist in its insanity.
You are about as un American as they come.
“No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.”
~Thomas Jefferson
“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.”
~Thomas Jefferson-
“That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the whole world”
~John Adams
Conservative is to err on the side of equality over a religious theocracy taking hold, by the founders of our great nation. The reason our nation is great is because it is founded on reason over religion
Whywontgodhealamputees.com