“It’s laissez-faire until you get into deep shit” said John Gutfreund, the man who took Saloman Bros. public. This simple act of taking a (very special kind of) private company public back in the mid-go-go-go 80’s began a series of events that culminated in the subprime crash of 2007[1]. Actions have long tails, and we can’t always see what an event today will turn into tomorrow. As I listen to pundits speak now about how yesterday’s election may be a good thing, as it means Obama will have a congressional foil, I realize (again) just how little the “newspeople” know or care about issues and how far from reality any present predictions may end up.
Today we face the prospect of a resurgent Republican Party taking the reins of government, or maybe I should say taking the legislative agenda by the balls. The “People’s House” which has subpoena power that has lain dormant for the last two years is now in the hands of those whose focused desire is to see “Obama fail,”[2] people whose governing philosophy is to ensure Obama is a one-term president[3].
You don’t really think there will be bi-partisan cooperation on anything that doesn’t start with “We must investigate . . .” do you? The Republicorp doesn’t have to repeal health insurance reform to flex their muscles just like they never really had to pass an anti-abortion law. They don’t even have to pass a single thing through Congress between now and November 2012. They only have to obstruct, obfuscate and organize their Koch-snorting bedfellows into a machine that propagates the anger and fear they have been stoking since 9/11.
And if they do this well, is the Presidency the reward they are after? Yes and no. Yes in that in order to get to the real enchilada, they need the presidency. In fact, it really won’t matter which one gets it, Palin (I just threw up a little in the back of my mouth) Romney (ok, now I feel greasy all over) or (god-forbid) Jeb Bush. Hell, they could even support Susan Collins. Because the no part of the answer is this ~ from 2012 to 2016 there could be as many as two right wingers on the Supreme Court stepping down. Scalia and Kennedy will be 76 at the election. Sorry to tell you, Thomas will only be 64. But then there is also Ginsburg (79) and Breyer (74) to worry about. So whoever wins in ’12 is in the cat-bird’s seat in terms of codifying either progressive, middle of the road, or right wing activism for generations to come.
This is my little attempt at scaring you. I am doing this so I have company (I worry about my grandchildren every day and what they will inherit from us) and so that we have time to focus our fear into actions. Lefties have a tendency to sit in the corner, lick their wounds and get therapy. No time for that, folks. After all, it’s laissez-faire until you get into deep shit. Why wait?
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You least of all with what you have said in the past on the subject should not forget this election was more than tainted with the Citizens United “decision”. Since democrats are on a whole far less gullible than republicans many of them did not even bother to vote. I almost didn’t myself but at the last minute caved to pressure from family and friends.
Yes, the issue is the Citizens United decision. But how much more bad law can be made if Ginsburg and Breyer get replaced by another Thomas????
The only thing that will get accomplished for the next two years is that Darrel Issa, Steve King, Joe Barton and Michelle Bachmann will keep a steady stream of friendly witnesses parading before their committees -- and the CSPAN cameras -- who will blame everything on Democrats. The only saving grace is that it's mostly Liberals who watch CSPAN.
Anything that further divides this country, through religious or political antagonism, will speed up the continued undoing of our infrastructure as a nation. We are seeing it now and it is going to get worse. What we need to survive, is return to the mentality post 9/11, where party divides disappeared for about a year or so...neighbors hung their flags proudly and spoke to one another, we pulled together as one force and left factions behind, banded together as one and faced the challenges as one country together and hunkered down to reinforce our resolve as one people in solidarity. We must get back to that mentality to survive as a whole and emerge again as an economically, ideologically and dedicated force with which to be reckoned.
No more us against them! No more finger pointing and party bashing! No more political divisiveness to further weaken us as a country! No more!!! If we do not forgo the known detriment of our divides and hatred of those who differ from us, we are doomed to a greater danger than ever before in our history. Our enemies love to see the enmity between us and are sitting on the sidelines watching our disintegration as an economical power...waiting like vultures, while their economies are growing, their military strength is being bolstered exponentially, their populations way out number ours and they are simply pouring in to America by the thousands daily and settling in for the long haul.
No more!
Cathy, I understand your concern. Somehow a divide the size of the Grand Canyon needs to be overcome. But I am not linking to Republicans to the actions of 9/11 ~ even I am not that cynical or conspiratorial ~ but there is more than enough evidence that they have exploited the fears that 9/11 created since that horrible day. Remember "A noun a verb and 9/11?" How about every time Kerry made an upward tick in the polls the "terror alerts" going to orange? Even Tom Ridge, the man responsible for Homeland Security at the time said that was political and not information driven. So, I'll let my comment stand, knowing that fear drives more action than comfort or trust and it is the most exploitable of emotions.
Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm usually not.
You see clearly and impart it articulately.
"Of course, if I understood American politics, I'd either be incredibly rich and powerful, or a resident of New Zealand."
Thank you Cindy for your kind words.
O'Stephanie, your voice here has often been a beacon to me. Thanks for stopping by.