Another Perspective
"Let This Guy Govern" Again
Just in case, a few rules for going into loyal opposition.
Four years ago on the eve of the 2004 election, I wrote in a Spectator column, "Let's let this guy govern." In case John Kerry won, I said, conservatives should stand by the election without carping about skullduggery or fraud.
The Democrats had already introduced this poison into the system by spending four years disputing the results of 2000. My appeal was that Republicans not do the same. If the electorate chose Kerry, give him the chance to impose his agenda and let it play out without introducing unnecessary rancor into the system. All this was tempered, of course, by a fair degree of confidence that Kerry was probably going to lose. (Democrats did not return the favor and people such as Robert Kennedy, Jr. still argue that Kerry actually won in Ohio.)
Now on the eve of the 2008 Election I'd like to write the same column under different circumstances. There is a very strong possibility this time that John McCain is going to lose and Barack Obama will be the next President, bringing in the most extreme left-wing administration since 1932. In the shadow of this event, I'd like to propose a few rules for going into loyal opposition:
Don't blame McCain. Already the backbiting has begun that John McCain was the cause of the disaster. McCain should have gotten tougher, he should have relaxed more, he should have done this, he should have done that. Let's face it, the deck was almost totally stacked against him from the outset. Foreign wars are never popular. The British threw Winston Churchill out of office only four years after he had stood alone against Hitler and Nazism. Harry Truman left office in the middle of the Korean War as the most unpopular President of the century and was only rehabilitated later by academic historians. Lyndon Johnson was defeated by Vietnam. Given the extended Iraqi conflict, there was bound to be a backlash against Republicans, even if we have now gained the upper hand in the conflict. Even with that, McCain still held his own until the country experienced worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression a month before the election. Given the circumstances, it's amazing McCain has stayed in the race this long.
Admit there will be good aspects to an Obama Presidency. The anthem since Obama was nominated is that if he isn't elected it's because America is racist. It is already clear that Obama's leftist pedigree and his redistributive social agenda are far more controversial than his skin color. So let's turn the whole thing around. If Obama does get elected, then America is not a racist society. It is indeed a remarkable accomplishment that only 43 years after Dr. Martin Luther King was clubbed at Selma, America is able to elect a black President. So let's celebrate that. Electing Obama will probably raise our stature in the world as well. It may even persuade Muslim extremists that America is not the Great Satan, but don't bet on it. In any case, let's wait until an Obama Administration takes shape before starting to criticize.
Concentrate on policy differences. Liberals are already talking about a "First 100 Days" that will transform America. But not much of this "change" agenda has been laid before the public. A case in point is the Orwellian "Freedom of Choice" Act for labor, which eliminates the secret ballot and allows union representatives to strong-arm employees into signing up for a union shop. Although the law has passed the Democratic Congress, it has never been truly debated. When people see the implications, there is going to be plenty of room for dissent. The same goes for the revival of the "Fairness Doctrine," which is a blatant attempt to push Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity off the air. Remember FDR's packing of the Supreme Court. If Obama turns out to be thin-skinned and tries to stifle debate, he may lose public support quickly.
Many of Obama's policies are bound to fail. His "tax the rich" scheme is based on the ludicrous notion, endlessly promoted by Paul Krugman and other liberal economists, that all the wealth gains since the Reagan Administration have accrued to a narrow slice at the top -- the "130,000 families." This is utter nonsense. The "inequality" Krugman discovers in tax filings has actually been the migration of small businesses into Subchapter S filings to avoid America's corporate tax rate (now the second-highest in the world). Raising taxes on "the rich" will raise no new revenues and only send businesses and individuals scurrying for other tax shelters (including some abroad). So too, Obama's energy policies are a recipe for disaster. If he clamps down on coal without permitting nuclear power to take its place, we'll be stuck trying to run the country on windmills, which will be a national introduction to elementary physics. Conservatives are going to have plenty of reason to critique Obama before long.
Expect the pendulum to swing back. Anyone who runs on a vague platform of "hope," "change," and "bringing us together" is bound to start disappointing people from the outset. Obama's economic policies, if anything, are likely to prolong the current downturn. In Iraq he risks real disaster by withdrawing too soon and charges of cowardice if he doesn't make a commitment in Afghanistan. His energy policies will take America down the path California trod to its 2000 Electrical Crisis. None of Obama's nostrums will address America's underlying problems -- the trillions spent on importing energy, the failure to develop viable alternatives, the hollowing out of the industrial economy and resulting decline of dollar. Four years of liberal stewardship will make all of these worse.
Republicans have not been completely out of power since 1980. A period in the wilderness will mean a chance to regroup. Remember, it only took four years of the Carter Administration to bring on the Reagan Revolution. It wouldn't be surprising to see it happen again.
About the Author
William Tucker is the author of Terrestrial Energy: How Nuclear Power Will Lead the Green Revolution and End America's Energy Odyssey.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
Leave a Comment
Related Articles
More Articles by William Tucker
More Articles From Another Perspective
http://spectator.org/archives/2008/11/04/let-this-guy-govern-again
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Facing Up to Darwin
- Herbert Hoover's Long-Awaited Magnum Opus
- Let's Return to the Gold Standard
- Digital Subscription (Save 78%)
- Buy a single issue (Save 50%)
- Send Spectator as a gift
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
james23| 11.4.08 @ 9:41AM
If he wins, Obomber will get from me exactly the same measure of support that he and his droogs gave to our outgoing President. Exactly.
Tailgunner| 11.4.08 @ 10:11AM
You seem to be assuming that Obama will leave the constitutional safeguards in place that facilitate the timely and perpetual transfer of power. I am concerned this may not necessarily be the case.
Obama has referred to the Constitution as having a 'fundamental flaw' and to his frustration at his inability to legislate 'redistributive justice' .
Combine this with his recent retaliations and intimidations against a free press and his chilling call for a 'civilian national security force...as powerful as the military'.
Liberal judicial appointments and bureaucratic ward heelers installed by Obama will ensure, as it already does to a degree, that a Republican President would be a virtual figurehead.
I strongly believe that this is not the normal election day hyperbole to suggest that we as Americans should not be gravely concerned about Obama's commitment to checks and balances and to maintaining individual liberties.
Dave| 11.4.08 @ 10:23AM
I won't blame McCain so much as the Republican Party establishment in Washington, including President Bush, for tarnishing the Republican brand of fiscal conservatism. And for being unwilling to stand and fight.
If fraud is rampant in this election (there are already reports this morning of Republican poll watchers being tossed in Philly), then I will most earnestly question the legitimacy of Obama's presidency.
I have already explained to my teenage sons that their patriotic father will bless their decisions to dodge an Obama draft should such come to pass.
America is broken and perhaps beyond repair. How else can one explain that a racist radical stands even a chance of beating a true American hero?
Bob| 11.4.08 @ 11:33AM
When Obama says that he looks upon the Constitution as an impeidment, he is exactly right. The Constitution was crafted specifically to prevent what he is trying to do- amass too much power in one individual. That leads to tyrrany, and I have no doubt, based on his background and associations, that he would try to rule as a tyrant. Don't be suprised if he starts chipping away at this "impediment", and fight with our last breath his attempts to do so. THe Constitution is all that stands between us and another Hugo Chaves.
Ed B. O'Brien| 11.4.08 @ 12:13PM
We won't be able to get a word of praise in edgewise as the MSM will be falling all overthemselves to praise him for early morning dew, brighter skies, cleaner water, less hate, .... wait a minute, I'm dreaming/having a nightmare... he's not going to win so I guess I'll have to eat my fresh caught, mercury laden bass for lunch.
John| 11.4.08 @ 12:38PM
One problem with this analysis: There is no Reagan counterpart today. In 1980, Reagan was waiting in the wings. He had tested, honed and refined his message. He was well schooled in market economics and understood deeply the nature of the Soviet threat. Reagan also had a profound appreciation of the cultural bonds that made America distinctly American.
Conservatives today, by contrast, have no such leader or politician with similar stature, popularity, and understanding. We need better and smarter, more savvy and sophitsicated, politicians and leaders. Otherwise, our wait in the wilderness will be quite long indeed.
In short, our next standard-bearer must understood the principles upon which she is campaigning. Moreover, she must be able to thrust and parry with the national media, which is to say the liberal media.
Needless to say, and unfortunately, her name is not Palin. The Governor proved herself not up to the task. Look elsewhere, fellow Conservatives; but know this: The pickings are quite slim.
james23| 11.4.08 @ 12:55PM
"needless to say..." John
Conservatives disagree with you in great numbers.
If there is one thing I have learned in the last 8 weeks, it is that the left, and the party establishment, fear her. Anonymous bloggers trashing her invariably are lefties or folks in the GOP who see her as an obstacle. Which are you?
John| 11.4.08 @ 1:33PM
James,
I hope you're right, and I hope the Governor proves me wrong. But don't blame me, the messenger: The reality is that the Governor has not performed well. She simply has not demonstrated much familiarity with the issues, nor much ability to articulate and to defend conservative public policy positions.
That's why, during her debate with Biden, she blamed the financial meltdown on "predatory lenders," not liberal government policies which subsidized reckless home lending practices by government-sponsored entities.
And that's why, during that same debate, she failed to discern the danger of Biden's leftist judicial philosophy, which boldly asserted special Constitutional privileges for homosexual couples.
Instead, she defensively proclaimed that, like Obama-Biden, she, too, is not intolerant -- thereby giving Obama-Biden's position moral legitimacy.
If the Governor were merely being prudent and tactful, that would be fine. But she really doesn't understand well the philosophical and political implications of her positions. Nor does she understand well the philosophical and political implications of her opponent's positions.
I'm sorry, but in this day and age, given the sophisticated nature of the Left, that's not good enough. Conservatives must do much better if they (we) are to succeed politically and policy-wise. Otherwise we will fail, just as Republicans in Congress have failed, and just as McCain-Palin have failed.
oldpapajoe| 11.4.08 @ 1:37PM
I agree with you on only one point: Not to blame McCain. We picked him (well, kind of) so we need to merely encourage him to shut up and vote with the Party from now on. Other than this, we need to fight, fight, fight. This loyal opposition stuff is old school. We need to start working on the 2010 campaign on 5 November 2008. And the first step in this is to get rid of every "moderate" in the party we can: Rid ourselves of the Peggy Noonans, Colin Powells, and on and on. We lost because we did not stand up for our beliefs. We became a kind of 1960 Democrat Party for crying out loud: strong on defense and spend thrifts. We need to be the updated version of the 1980 Republican Party: America is the City on the Hill, "We win, they lose", and not the home of the Corrupt, the lazy and the self serving. Palin in 2012!!!
felder| 11.4.08 @ 1:44PM
Very well said, Tailgunner. I agree with you. Remember, you'll not only have "Lord" Obama, but with Pelosi and "Dingy" Harry Reid you'll have the Unholy Trinity. There's no telling what irreparable damage these three will do to our country. Pelosi is already talking about legislation that will cement Democratic rule for decades to come.
Ed B. O'Brien| 11.4.08 @ 2:14PM
Sarah Palin has performed just fine, thank you very much. The notion that ANY Republican would be made to look good by the likes of Katie Couric is laughable. Joe Biden thinks PRESIDENT FDR gave a TV address after the stock market crash. Next to Biden Sarah is a perfect contrast. We do not like pompous blowhards like Biden, Sarah is a breath of fresh air.
Those who think Sarah has somehow "damaged" McCain's chances are over-analyzing by half. She is THE reason McCain is even close. I would trust her to honor the military if she became CIC, Biden would wreck the military, if Obama doesn't beat him to the punch.
Greylion| 11.4.08 @ 3:56PM
"Let him govern"? What can we do to stop him in the short term? He and his party are intent on making change permanent and look to be able to do so.
As far as the repubilcan party is concerned it should die a quick death, it is not a political force any longer. A small instance - when I voted there was an Obama observer there who was writing down all the names of people who voted. I objected to no avial and ask the election jugdge where the republicans were. He told me that they had been notified but did not send anyone. Lack of interest? You betcha! I am now an independant and the republican party might as well be dead as far as I am concerned. They have abrogated every responsibility they had in this insane 700 billion dollar sellout of the country and whatever assets it had accumulated. No wonder they have lost.
Now it is left to us to deal with it - I am still an American and will vernerate American ideals but don't talk to me about republican party, its future resurgence. I abandon it as it abandon us - it is time for a third party. Where is Ross Perot when you need him.
Anthony| 11.4.08 @ 10:36PM
Willilam; You're a fool if you think the election of Obama will cleans America of its origional sin of slavery.That's not in the race baiters playbook. The race industry will not disappear if Obama is elected and they will never stop pulling at the scab of racial tensions. Too much is invested and too much $$ is to be made keeping racial tensions hightened; just ask Rev.Wright. Gated communities don't come cheap. You got to keep the weekly donation plates full. Besides, if Obama is as much a disaster as he appears to be, racism will be the first line of defense for his failures. The left will preach that we must all come together, despite their dispicable disloyalty and behavior towards Pres. Bush. Get real William, things will get a whole lot worse before they get better.
P. Aaron Jones| 11.5.08 @ 12:13AM
Another "Reagan Revolution" would be fine except that's only short term thinking. Reagan's charm, ideas and ideology did not become ingrained with the public or public institutions in the same way that conventional wisdom has favored Democrats these many years. For Republicanism-Conservatism to have any lasting effect, there HAS TO be a sustained effort to continually re-educate the public of the Party's virtues. Rush Limbaugh does this with continual success, why can't the Party adopt a similar PR platform?
The Dems enjoy a default mechanism with the public because everyone thinks America's a "democracy" which enables the Dems to often forgo explaining their intent to the public. Sounds stupid, it's so stupid it's true. This ignorance allows Dems to spend their time mis-defining opponents (with the help of the media) and building coalitions within public institutions and Republicans appear as though they are a foreign ideal sputtering defensively about being mis-defined.
Typical Trent Lott-Olympia Snowe 'go along to get along' Republicans and their party are largely to blame for diluting any message when in the public arena. They don't believe in the greatness of the electorate, their contempt for their constitutents is in ways, similar to the Democrats.
The Party, and conservatives in particular have to commit...totally to driving the agenda towards its consitutional origins and keep it true, and explain WHY it benfits America to pursue that path. Failure to do this, we'll be here again as the party fracture's in a few years and we will continue to slouch towards the big-government, statist-Euro-economy until our liberties are encrusted permanently with pidgeon crap.
The party has to start firing a bunch of people too.
Charles Martel| 11.5.08 @ 2:44AM
There will be no "let him" among our options. He will not require our permission for anything. The last paper-thin impediments to his will to power depend on the party loyalty of such as the RINO senators from Maine. The devastation is effectively total.
I, for one, will never accept so loathesome and detestable a man as *Mr.* Obama as the leader of my country. Unlike the majority of our citizens who voted for him and the craven lickspittles who did not but who are even now preparing to kneel so as to kiss his ring, I know what he is, and I know what he is not. I shall not even for one second pretend that he is not what he is; I shall not even for one second pretend that he is what he is not. And to him and those, I say that I am ashamed that you are my countrymen.
I swear enmity. I swear resistance. And if I had it in my power to extract my State from this now poisonous Union, I would swear still more.
rickdog| 11.5.08 @ 4:50AM
Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Barack could run.
Barack ran so our children could fly.
We will be the wind on the back of a Kenyan goat-headers son.
jose goldfinger| 11.5.08 @ 8:47AM
Charles Martel has it just about right. We're screwed, it's over. Eat, drink and be merry while you still can.
Ammo Guy| 11.5.08 @ 9:49AM
I hate to nitpick but technically "Republicans have not been completely out of power since 1980" is incorrect since that state of affairs also existed in 1993-94...which is some solace since it only took the liberals 2 years to overreach. Here's hoping it happens again.
Charles Martel| 11.5.08 @ 2:49PM
Rickdog, it remains still to be proven to my satisfaction that your "Kenyan goatherder's son" is not himself a Kenyan goatherder.
He can herd sheep, that much is certain.
texas| 11.5.08 @ 4:02PM
John- I agree with you. I liked Palin, but until she can clearly articulate Conservative positions she should stay off the radar. If a candidate can't argue their principles and back them up with facts during an interview (and be convincing, I might add) then what's the point? Hasslebeck syndrome.
tx2oh2nc| 11.5.08 @ 11:02PM
Charles Martel - you hit the nail on the head. Let the resistance begin.
Stuart| 11.6.08 @ 5:42PM
The most alarming propsect of a let's-just-hang-in-there-and-hang-tough approach for conservatives is that Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China are not going away. If Obama is weak toward this lot(and we can throw in the Syrians and a few others), our interests in the world and those of our allies will be seriously hurt. Many Iraqis are rightly afraid that madness will descend on them again if Obama rushes a withdrawal.