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Another Perspective
Happy New Year?
To me, the Republican establishment is the 8th wonder of the world.
The beginning of a new year is often a time to look forward and look back. The way the future looks, I prefer to look back — and depend on my advanced age to spare me from having to deal with too much of the future.
If there are any awards to be given to anyone for what they did in 2012, one of those rewards should be for prophecy, if only because prophecies that turn out to be right are so rare.
With that in mind, my choice for the prediction of the year award goes to Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal for his column of January 24, 2012 titled: “The GOP Deserves to Lose.”
Despite reciting a litany of reasons why President Obama deserved to be booted out of the White House, Stephens said, “Let’s just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose.”
To me, the Republican establishment is the 8th wonder of the world. How they can keep repeating the same mistakes for decades on end is beyond my ability to explain.
Bret Stephens said, back at the beginning of 2012, that Mitt Romney was one of the “hollow men,” and that voters “usually prefer the man who stands for something.”
Yet this is not just about Mitt Romney. He is only the latest in a long series of presidential candidates backed by a Republican establishment that seems convinced that ad hoc “moderation” is where it’s at — no matter how many of their ad hoc moderates get beaten by even vulnerable, unknown or discredited Democrats.
Back in 1948, when the Democratic Party splintered into three parties, each one with its own competing presidential candidate, Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey was considered a shoo-in.
Best-selling author David Halberstam described what happened: “Dewey’s chief campaign tactic was to make no mistakes, to offend no one. His major speeches, wrote the Louisville Courier Journal, could be boiled down ‘to these historic four sentences: Agriculture is important. Our rivers are full of fish. You cannot have freedom without liberty. The future lies ahead…’”
Does this sound like a more recent Republican presidential candidate?
Meanwhile, President Harry Truman was on the attack in 1948, with speeches that had many people saying, “Give ‘em hell, Harry.” He won, even with the Democrats’ vote split three ways.
But, to this day, the Republican establishment still goes for pragmatic moderates who feed pablum to the public, instead of treating them like adults.
It is not just Republican presidential candidates who cannot be bothered to articulate a coherent argument, instead of ad hoc talking points. Have you yet heard House Speaker John Boehner take the time to spell out why Barack Obama’s argument for taxing “millionaires and billionaires” is wrong?
It is not a complicated argument. Moreover, it is an argument that has been articulated many times in plain English by conservative talk show hosts and by others in print. It has nothing to do with being worried about the fate of millionaires or billionaires, who can undoubtedly take care of themselves.
What we all should be worried about are high tax rates driving American investments overseas, when there are millions of Americans who could use the jobs that those investments would create at home.
About the Author
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com. To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (39) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.2.13 @ 6:08AM
More sage observations from Thomas Sowell.
Here's to many more years for you. Happy New Year!
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 6:02PM
Correct, Dr. Sowell. The correct answer to calumnies is to come out swinging. Bork should have brought up murdered girls and heavy drinking and general scummitude of Ted.
Jack in Wi| 1.2.13 @ 7:36AM
The Republicans have run exactly one conservative campaign since 1924. That is Reagan in 1980. In 1984 he ran a pablum campaign as well. The moderates are the problem. As Jesus said. " Better hot or cold, never lukwarm. " Dr. Sowell you discredit your argument by bringing in Iran. You well know that iran is a 3rd world country with no nuclear weapons program at this time. The reasons the Republicans are over the cliff recently is because of nonsense wars based on lies.
The Republicans have to for peace, life, normal sexuality, low taxes, much less regulation, limited government, fiscal sanity and properity. Let the Democrats be the party of abortion, homosexuality, sky high taxes, wars based on lies, and massive waste. Except for low taxes Romney was a liberal, not even a moderate.
Sara L| 1.2.13 @ 7:54AM
What makes you think Iran is not building nuclear weapons, Jack? Do you just take their word for it? I would trust Dr. Sowell's statement much readily than the NYTimes. But they see it too.
And btw, it is irreverent and hurtful to misquote Jesus.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/.....index.html
Jack in Wi| 1.2.13 @ 8:25AM
I trust all our combined intelligence agencies who have repeatedly stated Iran has no nuclear weapons program. The Mossad has said the same thing. Do a little reading. Dr. Sowell knows better, shame on him.
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 5:55PM
The Mossad, that is noted for duplicity and lies except when it agrees with you Jack? The Mossad, whose responsibility is to defend the "racist pimple on the shores of the Mediterranean" to quote a certain brain damged cheesehead whose Packers are going to be beaten AGAIN this Sunday? That Mossad, Jack?
The Mossad who is arranging to bump off Iranian scientists working on nuclear weapons ? The Mossad wchich launched STUXNET at Iran?
Do a little reading, Cheesehead. By the way, Packers suck. Aaron Rodgers is going to get CONCUSSED out of Sundays game, and you will cry, and I will laugh.
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 5:59PM
Our combined intelligence agencies who missed: 9/11, the USSR falling, the Berlin wall crumbling---hell, Pearl Harbor.Those guys.
They are about as effective as The Packers Offensive Line will be in keeping Aaron Rodgers upright on Sunday.
Jack in Wi| 1.2.13 @ 6:39PM
Meir Dagan, Effriam Halevey, Yucal Diskan, and most of the other military and intelligence community in Israel well know and say so that Iran has no nuclear weapon program at this time. The military and intelligence community in this country s well know it too. They published the National Intelligence Estimates [ NIE] of 2007 and 2011 which said there is no Iranian nuclear weapons program at this time. Both the Israeli and American intelligence and military community want nothing to do with an unprovoked attack on Iran which would be a serious war crime. Lots of Germans were hung for less afer WW2.
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 6:03PM
In short, I believe that Mossad wants to protect Israel. I do NOT believe everything they SAY, because they are GOOD at their job, which is to be a bodyguard of lies and deception.
Jack in Wi| 1.2.13 @ 6:42PM
In other words don't believe what they say because they are all a pack of liars, just like you Occam. Well time will tell. I read in the Israeli press that the Israeli military told Nutanyahoo to get lost when he tried to get them to attack Iran. A lot of them think he is nuts.
Al Adab| 1.2.13 @ 10:24AM
Perfect use of the photo of Tom Dewey. He was the republican who first accepted the legitimacy of the administrative, social-welfare state. All the GOP has talked about since is how best to manage leviathan rather than debate its legitimacy. Dewey began the long line through Rockefeller, Romney, Ford, Dole, Bush (both) McCain and another Romney all of whom lead us only to defeat.
"Lets grow up Conservatives, If we want to take this party back again...lets get to work."
Crassus| 1.2.13 @ 11:00PM
Even Harry Truman himself said that if the Republicans had nominated Robert Taft in 1948 he would have been a one-termer. "Taft actually stood for something," admitted Truman. "That's why he would have won."
Drunken Sailor| 1.2.13 @ 10:46AM
Liberals are right on one thing, just not for the reasons they think.
Republican party os the party of stupid.
Mr. Sowell once again hits the nail on the head. More and more each day I am swayed to support a conservative 3rd party even if it means, years if not decades before they become a contender. Saving the Repulican party from itself is like trying to save a alcholic. You'r doomed to failure until they decide to save themselves.
Drunken Sailor| 1.2.13 @ 10:49AM
Talk about typos! Sorry still half asleep.
SUBVET| 1.2.13 @ 11:45AM
Sailor..........maybe it was the weekend liberty in subic bay....those san miguels will do it to you everytime.
1966......1 beer 35 cents american 1 girl $10 american...........those were the days.
SUBVET| 1.2.13 @ 11:47AM
Hey.......when are we going to free TIM ?
Al Adab| 1.2.13 @ 11:53AM
Golf in Baguio. Not to mention the late Twin Pines.
Drunken Sailor| 1.2.13 @ 12:00PM
Agreed but more than likely the Bourbon in a old fashioned glass in front of the fireplace.
Free Tim. Ban Purp!
Dukehoopsfan| 1.2.13 @ 12:40PM
Sneaking on to the golf course at night with a pocketfull of change and emptying the beer-filled vending machine.
Petronius| 1.2.13 @ 12:10PM
This piece has the wrong title. Should be Blunder.
The sad fact is the Republican Establishment has just as much if not more contempt for honest people then the Liberals who want to rid the world of everybody and everything not of themselves.
To the plutocrats and the despots who rule what remains of these Untied States I can only say this. The day will come when you will look to us with your hats in hand to save your worthless asses from the same predators, perverts, and parasites you aid, abet, and even champion. The only thing you deserve is to watch Us hold up the score cards as you go down for the last time.
Controse| 1.2.13 @ 1:39PM
To quote Pogo: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Recall Reagan was a long, long time Democrat who finally saw the light. No long, long time Republican has ever seen the light.
Petronius| 1.3.13 @ 12:47AM
Right
Phil Gramm will tell you. He could have beaten the Clinton Regime but Bob Dole held all the markers from the RNC hierarchy and we all know the rest.
PolishKnight| 1.2.13 @ 2:08PM
The Republican establishment hasn't changed because they haven't felt a need to. They've won just enough elections to accomplish their primary goals which is to retain tax breaks for the wealthy, a desirable regulatory environment which protects big business monopolies, and, well, that's it. They could care less about abortion and gay marriage and certainly even less about the civil rights of their primary white male electorate and traditional marriage and other cultural issues. The only culture they care about is at the country club and behind the big fences at their estates.
If they caved in this quickly on a budget deal, it's likely they got something for their cronies out of it. Follow da money.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:09PM
November 6, 2012 – marked the end of the American unique 226-year long republican experiment. Our “liberals”, environmentalists, socialists, and communists have put the end to that noble endeavor. Our Marxist Muslim President has now won his second term, thanks to his community organizations and the union goons leading the masses to the voting precincts.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:10PM
In addition to the nationalization of our health care system (hospitals, doctor offices, insurance companies), the nationalizations of the oil & gas companies, coal mines, electricity companies, transportation companies (trucking, rail, airlines, shipping), car manufacturing, will continue under the guise of the global warming hoax and Obama’s “social justice” programs. In 2016 we will call this country of ours the United Socialist States of America – there will be no return from there. Some 60% of the population will be dependent on the government for their livelihood, thus ensuring the perpetuation of our ruling classes.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:10PM
These ruling classes consist of the so-called liberals, in charge of our education system from the kindergarten to the universities, and of the communist-led government employees unions. Our university professors and their students are convinced they can do better that Lenin, Stalin, Castro, Kim Il series of dictators, Mao, and the former mass killers of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia – the history of these victim countries completely neglected and forgotten. Our teachers unions have succeeded in the short 45 years to “educate” three generations of illiterate nincompoops who vote their “feelings” completely unaware of history, geography, philosophy, and literature.
PolishKnight| 1.2.13 @ 3:13PM
What's ironic about the situation is that the left won the last election because communist ideology, itself, is irrelevant. Most of their electorate were in it for race entitlements, welfare, or cushy government jobs or other benefits. They couldn't care less if the benefits came from a big corporation or from a government department. Obama's administration can be described as Italian fascism.
In the end, socialism fails because it only cares about succeeding or retaining power at all costs long after the original goals it claimed to care about have been thrown under the bus to retain or gain power. As Orwell's OBrien character in 1984 put it: all they care about is power. First and foremost. Humanity is irrelevant. If they could import killer robots from outer space to win elections, they'd do it. Sadly, the right would happily sign off on the killer robots if they could make some money off of it in the short run.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:11PM
Our Marxist Muslim President from Kenya (or was he a citizen of Indonesia?) can now proceed to a total communization of the country. His program called “Arab Spring” can continue to establish jihadist governments in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, and “Palestine”, after achieving a complete success in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Confiscation of the entire wealth of our millionaires under his “social justice” program will enable the federal government to run about 6 months without incurring further paper money printing; on the other hand that will arrest all private investments leaving the government the only source of new investments in “targeted industries”, as determined by the White House “Industry Czar”.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:12PM
The expected results of various investigations of treachery, lying, cover-ups, and other crimes such as the murders in Benghazi and the Fast & Furious murder scandal will be completely whitewashed and forgotten. Nominating two new communist Supreme Court justices will result in a new interpretation of the Second Amendment whereby only state-approved “militias” can be armed but not individuals; thus Obama’s “community organizations” will obtain arms to control the population. (In the defunct Soviet Union “community organizations” were called “soviets”). Thus will Obama fulfill another of his promises: “We need a domestic military with the same budget as that of the Pentagon.” Obama has already started a massive reduction of the Pentagon budget.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:13PM
Feeding billions to the “green energy” failures will continue at an accelerated pace (“the electricity costs will necessarily skyrocket”); but the government will subsidize “deserving” households. Giving house mortgages to “underserved minorities” under the Community Reinvestment Act will restart now and aggravate the financial crash caused by the same program in the years 1996-2008. After nationalizing Fannie May and Freddie Mac (costing the taxpayers so far $165 billions of printed money and climbing daily) the government will be “forced” to nationalize banks, mortgage companies, real estate agencies, stock trading companies, perhaps the entire Wall Street “capitalist enemies of the people.” After all, there were no stock markets in communist countries.
Marc Jeric| 1.2.13 @ 2:14PM
George Soros will sell short two trillion dollars and then buy them back when their value falls in half by profiting a net of one trillion; just like he had done with the British pound under their Labor government’s economic policy about 27 years ago.
Good bye, America – it’s been nice to have known you; says this former refugee from a communist hell. Now I must start planning where to escape next – Canada, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, or…Zimbabwe?
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 6:00PM
Australia, my friend. G-d Bless, but don't give up hope yet.
Crassus| 1.2.13 @ 11:06PM
Try New Caledonia or Paraguay. I hear Outer Mongolia is nice too.
Petronius| 1.3.13 @ 12:51AM
Chile could be worth a try.
Pecos Pete| 1.2.13 @ 2:19PM
Marc: Well said. Thanks for the effort.
BBT!
Occam's Tool| 1.2.13 @ 5:59PM
BBT!
If you want to know what the future brings, read Caliphate by Tom Kratman, a good friend of mine. The most prophetic book of the 21st Century.
Pelleas| 1.3.13 @ 6:02PM
It figures that the scumbag "author" , of this pornographic , racist, xenophobic TRASH would be a good friend of a Mental (lly deranged) "health" provider.
I can almost smell the stench of filth that you two must have swirling around , when you get together...
Occam's Tool| 3.24.13 @ 12:53AM
Pelleas: I thought you were pro-Israel. Tom, by the way, has no major problems with gays in the military. Have you actually READ his work?
James Peterson| 1.4.13 @ 12:33PM
Thomas Sowell has been a hero of mine since I first began reading his articles. He never disappoints, never.
Apropos to this article, I would suggest that the reason Boehner has never stated the obvious is because the obvious eludes him. If one becomes a political leader because of one's cleverness, the need to need to know the Truth, and even more, the desire to speak the truth , perforce, are sacrificed at the outset. Cleverness is the armor and sword of serving self. Truth seekers and speakers and doers are servants of the people. They are heroes. To paraphrase Archibald MacLeish, decades ago, in a review he wrote, Movies To Kill People By, of Clint Eastwood's A Fistful Of Dollars, our heroes all died in the fusillade of the sex and drug revolution of the 'sixties. That decade was the decade of our own 'liberty, fraternity, equality, our own French Revolution, a self-conscious overthrow of Biblical moral and ethical imperatives. That overthrow carried with it the hero, one who was a speaker of words and a doer of deeds. We are left with a truncated hero, the anti-hero, a warbler whose sound signifies nothing.