Posted by
Patrick Henry on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:49:27 PM
One of the many betrayals by President Obama of promises made by candidate Obama
was a commitment to "govern from the center" in a "spirit of bipartisanship." It seems
that his definition of bipartisanship is those who disagree with him ultimately giving in
and letting him have it his way. But in fairness to him, it may well be that true
bipartisanship is like the Holy Grail, the Lost Ark, the Yehti and the Sasquatch -- a good
conversation topic about something that is beyond anyone's grasp.
That doesn't let Obama completely off the hook, because not recognizing the political
realities or, worse, not being honest about them does little for his credibility as a national
leader and still leaves him dangling on the petard of his own broken promises. Conflict
exists when satisfaction can be had by one party to a disagreement or the other, but not
by both. When statist socialism and constitutional free-market capitalism collide, there
is precious little philosophical middle ground to stand on, and the arena of political
discourse quickly turn into free-fire no-man's lands. It is just such "all or nothing"
politics that have informed the bitter battle over healthcare reform and the angry
backlash in its wake.
In the history of American democracy there has always been a political spoils system,
with the winning party having substantial public support to shape national policy on many
fronts. In fact, most political victories were spawned by the electorate's hunger for a new
approach. But even under such circumstances it was always tacitly understood that while
policies might be substantially tweaked, the basic values of the nation were inviolable. In
the healthcare debate something went terribly wrong. Democrats, bent on exponentially
increasing the size and reach of government, crossed the line by infringing too deeply
on individual freedom and tainting America's cultural DNA with the socialist virus that
is despicable in the majority's eyes. Now, although a betrayed and outraged electorate
wants a reckoning, it may be impossible for them to ever get restitution.
All of that leads to this: the Democratic party has become utterly indistinguishable
from the Socialist Democratic parties of Europe. It no longer represents an American
liberal tradition, but rather the progressive left whose vision of an entitlement society
in which government controls everything and everyone, and moral decisions are the
prerogative of bureaucrats is well on its way to being realized. It has no desire for
compromise, input from the opposition or unwelcome interference from constitutionalism.
It simply craves power, and has demonstrated beyond question the willingness to lie,
cheat, bribe, extort and threaten in order to get it. There is no middle ground. Last
weekend's drama in the House and the current proceedings in the Senate have demonstrated
that full well. If Democrats continue to define bipartisanship as everyone else coming
over to their side and giving in to what they want then bipartisanship is truly and forever
dead -- the impossible dream.
It is now time for some sad but true reality therapy. We are no longer engaged in a
simple political struggle capped by balloons, champagne and celebrations. We are
locked in mortal trench combat with an enemy who has no scruples, no morals, no
boundaries, no historical moorings and no rules of engagement. In the end either
Democratic socialism or Constitutional republicanism must prevail. What the two sides
envision and crave has become so far polarized that the reality no longer exists in
which one pole can have its own way without completely violating the other.
If Americans want peace and freedom without civil war, then three things must happen,
and quickly. (1) Both major parties must be denied an overwhelming congressional
majority so as to make it absolutely impossible for progress to occur wthout compromise.
If that leads to gridlock, then the electorate will have to keep seeking out men and
women of goodwill who are committed to finding common ground. Those people are
few and far between in today's Washington. The most practical and immediate way to
accomplish this is for voters to wipe out the current Democratic dominance in congress
and level the playing field beginning with the November elections. (2) Since lawmakers
in the majority party seem bent on implementing far-reaching and sweeping changes that
are clearly against the will of those being governed, the courts must be enlisted as arbiters,
particularly where perversions of the Constitution are at stake. It is ironic that the healthcare
reform act, which Democrats claim the American people really want, is facing legal
challenges in 37 of the 50 states. It is most unfortunate that circumstances have come to
this, but multiple court challenges may be the only way to slow the socialist takeover
down until wiser minds replace the empty heads now calling the dance. (3) America must
stop electing career politicians to the presidency, and must insist that as a basic qualification
to serve, a candidate must have a successful record in business, science, education, the
military -- in life -- as a backdrop for real world decision making and practical leadership.
This may mean that presidents cannot come from the ranks of congress, and in truth it
would be better that way. When one understands that Barack Obama never ran a business
or had to make a payroll, and that his proudest accomplishment before politics was shilling
for an organization that used social bullying as a lever for community change, then it
becomes easier to fathom why he wishes to confiscate from those who have earned and
give to those who haven't, and to spend with reckless profligacy the future of this
generation's children and grandchildren.
The bitter alternative is real civil war, bloodshed, red states and blue states. But
bipartisanship has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Either one extreme must triumph,
or else Americans must exorcise ALL the extremists. The clock is ticking.