Year: 2009

Robb things we need to start focusing on the important things.  I’ve seen talk of Obama Derangement Syndrome floating around in other places too.  It’s certainly a risk, but in trying to build a coalition with moderates, you have to hit on a lot of areas, in hopes that some of them will resonate with people.  Whether we like to admit it or not, humans are wired to gossip about gaffes and violations of social protocol more than they are about how Obama is ruining the economy and driving us closer toward a Social Democracy along the European model.  I would argue the left was actually rather effective at making Americans embarrassed by George W. Bush’s foreign policy.

During the election, I feared that Obama was a game changer.  Basically someone who would fundamentally alter the American landscape and political climate, and in highly radical ways.  FDR was this kind of politician.  During Obama’s transition, seeing that his picks for his cabinet were Democratic establishment, rather than radicals, I started believing he might govern closer to the middle.

I think Obama has turned out to be a radical, but he is no FDR, and this isn’t the 1930s.  The American population isn’t in any mood to accept a new New Deal, though they Democrats are trying to foist one on us anyway.  We should be well positioned to make gains in 2010, but the real difficulty will be whether the Republicans can capitalize on Obama’s missteps.  So far, they aren’t showing much leadership.

Will you be joining the tea party protests on and around April 15?

Like it or not, we’re stuck with the federal government we’ve got until January 2011.  We’ve got a chance to shake things up in November 2010, but that’s still well over a year away.  Until we can show our displeasure via the ballot box, these tea party protests are the best way to keep pressure on Congress to at least question “the One.”  His numbers are dropping and he’s now no better off than Bush was at this point in his term.  Democrats are beginning to stand up on individual issues and tell the White House, “No.”  It’s our job over the next year and a half to tell them – and members of the GOP who keep embracing big government – that it is time to stop and we’re pissed.  Will they stop?  Probably not.  Will they slow it down?  Possibly.  Will every report of a protests in their homestate make them more nervous?  Absolutely.

Check out the map and find your local tea party.  You need to go.  The local media has stopped ignoring these protests and now covers them regularly.  Some organizers are finally taking next steps like gathering donations to pay for flyers to be sent to voters about what’s going on, or gathering email addresses for further protest notices.  Get involved.  Make them squirm in Washington.

There are several in the Philadelphia region, including one at Independence Hall, as well as West Chester and Trenton.  Make the time to attend – we will.

Clayton Cramer talks about what Obama is and isn’t, and laments we do not have a functional Republican Party.   I’m really worried about 2012, personally.  I worry that Palin was largely ruined by the media and the McCain camp.  I think Bobby Jindal won’t quite be ready for 2012, and his Jesus Juice might cause further Republican losses in places that aren’t The South.  So that leaves us with our savior being… Mitt Romney?   God help us.

One of the most insightful characterizations Kim du Toit ever came up with was saying that the Democrats are the “Evil Party” while the Republicans were the “Stupid Party.” which is really exactly what our troubles boil down to.  The people ready for someone to lead them out of this nightmare, but who will step up?  Who’s even out there?