I wanted to hit a theme that gets lost over at Voice of North America's screamfest. The Grand Old Plutocrats are facing the worst electoral map since Hoover was the incumbent. Many have been saying that it amounts to demographic shifts, but that misses the larger point.
The ideology of Conservatism has been given a chance to govern, and been found to be a colossal failure. The ideas are wrong, and Frank Luntz and Karl Rove can't use a 3 word phrase to change that. When given the chance to free the American people of regulations and taxes, the outcome wasn't the Utopia they preached of, instead we got crony capitalism, total incompetence, fiscal malfeasance, coupled to Bush's unwavering belief that he is right, and that by plowing ahead things will get better. With majorities in both the House and Senate, and the Liberals cowed into silence, Bush had a free hand and lead us to New Orleans, Baghdad, Sub Prime lending and record foreclosures, and levels of inequality unseen since the 1920's.
But why is this shocking? A party that hates government, sees government as the problem, and sees the free market as a solution to every ill would follow a course that strips the government of every good steward, and end any pretense of the nation coming before their own party. But then a funny thing happened. Problems arose, that Conservatism created, that are bigger than rugged individuals. The problems of natural disasters, predatory lenders, runaway inflation, crony capitalism and price bubbles in real estate and tech stocks. At this point, the fears of middle class America for their healthcare, and the economy of Main street need to be addressed beyond calls for more unfettered free markets. As these blue collar voters get a clear look at the competing visions for America, the Republicans vision of more Enron's, Country Wide's and Bear Stearns stealing more money, while workers are laid off, and jobs offshored, the more will look at the Democratic plans for protecting America first, keeping good paying jobs here, and returning the US dollar to a strong level, which will lower gas prices, and food prices.
The problem for the Republicans is even bigger than the pundits realize. Not only are they still talking about free markets and tax cuts, but as their own base sees the idiocy of the plan they'll splinter off to wither the Democrats, or to the libertarians.
Looming over the whole election is the Iraqi occupation, which is the wreck of the GOP, the Neocons, and Bush. It highlights the tremendous failure of conservatism, and privatization. The failure to get Osama Bin Laden, dead or alive. The failure to get the bad guys, and ride off into the sunset on Trigger with Dale while the whole town watches. In short, the conservatives have squandered billions of dollars, thousand of lives, and 7 years of the War on Terror for no results. Every day you either win or lose, and this sure don't feel like winning. All the while, whenever anyone suggest diplomacy with Iran, with Al Sadr, or with anyone who isn't Britain or Poland the conservatives try to paint them as surrender monkey Frenchies, but diplomacy isn't surrender. Diplomacy means listening and talking. This is why at his point the Democrats have an 11 point advantage over Republotards on the question of who will do a better job on foreign policy!
As McCain tries to campaign as a maverick, on his character, the rest of the GOP is left to defend themselves not only from their Democratic opponents but also from their Presidential nominee. If McCain is a maverick, then what is wrong with Congressman Snort? If voters reject traditional Republicans, then how do the Republican's 199 incumbents in the House, and 20 Senators defend themselves? If McCain is a maverick (which he isn't) then why are the rest of the GOP traditional Republicans?
America gave the GOP a chance to govern, and they squandered it on tax deferrals, $3 trillion in debt, and Iraqis who have gone tribal and rejected the modern world and democracy. Thanks.
