Perhaps nothing better illustrates the way conservatism has
been redefined over the years as much as the fact that the choice of Paul Ryan
for VP is considered to be a very “bold” choice by Mitt Romney. It’s “bold,” according to some, because Ryan
has proposed making “drastic” changes to entitlements like Medicare and Social
Security, “drastic” now being defined as finding ways to save these
programs. Oh my, what a radical!
I have mixed emotions about Ryan. Given the people who were considered for the
job, he’s a good choice. He’s smart,
respectable, charismatic, likeable, vibrant, and reasonably well known – all the
things you want in a candidate. Assuming
Biden is still the choice of VP for Obama (that would be crazy on his part, but
we’ll see), a televised debate versus Paul Ryan should deliciously showcase
Biden for the sleazy, incompetent, mindless goon that he is, and it won’t do
Obama any favors either. The choice of
Ryan also signaled – in the context of our new definition of conservatism – that
Romney is ready to show deference to the right side of his potential
constituency rather than pander to the “moderates.” That showed some political astuteness and I
am pleasantly surprised. Dare we hope
that the choice of Ryan is also a genuine reflection of Romney’s political
philosophies as well?
On the other hand, as we seem poised to accept – without protest
- the narrative of Paul Ryan as “bold” conservative because of his budget that ostensibly
has, as a primary objective, the rescue of Medicare and Social Security, I can’t
feel anything but dismay. While it may
be the best we can hope for, it is – in my view – another nail in the coffin
for the hope some of us have of getting back to the Constitution for real.
Well said, on every point. I really agree.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely looking forward to the Ryan/Biden debate. That promises to be the show of the season!
But I also agree with your closing thoughts. I think the day of true constitutionalism in this country is past. That's why I proposed my "Manifesto To Save America" a few essays back at my own blog. I'm in the process of writing another essay on the topic, approaching it from another angle; still in the early stages.
It's very problematic, and symptomatic of the issues so many in the past have warned us about. Ayn Rand comes immediately to mind with "Atlas Shrugged".
The very fact that anyone who seriously proposes real solutions wouldn't have a chance of ever getting elected shows how deeply we're in the hole.
Thanks, Brian. I appreciate both the kind words and the astute commentary.
DeleteRome wasn't built in a day and this country cannot be turned back to her constitutional roots for at least one generation. That said, we gotta' start somewhere, IMO.
ReplyDeleteThe only alternative I see is actual revolt and a whole lot of dead people. Am I wrong?
And no, this is not my personal ideal ticket but then I have never been able to vote for my ideal ticket because it has never happened.
I agree, Mrs. AL, things can’t be turned around quickly. If you think of the U.S. as a ship lost at sea looking for its way back home, the only hope for finding the way back home is to set the proper coordinates as your goal. My concern is that some have set the coordinates for a place that is far, far from home. And you may very well be right that the only way to wrest control of the ship and set it back on the right track is to resort to violence. I hope it doesn’t come to that but it wouldn’t surprise me if it does somewhere down the road.
DeleteIt’s not my dream ticket either but I think we could do worse.
Set the coordinates? We don' need no steenkin' coordinates!
DeleteCouldn't help myself...
But to continue with your metaphor:
The chart to our destination is laying in plain sight on the chart table on the bridge of our ship of state. Sadly, the last captain who actually knew how to read that chart, Captain Reagan, retired and left the boat.
Since then, the two crew factions, who can't agree on our destination and who can't read charts, have battled over who's in charge, each taking turns at having their guys steer the boat. This way and that, the boat's wandered all over the ocean, never coming close to sighting land or the boat's home port of call.
The two crew factions also spend a lot of their time drinking the ship's store of grog and fighting over how to divide the ship's cargo of spoils, with little realization that if the ship doesn't return to its home port those spoils aren't going to be worth anything at any of the cannibal-invested islands they'll ultimately be forced to land at when the ship's condition becomes unseaworthy.
But neither faction pays that much heed, as the allure of all the pork and gold in the hold has riveted their attention.
The passengers in the boat watch in dismay, wondering who will save them. But alas, the passengers are also divided in their loyalty as the competing crew factions offer varying boons to those who will support their efforts.
All the while, the simple chart to the ship's home port sits in plain sight on the bridge, next to the ship's tiller... ignored...
Well done! Now, if you just weren’t so stubborn about Dick Morris... :)
DeleteHahahaha!
DeleteCW, I am a big Paul Ryan fan. He is my favorite politician (which isn't saying a lot). I agree, he should not be considered a bold choice. I think he is given that label because his budget proposal is not that popular and the left will demonize it. However, the left will demonize any VP choice and bringing the budget, our debt, solvency of Medicare and Social Security, and economy as the main issue of this election is key and Ryan does this. If the left is going to argue that Ryan wants to cut Medicare, the Right can bring up ObamaCare and the cuts it made to Medicare. I think it works. We'll see and hopefully it puts Wisconsin in play.
ReplyDeleteI think you’re right on the money there, Patrick. To expand further on the ship analogy in the comments above, if I accept the fact that I have no control over the course of the ship, then I’m happy to have Paul Ryan as one of the people at the helm. I’m just having trouble accepting the course we’re on. Does that make sense?
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
Yes, I understand where you are coming from. Makes sense.
DeleteYou don't hold politicians in high regard?
DeleteI recently was reminded of a VERY old and long forgotten Southern joke told down here. One morning a man put out on his coffee take some cash, a bible, and a tumbler of whiskey. He sez to himself, if my toddler comes out and picks up the cash, that means he will someday be a businessman. If he picks up the bible, he'll be a preacher. If he picks up the whiskey, he'll be a drunkard. Well, the son wakes up and comes out into the living room. He walks to the table, puts the money into his pocket, the bible under his arm, and slams down the whiskey. The father remarked, "By G-d, he's gonna be a politician!
Some jokes are too close to the truth...
DeleteI don’t dislike politicians as long as they don’t act like politicians.
From Jim:
ReplyDelete"I already had to address this with a few people, and yes, you're correct. But remember, the media labeled both Bush's as Conservatives, the only Conservative Bush was the one not elected Jeb. The whole point of this is to make Conservatism sound like a radical concept and far from the norm rather then acknowledge that it is in fact the norm. I applaud Romney for picking Ryan particularly since he certainly could have picked someone much further from my core principles. At least he will have a big appeal to the independents and you're right, a debate between him and Biteme would be like beating a baby seal with a wrecking ball."
Thanks for the comment, Jim. Yes, you’re right. The point is to make conservatism sound radical – and it’s worked. We now have a new standard for conservatism. Sigh.
DeleteI don’t know why your comments don’t post here, only to my email. Hmmm.... But I'm happy you stopped by.
Yes, CW, it is always "bold" when a politician's ideas actually fit external reality.
ReplyDelete