Something strange has happened in America in the nine months since Barack Obama was elected. It has best been summarised by the comedian Bill Maher: “The Democrats have moved to the right, and the Republicans have moved to a mental hospital.”
The election of Obama – a black man with an anti-conservative message – as a successor to George W. Bush has scrambled the core American right’s view of their country. In their gut, they saw the US as a white-skinned, right-wing nation forever shaped like Sarah Palin.
When this image was repudiated by a majority of Americans in a massive landslide, it simply didn’t compute. How could this have happened? How could the cry of “Drill, baby, drill” have been beaten by a supposedly big government black guy? So a streak that has always been there in the American right’s world-view – to deny reality, and argue against a demonic phantasm of their own creation – has swollen. Now it is all they can see.
Since Obama’s rise, the US right has been skipping frantically from one fantasy to another, like a person in the throes of a mental breakdown. […] This tendency to simply deny inconvenient facts and invent a fantasy world isn’t new; it’s only becoming more heightened. It ran through the Bush years like a dash of bourbon in water. […] But the ordinary Republican base believe this stuff. They are being tricked into opposing their own interests through false fears and invented demons.
Read the rest of the article for a lot more of a pretty clear description of how crazy all this looks to the rest of the world.
bobbo, the problem with your solution, is that as soon as you elect the new guys, they become — incumbents! 🙂
“Massive” landslide? What election was that? It certainly wasn’t the Presidential election.
#6
Clearly people outside the US are familiar with the strawman argument. To a person, everyone agrees that something must be done. Everyone. Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals and even the clueless people “outside the US”. THE core question is **what** exactly. If we using the other “civilized” nations as an example, they too are running massive deficits because of health care. So, their system isn’t exactly peaches and cream.
Why doesn’t the EU provide centralized health care? I’m aghast. Think of all the people that are not getting care. What? Oh, you mean the constituent countries are obligated to that? That sounds a lot like a Federated system like the US. It is the STATES that should be providing health care, not the Federal government.
#12
Clearly from your post, the left has reduced itself to clueless tree-hugging, economical ignorant, elitists that think that hiring the first black secretary of State and the first black female SoS is racist.
#21
> Exactly the wrong
> question. Where does
> it say it can’t?
The 10th Amendment says just that. ***ALL*** powers not expressly given to the Federal government belong to the States.
#38–phydeau==no, VOTE THE INCUMBENTS OUT, will have to be done for 3-4 election cycles until those running know they have to really tow the line for any chance of being re-elected.
“Within our System” I don’t see anything else that could possible work. My plan only requires an informed electorate not swayed by religion, appeals to patriotism, greed, racism and the like and to keep their own self interest rationally in mind for 6-10 years. While having certain challenges itself, its certainly the easiest plan to maintain than any other I have heard of.
Thomas–can you read: “The Constitution says – – – -” with no reference to the rulings of the USSC is the work of a true idiot. Well done.
VOTE ALL ENCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE.
Nice idea, but the problem is that people tend to think their congress members are the good ones and everyones elses are dirty rotten bastards.
What we really need is term limits, if two terms is more than enough for a President then two terms is good enough for congress.
#40
Funny, what rulings specifically with respect to the creation of a ginormous Federal health care system were you referring? Where has the USSC ever ruled that the Federal government has the authority to centrally control everyone’s health care? I’ve read quite a bit of USSC cases and there is nothing. In short, they don’t have the authority and should not have the authority.
#41–BigBoy==a fine suggestion for consideration. My fear would be that the rats would just cram all their corruption into two terms and nothing would change. We have to do something to get their attention.
Since it is so totally relevant, I’ll repeat from other posts: “Many think that those serving in government are well intentioned but incompetent. The truth is just the opposite.”
Two term limitation requires changing the current rules, not impossible, just improbable. VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE is doable under current rules.
Thomas–stop pretending to be a dining room table. Again==read what was posted. You can do it.
Great article. If only the conservative sheep can swallow the truth shown here. Unfortunately, human nature is to reject what you don’t want to hear.
Inspecting the well known Palin-Loony Curve (P-L Curve), the lunatic fringe side will never see the truth.
Why does most (as in not all for those who don’t understand) of these comments going back and forth sounding like two children saying their dad is better?
I mean really, the problem isn’t what’s going on, it’s who’s interpreting it. Let who’s in office be until their term is up, then try and note them out when the time comes. Until then suck it up that majority rules.
The man hasn’t been in office for a year and just because they don’t agree with him, go off on their deluded righteous causes and make themselves look like complete idiots.
Attacking something does not make you sound any more intelligent than you think you are. Stating why the item is wrong and pointing out a way to do it better might be a more civilized and more accepted approach.
Just my quick “opinion”. Cause they are my own and not someone else’s.
#47–Hey DAD==can you spot the three ways you violated your own advice?
Uncle Dave, how is it that you and others have been railing against the right-wingers and religious types for years and yet they seem to persevere and thrive? Maybe you should look into Jesus. It could only help you!
#48 bobbo, while waiting for Godot=
Nope, but I know there were 3 ways you misinterpreted mine.
I’m sure foreigners watch what US commentators have to say about their politicians too. Like when the assassinated Dutch man was described as right wing even though he supported gay marriage abortion and legalizing drugs
Rasmussen survey, Republicans lead on 8 out 10 issues, tied on Iraq, and trail on ethics.
Judging by the quality of debate here and amongst my relatives, and by the Rwanda radio quality of the hate and lies being injected into the mainstream discourse with no apparent resistance, I fear that the United States will soon end in a nasty civil war. Given the incredible amount of weaponry in this country, other nations would no doubt feel obliged to take sides and step in on our soil.
Then we have WWIII, except this time it’s on American soil. Hundreds of millions of Americans will die and you will loose your freedom if these jackasses continue in their inability to smoothly transfer power. And the other side with their utter lack of spine, and the media with their utter equivocation, will carry their blame as well. Franky, none of this should even be worthy of debate, and I can think of no time in history where lies of the “He’s gonna kill your momma and your baby!” caliber are injected into the discourse that did not result in civil war within that nation in a short time.
Dear Dirk Belligerent, You are a cookoo. Alfred1 and you make a good pair.
You are dodging the question. You are claiming that the interstate commerce clause (I presume) has given the Federal government the authority to nationalize the health care industry but there is no case law precedent for this. Even the buy out of the auto manufacturers was merely giving money to corporations.
No, the “tough titties” result is that the Constitution does not give the Federal government the authority to centralize the health care industry (just like it does not have the authority to impose direct taxes) but is going to do it anyway because the left has succeeded in making the States impotent. In the end, Hamilton finally triumphed over Jefferson. We’re long overdue for a Constitutional Convention.
#54-
Civil wars are bad for business. Admittedly, a segment of our society has gone off the rails sufficiently (at least with their rhetoric) that I suppose war is possible. But I believe that the corporations are still sufficiently in control that they won’t let it happen.
Assuming, of course, they are better at controlling the mob than they are stewarding our economy.
Obama can shut down the Republican anti health care types by saying that he’s in favor of a US health care system like Israel’s! The Reconstructionist Right cannot, on pain of expulsion, criticize anything Israeli!
Heil Hitler!
#54 Li
At least it will reduce our carbon footprint…
I don’t know, burning cities release a lot of CO2.
Posted by Uncle Dave “As a moderate, your Uncle Dave and others like me may not like (to be kind) some of the things Obama and the left are doing”, hee, haa,hee……
Uncle Dave is a raving Communist Fellow Traveler, too brain washed to know that he’s been pulled to Satan/Stalin orbit.. What NAZI Tyrannical trash Uncle Dave is, they are nothing but racist. All Uncle Dave sees is the color of a man’s skin. It’s the Demoncrats that continue to bring up the whore’s argument of race. Who gives a crap what color a communist is, I still don’t want to be trapped in the hell whole they are trying to create.
The only fantasy is that American’s what to have the Government standing over then saying who can live and who can die. Why didn’t congress restrict themselves to the same plan if it’s so good. Once a government, that’s National Debt paid, health care is established it’ll be a fast road towards only one legally allowed system. We know this is the goal, because if nothing else of Hillary’s own health care crap.
The Demoncrats are pissed that some Americans are actually becoming active in their politic and taking the same action that the Demoncrats advocate. And since they know that longer it takes force this upon the American people the more they are going learn and turn against their brain washed garbage. What ever happened to “Question Authority”. Well we’re Questioning Authority, which in the case of the slave holding Demoncrats is mostly a white/rich privileged class..
Whenever someone tries to bum rush a great deal pass the people, I’m reminded of a Used Car Salesman, the slim of humanity only sightly above life insurance salesmen. I hope the disgust and derision I hold all communist, ie. ‘Uncle Dave’ Stalin, has come through…………………………..
Whatever…………………..
Traaxx
#64 Traaxx
Oh dear. It’s yet another rant proving the original article was onto something.
Traaxx, are you for real, or are you just telling a joke I’m not getting?
The conservatives calling universal healthcare ‘fascist’ is like calling your mother a ‘fascist’ for making you share your toys. Grow up and share your toys. Universal health care works adequately in every other country and the citizens (mostly)love it.
#30, Dickhead Belligerent,
I have to go with the others, you are effen nuts. And a racist too.
Why do you hate America?
#56, Thomas,
You are claiming that the interstate commerce clause (I presume) has given the Federal government the authority to nationalize the health care industry but there is no case law precedent for this.
That is just a stupid comment. Almost every venture by the Federal Government has resulted in the Supreme Court upholding that under the “Commerce Clause”.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
Swift v. United States (1905)
Stafford v. Wallace (1922)
National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation (1937)
Wickard v. Filburn, (1942)
Anderson v. Mt. Clemens Pottery Co. (1946)
Katzenbach v. McClung (1964)
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1965)
Maryland v. Wirtz (1968)
Daniel v. Paul (1969)
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority (1985)
Gonzales v. Raich (2005)
Then, if you really want to explore this a little further, try reading this article by Lawrence Tribe
Then the Supreme Court has ruled many times that Medicare is valid. I can picture no reason the Supreme Court would condone Medicare yet declare any other health care insurance plan unconstitutional.
McNARY, COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION, et al. v. HAITIAN REFUGEE CENTER, INC., et al (1991)
Fisher v United States (2000)
SHALALA V. ILLINOIS COUNCIL ON LONGTERM CARE, INC. (2000)
While these cases do not deal with the question of whether or not Medicare is “Constitutional”, they operate upon that assumption.
I don’t mind a Brit critiquing the USA as long as he doesn’t mind me calling him on a few things about his sad country. If you dish it out, you should be able to take it.
1. Your food is horrible.
2. Jonathan Ross. Seriously, is this the best you guys can do? I can’t understand a damn word he says. Give him subtitles! At least I can understand Graham Norton. And he’s funny!
3. The Brits follow their government like cheerful lemmings toward the precipice. Tally ho old chap!
4. Police state much? Orwell was right. A nation that’s the cast of Big Brother.
5. For a country that prides itself on National Health, they sure have awful teeth. It must be the vicious inbreeding.
6. Soccer…excuse me, “Footie”, sucks. It’s a crap sport that’s almost as boring as Cricket.
Alright, so much for my rant. What do you Brits do right?
1. Bulldogs. How can you not love Bulldogs?
2. Keeley Hazell is hot.
3. Doctor Who is one of the best shows on TV.
That is all.
PS: Prince Charles creeps me out.
#71 Deowll
Clearly there are serious questions over how the Obama administration is implementing this health care, but most of the objections coming from conservatives are pure whacko scaremongering based on the usual cocktail of prejudice, ignorance and tight assedness (needs to be a word for this). There seems to be no honest intelligent, or even intelligible, debate.
It also seem strange to me that people are willing to put their health needs in the hands of corporations, who have proved their untrustworthiness and their singularity of purpose (profit), over a publicly elected government.
#71–do-ill==Uncle Dave is a moderate. I wouldn’t confuse being so indecisive that your default position is to be an independent. Thats a different continuum. Now, I have seen our good Uncle be “wrong” on a few technical points, but moderate in doing so.
Maybe only 30% of Americans are moderate. I’ve often hear America is 1/3 left, 1/3 right, and 1/3 undecided. What this all demonstrates mostly is lack of definition on an issue that people just throw numbers at rather than accurately measure.
In fact, people are a mix. I am a social liberal and an economic conservative. I think both parties are corrupt. Does that make me a moderate in that my polar extremes are averaged out???
Labels===for idiots only. Like John C who wants to pre-qualify opinions by hanging Country of Origin Labels as part of his evaluation. Done mostly for humor, but still telling.
Thomas==trumped again. You are very consistent. Very calm and reasonable “sounding” in your approach, but uniformily completely vacant in substance. Kinda unusual actually. I’m sure you’ll post again in a few days on these same issues just as if today never happened.=====Groundhog Thomas. Don’t worry, some day you’ll get the girl, but only if you stop being who you are today, and grow as a person.
Here’s more:
raving Communist Fellow Travelers
brain washed
NAZI Tyrannical trash
racist
slave holding Demoncrats
mostly a white/rich privileged class
Unfortunately, there are quite a few that go in the other direction as well. Tsk tsk. Let’s all try to do better, shall we?