…but…
Jewish Odysseus sent a link to a video of Mr. Matthews. It’s an amazing few minutes in which he talks cogently about the current phenomenon in the state primaries.
Mr. Matthews appears to have had an epiphany about this strange hydra-headed Tea Party phenomenon, as upstart candidates continue to make mincemeat of the “establishment” GOP candidates. JO had a great subject line, which I’ve now forgotten but it made me look at the video, which is at Breitbart.
Here is the money quote:
- - - - - - - - -
“I have waited all my adult life for an election in which voters have the fire to reach up and burn those who have been running the show for decades, but I didn’t know it would come from the right and the center. 2010 could be the first year in modern times when being in office and part of Washington is the worst possible credential when facing voters.”
A liberal saying this out loud in front of God and everybody is strong evidence of a characterological humility I’d not have guessed Mr. Matthews to possess. Sometimes another’s humility can be a humbling experience in itself.
I don’t doubt that this man is still a liberal, believing in liberal solutions to the fear he describes witnessing. Nonetheless, he was willing to break ranks for a few moments. That’s how mind-rattling it is. Tomorrow will be business almost as usual, but that Delaware primary has stirred things at a visceral level in this country…at least for those paying attention.
The others? They’ll continue to obsess on the rich and famous, and that's as it should be. Too many of these folks were shaken out of their dream world and made to vote in 2008. That has become part of the problem.
Captain’s Quarters responded with his own thoughts about the GOP’s cluelessness:
…The powers are scared and they can’t let go. They are confused, and slow to catch on. They are worried about issues of integrity for O’Donnell, and yet they wanted to put up a man in Delaware who was in favor of cap and trade and said that he wouldn’t overturn Obamacare — under the Republican name. The illogical and inconsistent nature of this position escapes them. That, because of this, Mr. Castle had issues of integrity, doesn’t occur to them.
It’s sad, really, because the moment is now. They are being left behind. Regardless of what happens this November, the GOP establishment is a clear loser. Nothing can save their reputations. We will take the House, and don’t need the Senate — at least, not right now. We need to stop Obama for the next two years, and then prepare for two more years from now. The fight is just beginning, and the GOP establishment is having cocktails with itself…
Unfortunately, that is not all the GOP is doing with itself. And it is still refusing to listen.
10 comments:
Per Chris Matthews: I have waited all my adult life for an election in which voters have the fire to reach up and burn those who have been running the show for decades, but I didn’t know it would come from the right and the center.
For anyone with a real understanding of politics this should not come as any major surprise. Seeing a Liberal managing to voice this sentiment is, perhaps, a little newsworthy but America's last and best chance has usually resided at the more conservative side of the spectrum.
Much as with Islam's highly ambiguous meanings for words like "innocent" and "mischief", Matthews' mention of being able to "reach up and burn those who have been running the show for decades", does not necessarily carry all of the desirable connotations that it might seem to at first blush.
Remember, this is likely someone who is in favor of crashing the system, be it with Muslims, unlimited immigration, violent revolution or any variety of "Liberation Front" style domestic terrorism. An orderly succession and proper re-establishment of true Constitutional rule of law probably does not rank all that high among in his priorities.
Therefore, it could indeed surprise him that what he perceives as a fundamental sea change is actually coming from the Tea Party activists and not his revolutionary comrades. Goodness knows that this Obamatron probably thought he was finally going to get that long sought after taste of anarchy from The One™. As if a Chicago-style gangster has any interest in smashing the piggybank he and his minions are so deftly raiding. Send all those coins flying in every which direction? I don't think so.
Nonetheless, he was willing to break ranks for a few moments.
So, the question remains as to exactly what extent did Matthews "break ranks". Yes, he voiced the eternal Leftist goal of disrupting The System™ but it is doubtful that he shares much of a similar vision with Tea Party members regarding how to set about doing this.
So yes, both sides are eager to break some eggs but the results being sought after are more than likely omelets of two entirely different flavors.
Zenster has a good point, i.e., just how far does Matthews want to go.
But the point from General Quarters is even more important: this is step one toward 2012, and beyond. Remember, friends, if we control the House of Representatives we control the purse. That means we can strangle 0care, stop any cap & tax bill, and probably kill EPA regulations.
The GOP leadership is just as frightened as the Dems in regards to what the Tea Party proposes. After all, the GOPers are just as entrenched in perks, power, and ego as are the Dems. Tossing out Castle shook them to their collective cores. We should do more to both sides. They thought "power to the people" was some sort of '60's civil rights chant. It is about time they woke-up and took a lesson.
The Founders were revolutionaries, Mr. Matthews. The Left is counter-revolutionary.
It is a shallow critic that cannot see an eternal rebel at the heart of a conservative--Chesterton
Unfortunately, that is not all the GOP is doing with itself. And it is still refusing to listen.
Well, perhaps it should listen to Ms. O'Donnell, who has come out so strongly against onanism in the past.
On a more serious note, it still amazes me that so many teapartiers, allegedly opposed to government intervention in their lives, are willing to use the powers of government to prevent women from having abortions, criminalize private homosexual acts, and even use the power of eminent domain to seize the site of the Cordoba Cultural Center.
Spineone: That means we can strangle 0care, stop any cap & tax bill, and probably kill EPA regulations.
45,000 extra dead every year because they can't get health care is OK with you, I guess.
I hope you and your descendants don't live anywhere near sea level, or that you don't mind having a few million Bangladeshi refugees in your neighborhood within the next few decades. Read "Merchants of Doubt" to get the full story of the industry and ideology-fueled attack on science behind the global warming denialists.
I imagine the Teapartiers look to the government to govern in the nation's best interest. If the gov't did, there wouldn't be any (substantial) threat to America from climate refugees.
Why, D., in response to the legions of requests, here's my little observation:
"It's amazing how getting scared so bad you piss your pants ends up extinguishing the tingle going up your leg..."
BTW, the comments on that Matthews clip at Breitbart are PRICELESS.
A better fire analogy would be that a leftist dominated Congress and White House has been playing with matches and has set the Republic and constitution on fire The Tea Partiers have left their work in the field and are a volunteer bucket brigade coming to douse the flames, then give the miscreants' backsides a deserved paddling before booting them from the People's Houses.
Where on earth did the Poster Formerly...crawl out from with his hackneyed charge of "industry" and "ideology" behind global warming "denialists". The environuts themselves prefer the term climate change now because it stubbornly refuses to warm sufficiently and widely enough to save their credibility. "Industry" is primed to make a lot of money with any carbon scams and therefore backs them, not the critics. (Save denialist for the Holocaust). The temperature correlation with carbon dioxide level has been conclusively proven to be not causative. There is no connection between human activity and global changes in temperature. Computer models are not "evidence" and are so poor they weren't able to "predict" even past climate events or the recent leveling off of temperatures. Poster formerly should stick with his multiple fervent declarations that he will never return to this site that is beneath him and save everyone a rehash of old climate propaganda.
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