4/15/09

The Politics of Faux Outrage

by Steven D

Wed Apr 15th, 2009 at 10:08:52 AM EST

Governor Perry of Texas grandstands for the media by asserting "states rights" in his call for an end to the oppression of the Federal Government. Glenn Beck calls for secession and/or revolution (depending on the day, or even the time of day). Thousands of dimmer bulbs on the internet grid of conservative crazy town call for a violent rejection of the very government which they so assiduously defended when Republicans held the reins of power. It seems that these people would prefer to see our economy collapse and mass chaos in the streets rather than watch our democratically elected officials in power, elected by a clear majority of Americans last Fall, implement the very policies they promised to implement in the campaigns they ran to win those elections.

Did the Democrats in Congress and President Obama win an overwhelming electoral victory last November by cheating? Through "voter fraud?" There is no evidence of it. Did they act other than as they said they would if elected? Yes, but only in the sense that they have been more cautious and conservative than their campaign promises led us to believe they would be. Have they done anything to "oppress" (as that term is commonly employed) the vast majority of Americans other than call for limits on the pay of those individuals in the financial industry whose actions drove our economy off a cliff over the last two years? Yet, suddenly, our government, now that it is controlled by a different party, a party legitimately elected under the Constitution, is the cause of all our troubles?

Read on...


This article is quite the laundry list of Republican malfeasance. Peacenik remembers well that there wasn't a lot of protest in the last 8 years. Peacenik remembers that the Democratic party was actively supporting much of this agenda. Peacenik remembers when everyone said, "Just wait till the Democrats have the power of subpeona." Peacenik remembers how the Democrats didn't even, and still don't, have the committment to enforce those subpeonas.

Yes, the Democrats rolled over while in opposition. The Republicans not so much. This article is a little too dismissive about the future of the Republican Party. In the midst of financial and societal collapse, Peacenik is concerned about a fascist populist getting elected. The Democratic Party needs to stop laughing at the Republicans, and it needs to start acting on a progressive agenda. It needs to start enforcing the rule of law. It needs to prosecute the war criminals. Instead, it continues to pander to the wingnuts and cower to the mainstream media. It won't turn out well.