Thursday, September 16, 2010

Today’s reading assignments

The pseudonymous Doctor Zero, who posts at Hot Air, is, in my opinion, one of the very best political essayists writing at the present time. In this piece, he gets to the very heart of what’s wrong, not only with the Obama administration, but with the whole concept of the growth – the metastasis - of government. It is a bracing and inspirational bit of writing (and an excellent tonic for the spiritually enervating, albeit witty, prose of Hot Air’s resident Hamlet, Allah Pundit). Go read it now (you’ll be glad you did).

Also, don’t miss this article – “The Architect Has No Clothes” - on Karl Rove by C. Edmund Wright at American Thinker. A sample:
Truth be told, Rove's biggest architectural accomplishment is the Obama administration. By doing his part as senior advisor to the president to define conservatism down, he sullied the reputation and disoriented the understanding of what it means to be conservative to millions of half-informed voters nationwide.

How did this manifest?

It has had a disastrous effect on the outcome of elections across the country since 2006. Frankly, a case can be made that only the Democrats' Wellstone Memorial in 2002 and an awful Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 allowed the perception that the Bush White House had an effective political wing. I submit that they never did. With Bush leaving office at around 26% approval, no one debates that now. This was Rove's wing.
Remember the definition of an “expert”: some bastard from out-of-town carrying a briefcase.

Long-time readers of Tim Blair’s blog will recollect the running gag between Wronwright, Richard McEnroe, myself and others that was based on our membership in Karl’s fictional cabal of secret operatives. I hereby submit my resignation, and hand in my decoder ring, false beard, fountain-pen switchblade and, er, the extra set of keys that I had made for the Tardis down at Home Depot (I know, Wronwright, I know; but what would have happened if we had ever lost the original set?)

Finally, George Will puts government hubris in a fascinating historical context.

9 comments:

JeffS said...

As I noted earlier, I never was comfortable with Rove. Allahpundit notes that he's supported Sharron Angle in her bid to oust Harry Reid, and that's true enough. Plus he pointed out that Rove is both a talking head for Fox, AND a political consultant, paid to support specific candidates. Fair enough.

But Rove has other issues as well. No one is perfect (I am hardly the one to cast the first stone), but there are patterns here. Rove does lean "Republican", but I don't think he leans "conservative". I think he leans "Rove", with his power base inside the Republican party. Rove started Republican/conservative, but strayed from the "conservative".

And became the author of the Bush legacy.

And Doctor Zero is correct: our basic problem is too much political control. By BOTH parties. And the bloated bureaucracy. It's time to get rid of those controls.

Michael Lonie said...

Hey Paco, we are the EEEEEEvil Vast Right Wing Neocon Conspiracy. Don't resign (you can't anyway, the Wet Affairs people will see to that). The obvious thing to do is to stage a coup and overthrow the leadership and put ourse...more worthy leaders into power. Before Karl there was Dr. K (where did he get that loopy idea to replace our black Cadillacs with black Volkswagen Beetles?) and before him there were even more shadowy figures, going back to the Elders. Now is not the time to despair, just when we have the Weather Control Project near completion and Wronwright has nearly recovered (again) the keys to the Tardis (he assured me that he would have them soon, real soon). We can't leave all those minions without black helicopters to wax.

Paco said...

Perhaps I can buy Rove out.

Merilyn said...

What! you can't resign, MarkL has issued an order for the VRWC people to "Go-Tell-A-Greenard-To-Blow-It-Out-His-A**e-Day, and for us to us to get thee hence and spread the word".
Tim Blair's blog, "Fear the Unbelievers".
Perhaps we need a new leader, how about that Packington guy?

RebeccaH said...

What? Resign from the VRWC? But I like being a RWDB! And the free mead doesn't hurt either.

Seriously, doesn't that George Will story perfectly illustrate the kind of society BO and the Democratic Machine want to impose on us?

richard mcenroe said...

We're in trouble, Packers, wronwright changed the locks on the motor pool.

richard mcenroe said...

Stay calm, Paco, we're awaiting orders from our new Dark Mistress... as soon as she takes care of a little unfinished business.

Paco said...

Richard: Now you're talkin'!

Rove, your replacement is here.

Merilyn said...

Second the motion, for the replacement of Rove. [Well done Richard!]