When I predicted that Barack Obama would not alter course following the outcome of the 2010 elections, I wasn't lamenting that fact. In fact, I have consistently hypothesized that Mr. Obama digging in his heals and remaining the fierce partisan that he is for liberal progressivism, might end up saving the country.
By that I don't mean that liberal progressivism is good for the country. Far from it. But Barack Obama's dogged devotion to it is highlighting in front of the entire country the difference between conservatism and progressivism. That is what was on the ballot in 2010 (unlike 2008). In every previous election, the voters were struggling to distinguish any difference between the two. Now they see it. And they are saying that unequivocally, they are on the side of conservatism.
It appears that if the left is hearing them, they are choosing to ignore them. We may be witnessing the "Pickett's Charge" for the left. Two more years of go-for-broke gambles on European style socialism. Why do I say so? Check out Tom Friedman:
We need to raise gasoline and carbon taxes to discourage their use and drive the creation of a new clean energy industry, while we cut payroll and corporate taxes to encourage employment and domestic investment. We need to cut Medicare and Social Security entitlements at the same time as we make new investments in infrastructure, schools and government-financed research programs that will spawn the next Google and Intel.
A man who envies China is telling us that Americans WANT to give more of their money to the government. This is the left's position. Friedman calls the Tea Party's vision "narrow and uninspired." He's close. The Tea Party wants an "uninspired" government's scope to be "narrow."
But I say, let these folks keep spreading their message. Let Obama and his media brains like Friedman keep telling Americans what they want rather than listening to them. When they do, 2012 will be an even bigger mess for them than 2010. And I certainly look forward to Friedman, Obama, et al, explaining how Obama's defeat is not really a referendum on Obama's policies.
These people are marching into the abyss. May they march alone.
