Ideology Meets Reality

There might have been a lot of better ways to solve the American automakers potential collapse. However, the collapse cannot be allowed to occur. In our imperfect world, ideology must sometimes be jettisoned. We face a Depression or worse if something isn't done. The following, just in from Politico, reports what may be the President's most important contribution to stopping this financial fiasco:

Politico - Mike Allen - 12/12/08 9:36AM

Facing the potential bankruptcy of iconic American firms, President Bush on Friday abandoned his longstanding objection to using using the Wall Street bailout fund to help save G.M., Ford and Chrysler.

A frustrated Republican congressional official said: "If only they had said this last week, we could have saved ourselves a full week."

Ten hours after the Senate rejected a separate lifeline for the automakers, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a statement it would be "irresponsible" to let the companies crash. So she said Bush will "consider other options," including the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program that Congress created for the Treasury Department in October.

"Under normal economic conditions we would prefer that markets determine the ultimate fate of private firms," Perino said in a statement. "However, given the current weakened state of the U.S. economy, we will consider other options if necessary – including use of the TARP program — to prevent a collapse of troubled automakers. A precipitous collapse of this industry would have a severe impact on our economy, and it would be irresponsible to further weaken and destabilize our economy at this time."

A Republican senator told Politico that Vice President Cheney had told senator Thursday that it could be "Herbert Hoover" time if the bailout failed, which it did several hours later.

Democratic congressional leaders had urged Bush to take that step, but Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other administration officials insisted the original bailout was limited to the financial sector. The beginning of Perino's statement was: "It is disappointing that while appropriate and effective legislation to assist and restructure troubled automakers received majority support in both houses, Congress nevertheless failed to pass final legislation. The approach in that legislation provided an opportunity to use funds already appropriated for automakers, and presented the best chance to avoid a disorderly bankruptcy while ensuring taxpayer funds go only to firms whose stakeholders were prepared to make the difficult decisions to become viable, competitive firms in the future."

Perino ended by saying: "While the federal government may need to step in to prevent an immediate failure, the auto companies, their labor unions, and all other stakeholders must be prepared to make the meaningful concessions necessary to become viable."

Ford has said it can operate without federal money for now, but analysts said General Motors and Chrysler might not make it to Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Where Left And Right Unite

Nationally, and locally, there are de facto, new emerging voter coalitions. The Obama victory was not a victory of ideology, but a victory of both disgust with the Bush administration, and the charismatic appeal of Obama's personality. Our political landscape is very much in flux, and the uncomfortable coalitions within the Republican and Democrat parties are stretched to the breaking point. The most publicized and uncomfortable coalition crack is within the Republican party. On one side are the paleo, populist or traditional conservatives. On the other, the neo-conservatives and the Wall street conservatives. It's Pat Buchanan and Sarah Palin vs. "W" and his fellow travellers. To read the American Conservative magazine these days, is to read articles that find common cause with the left on a number of issues from the war in Iraq to globalization. Even though each each side travels a very different route of logic to get to their mutual destinations, they still arrive at the same operative point of view. So contrary to the neo-con weltanschauung is the traditional conservative perspective, that National Review (which has become the neo-con mouth piece), publishes articles about the "unpatriotic" traditional conservatives. They are branded as isolationist and protectionist. Et Tu, Toby?

It's with the Naderite, populist, and green wing of the Democrat party, where traditional conservatives find common ground. Setting aside abortion, there is much agreement about Iraq, stopping out-sourcing, rejuvenating manufacturing and controlling immigration to protect American workers and the environment. Lou Dobbs may best speak for this possible emerging populist coalition. And, typically, he has been branded isolationist, protectionist and even racist, by the standard brand types of the Democrat and Republican parties.

This development, has its greatest potential at the local level. I attend gatherings of both the Caroline Citizens for Responsible Growth and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and evidence suggests that the citizens in attendance are a good mix of principled liberals and traditional conservatives. This is also true of our Ridgely Planning Commission, as well as our town's successful voting coalition. Missing above are the community wrecking, Club For Growth types, whether they call themselves Democrats or Republicans.

Some of you must think that I'm sick, indeed, to be still thinking about politics after the Obamananza. Some of you may also think that November 4th settled everything. The election settled zero ideologically, and only guarantees that Obama will have an unusually free hand for at least the next two years until midterms. Such power on both ends of Pennsylvania Ave., will inevitably lead to hubris and overreach, and the pendulum swing of 2010 won't be a Democrat one. What has happened this year shows that because of the very strange times, all options are open. This is a fact to be both feared and welcomed. This could be a time of revolution or reformation. I'll hedge my bets with reformation. There are signs that we are on a road back to a time where community will once again matter, and America will return to being (in the words of Pat Buchanan) a "nation and not an empire". Our very precarious economic situation, will become the forge of a new politics. Whatever it may be called, a traditional conservative, green, and populist coalition, from the White House to the Ridgely House, would be in America's best interest.

All Options Possible With New Political Pardigm

A political paradigm is established when an election of such profound importance occurs that the political landscape is changed for a generation. Young people, in particular, attach themselves loyally to the ideology and party of the victor. 1932 was such a year for the Democrats and liberals with the election of Franklin Roosevelt. 1980 was such a year for Republicans and conservatives with the election of Ronald Reagan. What does 2008 and the election of Barack Obama mean?

First, it's not a triumph of liberalism. Senator Schumer ought to be reigned in by his colleagues before he tries to ban Rush Limbaugh and all conservative talk radio. This is one of a number of chest beating moves that will sink Obama. Obama won because of a brilliant campaign, candidate charisma that exceeds even Reagan, and the abysmal mess George Bush and the neo-cons have bequeathed America. Against such a combination, McCain, and particularly Palin, rallied all the troops that were possible on the conservative side.

Some of my friends and relatives voted for Obama, and they are not leftist ideologues. They were MAD AS HELL about "W". I didn't even vote for McCain in the Republican primary because of his associations with "W" and the neo-cons. Only good 'ole Sarah saved him for me by the general election.

The factors that will determine whether or not Obama has established a paradigm moment, are the extreme uncertainty clouding our future, and WHO Obama himself really is. All I can say about the uncertainty part is that, it looks as if we are about to live out the ancient Chinese curse, "may you live in interesting times". On the other hand, who Obama is, will be the key to any shift among the political tectonic plates.

In my blog, I have certainly have raised questions about Obama's buddies from Chicago, and what this might mean about his character. I know very well that it's hard to be a saint in the city. I too, knew some very unsavory charactors in Philly, BUT they weren't my political mentors. I have also evolved ideologically, and categorically rejected the leftist world view that characterized my youth. Obama only rejected Messrs. Wright, Ayers, and Farrakahn when he ran for President.

Obama might just be an opportunist and not a committed leftist. Believe it or not, I hope for this outcome. He just did what he had to do to survive in the city. If, however, he is a committed leftist, God help us. He has the ability, due to his charisma, to use the bully pulpit, to at least temporarily enact a very leftist agenda. While I'm sure time and reality would overturn such a coup, living through the process may not be very pleasant.

What's the paradigm? Who knows. It's too early to tell if a new paradigm will come into being. In the meantime, I kind of like the one here in Ridgley where traditional conservatives and liberals, unite against the likes of the Club For Growth, the rapacious developers, and their bureaucratic allies, to keep our good 'ole Ridgely livable. If such a united entity were only possible nationally, I'd be the happiest blogger in the blogosphere.

Mickey Mouse And His Dog Too

Voting fraud in urban America is a well established fact. With the reports yesterday that Obama supporters from ACORN had registered Mickey Mouse, I want to tell you a story about the voting dogs in my old hometown of Philadelphia.

In 1993, there was a special election for the Pennsylvania Senate, which pitted Republican Bruce Marks, against 33rd Democrat Ward leader Bill Stinson. Republicans had recently taken a local State Representative seat(won by John Taylor)and the odds were good the Republicans could take the empty Senate seat too. It was the first run for Bruce Marks, who was in for a Baptism by fire.

Back in Philly, I was an urban activist just like Barack Obama was in Chicago. There was one big difference, I was by then, a conservative Republican activist -- a very rare bird, indeed, in inner-city America. I volunteered for election day duty, and was assigned by the 33rd Ward Republican Ward leader, Mark Cumberland, to the polling place in the recreation center next to the Carl Mackley Homes housing project. I was a certified poll watcher for the party, with the legal right of entry to the entire polling place. Before leaving with another volunteer, Ken Bell, Mark gave us a phone number to call if "we had any trouble". I remember thinking --hmmm... OK!?

When we arrived, we were immediately "welcomed" by the Democrat committeeman and election judge, both of whom looked like they would have made excellent extras in a Fellini movie. They weren't going to let us in, period. The committeeman (who would later be convicted of absentee ballot voter fraud),was particularly obnoxious. At about five inches from my face, he boasted loudly that, "this is my neighborhood and I know everyone, their mothers, and their brothers. I even know their dogs, and they are going to vote too".

Ken and I reasoned that our "welcome" might be what Mark meant by "trouble". We called the number and explained about the recent events. Within 20 minutes, two 18 wheelers arrived. The trailers were painted with American eagles and flags and a loudspeaker system was blaring God Bless America. It was the Teamsters, who were in this election, a Republican union. Out of the trucks marched 8 men who looked like they meant business. One of them asked "where is Toby Gearhart?" and I was happy to step right up. In the next few minutes, without any problem, Ken and I were able to march right into to polling place and look wherever we wanted. Sometimes, the freedoms that we take for granted need to be backed up by a bit of muscle.

That afternoon, there was only one, almost comic incident, when the Democrat candidate himself showed up on the scene. As he was leaving he muttered to me, "you know, I know some tough guys too".

Well, they couldn't save him this time. Bill Stinson's election was overturned by the court, and a number of Democrat committeemen and campaign workers throughout the area were convicted of voter fraud.

With the Teamsters by our side, we didn't witness any voter fraud that day. However, there was fraud committed there, but BEFORE voting began, with absentee ballots. (Who knows what else was planned until we showed up.) Besides outright intimidation, illegal absentee ballots were the preferred method of election theft throughout the district.

How many canine names were involved in total is hard to say. Click on below for the complete legal conclusion of the story:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1904058/Marks-v-Stinson