FINALLY!

The spirit of Tahrir Square has come to America.  Or, at least, to Wisconsin.

If Only There Were 50 Governors ...

... like this guy.  Christie is, at best, a show horse.  Malloy is a work horse.

I'm NOT An Alarmist In Calling Liberals To Arms

I'm a realist.  Here's one more example.  For that matter, here's yet another. 

Non-violent resistance only works against an opponent that respects reason and order.  Our opponents don't.

If Capitalism Has Any Morality At All ...

... it lies in the morality of failure.  In tough economic times, the obligation of the government is to the many, and not to the few; they are the ones who suffer the most.  The most evil socialism of all is socialism for the rich.

He's Not As Feckless As They Are

Liberals didn't show up at the polls last fall the way they showed up in 2008, because they didn't think Obama and the Democrats had done enough for the things they believed in.  Obama, on the other hand, hasn't run away, and he's still trying, even when his supporters have effectively tied his hands through their non-participation.  Here's yet another example.

Real change--the kind we can believe in--never starts at the top.  If the Tea Baggers can figure that out, why can't we?

Still More Wisdom From Mr. Brooks

Entitlements versus the rest of domestic spending?  He's right.  It's time to make a choice.

Where The REAL Power Lies

My fellow blogger, John Tierney, recently shared a cartoon that I like very much.  It's a graphic reminder of where real power comes from:  below, not above.  We realized that in 2008.  I pray that we realize it again in 2012.

When The Emperor Has No Clothes, Dress Him The Way You Want

That seems to be what Ronald Reagan's admirers keep on doing.  Typically, they try to point to things he either didn't accomplish (such as cut taxes and shrink government) or stumbled into (the end of the Cold War, when Communism decided to bankrupt itself the year after Reagan's watch ended, something that not even Reagan expected to happen at any time).  Michael Kinsley does an effective job of laying out this argument, here and here.

As I've said elsewhere, the argument in favor of Reagan boils down to saying "he made us feel good about ourselves."  This is only valid praise if you take the view that a President is more of a head of state, symbolizing the nation and its spirit, and not the leader of the government, working to build a better society for everyone.  In this context, I've often thought that the late Tip O'Neill had the best take on Reagan:  it was sinful that he became President but, giving him his due, he would have been a helluva king.

Unfortunately, Reagan was, as President, both head of state and government.  And, in his latter capacity, a case can be made that he was an unmitigated disaster, bankrupting the Republic while increasing its exposure to threats against its existence, and polarizing the political system in the process.  Let's not forgot that he championed the Taliban.  Let's also not forget that over 90 percent of the national debt was accrued not only on his watch, but on the watch of his Republican successors.  The result:  even funding for the arts, which used to be as nonpartisan a part of public spending as anything else, is now seen as a threat to the nation's future.  It's dead in Kansas, it may be killed in other states, and it may ultimately die off completely.  A sad legacy for a President who once headed the Screen Actors' Guild (although maybe not an inconsistent one for him; he nearly destroyed SAG by failing to protect its members from the witch-hunting of the House Un-American Activities Committee).

And this doesn't even get into his enabling of terrorism.

Ronald Reagan can only make you feel good if you're hell-bent on fooling yourselves.  Shame on you if you are; shame on me if I let you bully me into believing you.  Dress him however you want; his long-term legacy will still be naked.

I KNEW There Was Something I Liked About Dubya

His attempt at comprehensive immigration reform was the only thing Bush tried to do in eight years that I supported.  Perhaps his recent comments can help to revive it.

It's Not When They Do Nothing That Bothers Me

At least one writer thinks that people love the GOP House because they are doing nothing.  If only it were that simple.  As long as they spend their time trying to do this, and this, the cumulative effect is to continue to push any resulting legislation, and America, further and further to the right.

Much as a certain former President whose 100th birthday is today did.  Sadly, that is his real legacy, not his sunny personality.  He may have made Americans feel good in the '80s, but his policies, and the manner in which his followers have poisoned public debate ever since, are bringing twilight to this country, not morning.

Random End-Of-The-Month Thoughts

And so, the State of the Union has come and gone.  Well, all I can say is that Obama may not be everything we hoped that he could be, he's certainly a far more effective speaker and leader than anyone in the hapless (and I mean REALLY hapless) opposition, as unably represented by Paul "The National Debt Is Killing My Sinuses" Ryan and Michele "Where IS That Camera?" Bachmann.  Good grief.  If these are the GOP's rising stars, all that proves is that their sun has completely set, their House majority notwithstanding.  Sorry, folks, but it's not going to be Morning in America anytime soon.

Other observations:

Say this for the now-departed Michael Steele:  he doesn't lack for self-esteem.  Nor should he, given the performance of his party in last November's election.  But I can't shake the feeling that the GOP couldn't wait to replace him with a chairperson of a lighter hue.  Reince Pribus?  Where DO they get these people?  To say nothing of what the hell's the matter with Wisconsin?

As for the newly-empowered Republican state governments, they apparently can't wait to cut their own throats.  Haven't they ever heard of the gender gap?  Then, there's this example of burning the village in order to save it.  You wonder how much longer Obama will feel that he can afford to be reasonable with criminals like these.

Especially since they've learned absolutely nothing from Tuscon.  Thankfully, Beck's ratings are plunging through the basement.  They can't hit bottom fast enough.

On the bright side, we won't have Joe Lieberman to kick around anymore, thankfully.  Yes, I appreciated his work on behalf of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  But, overall, he was a complete anchor around the neck of Democrats and progressive causes.  And one of the worst narcissists in politics; he had the audacity to compare himself to John Kennedy in announcing his exit.  He would do well to consider what happened the last time a sitting Senator made that comparison.

And Sarah Palin's squeaky-clean image took yet another hit.

And an obnoxious example of big government (racist Republican edition) came tumbling down to reality.

There's a small degree of common sense in red America on the subject of taxes.  Maybe in purple America, too.

And Bill Maher has now said what I've been saying for years:  that America's most financially successful sport uses socialism as its business model.  Franchise owners of the world, unite!

Last, but not least, there's Egypt.  It may yet turn out like 1979 Iran.  But I've got a hunch it will be more like 1989 Europe.  Democracy doesn't need an imperial America to plant itself; it needs a nation, and a people, willing to take a chance on letting it grow.

It's been a amazing first month of 2011.  I've got a feeling that this will be a year of surprises.  Hopefully, for the most part, good ones.

This, On The Other Hand, Is NOT Surprising

It's what I've been expecting and predicting all along.  Unfortunately, it's how people with grievances (legitimate or not) act when the status quo has painted them into a corner and they refuse to sit.

But no one should be happy about it.  I'm not.  Because nobody wins when it does.

And, On The Subject Of Surprises ...

Thank you, Senator Frist.  A Republican and a physician.  Here's hoping his party listens.

This Is Embarrassing ...

... but I'm hard put to get over how frequently I agree with David Brooks.  This is a prime example.  He's right:  the social lessons you learn as a child are just as important, if not more so, than the academic ones.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King

Thank you for all that you lived and died for.

And those of you who are reading, take a look at this.  His most famous speech was even more of a miracle than most of us thought.