The Death Of Liberalism

Got an e-mail this morning from Arcadian, a good friend of mine who's a nice guy, but a self-described "flaming libertarian."  I've known him since college, and I generally respect his arguments.  But even he can't contain himself today with the news that Scott Brown is starting to pull ahead, and he's gaming out the political future.  Here's what he had to say:

"Brown is going to win and win big, and what I don't think you understand is that the Democrats only won in 2008 because they were not Republicans.  The short-sighted will say Brown's victory will be the end of Obama's presidency.  That is effectively true and his agenda will be over but not the point at all, like Clinton Obama will be forced to ask permission of the Republicans, and that is a good thing for the country.  That is a symptom.

Now wiser people will say that Brown's victory will signal the end of the Democrats.  That will also be true but not the point of Brown's election.  That too will be a just a symptom.  The Republicans will control the House in 2011 and will effectively control the Senate as well.  You will see legislation pushed by the Republicans and the people you chastise and call Conservadems.  They will form a new majority bloc in the Senate.  Obama will find himself becoming the President Of No when he is forced to use the veto pen as often as Bush did.  Perhaps like Clinton, Obama will instead pass these laws and earn a second term.  I don't think Obama is that crafty or thick-skinned.  Again this is only a symptom!

Zandar, the truly wise will see Brown's win for what it is.  It is nothing less than the death of liberalism.  This decade will be known for the rollback of government expansion to before the New Deal addicted generations to the government teat.  You bash the Tea Party movement constantly, but what you don't understand is that a large majority of America is sick of government itself, sick of interference, sick of taxes and regulations, sick of being told what to do by bureaucrats.  You're about to witness the beginning of the end of classic liberalism that has dominated this country for nearly 80 years.  I hate to say it old friend but your side is about to lose everything.  America in 2020 will be a much different place than it is today or even from what it was in 1980, 1990 or 2000."

Frankly, Arcadian old buddy, you're counting not only chickens that haven't hatched yet, you're counting chicken ghosts, psuedo-chickens, things with chicken somewhere on the packaging, and even chickens from other dimensions.  The Dems would still have 59 votes, the House and the White House.  And the Republicans are still despised even more than the Dems.

Don't be surprised if the future ain't what it used to be.