Comments on: If You Must Read One Article About Democratic Soul Searching And How To Find Our Way Out Of The Wilderness http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:56:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31240 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:04:30 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31240 I think it is clear that to three authors, Digby, Taranto, and Tomasky certain things weigh heavily on Tomasky's mind, and, in his view, should somehow be incorporated into Democratic Party thinking. Of course, I refer to the "common good." The 'key' to the equation seems to be determining something or other to be "the common good", and then getting the American people behind it. And, of course, what that "common good" will be, and exactly how to get the American people behind it are two difficult questions to answer. But if we step back far enought, what do we see? What do Americans -- fairly universally -- agree are legitimate goals for government (i.e., the people), and government alone? Health care? Not hardly. Senator Clinton is still smarting from her attempt to push that one on Joe Six - Pack "Immigration reform"? (read: "let 'em in, or let 'em stay here" Until it means something else, it's D.O.A.) Affirmative action? The author avers, "... affirmative action has been the most important single factor in the last 40 years in the broad expansion of the black middle class..." Even if all the people hollering about "good old - fashioned all - American fairness" left the 'room', and took all the bigots with them, you would have left all the people who believe that tax breaks, and reducing minority dependence on welfare had a lot to do with accelerating black middle class affluence I think that's why "promote the general welfare" is 5th in the Preamble, not first I think it is clear that to three authors, Digby, Taranto, and Tomasky certain things weigh heavily on Tomasky’s mind, and, in his view, should somehow be incorporated into Democratic Party thinking.
Of course, I refer to the “common good.” The ‘key’ to the equation seems to be determining something or other to be “the common good”, and then getting the American people behind it.
And, of course, what that “common good” will be, and exactly how to get the American people behind it are two difficult questions to answer.
But if we step back far enought, what do we see?
What do Americans — fairly universally — agree are legitimate goals for government (i.e., the people), and government alone?
Health care? Not hardly. Senator Clinton is still smarting from her attempt to push that one on Joe Six – Pack
“Immigration reform”? (read: “let ‘em in, or let ‘em stay here” Until it means something else, it’s D.O.A.)
Affirmative action? The author avers, “… affirmative action has been the most important single factor in the last 40 years in the broad expansion of the black middle class…” Even if all the people hollering about “good old – fashioned all – American fairness” left the ‘room’, and took all the bigots with them, you would have left all the people who believe that tax breaks, and reducing minority dependence on welfare had a lot to do with accelerating black middle class affluence
I think that’s why “promote the general welfare” is 5th in the Preamble, not first

]]> By: Dugger http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31239 Dugger Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:04:12 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31239 That was a good sentiment for Democrats. They do seem beholden to extremists and the candidate htat at least appears to not be owned by these yahoos, would have abtter shot at winning. Dugger That was a good sentiment for Democrats. They do seem beholden to extremists and the candidate htat at least appears to not be owned by these yahoos, would have abtter shot at winning.

Dugger

]]> By: ArC http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31238 ArC Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:04:42 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31238 Frankly, I liked <a href="http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_digbysblog_archive.html#114549479637487586" rel="nofollow">Digby's response</a> better. Frankly, I liked Digby’s response better.

]]> By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31237 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:04:40 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31237 Which forward - thinking Democrat wrote this? "We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all maters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it." Give up? Which forward – thinking Democrat wrote this?
“We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let
us, in all maters of general concern act as a nation, which have
national objects to promote, and a national character to support.
If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.”

Give up?

]]> By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31236 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:04:04 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31236 George Washington George Washington

]]> By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31235 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:04:03 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31235 Good thing you didn't read what he had to say -- your head might have exploded! Good thing you didn’t read what he had to say — your head might have exploded!

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31234 Oliver Willis Fri, 21 Apr 2006 10:04:09 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31234 Another b.s. emmission from <a href="http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/jamestaranto" rel="nofollow">Taranto</a>? I ate lunch at the same table with the guy once, not the kind of guy I'd look to advice for on anything much less somehting so important. Another b.s. emmission from Taranto? I ate lunch at the same table with the guy once, not the kind of guy I’d look to advice for on anything much less somehting so important.

]]> By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31233 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 09:04:47 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31233 I dream of the President, of either Party, who says, "I'm going home!, and I'm taking the keys to the Capitol with me... See ya'!" I dream of the President, of either Party, who says, “I’m going home!, and I’m taking the keys to the Capitol with me… See ya’!”

]]> By: Frank_D http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31232 Frank_D Fri, 21 Apr 2006 09:04:05 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31232 James Taranto had an <a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/" rel="nofollow">interesting take</a> on this article yesterday James Taranto had an interesting take on this article yesterday

]]> By: Chessie http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/04/20/if-you-must-read-one-article-about-democratic-soul-searching-and-how-to-find-our-way-out-of-the-wilderness/#comment-31231 Chessie Fri, 21 Apr 2006 06:04:00 +0000 http://improveman.com/ow2008/?p=1823#comment-31231 One of the best reads this year. Do you think the beltway Dems will pay attention? One of the best reads this year.

Do you think the beltway Dems will pay attention?

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