[In an early version of this piece, I mistakenly called Frank Rich "Frank Church." My thanks to an alert reader. How do these things happen? Surely, this isn't the age thing. Is it?]
I find this fascinating: two respected liberal commentators, having studied Tuesday’s election, arrive at wholly different conclusions about the balloting’s long range effect on American politics. It’s worth reading both and seeing with whom you agree.
The utopian blue view comes from the American Prospect’s Bob Moser, who says a new liberal majority has been born (Obama Wins The Future, 11/7/12). In the other corner, New York magazine’s Frank Rich, a liberal with impeccable credentials, sees red and says, The Tea Party Will Win in the End.)
I’ll be fascinated to know what you think!
When you’ve studied the articles, leave a critiquing comment. It’ll be interested to see which scenario readers most agree with.
Related articles
- A Bright Blue Day Approaches. (thompsonstoptips.wordpress.com)
- Can the GOP Win Without the Crazies? (themoderatevoice.com)
- The Republican Party Civil War Is Only Hours Away From Starting, America Needs The Smart Ones To Win (dekerivers.wordpress.com)
November 9th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I don’t believe that just because the Tea Party suffered a thumping that they will dry up and blow away in the next breeze. We know that 1. they devoutly believe in the rightness of their cause, 2. they are a pipeline to unlimited financial resources and 3. when they have suffered reversals in the past they looked unflinchingly at where their tactics failed them and adjusted accordingly. There is just too much at stake for them to simply evaporate now. On the other hand liberals and progressives have found that we can prevail if we have the will and perseverance. The valuable lesson we learned is that complacence is our enemy and in overcoming complacence, the activism of citizens can prevail despite vast financial resources.
November 9th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Steve,
Where, specifically, did Rich’s argument fall apart? Do you see any over-exuberance in the American Prospect article?
November 9th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Les, you inadvertently call Frank Rich… Frank CHURCH.
November 9th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Thanks LLB,
I know it can’t be the age thing. Can it?
November 9th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I think Moser’s article was spot on!!! Church made some good points in that the Republican Party might have a (slim) chance of resurfacing, but I doubt it will look anything like it does today. They have to keep the crazies out and realize that it’s not the good ol’ boy system they’ve enjoyed in the past. They will have to face the fact that ALL people matter, no matter what gender, color or ethnicity. If they don’t come up with a new and improved party, they are toast.
November 9th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Both articles rang true to me in different ways, so I’m afraid I’m a both/and responder. I see here in Clackamas County, Oregon that the tea party is way too alive and well, and have succeeded in taking over the county. Not only do the liberals become complacent, but they are hopelessly poorly organized, using organization infrastructure from the 1950s or early 60s. It smells of moth balls. I’m not referring to Obama, here, but the local scene. Church’s article is dangerous, in that it reinforces the idea that we have ultimately lost, no matter what we do. I refuse to believe that, and think that the first article makes enough good points to offer a refutation. It’s an interesting tension between the two views. If I had to choose, I would choose the first, and assume that Frank Church is just another old white man at this point, not alert to what’s going down on the street.
November 9th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I think Moser hit the nail on the head. Romney was never a true Conservative, and didn’t need to grovel to the far-right because they would have come out and voted anyway due to their hatred of Obama. Romney could have taken the chance to re-establish a progressive Republican party, one based on the principles of small government, but not based upon the “wholesale demolition of government”. Instead, the Romney campaign was overshadowed by the threat the tea party brought to social and economic politics: that it’s every man for himself, and women should watch from the sidelines.
Instead, I think Americans affirmed both their individuality, and their respect for their fellow citizen. Despite what the right is screaming on social networks right now, about Obama’s socialist agenda, the reality is very different. Americans have accepted a social contract, and the power of the GOP will wane, as long as the radical elements of the party continue to isolate itself within the white, male bubble. The next decade is going to be fascinating to watch, and see how the changing demographics force the Republican party to evolve, because it has to, or it will die. It appealed to the white voters this time round, in an election it arguably should have won, and failed. In four years, that base will be diminished in lieu of a growing latino, and active female population. It’ll be messy, and dirty, but hopefully the moderates and progressives within the GOP can bring it out of its dark corner, and re-establish itself as a credible party, with broad appeal.
November 9th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Mr. Thompson,
Thanks for your thoughtful post. And thanks for subscribing to my scribble pad. I will, yours.
Les
November 9th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
One must always beware of the “sell-it-by-zealot” mind set as they are on a religious crusade if you will and they will let nothing stop them. The GOP has a great manipulative, brainwashing machine going and Rove has been genius at the “I know you are, but what am I” game. However, even the slowest to see the signs of that game have witnessed it played now for 12 years and they are beginning to see the light. And the Dems have finally turned the game around and used it against them as when Obama’s team defined Romney before the big game began. But in the GOP many think they are fighting a holy war so they are not going to give up easily or change. I am distressed that many of my friends and even family not only see this as a holy war but want to talk about how Christians are victimized and I have to remind them that no such thing is happening. I’m also concerned for friends who took this loss so personally because they actually believed the propaganda and thought they were going to win. And evidently the people on the right who spew the propaganda started to believe their own lies and were visibly disappointed. Those who still have their brains attached on the right have been talking about getting into the 21st Century and being more inclusive but I don’t think even they have hope that it will happen in the short term. One analyst talked about the fact that in the last 6 Presidential elections they have lost the popular vote. I do think that people are waking up. The right has gone so far out there that even people who don’t want to get involved are willing to take a stand.. They are starting to repudiate Rush Limbaugh who said the President only won because the “sluts” came out to vote for them. I do think we need a variety of ideas but I’m not sure the GOP has, or will figure it out in the short term. I do see signs that the worm will turn and hope they will come to their senses but the tail still thinks it wags the dog.
November 9th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Bonni,
Thanks for an statement that is as elegant as it is prescient.
Les
November 9th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
If any entity looks back on the Grand Old Days and fails to innovate its message, product or service then you might as well slap a Sears sign on your roof and enjoy an empty parking lot.
The Tea Party is far from gone. I value their voices on school and library boards and more. I encourage transparency and dialogue. I like questioning the status quo.
Dems need to grow and adapt, just as the GOP needs to look forward and not backwards. The 1950s were not that great to those who are not White males. The New Deal isn’t sacred. The War on Poverty may need to be retooled. Whichever party builds for the future has an opportunity to lead.
November 10th, 2012 at 7:58 am
I wish the Grand Old Party well, if they can ever get their act together on the human condition is uncertain. I do know that the political parties that embrace diversity will be better off further down the road. I am, for all intense purposes an IDIC voter. I grew up on Star Trek; instead of a bible or other religious text, I had the star trek encyclopedia. IDIC is short for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Large portions of the folks in my demographics (18-30) regardless of what they think about taxes, don’t believe we should discriminate against anyone for any reason. Is it no wonder Democrats won 60% of their vote?
Let’s look at another trend. Obama won 71% of the Hispanic vote. 65% of voters in 2012 believe illegal immigrants should be offered legal status in someway. That’s 61% of Democrats and 37% of Republicans. That to me has the looks of a majority. If you are the party of building fences and deportation you ought to be worried about your political prospects in the southwestern united states in the next decade.
Folks are always going to disagree about money, but what we are seeing is a trend that Democrats, Greens, and even Libertarians all agree we should be equals and the law shouldn’t discriminate against one class of people. In some ways James Carville is wrong. Had this election been purely about the economy, I’m not sure Barack Obama would have won re-election. Luckily, elections are about civil rights and our health and well being too.