Democrats Yearn To Relive "Glory Days"
By Christopher Adamo (12/21/06)
Pundits across the political spectrum are scratching their heads over Time
Magazine's bizarre choice of "person of the year." Word is out that Time
will essentially tell the American people that it is every one of them who
qualifies for the "honor." While their decision undoubtedly results in part
from the increasing sophistry and juvenile thinking that is reaching
epidemic proportions among the old media, another factor is at play. Insofar
as it reflects a major upheaval in the political landscape, it cannot be
ignored.
Without a doubt, the individual who most clearly qualified for the title was
Nancy Pelosi, first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
inarguable figurehead of the “Democrat Revolution of 2006.” Throughout the
latter part of 2006, Pelosi’s shameless grandstanding, coupled with the
media adulation heaped on her, made her the clear choice as the individual
who most influenced the news during the past year.
Admittedly, the sun neither rises nor sets as a result of any item on the
cover of Time Magazine. Nevertheless, the fact that Time slighted the new
Speaker bears great significance to those who expect a resurgence of
liberalism in American politics.
Despite their initial post election jubilation, the future does not look
entirely bright and rosy for the Democrats. Much has changed since they were
last in a position to effectively steer the country in the direction that
they wanted it to go.
Several recent events have revealed that they are finding it extremely
difficult to cope with the present environment. Hopes are fading that they
can once again revert to the manner in which they were accustomed to
operating. The landscape has changed, and the liberal political machinations
of yesteryear are gone, perhaps forever.
One of the last great gasps of liberal supremacy came in 1993, as the
Democrats on the House floor broke into spontaneous applause and cheering
upon passage of the largest tax increase in history. Though they
congratulated themselves for taking such a bold step, ostensibly for the
betterment of the country, the backlash was immediate and unrelenting.
The event was catalogued and thereafter replayed by the fledgling
“alternative media” as proof that those on the left rejoiced in the
confiscation of America's wealth. Excuses and justifications to the effect
that this was a painful but necessary course of action were easily dismissed
upon viewing the obvious jubilation.
Furthermore, those monotonously predictable promises of a reduced deficit,
as a direct byproduct of the tax increase rang hollow. Nobody expected true
fiscal restraint. And to the surprise of few, none ensued. In November of
the following year, America showed its displeasure with the whole charade by
sending Democrats packing, thus handing over control of both Houses to the
Republicans.
While it is accurate to state that the Republicans were given the same
message this past election cycle, and for much the same reason, it does not
follow that this year’s election equates to a new American embrace of the
former philosophies of the Democrats. Furthermore, their attempts to return
the Congress to its pre-1994 days have consistently resulted in one
embarrassing fiasco after another. Consider a few of the more notable such
events.
In what was virtually a direct quote of Bill Clinton’s ironic 1992 promise
to lead “the most ethical administration in history,” Nancy Pelosi attempted
to contrast herself against Congressional Republicans, whom she accused of
representing a “culture of corruption.”
Pelosi likewise pledged to lead “the most ethical Congress in history,”
apparently not realizing that such a commitment would henceforth be
remembered. But much has transpired in the past twelve years, both
technologically and culturally. Instead of blindly accepting the claim, the
conservative grassroots, via talk radio and the Internet, have been quick to
spotlight each episode in which her actions directly contradict that lofty
assertion.
The first such showdown came on November 16, when John Murtha (D.-PA),
Pelosi’s hand-picked nominee for her party’s second in command, was soundly
rejected by Congressional Democrats. Murtha, who only months before had been
almost universally lauded as a “war hero,” was suffering from the
recollection of his ethical lapses during the Abscam controversy.
Pelosi’s problems only deepened in the ensuing days. By November 28, she was
forced to abandon plans to nominate Florida Representative Alcee Hastings as
chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Hastings, a former Federal
Judge who had been impeached over a bribery scandal, had initially been her
choice to chair the committee. Yet once again, she found herself in a corner
as a result of her “ethics” promise.
Over on the Senate side, the grandiose plans of Hillary Clinton (D.-NY) to
reinstitute socialized medical care are rather quickly being shuffled to the
back burner. Despite Democrat dreams of mass appeal during the 2008
elections, grassroots reaction to it is clearly making it even more of a
“lightning rod” than it was when last attempted in the early days of the
Clinton Presidency.
No less can be said of pre-election Democrat promises to “cut and run” from
Iraq. The grim realization is setting in on them that they can no longer
simply claim victory and change the subject. Liberal politicians are
beginning to realize that they can and will be held accountable for the
inevitable consequences of such a rash and cowardly action if they continue
to promote it.
To their astonishment, Democrats are finding out that actually leading and
implementing an agenda is going to be much more difficult than merely
catcalling from the sidelines, as they have grown accustomed to doing in the
past several years. The triumphal “cakewalk” they anticipated could only
have occurred within the framework of an information monopoly. And that
monopoly no longer exists.
Yesterday’s phony promise can no longer simply be discarded, once it has
outlived its usefulness. Grassroots America now has the means and the will
to make certain that it can come back to haunt them.
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