Comments on: Dick Morris: Punditry Without Math (or Economics)

By: ottovbvs

ottovbvs — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:56:27 +0000

Morris is one of a group of conservative pundits whose pronouncements regularly turn reality upon its head. Names that spring instantly to mind: Barnes, Kristol, Goldberg, Krauthammer, Kudlow, Bennettt, Steyn, Davis Hanson, Hinderaker. I see some of the stuff these guys write in the media or say on TV and constantly am left rolling my eyes. Rationalisation, illogicality, distortions, it never ends. In the process they’ve reduced conservative opionating to a freak show. I suppose they do it for money. They know they have an audience and give them what they want. The problem is the audience, while ample to keep these guys in the style to which they have become accustomed, is shrinking in absolute terms and certainly as a coalition capable of winning national elections.

By: mlindroo

mlindroo — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:07:35 +0000

Dick Morris is a joke ... has anyone this side of Bill Kristol been proven wrong more often during the past eight years or so? This guy thought Hillary was inevitable and that Condoleeza Rice might make an attactive presidential candidate too!

(I have nothing against Condi who clearly has the relevant experience for the job, but she obviously would not have met many of the other requirements that GOP voters [perhaps unfairly] expect from their politicians)

MARCU$

By: danbmil99

danbmil99 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:20:31 +0000

I think it's quite possible that Obama's ideology includes an explicit tradeoff of economic growth for social fairness. It may be hard for those on the right to understand, but not everyone thinks it's crucial or even possible for the USA to remain the dominant superpower in the world. The stagnant but more or less stable societies of Europe, with their strong social safety nets, high taxes, and lack of entrepreneurship are attractive to many on the left.

The other thing to consider is that he knows the pendulum swings both ways. Just as Bush et al used the crisis of 9/11 to push their agenda of nation-fiddling, Obama and the Dems aren't going to let the financial crisis go to waste, as Rahm stated clearly. Get as much of the social change you believe in as possible now, and let someone else pick up the pieces when the time comes to pay the tab.

It may be we are fated to oscillate this way for a while. It doesn't smell like a prescription for success, but it seems like an inevitable outcome of a polarized, 2-party political system.