The Great Peasant Revolt of 2010 by Charles Krauthammer

[Hollis]

http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2010/02/05/the_great_peasant_revolt_of_2010


WASHINGTON -- "I am not an ideologue," protested President Obama at a gathering with Republican House members last week. Perhaps, but he does have a tenacious commitment to a set of political convictions.
Compare his 2010 State of the Union to his first address to Congress a year earlier. The consistency is remarkable. In 2009, after passing a $787 billion (now $862 billion) stimulus package, the largest spending bill in galactic history, he unveiled a manifesto for fundamentally restructuring the commanding heights of American society -- health care, education and energy.
A year later, after stunning Democratic setbacks in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, Obama gave a stay-the-course State of the Union address (a) pledging not to walk away from health care reform, (b) seeking to turn college education increasingly into a federal entitlement, and (c) asking again for cap-and-trade energy legislation. Plus, of course, another stimulus package, this time renamed a "jobs bill."


(http://magazine.townhall.com/idiots) This being a democracy, don't the Democrats see that clinging to this agenda will march them over a cliff? Don't they understand Massachusetts?
Well, they understand it through a prism of two cherished axioms: (1) The people are stupid and (2) Republicans are bad. Result? The dim, led by the malicious, vote incorrectly.
Liberal expressions of disdain for the intelligence and emotional maturity of the electorate have been, post-Massachusetts, remarkably unguarded. New York Times columnist Charles Blow chided Obama for not understanding the necessity of speaking "in the plain words of plain folks," because the people are "suspicious of complexity." Counseled Blow: "The next time he gives a speech, someone should tap him on the ankle and say, 'Mr. President, we're down here.'"
A Time magazine blogger was even more blunt about the ankle-dwelling mob, explaining that we are "a nation of dodos" that is "too dumb to thrive."
Obama joined the parade in the State of the Union address when, with supercilious modesty, he chided himself "for not explaining it (health care) more clearly to the American people." The subject, he noted, was "complex." The subject, it might also be noted, was one to which the master of complexity had devoted 29 speeches. Perhaps he did not speak slowly enough.
Then there are the emotional deficiencies of the masses. Nearly every Democratic apologist lamented the people's anger and anxiety, a free-floating agitation that prevented them from appreciating the beneficence of the social agenda the Democrats are so determined to foist upon them.
That brings us to Part 2 of the liberal conceit: Liberals act in the public interest, while conservatives think only of power, elections, self-aggrandizement and self-interest. (http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2010/02/05/the_great_peasant_revolt_of_2010?page=2)

It is an old liberal theme that conservative ideas, being red in tooth and claw, cannot possibly emerge from any notion of the public good. A 2002 New York Times obituary for philosopher Robert Nozick explained that the strongly libertarian implications of Nozick's masterwork, "Anarchy, State, and Utopia," "proved comforting to the right, which was grateful for what it embraced as philosophical justification." The right, you see, is grateful when a bright intellectual can graft some philosophical rationalization onto its thoroughly base and self-regarding politics.
This belief in the moral hollowness of conservatism animates the current liberal mantra that Republican opposition to Obama's social democratic agenda -- which couldn't get through even a Democratic Congress and powered major Democratic losses in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts -- is nothing but blind and cynical obstructionism.
By contrast, Democratic opposition to George W. Bush -- from Iraq to Social Security reform -- constituted dissent. And dissent, we were told at the time, including by candidate Obama, is "one of the truest expressions of patriotism."
No more. Today, dissent from the governing orthodoxy is nihilistic malice. "They made a decision," explained David Axelrod, "they were going to sit it out and hope that we failed, that the country failed" -- a perfect expression of liberals' conviction that their aspirations are necessarily the country's, that their idea of the public good is the public's, that their failure is therefore the nation's.
Then comes Massachusetts, an election Obama himself helped nationalize, to shatter this most self-congratulatory of illusions.
For liberals, the observation that "the peasants are revolting" is a pun. For conservatives, it is cause for uncharacteristic optimism. No matter how far the ideological pendulum swings in the short term, in the end the bedrock common sense of the American people will prevail.
The ankle-dwelling populace pushes back. It re-centers. It renormalizes. Even in Massachusetts.

[California Joe]

When did Conservatives stop being William F. Buckley and start being Sarah Palin? Doesn't that bother anyone? The party of captains of industry and country clubs becoming one of trailer parks and tea parties? Really?

I'm sorry but "peasants" are ignorant. Maybe not their fault and their "feelings" may be genuine but they're still stupid. This goes equally for both parties. Those f*cktards that thought Obama was some sort of Black Jesus are just as peasantlike in their colloquial interests as the dinks that don't believe he was born in this country. And they're all dangerously stupid.

[Hollis]

It is just getting crazier.

[gaijinsamurai]

The masses are asses.

[Flagg]

When did Conservatives stop being William F. Buckley and start being Sarah Palin? Doesn't that bother anyone? The party of captains of industry and country clubs becoming one of trailer parks and tea parties? Really?

I'm sorry but "peasants" are ignorant. Maybe not their fault and their "feelings" may be genuine but they're still stupid. This goes equally for both parties. Those f*cktards that thought Obama was some sort of Black Jesus are just as peasantlike in their colloquial interests as the dinks that don't believe he was born in this country. And they're all dangerously stupid.

I blame the education system....people are getting stupider.

I think high school and university teachers should be issued tazers....if you can't comprehend the basics of the many problems we face going forward over the next decade or two you get to ride the lightning.



Unfortunately, it's these same tens of millions of morons who will be more than happy to follow anyone who promises they can keep all their Chinese made Wal Mart crap and their MCmansion in foreclosure in exchange for their freedom.

[BK9824]

And they're all dangerously stupid.

x2

At what point does a state fail when the average level of intelligence creates such polarization?

[SoSo]

When did Conservatives stop being William F. Buckley and start being Sarah Palin? Doesn't that bother anyone? The party of captains of industry and country clubs becoming one of trailer parks and tea parties? Really?

There are many more American trailer park dwellers than there are country club members. For decades the Democrats have demagogued their way to electoral victory, painting the Republicans as elitists. Now, the new conservative populism shows that Republicans have learned from this, and are beginning to turn the tables on the Dems. Populism wins elections, especially in a failing economy.

[vryhpyammoadded]

The conservative image changed the moment the current crop of entrenched, corrupt managerial elite feeling threatened by the lowly masses practicing their rights to campaign for a responsible, less corrupt and smaller government, engaged the identity politics machine, with the result of people like Palin seeing a chance to glom onto yet another voter plurality for her own aggrandizement.

The Republican shell on the other hand, is playing smart keeping their yaps shut and avoiding Obama and the Democrat shells foolish legislation and regulation like they have the plague so the hell that’s created can stick to them like burning napalm during the next two elections when the marks think they’ve got wise choosing someone else. Then the managerial elite in new Republican sin free wrapping will get right back to business screwing the body politic like the cheap whore she is for the elites, and their cronies’ pleasure and profit.

Problem is, I think Palin and the Tea partiers will go for third party ticket and blow the whole racket allowing Obama to stumble into a second term but with a wet behind the ears, almost incumbent free inexperienced and supremely disorganized congress at his well studied and marketed charismatic sway as the worlds collective s*it hits the fan once the US can’t shore up Pax Americana anymore. It’s like the 70’s on roids but with even more malaise and the thin cheap, cheesy cultural veneer.

I just love it when resources get thin and the real humanity shows its true nature. Oh the royal fvcking world wide mess that’s a coming will be glorious! Maybe this go around people will get a clue.

No fvcking way hahahahaha…

I wonder when the Dirty Harry remakes will happen or disco returns?

[Migs]

Heh had to read the title twice, just got done reading about the Pugachev revolts

[Hollis]

Problem is, I think Palin and the Tea partiers will go for third party ticket and blow the whole racket allowing Obama to stumble into a second term but with a wet behind the ears, almost incumbent free inexperienced and supremely disorganized congress at his well studied and marketed charismatic sway as the worlds collective s*it hits the fan once the US can’t shore up Pax Americana anymore. It’s like the 70’s on roids but with even more malaise and the thin cheap, cheesy cultural veneer.


Maybe, or maybe the moderate Dems and Repulicans, will split and form a third party with independents.

The, I had enough and can't stand no more, party. Until power over takes them and their leadership fall prey to usual forms of corruption.

There are probably a lot of the middle of the road people wondering, is this the best that the R's and D's can muster? 2000 was bad, 2004 was worse, 2008 even more worse. Who knows maybe Barney Frank/Pelosi will run under the Give me all your money Party against Glenn Beck/M. Savage BBQ a liberal today party.

[Notlim]

Soylent green is people

[Panchito12]

The masses exist to be led by the elite. It is one of history's constants.

At one time the Dimwitcrats had them. Now the belong to the GOP.

[Atlantic Friend]

The masses exist to be led by the elite. It is one of history's constants.

Mein Kampf excerpt?

[Panchito12]

Mein Kampf excerpt?

Mein Realitik!!

[P.Koschei]

It is absolutely laughable to hear Krauthammer, Krauthammer! speak of a peasant revolution against the established order. That a neoconservative urban Jew at the heart of the American establishment can claim without irony that his ideology represents the populist pulse of America is the height of hilarity.

[snafu_72]

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. If you let someone else do the thinking for you then you obviously are not thinking at all. Equating "the people" as tapping the President on the ankle is akin to touching the cloak of the king as he walked by in the castle. It makes no sense to talk of revolution, tea parties and an overthrow of the government when those same people who espouse these sentiments simply wish to replace those in power with themselves. Thus perpetuating the same sort of malicious, malformed and mendacious governmental palaver that has us in the pickle we are in today. The Dems blame the Reps for obstructionism. The Reps blame the Dems for liberal policies and bankrupt thinking. The Tea Party members blame both and wish for something that never was. As a nation we are bereft of ideas but full of anger, angst and yet wish to be coddled and entitled by the same system we loathe. Don't tax you. don't tax me, tax the sucker behind the tree.
Churchill said that democracy is the worst form of government ever devised by man but it is the best system ever devised by man. You pays your money and you takes your chances. Our chances are slim to none and slim just left on the noonday stagecoach. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The problems of the past and present cannot be fixed by the same solutions that got us there in the first place.

[tluassa]

What I find most hillarious is that People blame Obama for his fiscal politics. As if it was him that ruined the United States finances :) How deep would the US have come without that current stimulus ?
Is he supposed to turn the great G.W. heritage of 2 Wars and a breakdown of the financial market into a surplus in less than a year ?

To reform what Krauthammer calls "the commanding heights of American society" - energy, healthcare and education - sorry but from a European point of view he is absolutely right to go after these fields. Maybe you could also add infrastructure and environment to the list of things that the US has to cope with in the next time, and how long is the US going to be able to support their current defense budget ?

All this has pretty much nothing to do with morals at all. However I feel a certain person become uneasy with the fact that somebody of the opposite lair is taking on problems that "conservatives" have absolutely no concept in dealing with. I havent even heard a realistic concept from the Republican party on any of these issues. "Drilling, drilling drilling" to solve US energy problems ? :)

[seraosha]

It is absolutely laughable to hear Krauthammer, Krauthammer! speak of a peasant revolution against the established order. That a neoconservative urban Jew at the heart of the American establishment can claim without irony that his ideology represents the populist pulse of America is the height of hilarity.

If that's the height of hilarity, you need to get out more.
Rent some George Carlin.

The uneducated masses that blindly follow their pied pipers come in Red and Blue, this isn't neccesarily a division due to class or race...you have a group of folks convinced that are entitled to something for nothing, and that get indignant when told to get a job...and another group just as convinced that they are completely self-reliant as they march off to their non-union jobs and working poor wages one paycheck away from being homeless.

Both groups are political cannon fodder, to be used and swayed at election time then ignored.

I'm beginning to think that the voting franchise really ought to be tied to Voluntary military or social service ala "Starship Troopers", and the herd can just be told what to do.
Not good.

[Hollis]

What I find most hillarious is that People blame Obama for his fiscal politics. As if it was him that ruined the United States finances :) How deep would the US have come without that current stimulus ?



Assuming that it was heading in that direction. What happened in the end of 2008, obviously can not be blamed on one party, but was it as bad as they stated. The recession that started in 1979 was far worse. There where others too that were worse. When you have 70% + or - of the economy based on consumerism and then it is constantly stated that we are heading to a '30-ish depression, what do you expect when you scare the hell out of consumers. A exacerbation of any down turn in the economy.


What comes to mind is a middle age doctor's practice. Tell the people the patient will die. If he dies, no big thing. If he lives the doctor is a miracle worker. Distorting facts and political propaganda is a very big aspect of American Politics, was all this doom and gloom just a political tactic? Considering that a lot of people are clueless on how the economy works, it is very understandable that voodoo economics is believed.

BTW, in that you blamed GW, for the economic woe, I don't think you understand the US economy, how the US government operates, or what exactly the president is. You gotta spread the blame around. Even with Obama without Congress and Senate, well let say, he would be like Jimmy Carter, completely ineffective.

[IraGlacialis]

I'm beginning to think that the voting franchise really ought to be tied to Voluntary military or social service ala "Starship Troopers", and the herd can just be told what to do.
Not good.
I prefer enfranchisement to go to the informed elite. Note: they could be military (and those in the military should know how their country works anyways) or civilians who actually know how their government works.
This may have the added benefit in that people will actually put some effort into learning so that they are able to fully function in society, helping educational reform progress.
Of course gorups will likely cry discrimination is if such a test was applied. Better/easier to stay stupid and spew uniformed garbage than work for the right to have your say in politics.

[3rdMillhouse]

Krauthammer? Kraut Hammer? Wut?

[tluassa]

Assuming that it was heading in that direction. What happened in the end of 2008, obviously can not be blamed on one party, but was it as bad as they stated. The recession that started in 1979 was far worse. There where others too that were worse. When you have 70% + or - of the economy based on consumerism and then it is constantly stated that we are heading to a '30-ish depression, what do you expect when you scare the hell out of consumers. A exacerbation of any down turn in the economy.
That has nothing to do with my argument at all - and all media, politicians and typical figures were stating the above at the time.

What comes to mind is a middle age doctor's practice. Tell the people the patient will die. If he dies, no big thing. If he lives the doctor is a miracle worker. Distorting facts and political propaganda is a very big aspect of American Politics, was all this doom and gloom just a political tactic? Considering that a lot of people are clueless on how the economy works, it is very understandable that voodoo economics is believed.
What comes to my mind is not a middleage doctor´s practice but a very simple change of running a massive surplus into a abysmal deficit, which happened exactly in the years of great G.W.
As usual, you dont even care to read my words: "G.W. heritage" - that doesnt mean that I blame Doubleyouw for all this, but it happenend during his time in office. And im not saying in any Way that Obama is any better, maybe he will turn out to be the same failure as a leader.

BTW, in that you blamed GW, for the economic woe, I don't think you understand the US economy, how the US government operates, or what exactly the president is. You gotta spread the blame around. Even with Obama without Congress and Senate, well let say, he would be like Jimmy Carter, completely ineffective.
Again, I blamed GW for ruining the US federal budget not the US economy and I feel my view very well supported.

That may be

[Hollis]

Again, I blamed GW for ruining the US federal budget not the US economy and I feel my view very well supported.

That may be

Executive order is somewhat powerful, but not that powerful.

P.S. I did read your words. What is this "as usual" BS? Clarity just was was not there as you explained it either. ("G.W. heritage" means The Heritage was GWs), He is president, not king, not a dictator, nor a absolute ruler. Same goes with Obama, he is also being blamed for things that are not in his control (I already stated that). But that is politics, not the way it is actually run. Believe/blame what ever you want. The US Government just does not operate as you in-vision it.


During the Years of the great GW, a light bulb went out in my house, are you going to blame him for that too?

[IraGlacialis]

During the Years of the great GW, a light bulb went out in my house, are you going to blame him for that too?
Everything is going along Cheney's plan of extinguishing all light in the nation.

[Hollis]

Everything is going along Cheney's plan of extinguishing all light in the nation.

I think I read somewhere, someone said that Cheney was pulling all the strings, sort of a puppet master.

[Lethal Lou]

. It makes no sense to talk of revolution, tea parties and an overthrow of the government when those same people who espouse these sentiments simply wish to replace those in power with themselves. Thus perpetuating the same sort of malicious, malformed and mendacious governmental palaver that has us in the pickle we are in today. .

Not sure if you've been to very many tea parties friend - the goal has never been to replace the current government with another demagogue / band of jolly pranksters. The way I read the tea leaves the ultimate intent is to change the system from a democracy to a republic.

[Wimbly]

What I find most hillarious is that People blame Obama for his fiscal politics. As if it was him that ruined the United States finances :) How deep would the US have come without that current stimulus ?


Well lets see, Obama and other Democrats forced banks to give loans to people who couldn't afford them. That ended up being a pretty big reason for the economic collapse. How do you NOT blame Obama? Hes been president for over a year now and Democrats have been in power since 2006.

I'm amazed by how much attention is constantly focused on Republicans and Palin, none of which have any power. Yet there seems to be no desire to focus any kind of attention of those who actually control the government. Wen Republicans were in power the popular line from the media and Democrats was, "Dont blame us, Republicans are in charge". What happened to that? I guess the rules change with whoever is in power eh?

[California Joe]

Hiya Wimbly. Yeah, I actually agree with the whole buying far more house than you can afford thing but I'm not sure that the blame shouldn't be meeted out among most of our elected representatives. Not just the current POTUS.

[Wimbly]

Not just the current POTUS.

When it comes to the housing bubble, Obama's career was made on strong arming banks to give those loans. I beleive Bush even warned about it in 2001 and again in 2003.

[California Joe]

I think there are plenty of gray areas in that bank loan thing. There is probably plenty of historical precedent of people being denied loans because they don't look like "our kind" of people...that in turn begats a ridiculous overreaction where you fear being called a racist or elitist or a scum sucking banker if you refuse loans and face getting hammered because of it. You can't tell me that the banks and lending institutions weren't at least as culpable.

[Hollis]

Hiya Wimbly. Yeah, I actually agree with the whole buying far more house than you can afford thing but I'm not sure that the blame shouldn't be meeted out among most of our elected representatives. Not just the current POTUS.


No kidding, maybe we can point at Barney Franks on that one.

[gaijinsamurai]

The masses exist to be led by the elite. It is one of history's constants.

At one time the Dimwitcrats had them. Now the belong to the GOP.

Agreed. Hats off to the GOP for changing peoples' minds about health care.