Well, last night was a pretty good night, nationally. Perhaps the most satisfying outcome was in Ohio, where the Unions overwhelmingly defeated the forces of evil. But, that victory, satisfying as it was, illustrates the fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. After a shellacking like that Democrats would allow that the people have spoken, and never again would they broach the subject. The lesson they take from every defeat is that they should become more like Republicans. The idea of plugging on and changing the national conversation on the issue-the idea of not giving in, never occurs to them. The idea of unapologetically advocating for their principles has become foreign to them.
Not so the Republicans. When they lose, they claim its because they weren’t conservative enough, and then proceed to do whatever it takes, including ruining the economy, to get back into a position where they can advance their agenda. Consider Kasich’s reaction:
At a news conference Tuesday night, Mr. Kasich congratulated the winners and said he would assess the situation before proposing any new legislation. “It’s time to pause,” he said. “The people have spoken clearly.”
When asked about the people’s message, Mr. Kasich said, “They might have said it was too much too soon.”
So, they’ll be back. They always come back. We thought we beat back Social Security privatization in 2005, but they merely restrategized, co-opted a few more media outlets, and came back for more. The American Taliban couldn’t even sell their personhood Amendment to the brain dead in Mississippi, but they’ll be back, repackaged perhaps, but with the same poison in the new package. That’s politics the way it should be played. For Republicans there are no final defeats, but thanks to the way Democrats behave, for those same Republicans, there are lots of final victories. Sooner or later the Republicans will achieve their goal of rolling back the New Deal completely, leaving the lower 99 to make their own way in a Galtian paradise where the rich get richer and the poor get children.
For the Democrats it’s a bit different. Their motto: If at first you don’t succeed…., forget about it.
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