What Next for the Left?

The Weekly Standard ^ | JAMES W. CEASER

[MtnClimber]

A strange period has now passed into history. Captivated by a presidential campaign in 2008, Americans by the millions came to believe that a new leader would be able to produce more than a transformed society and an era of world peace. Politics could be extended beyond its ordinary boundaries and bring about a spiritual renewal. This exhilarating prospect fed on its own spiraling expectations, surprising even its original purveyors.

Faith in this political religion eventually dissipated. Four years into the experience, many ceased to believe. Today most have forgotten. Politics has retreated to its more usual limits, focusing on the harder core of ideology.

Modern progressivism has driven much of American politics for the past seven years. It now fully owns the Democratic party. President Obama failed to achieve the general electoral realignment that many anticipated after 2008, but he succeeded in creating an ideological realignment within his own party. The result was attained by subtraction. Advocates of rival positions - New Democrats, "blue dogs," pro-lifers - were either sacrificed or induced to sacrifice themselves. The Democratic party is now divided between a progressive wing and a more progressive wing, one that openly wears the label of socialist.

Modern progressivism is a combination of three components: theories inherited from the original progressives of the early 20th century; ideas introduced since the 1960s by the intellectual movements of the left (the New Left, multiculturalism, postmodernism); and the practices and patterns of behavior that have resulted from progressivism's central role in shaping American politics and culture.

[Vince Ferrer]

They didn't do in in public directly, but there is enough information in public view that you can piece it together.

Chinese media show Seattle as potential nuclear target

For some reason not explained publicly, during the last government shutdown the Chinese state run media published a graphic of which American cities would be bombed in a war with the US.

Also, during the same shutdown, the Chinese navy held a public event where the public could take tours of their nuclear submarines.

Confident China unveils its secretive nuclear submarine fleet for the first time in four decades

Third, there was a blog post shortly after the shutdown ended at financial analyst Martin Armstron's blog by a congressional staffer.

Another Debt Showdown coming in Washington next year? Don't bet on it.

And lastly, history adds weight to this. This was the last government shutdown, and last fight over the debt limit. Every year since then the republicans have caved in without a fight.

[bkopto]

Thank you for the comprehensive reply. I do remember that fallout graphic a while back.

I wouldn’t blame China for extracting its pound of flesh should the US abscond, via default, with China’s money.

[Mike Darancette]

No, Muslims will work but it is usually something like gutting chickens and they require numerous breaks to point their butts into the air. They do not seem to assimilate well so they would just rather we became their chattel.

[FreedomPoster]

It goes beyond that. I saw a report during the height of the “Syrian refugee” nonsense that the average refugee wasn’t literate in his own language and had an IQ of around 85 (do a search on Middle Eastern consanguinity).

Such people will never be contributors in a modern technological civilization.

[uglybiker]

Don’t worry. The Left has generations of stupid stashed away.