The Steamroller

WSJ ^ | 5 Jan 06 | Peggy Noonan

[steel_resolve]

Peggy noonan needs some new meds. Not that I disagree with her gist of the article, it's her tone - seems like she's ready to committ suicide.

[visualops]

If government is a steamroller, and that is in good part how I see it, the individuals who work in it are the atoms in the steel. The force of forward motion carries them along. There is inevitably an unaccountability, and in time often an indifference about what the steamroller rolls over. All the busy little atoms are watching each other, competing with each other, winning one for their little cluster. And no one is looking out and being protective of what the steamroller is rolling over--traditions, shared beliefs, individual rights, old assumptions, whatever is being rolled over today.

Pretty good analogy.

[Zack Nguyen]

a new operating assumption: that the steamroller will always be with us. And that if it is destined to become always and every year bigger, heavier and more powerful, then you might as well relax and learn how to run it, how to drive it and direct it.

What a great way to put it. Bush's decision to embrace big government was the politically safe decision. Yet it will have severe consequences for our financial stability down the road.

The biggest problem is that conservatives have lost the argument with liberals on whether big government is desirable. The American people have decided that they want all the government they can get so long as they don't have to pay for it.

[Peach]

Peggy Noonan/Abramoff ping.

[Dems_R_Losers]

This may be the single greatest opinion piece ever written by an American. Noonan says exactly what many of us have been trying to say here for months and years. Republicans are not the party of government. We do not want our party to be the party of government. We will not love party leaders who love government.

[Zack Nguyen]

But the anti-big-government party isn't supposed to be so good at it, so enmeshed in it. The antigovernment party isn't supposed to be so good at oiling the steamroller's parts and pushing its levers.

This is well put. The American people will not understand why the party of limited government has fallen into corruption. I have little hope that the 2006 elections will be anything but a set of losses for the GOP. I heard Charlie Cook (Republican pollster) on CSPAN the other day, and regardless of how low GOP turnout is it will be almost impossible for theDemocrats to retake the House or Senate. But it will put the scare in us, and make it more likely that we'll nominate a conservative in 2008.

[rellimpank]

--The biggest problem is that conservatives have lost the argument with liberals on whether big government is desirable. The American people have decided that they want all the government they can get so long as they don't have to pay for it.--

--I believe that it ties in with my perhaps oversimplification of the situation when I say (repeatedly) that the people who used to say "It's a free country" have been overwhelmed by those who say "There oughtta be a law--"

[Dems_R_Losers]

One way Republicans could turn this around is to start talking about how the sheer size, power, and influence of the federal government makes it necessary for people and companies to hire lobbyists to get anything done. Out of the thousands of lobbyists operating in this world, there was bound to be one that pushed it too far and got clipped. But the real problem is that Indian tribes, small businesses, property owners, etc. need paid lobbyists to get in front of their own government these days because it has grown too large and too powerful to be responsive directly to the people. This invites corruption, conflicts of interest, and outright bribery. The Democrats cannot answer this argument because they want government to be bigger. If they have their way, more Jack Abramoffs are inevitable.

[cgk]

Peggy ping.

[cgk]

Excellent advice in the last lines:

Is there a way for Republicans to go? Stop trying to fit in. Stop being another atom in the steel. It does no good trying to run a better steamroller. It won't work. Steamrollers are not your friend.

[neverdem]

--I believe that it ties in with my perhaps oversimplification of the situation when I say (repeatedly) that the people who used to say "It's a free country" have been overwhelmed by those who say "There oughtta be a law--"

No oversimplification, that's quite succinct. But before you succumb entirely to seasonal affective disorder, check out Midterm race still iffy for Democrats. Happy New Year!

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[beyond the sea]

I have little hope that the 2006 elections will be anything but a set of losses for the GOP.

Wanna make a little friendly FReeper wager?

I'll give you a parlay.................... you take the Dems. in 2006 AND Cincinnati on Sunday against the Steelers and you could make ......................... absolutely NOTHING!!!!

LOL!!!

[Kozak]

[RightWhale]

The Federal Gov't has a startling lack of accountability. The elections are supposed to take care of that, but how often does it work to make gov't accountable?

[Willie Green]

The biggest problem is that conservatives have lost the argument with liberals on whether big government is desirable.

No, the biggest problem is that Bush ISN'T a conservative.

[Hank Rearden]

But it will put the scare in us, and make it more likely that we'll nominate a conservative in 2008.

Ah, yes. Here we go again - the Republican flavor-of-the-month.

So, in 2008, who do you think it'll be . . . another Bush or another Dole?

GOP '08 slogan: "We promise we won't piss away another 14 years. Really. Trust us."

The Republican Party needs to go the way of the Whigs. America deserves better than two Big Stupid Government parties.

[beyond the sea]

Peggy noonan needs some new meds. Not that I disagree with her gist of the article, it's her tone - seems like she's ready to committ suicide.

Now, now...... lighten up on the lovely and still very capable Peggy.

Everyone knows that she has lost a little since her best article when it was needed the most:

****

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=65000671

The Greenwood Position – Now we must fight for our country.

November, 24, 2000

*****

I still have to love the darlin' lady ............. especially when she lets her hair down....................

;-)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[FreeKeys]

the people who used to say "It's a free country" have been overwhelmed by those who say "There oughtta be a law--"

"When your response to everything that is wrong be a law,' you are saying that you hold freedom very cheap." -- Thomas Sowell