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Thomas Sowell: Suckered by political 'Lucys'
Orange County Register ^ | July 5, 2010 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 07/05/2010 5:48:19 PM PDT by jazusamo

People who remember the old comic strip "Peanuts" will recall an often-repeated situation where Lucy offers to hold a football for Charlie Brown to kick. Then, as Charlie coming running up to kick it, Lucy snatches away the ball and Charlie Brown loses his balance and goes crashing on his backside.

The reason this same scene remained funny, despite how often it was repeated, is that in the later repetitions Charlie Brown would express suspicion at Lucy, recalling how she had tricked him before. She would then come up with some claim that she wasn't going to do that any more -- and of course she did.

There is a similar routine that has been repeated many times in Washington, over the years, with the Democrats playing Lucy and Republicans playing Charlie Brown.

It goes like this: Democrats start spending money wildly, handing out goodies to a wide range of people who they want to vote for them, while Republicans complain about deficits and the national debt. Then, when the public becomes alarmed about the debts that are piling up, the Democrats get the Republicans to vote for higher taxes to deal with the debt crisis, in the name of "fiscal responsibility."

Sometimes the deal is sweetened by the Democrats promising to make spending cuts if the Republicans vote for higher taxes, so that there can be one of those "bipartisan" solutions so beloved by the media. But, after the Republicans vote for the tax increases, and come running up to find the spending cuts, the Democrats snatch away the spending cuts and the Republicans fall right on their backsides, just like Charlie Brown.

This old trick is now being unveiled by the Obama administration, like so many other old political tricks used in this "change" administration.

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: sowell; thomassowell
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To: jazusamo
Agreed, we have to get conservatives in leadership positions.

Jim DeMint is working on that.

21 posted on 07/05/2010 6:51:56 PM PDT by upchuck (Don't let freedom slip away. After America, there is no place to go ~ Kitty Werthmann - Google her.)
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To: upchuck

Absolutely! I was thinking DeMint when I wrote that. :)


22 posted on 07/05/2010 6:53:23 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz. It’s another good one by Dr. Sowell, but I don’t think it’s the siren song of bipartisanship as much as it is the influence of RINOCITY in the Party leadership, which of course means the Left side of the Right.

If we could get rid of the steenkin’ RINO’s, we could end confusion, and chart a straight course.


23 posted on 07/05/2010 7:18:44 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (The Left draws criminals as excrement draws flies. The Left IS a criminal organization.)
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To: rockinqsranch

heh heh heh

RINOCITY, that’s a good one and I agree completely.


24 posted on 07/05/2010 7:21:27 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: LastNorwegian
That this guy isn’t a leader of the conservative movement or elected to high office speaks volumes of our failure.

I used to think the same thing, but the more I read of Dr. Sowell, the more I feel he is just too intelligent to endure the monkey show which accompanies getting and holding elective office.

His best value to the conservative movement is doing exactly what he is doing-- providing the philosophical and intellectual moorings so others can do the job of running for elective office.

25 posted on 07/05/2010 7:31:47 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: tsmith130; LastNorwegian

Dr. Sowell has refused to run for office or accept appointments.


26 posted on 07/05/2010 7:40:44 PM PDT by Tax-chick (If I were a female diplodocus, I would lay eggs.)
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To: jazusamo

bttt


27 posted on 07/05/2010 7:52:10 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: jazusamo

28 posted on 07/05/2010 8:13:09 PM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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To: jazusamo

” People who remember the old comic strip “Peanuts” will recall an often-repeated situation where Lucy offers to hold a football for Charlie Brown to kick. Then, as Charlie coming running up to kick it, Lucy snatches away the ball and Charlie Brown loses his balance and goes crashing on his backside.

The reason this same scene remained funny, despite how often it was repeated, is that in the later repetitions Charlie Brown would express suspicion at Lucy, recalling how she had tricked him before. She would then come up with some claim that she wasn’t going to do that any more — and of course she did.

There is a similar routine that has been repeated many times in Washington, over the years, with the Democrats playing Lucy and Republicans playing Charlie Brown. “

Tom, thank you for reading my posts over the last year ;-)


29 posted on 07/05/2010 8:57:10 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our Troops, and vote out the RINOS!)
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To: jazusamo

thanks again Jaz...and in keeping with the charlie brown theme...AAARRRGGHHH !!!


30 posted on 07/05/2010 8:58:13 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: LastNorwegian; tsmith130; Vigilanteman
That this guy isn’t a leader of the conservative movement or elected to high office speaks volumes of our failure.

Dr. Sowell is proud to say that the label that best describes him is "libertarian"... so perhaps you should talk to those here on FR who throw around the "losertarian" slur and ask them why they wouldn't like Dr. Sowell as a leader.

The republicans continuously show that they believe the leftist propaganda and talking points.

Exactly right. That's why getting news out to our fellow citizens is crucial.

31 posted on 07/05/2010 11:46:06 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: jazusamo
Agreed, we have to get conservatives in leadership positions.

Or course, in his own words, he doesn't think of himself as a conservative.

32 posted on 07/05/2010 11:47:53 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: jazusamo

Thomas, you outdid yourself, and going Thomas Sowell one better isn’t easy!


33 posted on 07/06/2010 5:01:25 AM PDT by RoadTest (Religion is a substitute for the relationship God wants with you.)
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To: Vigilanteman
I used to think the same thing, but the more I read of Dr. Sowell, the more I feel he is just too intelligent to endure the monkey show which accompanies getting and holding elective office.

More to the point, Dr. Sowell just turned 80 on June 30. Happy belated birthday, Dr. Sowell!

34 posted on 07/06/2010 5:07:28 AM PDT by willieroe
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To: CitizenUSA

We now know that the people of AZ are all Charlie Brown wannabees or will know as such by Aug. 25.


35 posted on 07/06/2010 5:19:39 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: jazusamo

Is DeMint for Romney, McPain, and Graham? They kind of dilute his influence.


36 posted on 07/06/2010 5:21:44 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: Gondring

Just like conservatives, there are various brands of libertarianism. The logical ones (or whom I consider myself one) are focused on economic issues. The “losertarian” slur sort of fits those who are off in la-la land and whose main focus seems to be legalizing drugs and little or no national defense. I would certainly put Dr. Sowell in the former category, but not the later.


37 posted on 07/06/2010 7:23:45 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: skyman

“I know rank and file Republicans won’t get fooled again but I don’t have that much faith in the leadership.”

They have to go. All of them.

The Republican party must die, and make way for a genuine opposition.


38 posted on 07/06/2010 12:10:26 PM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: jazusamo

Sean Hannity is going to talk about this column next AND I’m not sure if he said Thomas Sowell is going to be on the show!


39 posted on 07/07/2010 1:09:10 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah

Thanks for the heads up!


40 posted on 07/07/2010 1:15:27 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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