Posted on 05/05/2005 9:30:32 AM PDT by quidnunc
"Often in error, never in doubt" is the motto of the professional pundit. Today's election is deeply troubling to conservative Washington pundits; even now, most of us cannot answer the simple question, "Should Tony Blair win or lose?"
Mr. Blair has been as staunch a friend as the U.S. has in the world. Throughout the war on terror, he has been brave, eloquent, thoughtful and incredibly helpful. A Blair victory would be interpreted around the world as a vindication of the Bush-Blair policy in Iraq.
Nor has Mr. Blair's domestic record been so bad from a conservative point of view. UK taxes remain low by European standards. Unemployment is down, home ownership up. On the other hand, his government has abolished the deduction for mortgage interest. It has raised fuel taxes and increased national insurance contributions. Worse definitely lies ahead. Public spending has risen from 38 percent of national income to 42 percent over the past three years, with more projected. Half the net new jobs created since 1997 have been in the public sector. It seems that two-thirds of Mr. Blair's party is plotting to boot him out in favor of Gordon Brown, the ultra-statist chancellor. So would it not be best for the electorate to replace Mr. Blair now?
But with what? Michael Howard's new model Conservative party is not exactly boiling with free-market zeal. It has offered a derisory tax cut and almost as much new spending as Labour. Mr. Howard himself was one of the finest home secretaries of the past three decades and has wise and reasonable things to say about crime and immigration. But unlike George W. Bush, U.S. president, who disguises many bold ideas in the sugary rhetoric of compassionate conservatism, the Conservatives' horrible "Are You Thinking What We're Thinking?" advertisements have wrapped those reasonable ideas in the snarling tones of Enoch Powell on his third whisky.
-snip-
"those who vote Republican are the best educated and, for that matter, most intelligent Americans"
Yes... Republicans are the smartest, strongest, bestest... anything you want to add? I was just pointing out that since 1980, those in middle income groups and without post-college education are most likely to be Republicans than those of highest income and education.
BBC exit poll was supposed to come out at 22:01 BST... 13 minutes ago... what happened?
I don't know, I live in Illinois.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.