Triumph of the Red-State Fascists
Every Republican
I've spoken to is mystified that John McCain has sewn up the Republican
nomination. For his entire career, he has been more statist on both domestic and
foreign policy than even the typical Republican. He has been considered a
"liberal," and not in a good sense. He doesn't share any of the values that are
said to make up the Republican consensus on economics or culture or religion.
His personal baggage is heavy and a mile long. He had no dedicated constituency
within the party.
Of course I'm not talking to the run-of-the-mill Republican. There are vast
hordes of these people who have never read a book and vote only by the most
sordid political instinct known to man. McCain is their candidate. It comes down
to one thing only: the simple-minded, unthinking impression that he is a war
hero and, more than anyone else, has what it takes to smash the evil foreign
peoples who want to kill us. In short, he appeals to the militaristic,
nationalistic impulses of the base Republican base. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (19)
Nice analysis! Thanks!
I think one of the problems with libertarianism is that we are fighting human nature. It's true that in the long run, libertarianism agrees with human nature the best and causes humanity to flourish, but that's not true in the short run because people crave emotional stimuli. We listen to music, read novels and watch movies that move us emotionally.
I once did some research in advertising to try to determine the emotions that sell and learned that just one emotion works in ads--the appeal to fear. The same is true for the media a politics: fear sells. It sells better than anything else. So the media and politicians work together to frighten people as much as possible, then push governmental action as the only possible solution.
Libertarians try to make people fear the government, but so far it isn't working too well. People are willing to give up a great deal of freedom in exchange for security against the monsters that politicians want to "rescue" us from.
Maybe we don't exaggerate enough. GW hysteria is a good example of exaggeration with great effect: either we stop global warming now or we will all die! That leaves us with just two choices--freedom with death or slavery with life. Even children can understand those choices and it gets people emotionally involved. They don't have to think.
Published: February 26, 2008 12:38 PM
Excellent article. I should also add though, that even though most never-read-a-book Republicans like to bait socialist and hail themselves as the defenders of a free market, most doublethink those positions when it comes to actual spending--almost any kind of spending pitched as "good for America"--while still voting against tax increases, without even taking a millisecond to consider that a negative sign on a national/state/city budget is a bad thing. I think this is why McCain is winning. The man promises the moon to every audience he speaks too, then mentions he won't raise taxes. Have so many Republican voters become so immune to basic math? Do 2+2 = 5 for them now?
Published: February 26, 2008 1:37 PM
Many mises.org fans may not like the guy because he beat* Ron Paul, but it's not irrational for Republicans to vote for him:
McCain on private property:
"Property," John Adams wrote, "is surely a right of mankind as real as liberty." Yet today property rights come under attack from regulations that affect every conceivable aspect of property ownership. Mr. Adams would be shocked to learn what both the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Connecticut did to Susette Kelo, an American homeowner, in allowing the government to seize her home for economic development and gain under the guise of "valid public use."
McCain on health care:
American families know quality when they see it, so their dollars should be in their hands. When families are informed about medical choices, they are more capable of making their own decisions, less likely to choose the most expensive and often unnecessary options, and are more satisfied with their choices. Health Savings Accounts are tax-preferred accounts used to pay insurance premiums and other health costs. They put the family in charge of what they pay for, and should be expanded and encouraged.
McCain on entitlements:
Politicians refuse to talk straight about Social Security and Medicare: the current Social Security system is unsustainable. Period. A half century ago, sixteen American workers supported every retiree. Today, it's just three. Soon, it will be only two. If we don't make some tough choices, Social Security and Medicare either won't be there for our children and grandchildren or we will have had to raise taxes so dramatically to support them that we will crush the prosperity of average Americans.
McCain on trade:
"It sounds like a lot of fun to bash China and others, but free trade has been the engine of our economy. Free trade should be the continuing principle that guides this nation's economy."
McCain on farm subsidies:
Yes, I oppose subsidies. Not just ethanol subsidies. Subsidies. And not just in Iowa either. I oppose them in my own state of Arizona. I am a proud of the conservative tradition that the government can sometimes best serve the interests of the American people by knowing when to stay out of their way.
*Technically the GOP choice isn't wrapped up yet, but it's very likely McCain will get the nomination.
Published: February 26, 2008 6:19 PM
McCain would be the worst choice for president. He's essentially a democrat. If elected, people will think they have elected a conservative as president and leave Congress controlled by the Democrat party. So the Democrats will be able to get all of their socialist programs passed.
If Obama gets elected, voters will likely turn control of Congress back to the Republicans and bring back gridlock. That's what we want. Gridlock is the best we can hope for until people are more open to freedom and truth.
Published: February 26, 2008 7:44 PM
I agree with Mr. Rockwell's analysis about typical voters. How often do we hear about how people aren't voting, but then we never really ask "what kind of voter are they anyway?"
This is the problem. When you live in a nation that is an Imperial power it is downright dangerous for voters to put one minute into their reasons as to why to vote for someone, and then vote. Maybe if the U.S. acted like Switzerland this type of mentality would be 'ok' to have. It wouldn't matter who the President was if our government acted according to the principles of non-interventionism and constitutional government. But since this isn't going to happen anytime soon, the 'follow the leader' voter is going to be worse for us then the voter that stays 'home'. Because then the newly appointed 'leader' will believe he has a mandate from the people to do "whatever" he wants to do with no constraints.
Published: February 26, 2008 9:59 PM
by fundamentalist: "Gridlock is the best we can hope for until people are more open to freedom and truth.talist: "
I never thought of it that way, but you're right. I wonder if something like, say an economic collapse (hypothetically speaking) would ready the people for freedom or if it would make them want to run further into the arms of state-provided security?
Published: February 26, 2008 11:17 PM
Nelson, your quotations from McCain are all well and good. George W. Bush can also be quoted at length singing the praises of freedom, but his actions are another story. McCain has virtually guaranteed more war follwed by more wars. For him to be able to move forward with anything resembling a small-government/liberty agenda under such circumstances defies history.
Published: February 27, 2008 12:09 AM
Fundamentalist, we should start up a scare campaign of our own, about how Red Tape is destroying businesses and lives! The RT effect is real, and could be picked up by the news- "Today the economy suffered more blows as RT attacked small businesses", etc.
Start up a fear campaign around RT! In the British series 'Absolute Power', they invented a new disease and put up a website for it, and millions of people believed it, all so they could claim a client had been under the influence of the disease when he hit his wife! People will believe it if there's a website for it!
Published: February 27, 2008 12:17 AM
He's essentially a democrat.
I know this is the meme of far right ideologues, but really, the man is not a Democrat. You *could* argue he's not conservative enough for some tastes. But conservative does not equal Republican. If Reagan himself were to run today he wouldn't be considered "conservative" either (promoting amnesty and nuclear weapons reductions as examples).
Published: February 27, 2008 12:18 AM
Nelson is a "Republican Operative" and his arrogant remark: "Many mises.org fans may not like the guy because he beat* Ron Paul, but it's not irrational for Republicans to vote for him" proves my point. Despite what Mr. Republican, Nelson, states I do not like McCain because he is an extremely unpredictable man, a power monger and a poster boy for Lord Acton. I will, over time, present more examples of his erratic behavior and vindictiveness but for now this will suffice: John McCain lost the South Carolina Republican primary to the current president in 2000. John McCain believes his loss was caused by the heavy campaign ads ran against him before the primary vote. It was obvious by what was reported in the press he threw a major temper tantrum over what he thought was unfair treatment. He could not believe the audacity exhibited by his opponents. His subsequent response to this outrage was his support, and tireless work for the Democratic Party's number one issue at the time "campaign finance reform". His megalomaniac obsession for passage of this legislation tied up more important economic reform bills proposed by the current president and gave us the infamous McCain-Feingold law. This bill put severe restrictions on free speech. Most people, including myself, never thought the law would pass a Supreme Court test (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.) so did not give it much credibility. To our chagrin, the Supreme Court in fact upheld the law. John McCain also showed his opportunistic streak when he broke rank with the Republican Majority and went after the tobacco industry. The praise he received from the New York Times and its new appellation for him of Maverick had his peacock plume in full display. Oh! Should we also mention the Savings and Loan disaster and John McCain's 1989 glorious membership in the Keating Five? So, in conclusion, three points: 1) The “miese fans” are more mature than John McCain: We do not like him because he is an enemy of freedom not because he beat Ron Paul who is not. 2 ) Llewellyn is spot-on in his analysis of the supporters of John McCain. 3) Nelson is most likely a paid blogger who has been given the task to skulk around free enterprise blogs and shill for John McCain.
Published: February 27, 2008 2:57 AM
Fundamentalist,
"I once did some research in advertising to try to determine the emotions that sell and learned that just one emotion works in ads--the appeal to fear."
And if you want to increase that fear level, include in the ad an image of a family (preferably with young children) or that of a young child alone. Images of a family can provoke the men. Images of small children hammers away at the maternal instincts in women.
Published: February 27, 2008 7:42 AM
The genius of American Fascist is to maintain the illusion of a 2 party system.
Published: February 27, 2008 9:58 AM
Nelson is most likely a paid blogger who has been given the task to skulk around free enterprise blogs and shill for John McCain.
Sticks and stones. I'm just a registered Republican who voted for McCain. I based my vote on watching him stand up against government waste in Senate debates (against Republicans and Democrats both) on C-SPAN and the fact that he doesn't think increased immigration is bad.
I've been a registered Republican since I was old enough to vote and I hate the way the bigoted protectionist right has tried to take over my party. I may have voted for Paul if he were a proponent of increased immigration. But my number one priority was to do my part to ensure my party didn't go the path of "scapegoat politics" like certain "conservative" political parties in Europe and the Mid East. In my view politicians like Tancredo are trying to destroy the Republican party (or, in the event they are successful, turn the US into another WW2 era Germany).
Here's a good analysis of the immigration issue from a political viewpoint:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18072935/blame_pedro/print
Published: February 27, 2008 10:22 AM
If your objection to voting for McCain is his support for the war, that is a valid objection and you should vote your conscience.
However, saying he is the same as Bush on issues like spending is not appropriate. Bush's main flaw in that area is he never stood up against his own party when they were in congress trying to expand the government (and I'm talking about the non-war portion of it). Bush also promoted the expansion of an entitlement program (Medicare). McCain has proven that he is willing to stand up against his own party (reference countless "conservative" complaints regarding this area) when it comes to spending and he voted against the prescription drug benefit bill.
So yes, vote against him if your main issue is getting out of Iraq or campaign finance. But don't vote against him if your main issue is he isn't "conservative" or "Republican" enough (as if Hillary or Obama would be more conservative and Republican).
Published: February 27, 2008 11:34 AM
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/31/reagan-vs-mccain-on-profits-business-and-the-free-market/
also, I'm so tired of hearing that Mcain has "national security credentials". he does not, other than the fact that like alot of dopes out there he is a hawk at a time when we are borrowing. That's not being a military strategist, or a missile expert or an arabic speaker. sitting of the senate inteligence committee is not "credentials' as this disasterous war has shown us.
Published: February 27, 2008 4:59 PM
McCain is certainly a conservative - a real
one, although a little too fascist. He does
exhibit some democratic tendencies, as do most Americans.
Published: February 27, 2008 5:50 PM
Sorry but this is very shallow analysis. McCain won the election in the early primaries. He won the winner take all states with 30% and he has not had much more than 30% in any state since. Had he run against anyone of the other candidates, even Ron Paul, he would have had a hard time getting the delegates he needed to be the Republican nominee. The rank and file Republican does not like McCain but 1/3 of Republicans do and they voted in a block and that has given McCain the nomination.
This election guanantees a minority will be elected: a "black," a "woman" (I know women are not in the minority but don't tell a liberal that, they still haven't figured it out), or a minority Republican.
Published: February 27, 2008 5:56 PM
Had he run against anyone of the other candidates, even Ron Paul, he would have had a hard time getting the delegates he needed to be the Republican nominee. The rank and file Republican does not like McCain but 1/3 of Republicans do and they voted in a block and that has given McCain the nomination.
I would leave out "rank and file" as an adjective. Anyone who votes in a closed primary can be considered "rank and file" and anyone who wins those primaries couldn't have done so without at least some "rank and file" support.
I would summarize that the "anti-McCain Republicans" couldn't agree on who they did support. Obviously none of the other candidates were strong enough to pull the various factions of the party together, even if it "only" meant getting 30% of them together.
Big picture, it doesn't really matter much. The Dems are the favorites this year regardless.
Published: February 28, 2008 10:40 AM
McCain hasn't won yet!
He can't win a brokered convention, period, and he hasn't sewn up enough delegates to avoid it. Add to this the fact that he will likely be hamstrung by the very legislation he passed (having secured loans based on federal-matching funds) and the fact that GOP insiders hate him, Ron Paul could secure the remaining delegates, especially here in Texas.
If I didn't believe this, I wouldn't have driven here from Oregon.
Even IF McCain had sewn this up, we can still influence the state parties to adopt sound money as a plank in their platforms.
http://ocati.org/
Published: February 28, 2008 8:21 PM