Posted on 09/25/2003 3:24:20 PM PDT by Mr.Atos
The Caligulization of the Democratic Party...
Unfortunately, I missed the debate last night. Both the Baby and the Belgian needed their evening walk in the dwindling Northwest twilight with Dad and the fetching Kimberly. But, after reading the reviews on FR, the news reports, and Hewitt’s synopsis this morning, an interesting historical metaphor came to mind. Cruz is a senseless buffoon and a grafting thug (like his predecessor). Other than Gray remaining at the helm, Bustamante is the worse thing that could happen to California right now. So, why is the Left so eager to commit economic suicide than to elect a governor that can save the system? The Caligulization of the Democratic party is at hand. The Left would rather elect a horse – or in this case, its hind quarter – than a Republican, regardless of the benefits all would experience via the leadership of a good statesman. The party has completely abandoned all reason and surrendered itself to the insanity of irrationale hatred.
And yet the Republicans fail to show any better political judgment. I continue to be tremendously impressed with McClintock; his agenda, character, and integrity seem to personify the best that the Republicans have to offer. If this were a primary, there would be no question who should win. But, recognizing the accuracy of the previous analysis, one must conclude that the best thing for California is not more division, but more unity. The fringe on either side will never come to terms. But, those in the middle may be swayed to the Right by a strong candidate, with a few of the right ideas who can use his charisma, political neutrality, and affiliations to steer the state back gradually and effectively toward economic prosperity. In the process, it will show Californian’s (and the rest of the nation) what good leadership and statesmanship can accomplish; characteristics the Democrats continually demonstrate that they have very little of in their own ranks. In that scenario, the next governor of California can be a Conservative Republican with overwhelming support of the population and a mandate to forward the right agenda. Perhaps that would be McClintock.
But today, McClintock is determined to play the role of Brutus, tragically poised to deliver the fatal blow to both Arnold and himself with the stubborn blade of vane righteousness. His fellow conspirators, nevertheless, encourage him to this inevitable end. Limbaugh, God love him, so much the Elder Cato , behaves here like the Younger, advocating a political purity that is certain to deliver destruction. Determined are they to stand their ground that they fail to recognize the true horror they are prepared to inflict on the state and the nation. ‘Let California fall!’ is their mantra, claiming that it would be better in the long run. But, fall it may not. In another 4 years, the transmutation may be complete. A Socialist State of California may be the catalyst for a similar de-evolution in surrounding states, like Oregon and Washington who, despite the horrible visage of the spent sow to the south, are already following her lead. Others will follow in kind. A Democrat Commodus in 2004 will no doubt pour tremendous amounts of federal revenues into these abysses in a futile attempt to make the ‘experiment’ work, and there will be no stinging oratory of Antony that will turn favor; no Praetorian resistance left to stop it. The end will come as fast as it did the last time an army – that of Barbarians - crossed the Rubicon. California may yet prove to be the fulcrum for the future course of the United States… Statism, Civil War, Strife, Collapse. And the Ides of October may very well prove as tragic as those of March.
I have no horse in this race. So, the decision made down there will not directly affect me directly here in Oregon. That being said, I will stand, like Honorius, with my sheepdog staring south watching for the Visigoths to appear over Vista Ridge. Ultimately it will affect us and the nation as a whole, to be sure. If the Left prevails and their horse is installed as governor in California in October, I have no doubt, they will appear.
Good guess on the Mal, but, I'm please to say that my BSD is a Groenendael... the 'black sheep' of the Belgian family.
If a Republican gets elected, Calif will still crash because the Senate and Assembly will make sure it happens. The rat media (LA Times and SF Chron) will blame the governor if he is Republican when, in fact, he had little power to steer the car away from the cliff.
Calif has to go over the cliff before its voters will come to their senses. The question is: who gets blamed? It will be the next governor and his party.
After the debate I pulled the boot of the shelf and re-read the entire checklist. It's about 3/4 complete and with no errors. I think I'll take the time this weekend to post the list in its entirety. Scary indeed.
I'll get on it on saterday.
I'd appreciate a flag.
The list is a full short chapter in length with brief and sometimes not so brief elaborations on each item to watch for. There are 36 items in all. It's not something I can tackle tonight since I have to be at work at 7:00am tomorrow. I'll start on it Saturday morning when I'm fresh. If someone else who has this book is off tomorrow and posts it first, I'd apprciate a shout.
I don't know if the Free State Project will go anywhere or not, but I like to keep my options open. Keep an eye on their website. Things could get real ugly if Kalifornia collapses and the collapse spreads throughout the economy.
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
(thrice Bravo!)Toute encore!
I wish I had written that! (Is there higher praise?)
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Jamais reculez á tyrannie un pouce!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! Never give an inch to tyranny!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
There's that, and the off-chance that quake in Japan will touch off the Yellowstone calldera- time to dig a hole, jump in, and pull the hole in after me...
Perhaps it might be better to say you're still sorting this out and haven't quite figured out the character resembles quite yet.
And yet, as I mention, California will likely take the nation with it. Perhaps this is the time for dramatic change. But, keep in mind as you watch 'Luther' this weekend, that the strife and turmoil of his era was the beginning of the Reformation; the beginning of the Enlightenment and the age of Reason. And it was only after some 500 years of darkness left behind the last surrender of civilization to irrationality first, and the barbarians second.
Mr.Galt does not exist in this scenario. Nor will Danneskjold's guns be firing salvos of hope off the Astoria coast in the long dark winters to come. The Left needs California this October to breathe a last breath into that sow and paint her pink so they can write "Some Pig" in a cob web over her head and flaunt her dying carcass as a trophy at the next election. If they can't get away with it, they may finally be exposed for the flim-flams, and failures that they really are.
On the contrary, the Right has a significant opportunity to shine. I think that we can save California and we must. A healthy and prosperous California could give the Right another 4-8 years...More judges, more cuts in governmental authority, more power in Congress, a healthy economy, a safe world and a genuine trophy of the righteousness, morality, and justice of Conservatism.
Then it may be we who say, "That'll do, pig...that'll do."
And while your at it, I'd like a 'ping' on that list as well... Please and Thank You.
This is the only point on which we differ. I lived in Cal for 25 years and watched the electorate become stupider and stupider and of course the politicians followed suit.
I believe Cal has a long way down to go before it starts back up, no matter who is governor. A Republican governor only lets the LA Times and the SF Chron blur the cause of the fall--socialism.
I agree with your concerns--I have been telling folks for a while now that Cal's problems are our problems. California has to return to normalcy for the country to have a robust recovery. You can't have businesses fleeting the 7th largest economy in the world and have the largest, which contains it, not suffer deeply.
But I have no faith that--given the composition of the assembly and the senate- Schwartzanegger (sp?) will have much of an effect, except to let rats blame republicans for the State's problems.
I say again, this election is a poison pill. Whichever party wins will suffer long-term damage in State politics.
Perhaps I'll change my mind after California recieves this death blow. But, we'll always have to wonder if the stalwart Cal. Conservatives, like the julian conspirators before them, were ultimately the one's responsible for the demise of the Republic with their misguided and tragic actions at a critical point in time.
Perhaps you (and they) are right, and the election of Arnold will make no difference. But, I suggest to you that you will never know. It is a dangerous poker play, with others lives and money, and you will never get to see the cards afterward.
That being said, I understand the sentiments. It is by no means an easy choice. Meantime, i'll keep an eye on that southern ridge...
... and keep listening for the motor to stop.
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