Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

How does Balter define moderation?  Does Balter equate Republican spin control with moderation?  Karl Rove and his operatives hope so, as do the commentators at Fox News, where it is loftily proclaimed, "We report, you decide", and where Bill O'Reilly proclaims himself to be a "populist" unattached to any political affiliation.

Before Balter begins hurling labels and perceiving Washington's Democratic Party chairman to be outside the current political mainstream she should step back, take a deep breath, and ask herself who is defining political moderation along with its ideological components.  

Before Balter criticizes Pelz for stating the increasingly obvious based on current polls, that Bush's unpopularity is growing and that the Iraq War is in the forefront of negative feelings concerning the Cheney-Bush regime, she should make an effort to learn where we stand at the current political crossroad.

Balter should recognize that America invaded Iraq in contravention of international laws that this nation at an earlier stage helped to create through its vigorous promotion.  

Remember, Ms. Balter, that when those "villainous" French and Germans, along with that Swedish weapons inspector, sought extra time to complete a UN inspection in Iraq on the subject of weapons of mass destruction, the basis for invading, Cheney and Bush rushed the nation into conflict.  Why, pray tell, were they in such a hurry?  

After the invasion, what happened?  Well, there were those secret meetings with oil executives mentioned in the cartoon appearing just above Balter's article, when Cheney and the oil elite made their secret plans to divide the spoils in Iraq after a shock and awe campaign that may well have cost up to 100,000 Iraqi lives.  Is following this line of alleged reason mainstream and moderate?  If it is, we are in tall trouble!

The latest edition of Newsweek focuses on a current poll indicating that 53 percent of Americans have expressed grave concern over the current Cheney-Bush spy campaign through the auspices of the National Security Agency.  This policy has been undertaken under the pretext of combating terrorism.  

The same article reports the latest Newsweek polling figure on Bush, which at 38 percent constitutes the lowest of any heretofore registered at that publication.  Again the question must be asked, is this moderation?  Does trampling basic rights of privacy inherent in the Bill of Rights constitute American mainstream political thinking?  

Just below Balter's article David Broder appears, sounding the clarion call for "moderation" in much the same manner as Balter in her article.  Broder praises mainstream political columnist Joe Klein for his recent book.  

Broder agrees with Klein's position that Al Gore and John Kerry harmed their candidacies by over reliance on political consultants.  Broder agrees with the distinction Klein draws in stating that, "there is a place for prudent consultancy in American politics," noting that Ronald Reagan "could never have been Reagan without a stage manager like Michael Deaver."

When it comes to cluttering the air with ozone our major media chieftains excel.  Broder sees strength in Reagan and for a time George W. Bush in demonstrating "genuineness" of conviction with which the public can identify.  

Absolutely, David, we have Reagan as fiscal guru and tough guy foreign enforcer.  That was the image.  Somewhere along the line, however, we received instead a tripling of the national debt and sending arms in exchange for hostages while talking tough and establishing a policy of non-cooperation with an extremist Iranian regime.  

Ah yes, and the genuineness of Bush!  What a touching illustration!  The pious Bush communes with God and declares that if elected he will initiate a government based on the principle of "compassionate conservatism" and seek an end to the strident Washington partisanship and bickering.  Imagine that, Cheney, Rove and DeLay as promoters of unity and reason.  

Instead, where did we go?  A rush to war, a scorched earth "you are either with me or against me" edict more symbolic of crass dictators than democratic leaders, and, as for the compassion, how about thrusting one's fist in the air at the advent of Operation Shock and Awe and declaring, "feels good!"  

Tell us, David.  Is this the kind of conduct that you cite as reflecting genuineness regarding George W. Bush?

Broder finally gets to his basic point.  He sees a candidate rich in genuineness for 2008 in Senator John McCain of Arizona.  McCain's appearance at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University to deliver the commencement address is indicative of inclusion politics of the kind that impresses voters.

Oh yes, David, Falwell is definitively mainstream America, a calm and orderly voice of reason.  This is the same Falwell who mightily backed the South African apartheid regime of President P.W. Botha.  

It was Falwell who produced a film in which Bill and Hillary Clinton were accused of conspiring to murder White House Counsel Vince Foster.  Yes, and Falwell also consigned all Jews and homosexuals to hell unless they repent in time, meaning following Falwell's line of "reason".  

Broder loved the idea of McCain burying the hatchet with Falwell.  He predicted that in his speech, "rather than pandering to the fundamentalist's social agenda, McCain will challenge the Liberty students to bring their moral energy and religious conviction to bear on the struggle for political reform, immigrant rights and environment improvement - the causes with which he is most identified."

Reflect on that last statement.  Since when has Liberty University's students been equated with broad intellectual challenges of any kind?  The Liberty creed is simple, accept Falwell's narrowly strident dogmatism or depart.  

So, did McCain "challenge" the Liberty University students in his commencement address?  Not really.  "We are not enemies," McCain declared.  "We are compatriots defending ourselves from a real enemy.  We have nothing to fear from each other.  We are arguing over the means to better secure our freedom, promote the general welfare and defend our ideals.  It should remain an argument among friends."  

Yes, Senator McCain, debate should continue in the civilized vein so long associated with Falwell and his compatriots of the religious right.  Broder is impressed at any rate, tossing a concluding bouquet in McCain's direction.  "As much as anyone in public life, McCain has built his reputation on authenticity," Broder wrote.  "No consultant would ever suggest he abandon it."

Many have otherwise concluded that there is nothing to abandon, that McCain has hurled himself into the pander pit to secure votes for his presidential election bid in 2008.  That includes placating Falwell and his fire-breathing evangelicals as a necessary stop along the road that will hopefully lead to the White House.  

McCain's Liberty University speech is reflective of the about face Ronald Reagan did on abortion.  After signing the nation's most liberal abortion law while governor of California, as a presidential candidate courting the potent religious right of the Republican Party, Reagan executed a pirouette that would have made Mikhail Baryshnikov turn green with envy.  

With this much ozone filling the air some two and a half years before the 2008 election, one can only grimly speculate on the beclouded political atmosphere by November of that year, with the likes of Balter, Broder and Klein along with the insights of Murdoch-orchestrated Fox puppets O'Reilly, Hannity and Cavuto serving up words and comments on "moderation" and the "voices of the people".