The Liberal disease
July 21, 2005
"...That's pretty much the last ten years of American political history in a nutshell. While liberals sift and weigh the evidence, debate alternative points of view, and reach for that ever elusive 'fairness,' the conservative machine sifts and weighs alternative propaganda points, debates the best way to manipulate public opinion, and reaches for power -- first, last and always." (Billmon)
"It's called fairness. And Jeralyn at Talk Left has a post and a comment thread that illustrate what an enormous difference it makes in the way liberals and conservatives approach the political battlefield," writes Billmon.
"Jeralyn argues that progressives should hold their fire in opposing the nomination of Bob . . . I mean John Roberts until more of the facts are in:
I'd like to know more about him before I make up my mind. I don't think it helps that liberal groups are coming out swinging so soon. It has the appearance that they would oppose anyone Bush would nominate."Now her position is eminently reasonable -- in both senses of the word...But it's also the classically liberal approach to politics, in which the struggle for power is treated like some kind of glorified courtroom debate, with strict rules of evidence, an impartial umpire (the judge) and 12 jurors, straight and true, to render a verdict.
"...That's pretty much the last ten years of American political history in a nutshell. While liberals sift and weigh the evidence, debate alternative points of view, and reach for that ever elusive 'fairness,' the conservative machine sifts and weighs alternative propaganda points, debates the best way to manipulate public opinion, and reaches for power -- first, last and always." (Billmon)
