Topic: Liberal Fascism
Without doubt, Barack Obama has been a big disappointment to the progressive establishment. As Jonah Goldberg recalls in this article for NRO, there was a moment in 2008 and early 2009 when people like Paul Krugman, Tom Friedman and Tina Brown were touting Obama as the second coming of FDR. He gave Chris Mathews a thrill up his leg. David Brooks rhapsodized over the crease in Barry’s trousers. But in 2011? Um, not so much…
During a recent appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Ms. Brown opined of Obama: “He wasn't ready, it turns out, really." No kidding, Tina! And what does that tell us about you and your kind, who so assiduously boosted Mr. Hope & Change back in 2008? It makes you a bunch of utterly clueless dolts, that’s what! But perhaps I’m being too harsh. After all, Ms. Brown has recognized reality—rather late in the day, to be sure, but better late than never.
Other progressives, however, are not at all prepared to concede that they may have made a mistake. In their view, it’s not Obama’s fault that he’s a failure. It’s the American people’s fault, or the Constitution’s fault, or even democracy’s fault. If only we were ruled by the Chinese Politburo! That’s Tom Friedman’s dearest wish. Then rational decisions about solar panels, light rail and population control would never be blocked by stupid members of Congress or dissatisfied voters. Bev Purdue, the liberal Democratic governor of North Carolina, thinks that “[W]e ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make.”
All this constitutes a startling admission: that progressivism without authoritarianism is simply unworkable. In the past, progressives were leery of laying a frank and unambiguous claim to the limitless power they think they deserve. But the setbacks and disappointments of the Obama years have unhinged them, and the mask has slipped.
