May 08 2007

Is Liberalism Dying Off?

Published by at 7:48 am under 2008 Elections,All General Discussions,Iraq

As an addendum to my post below on Michael Barone’s analysis of the decay of the Democrat enclaves in America we must add this piece by E.J. Dionne (who I never read anymore) on the electorial pounding the left is taking world-wide:

Is Europe moving right? Is the democratic left in trouble?

The decisive victory of Nicolas Sarkozy over Socialist Segolene Royal in France’s presidential elections on Sunday was the most recent example of the battering that moderate left parties are taking from the forces of globalization and discontent over immigration.

A few days earlier, Britain delivered a rebuke to outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Labor Party in local elections. Last September, Sweden’s Social Democrats were voted out of power, a blow to theprogressive spirit in light of the country’s standing as a model egalitarian society.

Earlier in 2006, in the land of single-payer health care, Canada’s Conservatives under Stephen Harper came back from near-death 14 years ago to form a minority government. In 2005, Germany’s Social Democrats lost their majority, though they cling to a share of power under Christian Democratic Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Think things are bad now – wait and see what happens if Iraq turns around.

10 responses so far

10 Responses to “Is Liberalism Dying Off?”

  1. owl says:

    Hmmm…..I blame Bush.

  2. scaulen says:

    I blame global cooling

  3. Retired Spook says:

    Think things are bad now – wait and see what happens if Iraq turns around.

    So much of how the political landscape will look like in 3-5 years depends, to a great extent, on what happens in Iraq. If the al Qaeda wing of the Democrat Party prevails and we come home prematurely with our tails between our legs, you may see a temporary surge of Leftism in this country. A surge, IMHO, likely to last only until the next terrorist attack on US soil or on a US asset like another naval vessel or foreign embassy, and an event for which the Left has NO ANSWER.

  4. retire05 says:

    Don’t worry, AJ, the liberals are killing off the decendants in record numbers. Conservative Christians don’t have abortions.

  5. DubiousD says:

    Question: since somebody mentioned Blair, would Tories taking over Parliament be good for the WOT or not? From what little I’ve read (and I confess to have paid little attention to British politics of late) the Conservatives in Great Britain are opposed to the war in Iraq. Are the Conservatives sincere or are they merely playing politics? If the latter, why should we trust them with power anymore than we would trust our own Democrats?

  6. lurker9876 says:

    I wonder what will happen to Italy and Spain upon their next elections…

  7. DaleinAtlanta says:

    AJ; we could never get that lucky!

  8. Soothsayer says:

    Bush’s approval ratings are at 28%. New polling from the respected InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion asked Americans, “Would you favor or oppose the impeachment by Congress of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney?”

    39% favor impeachment NOW. And we’re not just talking Democrats:

    Forty-two percent of independents want Bush and Cheney impeached. These aren’t just voters who disapprove of the White House. Instead, they’re for initiating a process that could remove them from office

    And yet in the rarefied confines of Strataspheristaville, its liberalism that are in trouble.

    More troubling for Bush is that his polling is going to go nowhere but down as Senate and House committees pursue the oversight that has been totally lacking from the lickspittle Republican congresses of 2000-2006.

    Alberto Gonzales will be back for another round; ditto Condi Rice. Let’s not forget the newly immunized Monica Goodling, who will still face prosecution, as she has been granted only use immunity.

    Scooter Libby’s sentencing rapidly approaches, and Scooter shouldn’t necessarily believe he’s going to get appellate bond.

    Meanwhile, the Republicans are already tacitly disavowing the surge, preparing to totally abandon the SS Bush in September before it sinks completely beneath the waves, dragging Republican candidates with it into a watery grave for the party.

    And the unnecessary deaths brought on by the greatest foreign policy screw-up in American history. Thanks for the legacy, George.

    By October, over 60% of Americans will be demanding Bush’s impeachment.

  9. scaulen says:

    Your right, it’s time we used the patriot act to lock up all the Democrats who wish to interfere with the war on terror. Suspend habeas, declare them all enemy combatants, lock them all up in Gitmo. Lets get on with governing, maybe pass some bills, support out troops, get the aging counter culture hippies and their offspring off of drugs and thinking for themselves.

    Lock up the anarchists who only want to destroy or deface government property. Shut down the newspapers, TV and radio stations that spread the enemies propaganda. Get back to teaching history from the perspective of the victor, and not the vanquished.

    Let’s put Soros on the deck of 52 as the joker and do some water boarding to find who is pulling his strings. Let’s impeach Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, Boxer, Corzine, Dean, Durbin, Emanual, Kerry, McDermott, Jefferson and Murtha for their breathtaking disregard for the law, the Constitution, the Logan Act, and almost every ethical hypocrisy you can think of.

    Let’s get them before they try and destroy this country. Let’s follow Europe’s lead and make sure we have politicians in power who worry about the greater good of the country and the world, not ones out to score political points using our troops as the game pieces.

    The Democratic party died with the Kennedy’s, time to bury it before it really starts stinking up the place.

  10. BarbaraS says:

    Some of the Europeans can see beyong the noses on their faces. Socialism does not work. Their countries are on the verge of bankruptcy. They simply cannot afford all the freebies the population gets. And the idea someone cannot be fired is what is wrong with our own bureauocracy and some countries are rapidly becoming third rate. They see our economy rising all the time while theirs is tanking. I think these people have been there all along but are now joined with the suddenly awakened to get a majority.