This is why I no longer am willing to engage many of my friends in conversations about politics. It’s very unnerving listening to an otherwise intelligent and well educated person appeal to mysticism when framing their arguments. Of course, they don’t regard their justifications as being based on mystical beliefs – if anything, they believe that they’re ‘scientific’. But though they may use scientific terminology – e.g. from neuro, evolutionary, or clinical psychology – their descriptions of these dynamics and effects are typically bastardized. More often they’re relying on some sort of communal consciousness a/o agency that will react to and affect their intentions.

I don’t think Obama and the Democratic leadership are actually conspiring to remake the U.S. in the likeness of Cuba. I think, instead, they’re angling (as armchair pessimist says) to keep themselves in power, and the massive societal change that goes along with it is just gravy. Meanwhile, though, they’re counting on ordinary, ornery Americans to do what they do – not to “shrug” too much – and pull us out of this. So their non-plan – to pull the U.S. out of this downturn – depends on other people’s drive, sacrifice, and generosity to do the actual work, while they can pursue their plan – to hold and solidify their position – and also take credit for the non-plan’s “success” without having to embrace the distasteful methods that actually bring it about.

In other news, Delta Burke tells her story of Love, Life, and Loss

It’s odd that Alter would choose to present himself as such a lick-spittle. Something that Liberals, of a certain stripe, often fail to comprehend is that few other people wish to view government officials as therapists, or benevolent fathers/mothers, or agents of some ‘world spirit’. The very proposition is insulting. This is America, we don’t worship our elected officials.

You’re seeing a lot of articles like Alter’s at the moment. Of the ‘he may seem like he’s flailing but it’s all part of a master plan – he’s got some kind of mojo that’s just too powerful for us to resist’ variety. I wonder why that is?

Many White Liberals REALLY REALLY want Obama to be the heroic figure that they’d perceived during the campaign. But of course campaigns are stage play, and while I’m sure they recognize this

This only way this can end peacefully is if we the people decide we don’t wish to be “men of valor”

It’s pretty clear that the government is going to lose the populist/Perotista vote in short order. What is it going to take to turn the suburban “social moms” into “safety moms?”

How bad will the international situation need to get before otherwise normal Democrats realize that this administration is putting them at risk, too.

Well, the federal government is really in the looting business big time now. And it’s gonna get worse.