Sullivan Explains His Obama Worship
Andrew Sullivan explains why he thinks Sen. Barack Obama is the cat’s meow:
I haven’t pretended he isn’t a liberal. But a small-c conservative can consider backing a liberal if all the viable “conservatives” are corrupt, divisive, shallow, in hock to religious fanatics or palpably unserious about national security. So far, that roughly describes the GOP candidates (excepting Paul and McCain).
One of the only half-decent Republican candidates is Rep. Ron Paul? He’s a libertarian who doesn’t understand the current state of the world, unlike Randy Barnett. Paul lives in his conspiratorial world waiting for another Gulf of Tonkin incident. Paul’s a man who thinks Reagan’s “Tear down this wall” speech was “pandering to his people.” Yet he’s somehow better than a 16-year governor of Wisconsin or a long-time member of Congress who has worked on national security issues? Paul is an embarassment to the legitimate libertarian ideas I and Andrew Sullivan would love to see enacted.
If there was any inkling that Obama would limit government I’d give Sullivan a break. I’ve seen no evidence. A “right to affordable health care,” a heavy-handed energy policy, and boosting the minimum wage aren’t examples of reducing government a “small-c conservative” would approve of. If Sullivan got goofy over Gov. Bill Richardson I’d give him a break. He seems like the most competent on foreign policy on the Democratic side.
Yet in Sullivan’s arrogant world if you think a Republican (other than Paul and McCain) would make reasonable Presidents you’re not an “informed people.” You’re not like Sullivan who has been “reading,” “observing,” and “researching.”
Sullivan finishes up his explanation with two question:
Could any Democrat have spent and borrowed more than Bush? Could any Democrat have damaged national security more than Bush and Cheney?
An “informed” observer of the current Congress would say, “yes” to both. And that person could be Obama especially if the Democrats continue to control congress.
Sullivan is too smart to simply be suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Whatever he is enduring he should read Arnold Kling’s lastest essay. No fan of President Bush Kling examines the two and one-half terms of this President and doesn’t find them that bad.
“The Obama Option” [via Steven Taylor]
It is the height of arrogance and cowardice to speak of libertarianism and war out of both sides of your mouth. It clearly shows you are not a traveled person, thus with little to offer in terms of insight into how people think, live, and feel. This kind of stuff is shameful, and disgraceful. As an American, it pains me every time I read it. Hubris indeed.
I urge you to reexamine your premises. The “state of the world” exists because of very poor choices in the past, which must be rectified. And soon, if this country is to survive as it was meant.