New York, New York

The system that New York produces is self-consuming. That is to say, liberalism, is self-consuming. New York is an irresistible flame in which moths burn their wings. All Cuomos, Clintons, and Kennedys have been brought up to be either Icarus or saffron-clad monks. It’s what’s expected.

There are specific places around the globe that exude power. New York City is such a place. New York burns hot. Around it is scorched earth. It has not become the center of the world for nothing. Both China and Brazil have built great cities nobody has ever heard of - or will. Andrew Cuomo has willingly cast himself into New York’s flame. So have many others, only to be consumed by it.

To be New York’s governor is like riding a bucking bronco. There’s no question that you’ll be thrown. The challenge is one of endurance; to stay on as long as you can - and (perhaps) be thrown mercifully into the blanching waters of the Potomac.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

An American Quilt

Most pundits still treat the November midterms as any other similar election cycle; when, in fact, previous metrics are no longer relevant. The November midterms will not hinge on anything as flimsy as accusations of scandal. In normal times, scandal, smear, and innuendo even, could turn elections - as could race, looks and/or a glamorous trophy wife, cute kids and a dog. November will bring on recycling day in America, when we put all our stuff considered crap out to the curb. Inventory will have been very carefully taken.

To appreciate the difference this time around you only need look at the media. Nobody is paying much attention to the media anymore. In fact, major media endorsements - like POTUS himself - have become a liability. People will read fawning puff pieces in the NYT about the vaunted Cuomo legacy, for instance; and that will be enough for people to vote against square-jawed Andrew (formerly of HUD). Similarly, they will read scathing attacks on Tea Party candidates in the same elitist, left-leaning, partisan rags; and that will be enough to make up their minds.

Scandals are no longer to be believed. These are seen as petty smear contrivances that are usually effective only against Republicans. We are now in a post-partisan phase. The ‘anybody but Bush’ crowd has been swept aside and replaced with ‘anybody but Obama’ types. The media will do its best to paint both as one and the same.

Strangely enough, the country is now as unified as it ever was. It has become accepted that Obama occupies the extreme fringe of our American quilt. The people will not rest until this fringe is severed from power. The anti-Bush mania was only a warm-up; a dry-run based on late night frivolity. This time it’s serious, however. The question remains: Will normal methods suffice in abnormal times?

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Used And Abused

We take so many things for granted: a soft, clean bed when we’re tired; a drop of water when we’re thirsty; a praline when we’re feeling peckish; bread when we’re hungry. All this comes to mind while watching Volker Schloendorff’s “The Ninth Day” (German; ’05).

Water is a weapon; food is a weapon; oil is a weapon. We thought it couldn’t get any worse with Bush in office. It’s worse now, and we’re already desperate for a turn-around - after midterms; after 2012. Have we finally hit bottom? Or will our slide continue? Oil is spilling into the Gulf. Fish and birds are dying. Industry is dying. Cities and towns – entire States; the country – are going bankrupt. Services cut. Taxes are up. Public services are struggling to meet ever increasing demand.

Turn-around in November; 2012. New York’s Andrew Cuomo is saying all the right things. Scratch a little deeper and you find he’s joined at the hip with public sector unions.

No budget in New York yet; no federal budget till after elections. Uncertainty. Dead canaries in the mines; on Wall Street; in the stores along Main Street that are closing their doors forever.

People are waking up – even those who initially supported President Obama’s agenda. I found it fascinating when this past Tuesday the influential Business Roundtable issued a critique of a whole host of Obama/Democrat initiatives, concluding, “In our (BRT’s) judgment, we have reached a point where the negative effects of these policies are simply too significant to ignore.”

Much of America – including business leaders – had been up front shilling for the administration on a variety of issues, believing it best to play ball with what they perceived to be the new reality in Washington. They enthusiastically propagandized for ObamaCare, for ClimateCare, fiscal overhaul, stimulus, etc., believing they could escape the consequences of such potentially disastrous policies by striking deals (with the devil). They did so, often at the expense of support from their own members. AARP, AMA, Big Oil, Religion and Wall Street come immediately to mind. Every one of these is now beginning to have second thoughts. They are beginning to understand that they have been used shamelessly. Red-faced, they now realize that the lowly rank and file had been ahead of the curve all along.

This is how governments fall – when trust between the leadership and those faithfully paying the dues is broken. At that point the leadership becomes illegitimate. In our country too, the unions will find that they are being used and abused; that ‘equality’ in Obama’s view does not mean equality with the fat cats on any American Street but, rather, equality with ‘the workers of the world’, some, earning less than a dollar a day. They will find that their living standard, far from rising, will fall. And all this, despite having carried the water for an administration that is only out for itself.