Tonight’s foreign policy debate exemplified the American drift into Ken Kesey-esque inconsequentialities. For a staggered World Power facing a vast array of concerted geo-strategic challenges, Romney and Obama spent most of the evening catering to Likudist sensibilities and Bibi’s meddling in American domestic politics.
Obama may have won the evening on points if the old monoculture consensual, empirical reality existed. We suspect in that Kesey-esque miasma, Romney’s gleeful expediency and disdain for facts or truth activated the Movement’s desire to pull everything down around us.
In a way, the debate might be like Harry Summers in the 1970s, claiming the U.S. Army never lost a battle in Vietnam – while NVA tanks were parked in the American Embassy. So-called progressives on CNNMSNBC and spin reps like John Kerry don’t understand why Romney cavalierly jettisoned his entire campaign record. They sputter that Romney can’t be allowed to do that. And prove yet again why they lose and we lose relying on them, too.
But what choice do we have?
DrLeoStrauss says
Hi Adlershot,
Agree. Obama’s innate compulsion to compromise was used by the Responsibility to Protect crowd on the so-called “Left” [sic] in Libya to great effect (over Gates and Mullens’ objections). One can only speculate about his pre-election internal polling and more caution with Syria and Iran. Also agree the resulting difference so far with Romney’s Neocon team about timing, tactical approach and means, less ends.
All know here of course the Neocons’ course of action revolving around The Realm – Bibi’s desire to make Iranian ‘capability’ a casus belli and Israeli interests in Syria (partially coincident with Sunni desire to curtail Shia regional influence). Soft roll towards debacle versus reckless rush . . .
All of which recalls an August 2010 post re Obama flinching and failing before resurgent Movement radicalism. Sam Lowry mentioned it on Twitter recently and we quote this part:
Reading this post and others going back to 2007, one can’t escape a sense of profound sadness, as much that the Chattering Noobs on Twitter or cable bleat today was so eminently obvious back then.
It’s one reason our posts here are less frequent — for the moment. When we sit down to write about the election we feel as if we’re ripping ourselves off, having said it all before.
It’s galling beyond belief that notwithstanding the above, we personally and professionally must summon energy and commitment to defend such a weak, judgmental and politically incompetent Administration and retinue. Not for their sake but for ours.
Aldershot says
Aw, Doc. Sorry you’re feeling discouraged right now.
into the caverns of tomorrow, with just our flashlights and our love, we must plunge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo21XEkN7DY
drleostrauss says
Aldershot, simply wonderful – exactly the antidote for mawkish self-pity. What an amazing cover and her voice is radiant. Cheers, and looking forward to turning the page on those blues!
Aldershot says
Right after I posted it I thought, oh no, too saccharine…but I guess not :-}
Out of laziness, mostly, I did not vote. As with O’s last win, the relief I feel is for the future of the ME. What do we think of this compromise…Iran gets the bomb, Israel gets the West Bank, and Gaza gets normal relations. An hilarious and ironic article I greatly enjoyed:
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/oct/26/gaza-isolation-way-out/
Dr Leo Strauss says
That article is a good read. Gaza really should shift thinking towards development, no question. Last nite, when Fox News on air ‘talent’ (Rove et. al.) were fighting cognitive dissonance and petulant acting out, couldn’t help but think of Bibi, too.
Anon says
Heh.. we won. Epistemic Closure blinded them to the reality that being anti birth control, anti 47% and pretty much anti anything not WASP is still not very popular and shouldn’t be said in public. From Red State: “women, inexplicably supported Obama”
Dr Leo Strauss says
Brilliant quote from RS. Inexplicable, indeed. CPAC this year could be more entertaining than usual.
Aldershot says
Tough room.
Aldershot says
“But what choice do we have?”
Apparently the choice between Neoliberal A and Neoliberal B. Romney may seriously tweak Obamacare, but he will by no means overturn it.
Obama helped depose two despots who were more or less friendly to us; was this the logical sequelae to Iraq? In refusing aid to the Syrian liberals it appears he recognizes that there are limits.