Had a temperature-check conversation with a Movement leader. He’s close to someone frequently mentioned as a 2012 presidential candidate.
We Non-Rightists are dismayed at Obama Premature Flinch Syndrome metastasize. He and colleagues in the professional Movement elite’s are terrified. Of their inability to control the forces they conjured. The Usual Suspect blogs and cable casts don’t get that.
We all see the obvious signs: (a) tea partiers denouncing corrupt Republicans freely in trad media; and (b) Values Voter tent pole personalities pulling out of CPAC or threatening to do so. What makes things different is the chaos is not limited to ‘Republican establishment’ figures. Professional Movement leaders now perceive themselves at risk, holding a wolf by the ears. Damned holding on, damned letting go. These Movement professionals ironically are accepting the Stiftung’s long-standing diagnosis of the Movement parasite outgrowing the Republican depleted host. Put another way, the Movement refused to be on the leash of the Ken Duberstein or James Bakers. Now, to their dismay they realize their leash is unwelcome, too.
We smiled as Movement professionals dismissed the recent RNC Chairman candidates’ forum as an irrelevancy – as the Stiftung long counseled. How funny and rich to hear Movement professionals express alarm at Citizens United — why, these groups are potentially ‘uncontrollable.’ Comical perhaps. The fear of the unpredictable future unknown real.
Internal, unreported political cannibalism beyond the public reports is always captivating. Plus, it’s odd to see the general sense that Obama ‘won’ the Lame Duck, gaining stature and ‘Big Mo’ in sober conversation among professional colleagues. This was not posturing for the camera.
True, non-RIghtists have reason to look askance at Obama’s 2.0 makeover. More subservience to the financial plutocrats? Check. More pull back on regulation? Check? Premature caving to Movement factions seeking to destroy the American social safety net? Check. And so on. Just remember, though, this time he is ‘just itching to fight.’ Ask him. One nonetheless would be surprised at how many thoughtful Movement professionals as of today predict an Obama victory in 2012 – and no easy way to let go the wolf of their own making.
Redhand says
With any luck the Repubs will self-destruct, no thanks to Obama. They have learned nothing since they controlled Congress under Bush. In fact, I think they’ve gotten worse.
As for the Young Prince, well, I found myself gagging at his preening self-importance during the lame duck session. Regardless of his “wins,” he too has learned nothing from his defeats. Survival by default is hardly the hallmark of the “transformative presidency” he promised.
DrLeoStrauss says
@BDR Hi, yeah that was a bit uncalled for wasn’t it? Won’t happen again.
DrLeoStrauss says
The above is a conversational snapshot reporting a viewpoint conveyed. To underscore, the Stiftung’s own (and more accurate in our opinion) assessment of the Obama Administration remains the previous post, ‘2010 – The Year In Review’ (especially the video).
This report is merely that, on the eve of a new Congress, elbows sharp and egos most fragile. ait would another mistake to assume the Movement will oblige Obama and self destruct. Our own view remains his political obliteration remains the ultimate unifier of the various factions and splinter groups vying for position and narrative control.
Two years is an eternity. And a lengthy conversation per above remains a snapshot. Obama the individual could well win re-election as a center-right politician, surviving by default rather than innate political skill and counterpunching. We’d rue that day. We’ve said from day one our interests are wholly separate from the personal, individual fortunes of Obama and his retainers.
BDR says
I love you, but please – I beg you – never put a Duran Duran song in my head again.