This Day In 'Center-Right' Schizophrenia

Ever since the American people flocked to the polls and pulled the lever for a change in direction, specifically toward a more progressive set of policies and principles than the ones we'd been getting under George W. Bush and were offered by John S. McCain, right-tilting pundits have fallen all over themselves to insist that the United States remains some sort of "center-right" nation - this despite the fact that positions they once advertised as "extreme," like ending the Bush tax cuts and withdrawing from Iraq, are now, quite clearly, embraced fully as mainstream positions.

Nevertheless, the rightward chatterers prattle on. Matt Yglesias, who's been a two-day strong clearinghouse of push-back on the center-right myth, compiles this video of people insisting on the conventional wishful thinking.

Of course, none of this explains how the Obama got to be the candidate who, in Karl Rove's words, "smartly and wisely ran a campaign" that emphasized how center-right everyone was, TWO DAYS after being branded far and wide as a socialist radical. Alan Colmes actually called Karl Rove out on this!

ROVE: Let's make it clear: He ran a center-right campaign. He said -

COLMES: Center-right? He was accused of being a radical socialist.

ROVE: Well, if you dug in.

Unfortunately, Hannity interrupts with some blather, so we never get to learn precisely how many licks it takes to go from the hard radical Communist lollipop shell to the chewy center-right goodness inside (or vice-versa - it's sort of hard to follow!) and that's too bad! The answer would have likely been the "cold fusion" of political science. Ultimately, though, it sort of leaves you with the impression that...sorta...Karl Rove...maybe...doesn't really have a gollydarned clue what he's talking about!

For my money, though, the one guy more out of touch than all the Mynah Birds of the Center-Right is Joe Lieberman. Back when his GOP friends were prevailing against radical community organizers, he was on stage at the Republican National Convention telling the audience that "Senator Barack Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead." Two days ago, as those same GOP pals started polishing their best "center-right" arguments in advance of a certain McCain defeat, Lieberman was tacking in the opposite direction, telling Glenn Beck that he had a "fear" that America "would not survive" if the Democrats succeeded on Election Day. Now today, he doesn't seem to know what he wants to do. At this point, I have no idea who Lieberman should be caucusing with! Maybe it's time he went on home, to caucus with himself.

Comments

[dejayel]

After his permanent Republican majority evaporated in 2008; what else did you expect Rove to say? The GOP never blames themselves for failure. it was, usually, the media, biased reporting, or other conditions out of their control.
Remember Reagan's eleventh commandmen­t... "Thou shalt not criticize fellow Republican­s."?
Just watch Hannity, listen to Limbaugh, or Imgraham, read Colter, et al; that should tell you everything you need to know.

[newshadeofblue]

It is unfortunate we continue to slide into this dangerous pit of catch phrases. It seems as though the only place where job security is guaranteed is in being a talking head absent of an intelligent thought. I am available should anyone be interested in hiring me to mimic the rest of the pack.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Is Alan Colmes the token liberal on the show?

[Hockeygrin]

I didn't vote for Obama because he was running a "center right" campaign.

[Krikkit]

Jason, this country is indeed a center-right country. The problem isn't in the phrase or the reality, it's in the definition. To someone like Limbaugh who lies to the far far far right, even normal conservatives or moderates with some conservative values are "liberals.­" That's why he's now saying that the "pretenders" have now abandoned the "real" party when he talks about those conservatives who complained about McCain's campaign tactics or criticized Palin.

Question is why is anybody listening to Limbaugh? He's a nut job. Don't waste our time.

[larry278]

The USA is center right, not. Those who voted for BHO are progressives, not liberals. BHO is replacing W. That means that Rove is out of a job & his vocabulary, among other things, is obsolete. The agenda is being set by BHO & his operatives, now W, Rove or W's operatives.
McCain was a clone of W & he used Rovian strategy & tactics in the 2008 election. McCain lost the election.
Obama & his team won the election by using strategy & tactics unknown to & unused by W & Rove. The MSM, save FAUX, are using BHO's vocabulary. If AM radio presenters keep using Rovian terms, etc, they'll be saying that their views are obsolete & no longer relevant. Perhaps, they will retain the ditto head audience, but, that's it. It is a pleasing irony that FAUX & radio's forces of far right wingnut, reaction will be forced to only react to BHO's new agenda. FAUX, Rove & the brainless loud mouths of talk radio will no longer be setting the USA's agenda or be among the 1st to hear of the POTUS's agenda. FAUX & talk radio will be touting the shop worn, obsolete ideology of the W/Rove era that ended on 11/4/08. BHO's transition team is setting the Democratic party agenda which has replaced W's neo-con, fundie, right wingnut, GOP brand.
Rove, Limbaugh, FAUX's talking heads & their ditto head audience are out of the loop, way out of the loop of what BHO &

[fedupinpa]

If the Republican party truely believes that the country is center right (I don't) why to they keep moving to the far right? Don't they want to represent the American people? Isn't obvious that even if the country is center right it prefers the left to the scary far right.?

[cadsuch]

There may be a sleight difference between a center/right nation, and a center/right election turnout. Don't forget, this is the country that has literally outlawed labor unions, and has spent the last few decades celebrating "trickle down". Our chosen leader has to live till he is sworn in before he can lead us. Our country is not the only country that treats its working people like chattel. Our chosen leader has been to foreign countries and spoke to crowds of people, but that doesn't mean he is revered by the local capitalists. They may not be celabrating like the people are. These sluggs that you hear claiming we are a center/right nation don't necessarily represent you and me. They represent a group of people who may treat thier workers like chattel also. Maybe they are exhibiting freudian slips. Maybe they know something we don't know about the next 3 months.

[pup sydney]

the work is never finished with the US extreme right: they will never stop trying to harm the civil rights and democracy of the USA .
We have to strengthen democracy: they want to take rights away we make them stronger.
It is central to realign the supreme curt and the federl courts to where we are in terms of values and principles.
The elections, the pillar of democracy, have to be better than this mess we have. I guarantee you extrem right USA does not exist if people could vote more efficiently.
People cannot wait for hours in line, votes have to have paper trails, no private interest has to be involved (no voting machines), money for elections has to be apportioned in the various districts according to the number of people not party members, w ehave to redistrict according to geography only. If we do not push for these changes we will be here in 2010 asking how come Bachmann and Stevens were re-elected again.
I forgot: fairness doctrine in media NOW!

[kellygrrrl]

buh-bye Faux News! You can't hurt America anymore!

[kellygrrrl]

inasmuch as I would like to believe we have sent a Loud and Clear message to the NeoChristoFascists,
the fact is, they managed to push their hate and discrimination and fear in 4 state propositions
and Michele Bachmann was re-elected
WE still have some work to do.

[Ramirez]

Most Americans will rally around a leader who support tax cuts and promises to control spending; a leader who supports the 2nd amendment and the right of individuals to bear arms; a man of deep faith who understands the value of faith-based community organizations; a pragmatic futurist who sees the value of drilling for domestic oil while we develop new technologies; a strong leader who supports the surge in Iraq, sees a need to escalate our military effort in Afghanistan, and promises to increase the size and power of our military; and a leader who recognizes the importance of carefully monitored international surveillance such as outlined in the FISA bill. This man will also recognize the "grave threat" posed by the nuclear program "under development" in Iran and will pledge full support for I s r a e l , our strongest ally in the Middle East.

This is considered center-left in today's political climate.

[pup sydney]

Ramirez: not true

[litlbznsmn]

Ramirez - You have got to be kidding, right?? What you outlined above is far right - not generally accepted center left positions. Stop trying to screw up the facts and the truth!

[canucklivinginUSA]

hmmm, McCain lost buddy

[BethStuart]

Neo-conservatism is dead. It will be a very long time if ever before the true believers will admit it.

[krocklin]

The paradox is that Americans have always favored "liberal" positions, but the Republicans have been able to frame every debate so that they ended up voting against those very postions they favor.
This has been a tough nut to crack and comes down to left brain/right brain psychology.
The electorate is torn between following their best instincts or the authoritarian rants, stunts, gimmicks and attacks ceaselessly cranked out by The Right.
And their choice usually leads to their own destruction, as we are now abruptly aware.

[xrepublican]

The 'center-right' is not what they think it is.

My VERY 'conservative' Godparents have astounded me by NOT having any issues with their granddaughter's interracial dating....­..

My ultraCatholic in-laws readily accepted their gay daughter and her partner. While abortion is something that they would PERSONALLY never have, it is just that - PERSONAL. They would NEVER seek to impose their views on others. And ALL of the current generation of women in this family practice rational and effective birth control - 'religiously'. Thesse same women wer insulted by Sarah Palin's 'feminism' - and thought she was dumb as a rock, an insult to educated and accomplished women everywhere.

Many of those in the top 1% (far from the heights of the top 1/10 of 1%) are less concerned with 'getting all they can' than helping along social and economic fairness. Tax breaks are NOT their #1 concern - but they ARE concerned that their taxes are well spent.

And while I would LIKE government to stay out of MY life, and limit its involvement in business, I have seen what happens when there is NO oversight, no regulation, no consequences for amoral and illegal behavior.

The 'conservatives' I know are appalled at the fiscal irresponsibility and ethical immorality (we TORTURE people?!?!?!) shown by the Republican Party in their mindless and unquestioning support of the WORST President in this nation's history.

Who is out of touch with who?

[kylennblack]

Very nice post.

I've been hearing similar things from my conservative friends. Some attach a little too lovingly to Reagan but many are Eisenhower-ish conservatives and libertarians who think the last eight years have been an absolute disaster and don't see anything recognizable in Bush's policies and actions. Also, almost to a person, Sarah Palin stopped them for voting for McCain (they didn't vote for Obama either - just left the top of the ticket blank). So, yes, she certainly did cost Mac some votes in my sample group.

[Trittydi]

Schizophrenia indeed.
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