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The Fourth Mainstream Melee.

It's a non-blog adventure.

I.

OpinionJournal.com: "Sick of Sausage: Today's voters crave ideology."

Super Succinct Synopsis-

Ideology is in. "The middle" is out.

Super Succinct Snippet-

At a time when the Democratic elites no longer have a vibrant ideology and the Republicans in Washington are deserting theirs, the public across the spectrum seems to be screaming for recognizable signposts, shared political principles....

People who crave the middle are simply going to be disappointed in 2008. The Democrats have abolished the middle, and the Republican middle has discredited itself....

....for the Web Democrats and GOP refugees from the Congress they thought they controlled, the puzzling is over. They're looking for candidates "who represent my ideas." Ideologues.

If Congressional Republicans read and buy into this notion, it's very good news. Conservative ideology beats liberal ideology. Every. Single. Time.

II.

Commentary: "How Divided Are We?"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

James Q. Wilson concurs that polarization is very real in America today, but he also warns that our geopolitical success may depend on unity.

Super Succinct Snippet-

Sharpened debate is arguably helpful with respect to domestic issues, but not for the management of important foreign and military matters. The United States, an unrivaled superpower with unparalleled responsibilities for protecting the peace and defeating terrorists, is now forced to discharge those duties with its own political house in disarray....

Denmark or Luxembourg can afford to exhibit domestic anguish and uncertainty over military policy; the United States cannot. A divided America encourages our enemies, disheartens our allies, and saps our resolve—potentially to fatal effect. What General Giap of North Vietnam once said of us is even truer today: America cannot be defeated on the battlefield, but it can be defeated at home. Polarization is a force that can defeat us.

What better way to put an end (for a little while, at least) to harmful left-wing ideology than a few decisive conservative electoral victories. Then Democrats would then, at the very least, pretend they are America-loving patriots, committed to defeating radical Islam. Theoretically, (yet another) clobbering at the polls ought to unite the country again on national security.

III.

National Review: "Busting the State Tax-Revenue Boom"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

Remember in the early stages of the 2004 campaign when Democrats asserted that the terrible, evil Republican spending cuts merely forced state and local governments to pick up the slack? Yeah. Sure.

Super Succinct Snippet-

The nation’s strong economic growth is creating a tax-revenue boom for the states. State tax revenues jumped 8.7 percent in 2004 and about 8 percent in 2005. About three-quarters of state governments had tax-revenue growth of 6 percent or more in 2005.

Sweet. Unfortunately, many politicians will take this opportunity to once again ratchet up spending.

IV.

Forbes: "India: on Every Business Agenda"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

As Europe declines in relative importance, India is the key to Asia, the Middle East, and the world.

Super Succinct Snippet-

Trade between the U.S. and India increased from $5.5 billion in 1990 to $18 billion in 2003, with the U.S. becoming India's largest trading partner....

India is a natural partner for the U.S. in this volatile part of the world. Its economic progress still requires nurturing. We must manage this relationship carefully and well, keeping in mind that any renewal of hostilities among India, Pakistan and China would be disastrous for India's future--and, indeed, that of the world.

Embrace the India.

V.

Foreign Policy: "David’s Friend Goliath"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

America is the indispensible superpower, and a force for good in the world.

Super Succinct Snippet-

The gap between what the world says about American power and what it fails to do about it is the single most striking feature of 21st-century international relations. The explanation for this gap is twofold. First, the charges most frequently leveled at America are false. The United States does not endanger other countries, nor does it invariably act without regard to the interests and wishes of others. Second, far from menacing the rest of the world, the United States plays a uniquely positive global role. The governments of most other countries understand that, although they have powerful reasons not to say so explicitly.

We're the patient dad who understands that his 15-year-old daughter doesn't really hate him, even though her disdainful attitude is sometimes hard to take. And even if she did hate him, she needs him too much to do more than bluff about it. Sure, he can be a little awkward, embarrassing, and overbearing at times, but ultimately she knows that everything he does and says is in her best interest. She may admit this much one day, after college. Maybe.

The previous Mainstream Melee.

WILLisms.com and many other blogs sometimes focus too much on our fellow bloggers, while excluding well-done professional journalism from our posts.

The Mainstream Melee is a quick survey of five non-blog sources, coming atchya at completely random intervals. The stories are either underreported, particularly well-written, interesting, or otherwise important to the big picture. But generally there will be a theme of some kind in the choices.

Posted by Will Franklin · 3 February 2006 08:49 AM

Comments

Posted by: DudaKum at February 24, 2006 06:24 PM