You know, TPM Cafe was never that interesting, but what is interesting is that the centrists over there are
convincing themselves themselves that it's ok to be adamently partisan.
Marshall Whitman, who no longer feels the need to speak of himself in the third person and has figured out that it's possible to dislike Republicans and remain condescending (which means that we may soon get the condescending vote, hooray!), says interesting things today about the radicalism of the right:
Another major difference is that there was no guiding political imperative of realignment animating the Reagan Administration. The closest to Rove was Gingrich ,and he was definitely an outsider in the Reagan orbit. In contrast, Karl Rove envisions a McKinley-like realignment. He wants to crush the Democrats and hear the lamentations of their children. If one wants to see Rove's political vision, look no further than the Lone Star state where he smashed the Democrats (using a host of devious means).
Rove is not necessarily a hard core conservative, but a Nixonian revolutionary who appreciates the power of the conservative grassroots. He is more that willing to ditch conservative theology when it presents an obstacle to power (i.e. tariffs, government spending). Big government conservatism, national security/patriotism and cultural war are Rove's cudgels to smash the Democrats.
The problem for the Bushies is that for the time being reality has intruded. The war is going poorly. Rove's cultural war has opened divisions within the party and with the general public. Big government conservatism is annoying libertarian types. And the stench of Nixonian corruption emanates from the House of Representatives.
Rove and the Bushies will attempt to rebound. Always remember their motto - extremism in the pursuit of power is no vice.
Congratulations, Marshall! You didn't even bash Democrats once!
