Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Headed for the White House is the most left-wing member of the
Senate, according to the National Journal. To the vice president's
mansion is headed Joe Biden, third most liberal as ranked by the
National Journal, ahead of No. 4, Vermont Socialist Bernie Sanders.
By April and May, the Democratic Party was manifesting all the
symptoms of buyer's remorse over how it had voted in January and
February.
Obama's convention put him eight points up. But, as soon as America
heard Sarah Palin in St. Paul, the Republicans shot up 10 points and
seemed headed for victory.
In short, Obama has still not closed the sale. Every time America takes
a second look at him, it has second thoughts, and backs away.
Even after the media have mocked and pilloried Palin and ceded Obama
and Biden victory in all four debates, the nation, according to Gallup, is
slowly moving back toward the Republican ticket.
His "flip-flops" testify most convincingly to the fact that Obama knows
that where he comes from is far outside the American mainstream. For
what are flip-flops other than concessions that a position is untenable
and must be abandoned?
While holding to his pledge for a pullout of combat brigades from Iraq
in 16 months, he has talked of "refining" his position and of a residual
U.S. force to train the Iraqi Army and deal with Al Qaeda.
On Afghanistan, he has called for 10,000 more troops and U.S. strikes
in Pakistan to kill Bin Laden, even without prior notice or the permission
of the Pakistani government.
Since securing the nomination, Obama has adopted the Scalia position
on the death penalty for child rape and the right to keep a handgun in
the home. He voted to give the telecoms immunity from prosecution
for colluding in Bush wiretaps. This onetime sympathizer of the
Palestinians now does a passable imitation of Ariel Sharon.
No Democrat has ever come out of the far left of his party to win the
presidency. McGovern, the furthest left, stayed true to his convictions
and lost 49 states.