The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Things About The Left That Mystify

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | 14 Comments

by Smitty

American Power has a post on radicals abandoning BHO over foreign policy. Here’s a quote from the International Socialist Review, emphasis mine:

The escalation of the war by a Democratic administration underscores the necessity, and the opportunity, for building a clearer and more consistent antiwar movement that is independent of both parties and willing to take on both.

Now, I can respect a consistent, principled pacifist, e.g. the Amish.
The easiest way to curb American war making capacity, i.e. actually be anti-war, is to support Federalism and the Constitution. American gunboat diplomacy is as simple as Checkov’s gun. If we concentrate power in DC, and debase the separation of powers by having Congress hand blank checks to the Executive, isn’t military adventurism an obvious consequence?
Perhaps cynically, I think that most of the leadership on the Left makes dovish noises to help lure in the more granola-head troops. The Che Guevara t-shirts, besides pointing out what dupes people can be, also remind one that the Left is perfectly willing to flex a bit of muscle when helpful.
Separation of Powers, as with the 10th Amendment, point out that the country needs restoration now, more than hopium and changeeba. Quite a bit of wisdom in that document, which may help explain the Left’s rejection thereof.

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Category: Barack Obama, Liberals

Comments

  • chuck cross

    “The easiest way to curb American war making capacity, i.e. actually be anti-war, is to support Federalism and the Constitution. American gunboat diplomacy is as simple as Checkov’s gun.”

    The left will never, ever understand the fact you succinctly state above.

  • chuck cross

    “The easiest way to curb American war making capacity, i.e. actually be anti-war, is to support Federalism and the Constitution. American gunboat diplomacy is as simple as Checkov’s gun.”

    The left will never, ever understand the fact you succinctly state above.

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    “I can only say that while I have considered the preservation of the constitutional power of the General Government to be the foundation of our peace and safety at home and abroad, I yet believe that the maintenance of the rights and authority reserved to the states and to the people, not only essential to the adjustment and balance of the general system, but the safeguard to the continuance of a free government. I consider it as the chief source of stability to our political system, whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it.”

    Oops. There I go again.

    You’re a natural-born troublemaker, Smith . . .

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    “I can only say that while I have considered the preservation of the constitutional power of the General Government to be the foundation of our peace and safety at home and abroad, I yet believe that the maintenance of the rights and authority reserved to the states and to the people, not only essential to the adjustment and balance of the general system, but the safeguard to the continuance of a free government. I consider it as the chief source of stability to our political system, whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it.”

    Oops. There I go again.

    You’re a natural-born troublemaker, Smith . . .

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @RSM,
    ISTR telling you, when you recruited me for this gig, that you reminded me of someone with whom I once got into a lot of trouble…

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @RSM,
    ISTR telling you, when you recruited me for this gig, that you reminded me of someone with whom I once got into a lot of trouble…

  • http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/ Americaneocon

    Nice posting, Smitty. I’ll try to follow up later with a response, because when we go the other way to states rights federalism we have to find a resting place, or we get all the way to the other side, the Paulbots, who in some cases strike alliances with the hard left. Strange, but it’t out there …

  • http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/ Americaneocon

    Nice posting, Smitty. I’ll try to follow up later with a response, because when we go the other way to states rights federalism we have to find a resting place, or we get all the way to the other side, the Paulbots, who in some cases strike alliances with the hard left. Strange, but it’t out there …

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Americaneocon,
    While not a full-on Paulestinian, the simple fact is that if the educated, well-considered will of the people is to support disengaging, then that’s what we should do.
    Paul’s radical disengagement would be a cure worse than the disease, IMO.
    However, I do fetish the Constitution and would revisit the War Powers Resolution of 1973 with a very, very critical eye.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Americaneocon,
    While not a full-on Paulestinian, the simple fact is that if the educated, well-considered will of the people is to support disengaging, then that’s what we should do.
    Paul’s radical disengagement would be a cure worse than the disease, IMO.
    However, I do fetish the Constitution and would revisit the War Powers Resolution of 1973 with a very, very critical eye.

  • Live Free Or Die

    ‘Things About The Left That Mystify’: To
    De-mystify, Bawney Fwank recommends Butt Drugs.

  • Live Free Or Die

    ‘Things About The Left That Mystify’: To
    De-mystify, Bawney Fwank recommends Butt Drugs.

  • SDN

    Smitty, someone needs to point out that your formula “If we concentrate power in DC, and debase the separation of powers by having Congress hand blank checks to the Executive, isn’t military adventurism an obvious consequence?” works equally well if “promotion of leftist social agendas” is substituted. Someone needs to remind “social conservatives” that the government can’t pay for abortions if we cut the Feds down to size.

  • SDN

    Smitty, someone needs to point out that your formula “If we concentrate power in DC, and debase the separation of powers by having Congress hand blank checks to the Executive, isn’t military adventurism an obvious consequence?” works equally well if “promotion of leftist social agendas” is substituted. Someone needs to remind “social conservatives” that the government can’t pay for abortions if we cut the Feds down to size.

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