Obama will ride to the rescue - for the Republicans

[Demo_Chris]

12. My great fear is that we will follow the path of the GOP into self delusion

When the standard becomes party unity over principle, the end is always the same: an ever declining base existing within the party bubble. A base which rejects, without consideration, any opinion which challenges the official party mantra. You can see this within the GOP. People often make the mistake of assuming that the GOP is rock solid on certain positions. They might list things like tax cuts for the wealthy, or more guns.

However, this is not exactly correct. The core GOP base is only solid one one thing: they believe, without question, whatever (the now out of control) propoganda engine feeds them that day. If Rush, Hannity, and Fox news all came out in favor of tax hikes tomorrow, by nightfall that would magically become the new "conservative" position. We have seen this demonstrated time and again.

And we do it as well. It's human nature. But it is something that we must guard against. We must reject party or personality over principle -- while at the same time remaining open to fairly examining new information and opinion. Many people's rejection of Cenk is not based upon any liberal or progressive principle, but rather that he challenges their belief in the party.

For these people, the party (or in this case the President) is what matters. Whatever Obama does must be correct. If he is offering something diametrically opposed to everything they claim to believe, it's seen as an example of Obama's (never demonstrated) master negotiation skills, or he was forced to do so, or... just shut up and stop criticizing him. Ultimately, if need be, they will simply embrace whatever their leader offers and label it the new progressive norm. They will claim the mantle of realist, while criticizing as purists and idealists anyone who challenges this reversal of ideological position.

A review of the Obamacare fiasco demonstrates the process. Let's review:

Obama pledges not to pass ANY healthcare reform that doesn't include single payer. He vowes, in the clearest possible language, never to pass any mandate. Progressives and Democrats cheer. Finally a Democrat who represents them! Despite these earlier statements Obama then PROPOSES healthcare reform that does not include single payer, while including the Newt Gingritch / Heritage Foundation proposed mandate. Progressives freak out and Democrat loyalists launch into a defense: It's just 9D chess, they say. It's just a negotiating ploy! Trust him! You can't criticize our leader! And so it goes, with the defense transitioning from a discussion of ideas into an attack on the character of those opposed. You must be a GOP plant, they say, and stop being such a purist... insurance mandates are a great thing, a liberal thing!

Now we are headed down this road again. Obama is PROPOSING slashing Social Security. And his defenders are waiting with the same tired excuses. It's chess, it's just a negotiating ploy, trust him, you are just too simple to understand, stop criticizing our leader, you must be a GOP plant! Stop being an idealist! How long will it be before we hear that destroying social security and entitlements is what Democrats have always believed?

I give it a week.

Cenk gets it. His system of beliefs changes based upon facts and information, not what the party does today, and he is not afraid to say what he believes. We need more like him.