Quotes From Around Yon Blogosphere

Isn't it remarkable that Barack Obama, one of the most charismatic and eloquent politicians in a generation, a figure who aroused much hope and passion that he would be a "transformational" leader, has in the scant month or so since his election transformed himself into the epitome of the rationalistic, and scientific-based technocratic manager? For that reason alone, I think it's inevitable that Obama is bound to disappoint more than a few idealists, notably those that would otherwise be his staunchest supporters. The only thing I can say is that it's all about perspective. God knows my "wish list" is about 10 pages long, and if Obama can deliver on say one page of it, I'd be a very happy camper since that’s about one page more than would have been accomplished under a McCain administration (and I hate to add, perhaps a Hillary administration as well).

-- SEBASTIAN

[O]ne thing is clear -- when the Democrats are out of power, all energy is spent hating on the GOP, and when Democrats are in power, all that energy is directed towards hating on other Democrats. It really is pretty fun to watch.

-- JOHN COLE

If it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, then that rather unnatural state of man known as cable television is positively repulsed by one. And so, during this lugubrious interregnum in which millions of us are still coming down from the months-long high of checking Nate Silver and Real Clear Politics nine times a day and dying inside because the polls out of Ohio contradict one another, the political class needs something to chatter about.It has chosen, for more days running than I'd imagined necessary, the story of the liberal activists who already feel betrayed by Barack Obama.

-- MICHAEL TOMASKY

With our current economic woes providing momentum for the liberal agenda on healthcare reform, infrastructure spending, and "green" energy investment, the Obamacrats might be thinking, "Fix the economy? What's the rush?"

-- JAMES PETHOKOUKIS

Already feeling the ill effects of that Obama economic collapse? Lost your job? Lost your health care? Lost your home? Never fear. Conservative heroes are here to save the day! They have the right stuff, my friends, to put this economy back in the black (uh, from a balance sheet perspective, that is).

What's their solution? It's so simple I don't know why you haven't thought of it already. Cut taxes. Especially cut taxes on capital gains, cut taxes on rich dead people, and cut taxes on corporations. Do these things and the invisible hand of FREE ENTERPRISE (not to be confused with the Starship Enterprise) will save the day.

-- STEVEN D

Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton may not like each other. How do we know this? Because of on the record quotes? Because of off the record quotes? Because of past problems? Nope. Because Rice wants her own transition team at State. Also, they visited the State Department at separate times. Oh, the horror . . .

-- TA-NEHISI COATES

I know everyone wants to adopt the word "'progressive" and no one wants to define it, but there are a few issues that I think are clearly progressive in the sense that most mainstream Democrats won't touch them.

These are highly controversial issues that only progressives seem to have the balls to tackle. Number one, above all others, is the United States' foreign policy towards Israel. I think there is a wide latitude for progressive thinking on the Israel-Palestine issue, but only progressives seem willing to truly question the wisdom and morality of supporting the status quo in the Middle East. In the simplest and broadest terms, progressives are willing and desirous to force a settlement on Israel that approximates the 1967 borders and involves the removal of all, or nearly all, settlers from occupied territory. Needless to say, I can count the number of politicians in Congress that espouse the progressive position on this on my two hands.

-- BOOMAN

On the question of Caroline Kennedy for Senate, my head says no, on balance. My heart says yes! Yes! Right now, as you might guess from the hedging on the former and the exclamation points on the latter, my heart is winning.

-- RUTH MARCUS

I'll have to disagree with [Michael] Steele about moderates loving Republican's family value system because I think those voters hold the exact opposite opinion.

Moderates currently see Republicans as the agents on intolerance who want to determine who you sleep with and what form your love can take, and that's not going to fly any more. And the trend in this country is only toward more acceptance of "non-traditional" relationships, not less.

So until the GOP realizes that, they'll be stuck in reverse trying to figure out why moderates and independents prefer the Democrats' message.

-- JUSTIN GARDNER

Moby Dick is an eerily prophetic allegory of 21st century America. It should be named as the nation's epic novel.

-- STEPHEN KINZER

[Bill] Kristol reaffirms his position at the heart of the trio of reasons the conservative movement is in trouble: Iraq, K Street, and big government conservatism.

It's true that government has a role. It's true that sometimes government needs to do big things (like World Wars and bailing out the financial sector). But Kristol wants us to basically punt on the idea that government can be useful, productive, and effective at doing the big things society needs and still be a limited government.

The USA does not need two parties of big government. It doesn't need two parties that support the nanny state. It doesn't need two Mommy parties.

The USA does need at least one Daddy party. It needs at least one party that believes in individual freedom and limited government.

The GOP needs to become that party.

The GOP and the conservative movement don't need Bill Kristol and his ilk. It's time to kick his ass out.

-- PROFESSOR BAINBRIDGE