Congress Leads Dems on 'Liberal Suicide March'

They're as out of touch as Republicans were in Bush years: Brooks

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 7:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Republican Party turned away from America during its years in power, writes New York Times columnist David Brooks, by paying more attention to echo-chamber media outlets and yes-men pollsters than voters. Now the Democrats are doing the same—instead of Southern conservatives, now it's left-wingers from the coasts who are leading a "liberal suicide march." Nancy Pelosi is even less popular than Dick Cheney, "and yet Democrats have allowed her policy values to carry the day."

The stimulus package and the budget have raised anxieties among moderates, but it's health care, Brooks says, where "every cliché Ann Coulter throws at the Democrats is gloriously fulfilled." Barack Obama is deferring too much to the "Old Bulls on Capitol Hill," who will squander the president's support if more moderate Dems don't rein them in. "Every new majority overinterprets its mandate," he writes. "We’ve been here before. We’ll be here again."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks with reporters during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Barack Obama acknowledges the crowd after being introduced by Nancy Pelosi at a fundraiser for Democratic House and Senate candidates, Thursday, June 18, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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They neither understand nor sympathize with moderates. They have their own cherry-picking pollsters, their own media and activist cocoon, their own plans to lavishly spend borrowed money to buy votes. - David Brooks

Machiavelli said a leader should be feared as well as loved. Obama is loved by the Democratic chairmen, but he is not feared. They will never surrender power to an administration they can override. - David Brooks

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 18 comments

LiberalJesus

Jul 21, 2009 12:48 PM CDT

Since you seem so clarvoyiant maybe you can clue me into what stocks to buy, where the next hurricane will hit and how soon before the gop is dead and gone? Put your money where your mouth is and lets all get rich off of your incredible ability to see into the future! And last but not least, you were saying Obama sucks before he ever got elected so really, does your opinion even count for anything more than horse manure.....I think not. It's one thing to frame your opinion based on a topic and give examples of why you are for or against the policies of this President. It only takes small people with even smaller minds to voice the type of comment you made. Ignorance is always an ugly color but hatred is the color that is the ugliest. But thank you ahead of time for predicting that President Obama will win a second term....that must mean even though you hate him, you have no hope that anyone on the gop will belly up and be worthy of the highest office in the land.

LiberalJesus

Jul 21, 2009 12:47 PM CDT

LiberalJesus

Jul 21, 2009 12:42 PM CDT

Since you seem so clarvoyiant maybe you can clue me into what stocks to buy, where the next hurricane will hit and how soon before the gop is dead and gone? Put your money where your mouth is!

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Politics • Health

Nancy Pelosi • Barack Obama • Senate Democrats • health care reform • Democratic Party • House Democrats • David Brooks • Blue Dog Democrats • liberal elite

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Congress Leads Dems on 'Liberal Suicide March'