It is always a problem when I watch Ezra Klein host The Rachel Maddow Show. This is because I read Wonk Blog every day—just look at the list on the right. But every once in a while, he will put together some really great television that goes beyond what he’s already written online. He did that last night when he discussed the Starbucks call to “move together” that I discussed in a different context yesterday. This is a really great segment:
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Klein does a good job there. I would disagree, however, with the oft-repeated statement that Republicans or their "ideas" lost the election. Americans, when polled, have supported higher taxes for the rich and more government spending for the rest of us as long as I can remember. Doesn’t matter — the debate keeps moving rightward. Probably the decline of unions has a lot to do with this, which is why public-sector unions are under ferocious attack; in a union, people get information that’s not paid for by business interests.
What lost in the election was the Tea Party (horrible, historically inaccurate name, the original version was pro-tax and anti-corporate) fantasy that right-wing views have broad popular appeal. They don’t, outside of specific (rural/suburban/gerrymandered) regions. Romney made the election very close by going back to the Reagan/Bush tactic of simply lying about everything he stood for and planned to do. The GOP will veer this way in the future, I suspect; it’s worked for them over three decades and I don’t see why it won’t work again. Damn.
@JMF – I disagree at least in part. It is true that the people have always been for these policies. The issue is turnout. The crazies always turn out, most Americans, not so much. I’ve been pushing this idea for years that the Democratic Party should stop pandering to the middle. The truth is that 95% of all voters know who they will vote for before the election starts. All that matters is getting as many people to the polls as possible. If there is high turnout, we win. It is that simple. (Note: the only thing that was different between 2010 and 2012 was turnout.) Republican ideas really are toxic and it isn’t just the "rape is a gift from God" crowd. Their economic policies have little support among the people. If voting were mandatory (and I can make a strong case for this) or even registration were automatic, this country would have a far more liberal government.
If you haven’t done so, I recommend reading "It’s the Poor, Stupid":
http://franklycurious.com/index.php?itemid=2802