Great Interview
Over at NRO, Jim Geraghty has an interview with his anonymous mentor, the political insider source who goes by the name Obi-Wan Kenobi (I know who it is, but I'm not telling). Geraghty asks Obi if Scott Walker has shot himself in the foot politically by shooting his public unions in the head legislatively. Here's Obi's response:
"Forget the recalls or the polling. Wisconsin has been too sweet. Remember Margaret Thatcher. She would suggest some bold initiative to her cabinet and then watch the empire’s bravest sons squirming in their red-cushioned seats at 10 Downing worrying about what the media might say and how their precious image might be affected. Mrs. T. would say to herself, in looking at those preening males: “And women are supposed to be vain?” The point here — the lady who was not for turning used to say, “Controversy is good.” That’s how we advance our agenda, how the public finds out what is going on, how the good guys win."
That's excellent and true, I think. The rest is equally good. Worth reading.
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May '10
Re: Great Interview
As I wrote in the comments on Jim's site:
Obi-Wan mentions a stellar constellation of examples for Gov. Walker: Christie, Thatcher, Reagan, and. . .former Michigan Gov. John Engler. Engler??? As a life-long Michigan resident, I don't begrudge Engler a little praise, but really, how did he end up in that list?
Makes me suspect Obi-Wan is John Engler himself.
Beyond that, you're right: a great interview. Obama is beatable. This is the time for the Right to be confident and aggressive. Obi-Wan convinces me.
Edited on Mar 11, 2011 at 9:54amAug '10
Re: Great Interview
I like that he mentioned Hillary vis a vis an opponent for Pres. Obama.
We had this discussion in the office a year ago and the question boiled down to, "What would have to happen in order for Hillary to run again?"
Our consensus was there had to be three things.
1. Dems had to lose big in November.
2. Some situation had to arise where Hillary had to fall on her sword (resign on a significant, principled, point)
3. A separate incident had to occur to seriously challenge Pres. Obama's fitness for office in the collective mind of the Democratic party.
All in a very short window of time (between November 2010 and Jan 2012)
So, while number 1 happened, I doubt very much that items 2-3 will come to pass within the next 9 months, Obi-wan's thoughts notwithstanding.
As a famous Louisiana politician once said, it will take a dead... <redacted to meet Ricochet guidlines>
Edited on Mar 11, 2011 at 11:39amFeb '11
Re: Great Interview
Andrew, thank you for posting that paragraph. Not to beat a dead horse, but I think the point - controversy is good - is at the heart of all of those dust-ups awhile back regarding the election and how best to advance the conservative cause. Maybe I got the wrong impression (it certainly wouldn't be the first time) or I'm oversimplifying (been there, done that too), but many moderate Republicans seemed to take the opposite view of Thatcher: controversy is bad because that's how our agenda is exposed, that's how the public finds out that our opponents aren't so bad, and that's how the Democrats win.
Feb '11
Re: Great Interview
As a followup, I'm well aware that some of the candidates in question were controversial because of their persona rather than their issues. But that distinction was certainly blurred in the discussions.
May '10
Re: Great Interview
I want to believe Obi-Wan here, but to me he seems too optimistic. (I never underestimate the Left's and the mainstream media's ability to fool the American people with their brain-dead slogans and class warfare.)
What is Obi-Wan's track record in predicting these kinds of things?