Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
That's the question Reason editor Matt Welch asks as he summarizes the completely over-the-top commentary about Grover Norquist these days.
He's not exaggerating. In outlets such as Slate, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, we're told that Norquist -- a private citizen who argues against tax rate increases -- is a "terrorist," a "stealth tyrant in the glorious tradition of figures like Cardinal Richelieu or Rasputin," an "evil warlord," an "ayatollah." Welch adds:
I think Norquist's success has paradoxically undermined his oft-stated goal of reducing the size of government, because it has given Republicans cheap cover on looking fiscally conservative even though almost none of them have been serious about the hard part of that equation, which is actually cutting stuff. I further think it has incentivized the Swiss-cheesification of the tax code, with preferential, distorting tax treatment doled out to favored constituencies and then given immediate de facto protection from a pledge that only accepts deduction-eliminations when coupled with overall rate reductions. I think the mortgage interest deduction is a plague on our lives and should be junked.
But comparing a citizen's attempts to keep tax rates low with the behavior of murderous dictators reveals much more about the ideology of the analogists than of their target. There is a crucial distinction between a private individual attempting to restrain democratic government and a public tyrant using unrestrained government to suppress democratic individuals.
Disagreeing with Norquist's approach is legitimate. The rhetoric being used to decry opposition to tax rate increases is insane.
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Aug '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Tommy De Seno: I decry tax increases, but not in a vacuum as Grover would have me do. Why would anyone commit to something removed from world realities?
Perhaps the problem is that Grover's assumptions about tax increases being never necessary is so absurd that journalists will straddle the one making the assumption with the criticism of the assumption itself.
It may not be the best journalism, but it's hardly unexpected.
So if my congressman signs the pledge, World War III breaks out and the military needs a cash infusion, I should expect my legislator to look at a soldier and say, "Sorry Son, I made a promise to Grover."
Talk about anti-intellectualism. No wonder our guys are in trouble. · 19 minutes ago
I think I get your point, but I doubt we are at that situation, so it seems a tiny bit unfair. Increasing tax rates on the rich will result in less revenue for the country and probably less GDP (than otherwise). We need to cut spending and close some loopholes. WWIII analogies come later. GOP leaders need to get the will to fight.
Mar '12
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
The Mainstream Media and the Left smell blood in the water: they are (together with their "neoconservative" allies in the Republican establishment) picking off one by one the principled components of the Republican Party: family values social conservatives (take your anti-abortion/gay marriage positions and get out, bible-thumpers!); anti-illegal immigration conservatives (Republican adoption of amnesty will restore our 40% Hispanic vote share, you nativist losers!); and now, flat tax free market-types (defending the rich loses us votes for compassionate conservatism/nation-building). Ask not for whom the bell tolls, conservatives....
Jun '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
The tax pledge parallels the drink pledges of the Temperance Movement (which morphed into Prohibition). We can pretend that we've stamped out a vice while a thriving underground of debt undermines our future.
Jun '12
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
You do realize, Mitch, that Reason is a Libertarian magazine.
In point of fact, Matt Welch, he who wrote all those attacks on Grover Norquist, co-wrote a book entitled, The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong with America.
Is he a lefty now?
Mar '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
ConservativeWanderer
Uh, Percival... Reasonmagazine is a Libertarian mag, not an Obamacrat mag. · 17 minutes ago
CW, you're confusing me. I'm agreeing with Welch. The attacks from the other sources listed in the article are outlandish. The Left needs someone to demonize, and Norquist is both handy and in the way, so they whip up their minions (most of whom wouldn't know Grover Norquist from Grover Cleveland Alexander) with their attacks. Norquist as Ceaucescu? as Rasputin?
Aug '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Matt Welch didn't write those attacks on Norquist. He was quoting other people's attacks to illustrate how the Left is suffering from Norquist Derangement Syndrome.
Jun '12
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Percival
ConservativeWanderer
Uh, Percival... Reasonmagazine is a Libertarian mag, not an Obamacrat mag. · 17 minutes ago
CW, you're confusing me. I'm agreeing with Welch. The attacks from the other sources listed in the article are outlandish. The Left needs someone to demonize, and Norquist is both handy and in the way, so they whip up their minions (most of whom wouldn't know Grover Norquist from Grover Cleveland Alexander) with their attacks. Norquist as Ceaucescu? as Rasputin? · 0 minutes ago
Ahh, I admit, I had mis-read the original piece.
That happens sometimes when trying to Ricochet and do my day job at the same time.
Mea culpa, people, and my apologies.
Aug '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
ConservativeWanderer
Mea culpa, people, and my apologies.
Jun '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Yes, they've also convinced everyone George Bush was a free market, laissez-faire conservative. Paging Hank Paulson...
Apr '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Donald Todd: I have more faith in Norquist than I do in the Republicans. Perhaps I can be politically condemned as well? · 2 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago
Some may think this is beside the point but I cannot support a man who associates with and accepts the support of Islamists. http://frontpagemag.com/2011/arnold-ahlert/rep-frank-wolf-calls-out-norquist/
Mar '11
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Criticism of Norquist is just as misguided as criticism of Rush. Both men are doing what comes naturally to them and trying to make a living at the same time.
As someone already pointed out, the only reason Norquist (or Rush) are relevant is because millions of people want what they are offering. The media (and the public) seem to forget that even politics is subject to the laws of supply and demand. If they want to criticize, criticize the Republican base, not the vehicle the base has chosen to channel their sentiments.
I say this as someone who, like Matt Welch, finds the Tax Pledge to have been a net negative for Republicans.
Nov '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Grover is like the therapist who cannot not get to first base with an addict unless/until the addict recognizes that he has a problem. The US population (the 47%ers and everyone else (i.e. corporations, unions, farmers -- anybody that gets a transfer payment)) will not get this right until they are prevented from getting that one last hit (to use the drug metaphor). Grover merely is saying no more taxes until you come to grips with the spending problem. The addict doesn't get it. He is till looking for the next hit.
Sep '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
If Grover Norquist wants to get the Obama Administration to start bowing and genuflecting in front of him, he'd best do what all of Obama's third world thug BFF's eventually do: get himself some nuclear weapons.
And remember kids: with enough nuclear irradiation, all food is weight loss food.
Jun '12
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Or publicly convert to Islam.
Aug '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
Any bets on timing of the New Yorker "Talk of the Town" specials or maybe even a cover ?
May '10
Re: Is Grover Norquist an 'Ayatollah,' a Terrorist, or Just an Evil Warlord?
I distrust Grover Norquist and defer to Frank Gaffney of the Center For Security Policy in his analysis of how Grover Norquist is a key enabler for the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood into the Bush and Obama administrations.
Edited on November 30, 2012 at 8:55pm