Is There An American Thatcher?
As we begin 2012, the inevitability of American decline is baked into expectations. Our politicians, having begotten spiraling debt, stubbornly high unemployment and virtually no growth, cannot even pass a federal budget, never mind rein in public sector unions or reform unsustainable entitlement programs.
But the world has seen this before: in Britain.
National Review editor Rich Lowry, in his latest column, highlights the essential quality that animated Margaret Thatcher's turnaround of the United Kingdom, drawing a parallel to our current crisis.
At this moment in our history, though, it is Thatcher’s central purpose that is most important: her unyielding rejection of British decline. She rejected it with every bone in her middle-class body, even though sophisticates scoffed at such a naïve nationalism. She rejected it even though the grandees of her own party said it was inevitable. She rejected it even though she knew reversing it meant forcing a wrenching political and economic crisis.
Lowry then cites the work of our own Claire Berlinski to illustrate the totality of the despair regnant before Britain was, in fact, saved.
The country she wanted to save was, by the late 1970s, an embarrassing wreck. After World War II, Britain’s leaders had run the ship of state aground on the shoals of socialism. The country was broke and beset by maliciously powerful unions. Humiliatingly, it had to go to the International Monetary Fund for a loan. In 1975, Henry Kissinger told President Ford, “Britain is a tragedy — it has sunk to begging, borrowing, stealing.”
Claire Berlinski, author of the book-length study of Thatcher titled There Is No Alternative, quotes Michael Howard, a subsequent leader of the Tory party: “The air of defeatism which was the prevailing climate of the time was the economic and social equivalent of Munich.”
Which of the current presidential candidates do you think is best equipped to reprise the Iron Lady's performance? Note that this is by necessity a relative assessment. We've already been dealt our hand for 2012, and folding is not an option.
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Jul '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
I think Perry may be able to put forward a new constitutional federalism and, with the right Congress, we could finally see the rollback Reagan was unable to implement. (We had to settle for tax reform and winning the Cold War. Oh, and negotiating the release of the hostages just by showing up.) Perry's crony vaccine deal and early, brittle defenses of the same and his confusion on immigration policy, and awful early debate performances when he may have been affected by his summer back surgery not withstanding.
Romney is a one term governor who left office with a 30% popularity rating and no hope of re-election, and that was before the real damage of RomneyCare was generally appreciated. He is a Big Government technocrat with some socially conservative positions he hasn't much demonstrated in office. One for three in previous elections (if we include ducking gubernatorial re-election), not at all inevitable.
Newt started out well on the national scene in 1994, but wrapped up resigning the Speakership and his seat on the same day. If I were President I would want his counsel and would never, ever let him run anything.
Claire should run.
Edited on Jan 1 at 9:22amRe: Is There An American Thatcher?
Idea of the year (so far)!
Claire has missed visiting Iowa's 99 counties this cycle, but has the all-important Istanbul expat vote sewn up.
Oct '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
George Savage
Idea of the year (so far)!
Claire has missed visiting Iowa's 99 counties this cycle, but has the all-important Istanbul expat vote sewn up. · Jan 1 at 9:28am
As well as that most coveted and influential demographic, the Ricochet intelligentsia.
Declare, Claire!
Nov '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Gingrich likely fancies himself the one most able to effect turning the ship of state back toward greatness, but is too profligate with his intellect. Counterintuitively (because his program is less ambitious), with a disciplining Congress and because he's an executive who knows how to run an organization and, well, execute, Romney is probably the one most able to effect change. Just my $0.02.
Oct '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
There is and will be no American Thatcher, in form or power, because there is no American equivalent to a British Prime Minister. The Prime Minister leads as the head of the whole legislative and administrative body. We have a divided legislature and an independent Executive. Our only hope would be a "holy trinity" of Thatchers in the White House and on Capitol Hill. A hope desperately to be wished for yet unlikely to be fulfilled.
That being said, Sarah Palin clearly carries the spirit of Thatcher. Thatcher was undoubtedly a Brittanic "Momma Griz".
Edited on Jan 1 at 11:15amDec '11
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Congressman Allen West.
Aug '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Rick Perry.
Mar '11
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Good Berean:
That being said, Sarah Palin clearly carries the spirit of Thatcher.
Indeed. Sadly, the Republican party doesn't carry that spirit.
Oh, well, Mr Romney is about as close are we are gonna get, as Claire is not running.
Jan '11
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Newt. No one else even close.
Dec '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
There is at least one Ricochet contributor with real world executive experience, proven leadership skills and Reagan's philosophies of strong national defense, supply-side economics and limited government ... that would be you George Savage ... Savage/West
May '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Now there's one that hadn't occurred to me, and one I really like.
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Severely Ltd.
George Savage
Idea of the year (so far)!
Claire has missed visiting Iowa's 99 counties this cycle, but has the all-important Istanbul expat vote sewn up. · Jan 1 at 9:28am
As well as that most coveted and influential demographic, the Ricochet intelligentsia.
Declare, Claire! · Jan 1 at 9:36am
Hear! Hear!
Oct '11
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Regarding the Presidency, the only important thing is to win it. We absolutely must prevent a second Obama term, for the sake of the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary in general. Besides the judiciary, everything Obama does can be unwound in a few years.
We don't have a Reagan or Thatcher at hand, but look on that as a good thing. Barack Obama is not the problem, he's the symptom. The hard work to repair this republic will have to be done by tens of thousands of us.
Let's concentrate on putting a Republican majority into the Senate and holding the House. But even more importantly, let's focus on ridding ourselves of the progressives in Republican ranks. Lamar Smith is a Republican, and if that doesn't make you ashamed of what's happened to us then something's wrong. We don't need a transformational leader to have a transformation.
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Jetstream, I'm blushing. But I'd still vote for Claire.
Dec '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
If I think too much on this, I'll start the new year either angry or despondent. Pass.
Jul '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Allen West, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio just to name a few.
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Byron, timing is the problem. We need to survive as a nation long enough to see a West, Ryan or Rubio presidency.
I see Rick Santorum as a principled movement conservative who could see us through the next eight years. Perhaps he will start to catch fire after Iowa.
I have my fingers crossed that Newt Gingrich's populist streak and the conservative moment might possibly stay aligned long enough to stave off fiscal disaster. Perhaps.
As for Romney, who knows? If he focuses on reigniting growth and cutting spending rather than stoking a trade war with China, it could work out well. I certainly hope so.
I like Perry's instincts, but fear he will have difficulty making the case beyond those already inclined to hear the message.
Mar '11
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Rubio. But Perry is the closest who is running.
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Just remember: When Thatcher took power, no one knew she was Thatcher. It was almost a protest or a joke, electing her--"The men have messed things up so badly, let's show them what we think of them by electing a woman." Britain had no idea what it was in for.
Jun '10
Re: Is There An American Thatcher?
Mrs. Thatcher to me has always stood for two things: conviction and principle. Show me an American politician who honors these two concepts as firmly as the Iron Lady, and I will show you a potential American Thatcher. I think it's likely to be a short list.