Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Parallel One: Michele Bachmann has put herself forward this year for the same reason Margaret Thatcher stepped forward almost four decades ago: none of the men on the scene was quite up to it.
As Lady Thatcher explains in her autobiography, The Path to Power, as the 1975 contest for the leadership of the Conservative Party approached, she fully expected her colleague, Sir Keith Joseph, to run. Then Sir Keith gave a controversial speech. Lady Thatcher describes what happened next:
The following afternoon I was working in my room in the House, briefing myself on the Finance Bill, when the telephone rang. It was Keith [Joseph] to check I was there because he had something he wanted to come along and tell me. As soon as he entered, I could see it was serious. He told me: 'I am sorry, I just can't run. Ever since I made that speech the press have been outside the house. They have been merciless. Helen [his wife] can't take it and I have decided that I just can't stand.'
There was no mistaking his mood. His mind was quite made up. I was on the edge of despair. We just could not abandon the Party and the country to Ted's brand of politics. I heard myself saying: 'Look, Keith, if you're not going to stand, I will, because someone who represents our viewpoint has to stand.'
As Sir Keith Joseph, so Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, who, after spending six weeks on the road to decide if his heart was in the race, decided that it wasn’t; Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana, who chose not to run because of his family’s objections; Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who argues that he is unprepared for the presidency; Cong. Paul Ryan, who insists he has his hands full reforming the budget; and former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, who argues that he has the wrong last name. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is in the race, of course, and campaigning as hard as anyone can, but getting--let's face it--nowhere in the polls.
Michele Bachmann has stepped forward, to quote Lady Thatcher once again, “because someone who represents our viewpoint has to stand.”
Parallel Two: Michele Bachmann’s first task is the same as that Margaret Thatcher faced: to deny the leadership of her party to a flip-flopping managerial progressive of no discernible convictions.
“We just could not abandon the Party and the country,” to quote Lady Thatcher yet again, “to Ted’s brand of politics.” “Ted” was Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party since 1965 and prime minister from 1970 to 1974. At varying points in his career, Heath had presented himself as a moderate, as a free-market conservative, and then as a moderate all over again. As prime minister he proposed certain limited free market reforms. When in 1972 trade unions object, Heath performed the still-famous (in British politics, anyway) “U-turn,” backing down in spectacular fashion. Thatcher believed Britain would be unable to address its problems without a vigorous, principled Conservative Party, and that to achieve such an entity Heath had to be toppled from the Party leadership and marginalized. She proceeded to do just that.
Michele Bachmann’s Ted Heath? Mitt Romney, of course. Once pro-choice, now pro-life. Once in favor of dramatically expanding the role of government in health care, enacting, as governor of Massachusetts, RomneyCare, now, seeking the support of the Tea Party, claiming he would do all he could to oppose ObamaCare. Once only too eager to dissociate himself from the record of Ronald Reagan—during a 1994 debate with Sen. Edward Kennedy, Romney insisted, “I was an Independent during Reagan-Bush. I don’t want to go back to Reagan-Bush”—Romney now peppers his speeches with reverential references to the Gipper.
Michele Bachmann believes the United States needs a Republican Party of principle and conviction—and that no such GOP can take shape under Romney’s leadership.
Two striking parallels between two striking women—and neither parallel, I believe even my friend and comrade Mike Murphy will, if grudgingly, find himself granting—is really all that far-fetched.
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Jun '10
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
StickerShock: "I want someone who may have "set their eyes on a presidential run for a long time"
I don't have any problem with her ambition....just wanted to point out it's where she veers off from Thatcher. · Jul 2 at 6:47am
Edited on Jul 02 at 06:47 am
Thatcher was in no way lacking in ambition, but the environment in which she was operating was different. It truly was hard to conceive of a woman leading the Conservative Party before her. It has for a long time been perfectly possible to imagine a woman as President of the United States.
Jul 2 at 7:04am
I was referring to Thatcher having a specific ambition to become PM. I seem to recall her stating that she never had that ambition because it was an unthinkable goal for a woman. I think the presidency has been a Bachman goal for quite some time, and yes, it's absolutely reasonable. Objections many may have to her filling the slot are not based on her gender.
Edited on July 2, 2011 at 7:12pmApr '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
grendel
I agree with your post but I would quibble with how arguable that statement is. Should we think the GW who wore his general's uniform to the Constitutional convention, not mufti, didn't want high leadership? GW wanted honors--it is the mark of his character that he wanted to deserve those honors. He served his country at several critical points, being an agent or focal point of unity for a fragile, fractious union. He doubtless was happy to leave office, realizing that the country needed a president, not a king.ul 2 at 9:27am
The question of whether he wanted high honor is not in dispute. However, after the war he desired to go home to the love of his life and spend some "quiet" years. His becoming our 1st President was mainly due to his seeing the fledgling country needed his continuing services in order to survive and the exhortations of his fellow patriots.
Jan '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
grendel
I agree with your post but I would quibble with how arguable that statement is. Should we think the GW who wore his general's uniform to the Constitutional convention, not mufti, didn't want high leadership? GW wanted honors--it is the mark of his character that he wanted to deserve those honors. He served his country at several critical points, being an agent or focal point of unity for a fragile, fractious union. He doubtless was happy to leave office, realizing that the country needed a president, not a king. Perhaps he had heard George III's remark, on hearing that Washington would step down: "If he does that, he is the greatest man who ever lived". Perhaps, also, he knew it was his time to retire: he lived less than three years after leaving office. · Jul 2 at 9:27am
One other thing to add was that, in 1789, Washington couldn't be sure that his identity as the country's military savior would be undermined by being (potentially) it's first chief executive. It was a very risky decision for him to make.
May '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Romney will be the perfect Republican candidate as soon as he can effectively fake that sincerity thing.To me Bachmann is still a piece of work. A syphylitic camel is our next most likely president.
Jan '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Peter Robinson:
Parallel One: Michele Bachmann has put herself forward this year for the same reason Margaret Thatcher stepped forward almost four decades ago: none of the men on the scene was quite up to it...
Parallel Two: Michele Bachmann’s first task is the same as that Margaret Thatcher faced: to deny the leadership of her party to a flip-flopping managerial progressive of no discernible convictions...
Two striking parallels between two striking women—and neither parallel, I believe even my friend and comrade Mike Murphy will, if grudgingly, find himself granting—is really all that far-fetched. ·
With respect, Peter,I don't find these to be compelling comparisons. Remove the gender factor and the same could be said to apply to almost all of the other Republican candidates. Don't you think Rick Perry -- should he enter (please!) -- would also see himself this way?
And convenient though it may be, Palin is the better comparison: both are talented, attractive, and good conservatives, but with histories of making unforced errors and with styles that alienate independents more than they rally republicans.
Edited on July 2, 2011 at 8:49pmMar '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
I don't understand the appeal of Bachmann or what she has done to impress. She has accomplished nothing in Congress, and as far as her leadership abilities, her main talent appears to be taking perfectly reasonable positions and making them sound inane and outlandish. Among many other things, why would a serious politician call Denmark a "pipsqueak" country? I like that sort of thing in a country and western song, but not in a politician with national pretensions.
Jan '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Out of curiosity, Peter, why do you believe that in this race, "none of the men on the scene are quite up to it"? Not knowing Thatcher's history as well as you or the other members do, I can't speak to her scenario, but in this primary, there are men who believe in the same principles as she does. Bachmann is not a voice in the wilderness in 2011 who had to stand because Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour and Paul Ryan declined to run.
In fact, one of the points that you (and Rob Long) make often in the Ricochet podcast is that you worry that Romney will have the moderates all to himself, while the conservatives will be split all over the place.
I'd like to submit to you that there is at least one man who shares all of her principles in this race. And for some reason, you guys don't take him seriously at all: Herman Cain. And as much as I love Bachmann, I'd prefer Cain in this cycle, against this President.
Oct '10
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
can michelle my belle bachman even win a statewide race in minnesota?
Oct '10
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
TheSophist, I like Cain too, but when his response to a question about what he'd do in Afghanistan was roughly, "I'd ask the experts," he came across as not ready for prime time. Perhaps he can recover, but he has damaged his credibility.
May '10
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Aaron Miller
Clinton's welfare reform was a capitulation to conservatives.
...as would any reforms signed into law by Romney. We've got him surrounded, just as Clinton was surrounded in the mid-nineties -- plus Romney would have the additional motivation of dire fiscal realities, which Clinton did not have.
A good cop (Romney), bad cop (Congress) routine might be most effective at pushing legislation on a hesitant public -- more so than the bad cop, bad cop routine with a President Bachmann.
Aaron Miller
Moderate cuts are not real progress when set against extreme deficits. The clock is ticking. ·
The deeper the cuts the better, yes, but ultimately growth is what will save us. This belief, above all, is the underlying principle in the Ryan plan -- a fact which is often overlooked by the CBO, for instance.
Jan '11
Re: Two Parallels Between Margaret Thatcher and Michele Bachmann
Maybe. And I'm not debating whether Cain is awesome or not here; I am asking why Peter thinks Bachmann = Thatcher, since unlike Thatcher (possibly), there are tons of others running this year whose conservative credentials are unquestionable.