Phew! How about just a quick round up of articles that stand out?
Charles Krauthammer predicts we will soon have a national sales tax. Which actually would be a very good way to generate government revenue. Except it will be on top of the federal and state income tax we already pay.
Jonah Goldberg explains the hypocrisy of leftists excoriating “conservatives” for “freaking out” over the health care reform legislation. The left has been freaking out for decades and no one cared. But now they are in power they ridicule or condemn the opposition for “freaking out”. “Better to be called a crackpot than be one”.
Michelle Malkin (yeah yeah I know) provides several examples of the left manufacturing hate crimes against themselves for political gain. In some cases someone on the left does it and blames it on the opposition – what Ann Althouse calls one of the “oldest dirty tricks”. In some cases it never happened.
As a follow up Another Black Conservative does an excellent job of explaining how it works. We victimize you. Then when you push back we play the victim to shift attention away from ourselves.
[Update: The Anchoress notes violence or the threat of violence is to be abhorred always. Asks if that always goes without saying. And wonders at the political theater being executed to the harm of the nation but to the service of certain political ends. We are in worse trouble with Obama than we earlier realized.
Ann Althouse notes that when terrorists attack Democrats and the left say we need to understand their rage. And wonders why that principle does not apply to American citizens who do little more than express frustration with their government.]
But the article I most commend to you is by Victor Davis Hanson. To put it bluntly President Obama lies. Regularly. Blatantly. With impunity. And gets away with it. Each of his lies and bad decisions is cause for concern. But when you put them all together a pattern emerges.
In any isolated circumstance, we are willing to give the president of the United States a pass on a particular disturbing decision. But after 14 months of them, the Obama particulars add up to a remaking of America that is now clear and consistent: Grow government; redistribute income; establish permanent political constituencies of dependents; increase entitlements; hike taxes; demonize “them” while deifying their supposed victims; seek global neutrality abroad; and always play fast and loose with the truth.
What offends me personally is the dishonesty. Because it insults my intelligence. And yes that reflects the sin of pride. For which I need spiritual healing. Kyrie eleison me.
[Update #2 - Gay Patriot observes that after getting what he wants President Obama does not seek to heal and unite but rather to mock deride and divide. "A better man would have tried to mend fences not widen gaps". George Bush did not treat his political opponents like this.]
