Presented without comment from the Volokh Conspiracy:
With a switch from Republican to Democratic control of the White House a few weeks away, I thought I would remind political commentators of the new ground rules.
1) Republicans Must Now Oppose Executive Power; Democrats Must Be In Favor Of It. In the last few years, Republicans have been the defenders of executive power: A muscular executive has been needed to fight the war on terror. On the other hand, Democrats have opposed a strong executive on the ground that it threatens the rule of law. Please note that these arguments must now switch. Republicans must now talk of the dangers of executive power; Democrats must now speak of how a strong and agile executive branch is necessary to a modern democracy.
2) Republicans Must Now Oppose Judicial Confirmations; Democrats Must Be In Favor. In the last few years, Republicans wanted an up-or-down vote on judicial nominees; one of their leading blogs on the judicial confirmations was ConfirmThem.com. On the other hand, Democrats focused on the importance of carefully evaluating judicial candidates. Please note that these arguments must now switch, too. Republicans should now visit RejectThem.com (still an available domain name, btw — won’t be for long!), and Democrats should emphasize the need for a quick up or down vote.
3) Republicans Must Now Favor Legislative Oversight; Democrats Must Now Oppose It. You get the point by now. Yup, everyone has to switch sides on this one, too. If we all stick to the script, in 6 months the old arguments of the Bush era will be long forgotten. (Oh, and extra credit to those who charge the other side with hypocrisy for changing sides without noting that they have changed sides, too.)
Related posts:
- Ready to switch political parties? Not so fast! Or… Okay? April 29, 2009: Senator Arlen Specter’s calculated jump to...
- A Political Two-Fer from the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Presented without snark. (Even I have off-days.) Am I missing...
- Arlen Specter Gives Up the Ghost Sometimes they just make it too easy. The Hill, March...
- Senator Sheldon and Troop Funding (Take 3?) I loves me a good “before and after” when it...
- Arlen Specter’s Honor Is Untouchable Last week, the Democrats (yay!) got an infusion of fresh...
I am so gonna get a kick out listening to Democrats expose the same crap we have been hearing from the Republicans. And of course nothing will change…..
Yes, D—-, that’s the spirit. *sarcasm*
I guess the rules are set for the next 4 years.
“If we all stick to the script, in 6 months the old arguments of the Bush era will be long forgotten.”
You seriously believe that the Dems will EVER stop blaming Bush for anything that goes wrong with the new president? For 8 years in the clinton white house they couldn’t stop pointing fingers at Bush for all thier failed policies and agenda’s. With obama bringing in every person from the clinton white house for his staff they will do what they do best…blame others, and the news media will agree with them.
Yes Aleric, because obviously Bush ushered in an age of peace and prosperity, where we were a respected nation in the world community and where all American’s could see that our leader was a person to be trusted and respected. No massively unpopular and ill-informed decisions or encroaching on constitutional rights during his term, no sir.
Those darn democrats just like to whine. It’s all black and white and the Bush era did absolutely nothing that democrats have any reason to think has had a negative impact on the country.
And no, I’m not a democrat or part of media, fyi.
Clinton administration blamed Bush Sr. administration and Bush Jr. administration blamed Clinton
The reality is right or wrong depends on the specific policy. Each president has done good and bad.
This is where my sarcasm comes from and the fact that the same problems have existed for the past 20 years and I still see no one actively fixing anything.
So…”YES, WE CAN”…do the same as everyone else…
Aleric, people still blame Clinton for everything that went wrong during the Bush administration. So, I guess we will just be catching up.
As for me, I would love to see less blame, more actual work, less ideological bullshit on either side. To dream, the impossible dream……….
Say what!? You mean our two party system is full of hypocritical, biased politicians who are more interested in the good of their party than the good of the people? Get out of here. I never would have guess.
It’s always refreshing to see pompous people with heads up their asses. Golly, well, I’ve come to the right place, too. I am also perfect, never a hypocrite, and embody a wealth of knowledge on how to actualize policies and a great understanding about how every tiny branch and nuance of every part of the system works. I have no personal agenda.I can easily do better than any professional as a cynical outsider. It’s great to be me.
Gas is almost $3. Interest rates are going up, the stock market is going down, unemployment is at a 12 or 15 year high, and millions of homes being foreclosed.
Is there a Democrat in the White House?
OH NO HE DINT! Man I’m an awesome troll. I’m heading over to Huffington. I’ll run by here later with a crowd after me. They’d probably have torches but I’m sure they’d be worried about the effect burning them has on the environment. Dorks.
pastafarian- actually down here gas is 1.89
Not to rub it in.
Pasta: Gas up here in MN is $1.95, which is the lowest price in two years. Not that I’m bragging or anything…
Filled up in Indianapolis for 1.82 today – good times. This turn in the economy isn’t really so bad if you’re not in financing and you’re young enough not to have a ton of money in stocks. Hell, with stocks being as low as they have been in a long time, I’ve been buying up like a fiend.
$2.50 Across the street. But it’s Cook County so probably .75 of that is tax. That’s Cook County for you. Guess who’s bestest buddies are in charge in Cook County?
I can’t wait for all new things to bitch about – yay! *claps*
So have I Scott F. My job is secure, its 30 years til i get to retire and I am not selling my house so I say to the stock market burn baby burn!
Gas is 2.19 here, but it was only a month and a half ago it was 4.50 if there was any at all. Running out of gas for my town and the town school is in was a bizarre experience.
$1.82 out here on the verge of the Detroit burbs.
Thanks George Bush!!!
(Hey, if he’s blamed for the rise in price, shouldn’t he get credit for the drop?)
Mercy, it isn’t even December yet. I don’t even think the lame duck session started yet. I am at least going to give the new government their first 100 days to watch the Dems and Reps hash it out. I’d be astonished if the Messiah continued in the same vein as the Pariah.
i live in california, in the bay area and gas is actually pretty cheap (for me anyway lol) here.. $2.39!
I love seeing wide eyed Dems proclaiming what their new guy is going to do. Then 3 years later they are still waiting for them to do something productive.
Also name me one time Bush blamed Clinton??