The Washington Post, today, in a lead editorial laments the sharp rightward turn the Supreme Court has taken this term. This, after the Washington Post endorsed the confirmations of both Sameul Alito and John Roberts. The Post now says that the court's "nudge to the right" is "unsurprising and disappointing." Hmmm. If it's unsurprising, then it means the Post expected this from Alito and Roberts. And if they expected this, endorsed the two men anyway, and now are lamenting that Alito and Roberts did exactly what the Post expected, then they're either hypocrites or fools. And the Post's editorial page editor, Fred Hiatt, is no fool.
Which brings us to George Bush, the Republicans and the American people.
The American people are upset that George Bush has bankrupted the country and gotten us stuck in the quagmire that is Iraq. But 51% of the country (or so) voted for Bush, two times. If the first time they didn't know what they were getting, or the election was stolen, they certainly knew the second time. People surely have the right to be disappointed, but surprised by what Bush has done to America? What has he done in his second term that wasn't consistent with his first? And consider Bush's first election - what part of "tax cuts for the rich = massive budget deficit" didn't the Bush-voters understand from past experience with Ronald Reagan's bleeding-red rein in the 1980s? Bush and the Republicans said they were going to cut taxes, and they did. The Democrats said that the deficit would again soar, and it did. Disappointed? Sure. But surprised?
The Republicans definitely stand for something - the same thing they've stood for for decades, regardless of the changing world around them: lower taxes (soaring deficits); strong defense (lots of failed wars); and family values (bashing gays, women, Latinos, blacks, Muslims, and abortion). Now that the GOP has again busted the budget, gotten us into two failed wars with a third on the way, and handed social policy over to bigots like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and the men at the Concerned Women for America, the Washington Post and 51% of America have the right - the duty, I'd argue - to be not just disappointed, but mad as hell. And they should direct that anger at the people who got us into this mess in the first place: the Washington Post and 51% of the American people.
