Dear Leader
Kevin points to this Ron Brownstein column in which Brownstein compares the Republican Party's governing style to North Korea. It's quite true. They believe bipartisanship is date rape. They know that they needn't fear they will be seen in a bad light by the public for this because the public gives fuck-all about legislative process --- and the media allows them to present themselves as having mandates or representing the mainstream despite having only the thinnest majority. They've taken the "winner take all" concept to new heights.
From Brownstein:
The essence of the modern Republican governing strategy is self-reliance. The goal is to resolve all issues in a manner that solidifies their political coalition. The means is to pass legislation primarily by unifying Republicans, thus shrinking opportunities for Democrats to exert influence. This approach represents the political equivalent to what the North Korean government calls Juche: a strategy of maximizing independence by minimizing dependence on outside forces.
I keep hearing that until Democrats start "winning elections" they should just step aside and if they refuse, they will be shoved aside. It makes me wonder if the founders knew what they were doing with this representation thing. Surely, it would have been more efficient to just have the ruling party come to Washington and legislate without interference from the minority. Think of how much money it saves.
One thing I think that both Brownstein and Drum neglect with their North Korea comparison is that in order to succeed it must also feature a godlike infallible cult leader. (After all, before Kim Jong Il was revealed as the successor to his father, he was mysteriously referred to as "party center"):
It must be very strange to be President Bush. A man of extraordinary vision and brilliance approaching to genius, he can’t get anyone to notice. He is like a great painter or musician who is ahead of his time, and who unveils one masterpiece after another to a reception that, when not bored, is hostile.
In North Korea they have the same kind of leader --- but they have the good graces to notice:
Reflecting his apparent encyclopedic knowledge and superhuman abilities, the Dear Leader is also considered by North Koreans as a "great figure of the arts and architecture," "genius of music," and "world famous writer," the report said.
The KCBS added that the Dear Leader is a "computer genius who surprises computer experts", and the "ideal leader of the world" because he is so erudite.
The North's media also have described the North Korean leader as an "incarnation of power" who exerts "unlimited creative power" and is the "hero of the heaven."
Perhaps when we are done renaming every street in American after Great leader Ronald Reagan, we can begin the movement to officially recognise our Dear Leader too.
He, at least, knows his own value
Q -- at politically? I mean, you've still got Iraq holding over your head and Social Security. You've got a lot of tough things that are going --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it took -- it took the -- I don't know how many times I have to tell people that polls go up and polls go down. If you made decisions based upon polls, you would be a miserable leader.
Q But power is perception.
THE PRESIDENT: Power is being the President.
[...]
Q Did the Bolton decision, you think, have any affect on your relations with the Senate, or will they understand?
THE PRESIDENT: ...Bolton's standing in the world depends upon my confidence in Bolton, and I've got a lot of confidence in Bolton.
One would think it would be much more efficient if we let Dear Leader make all the decisions. After all, power is the president. However, it would be much more difficult for the revolving door of lobbying and the military indusrtrial complex to make multi-millionaires of generals and politicans. So we need to at least have a congressional pageant now and then. The Democrats can play the fools.
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