Peter Lemiska
The incredible metamorphosis of desperate Democrats
By Peter Lemiska
On October 31st, many Americans will observe the centuries-old tradition of Halloween. It's evolved over the years, and though now mostly for kids, many enjoy it as a brief escape from reality, a temporary license to engage in pretense and trickery. In fact, the next few weeks may be shrouded in chicanery and illusion.
The once famous illusionist, Harry Houdini, is often associated with Halloween, in part because his death came on October 31, 1926. During his stage career, he performed one trick in particular that always amazed his audiences. He called it "metamorphosis," no doubt borrowing the term from the natural process that miraculously transforms a caterpillar into a butterfly.
It just so happens that Halloween comes a few days before our national elections, and this year Democrats are scrambling to work some magic of their own. Faced with abysmal poll numbers, they seem to be changing. Just a few short months ago, they were united in a single-minded effort to fill those voids in Barack Obama's resume. Ignoring the costs and the concerns of their constituents, they used every trick in the book to pass legislation few wanted, and none understood. It was their unmitigated arrogance, the arrogance of power, that sparked the current public outrage.
Now, facing the wrath of those once irrelevant voters, they are learning to adapt. We stare in utter disbelief as they skulk away from those unread bills, and the fathomless debt they created, and transform themselves right before our very eyes from arrogant, far left ideologues into dedicated representatives of the people. Not exactly a miracle of nature, but nonetheless, a beautiful thing to behold.
Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln is one example. Lincoln, who once supported union friendly card-check recently reversed herself, and now takes a more moderate position. She also recently joined Republican Senator Jon Kyl in proposing a lower limit on the looming estate tax increase. An amazing transformation, considering that the original Senator Lincoln voted in line with the Democrats more than 83% of the time, according to the Washington Post.
And Lincoln is not alone. Faced with a touch-and-go race in Arizona, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick is making the rounds on the morning news shows, calling for a congressional pay cut, noting that she's been listening to the people. Maybe she just didn't hear them when she voted to pass Obamacare in lockstep with her party, and in fact, has voted with Democrats more than 86% of the time
Representative Joe Donnelly, Democrat from Indiana, is also running an ad touting his decidedly conservative position on border security and his opposition to amnesty, adding: "that may not be what the Washington crowd wants, but I don't work for them. I work for you." Perhaps he forgot about that when he threw his support behind Obamacare, something he failed to mention in his ad. He also failed to mention that he votes with his party 88% of the time.
In fact, Democrats across the board are now distancing themselves from Obama's agenda, and in particular, the health care bill. One media analysis group reports that Democratic candidates are spending far more advertising dollars criticizing Obamacare than they are celebrating it.
There's a good reason for all of this. It was that conscious decision, just a short time ago, to ignore, or rather defy the will of the people and embrace the President's agenda. The health care bill they rammed down our throats is certain to raise costs and decrease quality of care. In fact, it's already beginning to drive up heath insurance premiums. It may even be found unconstitutional. Their so-called stimulus package created but a handful of jobs at a cost of nearly a trillion dollars. Together with Obama, they drove our debt up to more than 13 trillion dollars. So now, to protect themselves from the voter's retribution in November, they're shedding their progressive skins and taking on a more moderate appearance.
But those on the far left have nothing to fear from their incredible metamorphosis. It's all in keeping with the season, and none of it is real. It's all just an illusion.
© Peter Lemiska
September 22, 2010
On October 31st, many Americans will observe the centuries-old tradition of Halloween. It's evolved over the years, and though now mostly for kids, many enjoy it as a brief escape from reality, a temporary license to engage in pretense and trickery. In fact, the next few weeks may be shrouded in chicanery and illusion.
The once famous illusionist, Harry Houdini, is often associated with Halloween, in part because his death came on October 31, 1926. During his stage career, he performed one trick in particular that always amazed his audiences. He called it "metamorphosis," no doubt borrowing the term from the natural process that miraculously transforms a caterpillar into a butterfly.
It just so happens that Halloween comes a few days before our national elections, and this year Democrats are scrambling to work some magic of their own. Faced with abysmal poll numbers, they seem to be changing. Just a few short months ago, they were united in a single-minded effort to fill those voids in Barack Obama's resume. Ignoring the costs and the concerns of their constituents, they used every trick in the book to pass legislation few wanted, and none understood. It was their unmitigated arrogance, the arrogance of power, that sparked the current public outrage.
Now, facing the wrath of those once irrelevant voters, they are learning to adapt. We stare in utter disbelief as they skulk away from those unread bills, and the fathomless debt they created, and transform themselves right before our very eyes from arrogant, far left ideologues into dedicated representatives of the people. Not exactly a miracle of nature, but nonetheless, a beautiful thing to behold.
Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln is one example. Lincoln, who once supported union friendly card-check recently reversed herself, and now takes a more moderate position. She also recently joined Republican Senator Jon Kyl in proposing a lower limit on the looming estate tax increase. An amazing transformation, considering that the original Senator Lincoln voted in line with the Democrats more than 83% of the time, according to the Washington Post.
And Lincoln is not alone. Faced with a touch-and-go race in Arizona, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick is making the rounds on the morning news shows, calling for a congressional pay cut, noting that she's been listening to the people. Maybe she just didn't hear them when she voted to pass Obamacare in lockstep with her party, and in fact, has voted with Democrats more than 86% of the time
Representative Joe Donnelly, Democrat from Indiana, is also running an ad touting his decidedly conservative position on border security and his opposition to amnesty, adding: "that may not be what the Washington crowd wants, but I don't work for them. I work for you." Perhaps he forgot about that when he threw his support behind Obamacare, something he failed to mention in his ad. He also failed to mention that he votes with his party 88% of the time.
In fact, Democrats across the board are now distancing themselves from Obama's agenda, and in particular, the health care bill. One media analysis group reports that Democratic candidates are spending far more advertising dollars criticizing Obamacare than they are celebrating it.
There's a good reason for all of this. It was that conscious decision, just a short time ago, to ignore, or rather defy the will of the people and embrace the President's agenda. The health care bill they rammed down our throats is certain to raise costs and decrease quality of care. In fact, it's already beginning to drive up heath insurance premiums. It may even be found unconstitutional. Their so-called stimulus package created but a handful of jobs at a cost of nearly a trillion dollars. Together with Obama, they drove our debt up to more than 13 trillion dollars. So now, to protect themselves from the voter's retribution in November, they're shedding their progressive skins and taking on a more moderate appearance.
But those on the far left have nothing to fear from their incredible metamorphosis. It's all in keeping with the season, and none of it is real. It's all just an illusion.
© Peter Lemiska
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