The Theme Continues

I am not going to talk about the only interesting British political story, Mandelson running the country from Corfu, as the less Labour in general and the Dark Lord in particular have to do with running the country the better. So I shall continue my idea of those on the American left who do not question their own rectitude trying desperately not to listen to anyone outside their little coterie.

Via Instapundit (as usual) Kathryn Jean Lopez at The Corner comes up with a beautiful illustration from The One himself.

I don't want the folks who created the mess do a lot of talking. I want them to get out of the way so we can clean up the mess. I don't mind cleaning up after them, but don't do a lot of talking.

So Obama, Great Caesar as Ms Lopez has it (appropriately with the number of Tsars being appointed Stateside) has decided imperiously who was at fault, and told them in good left-wing style to shut up.

Never mind that plenty of those bearing equal or greater responsibility are actually numbered amongst Obama’s clique; never mind that many of those in banking bear no responsibility at all; never mind that even those with some responsibility still have expertise, and having (we can hope) learnt from the foolish experiments in derivatives they might have sound advice to give.

The same article also mentions Obama’s attempts to bully state governors into supporting the “stimulus” early in the year. Of course that bullying subsequently went much further than private talk.

For those in the UK that might not seem a big deal. I am certainly only in the last few months getting to understand the nature of US federal politics, and the constitutional relationship between state and federal government. I am beginning to understand because of the politicisation of that relationship, as big-government authoritarians (largely on the left, but including G.W. Bush) make federal inroads into state business. This has huge constitutional implications, and is very contentious, with many especially on the right but also among so called ‘blue dog’ Democrats contending that the federal government often oversteps the constitutional line.

Obama allegedly did not wish to listen to duly-elected state governors, who at a state level I believe have authority roughly equivalent to his own at federal level, on an issue with vital impact on state governance. The “stimulus” was of course federal money (or rather federal debt) but of limited duration, whereas many of the targets for funding were likely to continue, forcing the states to pay after the pot ran dry.

This was a shocking breach of correct relationship, but it appears that Obama’s desire not to hear his opponents is more important than the constitution.