“Americans”, observes Peggy Noonan in her latest column “are not ideologues“:
They think ideology is something squished down on their heads from on high, something imposed on them by big thinkers who create systems we’re all supposed to conform to. Americans are more interested in philosophy, which bubbles up from human beings, from tradition and learned experience, and isn’t imposed.
And this is, one reason, I believe that, as the 2008 campaign heated up in the fall, a good many wavering voters came to embrace Barack Obama. He presented himself as a man who transcended ideology, an individual willing to listen to both sides and forge a consensus path.
In the balance of her column, this sage pundit details some of the challenges facing the Republican ticket now that Mitt Romney has tapped Paul Ryan as his running mate, but the campaign now at least has a theme:
Republicans know how meaningful this campaign became when Mr. Ryan was picked: He changed its subject matter just by showing up. And he is right in his central insight, which is his central political reason for being: America, to be strong again, must get its spending and revenues more closely aligned. It is irresponsible of the Democrats to ignore and punt and play with this great challenge.
She grants that Republicans will have to “bring their A game”, making their case in terms the average voter can understand, talking about budget cuts in terms of “‘saving’,’ that the Romney-Ryan ticket wants to save entitlement programs that aren’t sustainable, that will in time collapse unless we impose ruinous taxes or continue with ruinous deficits.”
It’s a good piece and she’s right on the money, writing in her Athena-like style, offering a sage analysis of the current campaign in a woman’s voice. As with most stuff by Peggy, this one is well worth your time.
I particularly like and agree with Noonan’s advice that Romney and Ryan buy the air time to hold town halls and educate the voters.
The short soundbite ads will flow from pacs and other sources.
This is a serious time and serious candidates will get an ear. All Obama has is his “who you going to believe: me or the truth?”
The message to get across is brutal: “Four more years of Obama-level spending and there won’t be a Medicare or a Medicaid to help you. There won’t be Social Security. The money will be gone. Ask yourself where a trillion dollars a year has gone for the last four years, and what it has bought.”