Fundamental Transformation And The Domestic Brezhnev Doctrine

In an interview on Monday, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) let loose with the classic Kinsley-esque gaffe. Ed Morrissey has the audio:

[I]t takes a long time to do the necessary administrative steps that have to be taken to put the legislation together to control the people.

To heck with all that old-fashioned democracy stuff! In his latest “Impromptus” column, Jay Nordlinger explores the fin de siecle mindset of the American left, and the nomenclature of American politics in general:

During the general election campaign of 2008, Barack Obama talked a very moderate game — even a conservative game. This was especially true in the debates versus McCain. He sounded like, oh, David Boren, or Sam Nunn. At times, he sounded like Richard Lugar, the Republican, whom he cited favorably. He mocked the idea that he was some wild-eyed radical out to socialize the country.

But on the eve of the election, with his big victory in sight, Obama let his hair down a little. He said, “We are going to fundamentally transform the United States of America.” Granted, every candidate indulges in high-flown rhetoric. But Obama seems to have meant it, don’t you think?

With the nationalization of health care, we might ask the flummoxed and shocked, “What part of ‘fundamentally transform’ didn’t you understand?”

He also let his hair down with Joe Wurzelbacher, a.k.a. Joe the Plumber. Candidate Obama said, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

Again, we might ask, “What part of ‘spread the wealth around’ didn’t you understand?”

* * *

It has long been the dream of contemporary liberal Democrats to make the United States more like Scandinavia, more like Europe in general. They have long been embarrassed by American “exceptionalism.” I think in particular of the kids — the American kids — I studied abroad with. Every American difference made them cringe. They are the ones who slapped the Canadian maple leaf on their backpacks. And now people much like them are in control of the American government, or most of it.

Pelosi & Co. kept calling Sunday’s vote and achievement “historic.” They were quite right. This is a milestone on the way to American Europeanization, or de-exceptionalization.

And how did this happen? Who is responsible for this development? The American people, of course — the American electorate. Obama, Pelosi, Sanders, and the rest didn’t shoot their way into office: They were put there, fair and square, by voters. In a democracy, you really can’t complain about what you have — that is, if you get your way at the polls.

To be continued, of course . . . Isn’t it nice that, in American politics, nothing is ever final? Or is a federal program, indeed, forever? In the Reagan years, we used to talk about a “domestic Brezhnev Doctrine.” In world affairs, the Brezhnev Doctrine meant that, what was Communist, was Communist forever: no “rollback” (or repeal, if you like). The domestic Brezhnev Doctrine meant: Once the Democrats put something in — the TVA or whatever — it was forever, no rolling back.

Well, as I said, to be continued . . .

And speaking of the left’s fin de siecle worldview, Glenn Reynolds notes that the Sorelian-style Big Lie is still as popular as ever on the port side of the aisle.