Tuesday, November 23, 2010

I believe there is a word for this

The word is chutzpah. While some European languages have an equivalent, English does not. So I find myself using the well-known Yiddish one. Tim Montgomerie rather kindly explains to the Republicans (who have just scored a notable victory) what they can learn from the British Conservatives who managed to lose an election against the most unpopular government of modern times.
Britain's Tory Party is popular with nearly all American conservatives at the moment. Modernizing Republicans like the ways in which David Cameron changed the UK Tories, dragging them away from 'old-fashioned' views on candidate selection, the environment and lifestyle diversity. More traditional Republicans are more impressed with David Cameron now that he's in 10 Downing Street. They like his government's welfare reform programme, his emphasis on school choice and, most of all, they admire his plan to eradicate Gordon Brown's deficit.
You mean they like the way candidate selection has been centralized thus ensuring that no grass-roots movement in any locality could have an influence? They like the way Big Society ideas are imposed through bigger government? They like the way the deficit keeps growing and the figures are more horrifying with every month, with foreign aid increasing and more going to the European Union? Do they? Or do they simply not know or care what is going on in Britain? I wouldn't blame them if they did not.

5 comments:

  1. But of course you must recognise that they see what the media and the propagandists tell them, which is good so they like what they hear. We see what is actually happening and the reality of their deceit and lies.

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  2. Probably you are right, Chris. I still think they are unlikely to care in any but the most general way.

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  3. And of course they do not live here. They do still have some democratic rights and can fall back on the Constitution, they also have the "tea party". What have we got?

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  4. We have ..... errm .... oh yes, .... we have Daniel Hannan. Or so I am told endlessly by his followers.

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  5. Not all American conservatives are fond of the Tories. Quite a lot of skepticism can be found in influential places, such as some of the "National Review" staffers.

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