Comments on: “For this relief, much thanks . . .”

By: Roger’s Rules » Therapeutic cogitations from Duff Cooper

Roger’s Rules » Therapeutic cogitations from Duff Cooper — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:14:09 +0000

[...] few days after Obama’s elevation, . . . er, I mean “election,” I had occasion to mention Duff Cooper’s observation, from his memoir Old Men Forget, that “Nothing can enlighten [...]

By: Kevin Dunn

Kevin Dunn — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:59:08 +0000

Remeber the election of Senator Palpatine in Star Wars: “So this is how freedom perishes – to thunderous applause.”

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:24:36 +0000

A great concession speech, you say. That’s just wonderful. Republicans will be remembered for great concession speeches.

I’ll bet Ronald Reagan could have delivered a great concession speech, too. I’m glad he didn’t.

By: Tom G.

Tom G. — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:52:39 +0000

What do they say about 2d marriages? “The triumph of hope over experience.” Hehe…Take heart, this too shall pass.

By: ehunter

ehunter — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:38:56 +0000

Roger Kimball got the election wrong because
Roger Kimball and so many others on this board
thought that a battle of ideas and competing
philosophies was being fought out. It was not.
Obama represents the ascendancy not of a
philosophy, but a demographic profile. They voted their race and will continue to do so
automatically forever. And if you are white, and of the original stock of this country, you will be voted against, automatically and forever. John McCains Amnesty Bill last year was an attempt to placate and pander to Hispanics. This election year 78% of Hispanics voted against McCain. Such is the reward for racial pandering. You get exactly what you created…more racism, of the reverse kind and with white America the target. America has let into this country one million immigrants a year, mostly from the third world,one million a year for the past 40 years, and they have a birthrate many times the white majority. Which in less than one generation will be the white minority. Once you have given your country away.. you will NEVER get it back. As whites have been brainwashed into relinquishing power in the name of a mythical non racial society ..every other cultural group became ever more demanding, because THEY have no illusions about what all this means..it means what it has always meant the achievement of power. And no cultural group in history has ever given up power without eventually giving up its culture, its values, its history, its treasure and eventually its lives.

By: Jim C.

Jim C. — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:14:31 +0000

No, Roger, it’s not over. It’s only beginning. The election was just the warm-up.

To paraphrase Mencken, the people voted for change, and they’re going to get it good and hard.

By: Steynian 281 « Free Canuckistan!

Steynian 281 « Free Canuckistan! — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:06:45 +0000

[...] ROGER KIMBALL: “For this relief, much thanks…” …. [...]

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:00:03 +0000

“Will the many practical problems this country faces enlighten our new masters? Will the heavy weight of responsibility for the prosperity and security of the United States sober them up? I really don’t know. I hope so.”

Given that during his first press conference, Obama gave the topic of what kind of dog they will get as much seriousness as he gave to the economy I think answers the questions above. Clearly the answer is no. He just doesn’t get it.

By: Mrs. Jackson

Mrs. Jackson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:33:49 +0000

Mr. Kimball, thank you.

Juvenal, I believe the key phrase to understanding Mr. Kimball’s thoughts is his final one, “I hope so.”

Which is not only correct, but as usual with Mr. Kimball’s writings, most amusing. Amusing when one considers how Obama manipulated “hope” to win the White House. A good one Mr. Kimball -thanks!

By: kd

kd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:18:43 +0000

Alo,

Indeed, one might say that Obama’s victory represents the culmination of the 60s cultural revolution, in particular the Civil Rights Movement.

I would say his victory is the culmination of the hopes, dreams, prayers, and hard work of many generations of black Americans. I watched a 101 year old black man on my local news channel shed tears of joy. “I never thought this could happen.”

Your mention of Janis Joplin, a fine blues singer who died of a drug-overdose (not a 60s-only phenomenon — look at the jazz and blues scene throughout the 30s, 40s, and 50s) has absolutley no bearing at all in this context.

You are right, however, when you say the Republican Party did not offer someone like Reagan. They tried to, perhaps, in the form of Fred Thompson, and again, in the end, by “tapping” the hapless Governor Palin. Ronald Reagan was possibly a singular phenomena — a Hollywood actor with remarkable political instincts, and the time and capacity to develop and hone those skills.

Would that they tried to offer an Eisenhower instead.

You are right about another thing: Obama has an impossible job ahead of him.