United Liberty

What does John McCain call buying up toxic assets, if not “moving the wealth around?” McCain has also long used populist lines to support soaking the rich, from his early days to his Romney-biting days. McCain is going to lose, if for no other reason than the fact that he is so obviously dishonest that it’s hard to take him seriously.

“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson

One problem with the socialism label is that McCain desensitized voters to such labels by calling Obama a terrorist sympathizer, a radical, a liberal, naive, elitist, a celebrity, a cut and runner, dishonest, etc. Add to those labels the un-American, un-patriotic, uppity, dangerous, etc. labels thrown around by his surrogates, and you have a lot of names that have been thrown at the American people. After awhile, nobody listens.

I think you’re right, Leon. Christopher Buckley wrote a book called “Boomsday” that featured a charismatic politician saying “Fuck you” to his sweaty, old opponent during a presidential debate. I’m sure if those words got thrown into the debate, they would become so commonly used that they would lose their effect as well.

“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson

Also, the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe have all been tinkering around with socialism for decades, leaning towards large government power during bad times and freeing up the markets during good times. There was a book called “Rebirth of Eastern Europe” where Michael G. Roskin said that it was unclear what “socialism” really means anymore. If it means “redistribution of wealth” through taxation that could pretty much put everyone in politics, including libertarians who support vouchers and charter schools, in the category of socialism.

“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson