Politics Daily
Inside Politics Daily
Glenn Beck, Jim Wallis, and Falwell-esque Dangers of Mixing Politics and Faith
Lady Gaga, Rep. Jared Polis, and 5 Tips for Pols Who Twitter
It's the Priests vs. the Nuns -- Again
The Census and Me -- Life in 10-Year Chunks
Michelle Obama Rejects Demonizing Twinkies In Her Anti-Obesity Crusade
Massachusetts Study: Health Care Reform Reduced Abortions
Women's Vote Will Likely Decide British Elections
Can the 'Bush Lied' Deniers Handle the Truth?
Democrats' Dilemma: Health Care Vote and the 'Enthusiasm Gap'
Pro-life Rep. Perriello Says Abortion Concerns Eased, May Back Health Bill
Chaos Theory - New Textbooks, Y'all!
Iraq War Debate: Surge Success, Intelligence Mistakes, Civilian Casualties
Why American Conservatives Should Be More Like the Brits
The British Conservative party did something astounding at its national conference last week: It spoke to its members like grown-ups. American conservatives would do well to follow suit.I'm not the first person to suggest that Republicans would do well to steal a page from the Tory playbook. A long line of conservative pundits -- including The New York Times's David Brooks and The Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes -- have been making this case for more than a year now. In particular, they see Conservative party leader David Cameron (pictured) as a pivotal figure in leading his party out of the wilderness, providing a model of how a conservative opposition ought to behave.
I agree with them, but not -- primarily -- for the reasons they lay out.
PD toolbar!
Their arguments rest mainly on policy - i.e., Cameron has shrewdly rebranded conservativism with a kinder, gentler touch (to borrow a phrase). They point to his embrace of environmentalism, decentralization and social inclusion. (Heck! The man even thinks same-sex partnerships should be treated like heterosexual marriages. Egads!) All this, alongside traditional conservative values of fiscal constraint and national defense.
That's all well and good. But I think what the Tories have done superbly is to treat voters like adults.
Take last week's Conservative conference. George Osborne -- the party's "shadow" chancellor (or secretary of Treasury) -- told the party faithful that he would freeze pay for all but the poorest public-sector workers, raise the retirement age, cut benefit payments to middle-class families and slash civil service spending. He also told the City of London (the equivalent of Wall Street) that it might face higher taxes.
Wowza. That's a whole lot of honesty from one politician. But apparently, the Tories think voters can take it.
And guess what?
So far, party members -- and the electorate more broadly -- are responding favorably. The Conservative party now enjoys a double-digit lead over the government's Labour party. Voters apparently feel that a Tory government is more likely to make cuts with the best interests of ordinary people at heart.
Note that this message of fiscal conservatism is exactly the same one that animates many conservatives in the land of the free and the home of brave, most notably in the newly fashionable Tea Party movement. Except that British conservatives are able to promote this message without calling their country's leader a socialist . . . or yelling "You Lie!". . . or questioning his citizenship.
Nope. They just lay out their case the old-fashioned way: by reasoning through policy in concrete, forthright terms and appealing to the rational side of human nature.
Maybe that's a tall order for the more rough-and-tumble corridors of American politics. But I'm with Peggy Noonan in thinking that the current right-wing discourse sells the American electorate short. There are plenty of good arguments to be made out there in favor of conservative ideas. And as Jacob Weisberg argued recently in Slate, having an intellectually serious conservative agenda is good for both the right and the left.
We're just waiting to hear it.
Follow Delia on Twitter at http://twitter.com/realdelia
and download the new Politics Daily toolbar!
-
PRINT
-
IM
-
E-mail
80 comments
+ add your own
Delia Lloyd
Delia Lloyd is a writer based in London. Her work has appeared in The International Herald Tribune, The Guardian Weekly and on the BBC World Service... moreComments (79)
moderate
1:17PM Oct 16th 2009
As long as limbaugh/beck/palin/cheney continue to speak for and lead the cons nothing can be done.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(-25)
(-25) 
libslie0066
1:50PM Oct 16th 2009
nothing can be done? What about Van Jones and Acorn? Its only a start to expose what this Administration is all about. Its for those of you who are so uninformed, or just plain usefull idiots.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(37)
(37) Stella
2:25PM Oct 16th 2009
Delia: Please go back to London and enjoy your British Conservatives. We are doing just fine without your continued socialistic "spin." I don't see how London functions without you, but we'll do just fine.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (23)
(23) louisgeditz
4:08AM Oct 17th 2009
If you mean British conservatives like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, than I am all for it. However, you can keep your wishy washy, pseudo conservatives, that are actually no backbone moderates. And why don't you worry about your own house, and teach liberals not to lie and deceive the public.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (14)
(14) bob
9:07AM Oct 17th 2009
Della, like all liberals, likes conservatives better when they embrace liberal values (even if it's just for show).
As for conservatives here, they're simultaneously decried as near extinction and as relentless obstructionists who are making it impossible for Obama and the Democrats to get done what they said they'd get done. Which of course makes no sense whatsoever.
So as far as liberals are concerned, both here and across the pond, one thing is consistent. Logic is not their long suit.
As for conservatives here, they're simultaneously decried as near extinction and as relentless obstructionists who are making it impossible for Obama and the Democrats to get done what they said they'd get done. Which of course makes no sense whatsoever.
So as far as liberals are concerned, both here and across the pond, one thing is consistent. Logic is not their long suit.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (14)
(14) Truth
5:22PM Oct 17th 2009
I'm still waiting for Delia to write something that is remotely intelligent. She has penned a regular parade of pointless palaver, and seems incapable of anything else.
I don't think emulating the success of ANY aspect of the British political world makes any sense right now, primarily because there aren't any successes to emulate. England is near collapse because of the brilliant political choices they have consistently made in recent history.
Delia is an idiot, so it is understandable that she thinks she's being clever by appearing to praise the Tories, and Republican liberals in the U.S., but her praise is false, and nothing more than an attempt to convince conservatives to go soft on their principles.
The liberals have f**ed up things so badly in England that even dolts like Lloyd recognize that liberal economic policy has been a failure. Accepting the proven success of conservative economic policy is a hard pill for her, and all English liberals to swallow, but they are desperately trying to save the liberal social agenda, so are now throwing support behind the lesser of conservative "evils". They will choke down the economic remedy, but don't want to give up their social agenda, which they refuse to accept as the true cause for the economic mess. Even in defeat the liberals are arrogant enough to think they are entitled to define what is acceptable conservatism.
Lloyd conspicuously cites David Brooks, the pseudo conservative, Fred Barnes, the wimp, and Peggy Noonan, the self absorbed ditz, as the conservative voices Americans should listen too. If Delia thinks these are the people we should be listening to, then I think we should duct tape their mouths shut, and confiscate their computers. Too many people have listened to liberal lite Republicans for too long.
BTW, someone should jam an extra large lime in Delia's big mouth. We don't need any advice from that moron.
I don't think emulating the success of ANY aspect of the British political world makes any sense right now, primarily because there aren't any successes to emulate. England is near collapse because of the brilliant political choices they have consistently made in recent history.
Delia is an idiot, so it is understandable that she thinks she's being clever by appearing to praise the Tories, and Republican liberals in the U.S., but her praise is false, and nothing more than an attempt to convince conservatives to go soft on their principles.
The liberals have f**ed up things so badly in England that even dolts like Lloyd recognize that liberal economic policy has been a failure. Accepting the proven success of conservative economic policy is a hard pill for her, and all English liberals to swallow, but they are desperately trying to save the liberal social agenda, so are now throwing support behind the lesser of conservative "evils". They will choke down the economic remedy, but don't want to give up their social agenda, which they refuse to accept as the true cause for the economic mess. Even in defeat the liberals are arrogant enough to think they are entitled to define what is acceptable conservatism.
Lloyd conspicuously cites David Brooks, the pseudo conservative, Fred Barnes, the wimp, and Peggy Noonan, the self absorbed ditz, as the conservative voices Americans should listen too. If Delia thinks these are the people we should be listening to, then I think we should duct tape their mouths shut, and confiscate their computers. Too many people have listened to liberal lite Republicans for too long.
BTW, someone should jam an extra large lime in Delia's big mouth. We don't need any advice from that moron.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) jabajax
12:48AM Oct 18th 2009
British conservatives don't need to call the leader of their government a 'socialist,' because the Labor Party of Brown readily admits and brags that it is indeed 'socialist.' Don't you know that? The British electorate already knows that Labor is socialist, so it's no big shock to tell them. Dems over here have been hiding their socialist beliefs, Delia, so it's big news to most voters.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(2)
(2) Richard
8:45PM Oct 18th 2009
I used to be a right wing Republican when young. But even then it became apparent that too many were very hateful, nothing less than extremist's ! My fellow Young Republican's did not respect any opponents, it was a war [against Americans!]
Seeing how ugly the Republican Party was when innocent students were shot and killed at Kent State was the end for me. And a new generation of hateful nuts are still in control of the Republican Party!
Except that instead of some rational people like Wm. F. Buckley to give thoughtful, if pompous, remarks, now we have hillbilly's in charge, from Rush to Phony Palin! It's going Down Hill folk's!
And let's remember. It was the GOP that made the MESS, that started the fire! From the Biggest Blunder in US History, IRAQ, to the near miss of another Republican DEPRESSION ! Obama is the firefighter, it's not his fault !
Funny how the GOP has become the Excuse Party! It was somehow Clinton's fault for 9-11, despite over a month of warnings! Saddam, never a real threat to the US, was not Bush #1's fault, even though he stopped troops from finishing him off in 1991. Why it's Never the Republican's fault somehow, or that's the fairly tale the Fox Channelt tells, but some fools will believe anything, which explains Hitler or nuts like Cheney!
At least Bush # 2 knows he blew it and is keeping quiet. Cheney "protests too much," knowing history will see him as likely the worst VP EVER ! A war criminal, he should be in jail !
Seeing how ugly the Republican Party was when innocent students were shot and killed at Kent State was the end for me. And a new generation of hateful nuts are still in control of the Republican Party!
Except that instead of some rational people like Wm. F. Buckley to give thoughtful, if pompous, remarks, now we have hillbilly's in charge, from Rush to Phony Palin! It's going Down Hill folk's!
And let's remember. It was the GOP that made the MESS, that started the fire! From the Biggest Blunder in US History, IRAQ, to the near miss of another Republican DEPRESSION ! Obama is the firefighter, it's not his fault !
Funny how the GOP has become the Excuse Party! It was somehow Clinton's fault for 9-11, despite over a month of warnings! Saddam, never a real threat to the US, was not Bush #1's fault, even though he stopped troops from finishing him off in 1991. Why it's Never the Republican's fault somehow, or that's the fairly tale the Fox Channelt tells, but some fools will believe anything, which explains Hitler or nuts like Cheney!
At least Bush # 2 knows he blew it and is keeping quiet. Cheney "protests too much," knowing history will see him as likely the worst VP EVER ! A war criminal, he should be in jail !
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-6)
(-6) pxamerican3
1:23PM Oct 16th 2009
The word "change" means liberalism. Change your views. change your thoughts, change your ways, change your lifestyle, change your attitude, change your marriage, change your face, change your religion, change, change, change ... well, what happened to "don't fix it if it's not broken"?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (23)
(23) Carole
4:22AM Oct 17th 2009
WE are extremely broken and in need of a good fix. Neocons are not the answer though. Their stodgy ways will take us all the way back to the Dark Ages. I'm not saying liberals are right for the job, but I'm sure centrists of all parties could come together to actually get something done.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-7)
(-7) michem55
1:27PM Oct 16th 2009
Delia,
Nice slam against the Republicans ... but once again, you forget to look at your own party that you so clearly favor.
You say Joe should not have said "you lie" -- but during President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in 2005, Dems booed ... and how about Pelosi's nasty comments about the CIA? You continually criticize the Republicans for things that your party is very much guilty of.
Many, many Americans are VERY upset with the fiscal irresponsibility of the Democratic controlled congress. Why have you not written an article titled "American liberals should be more like ____" ? Your hypocrisy is annoying.
I used to be a moderate, I was an independent ... but after watching what the Democrats have done with their power, I will never, never vote for one of them again.
Nice slam against the Republicans ... but once again, you forget to look at your own party that you so clearly favor.
You say Joe should not have said "you lie" -- but during President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in 2005, Dems booed ... and how about Pelosi's nasty comments about the CIA? You continually criticize the Republicans for things that your party is very much guilty of.
Many, many Americans are VERY upset with the fiscal irresponsibility of the Democratic controlled congress. Why have you not written an article titled "American liberals should be more like ____" ? Your hypocrisy is annoying.
I used to be a moderate, I was an independent ... but after watching what the Democrats have done with their power, I will never, never vote for one of them again.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (32)
(32) libslie0066
1:46PM Oct 16th 2009
First Ladies do have assistants. A history sampling with background story.
Michelle Obama: twenty-two
Laura Bush: one
Hillary Clinton : three
Jackie Kennedy : one
First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants, July 7, 2009Dr. Paul L. Williams"In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much," she said. "See, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service, " Michelle Obama, No,
Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession.
Just think Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary. How things have changed!
If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Ms Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:
1. $172,200 Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects for the First Lady)
3. $113,000 Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator for the First Lady)
13. $60,000 Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary to The First Lady)
16. $50,000 Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide to the First Lady)
17. $45,000 Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
18. $43,000 Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady) (total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even;
Ø Hillary Clinton only had three;
Ø Jackie Kennedy one;
Ø Laura Bush one; and
Ø prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket.
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe.
Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652
Yes, I know, The Canadian Free Press has to publish this because the USA media is too scared they might be considered racist. Sorry America! SICKENING..ISN'T IT?
Michelle Obama: twenty-two
Laura Bush: one
Hillary Clinton : three
Jackie Kennedy : one
First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants, July 7, 2009Dr. Paul L. Williams"In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much," she said. "See, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service, " Michelle Obama, No,
Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession.
Just think Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary. How things have changed!
If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Ms Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:
1. $172,200 Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects for the First Lady)
3. $113,000 Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator for the First Lady)
13. $60,000 Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary to The First Lady)
16. $50,000 Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide to the First Lady)
17. $45,000 Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
18. $43,000 Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady) (total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even;
Ø Hillary Clinton only had three;
Ø Jackie Kennedy one;
Ø Laura Bush one; and
Ø prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket.
Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe.
Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652
Yes, I know, The Canadian Free Press has to publish this because the USA media is too scared they might be considered racist. Sorry America! SICKENING..ISN'T IT?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (32)
(32) Stella
2:30PM Oct 16th 2009
Excellent post, although your enlightenment on Michelle Obama's wasteful spending of OUR MONEY makes me want to retch! Both Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush did so much better as First Ladies, with only ONE Assistant a piece. The Obama's, like most elitist left-wing loons, are totally OUT OF TOUCH with the American people.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (17)
(17) secretagentmunky
5:05PM Oct 16th 2009
Michelle Obama DOES NOT have 22 assistants.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-9)
(-9) ettu
10:14AM Oct 17th 2009
The numerous assitants to Michelle Obama, and the Czar advisors to that interloper in the Oval Office, only proves how little these two know about leading a country. They talk good stories, but have nothing else of value between their ears. They didn't even have good judgment in the choices they made with their advisors and staff. These are the incompetents you O supporters have entrusted our national and economic well-being to.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(0)
(0) harleychicktx
9:54PM Oct 19th 2009
the white house is required to submit an annual report on white house staff..it lists the title and salary of every white house employee. the list was disclosed in July 2009.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
(1) garry402
1:47PM Oct 16th 2009
Why do the Libs get to tell what the Conservatives should do?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (20)
(20) polisci808
2:22PM Oct 16th 2009
Because we kicked your a** in the last election. Next question
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-21)
(-21) garry402
2:30PM Oct 16th 2009
What the hell do you know?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) mzrachelmarie
3:54PM Oct 16th 2009
Because the conservatives are the ones complaining about everything but not bothering to fix their problems.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-5)
(-5) 
Follow Woman Up
Now Commenting
- ajoinrich18 on:
The Woodhouse Civil War Over Health: Brothers Trade Barbs in High-Stakes Showdown - ca2474 on:
Glenn Beck, Jim Wallis, and Falwell-esque Dangers of Mixing Politics and Faith - ca2474 on:
Special Provision for North Dakota Bank Removed From Health Bill - karenmark19 on:
Democrats' Momentum Building for Sunday Health Vote - karenmark19 on:
Don't Give the Roberts Court the Chance to Kill Health Reform - ptiadp on:
Obama Postpones Asian Trip to Focus on Health Care
Submit Your Favorite Links
No.
Props
Props
- 36
- 39
- 34
- 39
- 31
- 24
No.
Diggs
Diggs
- 232
- 279
- 430
- 278
- 765
- 571
Other News
- Bastards! Health 'Reform' Isn't Worthy of the Name
- Teacher Hangs Obama Effigy in Classroom
- Obama Created US-Israel Crisis
- Sanford Will Pay $74K Fine to End SC Ethics Case
- Gay Vet Handcuffs Self to White House in DADT Protest
- The Courting of Christiane
- 15 Reasons to Watch TV This Spring
- The '80s, Part II
- How Barack Beat Bibi
- The $1,250 Facial
- Health Bill Hits Investments
- White House Nears Gitmo Double Deal
- Holloway's Remains Found in Photo?
- Lawyer: ABC News Paid Casey Anthony $200,000- Toyota Demands ABC News Apologize Over Report
- Report: Google to Shut Down in China April 10
Politics Daily More Links