It is the temptation of the columnist to universalize the moment — to present transient trends as exceptional, predictive and permanent. A direction is presented as a destiny. A snapshot is expanded into an epic. But history — driven by decisive contingencies — pays little mind.
Eight months ago, President Obama was losing the debt debate with congressional Republicans. His approval rating was approaching an all-time low, with support collapsing among independents and fading among Democrats. “I think it would be a good idea,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), “if President Obama faced some primary opposition.”
That seems a different political world from our own. But the presidential election is eight months away.
Republicans currently have their troubles. The primary process has not been kind to its likely winner. Mitt Romney has been battered by a series of opponents — really by the series of millionaire Republican PAC donors who splurged on negative ads against him. Romney himself has sometimes sounded like a millionaire Republican businessman — not a stretch for him — with a luxury car buyer’s interest in Detroit and a team owner’s interest in NASCAR. The nomination contest has driven up Romney’s negatives while revealing limitations in appealing across class lines.
Romney’s manner isn’t the whole problem. His opposition to the auto bailout — whatever the economic policy explanation — has added to blue-collar suspicions. His use of immigration as a wedge issue against Rick Perry and other Republicans has complicated his general-election appeal to Hispanics.
But Romney has been fortunate in the weakness of his opponents. If he eventually secures the nomination, his luck may hold.
And it would be a Pyrrhic victory considering that Romney is also anti-constitutional.
We defeat Obama, we lose.
@Ivan:
Ron Paul!!!
Steven Hayward destroys the Ron Paul is the only constitutionalist…..