Dancing in the End Zone

Mathew Yglesias April 22 2011

Speed Is Key To House Republicans’ Blowback Containment Strategy: Progressives Should Learn
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Speed matters. As Napoleon said, “When you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna.”

Robert Waldmann April 22 (typo corrected)

As Napoleon probably also said "If you set out to take Moscow, by all means, take Moscow."

Matthew Yglesias May 5 2011

GOP Leadership Sawing Off Medicare Privatization Branch Behind Vulnerable Caucus Members

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what’s the point in asking vulnerable members of congress to vote for taking away seniors’ health care benefits?

My comment


I don't want to be snarky, but does this means you are reconsidering your Apr 22nd, 2011 at 9:59 a.m. post "Speed Is Key To House Republicans’ Blowback Containment Strategy: Progressives Should Learn" on the same topic. Your two week old answer to your current question "So what’s the point in asking vulnerable members of congress to vote for taking away seniors’ health care benefits?" was "Speed matters. As Napoleon said, “When you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna.”

My comment was "Napoleon probably also said, "If you set out to take Moscow, by all means take Moscow." (typo corrected)
http://twitter.com/#!/robertwaldmann/status/61533357376413696

I don't like to tell you "I told you so," but I told you so.

A firm resolute disciplined uncompromising party doesn't stagnate or dither and sometimes it marches lock step over a cliff.

Oddly, liberals sometimes remind me of neoconservatives. Their line always was that to avoid underestimating the Soviet threat, one had to remember that the US is a democracy, which makes is weak flabby and undisciplined. Notionally, their view was that freedom works, but, in practice, they only recognized costs. Similarly, many liberals lament that the Democrats are not like the Republicans and wonder why the power of party discipline, shameless lying, reality denial and ideological rigidity couldn't be used to advance sound policy proposals.

We must never stop questioning ourselves, but from time to time, massive overwhelming consistent evidence forces us to answer yes our approach works better than notable alternatives.

Liberals have done rather well over the past three centuries. Sooner or later, we will learn that there really is difference between analysis and paralysis.