Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

The real winner is the Union, because the solid South strategy is no longer a viable way to ensure victory.

And remember that historically, this much call for “change” usually resulted in a whiff of grapeshot… followed by executing the losers. At least you can expect to wake up tomorrow!

Why would I gloat? I’m still laughing my ass off that you quoted the Reason voter guide and then went ahead and basically voted the way you think an invisible man wants you to.

It takes a particularly brave and stupid man to do that and endorse a yes vote on Prop 8.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to pop open a Westvleteren 12…

We wish the new President well and are confident that the country will survive. We have been through worse. It may be for the best that we get beyond this milestone and allow for other issues to occupy our attention. But it is worth a passing footnote to recall that when the country was first founded the President was elected via the US Senate based on the theory that it was too easy to sway the masses who may get caught up in the frenzy of a particular crisis without focusing on the long-term criteria.

Hello Stephen,

I am a liberal Democrat who has earned four degrees at the University of Oregon.  I consider Eugene “conservative.” I have lived in the Pacific NW for my entire life.  Needless to say, I am exactly the kind of person to whom Sarah Palin refers when she complains about “liberal elites.” I am also exactly the kind of person who has despaired since November, 2000, and is delighted by Obama’s victory and the decimation of the GOP. 

Anyway, I often read your blog as a palate cleanser after I visit Powerline or The Corner.  I read your blog because you are the kind of person who has strong ideological beliefs but is mature and respectful toward your political opponents.  I am writing to say that I hope an Obama victory doesn’t turn you into a wingnut or an Andy McCarthy clone. 

Yes, we have just had an historical realignment that will lead to the Europeanization of our economy and widespread acceptance of liberal social and cultural views, while also marking the utter destruction of conservatism as a national political movement for at least two generations.  I think that, unlike intellectual pygmies like Hugh Hewitt, you understand that Obama and the augmented Democratic majority in Congress and across the country will make organizations such as the Federalist Society and Focus on the Family largely irrelevant. 

HOWEVER.  Don’t let that turn you into Jonah Goldberg with a law degree.  (One sign of conservatism’s collapse: its most revered intellectual historian is Prof. Pantload, author of a book entitled “Liberal Fascism.") Continue to be sane, Stephen.  Disagree with Obama all you want, but allow liberals at least one oasis in the cesspool of the conservative blogosphere.

Seven generations ago, Barack Obama would have been bought or sold as a slave in this country.

Two generations ago, he would have been required to enter the back door of most restaurants, and use separate restrooms.

Today, he’s president.

Republicans are free to acknowledge that this is a miserable day for their party and for their movement.  But please, please at least acknowledge that this is a great day for America.

Joel—Come on, name a Republican who doesn’t think the fact that the country electing a black president is a good thing.  Obama’s policies are wrong for America, but there is reason to celebrate that another nail can be put in the coffin of racism.

Republicans should acknowledge that it was a miserable day for their party and for America when their candidates called their opponents’ supportser “unAmeican” or not part of the “real America” or suggested that media coverage of their speeches interfered with their rights under the First Amendment.  If McCain’s campaign had reflected the values of the McCain who made his concession speech, he would have won.

Congratulations to Obama, the country has changed for the better. However....

He has promised much to many, and delivering will be difficult if not impossible.

I’d vote for Obama just for the “pull your pants up” comment.

But, alas, I was confidently noncommittal this election.

Fortunately, our Constitution is designed for gridlock, so when my intellectual and moral betters win control of two branches of government, I am just as likely as Grover Cleveland to have the same Constitution when the other party returns to power.

The gist of Russell Kirk’s “The Conservative Mind” is that there is a conservative intellectual tradition dating back to Edmund Burke, John Adams, and John Randolph which has never been vanquished despite decades of triumphant proclamations by “in” party of the year.

We Americans, not all of us, but a persistent lot of folks who ignore historic trends and “inevitabilities” and so-called “progess,” believe in limited government, law created by legislators rather than regulators, low taxes, private property, independence for small business, individual rights, independence for a chief executive of limited powers, judicial restraint, trial by jury, and that some things are much more important than politics because they are more permanent: right and wrong, great literature and art, poetry, history, mystery, religion, language itself, law, ritual, tradition, and other good things.  We believe that bad things should be abolished if possible, but we question mankind’s abilities to outlaw the law of unintended consequences. 

We are conservatives, and you will find us tuck away from the whirl of modern life but somehow in the middle of it: from Manhattan to the Gulag Archipelago.

Diana--Meet A.E. Kaiser, a fellow Obama supporter, and one who longs for “the Europeanization of our economy.”

Three thoughts.  First, I long for the day when racism is so dead that nobody makes blatantly racist statements in celebrating a political victory.  Celebrating the election of a BLACK President is inherently racist, even if done with “good” motives.  Although it is a great symbolic moment, I judge Obama on his politics, not his race, and I fear for what he might do to redistribute wealth and create economic disincentives for all people (rich or poor) to work and be as productive as possible.

Second, the enthusiastic hatred and bitterness for Clinton that produced W. Bush is very, very similar to the enthusiastic hatred and bitterness for W. Bush that has produced Obama.  Same with how the enthusiastic bitterness and hatred of Nixon produced Carter.  Just like bad facts often creates bad law, political candidates who rise out of bitterness often do not meet expectations.

But there is a silver lining.  American voting has trended toward following decidedly Libertarian principles.  When economic issues and redistribution of wealth (socialist) issues are on the forefront, Republicans win because they promise less government intervention and involvement.  When social issues (drugs, civil rights, what people do in their bedrooms, abortion, stem cell research) and the overuse of military and police power of the government are the main issues (like this year), Democrats win because they promise less government intervention.  And when either side breaks their Libertarian promises, they suffer the consequences.  (Examples: Bush Sr. on his “read my lips” broken promise, Clinton losing Congress with his socialized medicine agenda, and W. Bush with a record disapproval rating (and loss for McCain) by emphasizing more government intervention in social issues while he exercizes inept control and greater meddling with economic issues instead of fulfilling his promises for less government involvement).

Unfortunately, the political reality is that the solution cannot and will not come from the Libertarian party; it must come from the Democrats or the Republicans.  Perhaps someday a candidate on either side will put it together that a significant factor behind each successful candidate is Libertarian principles: less government in social issues, less government in economic issues.  It is becoming more and more clear that the vast majority of swing votes are Libertarians, whether they label themselves as such or not.