High tide or low tide

Notice the low tides, here.

111th Congress Averaged 25% Approval, Among the Recent Lowest

111th Congress - Nancy Pelosi 23%
110th Congress - Nancy Pelosi 25%
103rd Congress - Tom Foley 25%
102nd Congress - Tom Foley 27%
109th Congress - Dennis Hastert 30%

Meaning, Democratic, up front, on the top 4. And with the 5th, those who most favored increased government intervention and power in the lives of Americans.

I would bet you'd find a similar trend among Presidential approval ratings.

Meaning, either Democrats and the 109th Republican Congress are right that really what America needs more of is more government control and intervention in their lives, no matter what Americans have to say about the matter. Or that what they need is more Democratic control and intervention and not Republican control and intervention, an interpretation many lefists champion. Or that they need more Republican control and intervention, an interpretation that many right-wing folks favor.

Or that the American peoples' sense that Congresses that have increased government control and intervention in their lives - right and left - are moving in the wrong direction and that what they need is less government control and intervention in their lives is the best interpretation of events.

And I have to say that though I do not romanticize Americans and their politics, I do think that last interpretation is the strongest one.

And the one that will win the day, regardless, no matter how much we try to spin or leverage it otherwise.

Your teachers were right. There really are realities that exist quite independent of our opinions about them. And this is one of them.

And thank God, or whatever might tickle your fancy, we live in a relatively free country where we can voice those opinions as openly and freely, as possible.

So that something more genuine might win the day. And our hearts.

Win or lose, Nancy, Tom, and Denny, I'll still be with you, at least. No joke, homefries.

Sometimes, though, poorer ideas need to lose favor.

And stronger ideas, and the people who need them as much as those who offer them, need to thrive. So we can better look after everyone. For real.

Especially for those looking out for everyone.

Speaking of which. Lay it down, Jack.

The proof, and getting about the business of making better pudding

Tony Blankley has a poignant observation about the temper of the times that is the temper of every era where those who would entertain their baser impulse to overpower in lieu of honest engagement has taken hold.

A Public Voice for Private Virtue

"In that context, I was struck this weekend by the words of the great Christian theorist and historian of the last century Hilaire Belloc that I read in his book 'The Elements of the Great War, The Second Phase' (written in 1916.)

He observed that when the most profound issue may face a nation, there is the danger that 'the lesser should conquer the greater, the viler the more noble, the more changeable the more steadfast, the baser the more noble ... We know, upon the analogy of all historical things, small and great, that the less creative, the dullest and the worst elements may destroy, and has frequently attempted to destroy, the vital, the more creative and the best."

The proof is in the pudding, is the bottom line. And the pudding of this era of our romance with power is looking pretty curdled, at this point.

Perhaps better thought about such proof and getting about the business of making better pudding might be in order.