Sunday, April 17, 2005
Chucking the Rulebook
This Post editorial, Beyond the Pale, captures one troubling aspect of conservative practice in this country. Tom DeLay, John Cornyn, and others are making none-too-disguised threats against the judiciary. Not in the "rule this way or we'll shoot you" sense - but what emerges clearly is a determination to call the judiciary in to answer for decisions that go against conservative values.
This speaks, I think, to a larger problem with American conservatism. English conservatism is famously about conserving and protecting institutions. American conservatism doesn't seem to share that value. The filibuster, which conservatives exploited ruthlessly throughout the 90s, is under threat. There are rumbles about impeaching judges because they've made a ruling that conservatives dislike. The House ethics committee - which was pumped full of steroids by the Class of 94 - is an emaciated shell of its former self - all for the sake of preserving Tom DeLay from the fruits of his own misconduct.
James A. Baker, when called from retirement to manage Dubya's effort in Florida, memorably declared that you can't change the rules to get the outcome you want. Perhaps he'd care to say that again - to his own folks.
This speaks, I think, to a larger problem with American conservatism. English conservatism is famously about conserving and protecting institutions. American conservatism doesn't seem to share that value. The filibuster, which conservatives exploited ruthlessly throughout the 90s, is under threat. There are rumbles about impeaching judges because they've made a ruling that conservatives dislike. The House ethics committee - which was pumped full of steroids by the Class of 94 - is an emaciated shell of its former self - all for the sake of preserving Tom DeLay from the fruits of his own misconduct.
James A. Baker, when called from retirement to manage Dubya's effort in Florida, memorably declared that you can't change the rules to get the outcome you want. Perhaps he'd care to say that again - to his own folks.
