From David Brooks:<\/p>\n
[L]et us recognize above all the 228 who voted no \u2014 the authors of this revolt of the nihilists. They showed the world how much they detest their own leaders and the collected expertise of the Treasury and Fed.<\/strong> They did the momentarily popular thing, and if the country slides into a deep recession, they will have the time and leisure to watch public opinion shift against them. <\/p>\n House Republicans led the way and will get most of the blame. It has been interesting to watch them on their single-minded mission to destroy the Republican Party.<\/strong> Not long ago, they led an anti-immigration crusade that drove away Hispanic support. Then, too, they listened to the loudest and angriest voices in their party, oblivious to the complicated anxieties that lurk in most American minds.<\/p>\n Now they have once again confused talk radio with reality.<\/strong> If this economy slides, they will go down in history as the Smoot-Hawleys of the 21st century. With this vote, they\u2019ve taken responsibility for this economy, and they will be held accountable. The short-term blows will fall on John McCain, the long-term stress on the existence of the G.O.P. as we know it. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve spoken with several House Republicans over the past few days and most admirably believe in free-market principles. What\u2019s sad is that they still think it\u2019s 1984. They still think the biggest threat comes from socialism and Walter Mondale liberalism.<\/strong> They seem not to have noticed how global capital flows have transformed our political economy. <\/p>\n Op-Ed Columnist – Revolt of the Nihilists – Op-Ed – NYTimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From David Brooks: [L]et us recognize above all the 228 who voted no \u2014 the authors of this revolt of the nihilists. They showed the world how much they detest their own leaders and the collected expertise of the Treasury and Fed. They did the momentarily popular thing, and if the country slides into a … Continue reading “What’s sad is that they still think it’s 1984.”<\/span>