Let’s say you woke up one morning and the headlines were full of news about nuclear weapons in Iran, or terrorist camps in Pakistan, or people impoverished over health care costs, or the implosion of our financial markets. It almost makes global warming seem like a cozy and familiar threat, one you can deal with after you’ve had your coffee.
Later that day, the Republican candidate for President chooses a running mate whom he barely knows. Perhaps he looked into her eyes and saw her soul and decided that she could out-Hillary Hillary.
Back in the 1850s, there was a Bible thumping, anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant, anti-alcohol, pro-Protestant political party that was called the Know-Nothings. They later morphed into the American Party and then were absorbed by the Republican Party. It’s a catchy name: Know-Nothings, and it occurs to me that they might be resurgent. How else to explain McCain’s pick for his successor, his god-forbid replacement?
The Know-Nothings prided themselves on action above thought, of a good solid fight over negotiation, and they derided those who believed careful thought and considered choice might make a better choice.
What have we learned in 150 years? President George W. Bush (remember him?) came to power full of the swagger of Bill the Butcher, that heinous character played by Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York and based on the real life NY leader of the Know-Nothings, William Poole. Bush declared himself The Decider. Bush assured us that he called the shots and he didn’t even need to read a newspaper, there was no reason to oversee the financial markets, they were perfectly capable of policing themselves, why bother with alternative energy when Saudi Arabia has oil (along with a few terrorists lurking inside the borders), etc. Gradually, liberal came to mean intelligent and intelligence was considered a fool’s game. We’ve wandered into a world where Orwell meets Mao. As a nation, we wallowed in news of Britney and Paris, we’re obsessed with American Idol, and we let the powers-that-be revel in their power.
Now, we are being called to a reckonin’; the Vanities are being consumed by a bonfire. Suddenly we are looking for a leader, and suddenly the words “power vacuum” are a tangible, aching reality. Suddenly, abruptly, with out concern for tomorrow, we are handed a VP candidate who could have sprang from the loins of the Know-Nothings. Why do we need sex education, books in our library, or an understanding of foreign policy when we can drill, baby, drill? Action trumps analysis.
Just maybe, this is the jump the shark moment for our country, the moment where we all sit back and say, “No. I want a leader who is prepared for the job. I want a leader who Knows Something.” This is the moment for Mr. McCain to speak up, address the nation, and replace the unqualified Sarah Palin.
