McGovern v. Ratbastarddemocrats

Has George McGovern Had a Coherent Idea in His Life?

Yes, more and more

Sen. George McGovern, Richard Nixon's opponent in 1972, was so uber-liberal that if you dipped him in umber dye, and removed half his brain he'd be a passable Obama clone.   His transition began with with a failed dream of entrepreneurship.  He talked about it in a 1992 mea culpa, "A politician's dream - a businessman's nightmare." “ In 1988 I invested most of the earnings from this lecture circuit in acquiring the leasehold on Connecticut's Stratford Inn. Hotels, inns and restaurants have always held a special fascination for me. The Stratford Inn promised the realization of a longtime dream to own a combination hotel, restaurant and public conference facility - complete with an experienced manager and staff. In retrospect, I wish I had known more about the hazards and difficulties of such a business ... during the years I was in public office ... this firsthand experience about the difficulties business people face every day. We intuitively know that to create job opportunities, we need entrepreneurs who will risk their capital against an expected payoff. Too often, however, public policy does not consider whether we are choking off those opportunities. But my business associates and I also lived with federal, state and local rules that were all passed with the objective of helping employees, protecting the environment, raising tax dollars for schools, protecting our customers from fire hazards. While I have doubted the worthiness of any of those goals, the concept that most often eludes legislators is: "Can we make consumers pay the higher prices for the increased operating costs that accompany public regulation and government reporting requirements with reams of red tape." It is a simple concern that nonetheless legislators often ignore. For example, the papers today are filled with stories about businesses dropping health coverage for employees. We provided a substantial package for our staff at the Stratford Inn. However, if we were operating today, those costs would exceed $150,000 a year for health care on top of salaries and other benefits. There would have been no reasonable way for us to absorb or pass on these costs. ... etc., etc. ” Quite a shocker, that, to everyone.  Fellow socialists in congress felt betrayed; we saw some hope that good would come of it.  Alas, McGovern's road to salvation was much like the recently discussed nymphomaniac's in the movie Black Snake Moan. He had a tough time keeping his legs together in the presence of democrat luminaries like Bill Clinton.  But, in fits and starts there have been signs of recovery.  Like The 'Free Choice' Act Is Anything But he penned for today's WSJ. “ The recent news that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter has become a member of the Democratic caucus has given new life to legislation that many thought had been put to rest for this Congress -- the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). ” Welcome to America George. Keep trying.  We know you can ... we know you can.