George Will, the alleged intellectual who still questions the science of global warming, also questions the need for a bailout, arguing, essentially, that it's socialism with a conservative face. (Or as David Brooks calls it, progressive capitalism.) Will appears so ticked he can't even bear to mention the name of George Bush, whom he has so often defended with so little justification, and lays this disaster for conservatism at the feet of John McCain, who is only running for President.
Clearly right-wingers are drawing lines and preparing to settle scores. The hatred will burst into full flower as soon as the results are in. But with that said, one must concede that Will does have a point...that Steve Brodner, the New Yorker satirist, brilliantly animates from the other side of the political spectrum.
The government is preparing to take over Wall Street: Should we be celebrating?
Here's Will, from a bitter column called McCain Loses His Head:
The political left always aims to expand the permeation of economic life by politics. Today, the efficient means to that end is government control of capital. So, is not McCain's party now conducting the most leftist administration in American history? The New Deal never acted so precipitously on such a scale. Treasury Secretary Paulson, asked about conservative complaints that his rescue program amounts to socialism, said, essentially: This is not socialism, this is necessary. That non sequitur might be politically necessary, but remember that government control of capital is government control of capitalism. Does McCain have qualms about this, or only quarrels?
And here's Brodner's version of the same concept, depicting a victory parade for Henry Paulson. In his words (from a caption):
It is a burnt offering to Wall Street along with a prayer that it will not decide to seize up. It can also be seen as miles of ticker tape as Paulson rides down the Canyon of Heroes in the big Farewell-to-the-Reagan-Era-And-Go-Get-Lost-And-By The-Way-We'll-Hang-Onto-That-Golden-Parachute-And The-US-Constitution-Too-Thank-you Parade
