A Tip of the Hat From Mr. K

Last Friday, Charles Krauthammer, in his Washington Post column, had some kind observations to make about the Obama administration. Wow.

To understand how unexpected this was, understand that Krauthammer has been little more than a part of the Republican spin machine for years. During the entire Bush 43 administration, you'd have been hard-pressed to find a critical word from Krauthammer about any administration policy.

By the way, about that "liberal bias" that the Post is supposed to have: they carry George Will, Charles Krauthammer, and Kathleen Parker in their editorial pages. You really have to do some redefining to make THAT into a liberal stew. What is usually meant by "That paper is biased against us!" is "That paper lets the other side have space too, and we don't like it!"

Krauthammer observed that a rotation of power between the parties is a frequent occurrence in American history, and that this is a good thing. It allowed consolidation of New Deal gains by Republicans in the Eisenhower administration. The Reagan policies were brought to fruition, not by the first Bush administration, but by the Clinton administration.

Krauthammer does not change his own conservative position on any issue, but on health care he notes, "it's hard to recall a more informed, more detailed, more serious, more prolonged national debate than on health care reform." Clinton couldn't keep the debate going. Bush had no interest. Obama - the master facilitator - has kept up the discussion as no one else could.

On Reagan's policies, he notes that Obama presents a serious challenge, but also: "The Reaganite dispensation of low taxes, less regulation and reliance on markets should be challenged, lest it become merely rote and dogmatic." Amen! Too often I see politicians and wonder if their understanding has any depth beyond their 3x5 cards. When you hear Cantor, McConnell and Boehner using not only the same thoughts, but the exact same phrases, you wonder if anything at all is going on in their own heads.

Although Krauthammer is on the other side from me on almost any issue this column is worth a read, and I gained some respect for Krauthammer's work that I hadn't had before. Read it.