Althouse: "I think by this shift to a sense of entitlement and dependence on government, we're losing a bit of our soul."

April 24, 2012

"I think by this shift to a sense of entitlement and dependence on government, we're losing a bit of our soul."

The last line of the new ad for Eric Hovde, who's running for the GOP nomination for the Senate here in Wisconsin.

What do you think? We're losing a bit of our soul. A bit much? Exactly the right tone?

(I must say, he looks great. I can't call to mind a better-looking politician.)

29 comments:

bagoh20 said...: "I can't call to mind a better-looking politician."

Two words: Naked Newt; 4/24/12, 9:54 PM
Synova said...: I don't think it's too much. It actually sort of just slips by.

More interesting to me was the "hey, I understand real finances, I know what I'm doing" message presented so humbly.

(That, and it's been a long time since I've lived anywhere where "Hovde" is a totally normal name.); 4/24/12, 10:05 PM
The Godfather said...: Is it a bit much? No, it's true. That he speaks a truth that we need to hear -- although we already knew it -- is a lot more more important that how he looks.; 4/24/12, 10:11 PM
bagoh20 said...: I thinks it's fine, and nothing he said was really disputable, but I think the right needs to start looking at being the real liberal progressive party. The left abandoned it long ago for power.

The right needs to start sending the true message which is that smaller government is not an old idea that we need to get back to - it's the only future worth living in. A future of new levels of freedom never seen by people except in rarefied moments in time when they escaped from their governments by simply leaving them over distance during the brief age of discovery and expansion.

These ideas of individual liberty are the authentic "new", "brave" and "exciting". The true equalizer and savior of the poor, weak, and enslaved.

These ideas are not easy or simple. They require a certain faith in oneself and our fellow citizens to care for themselves, their families and then their neighbors through love, respect and charity - not guilt, force, or gimmicks in big machinery to big to see around and too dense to see into. They require learning, discipline, thought, and yes, real effort.

It's a vision beyond what we have all been fed for generations about what is progress. It's the next generation's seed corn and it's all we have left to give them, so they can create a world that slips loose of the history of control and power, adherence and ignorance.

I don't know how they will do it, but if it's not based on liberty, it's not new and it's not worth doing.; 4/24/12, 10:14 PM
edutcher said...: Agree with Don Vito.

Zero wants us to become Euros and denigrates the self-reliance and independence that built this country.

And, yes, to become thralls of the State will cost us our soul.; 4/24/12, 10:14 PM
Tim said...: He's right, of course.

That won't stop the thieves posing as the insane clown posse, posing as Democrats, from asserting that the one, true measure of one's soul is "compassion."

Except, of course, their one, true measure of "compassion" is one's willingness to vote for politicians who will use the state's police powers to seize private property for redistribution to said voters and others deemed "in need of our compassion."; 4/24/12, 10:22 PM
Sorun said...: I think anyone with a name like Hovde should talk like the Swedish Chef. Otherwise, it weirds me out.; 4/24/12, 10:32 PM
William said...: How soon they forget Scott Brown....I would recommend that, in order to further appeal to blue collar voters, Eric Hovde appear bare chested, working a pneumatic drill, his torso gleaming with sweat. In the voice over he could say that we need a real man to break through the concrete mind cast of Washington. I'm sure that such a commercial would help him capture the blue collar, working man's vote.; 4/24/12, 10:36 PM
MadisonMan said...: I bought cheese today on the Square and signed his papers to get on the ballot after I left the store. The person before me printed where he should have signed, so I did too (Very lemming, I know). So I crossed off my printing and signed. Hope it's still valid. So I've signed for Hovde and Falk!

Any time a non-politician runs, I cheer.; 4/24/12, 10:36 PM
hombre said...: A bit much? After watching Zapatero suck soul ans solvency out of Spain, the morons in France are about to elect another Socialist to replace Sarcozy. Souless and brainless!

There are those in the US, apparently including our President, who still believe we should emulate souless/brainless Europe.

The counter message cannot be delivered too often.; 4/24/12, 10:38 PM
LilyBart said...: We need to talk about what this nanny state is doing to our country's character.; 4/24/12, 10:40 PM
chickelit said...: Little Bit O'Soul by The Music Explosion (1967); 4/24/12, 10:51 PM
wyo sis said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/24/12, 11:01 PM
Joanne Jacobs said...: I don't know about the working man's vote, but he'll get the heterosexual woman's vote.; 4/24/12, 11:01 PM
wyo sis said...: bagoh20
Thank you for articulating so well what I think is so important.; 4/24/12, 11:20 PM
bagoh20 said...: Don't forget the silky pony. You girls are suckers for that stuff.; 4/24/12, 11:22 PM
Anonymous said...: I think he's understating it! Romney's very good speech tonight said much the same. In return for a paltry allowance, we become serfs. We become like those unctuous Saudis, visiting a prince in the desert and kissing his hands and begging for help. We lose our dignity.

We are not beggars!; 4/24/12, 11:24 PM
Wince said...: Hovde's right-on!

(I must say, he looks great. I can't call to mind a better-looking politician.)

Uh oh, did Althouse just spill her yogurt on him?; 4/25/12, 12:10 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I think that's an accurate statement. There are safety nets and there is dependency. I think many can count on family and friends to help during hardship but we don't rely on them for day to day necessities. The same should be the same for government.

If entitlement and dependency on the state was what the founding fathers envisioned for the country, they would have never bothered with the Declaration of Independence.; 4/25/12, 7:42 AM
Meade said...: Last night, over garlic you said that you loved me.
You lied. 'tis not me but that Eric D. Hovde!; 4/25/12, 8:00 AM
paminwi said...: I liked Hovde from his first commercial. Then I heard an interview with him on WTMJ with Jeff Wagner a few days ago.

One of his first non-profit activities was to support MS. That reeled me in further since my mom passed away from complications from MS. Then he mentioned another project he is involved in. Never heard of them but found this an interesting aspect of who he is.
http://hovdefoundation.org/hovde-houses/

Good looks but more good works and from my perspective someone to watch.; 4/25/12, 8:10 AM
dreams said...: It isn't too much, it is right on. I believe most conservatives would agree.; 4/25/12, 8:39 AM
dreams said...: "Last night, over garlic you said that you loved me.
You lied. 'tis not me but that Eric D. Hovde!"

Though, I wonder if she would vote for him.; 4/25/12, 8:41 AM
CWJ said...: Bagoh20@10:14pm

Wonderful, thought-provoking comment; 4/25/12, 8:46 AM
Joe said...: We're losing more than a bit. I try to stay optimistic about the future, but I wonder if Americans really want genuine freedom or merely like saying the word.; 4/25/12, 8:50 AM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Competition for the Altspouse?; 4/25/12, 8:55 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: "... We're losing more than a bit. I try to stay optimistic about the future, but I wonder if Americans really want genuine freedom or merely like saying the word..."

There is a sizable contingent of the population that wants the freedom to do whatever they want yet be able to rely on the all powerful State to bail them out of the consequences of any poor life choices that tend to result from having freedom.; 4/25/12, 9:05 AM
DADvocate said...: We're losing more than a bit of our soul. But, if Hovde says it too strongly, he'll push people away. They can't handle the truth!!; 4/25/12, 9:19 AM
Old RPM Daddy said...: Just an aside: Hovde Hall is the main administration building at Purdue University. Any relation, I wonder?; 4/25/12, 12:19 PM