Last week the Union Leader republished an opinion piece by the Founder of NoLabels, Nancy Jacobson. We get one of these at the UL every year, sometimes twice. Nancy, or whoever gets the byline, goes on about the “political divide.” Look at those radicals on the left and right. Scary stuff. But not to worry. We’re here for you.
Except they are not here for you. They are here for them. Proof?
Related: Would “No Labels” Give Me The Problem Solver Seal of Approval For This?
Donald Trump was a real NoLabels candidate. He ran as a Republican but they ran against him. The Democrats ran against him. The Press ran against him. And Regular Americans, the ones Jacobson claims to speak for, elected him. He was the candidate who didn’t need the ruling class. Mr. Trump didn’t need their promises, power, or influence and he does not care if they liked him.
NoLabels Labels
It has been my contention since day one that NoLabels exists to move the Overton Window to the Left. The group started in response to the Tea Party: that organic rebellion against Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. A movement aghast at the massive spending and taxes brought on by unfettered Democrat leadership in DC. As the media and Democrats worked overtime to smear the TEA Party as radical and right wing, NoLabels ‘appeared’ to stake out the middle ground.
But their ‘Middle’ almost always means facing or moving left. A place that feigns compromise to advance the ball toward the progressive goal line. Because NoLabels, like the labels, exists to owe fealty to the system. Its players aren’t expressing courage. Real courage would mean trying to exist outside the vectors of power to return that resource to the states and the people.
NoLabels candidates exist to make the exercise of that power appear bipartisan while doing what all ruling class progressives do-expand and centralize power for the political class in DC.
The TEA Party, comprised of regular people, became politically active because of progressive politics on the left. President Trump’s movement was composed of ordinary people who became politically active because of progressive politics on the left and the right.
The Ruling class hates them for the same reason regardless of labels. NoLabels doesn’t like them much either.
Whatever Happened to Empowering the Presidency?
The hypocrisy of No Labels in today’s context can be measured simply. In 2012 NoLabels promoted the expansion of the imperial presidency. You know, to get things done. They wanted Mr. Obama to have some tools to help move things along down there in DC.
- “Twice a year, the president should be able to introduce legislation directly to Congress for a fast-track [majority] vote … bypass[ing] partisan obstruction.”
- The president should be granted “expedited rescission authority,” similar to the line-item veto authority that empowers governors to remove specific provisions from state spending legislation.
- To avoid “the lengthy and highly intrusive [Senate] vetting process,” the number of presidential appointees subject to Senate confirmation, particularly in the case of “mid-level” officials, should be reduced.
- Any presidential nomination not formally confirmed or rejected by the Senate within 90 days, would be confirmed by default.
- The president should be empowered “to reorganize—or even eliminate—redundant parts of the federal government.”
Each of the foregoing provisions is intended to increase the power of the president while diminishing that of Congress. As NL co-founder Nancy Jacobson puts it: “We’re trying to make the presidency more effective.” A New York Times analysis notes that under NL’s proposed policies, the president “would have more latitude to reorganize the government, appoint his own team, reject special-interest measures, and fast-track his own initiatives through Congress.” This, says the Times, would “cut through some of the institutional obstacles to decisive leadership that have challenged President Obama and his recent predecessors,” and “would go a long way toward restoring faith in the presidency.”
Where’d That Platform Go?
This platform was created by NoLabels (we speak for the middle) for Obama. Phone and pen stuff. The two, in my opinion, sprang from the same well. But you will not be able to find this necessary reform today. Nor any idea remotely like it anywhere in the No Labels universe for a President Trump. Mr. Trump would use these powers to clean out the swamp. To diminish the power of the political class that NoLabels exists to aid and abet.
In their defense, NoLabels can claim that the majority of Americans are “moderates.” More interested in giving the Federal government power to get things done. And that may in some respects be true. But why then did they elect Mr. Trump when every axis in the ruling class is aligned against him?
They aren’t looking for Republicans or Democrats who speak for Washington. They are looking for candidates who speak for them. NoLabels doesn’t have any. And I doubt they ever will.
