I do not, however, find it surprising that conservatives feel impelled to support Republican Presidents. Surely something of being conservative is a commitment to one’s own society. Which includes some predisposition to support the President-as-tribal-leader. Since Republican Presidents in particular tend to emphasize that role, there is a natural conjunction involved.

Grumpy, you’re correct about the latter. Same goes for schools. We’re sure our public schools are failing — except for the one our kid goes to.

But to me, if we all like our own pork, isn’t that a tax-and-spend philosophy that suggests we are center-left by nature, rather than center-right?

Not because the GOP is praiseworthy, but because our tradition is to kick the old rascals aout and bring in a new set. If there are vacancy signs in every mall and main street, people are long-term unemployed, June college grads are jobless in large numbers, people will vote for the outs.

If Obama begins to beat on the banks, starts job programs (including directly subsidized jobs), asks for mortgage relief, and appears to take some initiatives instead of deferring to Congressional apparatchiks, he might limit the damage.

Obamacare was politically stupid because the taxes preceded the subsidies to make it look fiscally responsible. Plus which, the uncovered aren’t always upset about lack of coverage, and the sort of people most likely to lack coverage tend not to vote.We are a center-right country where everyone likes his own pork, just not the other guy’s.