A Conservative Earthquake, in New York and Beyond
Establishment Republicans are shrugging their shoulders. In the special election for New York’s 23rd congressional district, conservatives are abandoning the liberal Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, in droves.
Smug GOP establishmentarians are proving again that their political seismographs are badly calibrated. The GOP has lined up behind the wrong candidate at the wrong time. Conservatives aren’t going to follow their lead, in New York or elsewhere, anytime soon. Party bosses need to get back in touch or risk hard-to-fix ruptures with conservatives in 2010 and beyond. Conservatives, great and small, are coalescing behind Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party nominee.
New York allows minor parties on election ballots, giving the establishment Republicans a false sense of security as most other states don’t make such allowances. But the old logic that conservatives will have to fall in line elsewhere or risk electing Democrats may not hold. Conservatives are playing by new rules now, and the GOP isn’t showing any signs of getting it.
The GOP establishment persuaded Florida Governor Charlie Crist to jump into next year’s U.S. Senate contest. The nomination process was supposed to be tantamount to a Crist coronation. But then came Marco Rubio — the young, bright, attractive former speaker of the Florida House, and a rock-solid conservative.
Where Rubio is unmistakably conservative, Crist is as wobbly and gritless as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. He embraced President Obama’s failure-of-an-economic stimulus from the start. He joined Senator Lindsey Graham and the climate zanies in supporting cap-and-tax initiatives, though lately he’s going wobbly on that commitment.
Crist, with name recognition, a statewide network, and buckets of money, has the edge. But Rubio is running hard, closing a twenty-nine point gap to fifteen. He’s won a dozen GOP county straw polls, and grassroots conservatives are making that happen. Crist has spent his time raising money and ignoring Rubio, but he’ll train his guns on the former speaker sooner than later as the primary approaches.
A year ago, the conventional wisdom was that Hillary Clinton couldn’t possibly lose to a young, bright, attractive politician. Clinton had even more of the same advantages Crist has — yet everyone knows the rest of the story, to borrow from the late Paul Harvey.
Conservatives are more energized than they’ve been in years, but they’re not just reacting to the leftward lurch of the president and Congress. They’re more keenly aware of their principles and of what they want to see and hear from candidates. “Anyone but the Democrat” isn’t a rallying theme anymore.
There’s nothing inevitable about a Crist nomination, and conservatives intend to see to it. Rubio is no well-intentioned but inept amateur. He‘s got the political experience, skills, and polish to go head-to-head with Crist. Money definitely matters, but the money will come to Rubio if he continues to run a dynamic, engaging campaign. He won the endorsement and a cover story from the always-influential National Review, George Will has written good things about him, and some conservative heavyweights are early endorsers, including Mike Huckabee.
Doug Hoffman has won the support of Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, Dick Armey, Steve Forbes, Rick Santorum, and Michele Bachman. Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota governor and probable GOP presidential candidate, has endorsed him as well. Some of those are bound to also come Rubio’s way.
A conspicuous exception — Newt Gingrich, who is backing Scozzafava. From Politico, regarding Gingrich’s decision:
In defending his endorsement of Scozzafava to the National Review, Gingrich warned conservatives that “if you seek to be a perfect minority, you’ll remain a minority.”
Gingrich misses the mark here. Conservatives are seeking to build a majority based on clearly defined principles communicated to voters. They’re also doing a better job of reading the trends — in particular, movement among independents is going their way. The big-tent strategy that Gingrich is alluding to, and that failed to work for George W. Bush, is proving problematic for President Obama as well.
For the Democrats to build congressional majorities, especially House majorities, they had to poach enough Republican or Republican-leaning seats in 2006 and 2008. They did so successfully by recruiting center to slightly center-right candidates. But there have been meaningful, perhaps intractable problems by creating majorities with palpable ideological and electoral politics divisions. Moderate House Democrats from competitive districts are hard-pressed to support any health care proposal that includes a public option or a reasonable facsimile. They’re somewhat uncomfortable with the idea, but would be out-of-step with voters back home regardless. They just may be pressured out of their seats in 2010, either by voting with their leadership and against their constituents or by the failure of the leadership to craft a broadly acceptable health care initiative and to muster the votes to pass it.
Sprawling, disparate majority coalitions aren’t working anymore. More than a generation ago, party bosses and congressional leaders had the means to assert strong discipline on rank-and-file members of Congress. That ability to discipline members has been substantially weakened over time. Members certainly aren’t free agents, but today they enjoy far greater latitude in positioning and voting.
The Democrats’ electoral strategy may have worked in winning back the House and Senate, but it may be foundering in terms of a governing strategy. If majorities won in elections can’t be translated into governing majorities, the handiwork is inconsequential and likely short-lived.
Does Doug Hoffman have the momentum to carry him past both major party candidates? That’s hard to predict. But this is for certain: The special election in New York’s 23rd district needs to be a wake-up call to politics-as-usual Republicans. Conservative voters and leaders are no longer going to rubber-stamp candidates with “R” by their names.
Newt is history. He has always been an opportunist. Many people are unaware that he was a Rockefeller republican when he first ran for congress and lost. It wasn’t untill he ran as a conservative that he won.Newt is going back to his roots.
The problem is the RINOs have fallen into the trap of believing the enemy propaganda.
It’s as if they were the Marines on Guadalcanal listening exclusively to, and believing, Tokyo Rose.
This was driven home to me one day when I was listening to Newt Gingrich on the Sean Hannity show. I don’t remember the exact incident that Sean mentioned, but it was one everyone who read any blog knew about in detail. Gingrich was like a deer in the headlights. He had no clue about the incident. The reason being he only listens to the mainstream media and has gotten sucked into believing their propaganda.
That is not the type of leadership we need. We need those who steadfastly believe in their principles and stick to them no matter what the propaganda swirling around them. So far I don’t see much of that in the Republican party establishment.
The reaction of Newt and some others in the Republican Party is rather like the Roman Catholic reaction to Luther’s initial protests against indulgences – they just didn’t get it. Luther wanted to reform the Church, not create a new one, but was essentially pushed (e.g. in his famous debate with Eck, a skillful debater) to take his views to their extremes, ultimately creating the break with the Church.
The Republicans could well end up like the Whigs in the 1850s – essentially melting away in the face of a new party – if the “leadership” which cannot lead does not wake up to the simple FACT that the grassroots have had it. Again. The grassroots picked Goldwater over Rockefeller in 1964 (I was there in San Francisco), got our buts kicked, and the liberals came back with Tricky Dick and Ford. Which gave us price controls, Watergate and Carter. The grassroots took the party back with Reagan, but the liberals took back the party with GHW Bush. He presided over winning the cold war on the basis of Reagan’s work, but, blew it on taxes and lost. And, now the liberals came back again with McCain and lost, giving us socialism and thug politics.
The third time is it. Three strikes and you’re out. No fourth down Hail Mary or Statute of Liberty play is going to save the liberal Republican establishment. Either the party figures it out, or they’re history.
The problem, is that unlike 1856, we don’t have time to lose a presidential election — if Obama wins in 2012, our republic will not survive without a cataclysm at least as bloody and disruptive as the Civil War.
Responsible conservatives are pleading with the Republican leadership, but they’re deaf. Newt beclowns himself, again. Whatever hopes he has of running for office again, he should abandon: he couldn’t even win in the South.
Newt took a position albeit a poor one. But where’s Romney and Huckabee endorsement of a candidate in this fight?
This is why I find Palin so endearing. Besides this is old hat for her: she’s already taken on the GOP in her state.
Yeah, tell the GOP to get with it. No more unprincipled big tent. Fiscal responsibility is a core value, as is the expansion of individual liberties. Beyond that, a radical pruning of government is in order. Painful? Yes. But probably not as painful as being rejected by your own base,
Rubio and Hoffman, symbolize why I am no longer a Republican and resigned from the RNC in 2007. The GOP is rudderless and has been for most of this decade. It is afraid of people like me who believe in capitalism, small government, a color blind society, and freedom of opportunity for all citizens.
Are you listening Newt? How about you Mr Steele? I don’t expect either of you to understand what I wrote above. That’s why I am no longer affiliated with you and no longer give you any money. You value Dede over me and Mr. Hoffman. You value Dede over Ronald Reagan. Lots of luck.
Newt is a fraud and an opportunist. When the T-Party movement started to build there was a rather sizeable one taking place in NYC. Thousands showed up which was astonishing because it was leftie NY. Who was there trying to co-opt the momentum? Uncle Newt. I stayed home and told others if they were going to be aware of what he was up to. I think he has been trying to piggy-back and take over since this all began. Back in the 90′s he touted the writings of Heidi and Alvin Toffler who are left leaning and “one worlders” all the while he was assuring everyone he was “conservative”. I don’t know if this man thinks we are all fools or he suffers from one long identity crisis but though he can be entertaining and thought provoking at times I always regard him with the deepest suspicion. All the left has to do is associate him with what is happening now and it’s all over. No doubt they are salivating at the thought.
Newt said on Greta’s show that he was for this lady because she had won out in local GOP selections and that she was mostly on the right side of the conservative angels on what she ‘would’ vote for. Unfortunately, she has voted mostly un-conservative ‘before’ this election. Newt needs to understand that we will not be taken in by what people ‘say’ but only by what they ‘do’.
We have no option right now other than the GOP ,we have to hold their feet to the fire when they screw up like the Scazzafaza nomination. Do you want seven more years of Obama? Maybe every state should have a conservative party to keep these people honest.
I reside in upstate New York.
It will be my first time voting for a third party candidate.
By the way, don’t donate to a political party, donate to the candidate of your choice!
Don’t fault Mr. Steele ,he is not very bright.He is a GOP version of affirmative action.
Steele is bright, just confuse. And he’s not an affirmative action product. Wrong party, Pedro.
Newt makes very eloquent and convincing argument, but he lost his credibility, no one is taking his advice this year. The train has left the station and is gathering momentum.
Newt makes very eloquent and convincing argument, but he lost his credibility, no one is taking his advice this year. The train has left the station and is gathering momentum.
#11 Pedrosito:
“Don’t fault Mr. Steele ,he is not very bright.He is a GOP version of affirmative action.”
Not fair. Mr. Steele is a bright and a fairly likeable chap.
His problem is that he is a Maryland Republican, and while Maryland would be as conservative as say, Indiana if a ten mile strip on either side of the I-95 median would vanish,(along with everyone in it), from the face of the Earth, it hasn’t and is not likely to.
Inside that twenty mile zone with I-95 in the center are a LOT of Democrats.
To win any statewide election then, Steele, (who was Lieutenant Governor), and Bob Ehrlich,(who won the governorship), had to appeal to at some quanta of those demographic groups in that zone.
This they did, Ehrlich becoming the first Republican governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew… and I didn’t hear anyone complaining too loudly about the win.
It helped them greatly that they ran against the preceding governor, Democrat Parris Glendenning, who can best be described as Maryland’s answer to California’s Gray Davis.
Glendenning may best be remembered for his presser where the hapless boob, while pushing a gun control storage law, and trying to demonstrate a trigger lock’s ease of use, was utterly defeated by the mechanism.
After fumbling around with it for a few embarrassing minutes, he finally handed it off to some “dais window-dressing” high-ranking flunkie cop to unlock and remove.
If you can find that video on YouTube, you should watch it since it’s truly howl-worthy.
But now Michael Steele is on a national, not small-state, stage, and he’s learning that a Maryland Republican’s instincts are not necessarily the best ones at that level.
If allowing the election of a Democrat is what it takes to say NO than so be it. The Go Along Get Along Brass Hats of the Republican Party need to be told NO a lot. Mr. Newt sat on the couch with Nancy Pelosi, made nice to Al Sharpton and expects us to listen to him?
As 10. Joe Potosky said: Support a Candidate NOT a party.
Newt has too much bagage { personal & public } to run for president it would be McCain all over again . He does fine writing books and cheerleading. However Newt should know the GOP does not need another Collins or Snowe,those two girls need to remember that you stay with the one who brought you to the party . I mostly remember Newt for NAFTA, or the screwing of America .
I think people are reading too much into this one election in NY. The Republican in this race is so extremely off the map to the left. She is not a moderate. She is a full blown hard core left winger. When you are that disconnected from your party, you are not going to be embraced. People do not want to be represented by people they completely disagee with. When you couple that with the fact that the conservative would caucus with or at least vote with the GOP most of the time and we get what we want in the end.
I am not holding it against Newt or Steele. If they can be loyal to Scozzafava, it is a sign that other center right candidates will not be abandoned. I understand it. But they should be very careful in how they engage those that support the conservative in that race.
Mr. Steele is a good person but he is a dolt. Have you seen him being interviewed on any program where he is confronted? He almost always agrees with the person who challanges his position. If you want a black man to represent the party ( I agree) how about an intelligent person like Larry Elder or Ken Blackwell. Mr. Steele is an amiable dunce.
Newt needs to be marginalized. He blew it before. He is only destroying the cause of conservatism.
This is exactly right about building a majority based on ideology inherited from the thinkers that created our Constitution. The GOP has abandoned conservatives for the last time in their pursuit of personal power. They will either join the Whigs in the dust bin or return to principles of the right, not the left.
Rubio is a creationist/cretinist, so keep on supporting him.
Ah, the permanent Democratic majority.
Such a thing of beauty.
I don’t remember the exact incident that Sean mentioned, but it was one everyone who read any blog knew about in detail. Gingrich was like a deer in the headlights. He had no clue about the incident.
On Fox News Sunday Gingrich pretended not to be aware of the Van Jones controversy. He needed to do so or otherwise he might have had to acknowledge that Obama has appointed extremists to his inner circle, which makes Obama….(unspeakable in polite circles).
Please enough of choosing a canidate because of his color or lack of it.
My loyalty is to principle over party.
People are realizing that issues and actions are important, not personalities. No one wants more smiling candidates that ignore their constituents’ wishes.
There is a lot of work to be done to reverse the damage that anti-American “progressives” are doing to our country.
This is the time for conservatives to stand up for their country! The democrats have sold the country out and to some extent, some of the republicans have too. Men like Rubio and Hoffman are the future of the republican party and the hope of the country. Am glad that Pawlenty got behind Hoffman, now lets hope he comes forward for Rubio.
The Republican leadership fails to recognize that the Dems are sinking a painful plow into the American landscape in an attempt to “fundamentally transform it.” In the process, they are bringing conservatives to the surface while, at the same time, demonstrating their incompetence. Many moderates and independents are saying – “so this is liberalism. NO THANKS!”
Message to Republicans – A fundamental change is taking place in the American electorate. Conservatism is now seen as credible. Ignore it at your own peril.
The biggest problem with the Republican Party is they don’t care if you are a flaming liberal as long as you have a R after your name. All you have to do is look at the Senate, Collins, Snowe, Lugar, Graham, and McCain. These liberals continuely vote with the democrats and still get high marks from the GOP, RNC and NRCC. I have not left the Republican Party, they have left me.
Dede Scozzafava is a liberal Democrat running as a Republican; the fact the RNC & Newt Gingrich is backing this woman tells me how clueless & ineffective the Republican establishment has become. Scozzafava & the other Democrat candidate are splitting the Democrats–not the Republicans. Doug Hoffman is coalescing the Conservative Republican base around him while the weak Scozzafava marginalizes herself thanks to her liberal Democrat leanings.
I’m also glad Marco Rubio is gaining momentum in Florida as Charley Crist loses his stature as the inevitable candidate.
The RNC needs to read the signs that a strong Conservative ideals needs energized & enforced to contrast against the Socialist Marxists from the unholy trinity of Senator Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, & President Obama. Moderation is not needed here, but strong Conservative bold stands against the Communists in the White House…
It would be a bad thing if the GOP was gradually replaced by a genuine Conservative Party? How so?
Only fascists would celebrate the constant rule of one party.
I used to really admire Newt–vastly experienced, smart, shrewd, articulate–and, I thought, Conservative, but I think he has become a little too slick, a little too “smart,” and agile. I think Newt has caught “Capitol Hill disease,” “go along to getalongism,” been infected by the attitude that “we’re all in a very special club here in Congress/inside the Beltway—(above the Salt) above, very far above all the unwashed, ill-informed, stupid boobs below us, the serfs in “flyover country”” who really don’t understand; the disease of “compromise” that says “winning is everything” But, if you win, but end up having compromised all of your principles to do so, how will you then legislate and govern?
Newt’s “Contract With America” was a brilliant political maneuver, but I am wondering now–looking back–if it was just that, a brilliant maneuver and not a real expression of bedrock principle. I’m starting to wonder just how deep Newt’s “Conservatism” really goes and wondering, too, just exactly how he defines it, and what his core principles are.
# 24 I agree but if the GOP feels the need to have a minority person in a position of authority, or the face of the party, can’t we do better than Michael Steele? We should have the best person but we live in an age of identity politics. I hate it but I can’t change it.
Jeez Mr. Fleming, using Obama to dis little girls?
But, maybe this explains the behavior of Now and Then, vivo, and Moho. It’s their version of Follow the Leader. And David S.? More like a Ms. Lohan. All air and no head.
Apologies to the little girls and Lindsey…
Even if he is wrong on this point, which I feel he is I don’t want to just throw Newt under the bus for this. No one gets to be correct all the time. And lets not forget –under Newt’s watch, the budget got balanced–a feat that not been repeated since.
Yep, this Scozzafava business reminds me of PA a few years back when the Republican machine, including GWB, got behind the biggest dickbrain of all time, Arlen Specter. And look what happened with that mess since. No more. Can I say it again? No freakin’ more!
To Dave K, continue your ad hominem, personal attacks and deluded wish of a “permanent democratic majority”. Arrogance has a funny way of backfiring, and while there are many dancing in the aisles now, I expect to see a look of confusion and dismay in a few years. The silent / quite majority is awakening, and Obama will serve the same purpose as Carter – wake a generation or two up to the failed philosophies of those on the left. Proof? See the Soviet Union, China’s lurch toward capitalism, Cuba’s continuing economic failure, etc.
In conceiving of and designing the Republic, the strongest factor driving the Founders was limiting the size, scope and power of the federal government. Their intention was to design foolproof limits on the growth of tyranny and absolutism they had observed in European governance.
All kinds of devices & safeguards were specifically and intentionally built in. Powers not specifically granted to the new national entity were meticulously reserved to the states & to the people.
The current crop of Democrats, progressives/new liberals, and especially the current President, see these institutional limits on size & scope of government as flaws, drawbacks to what they consider their more enlightened view of the positive role government can play in individual lives, if only those pesky restrictions on its power (like the Bill of Rights) were somehow marginalized.
The GOP seemS to want so very much to be politically successful that it has come to be the party of democrat lite in so many ways.
This is the moment in history when America still has a chance to return to the kind of country she was conceived to be.
The choices are two:
1. another American Revolution in the spirit of…”whenever government becomes destructive of the ends (for which it is conceived) it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it”
2. gradually and assiduously replacing the hopelessly convoluted and destructive network in DC with people whose first loyalty is to the ideals of the Republic.
It will be interesting to watch this schism unfold. Moving ever more rightward does not seem a likely winning strategy in the northeast, but the GOP is doing so poorly outside the south, that almost anything is worth a shot. Perhaps conservatives will do better with a multi-party coalition, say one party for evangelicals, and one for fiscal conservative/libertarian types. I suppose it would be a more European approach, but it could work.
Perhaps wandering in the desert will benefit the party – but without a leader, it could be a long walk.
Peace.
DS
I won’t take another ladle of compassionate idiocy.
Hey, how about another Contract with America? That worked out really well. Let’s see of what the ’94 Republicants promised they achieved . . . hold on . . . they were able to . . . just a second . . . uh . . . ok, forget that.
How about we have a really cool website for Republicants . . . yeah . . . and we can, like, use it to reach young people . . . that’s it . . . it’s easy, we just have to talk their language . . . you know, like a blog from the RNCC Chairman titled, “What up?” And then to reach the old folks, another blog titled, “WE won’t kill you.” And another blog for our brave men and women in the military titled, “I’m too much of a pussy to fight, but thank you for your service.” One more, a blog for the Christian fundamentalists, titled, “Not ALL of us pay hookers to diaper us.”
This should be really easy.
How coud I forget . . . CARLYFORNIA! Yeah, you folks got it in the bag. No worries.
It’s clear that the GOP is basically the dems on the installment plan.The only time the idiot Bush displayed any passion in defending himself,was when conservatives attacked his alien invasion bill.Both parties are globalist entities run by globalistplutocrats. They are forUn rule, denationalization, deindustrialization,and the eventual transformation of the US into a mexican style kleptocracy.We need a third party !
It’s very important, watching the rise of ‘the real America’, which is conservativism, and its increase in expression in such areas as the Tea Parties, the Town Halls, blogs and the internet, and now, it is moving into the electoral area.
As noted, the Democrats have moved left, far left, and have essentially been taken over by a core of radical socialists. The Republicans have also moved left, somehow being pulled along by the Democratic leftward tilt. Both parties, isolated in the Washington bubble, and linked only to their equally isolated followers, have ignored the American people.
The polls are showing that this Set, the majority of Americans, feel that both the Democrats and Republicans don’t represent them. The next step is for the elections to express this.
DAVID S Who needs the NE(except for vote -buying demlibs,and real estate speculators?It’s nothing but a dysfunctional,economically declining piece of liberal-inspired catastrophe.It continues to lose educated professionals(and their taxes)while attracting welfare-dependent losers,and village idiots.It’s done, as is Clownifornia.
Does anyone know what Newt now stands for? For a man of ideas, he isn’t showing much intelligence in this matter.
$42 Now and Then. For your own good.Please take your meds!
Adios Newt!
Hey everyone! George and I have a real good idea for the GOP:get Vicente Fox to become their new national campaig manager.OFFICIALLY this time! that way tthe GOP can take latino votes from the democrats. Newt Gingrich,George Bush(ex decider),servant’s quarters, FOX palace,Cancun Mexico
While the national eyes are on Virgina and even moreso New Jersey, the NY congressional is the most interesting race when it comes to sorting through where the republican party is at.
I’m a big Steele fan. I’ve admired him before he took on the difficult task and admire him all the more for embracing it – esspecially since such fearless and unblinking exhibitions as making the conservative case at Tavis Smiley’s Black State of the Union as well as doing outreach at traditional black college’s like Morehouse and Spellman.
Talk about spine and principles? Those were the most riviting C-Span exhibitions this side of Jack Kemp selling Reagans urban policy face to face back in the day.
I think he’s played it just right – don’t interject and let the various camps weigh in. Let the process work.
I don’t agree w/3. CatoRenasci or several other like minded gloom and doomers – all the histronics about the GOP on artifical life support and about to go the way of the Wigs.
This is all healthy disagreements. Besides, I think folks have their eye on the wrong races all together. The real games are truely at the grass roots – namely the state legislatures. From my passing citizen/observer view – we are doing pretty well.
I stack up our current Gov’s and theirs and where are the Dem’s rising? We are living in a period were the sub-20 percentile view of congress isn’t going to get magically turned around by some new contract w/America or some emerging leader.
People are sick of congress because it’s a corrupt institution increasingly tone deaf to its principle charter – namely – representing us.
How do you reform that – by concentrating on politics in your own neighborhood and rendering the corrupt (bought professionals) increasingly irrelivent. That means take back your state government first.
That is what I heard this past July. Turn off the news and take back your neighborhood.
To me Newt is still the man. I liked his answers about this on Gretta. If a house seat opens it’s not a great conspiracy that a sitting assembly person is quickly picked to run for Congress.
Conservatives ideals pol 40% to liberal 20% but the libs have filibuster proof control of the national government. This is not Bushes, RNC or Newts fault. It is our fault. Conservatives have been lazy.
If your suggestion is somebody else should do something, you still have not gotten it.
For myself each quarter I donate money to SarahPac. I think that’s a great place to pool money and support conservative candidates for maximum impact. Next year i will volunteer for the repub running in CA 10th district. We will lose but the Pelosi clone will know she has opposition.
What are you going to do besides complain?
Phoenix48 @ 50:
I’m sure the Whigs in the early 1850′s did not see themselves as about to go the way of the dodo, either.
You are right that Congress has become a thoroughly corrupt institution which has lost touch with the pulse of America; and right that we need to concentrate at the state level.
Where I think you are wrong is in failing to appreciate the aptness of the historical analogies, in (seemingly) failing to appreciate just how much damage the Obamite fascists can do to the Republic in two or four or (Lord help us) eight years, and, in overestimating Steele.
I thought highly of him to begin with, and was quite hopeful for his success. He has not, however, proven himself to be an inspiring or successful party leader on the national stage. One can admire him and respect his effort, and still conclude he is not the man for the job.
W Bush went out of his way to endorse Sen. Arlen Sphincter in his primary with Pat Toomey. Sphincter won the primary and was reelected as a result, since then he has returned home to his democratic party roots. Now we are to believe, according to the republican party officials,is that the party needs to have more elected members like Olympia Snow, Susan Collins, Lindsey Gramh, and John McCain. Ounce again the GOP is proving itself to be the stupid party.
Ok fair enough. The Whigs did extinguish themselves if my recall of history is correct through a succession of disasterous Presidencies – and – besides just inept standard bearers they also faced (or rather failed to face) the seminal issue of the day – Slavery – leading to of all things a calamitous Civil War.
I don’t think were in that territory.
I agree on Obama – the most far left and duplicitious Prez imaginable. I don’t think a conservative cartoonist could have conjured a more sinister adversary if they tried. He is every bit as the scary Chicago political creation I was afraid he’d be – and worse – since he inherited a financial panic.
However, I’m sticking with Steele – I believe he has earned his shot to turn the congressional races around – and that means he has until 2010 in my view. It’s not like the folks he succeeded were able to screw in a bulb or walk and chew gum while raising money at the same time.
Gotta believe. Here IS A PONY IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
Lots of fun with this thread. Let’s see……..
#3 CatoRenasci: “…..if Obama wins in 2012, our Republic will not survive without a cataclysm at least as bloody and disruptive as the Civil War….” So, are you locked & loaded? Seriously, it sounds like you want a repeat of 1922, when Mussolini’s jack-booted, brown shirt, fascists marched on Rome.
#5 Copper Quark: “fiscal responsibility is a core value, as is the expansion of individual liberties…..” I couldn’t agree more. But how do we reconcile our beliefs with those of the religious right who would use big government to control elements of citizens’ personal & private lives? It’s that old abortion & artificial birth control issue again.
#29 Savage24: “I have not left the Republican Party, they have left me.” That’s how I’ve felt for years, with the reckless, out of control, spending by Bush/Cheney & the takeover of the party by those who would impose their personal values on everyone else. I want my party back!
#44 ETAB: “It’s very important, watching the rise of the ‘real America,’ which is conservatism…….such areas as the Tea Parties, Town Halls….”
Yeah right. It’s the rise of the CINOs (conservative in name only), espousing the best of bedrock conservatism since January 20, 2009 (hint: Obama’s inauguration day). Where were all these guys during Bush/Cheney?
What bugs me about the CINOs is their inconsistency. They’re very anti-Obama/Pelosi with their liberal bailouts (actually a continuation of Bush bailouts). Back in February, GAO released a study of 94 different weapons procurement systems. 66 were running a collective $268 billion over budget; otherwise known as defense contractors lining their pockets at taxpayer expense. Funny how that kind of government waste isn’t even noticed by the CINOs. But I guess that’s why they’re CINOs.
@4. kilo: – Newt took a position albeit a poor one. But where’s Romney and Huckabee endorsement of a candidate in this fight?
Taking a socially suicidal position of endlessly compromising with the left – even a long-term one, as Newt has done – won’t preserve this Republic.
Romney has already demonstrated that he is a craven opportunist. He has already demonstrated that he’s functionally no different from Scozzafava.
Huckabee is hanging back to see which way the wind blows. He knows he’s unelectable as long as The Left Wing Media is free to determine the candidates and the outcome of any election – as they did last year – so (unlike Sarah Palin) he’s not going to lead until he sees the opportunity to run out in front of a column that is already halfway to its destination.
nope, SteveB/Colorado, I don’t think you can validly claim that the current expressions of distate for Washington is done by ‘CINOs’.
There IS a basic bedrock of conservativism in America and has been its identity since its founding – as expressed within the Constitution.
The fact is that they have now reached a critical threshold in numbers, moving up from a ratio in the 20′s to their current status in the 30s. When a population set reaches a critical threshold, its voice can be ‘heard’ within a larger population..hence the Tea Parties and Town Halls and ‘big men’ starting to voice support for this set.
As for your comment about the ‘religious right’ imposing its views, that’s as invalid a statemen as saying that the ‘liberal left’ which is its own dogma, imposes its views, i.e., in support of gay marriage, abortion, etc.
These issues can never be confined to individual choice because their effects extend beyond the individual into the society. Therefore, they must be debated within the society and decided by the society. Not just the individual, hard as it may seem.
The question now moves on to whether both the Democratic and Republican parties can transform themselves out of their dessicated frozen traps. Can the Democrats take back their party from the radical socialists? Can the Republicans move out of soft and empty liberalism? Can anyone genuinely represent Americans – because these two parties, at the moment, do not.
This also suggests that the next list of presidential candidates does not include such people as Romney, Huckabee, etc.
I don’t know too many people who would dump their silver bullets, at the first sign of being stalked by werewolves but that is an adequate description, of the current republican “leadership”.
That however implies stupidity, which they may be but I have wondered about a possibility of collusion from time to time. The odds would seem to indicate the possibility is plausible. Considering that the Marxists now own the democratic party, could it be that the same tactics are in use to claim the republicans as well?
What conservatism has devolved to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/tom-delay-joins-iwho-want_n_335252.html
Principles! Courage! Trying to get money for nothing! Oh, the conservative work ethic – it’s overwhelming! Well done, Señor Hammer! Don’t stop there. I’m sure Mrs. Hot Tub can earn a few extra bucks snapping that Majority Whip.
No votes for RINOS!! Newt is a RINO at best, I am afraid. Steele is a weak sister. The Repub party is on the way out- they refuse to go back to their roots.We conservatives may be in the wilderness, but we are regrouping, and will emerge. NandT, and steve/cornholeorado: You keep blowing out the SOS – you had better tighten up if you want georgie s to keep paying your bills.
I have to admit, I was somewhat surprised by the two new polls showing Hoffman actually leading the race now. I thought he had a reasonable chance to win but certainly did not expect to see such a sudden and complete collapse of support for the Republican establishment candidate.
I hope the GOP is watching and tatking notes.
#55 SteveB/Colorado:
1. My point about a bloodbath is not what I want, it’s what I believe is likely if conservatives are unsuccessful at stopping Obama. My forebears fought tyranny over many centuries, in this country, in England, and on the Continent, going back at least to the barons’ revolt against John Lackland. I can only hope I will do no less than my ancestors.
2. Many of us who are conservative were highly critical of Bush’s profligate spending.
3. Defense spending is a difficult and special case. Waste in defense spending is deplorable and we should (and I did when I was involved in procurement) do our best to eliminate it. However, providing adequate defense is lexically ordered: it comes ahead of other considerations. When you’re in combat you don’t ask whether the weapons system was the cheapest, you ask does it work and accomplish the mission. We probably have to tolerate more waste in military procurement than in other areas, because the risk of losing a war is worse than some waste in defense spending, but that doesn’t make it OK, and should mean that those whose waste is fraudulent (as opposed to just inefficient) should be prosecuted vigorously.
Now and Then, what exactly do you believe in? I know what and who you despise. But what do you hold tenaciously to – ideologically speaking?
Newt Gingrich sympolizes the combination of blue-blood, country club, and so-called moderate Republicans, none of whom are genuine republicans (with the small r). Conservatives are genuine republicans. If we remain true to conservative principles, we will eventually overcome Obama and his party. If we can’t stop and reverse the damage in 2010, we can in 2012.
The GOP has hired too many political professionals. They want to sell the people out.
Money is the mother’s milk of politics. Every time the RNC calls I tell them no money until they they bring in young people who believe in self determination and liberty, get rid of the ivy league types and go back to our constitutional values.
If enough of us do this, it will change things. It is always, all about money. Always has been, always will be.
Is it just me or are 60 year olds in politics becoming really tiresome (on both sides)?
I trust those blogging here will send a message to the “leaders” of the GOP and tell them that if the “Big Tent” includes Scozzafava, Snowe, Collins and Graham, we have no interest in helping the party out of it’s difficulty.
Obama has been good for conservatives because he has focused the public on his actual radicalism which the media intentionally obfuscated last year. Subsequently, many voters are repelled by what he advocates and are looking for alternative leadership to blunt his designs.
If the GOP wants to be effective it will support clear alternative candidates like Hoffman in the future instead of pissing on conservatives by supporting Scozzafavas. If Hoffman can win, maybe the GOP will actually learn something about leadership. I, of course, am not holding my breath.
I do hope those conservatives who have posted here will let the GOP know it ought to cut the crap and start supporting our cause. Posting, without more, is ineffective. The GOP has heard from me loud and clear, of that you can be assured.
@66. Exactly!: – Every time the RNC calls I tell them no money …
Every other day I get one of the RNC’s bogus ‘survey’ mailings, which is just a plea for money. Rather than fill out the survey or send them any $$, I’ve taken to using a large red magic marker to tell them what I think of their policies. The response goes back to them in the postage-paid envelope.
Scozzafava…..hmmmm….wonder if George Soros is behind her????
“Conservative voters and leaders are no longer going to rubber-stamp candidates with “R” by their names.”
We have no choice, it’s all very clear to us in the private economy The End Is Near if we don’t save the Republic now. Last chance.
http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd450.htm
And Newt belongs to the CFR, he is only doing what he is told to do.
#41 now and then:
Were you born a miserable human being or is it a result of your years pining over the fact that your neighbor has a bigger house, a faster car and a hotter wife? Just curious.
56 Goy:
Huckabee…..(unlike Sarah Palin) he’s not going to lead until he sees the opportunity to run out in front of a column that is already halfway to its destination.
FOTFLMAO, you hit the nail on head. He tried to do that with the tea party movement,back in April. He’s a nice enough guy,but I don’t like his record in Arkansas.
Palin is working her way “up the learning curve” of national politics, she’ll be ready in ’12 (if that’s her goal). Remember, it’s easier to teach an honest conservative to be a politican than it is to teach a politican to be an honest conservative.
Gingrich and Crist share precisely the same brand of political narcissism: they value their public images as contrarians over substantive commitment to any political philosophy. Thus, they’re both prone to career-imploding missteps, though this quality makes them media darlings, which has saved them from obscurity.
Looking at the Florida poll numbers, I keep telling myself that there must be a lot of journalists in Florida, because they seem to be the only people who are supporting Crist, and yet Rubio is still trailing.
Less amusingly, Gingrich jumped the ethical shark recently by associating himself with Al Sharpton. Nobody should forget or forgive this.
Mr. Smith is bang on! These damned stupid Republicans, who get their clocks cleaned EVERY time they should be standing up for the principles of liberty, are the reason why we are all riled up. We know they got the collectivist elected and we know they are no better when they go along with any of this collectivist claptrap. We know that collectivism cannot be beaten by mealy mouthed, me too, go along to get along, Republican career politicians. We know that collectivists can only be beaten by the lovers of liberty, and that is how it has been throughout history. Time to go into the fight with the same righteous indignation that propelled our founders into action. If the Republicans can’t see this, to hell with the Republicans too!
Goy and Exactly,
You are doing what needs to be done, denying the Graham type Republicans money. I didn’t give a dime to the party in 2007, 2008 or 2009. That is after they got a steady stream of support from 2000-2006. I did give money to individual conservative candidates in 2008 and 2009.
I also sent a letter to my state GOP chairman and executive director, a very prominent former member of the 1st Bush administration, respectfully telling him what the party needed to do to get people like me back on board. The silence has been deafening. He doesn’t realize that with each passing day of failure to acknowledge my point he is moving the party into a position from which they will never be able to recover, at least as far as I am concerned. Explains all you need to know about why “NO NEW TAXES!” was a one shot wonder. Listening to this bum was probably why he got smoked by Clinton.
Keep hurting the party in the wallet and only giving money to true conservatives; eventually it will get the message. Either that or go the way of the Whigs.
Are you listening Mr Steele?
I have received 3 mailings from the Republicans over the last three weeks. Same ol’ same ol’ tired form but always asking for money. With the likes of Snowe, Newt, Lindsey (another 5years!) ect. ect. this party is in trouble! I want my Party to stand for core values and the mindset to protect the Constitution.
I sent the form back with how disgusted I am with Republican leaders already in office in big black letters- NO WAY!
OK, this is great, there is movement in the ossified offices of power…but if you want real change in the GOP it cannot come without an enforcement mechanism. You wonder why these people are so tone deaf, tin eared and insulated from reality? Its because that’s exactly the way they want it.
The GOP needs THE PLEDGE, which is a solemn vow to be taken by every elected official in the party which states they will no engage in deficit spending, ever.
No taking out debt via the treasure either.
Any member of the party who is caught violating this is removed immediately from the party.
I”m not joking either. We can force this change.
as stated above a number of times – Support a Candidate NOT a party.
Take a look at this:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78545#at
This is the platform of the republican party. Where is the enforcement mechanism for…anything? It’s a list of hollow promises and platitudes that will never change ANYTHING.
THE PLEDGE would fix that. It’s simple, and it would work. There would be no wiggle room for any weasely lawyer crap at all. These people cannot be trusted and we cannot afford any longer to play dumb about it.
Bye Newt, Ive never been a fan of yours ever since you SOLD OUT on the Contract with America and NEVER seriously went after Clinton about his high crimes in office, particulary nuetering Chris Coxes attempts to expose the Chinagate mess. Newt has gone left every time hes had a chance. Too bad Newt, Sarah Palin now represents REAL americans. Let me guess-If You and Sarah both run for president in 2012, Id bet my hero SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO backs SARAH, because he knows phonies when he sees them. Ask Janet Napolitano ,Newt, since you seem so friendly with her type.
By the way-Ive sent $ only to 4 political candidates-Mr Hoffman is # 4. Before Him, Joe Wilson, Sarah Palin and Pat Toomay. Pat will get more, I want to see Arlen face the Spector of defeat. I ONLY will support my conservative brethren, not PHONY RINOS. Memo to GOP-GET RID OF RINOS.
If supporting the GOP means supporting the same tired old dinosaurs like Gingrich then forget it. The time is long past for the GOP to put up fresh new true conservatives who will support and VOTE for conservative values. Gingrich should take himself out to pasture.
I had almost forgiven Newt for appearing in that stupid ad a couple of years back that was all of those political leaders pledging to do something about climate change. I remember at the time thinking “what the hell?”
Now I’m remembering it clearly. Newt’s lost his street cred with conservatives.
#66 Exactly – Yes, the 60+ crowd is getting OLD and tiresome. Notice that some of our best peeps these days are the 40-somethings: Palin; Jindal; Cantor….
The problem with Gingrich and other establishment GOP is that they are playing the game based on all the old rules. They watch the same old Sunday political shows. They allow the MSM to frame the debate. They do not understand how the blogosphere has changed the equation. The old B.S. just won’t fly, anymore. It gets exposed too quickly.
Gingrich is not the only one to get caught unawares by an issue. Bob Beckel was hilarious on Hannity one day. They brought up the Mirandizing of captured POW’s, which had been implemented some long time before. Beckel had not heard about it. His face was so readable. It was truly a “WTF?!?” moment for him. Even he knew that was insane. He couldn’t process both the insanity of it, and that he hadn’t heard about it. Totally blindsided. But, good little Party shill, he rallied to its defense, rather than be honest and say how stupid it is. Party before country.
It’s because they believe still in the power of the MSM. They are just old and entrenched. Dey gots ta go!
Hoffman was on Fox the other night. The guy is kinda dorky; clearly an amateur. Just a private Citizen, a businessman, who got fed up and stepped forward. He is not winning on personality or style. He’s no Palin.
He’s rising in the polls every week, and now, leads the pack. He really surged after the Palin endorsement. He got the funds he so desperately needed. He also got credibility with the movement… and it is a movement.
The point is, he is winning, not by skill or savvy or personality, but by simply hawking Conservatism. It’s a winning strategy… especially if kingmaker Palin is on your side.
How Newt Gingrich Ruined My Sunday “Hour of Zen”
http://www.bloggybayou.com/2009/10/how-newt-gingrich-ruined-my-sunday-hour.html
Cheers
ER White
Yup! It’s time for the RINOs to hit the road. Let them find out just how rotten it is to stand in those long unemployment lines. It would be a real character building exercise for them.
To all Politics-as-usual people,
particularly the Parlor Pinks:
What would have to happen on Obama’s Watch to cause a majority shift to the Conservative Party ?
Stagflation, Double-dip “W” Recession, or
V\_ permanent decline in standard of living ?
None of the above ?
Nobody rebels, risks life and limb, to maintain a
standard of living, but if Obama’s programs have them driving to work in the dark in an unsafe neighborhood,they _will_ change parties, and if TPTB keep on demanding sacrifice, they may be.
See the decline of Argentina for a horrible example.
P.S. Yes, no rebellion there, but the Weans are not
as well domesticated, ah, civilized, as the rest
of the race; Exceptional, we are.
Some advice for the Noble Obama and Friends:
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/norman_and_saxon.html
If I could distill the Golden Rule for distinguishing Tea Party candidates from the dross, it is this:
Find a successful person NOT warmly embraced by the elite of either major political party.
http://templeofmut.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/so-i-was-right-conservatism-is-not-dead/
Marc Malone – good points. I fully agree, the 60′s plus crowd of the Republican Party has go to go; they are entrenched in the old style Washington mindset of central control, are out of touch with the grassroots, have dropped basic conservativist principles.
And, they don’t understand, as you point out, how the Internet has changed politics by empowering the local populations rather than the centrist and elitist MSM.
I saw Hoffman on Fox; as you say, he’s a bit of a dork; i.e., he’s not a professional, he’s not slick on TV; he actually thinks about what he’s going to say and doesn’t spout an empty truism. He’s
one of the people rather than a professional politician.
And that’s what’s needed; people not professional shysters.
Who cares about these Rockefeller Republicans preaching to us about their Republican party going the way of the Whigs if we continue to demand smaller, more conservative government?
Party affiliation and majority rule won’t mean much if the country keeps going the way of Cuba. I don’t care if this Hoffman is dynamic or not. We’ve got all these so-called dynamic people in Washington who are quickly ruining the country.
If the guy is ordinary, so much the better. So are most of us. Hoffman certainly can’t do any worse than the clowns calling the shots now and I would prefer to have a little “ordinary” representing me.
Newt screwed the pooch on this one. Whatever his 2012 aspirations, I think he can forget them.
I’ve sent money to Hoffman twice so far and will do so a third time if conditions warrant. There was a radio caller yesterday who was on the road (from Michigan IIRC) headed to NY-23 because Hoffman needs boots on the ground. We’re not going to just sit around and take it anymore. The RNC and GOP can lead, follow or get out of the way.
I like what little I’ve seen of Marcus Rubio very much. However he fares with Crist, he has a big future ahead of him. He’s a natural (had a great appearance on Morning Joe today: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/10/27/video-rubio-on-principles-and-winning/ (via Hot Air)
#69 ANONYMOUS Silly boy! George Soros is behind ALL of them.
these posts must be f@#k!ng with the minds of the trolls.
conservatives have no problem critizing members of the republican party. or anyone who they think isn’t principaled.
this is something they cannot do, it probably cannot even be thought. poor trolls
TWO RINOS DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST! Having a wonderful time! We wish you could be here!We spoke to all the chinese and mexican millionaires, and after licking the floors clean,and fellating them,promised to work harder than ever for open borders,outsourcing,stronger gun control,and multiculturalism,by selecting the right candidates for congress,We also did..OOps! gotta go now,we have to shine some boots,Mr. Fox is very particular about his boots!GEORGE BUSH,NEWT GINGRICH .From a postcard sent from the servant quarters, The Vicente Fox estancia, Cancun, Mexico
SUKIE TAWDRY: Newt does not screw “the pooch”,he IS the Pooch, the one that gets screwed bt Vicente Fox’s doberman.
86. Marc Malone:
91. ETAB:
96. deguello:
Just a question–do any of you guys like the idea of the Pledge? The reason I ask is that I think its pure common sense.
You should forget Republicans versus conservatives and vote Democratic. They’re more truthful.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/65027-pelosi-claim-that-cia-lied-validated-by-intel-panel
Apology accepted.
I hope Hoffman wins the election but even if he doesn’t it will still be a good thing that finally someone stood up to the RINO’s and said enough is enough.
Like others here I have come to the point that I will no longer give to any Republican unless the candidate is a confirmed small government conservative. Just the other day I got a call from the Republican Senatorial Committee. I said, “is this a sales call?” When the guy on the other end said “no” the lying started. To make it short after I told him twice that I won’t give anything to a party that stands for nothing except their own interests he said he understood and then asked if I could pledge $75 or more dollars!! This is today’s Republican Party, a LONG way from Reagan.
90. Mutnodjmet:
“Find a successful person NOT warmly embraced by the elite of either major political party.”
Sounds to me like you should vote for drug dealer. (Rush’s maid comes to mind.)
The Republican establishment is a fossilized remnant of a once proud party; the Conservative base can turn the fossil into a living, breathing thing again. The RNC reject Hoffman at their peril. Bold ideas are needed now–not wishy washy McCain compromises.
95. Anonymous:
“conservatives have no problem critizing members of the republican party. or anyone who they think isn’t principaled . . . this is something they (liberals? trolls?) cannot do, it probably cannot even be thought. poor trolls”
If you think I have a problem criticizing people I think aren’t principled, you haven’t been paying attention. What do you think I do here? I feed on criticizing unprincipled people. I thrive on the blatant and unlettered hypocrisy of the unwashed conservative masses. I live to lance the self-righteous ideologues who populate the right wing extremist movement – the idiots who would be taken in by amateur hucksters like Beck and Palin and Limbaugh. What did any of them ever do FOR somebody?
People are beginning to show they care more about principle than they do party. Dems should realize many of their own also intend voting for principled candidates.
The issues are the issue. The party is a mechanism & if it serves the purpose, fine. But, if it does not, it can be bypassed & the candidate the people want elected. The public cannot afford to pay out for all these programs. And, many of the programs are simply government control of our lives.
We can be tolerant, we can practice social justice, and still be conservative in our dealings w/ our finances & our legal system.
The NY dust-up is indicative of people tired of government ignoring them & deciding to make them pay for every politicians whim.
Whenever politicians say “comprehensive’ reform, we know it means they will go totally overboard w/ their actions rather than deal w/ the issues & problems we face.
Newt’s day may have come & gone, but so too have the days of Pelosi, Reid, & other rabid liberals, who are pandering to those who bought their party & who are now trying to make us a socialists state.
Barney Frank wants ‘more’ government. We need voters in his district to realize it was he who was among those primarily responsible for our failed economic situation.
We want less, but responsible government. Katrina was not racial bias… it was bloated government bureaucracy that failed abysmally. FEMA “was” a terrific group prior to the DHS consolidation. Once it became part of the bureaucracy, their reactions were doomed. In short, government got too big & its ability to respond failed.
Lets elect responsible leaders & not party ideologues!
Is it just me or are 60 year olds in politics becoming really tiresome (on both sides)? — exactly
The Baby Boomers are a tiresome bunch. They have done their damnest to destroy Western Civilization. They are a complete dissaster.
I was looking forward to them retiring and unclogging the Corporate ladders…however that has been placed on hold. I think only the Government workers are continuing to retire with their fat government pensions.
The sooner the Boomers die off the better. All these old school race baiters and environutters and feminazis…still living their radical dreams…still striving to maintain that feeling of the late 60s early 70s.
Give it a rest!
But Im not giving up on Newt! He should be in the Next GOP White House.
Just finished reading all 106 comments before mine. It’s an impressive show of die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool, right wing fervor, and we can be certain that this kind of take-no-prisoners, brook-no-compromise enthusiasm will eventuate in our capturing the White House, just like we did in ’64. Halleluja, brothers!
99. Now and Then:
Do you even read these things you link to? Or are you like David S?
“The CIA may have misled Congress at least five times since 2001, two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee said Tuesday.”
Do you see the key word there? What is it? How about here?
“One of the instances being closely examined by the two Democrats is the September 2002 briefing on enhanced interrogation techniques that became the basis for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) claim that the CIA lied to her. Findings on this point could bolster Pelosi’s case.”
Let’s try rewriting these segments without fundamentally changing the meaning….
“The CIA may not have misled Congress, two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee said Tuesday.”
and:
“One of the instances being closely examined by the two Democrats is the September 2002 briefing on enhanced interrogation techniques that became the basis for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) claim that the CIA lied to her. Findings on this point could doom Pelosi’s case.”
As our local vapid troll philosopher says:
“Try reading for comprehension”
“Now and Then:
You should forget Republicans versus conservatives and vote Democratic. They’re more truthful.”
___________________________________________
your so full of s**t.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&feature=player_embedded
#105 Escape Velocity:
“The sooner the Boomers die off the better. All these old school race baiters and environutters and feminazis…still living their radical dreams…still striving to maintain that feeling of the late 60s early 70s”
Why do you think so many of them have been pushing for Single Payer/Public Option/Socialist Utopiacare?
It’s some species of a demographic death wish.
Judging by the successes government has historically had with administering Public Education, Public Parks, Public Housing and Public Assistance.
No one should hold that folks who expect a government-run public health program to be efficient, effective, and cheaper than the private alternative are within hailing distance of being rational.
And yet…there they are.
There was a time when the term “conservative” wasn’t synonymous with hallucinating, religious self-reinforcing ignoramuses. But I suppose terms change over time.
78. baal:
OK, this is great, there is movement in the ossified offices of power…but if you want real change in the GOP it cannot come without an enforcement mechanism. You wonder why these people are so tone deaf, tin eared and insulated from reality? Its because that’s exactly the way they want it.
The GOP needs THE PLEDGE, which is a solemn vow to be taken by every elected official in the party which states they will no engage in deficit spending, ever.
No taking out debt via the treasure either.
Any member of the party who is caught violating this is removed immediately from the party.
I”m not joking either. We can force this change.
_____________________________________________________________
An astounding absurd post even for you, baal. Wow. Are you on crack?
There was a time when malevolent leftists trolls were ignored for being the mindless sheep they are. That time was Oct 27,2009 7:39pm.
Perhaps being on the inside too long means the GOP powers that be aren’t seeing what we see. They see politics as usual, perhaps a bit more extreme. We see a vital threat to the security and ideals of the nation, to ourselves and our descendants.
We have always been the rubes they manipulate to get us to vote for whatever. In better times, we feel we have more options, and have perhaps been more easily led. My bet is that they feel we’ll get over it, that they know best, they are the experts. Their view from the fishbowl doesn’t look threatening.
I think most of us won’t get over it, the country is too far over the line already, and has been for a while. If the economy improves, moderates who have moved right may get wishy-washy. Hard to know what to wish for, but it looks like the economy is going to stink for a while.
“The GOP isn’t listening”
Probably because the GOP, unlike the conservative base, understands that it can’t survive as a party if all it does is shrink, shrink and shrink until everyone but the activists is excluded. Republican strategists are afraid that people like PJTV will do to the party what the New Left did to the Democrats in the 1970s, that is, take their fanaticism so far that they’ll alienate the rest of the country and cause a shift in the other direction. And thus condemn conservatism to forty years in the desert, as happened to the liberals after 1968 and the conservatives after 1932.
Anyone who is suspicious of Newt G is on the right track in my view. He is exactly what we do NOT need as a presidential candidate right now. I want him in our corner but only if he agrees to rehab and “reformation” of his cliched views of “reaching across the isle”, global warming, supporting the old guard republican hacks RINOS and worse, and other views which he shares with the radical left.
The USA is facing the cumulative burden of continuously compromising with people who have extreme and bad ideas. What is the logic of taking one mediocre idea from a weak republican and compromising it down to a plain stupid idea of a leftist like (Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Murtha, Frank, Dodd, Waters, Leahy, Shumer, & I could go on). Guess what? You end up with plain stupid outcomes!
“Success” of this compromise includes massive corruption, run away deficit spending, weak defense, appeasement of enemies/alienation of allies, weakened Amerian values, a faltering free enterprise system and consequent sluggish employment situation and a national debt that will choke off growth and burden our children for the rest of their lives. How you liking this HOPE and CHANGE?
We need to WIN these next elections and take NO prisoners. That is we need to make policy based on shared values, vote our policies into law, and do so while following our principles and values which we will NOT compromise any more.
In the process we need to drive the RATS out of the warehouse in washington whoever they may be including liberals, leftists, socialists, communists, lobbyists, journalists, and weak half baked independents and clueless republicans.
Revolution is in the air and Conservatives are on the March!!
Got It?
Tommy Gunn
NY 23 is Lexington. The RNC has marched in to disarm the forces of Liberty, but the word is out and the Redcoats are about to be routed. In the 2010 primaries we will move the cannon to the high ground above Boston Harbor. Expect McCain and Graham to draft an Olive Branch Petition.
Newt says we can’t become a perfect majority, so we’re doomed to be a minority…..????????????????????
Polls all show that self identified CONSERVATIVES are the SINGLE LARGEST VOTING BLOCK IN THE COUNTRY!
He’s stiff-arming conservatives, but not for the reasons he claims.
I believe the GOP disdain for evangelical Christians, for pro-lifers with religious reasons, for anyone who quotes a Bible for any life guidance, is what drives this.
GOP wheels are just liberal-lites, convinced their own superior intellects and morality are born for leadership, the tide of history, blah blah blah.. they are afraid that if evangelical Christianity is anywhere near the ascendancy in politics, that it will somehow ‘turn off the public’, and they refuse to admit that it IS the public! That 40% number doesn’t come from nowhere, it isn’t just fiscal conservatives and defense advocates.. it’s a sampling of the over 85% of Americans who say they believe in GOD!
Newt.. you’re missing the boat.. intellect is morally neutral… and morality does not come from brain power… it’s a God thing and you don’t get it, so shut up and get out of the way. I’m not advocating we run a religious government, only that those who are religious not be DISQUALIFIED from governing on that account. Christians can be great plumbers, accountants, bus drivers and CEO’s, and there’s no reason we can’t be good government leaders too.
The earthquake happened on 9/12.
What’s about to happen is the resulting tsunami.
115 Ryan,
“their fanaticism”?
Conservatives are not fanatics. We are principled people. “progressives” are fanatics, devoted to destroying institutions and ‘progressing’ endlessly toward some utopia where all individuals are equal in every way and all human foibles are outlawed. Theirs is an ideology that leads to gulags and political correctness police with the power to execute people in the streets for believing the wrong thing.
THAT is fanaticism.
Conservatives believe we should use common sense and prudence in fiscal matters, defend ourselves without apology in a world suffused with evil, raise our children to be self-sufficient and to use the Golden Rule, and even (gasp) open the Bible now and then to help us stay on the right track in life.
THAT is not fanaticism… it’s just how to live a good life and make a great country. It already worked. America’s been a great country for a couple hundred years.
the FANATICS are the ones trying to destroy and change everything… but the two sides of the debate are not moral equivalents. You can’t apply the fanatic label to the right as you do to the left. Not without deliberately blinding yourself to simple life truths.
Why is the GOP minority leader, John Boehner and Eric Cantor aligning with Newt Gingrich and against their conservative Republican constituents in NY Hoffman race. They are writing off their majority voters. We need new leaders badly.
Many Repubs. are failing to realize that they and the stances they assume are part of the problem, which exacerbates the problem. We must vet. all candidates. Do not be too quick to jump on a bandwagon. Thompson and Palin are attempting to start leading this neo-neocon push.
ryan – I don’t think that the GOP should ‘shrink’, which implies a reduction to a few specific points. I think that the GOP should return to basics, which are general rules, as articulated in the Constitution.
The error of many in this suggestion of ‘shrinking’ is to confuse particular points with general rules. The GOP ought to be for smaller government, which allows specific rules to be made by local government. Common rules ought to apply to common, crossing-the-state issues.
This perspective has nothing to do with religion. Dave, I disagree – intellect is NOT morally neutral but necessarily moral. The ‘Golden Rule’is moral law that rests in the intellect not in any authoritarian metaphysical voice.
I disagree that weeding out the dross from the GOP leaves a host of religious, or other, fanatics. Such views are peripheral not ground views and are found in both parties. In the Democratic party, such religious or dogmatic views, aka radical socialism, have now taken over that party.
The basic perspective of the GOP is rooted in the Constitution. This is the conservative view. Nothing more, nothing less. It is rooted in an insistence on individual freedom and responsibility.
Majority coalitions do work; its the only way you can get things done in Congress. However, what Gingrich and other party old-farts don’t realize is that they’ve been out of step with the electorate for quite some time. This is not a new phenomenon. They’ve been so out of step that they’ve been disenfranchising increasing chunks of the electorate for some time and that chunk of people hasn’t been voting. So the republicrats and demopublicans have been listening to an ever-shrinking portion of the electorate and misguidedly thinking that they are representing america. For the demopublicans its been the loony anti-war marxist left. For the republicrats its been the loony religious right social conservatives. Both groups have been pissing off the independents, just for different reasons. If republicrats want to be a majority force in politics again, they’re going to have to start paying attention to the independents.
The tea partiers are not pissed off republicans. They are independents who are waking up from a political stupor and finally getting involved. They aren’t going to just lay back and take it anymore from either party. Social conservatives have been driving the republicrat party and are more than willing to give up fiscal conservativism in order to get their social conservative agenda rammed down everyone’s throats. The independents and other fiscal conservatives have had it with this approach, epitomized by the policies of Bush 43. They gave the republicrats a wake up call in 2006. They didn’t get it. They gave you another massive wake up call in 2008. The comments from the likes of New Gingrich, Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett and other so-called “conservatives” from the republicrat establishment makes it quite clear that although the phone has been ringing loudly and incessantly for 3 years, they are still asleep.
#111 MOHO Yes, and there was a time when “LIBERAL” did not mean a gulag-loving,freedom hating,Stalinist thug.
#98 baal – No, I would not support the Pledge. This has already been done each election. It rarely means much. Besides, I support the Fair Tax. When you change the tax code completely, how would you compare and etermine if atxes were raised. Apples and Oranges. However, the opposition will try to do so. They will cherry-pick and distort. “Aha! This group is paying more! You raised taxes, you hypocrite.” They’ll take their cheap shots, but one is not required to stand out in the open whilst they do so.
RE: shrinking the GOP – This is a Leftist meme; a canard. The problem with the old guys in the GOP is they believe the MSM memes and they run scared. For example, they become embarrassed by the religous right and try to distance themselves, even if they themselves are devout. They jump through the hoops the Left holds out for them, afraid to take a stand. The Leftist media has been trying to marginalize the GOP base, and the so-called moderates have been going along; buying the meme. This is why the GOP has been shrinking. The Far Right has been leaving, not the moderates.
The truth is, it is not about Dems versus Pubs. It is about Big Government versus Small Government. The Conservatives, the Libertarians, and the Constitution Party are all Small Government types. EVERYONE else is for Big Government. Moderate/Liberal Pubs go in the same direction as Moderate/Liberal Dems. They just get there more slowly. The cliff, however is the same. (A lemming analogy seems very apt, here. Call it the Lemming Movement.)
People were unhappy with deficit-spending Bush. They were unhappy with the deficit-spending Pub Congress. So, they threw them out and put in… deficit-spending Obama and Dems. they got more of the same… in spades! It’s because it was defined as Pubs versus Dems, rather than as Big Government versus Small Government. This is how we change things. Change the understanding. You don’t like the Big Government spending? Then choose Small Government types, not the Other Big Government types.
Small versus Big. David versus Goliath. It’s a winner, because it strips away the disguises (and sounds good, too).
The Purge is On!
Forget creating a new Party… the Republican party belongs to Conservatives and we will take it back. Reagan rallied us and we did it before.
How?
Supporting only those candidates who adhere to Conservative/Constitutional Principles.
We have the power of alternative media, communications and the purse at our finger tips.
There is clearly a majority of conservative Americans.
Now get to work!
There’s Bolsheviks in the White House and the inmates have taken over the asylum – Congress.
Hoffman is to New York,
as Liberman is to Connecticut.
____________
The apparatchniks are seizing control of mid level positions in many of our institutions.
That is how a leftist like Dede Scozzafava gets nominated. A few county bosses selected her.
John F. Kennedy would refute the values and policies of today’s Democrat Party.
If Hoffman wins, he and Liberman will give legitimacy to electing Independents in the Northeast.
As Mr. Lector said, “If you can’t keep up with the conversation, be quiet!” Good advice for Newt.
Newt does have good ideas and is fine historian but what he knows about politics is more wrong than he will ever imagine. The Rinos stabbed him in the back when he was speaker yet he comes back and supports them. DUMB!
Is there a name for this phenominom?
Tuesday will herald a good message; regardless of the exact outcome !
“Some people ‘GET-IT’ … some folks never will.” Newt is brilliant as a strategist and thinker; he just doesn’t seem to ‘GET IT’ when it comes to application. Like other well educated idealist … he is limited like an officer who can WIN a battle; but, he has proven to the Conservative part of the Nation that he can not lead in ‘WINNING THE WAR’. Regardless … he is like ‘soiled goods’ – too much baggage and I believe he is totally unelectable. ((If he really wanted to be effective he would have to renounce ALL personal ambitions of running again.)) His last attempt ‘to be drafted’ was, I believe, an ego driven mistake, and surely a miscalculation.
Mr. Steele does not impress me as a man who ‘GET’s-IT’ either !
If there is one thing Republicans could use; I think it would be a “Carville type” mouthpiece. Damage control is just something the party does not understand; and the Dem’s are masters at pounding on their agenda; regardless of letting facts or truth – get in the way !
Tuesday night should help define the mission …