Michael Steele: The Democrats’ Best Friend?
Steele’s ideas scare people, and his idea that Republicans have “screwed up” any chance they may have had in November 2010 is a perfect case in point. After Steele appeared on Hannity’s show, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) “pointed to Steele’s comments as further evidence of a civil war within the GOP and party disarray.” Steele’s comments boosted the spirits of a Democratic Party that is losing public approval faster than ever thought possible. They heard the RNC chair voice his lack of confidence in his own party, and the Democrats were able to forget that the Cook Political Report and others are already projecting that “GOPers are headed for a 20-30 seat pickup” in the congressional elections that are now just 10 months away.
The DCCC is not altogether wrong in thinking there’s a civil war within the Republican Party. There is a battle over the party’s soul taking place between those exerting all their energies to return the party to true conservatism, and those like Steele who take a more pragmatic approach to the party’s growth and success.
The conservative effort is part of a bottom-up, grassroots movement that could not only give the party back to Reagan, but could also give Republicans the House in November. All it needs is for men like Steele to keep their negative and often contradictory opinions in check while rank-and-file party members do the work. This is no time to vacillate between conservatism, quasi-conservatism, and moderation.
If Steele stays out of the way and the Republicans make the gains they’re poised to make in November, he may yet learn how to lead this party. But if he keeps voicing his doubts, opposing stalwarts like Limbaugh, and giving the liberals a fighting chance, he may instead prove to be the Democrats’ best friend.
Steele needs to resign. He needed to resign three months into his tenure when he criticized Rush, and now it’s getting ridiculous.
Same scenario than in Spain
1) The year before the elections a radical makes a surprise takeover of the party.
2) Shortly before the elections an external event (the bombings ion Spain, the crisis triggered by the bankruptcy of deocratic-controlled Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae) turns public opinion against the right allowing a complete unknown to win the elections
3) The charismatic leader turns not to be merely incompetent but positively hate the country and aim at destroying it.
4) After the elections the opposition is saddled with a weak and ineffective leader who acts more like if he were collaborating with the incumbent than in opposing him.
Right on! Steele has never spoken for me. And as Hawkins says, it’s not because of Steele’s skin color but because of Steele’s ideas. He’s John McCain Republican at best, and that’s no good.
I’ve been liking Steele more of late.
He kept emphasizing founding, unifying principles in his Fox interview last night (I didn’t see the whole thing) as the means of uniting a party, which differed quite a bit from some months back when he was echoing (dumb) Democrat positions, like Sotomayor’s appointment being “historic”.
He speaks well and with a lot of energy and also emphasized (last night) that he and all of us have learned and evolved and are constantly re-assessing, (it is hoped, coming to consensus, that resting on foundational principle as opposed to the Democrat way, e.g., playing identity politics, is the way forward for the Republican party).
Conservatives have a golden opportunity before us and we need to capitalize on it. Instead of relying on Steele to deliver our message, which he won’t, we need to continue to support Rush and the Tea Party movement to deliver the message at the ground floor level.
Why Steele was ever elected to be head of the Republican Party is beyond me. If this is the best Republicans can do, they are in deep trouble, no better off than Democrats.
Steele has been wallowing in his own inexperience since he took the job. He comes across as someone who just doesn’t get it and lurching from crisis to crisis. He couldn’t inspire anyone to do anything.
Austerity can be the tool for undoing the Obama agenda when we retake the house and Senate…is Steele the kind of man we can trust to actually wield that tool?
His prediction that Republicans won’t win was just too much. It’s like he doesn’t support his own team!
Steele has been sending mixed messages, despite his book to make the Republicans stronger. He needs to go.
“His prediction that Republicans won’t win was just too much. It’s like he doesn’t support his own team”–
I’m indifferent, but I’m not sure this party needs cheerleaders…leaders maybe. The troubling fact is he’s probably right…November is a long way off…alot will happen between now and then.
STEELE THE DOLT NEEDS TO GO.
Steele may have a point. Are the Republicans actually capable of leading right now? The Party doesn’t know who it is or what message to send to the voters. The old heads are just about finished but enough of them are still hanging on and thus will influence (and corrupt) a new crop of Reps and Senators. Remember, the current ‘senior Republicans’ are part of the spend, spend, spend, Big-Gov-U-Can-Luv party that gave us Bush’s spend thrift domestic policy. We need more new blood, more new ideas and natural leaders to rise to the top before we are ready to lead the country.
As for his older race related comments, I’m a southern raised white male. I have been called a racists by more ‘people of color’ than I can count. All this began when I went to college in 1986 and has only gotten worse. If I talked politics, I was called racist for my views on personal accountability, welfare, tough crime laws, immigration law enforcement, and small government that honors and follows the Constitution. I’ve had more than one ‘woman-of-color’ tell me I was racist by birth and will always be a racist because I’m white. Funny thing, I was always attracked to exotic women and that is how I tended to date….even now my wife of 14 yrs is mixed race. Steele will always feel that way and will always met people he thinks are scared of him because “WE” have been conditioned to “NOT” talk to the ‘minority’ in the room least “WE” be scolded for a percieved racist comment.
And why isn’t the RNC pouring money and expertise into the Brown senatorial campaign in MA? All indications seem to be that he has a decent chance there, despite the overwhelming Democratic voter base.
If that seat could be turned away from the Dark Side, in less than three weeks, Harry Reid could be no longer arrogantly touting his 60 vote veto-proof majority.
Where is the RNC under Steele????
No wonder the contributions are drying up for the Republicans. We don’t want or need any more Demolites in the Congress.
saltyrover:
Steele may have a point. Are the Republicans actually capable of leading right now? The Party doesn’t know who it is or what message to send to the voters.
Unfortunately, the “fundamental transformation of America” proceeds rapidly whether the Republicans have “leaders” or not, and the longer it is allowed to go forward, the more the entire country will be screwed, whether Republicans can instantly be found to “lead” us or not.
The “leaders” in this battle are the people, the ones in the tea parties, who want this abomination slowed and stopped – period. The individuals to look to as “leaders” in politics can and will be found in the near term, but there really isn’t time to make sure we have them in place before we begin trying to stop this Marxist juggernaut.
As lots of polls are indicating, the “moderates” are very unhappy that Obama turned out to be the radical we tried to warn them about before the election. Let’s just make sure that the candidates we support are conservative. No more Scozzofavas or Crists or McCains or Grahams or Snowes or Collinses or Specters.
Steele has a long way to go but he keeps getting better. He will make additional errors this year but he has not made half the errors as he did in his first three months. At his rate of improvement by 2012 he will be dilivering first class performance and something of a historic figure.
I hope that he can get a handle on Washington’s professional RINOs before this fall.
Steele HAS to resign. This latest incident has no excuse for the “leader” of the Republican Party. It is time for him to step aside, take his liberal-moderate out of the party and follow one of his fellows, Colin Powell, right into the Democrat camp.
Conservatism is going to take back this party.
There’s a lot of time to 11/10 and the disenchantment with the Dimocrooks will continue to grow, Steele had better get with the plan or he will be pushed out long before the next election.
Hey fellas, news flash. The Republican Party’s upper apparatchiks don’t wake up every morning giving a rats ass about much other than
1) using the power they have for their own benefit
2) keeping the power they have for themselves.
You are not a party member. You are a consumer they market to, when they think they have to. And right now, who you ‘gonna vote for — Barry?
America today needs a Thomas Jefferson: the organizational details of the fight to stop the totalitarians will be easily taken care of if there will be leaders able to focus the attention of the American People on the defense of Freedom.
The grass-roots movements of these last few months have shown that when the giant awakes it finds its own organizational solutions.
We cannot reasonably expect that the professionals of politics who have led America (by action and by omission) into the present nightmare can be able to lead America out of the tunnel.
What on earth did you expect from the GOP? Its clueless: it doesn’t know what it stands for anymore.
Neither Bush, Hastert or Delay opposed deficit spending. Pudgy former speaker Dennis Hastert presided over a cesspool of corruption and waste.
Tom Delay told us that only big wigs in D.C. had to worry about terrorists.
Cheny told us the era of “big government was back.”
Tea party protestors? What were they?
Who was our candidate in 2006 against an inexperienced community organizer? An listless, spiritless, old fud with a fleeting at best grasp of why balanced budgets are good and McCain-Feingold limits on campaign spending are bad. A “me too” candidate who stood for no principle in 20 years in the senate. Even now he is a best a pale expression of opposition to wild deficit spending.
The GOP has bigger problems than the hapless but decent Steele: it’s lost it’s soul. It has no saints except Lincoln and Reagan.
Its commanded by ascot-wearing, country club types who lay awake at night fretting about the estate tax and the possibility that somewhere, a gay or lesbian might want to embrace traditional values and get married.
Unionized state employee ponzi schemes? Declining public schools? The abysmal condition of History books that nauseate young readers with their boiled prose that has removed any praiseworthy stories of the US? Not on the radar.
I remember Steele speaking in 2004 (I think) and giving a really great speech before the Republican national convention. This guy is not one of the bad guys, I believe though that he needs to really reconsider his position in the party.
Look, political parties are like any other organization and will fail when you put people in the wrong places. Steele is a competent individual but is he the best man for the spokesman for a political party. My thought is no.
As for a suggestion of who should really lead? I’ll be honest: I don’t know. However I would suggest someone who is willing to talk to other party leaders and followers, find out what our message is, and speak their mind about the issues. Steele only does one of these things and this leads to Steele being called names from both sides of the fence.
Steele is one of the good guys, just not the one we need.
Let’s face it Steele is the affirmative action hire by limp wristed liberal republican RINOs. Now wait and see if he is pushed out the cry of it’s because I’m black are sure to follow.
It is time for conservatives to clean house in the Republican party and get rid of the RINOs.
Steele is emblematic of exactly the sort of gutless, wimpering, ‘compassionate’ Republican ‘leadership’ that handed Congress to the Democrats in 2006. In fact, if it hadn’t been for 9/11, there would have been absolutely no difference between Bush and Steele, politically, and Bush would likely have been a one-termer, just like his RINO father.
And that’s the problem. True conservative ideology, as defined by the Constitution and largely championed by Ronald Reagan, is nonexistent in the Republican political machine right now. As such, instead of the Republican Form of Government guaranteed by our Constitution, we are now ruled by far-far-left socialists and center-left socialist wannabes. They have ALL come to view bigger government and more entitlements as their path to continued power – Constitution be damned and though the heavens fall.
This coming November needs to be just as much a referendum on failed GOP leadership as it is on socially suicidal Democrat policies. Unless that happens, in the very best case America will still be exactly where it was 5 years ago: in decline.
I take a slightly different read on Steele’s recent “Republicans aren’t ready to lead” comment. And if I’m correct in my guess as to the true motivation for these remarks, then what he did is nothing short of brilliant.
In this political climate – where the majority of the American people are finally being exposed to the breathtaking extent of the Democrat’s uber-statist intentions – the greatest enemy of conservatives right now aren’t Obama, Pelosi, or Reid…it’s the cowardly, feckless Republican leadership.
What’s their strategy for winning going forward? Keep their heads down…murmur a little bit about “reckless spending” and “restraint”…and then hope for the best. That’s it. And it’s a sure recipe for disaster.
The Dems have already telegraphed next year’s campaign strategy of tying Republicans to the “compassionate conservative” – i.e. big govt, big spending – Bush years. And guess what? It will work…just enough to mute a tidal wave backlash against the Democrats.
If the Republican leadership stays on their putrid, lukewarm coarse of Democrate-Lite and refuses to drive a new stake in the ground, Democrats will be able to tar-n-feather them with Steele’s statement about their inability to lead.
So by calling out the GOP establishment in this way, Steele is putting them in a position that leaves them with only one way out: tack to the right and give the American people a real choice between governing philosophies.
The GOP loves to reference and tout Ronald Reagan, but they haven’t been able to channel his message. Does anyone in the GOP remember the ads that ran during his 1980 campaign? The TV ad with a bear ambling about, symbolizing the Soviet Union, with the rhetorical flourish at the finale, “Shouldn’t we at least be as strong as the bear?” Effective messages that built support for the military rebuilding that Reagan directed – that led to the collapse of the USSR. Ads that didn’t just help Reagan win the presidency, but broadened his victory and his coattails.
Where are such ads today? Let’s see some grand strategy from the headquarters: Common ground/grand vision messages that kindle desire to rebuild a nation reflecting our greatness as a people and the brilliance of our founders.
With today’s GOP – particularly at the RNC and National Republican Congressional Committee – we get weak platitudes and pleas for cash, all to promote a flat message, and Rep. Boehner for Speaker. Who divined that Boehner was pre-ordained to be Speaker of the House? Why would we simply hand the ball to the same squad that has been playing a lackluster game for the last 4 years? What if the Tea Party/Conservative/Libertarian factions of this Grand Ole Party – arguably the most active segments today – don’t want his connections and buddy network to run the party any more? It’s time to bench these players and find some new talent. Frankly, they’d probably get more money if they promised to DISBAND the current leadership.
I’ve stopped the flow of money to the GOP and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Until they can show me a message with some horsepower, I’ll give to individual candidates worthy of the tasks ahead of them.
I was optomistic when Mike was nominated. I have been heartily disapointed by his leadership and striking ability to put his foot in his mouth. It’s a real shame, because I like the man personally. Republicans need a much better leader to get conservatives like me back in the party.
gverdi27 nailed it. Despite the fact that I have never met the man, I’m sure Michael Steele is a nice guy. However, he probably never has been, is not now and never will be a conservative. He was put into his current position by the RINO’s as an “oh yeah? We’ll show you. We have a black guy, too” response to candidate “O”. He does not have the ability to represent the conservative grassroots elements within the Republican Party who desperately want to take this country back. And as soon as possible! This fall, this election cycle.
Look, at least he’s been transparent unlike the candidate “O” who promised transparency. He’s plainly laid out his agenda for all of us to see. He needs to sell a book. He doesn’t think we can win. And if we did win, we can’t lead. Pretty clear stuff, if you ask me.
And from where he stands, he’s probably correct if you consider who the current “leadership” within the Republican Party is: John McCain, John Boehner, Lindsay Graham and Mitch McConnell. I’d rather put Rufus T. Firefly and his assistants in charge. At least they’re funny.
Mr. Steele keeps sending me requests for money. I keeping sending him letters telling him that he “just doesn’t get it” and won’t get any more of my hard earned money until he does. And he consistently proves my point because the same old lame letters of his keep coming with the same old lame request.
Mr. Steele, face it. You ain’t got the stomach or cojones for this job. You’ve already conceded defeat for the November. Hang it up and let someone else take the helm. Hell, who knows? We might even win. But with you, there’s no shot. You said so.
There is no “good” twist that can be put on Steele’s comments. He is unable lead, and he needs to get out of the way.
Repubs wont win because acorn and the peoples party wont give steel anymore candidates. what is he to do now?
I like Michael Steele. I think he is an honest and straightforward man. If he can just absorb a greater understanding of the political philosophy of the free society, he might just become a better spokesman for us.
Don’t like the Message? Attack the messenger.
Then wonder why the Republican party is in such trouble. Attacking the messenger is such a classic Democratic ploy that it reinforces the point that Republicans are not essentially different from Democrats. If they were, they would NOT accept the Democrats that have switched parties. Those are politicians that switched are just looking to steal as much money from the taxpayers as they can. Those politicians that switch coats because they see the wind shift are the problem, NOT the solution.
So, who would replace Steele?
We have no body to take over the reigns .
The Republicans are weak, insepid, self righteous, afraid to talk back….
Oh yeah…conservatives need a miracle, and Steele is not helping .
He needs to get out of the way…but then again…who????
We need to get rid of Steel and all other Rep officeholders, party officials that are not conservatives. The whole notion of moving to the center is a loser, as the distribution of voter political convictions indicates. We should take some queues from the Left. They are not stupid in how they fight. They do not tolerate people among them who do not share their core philosophy. Any group that does, simply weakens itself and hastens its decline, as many studies indicate.
The ‘big tent’ is a myth, for the most part. For example, the formerly mainstream protestant churches are dying, because they did the big tent thing, lost their values, and offered no reason for people to affiliate with them. They offered no differentiation from the overlying culture, no identity. That is death for an organization.
It’s not that we shouldn’t have debate, and there will always be marginal-to-moderate differences, but if the Rep establishment continues to lack understanding and confidence in conservative principles of limited government, maximum individual liberty, and maximum economic liberty (the last two are inseparably linked), it will die as an organization. That is what is happening now. The problem is exactly the opposite of what these ‘genius’s think it is. They are too far to the left, not too far to the right.
The problem with Steele is that he does in fact represent what the republican party has become. Don’t kill the messenger, kill the party (as it stands now).
Steele’s problem is that he doesn’t really believe in the conservative message he is trying to present. He is flailing about trying to get a grip on core conservative principles so he can parrot them to the electorate, but he has no idea what that is. Hence, the varying message. He’s a RINO to the core and doesn’t understand us conservatives. Not only is he a figurehead of the appropriate hue foisted upon us by the Repub leadership for the purpose of attracting black voters, but he’s got more in common with Chris Matthews than with Rush Limbaugh. And what does this say about our RINO leadership’s opinion of black voters in the first place??? Sounds just like what the Democrats think!
Don’t send money to the RNC!!! That’s the only thing they understand! After all, what do you think is making Steele come out and try to present a message conservatives will like in the first place???
There are a lot “dont shoot the messenger” posts on here, the problem with that idea is the messenger and the message are the same thing. The messenger, in this case Steele, is chosen because he represents and believes in the RINO ideals.
The challenge is that the leadership of the party has to be taken away from the liberal wing. In order to do this some blood will need be shed, in the political sense at present. The real problem is that even when they retire or are defeated they don’t go away.
More importantly there needs to be a defunding of the political equivalent of remoras in the form of 501 organizations. Not some but all of them and the organizations which stay in operation should have required transparency as to funding sources.
Forgive me if this seems like a non-sequitur.
The real problem with Republicans is that they are literally losing their religion in the war of politics, while the Democrats are having a boon in promoting their new(ish) secular religion of worshiping the earth, and self. People need to have common shared values that transcend monetary desires in order to have historical force, because when all is said and done, people just want to be held. I personally do not care about deficits or taxing all that much, as the intrinsic goal of all society is to eventually do away with money (but this doesn’t mean all people would have equal spending capacity). Whether one agrees with this or not doesn’t matter. What matters is the philosophy of life that Republicans need to endorse. It should be a Christian philosophy ultimately, regarding the sanctity of life, and the authority of the Creator. Do anything else and you’ll be found a gainsaying fraud. Christianity needs to be outwardly endorsed as the backbone of Conservatism, because that is what it is. Or that is what it should be.
One of the first things is to ditch Darwinian Evolution. Why do I read of conservatives talking about millions of years of earth history? We all know that the Bible is true starting with Genesis, and that science does not contradict this. Do you not understand that the Liberal world-view is predicated on Naturalism. Only they are much further ahead in their politics. A Conservative who accepts Darwinism is really just a remote Liberal (just add time) – A confounded person.
At least Liberals who are Evolutionists (as if any are not) are being consistent. Conservatives who accept Darwinian Evolution have what to base their convictions on? Certainly, not the veracity of the Bible, since you’ve disregarded that Christ has testified of Genesis.
In any case, I predict this will be ignored and all will go to crap, until Jesus returns.
Darn. I liked Michael Steele as Lt Governor of Maryland, and I most unfortunately agree with his assessment of the chances that the Republican Party will be capable of making much headway in the next set of elections. And, the reason is contained quite clearly in the comments above. I keep having visions of Patrick Buchannan making his “red meat” speech at the Republican Convention before Bill Clinton got elected.
The truth is, there’s room for the Republican Party to defeat the Democratic Party soundly in the next two election cycles, provided they make enough room in their party to allow moderates and centrists in. This is a gift, due largely to the takeover of the Democratic Party by it’s nutbar wing. The Dems did it to themselves, and have produced a dysfunctional government, for which they are fully responsible, and for which the loyal opposition should be lifting their eyes to the heavens, and intoning “Thank you, God!” Instead, they have been eating their own, savaging anybody who largely agrees with them because the agreement is not 100%.
Please think it over. Red meat may be fun, but it wins no elections.
How about Sarah Palin for Party Chair?
38 Valerie I completely agree with you that if the party goes all ditch Darwin and Pat Buchanan that the chances for the Republicans is slim. However the make room for moderates and centrists idea dosen’t work. The party needs to have some set of core values that it stands for or else you just wind up with the republican party of today. The big tent principle lets in the Arlen Sphincters, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and John McCain into the party and then based soley on longevity of service promotes them to leadership positions.
Someone needs to stand for LIMITED government, limited in size, scope, spending, regulation of private, business, property, and behavior and limited taxation. To quote Thomas Jefferson “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government”.
Oh for pity’s sake, KevinButterfield. You want Genesis as a plank of the Republican platform? You’re not being in the least bit helpful; in fact, you’re being decidedly unhelpful, so just put a sock in it why dontcha. I’m a conservative who accommodates both the Bible and Darwinian theory and I’m not in the least confounded. But I can certainly understand why so many conservatives have short patience with the religious right.
@38. Valerie: – The truth is, there’s room for the Republican Party to defeat the Democratic Party soundly in the next two election cycles, provided they make enough room in their party to allow moderates and centrists in.
BZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!!!
Nope.
This is EXACTLY the sort of backward, “can’t we all just get along”, compromise-infested thinking that got America where it is. The Republican Party – as it currently stands – is part of the problem. It got that way by pretending that you can take a ‘moderate’, ‘centrist’ position – compromising endlessly, year-after-year, with socialists – and still maintain the Republican Form of Government guaranteed by the Constitution. You can’t. The last 100 years are proof of this.
“Moderate” and “centrist” (which, don’t anyone kid yourself, are not the same as Independent) are just nice words for people who don’t understand the Constitution and/or don’t want to take a stand on defending it – as written.
Moderates and centrists think there just might be something to this “spread the wealth around” idea. They don’t say so in as many words, of course, but they don’t seem to have a problem with things like a bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid, a bankrupt Social Security System, federally-funded abortions-on-demand, “tax cuts” (read: federal welfare checks) for those who have no net tax liability, “affordable mortgages”, ever larger and ever more federal departments, commissions, grants, bailouts and takeovers – and on and on – ALL purchased using American Taxpayers’ wealth. We know all this for a fact because it describes exactly what we have today – all the result of the “moderate”, “centrist” vision.
Sorry, no. “Moderate”, “centrist” thinking is no longer welcome. If not for 9/11, we would have realized this 6 years ago. This is not to say that so-called (even self-labeled) moderates and centrists aren’t welcome. They are. They just need to read the Constitution. They need to be educated so that they understand the limitations built into the Constitution which define what the federal government does and does NOT have the authority to legislate.
Be ‘moderate’ or ‘centrist’ all you like, but someone needs to draw the line at expecting the federal government to legislate based on ‘moderate’ or ‘centrist’ doctrine: It. Does. Not. Work.
This concept is the sort of thing Steele and his ilk can’t seem to get a handle on. If they could, they’d finally realize why the Tea Party millions are scaring the living crap out of them.
It is about the economy, not the elections;
In Hard Times, Pols listen to taxpayers, not voters,
to business leaders, not protected class mob leaders.
Research the economic forecasts, and decide for yourselves
what US policy will be for the next decade:
Politics as usual, or national survival.
OBAMA plant. Think about it. Everything he says is against the REP. party. Did he come out of CHICAGO? I really dont know.
David Brooks, Michael Steele …. I love it when the right throws GOPers under the bus and the tent gets smaller and smaller….
Lets all agree that Mike Steele is a smart, nice guy. He loves the party and doesn’t have to prove his allegiance to it. But he is not a leader and that is not a put down. Many people in our daily lives do a yeoman’s job and we all are better for it. The problem is that we are in need of a Patrick Henry or a Paul Revere, someone to inspire us to do our best. Mike is not that person. The old coaches cliche of you aren’t as good as the other team and cannot defeat them is trite. We have the big Mo! We have the momentum and need a fiery leader to make this wave a tsunami not a ripple! We have the winning message for the American public. The Dems are on the run and now is not the time to play it cool. Lets make them answer the questions the public wants answered. Like where is the transparency Obama promised many times and where is the true cost of this HCR bill. Why do the Dems have to bribe their own members to vote yes? Oh God, we need Sarah Palin to step forward soon and take over this job and lead us to the victory that is in our grasp!
Valerie,
I respectfully disagree with your assessment. We need to start playing, forgive the expression, “hardball”, the way the democrats do. I believe the candidate “O” even expressed himself. “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun. If they put one of ours in the hospital, we put one of theirs in the morgue.” That is a particularly vulgar way of demonstrating how “they” view this whole thing. But it’s how to win. Our side just never seemed to get the hang of it.
The proverbial big tent just isn’t going to do it. There are certain groups of people who are NEVER going to vote conservative. My dear, sweet, departed Dad, who by the way wouldn’t have hurt a soul if his life depended on it, was a Democrat through and through. He would never have voted for a dreaded “republican”. I used to tease him that I hoped that when Jesus came back, He wouldn’t have to face an election. Because if He was a “republican” my Dad wouldn’t vote for Him. And you know what, he agreed.
We’re never going to attract black voters, we’re never going to attract union voters, we’re never going to attract liberal, Jewish voters. So let’s just stop pretending we can if we just simply water down what’s important to us. It doesn’t work. Let’s stand up for what we KNOW is right, keep sending that message out (we don’t have to be belligerent, just consistent)and be confident that, eventually, others will see the light. It will be painful, no doubt, in the near term, but opening up to the moderates has consistently gotten the rest of us sold down the river.
I, for one, have had enough of that.
Again, I respect your point of view, but I have to disagree. Contrary to what others may think of TEA Partiers.
rvastar @24: Based on what I have seen from Mr. Steele thus far, I don’t think he has that in mind (and I liked him!). I know he’s intelligent, but I don’t beleive he has the savvy or instinct to be so scheming. He has been a dissapointment, and he’ll need to show more leadership and convey conservative ideals if he wants my money. I stopped giving after I heard him agree with Hughley. I stopped listening after he endorsed Scozzafava.
John Samford @31; At what point do we get to tell the leadership they’re on the wrong track? When do we get to disagree? Should we just keep on giving to those who not only aren’t representing us but complicit in the destruction of our Republic?
Kevin Butterfield @ 37; Are you serious? I’m all for freedom of worship and speech, but leave it out of the party. It’ll cost us more than we can gain. I’m about as secular as ya’ get, but yet I’m adamantly pro-life. I don’t worship at the altar of self, and I’m no tree-hugger, but I don’t think anybody has the right to pollute my kids air or my neighbor’s water.
“The intrinsic goal of all society is to do away w/ money”, but not everyone would be equal? Sounds like Socialism/Communism with the dear leaders getting special priviledge.
“We all know the Bible is true…”? Whoa! “Science does not contradict this.” Huh?!?! I know that the Bible (religion in general)WAS science for the better part (I mean the majority) of human history. Religion has been very important in the development of many societies and cultures, and I’d much rather live here than in a totally secularlized society that Europe aspires to acheive. However, religion also has the power to corrupt and, well, brainwash. Frankly, you sound no different than the Moonies or Davidians, (alright, maybe not that bad), but it clearly interferes with rational, objective thought. Science, modern science, has blown away the idea that the earth is only, what do you folks say, @ 10,000 yrs.? The Darwin Evolutionary Theory is based on obeservable behavior and traits. Modern genetics has nailed down the theory. There is no “Blind Faith” that prohibits free thought, either explicitly like islam, or, I guess implicitly like Christianity. You’re basing your opinion (blind faith) on an idea and story that took over four hundred years to be written down ie: the New Testament. How many times have you heard a story told, just days after witnessing the event yourself, only to hear a somewhat different version or perspective being told? You really think the Bible is spot-on?
I generally behave like the Roman Catholic I was raised to be when dealing with other folks. I don’t lie, cheat or steal and have only killed when neccesary, attemtpting a do-unto-others approach. I have a clean conscience, but lose sleep over the direction of our Country. I beleive in the lessons of history and I’m most assuredly NOT a liberal.
You’re right, you and yours will largely be ignored, all is going to go to hell when the economy collapses. islam will make it’s move, as they have all throughout history, and the differnt race factions and socialist ideologues will attempt to instill their tyranny on what’s left of society, and Jesus ain’t comin’. But I’ll stand with you if you do more than just kneel and pray!
out
I like Steele recently, he is delivering the message that needs to be delivered by Republicans. Shape up or ship out (except the Northeast where Conservative Republicans simply cannot win)! Stay on the message of smaller government, fewer regulations, and lower taxes. This is no time for complacency or internal conservative struggles. Compare Steele’s message to that of Newt Gingrich earlier this year (with botox Nan, geeez). I’ll take Steele in a heartbeat. I say this as a life-long hard-core anti-socialist regarding defense and fiscal policies, but a total social Libertarian. He is on message, Demint is on message, Bachman is on message, Inhofe is on message, Palin is on message…
How anyone could “like Steele recently” is beyond me. The man is a walking contradiction. He would be pulling the party down if he had any influence at all, but I take my solace in the fact that he is irrelevant.
The most disconcerting thing about Steele is that he was made Chairman by the same ‘fixers’ that gave us McCain as the nominee for POTUS; and McCain was the one person the Democrats wanted to run against because they knew it would be a cakewalk for them and he would have no coattails.
Steele is a RINO squish and has to step aside for someone more by-the-book-conservative. I realize Steele rose to prominence because he was a Republican LtGov from deep blue one party rule socialist MD ( I say this as someone born and raised in Montgomery Co MD), but Republicans in MD are just a few points on the compass away from mainstream Democrats. So is Steele. he needs to go away- he is not helping.
I could get in trouble here and probably have these words come back to haunt me if I ever get famous- but- How many of us have wondered how much Obama’s presence and “affirmative action” has played in Steele’s appointment and retention? Honestly? Did the establishment Republicans trot out Steele with a “We’ve got one too!”
When he first showed up on my radar, I was excited. Articulate, balanced, seemingly intelligent. Then “bam” Steele commits a series of gaffs that would have shortened anyone’s career if he were a head coach, a CEO or a UPS delivery man. Yet, there he stands saying even more odd “mixed messages” as one of the posters commented. In all of the Republican party across this whole country he’s the best we have to offer? Not that he’s a bad guy, but you can almost see the strings attached to his sleeves being pulled frantically in opposite directions by competing factions. Not very leader-like.
The other day he says, and I paraphrase, “If I wasn’t the head of the Republican party, I would be out protesting with the tea party people myself.” Somewhere there is someone banging their head on the table…. That’s all I’m saying.
Steele is an inept in his own way as anyone in the Obama administration. He needs to gracefully resign. I have a sneaking feeling that he is the kind of man who is not going to take any kind of responsibility for any loss that the Republican Party suffers. And what’s this about being in a room with white Republicans who are scared of him? Disgusting and out of place! Bye Bye, Michael.
Steele only does what MacCain and all the Nelson Rockefeller Country Club Republicans do: he says what he thinks they want to hear so they don’t think he’s a knee jerk Conservative or a racist of any stripe.
BS! MacCain, him and the rest ARE racists for doing that.
Grow some cajones, Michael.
OMG we’re all doing the same thing we’re accusing the Republican leadership of doing…talking in soundbites without specifics!!!!!
You hate RINOs. But what does that mean? You want TRUE conservatism…but what does that mean? Yes, we ALL want limited govt and much lower spending. But then we get hazy. By “true conservatism”, do you mean you want the demands of the largest US Protestant denomination…the Southern Baptist Convention aka evangelicals? Is THAT what you mean by “true conservatism”? Do you mean no abortions and no acceptance of gays? Is THAT what you mean by “True Conservatism”? No evolution taught in schools? Encourage “In Jesus’ name we pray” to be spoken at every public govt meeting? Is THAT “True Conservatism”?
“Preserve our Constitution” is too general. What…specifically…do you mean by “True Conservatism”? Remember Newt’s specific ‘Contract with America’? We were all on the same page…AND WE WON!
I had such high hopes for Steele. I watched him on Hannity, listened to his speeches and read his bio. I was impressed. Now I see that he is like so many blacks in positions of authority today. They use the race card when it suits them and it’s always the white man’s fault. Why would a group of grown men be “scared” of him? Do blacks really believe that white people think that way? Blacks in America need to grow up and start acting like adults, not spoiled children who cry racist when they don’t get their own way.
Steele doesn’t understand that we don’t really expect the Repubs to govern properly, we just don’t want them to burn down the house.
He was picked because the RINOS thought that in the “age of the Black Man Come to Power” they could show they were just as “progressive”. When he was picked I despaired. They certainly weren’t making the selection based upon his “character” but his color. He might be a very nice man, and he appears to be a gentleman, but he is woefully out of his league. He has no killer instinct, no flair, no charisma, and speaks as if he is a local party leader hailing from a small town in Somewhere USA. Not someone who should be in the national spotlight using every opportunity to flog the opposition with wit and verve. He is so pedestrian, so humorless, and dare I say it? COLORLESS. We need to stand out. To draw a neon light in the sand and to amplify what conservative principles mean and how they affect you and what the red wing has done to Americans over the last half century and beyond. He is a bumbler and a mumbler and took wooden and two dimensional for the job. What a terrible tactical error to have installed him where he is at this point in our history. RINOS really are dumb.
If the GOP does not win the House back, Steele is gone.
After being an initial supporter (met him at Evansville with Sarah, although I was pulling for Blackwell), I think now is the time for him to resign IF and only IF we have a strong articulate replacement who can hit the ground running and work with the leadership on a new contract with America with objectives and overall principles. Could Blackwell replace him at this later stage? How about Anuzis? Anybody else who could:
1) Fight passionately and articulately for conservative/libertarian values in the media.
2) Help the national GOP leadership build trust with Republicans and even Indies.
3) Build a platform of conservative principles and back it up with a new tangible set of objectives as a new contract with America.
4) Combining with the above, assist in the recruitment of candidates who once started, get out of their way and the primaries and let us select who we want as opposed to telling us what to do like NY-23. The Dede incident was an absolute disaster to the credibility of the national level GOP. It probably finished off Newt as a viable 2012 candidate (not that he was one).
5) Pull Sarah Palin into the national leadership if not formally then with some loose threads. She GETS IT! She understands the Tea Party Movement, the GOP, and the indies better than any other GOP national figure. And, she has 100 times their courage.
6) With confidence back in a new conservative leadership, win the trust back and with it, plenty of money to the RNC.
Every bumbling mistake Steele makes further erodes what little trust and confidence there is left in the national GOP: RNC, NRCC, NRSC.
Despite the opportunity to take the House back, I’m not thrilled about a Boehner speakership. But, Boehner will get on board once he and others see the light given how awful Pelosi is.
If they screw this up, the chances for a new third party go up, and then it becomes feasible that by 2012 or 2014, a REAL third party emerges to overshadow the GOP.
Whites ARE afraid of blacks in large numbers, in general. Anyone who has lived in a city knows that. And wherever you find repubs posting, the racial insinuations ensue. I can’t grasp the degree of humility to which Mr. Steele must restrain himself. He truly has much to offer, but the dualistic hiveminds in his party can’t grasp anything beyond their insect politics.
PJ readers would do well to read up on studies showing blacks being much more conservative than whites on issues of sex, including gay marriage. There’s a very strong conservative streak in many black communities, which is untapped.
I am a proud life-long Conservative. Michael Steele is absolutely correct. Republicans have abandoned their principles and this is what has traditionally separated us from the Liberals. You can sit back on your backsides and continue to roll down the same road as Obama or you can stand up for what is right. Whatever you choose just don’t get in our way.
Steele ran for his position talking like a conservative. When he won the post he began sounding like a Republican squish. Now he sounds a whole lot like a Democrat, using his race. To hell with him.
Please folks , talk sense . You want Steele to resign , but you have no problem with the people who installed him ?
To kochevnik: You are dead on correct. Read what David Horowitz has to say about the Republicans and how they have NEVER appealed to the emotions and the passions of the “Black Community”. Decades ago we should have had candidates standing in crowds in downtown areas which were riddled with crime, drugs, despair, and hurt. We should have been screaming from the mountaintops about the poison these people were fed and the lies they were told so they could slowly lose their place in the sun and becomes serfs of the left. LOUSY SCHOOLS, THE IDEA THEY DON’T NEED A MAN TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THE ABSENCE OF FATHERS TO GUIDE AND CONTROL THEIR YOUNG MEN, THE FILTH BEING PUMPED OUT TIME AND AGAIN FROM THE CULTURAL NIHILISTS AND MARXISTS. That any sentient human being, OF ANY COLOR, but particularly the REPUBLICANS have passed this opportunity boggles the mind. Top if off with CRIES FOR ECONOMIC NATIONALISM so MEN CAN PROVIDE A DECENT LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES. FOLLOW UP WITH A HALT TO IMMIGRATION BECAUSE THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS SUFFERED THE MOST FROM IT ALL. We cannot continue to export jobs and import people without DISASTEROUS results. I am beyond angry that noone has had the guts to take the case for conservatism to these communities.
53: i think that is a despicable comment. No evidence for it either. Steele is a GOP man to the core. He is better than lots of people they might have selected. But, like all GOP types now, he is simply unsure what it means to be in politics except to oppose the democrats.
64: everyone here has pointed out that they don’t like the mushy, standardless GOP types that will deficit spend if elected. We obviously have a big problem with the GOP and want it fixed. That means a full scale cleaning not just Steele.
Steele is one of the worst examples of affirmative action. The GOP power structure choose him strictly on the basis of his race to counter Obama. You know, kind of like; see, we’re good too, we have our own top Negro. Now maybe the NYT will LIKE us!!?? Of course, this explains the rise of the Tea Party Movement. Steele is a freakin moron with boot licking instincts.
All I have to say is Mr. Steele is and honest and BRAVE man,there are certain things that need to be FIXED within the REP. party that will help us in the FUTURE! I need to get that book Im excited:)
Steele and the rest of the go along get along Republican party LOVE this health-care bill.
The Republicans are nothing like the Democrats.
They are far worse.
Completely gutless and empty.
Sadly there is no hope of ever changing the Democrat Party, the communist/socialist/progressives are so ingrained it would take a hundred years to fix that traitorous mess.
There is still hope to remove the autocratic/biblethumping/RINO’s from the GOP.
ALL politicians (including Mr. Steele) are like teenagers, and cannot be trusted to preserve Other People’s Money. Anyone who understands this truism should download a copy of “The USER’S GUIDE TO FREEDOM: on how to DOWNSIZE government instead of prosperity” at http://www.libertysoup.org. The 535 Project (pg 20) clearly explains how to impose fiscal discipline on all members of Congress now. The fix is easier than you think.