The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the GOP’s Soul
by Mike FlynnThe withdrawal of Dede Scozzafava from the special election for Congress in upstate New York has predictably set off another wave of media-led hand-wringing about the health of the GOP. (See here and here, for example.) These stories are like crack for reporters, especially those with a hard-left slant. It is always framed as a battle between ‘conservatives’ and ‘moderates,’ but the focus is actually much narrower.
To Big Media, conservatism comes in only one flavor, social conservatism, namely anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage and a smattering of other issues that would fall flat over canapés and seltzer (liberals don’t seem to drink anymore). That Dede was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage fits the narrative perfectly for the media. End of story.
But, the media, and political leaders would be wise to dig a bit deeper into the story. Yes, Dede was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, but she was also pro-government spending, pro-taxes and pro-Big Labor, to name just a few other issues. When a Republican candidate regularly seeks out the endorsement of ACORN and wins the endorsement of DailyKos, it isn’t much of a stretch to imagine that large segments of the party might have some misgivings about supporting the candidate. (And they would be right, since she has now endorsed the Democrat in the race.)
The media and the national Republicans who backed Dede are furiously spinning her withdrawal as meaning that pro-choice and pro-gay marriage candidates ‘need not apply’ for the GOP ticket. The media is warning that, unless the GOP nominates, ‘moderates’ the public will reject the party’s candidates and condemn it to perpetual minority status. Right, the media is worried about this. I find it is generally wise to be skeptical of advice given me by my opponents.
Both the media and national Republicans are overstating the relevance of social issues at a time when most voters are fearful about keeping their jobs. Many people may care about these issues, but they aren’t driving their political activism. An highly-energized large block of voters are actually really concerned that government has grown too big, too fast. They’re not clinging to ‘gods and guns’, as candidate Obama famously sneered opined; they’re clinging to their wallets.
Every year at CPAC, the annual conference of grass-roots conservative activists, they take a straw poll of attendee’s political views and priorities. One question asks whether the movement’s focus should be on “limiting the size and scope of government” or “protecting ‘traditional’ values.” For the last three years, attendees split roughly 50/50 on the question. This year, almost 75% of attendees voted that limiting the size of government was their top priority. Keep in mind, attendees at CPAC are generally the heart of the social conservative movement.
This year, the Washington Post—the most effective arm of the Virginia Democrat Party—thought it found the silver bullet to kill the gubernatorial campaign of republican Bob McDonnell. They unearthed a 20-year old thesis McDonnell wrote in college that contained some pretty embarrassing statements–at least by today’s standards—about whether, for example, families are better off if the wife doesn’t work outside the home. The Democrats based almost their entire campaign, and the Post based most of its coverage, on McDonnell’s thesis. It must chill them to the bone that McDonnell is set to win by one of the larger margins in state history. It isn’t that the public, or even McDonnell today, agrees with what’s in the thesis; they just don’t care.
The GOP ignores this lesson at their peril. It is entirely probable that, in today’s political climate, a pro-choice, pro-gay marriage Republican candidate who also opposed increased government spending, favored cutting taxes and rejected the demands of Big Labor would have romped to victory in upstate New York. Hoffman’s insurgent campaign wasn’t fueled by tapping into social conservatives, per se; it was fueled by tapping into the tea party movement. A movement that still perplexes the GOP, it seems.
Starting Tuesday, however, the American public is set to start handing back to the GOP huge swaths of political power. (I think it is better than even money the party sweeps VA, NJ and the special election in New York 23. Hell, they’ll probably even come relatively close in a special election for Congress in the San Francisco Bay Area!) I don’t think even the mandarins running the national GOP are incompetent enough to prevent this.
Well, actually, there probably is something they could do to prevent this; continue to misread the national mood and political zeitgeist. Just as generals risk fighting the last war, national Republicans risk fighting the last election cycle. I think the national party leadership, cocooned in DC, saw a district in upstate New York that was carried by Obama and then went searching for a Republican who was pro-choice and failed to look any deeper into other issues. In other words, they took the advice of Big Media. I know from personal experience that the GOP in DC doesn’t fully appreciate the grass-roots movement that has erupted around the country this year. They continue to look through a political prism calibrated on one or two formerly hot-button issues. They don’t appreciate how much the political landscape has changed. That is the real source of their missteps in New York.
I leave to others the task of asking whether those responsible for the Dede campaign should be allowed even within the same time-zone of future political campaigns, but I think it bears repeating—perhaps screaming—that the GOP spent almost $1 million on a candidate who then proceeded to drop like a stone into third place. (She might have fallen further but for the fact that there are only three candidates in the race.) It does not inspire confidence that these individuals are ready for prime time. Republicans are appropriately calling for audits of ACORN. They might want to audit the NRCC as well.
While piling on idiotic national Republicans is a fun parlor game, there is a lesson here for the tea party movement as well. Just yesterday I received an email from a congressional candidate who has decided to pull out of the GOP primary and wage a third-party ‘conservative’ campaign next November. This candidate is drawing the wrong lesson from New York’s 23rd District. First, New York has unique election rules that have allowed third parties to prosper. The dynamics in play in New York simply can’t be replicated elsewhere. There were many variables, beyond those that have been generally reported, that will make a repeat of the Hoffman phenomenon elsewhere difficult.
By forgoing a primary, this candidate is missing an opportunity to reform the GOP. Worse, by channeling the tea party movement into some kind of angry, Perot-inspired third party, there is a real risk that the left will get a reprieve from the voters’ boiling-over anger. Dede certainly deserved opposition from anyone who claims any belief in limited government. But she is also, likely (hopefully), a special case. The tea party movement should be careful, however, that it doesn’t evolve into some kind of politburo, forever patrolling for apostates and conducting purges. I’m a big believer in bitter primary fights, as long as the fights stay within the family.
Because, even if we don’t like it, the GOP is probably our last, best chance to reverse course and regain some personal liberty and economic prosperity. Maybe not the GOP as it is now, but as it was and could be again. I’m old enough to remember a time when the party had an institutional aversion to using government to ‘solve’ our problems. I remember when the party gave a lot more than lip-service to the notion that adults should be free to make their own choices, both for good and ill. I remember a time when Ronald Reagan said the heart and soul of the conservative movement was libertarianism.
The tea parties and summer townhalls have proved the public is ready again for this message. More than that, the public is demanding this message. They are far ahead of the national leadership of the GOP. (The national Democrats are simply hopeless and are marching lock-step into a political buzzsaw.) As in upstate New York, the public may even force the GOP to adopt/return to this message. Hopefully, the GOP will seize the opportunity that has been handed to them. Hopefully, the tea party movement will give the GOP the chance to do it. At the end of the day, the political enemy is over on the left.
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366 Comments
Hoffman spokesman concerned about ACORN funny business in NY-23 race:
http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/20...
Old dede was a democrat party stooge put in by the Obamanazis to cement a liberal win. Anyone who actually backed this b*tch as a "republican" needs to get down on his/her hands and knees and search vehemently for his/her brains (got that Michael Steele & Newt?).
Putting it bluntly….thanks to Opompous and his libtard cohorts…..the country is now ready for "change".
I have been as tough on the GOP as anyone. For much of the past year they have kept up their "DC Insider" rhetoric which is the LAST thing most of their base wanted to hear. HOWEVER, I think they are coming around to being the party that "Gets it" and the Party that is listening to the people.
It's a good step in the right direction.
On the other hand, the Democrats sound more and more out of touch…
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John , Michelle L. Michelle L said: http://bit.ly/2GYw4N the death of GOP party Hooray [...]
So true. The conservative movement of which I am definitely a member is more about the economy than social issues. I can work alongside prolife and prochoice factions and those for gay marriage to stop the destruction of our economic system at the hands of these progressives. We can debate those social issues when the our beloved country is not sinking into a dark economic hole. It is also about choice; I believe it was seven committee memers who chose Dede Scozzafava, not exactly a primary. We in the tea party movement believe that Obama does not mind sinking our economic system because he thinks he knows a better way. I want no part of it.
In the 2010 election I will not vote for anyone affiliated with ACORN!
I stopped calling myself a republican this year.One of the main reason I moved away was because the party has lost its platform of smaller government.
The ending of this article is a bit disappointing. The premise that the national GOP is out of touch and failing to capitalize on the grass roots conservative movement is a strongly felt one. But most of us are leery of handing power back to these clowns who so thoroughly screwed up that they gave us a super majority of Democrats and a complete novice left-winger for president. The Hoffman election is a sign but none the GOP leaders will miss or dismiss. If we could vote them out too, it would be a start.
In biblical history, chastisement of God's people was the result of apostasy. We're getting our due right now and the solution should be clear.
Excellent article Mike.
Ol' Dede just bitch slapped Newt. I want to see him spin this one. She was a Soros and Working Families Party shill. The GOP just got co-opted, or was it simple sodomy? In any event, Conservatives are fed up with the GOP and Newt and the rest of the talking heads. Conservative values are not something that can be preached and pontificated by a pompous academic. You either have them in your heart and soul, and believe them, with every fiber of your being, or you don't. If you don't, find an ACORN member, register to vote, and vote early and vote often.
The GOP might be going through some growing pains, but the people know what is right. We don't need a leader to tell US how to vote. Common sense and values dictate to US how to vote. Until the GOP gets its house in order, and gets some traction, we'll keep forging ahead…………
[...] Source var addthis_pub = 'vincenzof'; var addthis_language = 'en';var addthis_options = 'email, favorites, twitter, digg, delicious, myspace, google, facebook, reddit, live, more'; [...]
Great article, and I couldn't agree more. Too often I've run into people on the Center-Right who go on about "true conservatives," when what they mean is "if you aren't a social conservative, you're nothing but a RINO." It ignores the whole strain of western (US), libertarian conservatism that's very concerned with small government and fiscal and judicial conservatism, but figures those things that commonly fall under "social conservatism" are none of government's business, either. As you point out, the populist revolt against Obamaism is a revolt of the fiscal conservatives and the small-government crowd. The GOP, if it wants to regain its majority (and I think it can do so by 2012), it needs to tap into that reservoir of concern and run candidates who reflect those principles, not primarily social conservatism and not a me-too "Democrat in all but label only."
I want candidates who treat their position and Government as a necessary evil, not a career choice.
I have a feeling I will be posting this a lot in the next year also:
Until the National Party LEADERSHIP (and a lot of State Party Leadership) is changed, they will keep trying to do what they have done in the last two decades – support RINO's. Why? Because they THEMSELVES are RINO's.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by conservatweet, Victoria. Victoria said: Scozzafava shows true blue. Conservatives recognized her as "Republican Imposter" all along ('cept Newt)[BigGov] http://bit.ly/16T9Rz #tcot [...]
I found this a well thought out piece. I have been working with candidates in and out of the parties to determine where they stand. Many of the candidates across the nation are identifying themselves with the principles and values of the 9-12 movement. http://912Candidates.org publishes their commitment.
keep drumming that acorn dead horse. its precisely what the author of the article is warning against.
no ideas, no innovation, no vision, no platform: the party of NO.
Putting it bluntly, you and the rest of the crazed radical right are purging yourselves of moderates and sinking your republican party faster and in such an irrerversable manner than liberals could ever hope for!
keep on keepin' on!
Tea Parties, GOP, Conservative;DNC, ACORN, Liberal? Nothing more than labels and categories.
Step back and look at the broader picture. Step back a year ago; before Breitbart brought forth Big Government, before a lot of things, back to when the MSM was still ladling out the Newz in spoon fed doses, spun in the direction the liberal intelligencia wanted to spin it. Remember they told you what to think, how to feel? Remember Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric telling you that Sarah Palin didn't have the experience to be Presidential, or at least be a heartbeat away from the President. Remember Peggy Noonan writing that Palin wasn't ready? Well, they got the results they hoped for. Barrack Hussein Obama; you asked for IT, you got IT.
Palin might have lacked alot, might have not been an insider, might have even been able to see Russia from her porch, but the one thing she did have, is the one thing Barrack Obama and his ilk have never even glimpsed.
Integrity.
Remember that. Remember that, the next time "they" try to sell US a Bill of Goods………….
I am beginning to dare to believe that this Progressive bunch (both the President/administration and the leaders of the House and Senate) may really be the best thing to happen to this country. These next few years will certainly be a defining point – we will either come together as the country we were founded to be or else cease to exist in any meaningful form, drifting instead to some sort of second- or third-rate welfare state.
There may have been better ways to get us out of our malaise, but this is sort of like getting thrown into the lake to learn how to swim. We'll survive or not, nothing in between, and if we do we'll be the stronger for it. I've had my doubts over the last several years, but I have to say that for the first time in a while I'm hopeful. And while — unlike the Progressives — I have always been proud of my country, today I am just a little bit prouder.
I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to stand with those who do likewise in these troubled times. To the ballot boxes! Let this November 3rd be the beginning.
Amen to that: Obama is the strong delusion that we're experiencing now. In OT History, 1st the religious morality came "un-glued", then the Civil Govt came apart, all resulting in Divine Punishment. Christians have the right to pray out those various enemies that we are confronting with Psalms Ch 91, and parts of Lametations, Ch 4…We only need 2 or 3 to pray in agreement to have the prayer amplified.
God hates Liars is a biblical fact.
that is not really a bold statement.
how about "In the 2010 election I will not vote for anyone affiliated with fraud"
because that would mean you'd actually have to think for yourself, wouldn't it? Hint: fraud happens on both sides of the aisle. See ACCE's fraudulent letters, fraudulent "grass roots" astroturfing by "americans for prosperity", etc. etc. etc…
indeed. not just "rubber stamp", more like "runaway truck"
"You either have them in your heart and soul, and believe them, with every fiber of your being"
logically, this is very disturbing. You are advocating a belief in an ideology, rather than an a methodology rooted in real world cause/effect.
more often than not, people will cling to strong held beliefs *despite* all evidence to the contrary.
it is no wonder you are as you are.
Liberty is the thing. The beautiful liberties we once had are eroding daily and have been throughout the Bush, Clinton, Bush years but people were asleep at the wheel, or probably just too busy to notice. Bush was able to do much to erode our liberties and we let him because we trusted him, probably unwisely so. But Obama is taking what Bush and Clinton started and escalating them so dramatically that he woke people up. Hopefully in time to do something about it.
The American people are to blame for the debacle as much as the politicians. We allowed the media to lie and mislead us for decades, in collusion with politicians on the socialization of this nation. They did it incrementally, slowly so busy people wouldn't notice. Obama in his arrogance decided he would go in for the kill. We owe him our gratitude in a funny sort of way because if America can be saved, the people have to get involved in saving it. The politicians aren't going to do it as they stand now. They are so deeply entrenched in the direction we have been going for a long time they don't know what is right and wrong any more. It is apparent. They didn't think the sheeple cared so they set out to profit at our expense. The American people gave away their liberties, their heritage to a den of thieves.
I whole heartedly agree with you.
Frankly, it might possibly be Divine Intervention that brought US the new messiah Obama. He has done more to wake people up than anyone ever has. People see their freedoms slipping through their fingers, are ready to fight back. It is yet to be determined what type fight it will be and whether Marcus of Queensbury Rules will apply, or if it'll be a knock down drag out street fight…………
Troll much?
Can the Republican Party be saved? Not with the people running it. The Democrats and Republicans have become members of the same club. These people act just like the House of Lords. They think "the people" are there to serve them, not the other way around.
Yay!! Scuttzzz is back!! Going to be a fun day today!
Zippy,
You're out and about early. Did they switch you from the night shift, to the day shift specifically for the election?
Too bad you all didn't, and couldn't believe in something other than voter fraud.
"more often than not, people will cling to strong held beliefs *despite* all evidence to the contrary. "
Exactly what the libs keep doing with their move toward Socialism, right? It's FAILED every where it's tried, but dammit – I "believe" it will work this time.
Wonderful essay!
I think Mike makes some excellent points about the GOP. Time to wake up!
I for one will not make any further contributions to the GOP, knowing that they could spend almost $1 million on a Liberal such as this.
More importantly, I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Newt. He often has brilliant ideas but he has also showed himself to be a politician of the 90's rather than the 21st century leader that we need.
Real proof and not Lib Blog ramblings please.
So fraud is now a group trying to get people together for a demonstration march? We're talking about VOTING FRAUD here, not anti-gov marches.
You're all over the place this morning, not enough coffee yet?
"In biblical history"
awesome. just…. awesome. thanks for that gem
"Exactly what the libs keep doing with their move toward Socialism, right? "
ohhh… universal health care that according to the nonpartisan CBO will actually REDUCE the deficit.
that's some real SCARY stuff there!
again, it is you who fail to even consider certain ideas that in all likelyhood will improve America, such as health care reform and public option just because of a title that opponents have fixed on it.
I agree that the GOP is the "last best hope' but only in the long run. Meaningful change in Washington means changing out the players. If the career politicians in Washington decide to start playing to the conservative voice, they will be like an alcoholic who stops drinking but keeps hanging out in bars. They will continue to succumb to the interest groups,financial influencers, and cronyism that goes with the corruption of power. The only solution is to take them out of the environment. For the short term, we just need to break up the Washington power structure; it doesn't matter whether its Reps or Dems who are elected; it matters that the careerists are ejected. The TPP needs to develop a strategy that (1) identifies the conservative who ought to continue in office; (2) defeats the remaining incumbents in the primaries. Some voters may need to change party affiliation in order to vote incumbentsin the primary. There are 435 Representatives and about 33 Senators up for reelection every two years; that's 87% of the Congress. It wouldn't take but two or three elections for the politicians to figure out who they really work for.
A title?
You guys like titles, eh? Oscar Winner and Nobel Laureate Albert Gore; Emperor and His Royal Highness Barrack Hussein Obama.
Here's a title for you, for your Health Care Fiasco: AMSICK.
You mean the CBO that "reviewed" a bill that HAD NO WORD, NO NUMBERS, NOTHING in it because it hasn't been written yet?
Bill # #23542314, Contents: "……………(blank pages)………………………………"
CBO: "Yes, that will will reduce the deficit."
Is that like Atheism – believing and "faith" in nothing?
I was just reading an article over on Huffington from Robert Englund (Freddy Kreuger) in which he bashes the tea partiers. Saying things like "I am appalled at the brazen lies being propagated by opponents of reform specifically to scare the elderly and other vulnerable segments of our society. Pushing untruths about "death panels" and "pulling the plug on Grandma" are not helping the debate."
Ha! He's appalled that fellow Americans have a problem with the 2,000 page bill that puts government in control of healthcare…..
He goes on to ask the important questions, like how will it be paid for, but we already know the answer to that question. I'm very disappointed in Mr. Englund that he would so whole-heartedly tow the liberal party line. Maybe he should just stick to scaring people.
Good article. The left would like to believe that conservatives are waiting for Jerry Falwell to annonce his candidacy for the House of Representatives. I believe that conservatives have allowed the left to define us and therein lies the problem. Democrats and Progressives are always patting themselves on the backs for being a party that includes lots of smaller factions that are driven by single issues while Republicans and conservatives are accused of being the ones who march in lockstep. The biggest problem I see with the Republican party is that they have tried to purge it of conservatives by denouncing them as extremists if they are social conservatives, but now conservatives have watched how Progressives have taken over the Democratic party and are ready to use those lessons. The difference is that the DNC embraced their Progressives and built on that base. The RNC is just now beginning to realize the implications of purging itself of of right-leaning candidates. Funny thing is that the conservatives are being blamed for purging the R party for ideological purity while it is actully purging conservatives for being too pure. RNC needs to remember that building the party is like making apple cider.
On the one hand, the trumpeting by the left about how this harms the Republican party is predictable. A group of people that completely missed the fact that the 2008 election was about the Republican establishment having drifted way too far to the left, not the right, can hardly be expected to grasp the true meaning of the triumph of someone whose views are shared by a solid majority of Americans, not to mention the nation's founders.
On the other hand, Captain Obvious would like to know if these same pundits are able to infer anything from Dede's immediate endorsement of the Democratic candidate. Like maybe that the suspicions held by her Conservative Party opponent's supporters may not have been unfounded after all. Hmm?
I really enjoyed your thoughtful piece Mike. My feeling is: Yes we are clinging to our wallets, but we are also clinging to our country, which is in the process of being ripped away from us.
Wow! I do wholeheartedly agree with you. Liberty is the thing! I cherish liberty more than freedom. Freedom has been co-opted to mean "freedom from (your pet peeve here)" or "freedom to (whatever)". Liberty encompasses freedom. The preamble to the Constitution is "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", not "life, freedom…".
yeah, the GOP sucks. no doubt about it.
but, the question is: How do you feel about marxists, maoists, socialists, anti-free market people who are in and around the White House?
well, how does that make you feel?
Don't hold your breath on that one. I have yet to hear in my four+ decades of life ANY pundit actually admit they were wrong.
you have to see where all our kids and students of American Public Schools have been the past twenty years… The attached article from NEA simply touts their mission, and explains a lot of how ACORN, SEIU, NEA, ATF, AFL-CIO, UFCW…etc etc got their broad based support from the brain washing our kids receive in our public schools…..read it please…….
http://www.nea.org/tools/17231.htm
name one government program that has ever saved money?
Amtrak?
Post Office?
Medicare/Medicaid?
Social Security?
The freakin' Senate Cafeteria?
It costs over $1,000,000,000,000, and that is going to save money? WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.
Oh, that's right. they will just tax people, and cut medicare (cut medicare, fine by me)… but then they will just try to pass another bill to refund the medicare cuts… thus adding to the deficit.
when you're trillions in debt, spending trillions more isn't going to help. i don't care what you say to the contrary.
I echo the comments praising this article. For all those decrying the state of the GOP, I say "Reclaim it." It is an established organization, with established machinery, and, despite its missteps, an essentially sympathetic philosophy and membership. As wonderful as the Hoffman phenomenon is, keep it mind that it is not going to be the rule. Far more effective (and ultimately cheaper) to get the Republican Party back to basics.
My message would be to get involved. Keep your Precinct committee where it needs to be, then your Township, then your County. Yes, it may take effort, but those who fail to get involved leave it to everyone else to run things. You want to make sure it is done right, do it yourself.
If there was EVER a time that the constitutionist conservative ideal could be sold to apolitical fence sitting voters it is now.
We simply must evangelize people like RWR did. We now have monsters and criminals to point to, Obama, Pelosi and Ried, and simply say, "this is what you get when you vote in the Left". It should not be difficult.
Forget about arguing with the Left. Evil fools. We only need to convert the ignorant. Ten percent of em is all we need. As far as the deep blue cities … get out and let them rot.
[...] Read the original post: Big Government » Blog Archive » The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the … [...]
"One question asks whether the movement’s focus should be on “limiting the size and scope of government” or “protecting ‘traditional’ values.” For the last three years, attendees split roughly 50/50 on the question. This year, almost 75% of attendees voted that limiting the size of government was their top priority."
I would posit that "limiting the size and scope of government" would do more for "traditional values" than just enshrining the "traditional values" in law. The federal government's thrust over the last 50 years has been to legislate and regulate our behavior. Limit the size and scope of government and you restore traditional values. Fight for your liberty.
Dead-on.
"It's liberty, stupid."
I wonder if the SEIU and ACORN signed up all their constituents for this free mobile phone program, thanks to daddy Obama, check it out on link below…..did you get your free phones???????
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic...
I agree, to splinter into a third party will spell defeat. We must change the Republican party back into the party of Reagan. At present Washington Republicans & democrats, are “peas & carrots” both headed in the same direction one a little faster than the other. As witnessed by the “Tea Parties,” America is an inherently conservative country, espouse conservative ideals and win. For some reason Beltway Republicans don’t want this, why? Power!
I've also been saying this for the past year!!
Yes, we are the party of "NO". NO to Bad legislation, NO to losing our Liberties, NO to Screwing the American People, NO to Big Government, NO to Socialism & Marxists, NO to Government confiscating more of our hard earned money, NO to Government ruining our Health Care System, NO to ruining the lives of Seniors, NO to Government telling us what we can eat or drink, NO to Governments Cap & Trade policies, NO-NO-NO- NO to Obama and his Marxists Czars, NO to the Destruction Of America, NO to a Government Hostile to Business & Profits. (Profits =JOBS! Also Acorn is NOT a DEAD HORSE; it's only the beginning….
Working Families Party, SEIU Unions, etc………).
NO to people helping Obama destroy America…..Rember the words of Frank Rizzo, the Late former mayor of Philadelphia: "LIBERALS WILL REMAIN LIBERALS…….. UNTIL THEY ARE MUGGED"
I have to throw out there, the social conservative issues are near and dear to many people's hearts. The majority of Americans now claim to be pro-Life, the majority of Americans are against gay marriage, the majority of folks believe that have a parent stay at home with the children is a better things to do than have both parents work. The problem is that between Hollywood, the Media elites, and the Democrats, they don't want to let people express those views, so they've done everything in their power to make them anathema, to make them politically incorrect, to make them, practically, thoughtcrime.
The other thing that's happened is the social conservative movement has realized that the best way to push social conservative values is not through the force of government, but rather, to minimize government influence. Many of the major issues of social conservatives became issues because of government meddling. By reducing the size and scope of government, things they want can be accomplished. It's a long road to recover this country, and I don't know if we'll make it, but we've gotta try…
The thing you have to acknowledge is that the 2008 election was a referendum on GW Bush. After eight years of war, rollbacks in civil liberties and most importantly increased spending, people were tired of the Republican party being in the executive branch. And McCain didn't exactly fire up anybody either.
The feeling I got from his nomination of Palin last year was that she was absolutely not his first choice. It seemed as if she had been called at the 11th hour because all of the other people he called knew – they knew- McCain had no chance simply because he was a Republican, so they declined. To be fair, Palin probably knew this as well. But the problem is that, because she was called so late into the game, she never had time to adequately prepare. Whenever I saw her speaking, whenever she was interviewed, it always seemed like she hadn't quite done her homework. And that turned off, or made hesitant, alot of people.
Because of what I saw during the last election, it mystifies me when people heap such praise onto her. However, the answer ties into what you said about BHO. Palin, like Obama, was an empty vessel. People were projecting their own assumptions into what they think she might have been. And now that its manifestly obvious the BHO hasn't risen to the challenge -and likely never will- people are playing the shoulda/woulda/coulda game.
So before you put the cart before the horse, and place Palin in an unassailable position, a pedestal, please wait to see what she actually does. Not what you want her to do and not what you think she will do, but what actually happens.
scott,
Hey zippy, the Party of NO?
NObama.
NOacorn.
NOMOHO's…………..
"In the wake of conservatives’ role in forcing liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava out of Tuesday’s special election in New York’s 23rd District, GOP officials are trying to make it seem as if they are helping to stoke the passion — and can harness it to upend President Barack Obama and Democrats. They didn’t — and they can’t. "
Politico makes a bold statement that conservatives cannot "upend" Obama and the libtards. Watch and see.
Dig the Dirk Gently reference
I wholeheartedly agree with you. You are preaching to the choir.
McCain has as much chance of winning, as I did; none. Bush did more to harm our liberties than anyone has. His idiotic war on terror, his juvenille Patriot Act, his Department of Homeland Security were all manufactured "crisis'". People were tired of it; tired of the color coded terror alert, and the duct tape for the windows solution………
Regarding Palin, I also believe she is somewhat of an empty vessel, akin to the current holder of the Office, BHO. Where I see the difference, is integrity. I believe she has some, and I further believe he has NONE. Integrity and honor can make up for a lot of intellect. I'd take an honest person over a smart person any day of the week.
I do not place her on a pedestal. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt. She can sink or swim on her own. She's in the water now; she'd better have her shark suit on, or she'll be chum. Regardless of the results, it'll be interesting kabuki theatre……….
I agree with you. Although I said months ago that I believe they attempted this overt (go in for the kill)socialization of America one generation too soon for success. (Thank God) Had they waited, the resistance would have been minimal. However, there are still enough of us alive that know what America stands for and was built upon. There are still enough of us willing to defend the true meaning of Liberty in America. Had they continued on with the behind the curtain socialization – and waited for this current indoctrinated younger generation to become the elders, they would have been successful without resistance. We can pray and Thank God that we still have the chance to turn this around.
I find I am in agreement with Beck that McCain could have been worse for just this reason. It may be a cliche, but the true sleeping giant has been awakened and THAT is "We the People". Those that know all that those three words truly mean.
Why save the GOP? DNC & RNC should both be ushered to prison.
Empty vessel? Akin to the current holder?
I dunno. Palin being an "empty vessel" how? If empty you mean there is little public knowledge of mass consumption issues then okay. If empty you mean she lacks the principles and intelligence to govern then what does that make those who are in power (both side) who have demonstrated not only a breach of fiduciary duty but a propensity for illicit and illegal behavior.
And akin to the current holder? I'll take an empty vessel over a rat-invested schooner 8 days a week.
So essentially we concur.
There is a simple solution.
The GOP and the DNC should simply merge, since both parties run candidates that are essentially mirror images of each other. The new party can be renamed the CON Party (Communist Oligarcy Nepotists). To fill the vacum, and continue the tried and true two party system, the Tea Party can reorganize into the PRO Party (Patriotic Resistance Organization).
It would be interesting to see a PRO:CON debate………..
Not that simple. The pro abortion folks want massive government for planned parenthood and gay marriage is about wealth distribution as well. Both are tied closely to big government. That's why social and fiscal conservatism fit so well together.
No More RINO's PLEASE….
Yes, Scott you are right of course. I just fear the ACORN mess is going to get swept under the rug if we don't stay on it. And I hate fraud no matter who does it. I think Americans are really getting a bellyfull of it. Maybe we are hearing more about it, but I actually think this is the most corrupt congress in history. But that is my opinion, cannot argue that with facts on that this morning.
Hank,
2,000 page Bill?
This puts it into perspective:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1644...
Great site for NY-23 information!
http://www.tcotreport.com/
New poll results: http://www.tcotreport.com/sienapollnov2.html
I disagree that Palin is empty – if you've heard her speak on energy issues, she's very smart, and if I had to pick two things I'd want my President to concentrate on, one would be energy (the other would be national security, and I think she can find a few conservative Republicans to help her on that).
Imagine an America using deomestic natural gas for power and oil primarily for producing goods: that's the fastest path to both creating jobs and driving down the deficit (not to mention the national security benefits of not being beholden to foreign oil). We could be the leaders in CNG transportation and actually create a new high-tech industry.
Add to that an aura of honesty and integrity that both the right and the center can get behind, and I have a hard time seeing anyone else with a better conservative message for the future of the country. Who would you see as a better option?
NY-23 needs to turn out some fair tea-party poll watchers …
I think it's unlikely to be a clean fight. The ACORNs and SEIUs will not go down gracefully. We'll see more Scozzafava-like turncoat moments as the light shines more brightly on a bunch of folks who less than a year ago thought they held the keys to the kingdom (and especially the treasury). And that money and power will blind even the best and brightest among us; Gingrich is a perfect example.
So expect to see purple-shirted thugs on the streetcorners and yellow journalism on the MSM. The only way to fight these folks is with their own weapons: catch them unawares, tape them, and play the tape over and over, then let the people decide. It's funny but the two most powerful weapons at our disposal may just be cell phones and YouTube
You might need to reread what I wrote. I do not have a negative opinion on her. I am neutral. When I state she is an empty vessel, that places the burden of proof on her. Sometimes, it is better to start new, start afresh, as opposed to using a vessel of a career politician that is full of feces.
Quite frankly, I do not see anyone as a better option. I see Palin as a positive galvanizing force. I see Michelle Bachman on a par with Palin, or perhaps a tad bit ahead…………
For the first time, I did not vote a straight republican ticket in the last presidential election. There are no republicans anymore. Just a bunch of people who believe their own hype and live in a fairyland where a political class in our socioeconomic structure is a good thing.
Vote for a candidate who you can believe in. I doubt you will find one affiliated with either of the two dominant parties.
Damn skippy!
Nope, don't need to re-read. "Empty vessel akin to Obama" is what I disagree with. The comparison between Palin and Obama simply doesn't make sense. I think you were trying to be positive, but any comparison between the two is flawed: Palin has actual experience at government, knowledge of national issues (not all, perhaps, but certainly more than Obama) and an internal integrity that is palpable. Obama? Cronyism, corruption and the most radical agendas most of us have ever seen. Yes, Palin may be free of the Chicago-style thug politics, but that doesn't make her "empty".
[...] instance they don’t undergo what is correct and criminal some more. Read the original: Big Government » Blog Archive » The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the … Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: direction, expense, have-been, instead-consider, know-what, [...]
You know, at this moment, Obama, simply by virtue of the fact that he's currently President, has more experience than Palin. He might be an utter screwup, a cad and a clod, but he does have more experience. Matter of fact, saying he has experience in cronyism and corruption shows he has great experience in government – those are two of the central pillars of our system.
It's undeniable that at this time Palin is still, for the most part, an undefined quantity. And that's actually a good thing. Her flurry of activity, from her speaking appearances to her new book, will help codify exactly what she stands for. Because the feeling I get is that most of her supporters like her because she is not BHO – because she almost certainly does have more integrity.
More experience at apologizing to the world about all the HELP we have giving to bring FREEDOM to the rest of the world (yeah, that really pisses off the dictators that he's apologizing too doesn't it?). Also – being "on the job" doesn't give you more experience, BELIEVE me – I see it every day in my work and other businesses I do work for, AND when I was in the Marines. There are plenty of people who have been their YEARS that have less experience that someone that's been there a month.
And no, we don't like her because she's not BoB – we like her BECAUSE she espouses the Ideals and View WE have for this country and that is should keep following the Constitution, stop paying foreign countries for oil we have HERE and already OWN and know where it is, standing up BECAUSE America is the worlds BEST hope for peace in the future, and a lot more. (Remember, she doesn't have to READ her speeches to know what she's saying – nobody even knew her teleprompter broke during her acceptance speech until after, but boy we sure can tell when BoBo's isn't working)
Amen! If they rely on ACORN or have been affiliated with the SEIU they will never get my vote! Fraud is as fraud does.
Hoax,
That was my point exactly with the empty vessel comment. She is starting with a clean slate, she can be new and fresh, filled with promise. To use a wore out phrase: The New Hope and Change. Now that's Hope and Change I could believe in.
Fox News is losing in an NPR Poll, but with the power of the Internet we can turn that around in a few hours.
If you haven't heard this, the White House is accusing Fox News of not being a legitimate source of news, calling them biased, etc. They have tried to block Fox reporters from news conferences, etc., NPR has put a survey online for us to voice our opinion. Currently it is in favor of the White House, because mainly liberals log on to the NPR website.
If Fox loses this poll you can bet Obama will mention it as support for his attack on Fox.
Let's show them how we feel about honest conservative news reporting.
To vote log onto:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/10/in_wh...
Nice essay Mike. This infuriates me about the media when they constantly pretend the only difference between two canidates is religon.
We don't need to worry about the Republicrats making christianity mandatory for all citizens and they are not going to overturn Roe v Wade, but that is the tack the press (often Fox included) always takes.
I am an agnostic and find it totally unacceptable that the media is always bringing religion & the biases into "journalism".
Makes you wonder what the media would do with a Republican Buddhist or Muslim…would they then be forced to look at the differences in fiscal policy & opinion or would they be members of some "dangerous cult"???
Quasi-libertarians can’t help themselves. They have to snipe at social conservatives. Otherwise everyone would think they were alike since they agree about 90% of the time.
As to Western libertarian conservatism…let’s ask the Governator how that squishy fish-conism worked out. Oh, we can’t. He’s talking to The One. Let’s listen in…
“Thank you, sir for that stimulus, and please, sir, may I have some more?”
Yeah, you can count on fish-cons to not count when it matters. Want a real fiscal conservative? Elect a socon.
As to Biblical history, scotty. Let’s see, the Textus Receptus has over 11,000 source documents. The next most validated has over 3,000 (its by Homer). Hmmm, in other words, toss out the Bible, and we toss out the whole of the Ancient World’s literary record. That sounds scientific. Indeedy do. And let’s not get into the Bible’s incredible historical accuracy. Ok, a little bit. Research the Hittites and the claims they didn’t exist. Scotty, you are aware that Voltaire planned to get rid of the Bible, and instead, his house is being used by a Bible related organization. Better men than you have broken their hands on the Book of Books. Dude, try not to stick your hand into the sausage grinder next time, m’kay?
Mike,
Well said. While I am a social conservative, too, I expect to engage those battles in Missouri or in St. Louis County or in City Hall–not in the US Congress, and certainly never in the US Supreme Court. If heathen communities exist beside Christian ones, then the Law of Two Feet determines the best community for any individual, not some arbitrary ruling by Justice Ginsberg.
Libertarianism, it seems, is the political manifestation of devote Christianity which seeks to perfect society by perfecting its members voluntarily and by example. Such converts will approve of governments that permit them to exercise their religions and to associate with like-minded fellows. There's no point in God granting us free will if we simply pass it through to government.
Right on, Bill! Agree completely. Legislating morality debases it. We should have enough faith in our beliefs that we don't look to the federal government to enforce it. These decisions are best left to communities, which people can freely leave. Let Utah be Utah and Nevada, Nevada, so to speak.
The NRCC really needs to look into the mirror and find an identity. The fact that the NRCC spent over $1 million on the failed campaign of a RINO who in return is now supporting the democrat is proof that the NRCC is only looking for candidates willing to put the (R) behind their name. We need candidates with a real small government platform. The public wants there to be a real difference in where their candidates stand and not just in the initial after the name.
[...] Read the original here: Big Government » Blog Archive » The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the … [...]
National and state GOP leadership act as if they’re suffering from Stockholm syndrome, continually looking for approval from those who are going to despise them anyway.
But pushing Scozzafave out of the race, the Conservatives and Tea Party activists have prevented another inevitable Jeffords/Specter moment.
I predict that this Wednesday morning, the MSM will be spinning Hoffman’s crushing victory as an “angry white male” anomaly.
I agree with 99% of what you say, Mike. As I have opined here myself, I am also a conservative Reagan Libertarian at heart. Social issues like gay marriage can be debated within the party and shouldn't be automatic disqualifiers for candidates. What cannot be debated, however, are issues like bigger government, amnesty and "climate change," which have unfortunately become part of the GOP national platform. Is it any wonder McCain lost?
All that said, as a Tea Party-style reformer I believe Republican candidates MUST be held to at least minimal standards, the likes of which Scozzafava failed on nearly every count. We are not ACORN, SEIU, or Al Gore. I believe that GOP candidates like Graham who support higher taxes, cap-and-trade, amnesty for illegals, the government takeover of health care all the other liberal big government programs have no place in our party and need to go, and regardless of election considerations. I say Hoffmanize 'em if we have to.
Winning with candidates like Scozzafava, Specter, Graham and even McCain are no victories at all.
Love the Dirk Gently reference.
If I am not mistaken, didn't the phrase orginate with Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged in Life The Universe and Everything. I believe it was a means to describe the immortal's struggle with Sunday afternoons.
The endorcement of Dede by the DailyKos is right up there with the NYT endorsement of McCain. That should have been a clarion call to all Republican/Conservatives. And look where we are and who's leading this country?
Right on target IMO. Be enthusiastic about the conservative groundswell, but not cocky. Stay in touch with the voters.
Couldn't agree more. We have allowed ourselves to be labeled. Conservative has always meant economic conservative first and foremost, and secondarily social values and defense. I AM a social conservative, and even I'm sick and tired of the preachiness of social conservatives. You are correct, most of the stuff they talk about is none of government's business.
+1 for the Douglas Adams reference
He's not only a troll, but a masochist of gigantic proportions.
Oh scotty boy…………………nobody does voter fraud like you lefties!
Nobody does astroturfing like ACORN, Unions, and Daley's machine !
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