Pajamas Media

135 Comments

1. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Jennifer Rubin
RE: Sooooo…..

But if Republicans snipe, whine, bicker, and trot out the same crew of failed leaders, the public will quickly conclude that they are unworthy of attention. — Jennifer Rubin

….how do you propose we criticize the failed GOP leadership?

Seriously. Locally, I suspect the chair was in bed with the local newspaper. Indeed, he’s married to the daughter of the publisher thereof. And his effort to ‘improve’ the web-site was nothing more, in my honest opinion, than control of the new media that might contradict the old media he’s married to.

So if we can’t criticize them, how are we supposed to come up with either a new leadership or change the old leadership’s attitude in order to be better prepared for the next election?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[A lack of leadership is no substitute for inaction. -- sardonic Army staff puke axiom]

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:11 am 2. Rachel Peepers:

Republicans that snipe, whine and bicker, I agree, are of no help to our party.

But, even more strange to me, are the Democrats that refuse to enjoy their victory.
They hang around PJM and throw their nonsense against the comment wall to see if anything sticks.

But take some friendly advice.

You Obamatrons are making fools out of yourselves.

Go celebrate. Play with your kids. Invite friends over.
Head over to the local Holiday Inn with the big bright sign that says, “WELCOME IDIOTS”. Celebrate your pitiable pyrric victory till the cows come home. Or your wives. Whichever comes first.

But arguing here on PJM. What are you thinking? What are you afraid of?

Joe Biden was right when he said the Presidency is no place for on the job training. “Obama’s a clean guy, Biden said, “but he’ll learn by mistakes and Iran and Russia will clean the articulate man’s clock.”

Listen to Vice President Joe Biden. He speaks from experience about the inexperienced.

What I’m trying to get across is that the election is over and you Democrats put Obama in office. You made him commander and chief.

Why are you here? Are you trying to convince yourselves that you didn’t make a mistake? Well, we’ll tell you that you did. You made an error in judgment. A lalapalooza. A whopper.

But one that can be rectified. In time.

In the meantime, why argue here on PJM? Celebrate with your friends. If McCain won, I wouldn’t be jawboning with Obama supporters on Moveon.org. I’d be out celebrating with my patriotic friends. With true Americans.

So go. Write Obama a letter. Tell him how happy you are he won. But hanging around here just makes you Democrats look like losers. Which you’re not. Are you?

Nov 10, 2008 - 2:31 am 3. Tito:

The Republicans are merely going to follow the same strategy the Democrats have used for the past 20 or so years: wait for the other party to mess things up so voters have to turn to them in protest. Both parties are exhausted and bereft of ideas. Beyond “tax cuts,” the Repubs have nothing. The Democrats seem to be stuck in 1968 with a smattering of 1932 “damn the ‘rich’” rhetoric for seasoning. Meanwhile, the corporate welfare and government bloat continue unabated.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:10 am 4. David Thomson:

The GOP should be immediately demanding a U.S. Justice Department investigation of Barack Obama’s campaign fraud. It is blatantly obvious that top leaders, perhaps even the candidate himself, ordered the disabling of the software safeguards to allow illegal financial contributions over the Internet. Somebody should be going to prison. There are also a number of other criminal investigations that are required—especially regarding the scandals surrounding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Please note that I am not calling for frivolous witch hunts. Campaign finance fraud threatens the very foundations of our democracy. No rational person should be disagreeing with my suggestion.

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:37 am 5. Mike:

Short quote from your article:

“For Republicans who still have jobs, they should perform them well and demonstrate that some Republicans can competently govern and legislate, make bipartisan deals, and remain politically popular.”

Excellent point and one of the key things that will help lead to a restoration of frugal and sound government in this country. The one thing Bill Clinton said way back when that I agreed with was that most Americans aren’t anti-government, they just want government to be competent.

The Republican Party needs a complete housecleaning from top to bottom and now the battle is to get started on that very job.

By the way, I hope all you liberals out there are going to pay a bunch of taxes because I am waiting for all the free stuff Obama promised me.

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:11 am 6. R a Z o R:

Hey you far left aggressive progressive liberals

we centrist are united and the 2012 election has

begun .

……….. MITT ROMNEY * BOBBY JINDAL ………
…………………. 2012 ………………..
…………………………………………

GOOGLE : 500 tons yellow cake Iraq Canada
________________________________________________

President Bush found over 500 tons of yellow cake in Iraq that just arrived to Canada . Bush
took the critism of the left over WMDs while
finding the stock piles hidden throughout Iraq in secret inorder that others might not find them . Does anyone recall the Plame affair ?

Yes history will look kindly on George W. Bush .

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:37 am 7. Kirk:

The first thing rank and file conservatives can do to start fixing things, is to educate yourself about your states primary system and laws. Then participate in the Republican primary system to eject the liberals, RINO’s and blue bloods from the party, along with the “conservatives” that spent like drunk sailors. Clean house, get the next generation up and elected.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:01 am 8. kochevnik:

Seem all the sniping, whining, and bickering is a GOP specialty. Too bad Fox pulled the plug and abandoned Repubs within minutes of the election results. Now Repubs are back alone in their rooms for eight years, dreaming of world domination and warmongering while their toys are left rusting.

Repubs are the party of failure. So says America.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:14 am 9. African Moonbat:

Agreed, History will treat G W Bush with a great deal more respect than his contemporaries

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:29 am 10. VAGOPer:

I’m so sick of coverage about Congressional leadership that talks about how people like Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan are the next coming of Christ. Eric Cantor had his chance to lead and he pussed out, opting for a safe job WITHOUT the pressure and accountability rather than actually lead the party (after supposedly having a role in the last leadership, which he likes everyone to conveniently forget.) Some leader. And Paul Ryan appears the same. If these guys think there’s a big problem, they clearly aren’t leaders then, because they aren’t stepping up to lead. IT’s time for the media’s love affair with them to get a dose of reality.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:29 am 11. Around The Sphere:

[...] candidate got more votes than any candidate in history.” And how are they faring? Pajamas Media’s Jennifer Rubin doesn’t think they reacted too well: Well, in the days following the election they engaged in [...]

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:34 am 12. jwb:

Wow, let me see Jennifer. When GW Bush put Karl Rove in the White House you and your ilk screamed. Now that your hero puts his own Rove in the White House everyone should be content since it is Barry’s choice. When he chooses one of the most hyper partisan hacks in Washington as his COS minutes after saying he wants to bring the country together we should all just trust him. Go away. You are a partisan fool.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:39 am 13. Robert Hurley:

Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber are the future of the Republican Party. I think you should all get behind that ticket for 2012

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:57 am 14. AlexinCT:

kochevnik says: “Now Repubs are back alone in their rooms for eight years, dreaming of world domination and warmongering while their toys are left rusting.”

Barry will soon find that every thug leader of the world will want to take a swipe at someone as spinless and inexperienced him. The Russians came at him the day after he was declared the winner! You should worry more if Barry will be smart enough to know those warmoning toys are the only thing that keep these kind of people from misbehaving, and those that seem unwilling to use them when needed,… Well you get my point. Or maybe you don’t. It looks like you are stupid enough to fantasize that because Obama is president suddenly the world is not a dangerous place. Don’t let reality bite you in the backside.

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:05 am 15. leigh acton:

I’m worried that everybody’s expectations for Obama are so elevated that disappointment is inevitable

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:24 am 16. kochevnik:

AlexinCT,

I thought Bush was president? Perhaps you are more informed?

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:25 am 17. Dennis D:

Attacking Emanuel was the right thing to do. Attack every decision Obama makes. Thats what the Dems did to Bush. Schumer and other attack Dogs came out daily.

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:27 am 18. AnninCA:

One thing positive about the election is that Republicans now have an opportunity to regroup and redirect efforts.

I agree with Tito. Neither party seems to offer much new thinking.

This is an opportunity to change that.

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:40 am 19. Joseph:

The east coast economic and national security elites hate the idea that a social conservative would take over, even though they provide the bulk of the votes. Instead they are knifing people like Palin and Huckabee in the back, while promoting their poster children i.e. Ryan, Cantor and Romney.

A social conservative may not toe the line on foreign trade labor arbitrage that allows business to make large profits while sending US jobs overseas. A social conservative also may not be as interested in foreign military adventures that enrich the national security elites.

It is time for the dog to wag the tail and not the other way around.

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:44 am 20. Donn W.:

STOP THE HATE. If we cannot find a way to stop the hatred we have for each other, then it doesn’t matter who is the president or what they do. We all hate each other so much that we cannot see the good in each other. We are more alike than we are different. We sit behind these computer screens and fill up on the hate and misinformation that is so prevalent here and we enjoy it. I am as guilty as anyone on here. Yesterday, I realized for the first time in my long life that the hate is not working. I’m not saying we’ve got to cozy up to each other and forget our differences. I am saying that if we don’t find a way to STOP THE HATE, we will end up hating each other into extinction. I can only try to stop my hating. I am going to try. I don’t think it will be easy, but this is a start. Let’s find something good in each other and try a little understanding. I will try. Will you? STOP THE HATE!!!!

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:58 am 21. Robert Hurley:

The base of the RP seems to be in the South. Although on the whaole Obama’s race probably gained him more votes than it cost him, the wites in the voted in fewere numbers for him than they did for Kerry. This from the LA Times:

But did Obama lose votes because of his race? There is evidence that he did. It comes from comparing how Obama did this year with how John Kerry did in 2004.

Leaving race aside, one can argue that Obama should have done better this year than Kerry did in 2004. He was a better campaigner; he had more money and a more extensive campaign; his opponent was not as popular among voters as George W. Bush had been in 2004; and he could place the blame for the growing economic crisis on his opponent’s party. But despite that, there were states and counties where Obama did much worse than Kerry among white voters. In Alabama, for instance, Kerry won 19% of white voters in 2004; in 2008, Obama got only 10%. In Mississippi, Kerry won 18% of white males; Obama won a measly 9%.

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:03 am 22. Donn W.:

At one time, this was the greatest country on the face of the earth. Now we are the laughing stock. the world is anxiously waiting for America to self deswtruct and we are giving them what they want. when we end up killing each other in a civil war, then we can all be really proud of what we have accomplished. WAKE UP AMERICA!! Let’s not end up like some European country that becomes two or three different countries that are constantly fighting amongst themselves. We are better than that. STOP THE HATE!! Give it a try. It begins with you and me. Find common ground. Work together. Quit blaming everyone else for the problems we all face. There is plenty of blame to go around. I will accept mine and try to be part of the solution. If we don’t stop hating, there will be no solution, only death and destruction. Blame me if it makes you feel better. I can take it. find a way to help out. It’s not easy, but it is the only way. Please try.

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:09 am 23. Войска ПВО:

Well, at least the Eagle fans got it right:

“The Giants and Eagles played in front of a special guest. Vice President-elect Joe Biden watched the game in a luxury suite with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Biden was booed when he was showed on the video screen.”

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:20 am 24. Karen in CT:

Rachel Peepers:
“In the meantime, why argue here on PJM? Celebrate with your friends. If McCain won, I wouldn’t be jawboning with Obama supporters on Moveon.org. I’d be out celebrating with my patriotic friends. With true Americans.”

um – last time I checked (about a week ago and was verified by officials at my polling place) I was a true American. And so is everyone else who voted for Senator Obama as well as those who voted for Senator McCain. I don’t see what you gain by banging that drum anymore.

I respectfully suggest you take that attitude in for adjustment. The reason I am reading this blog is because I actually am interested in opinions other than my own. It helps refine my own thinking. I agree with Donn W. It’s time to stop the hate. It’s a waste of energy and we have bigger things to do.

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:22 am 25. Donn W.:

Thank you Karen in CT. I am glad we can agree on something. It is a start. We are all Americans and we need to get away from the red and blue and the black and white and all the other labels and just be Americans again. No one is going to come and bail us out of this mess. Let’s try taking responsibility for our own behavior and treat each other the way we want to be treated. I am sick of the pettiness and lack of respect we have for each other.
It is killing us as a nation. I want America to be a nation I can be proud to be a part of, not a chaotic gathering of hate mongers, which is where we are heading. STOP THE HATE!!!!!

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:40 am 26. Ms. Attitude:

Karen in CT:

I believe that Rachel Peepers is referring to other commentors on here that spew hate about the Republicans or those that supported McCain/Palin. They can get really nasty. I don’t see too many nasty ones but there are some petty ones on this thread, i.e.: #8 kochevnik’s comment.

The world is changing and we don’t know how but it might not be for the best. I try to be positive but I wonder what we have done to ourselves. Since the election I have seen more racial tension than I have in my entire life. What is the hope of the Republican Party? What is it that we want to change? We need to do some soul searching and have a strong platform in the next 4 years.

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:42 am 27. mnotaro:

We need to rebuild the Republican party and the best way to do that is to go back to basics…let’s all get back to the RIGHT where we came from. I hear so much trash on the internet about how the Republican Party needs to move farther left to ever nail down the majority…stupid. We look wishy-washy…which is how McCain looked to a lot of people… Let’s all stand strong and tall in our RIGHT morals and our values and get our act together and let some of the bad thoughts and feelings of W wash away and rally up the Republican party and let’s start winning some of the battles against the liberal left wing illuminati

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:45 am 28. AlexinCT:

kochevnik says: “I thought Bush was president? Perhaps you are more informed?”

The operative word here is was. My guess is that you have no clue how the system works, don’t worry that seems to be a common thing on the left since you seem to not even know Medvedev and Putin have already pointed out this was a challenge to the Obama presidency, and are thus asking these kinds of stupid questions. Any presidency is over as soon as the next guy wins. Right now Bush’s job, like that of every president before him whom was ready to leave the office, is to transfer control to Obama. But lets not get pesky facts in the way of blaming Bush a few more times so democrats can get away with it.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:07 am 29. AlexinCT:

Funny how so many liberals, whom where showing plenty of hate for the other side until Obama was declared the winner, suddenly council us all to stop hating, huh? I wonder why you could not lead by example and give president Bush the same courtesy you demand for your guy when he was in office. Please do not tell me you did because that is a damned lie, and do not confuse the anger of conservatives with the hate shown by the left. Unlike the left where hate for president Bush, whom was one of the biggest socialists to hold office BTW, was rampant, most conservatives hate what the people that they oppose politically stand for, not the people. But don’t worry. We on the right will not blame Obama for natural disasters or other such ridiculous things. We will blame him for the real disasters he will cause. And there will be plenty of them from what he has already done just so far.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:20 am 30. Daniel Anderson:

I say ditch the RINOS and be done with it and work at building a different kind of coalition.We have been in the wilderness before and focus on making life miserable as possible for the Democrats.Bi-partisan does not mean we take it in the shorts. We sent radicals to congress in 1994 who decided to “Go Native” in Washington and our powers that be sold us out. We need to focus on the enemy folks because Marxisim is on the march and we better be proactive or the Conservative movement will be destroyed.Conservative thought prevailed in this election not Republican.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:26 am 31. Joseph:

As another poster pointed out, if Obama had been white, the GOP would have been wiped out, even in the south.

The middle class is under attack by business and is drifting away from the Repulicans. Obama is targeting the middle class while the Washington GOP is busy playing golf with corporate lobbyists.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:27 am 32. The Historian:

FAIRNESS DOCTRINE: A FOOLS FANTASY

How and why the Democrat pursuit of talk radio will blow up in their faces:

http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/fairness-doctrine-fools-fantasy.html

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:34 am 33. cedarford:

Kirk – Kirk:

The first thing rank and file conservatives can do to start fixing things, is to educate yourself about your states primary system and laws. Then participate in the Republican primary system to eject the liberals, RINO’s and blue bloods from the party, along with the “conservatives” that spent like drunk sailors. Clean house, get the next generation up and elected.

Yes, of course! Because it wasn’t that Palin and the Religious Right proved utterly toxic to getting the vote of most major groups and regions of the country – no, it was because they weren’t extreme enough! And what the Republicans really need to do is have some barely educated folks and Fundie preachers weed out the Republican apostates.

And obviously, out West, carrying some non-evangelical states like Utah and Idaho must be deeply worrying, as full as they are of RINOs and Mormon heretics and other traitors to Fundi-Land Republicanism. They must be purged too!

You take Kirk’s path and you end up carrying the Republican version of the McGovernite DC and Massachussets – and commending yourself on how “pure” and righteous you are.

People forget that before Reagan came as a Centrist-Right candidate, the hard work of rebuilding after the Goldwater extremist debacle was accomplished by moderate Republicans that sought a Big Tent, Silent Majority.

Romney’s Fortune Magazine interview regarding the election being over and all Americans woking hard on the 8 major economic problems we agree on, and Cantor’s interviews about getting back to basics and away from religious litmus tests and dogma that scare away women, the young, the college-educated and hispanics – is a good start.

My sense of the Republicans is that they need some good political animals, like Nixon was, to work on a 50-State strategy, end Republican religious intolerance, bury the extreme abortion politics. That would be folks like Gingrich and Mellman and Jeff Flake.

Romney is more like Reagan in that he wants to get in office mainly to get things done, not be a Party Boss. And, with him out of office, the Obama Administration would be very wise to entertain some offers for Romney and some of his prominent supporters to put country over Party and accept positions presenting huge opportunity to help all Americans – in economic recovery, addressing America’s rapidly failing healthcare system, a US industry rescue – starting with the several million jobs and pensions now on life support along with the US auto industry.

It might be better for the country if we have able Republicans like Gingrich, Tommy Thompson, Fred Thompson, Rudy, and Mitt Romney working alongside Dems to fix our present domestic and foreign policy debacles – rather than spend the next 2 years convincing “The Base” that the past era of Republican rule is gone and will not be resurrected.

Particularly Gingrich, Romney and some of his long-time allies who are top leaders and reformers – they have a long history of turnarounds and innovation. Sharp Obama people, and there are plenty, know that the present points being made by Romney and Gingrich carry a subliminal message – And I’d be delighted to work together with you Obamites in a way the Bushies never wanted to – and come up with you giuys, with a bipartisan health coverage plan, a bipartisan plan to rescue Detroit, a solid US Infrastructure investment plan to create jobs and financial recovery in a way tax cuts for more consumer Chinese junk purchased – never did…

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:46 am 34. The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start:

[...] The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start Sniping, whining, and bickering isn’t the way to revive a party after a stinging defeat. [...]

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:47 am 35. Ken Hahn:

Unlike many here, I am old enough to remember 1964. After the country club Republicans abandoned Goldwater and turn what might have been a close race into a disaster, conservatives realized that we were on our own. “Progressive” Republicans controlled the party machinery and if they didn’t actively sabotage Goldwater’s campaign, they sat on their hands and did nothing to help a man who had tirelessly worked for all Republicans since 1952. Goldwater would probably have lost with a united party behind him but the Republican elite made sure that conservatives were punished for nominating someone so unacceptable.

So how did we get to Reagan in 1980? Conservatives took over the grassroots organizations of the party. They got elected to County or District committees. They denied the RINOs the power to distribute money and effort. We had to settle for Nixon in ‘68, the effort was incomplete. Nixon for all his faults, campaigned for Goldwater. The next two elections had incumbent Republican Presidents. But finally the organization we had built from the ground up gave us Reagan in 1980. The center-right has dominated the national debate ever since, although Republicans have sometimes forgotten the values that define our part of the political spectrum.

When we forget what we stand for, we get someone who basically stands for nothing. John McCain was seen as appealing to moderates and independents. He would broaden our coalition and bring new people into the Republican Party. He was, like John Kerry before him, electable. We all know how that works out.

If we do not want another McCain in in four years, we have to take the party back. If we don’t want the base to close their wallets and stay home, we need the base in charge of the party. We need to go back to winning at the lowest levels. We have to have a vehicle to win and our vehicle, the Republican Party, is broken.

Find out how the party is organized in your State, in your County, and in your districts. Take it over. Use it to win, not as a social organization. Clear out the deadwood ( the wood seems to die after about 10 years ). Convince good candidates to run for every office. Even if the race is hopeless, a decent candidate might bring out people to influence other races. And in a few years, the race might not be hopeless. It’s our party. Why are we letting the people who ran this campaign run it?

Do not be bitter about this election, learn from it. Do not hate those who mishandled this campaign, replace them. We are the real majority. We will be back. Give Mr Obama his celebration. From now until he is sworn in let the Democrats have their party. The 2010 campaign begins January 21st. Let’s get ready for it at the local level.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:48 am 36. Will Becker:

Republicans need to get a backbone and stand up for conservative values.If we want a one party government,then lets all be democrats,and have a socialist run government.I don’t think true Americans are Socialists.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:52 am 37. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Donn W.
RE: The Hate?

I will try. Will you? STOP THE HATE!!!! — Donn W

Good on you.

Please stop these so-called ‘liberals’ from hating anyone who disagrees with them.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The point is that as soon as fear, hatred, jealousy and power worship are involved, the sense of reality becomes unhinged. And, as I have pointed out already, the sense of right and wrong becomes unhinged also. -- George Orwell]

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:01 am 38. Afikpo Chic:

So whomever disgrees with a repub must be an obamabot? well you will have your hands full.

If Sarah is the future of the GOP then simply kiss the white house goodbye for a long while. Why can’t the educated among the righ looking real hard in the mirror, tell each other the truth and present a leader with a coherent thought for a change. jesus. this is getting really unfunny and sad now. If Sarah had come from the left the repubs will be gasping and screaming blue murder. After 8 years of someone who could not complete a sentence, you want a female version of him. my god, this is dumb.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:01 am 39. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Donn W.
RE: For Starters….

….you can address James over on Dr. Helen’s current thread.

And Afikopo Chic, here.

Good Luck,

Chuck(le)
[Hatred is the cowards revenge for being intimidated.]

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:06 am 40. Mike:

Donn W:
Quote:
“STOP THE HATE!! Give it a try. It begins with you and me. Find common ground. Work together. Quit blaming everyone else for the problems we all face. There is plenty of blame to go around. I will accept mine and try to be part of the solution. If we don’t stop hating, there will be no solution, only death and destruction.”

It sure is easy for liberals to scream about stopping the hate now that the election is over isn’t it. Well, MoveOn and the DailyKos have shown us conservatives the way to respond. I am not absolving the Bush presidency. Actually my party got what it deserved after an 8 year drunken spending spree. But don’t imagine for a minute that hate doesn’t beget hate and don’t forget that we conservatives have been on the receiving end of some of the worst organized hate filled political invective since the Civil War.

By the way, I hope all you liberals out there are going to pay a bunch of taxes because Joe Biden said it’s your patriotic duty to do so and I am waiting for my share of the redistributed wealth.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:09 am 41. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: Afikpo Chic & Projection

So whomever disgrees with a repub must be an obamabot? well you will have your hands full. — Afikpo Chic

I wonder if she’s talking to me.

But there is something of a difference between hating someone because they disagree with you and identifying someone as an ‘obamabot’ because they behave as described….

….HERE!

Indeed. I don’t hate them. I pity them.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess. I will not obsess.]

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:12 am 42. ghh:

@ Ken Hahn.
Best post-election comment I have seen, please keep it up.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:22 am 43. Glenn Koons:

The GOP has to first make sure they have a bench. Mike Pence, Erik Cantor, Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, Sens. Coburn, DeMint all have to join in mapping a coherent loyal opposition’s focus ala Newt in ‘94. Appoint Newt as RNC Chair and make the youngest House and Senate holder committee chairs of House and Senate recruitment stances. Make the next two campaigns national in focus with a renewed Reaganism which is believable. Recruit real conservatives and not RINO’s. Use CSPAN every day for issues’ discussion. Go on every Talk Radio conserv program, Fox and also make sure the liberal shows are covered with Pub spokespeople each week. Prepare for 2010 now. Do not go across the aisle unless it pushes a conservative stance. Ever. Stop spending, ask for more tax cuts, support the military. And stand against every liberal jurist proposed for federal appointment. Even if you lose , go down fighting for right ideas. Stop appealing to liberal pundits. Challenge them.Criticism that is right on issues and principle is not hate speech and make it known that PC malarky will not be tolerated; out loud and in print.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:23 am 44. Mister Snitch!:

“Sniping, whining, and bickering isn’t the way to to revive a party after a stinging defeat.”

Why not? It worked for the Dems. In fact, it worked so well that even after regaining the White House, they’re STILL doing it, at forums like this one.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:25 am 45. free:

Cantor is forever etched waving paper around yelling Nancy Pelosi is being mean to republicans. Not, this bailout sucks, and democrats are thieves.

Move on, there has to be one smart republican there. Mike McCall from Texas voted AGAINST the bailout. Let’s start there. Publish list who voted NO both times, and then we will see a real Maverick.

Sorry for that M thing. I miss Sarah.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:26 am 46. rightwingprof:

Sing it, sister!

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:29 am 47. Right Wing Nation » Blog Archive » Sing It, Sister!:

[...] Go. Read. This. Now. Category: GOP  |  Comment (RSS)  |  Trackback [...]

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:31 am 48. Letalis Maximus, Esq.:

Look, after listening to the Goldwater/Reagan stuff for like 40 years, the American voters gave the GOP a chance to put up or shut up in 1994 by giving them control of the House and Senate. In 2000, American voters doubled down and gave the GOP the White House, too. In response, America got, among other things, the K Street Project, Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, a disasterously managed war in Iraq, Gitmo, Abu Graib, Foley and his pages, and an orgy of earmark spending the likes of which nobody had ever seen.

The conclusion? All that small government and limited spending rhetoric was just bullshit the GOP foisted on us to gain power. Right? Oh, no? Then prove it.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:37 am 49. Roux:

A few insider Republican’s leak some rumors to the press and they play it up. Big deal…. not really.

Obama could never had been elected had 1) they not had the MSM in their back pocket and 2) the Republican’s had found a decent candidate.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:38 am 50. AnninCA:

Sarah is knocking the ball right outta the park. Great interviews….good sensibility. And she obviously has her finger on the pulse of what’s sensible for the Republicans to consider as a future path.

RCP has the interview.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:38 am 51. BarryD:

Can we please stop repeating the MSM mantra that Sarah Palin represents the Religious Right?

If she’s as extreme as the RR gets these days, we’re in great shape.

News flash: not everyone who goes to church advocates forcing their beliefs on the rest of us. There’s no evidence that Sarah Palin is the sort who does.

Palin represents something else: Western self-reliance, soft economic populism, energy policies that make sense, jobs and business opportunities in the US, and she’s DC outsider.

Love her or hate her, or somewhere in between (the most rational place to be IMO), she’s not some rabid religious right social con.

Don’t buy into the propaganda of the other side. Try to assess potential leaders for who and what they really are. If there are legitimate reasons that Palin shouldn’t be a new leader of the Republican party, let’s hear them. But the BS hurled by Democrat partisans during a boisterous campaign? Leave that stuff behind.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:40 am 52. Mwalimu Daudi:

Democrats are proposing bringing the Gitmo terrorists to US soil to be tried for … just what, how and why is not clear. They are also proposing ending Bush administration executive orders allowing drilling for oil on US soil. There are rumors floating that an Obama administration will pull the plug on any further investigations of Tony Rezko by getting rid of the US prosecutor looking into the crimes. Meanwhile, Democrats are gearing up to steal Senate elections in Minnesota and Georgia. In other words, there are plenty of pressing issues for Republicans to hammer home.

But what does the GOP establishment content itself with? Shoving knives in Sarah Palin’s back. I’m surprised that the McCainiacs did not try to blame Trig and Bristol as well.

If you though 2006 and 2008 were blowouts, just wait until 2010!

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:47 am 53. j green:

Jennifer, your major premise is incorrect in that the bickery, as directed against the old guard fossils running the party, is healthy. The party is so incompetent they could not even have a sane sounding conference call. Moreover, a GOP that could lose the tax issue to de facto socialists needs to do some very deep soul searching and house cleaning. And the only way head will roll at the party is because of the in fighting. As for the Palin vendettas, she will survive because the base loves her by overwhelming margoins.

The bickering and in fighting is healthy and conducive to the needed change of leadership from RINOs to conservatives.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:51 am 54. Karen in CT:

To: AlexinCT

I note you don’t particularly support Mr Bush – pretty harsh naming someone of your own party a socialist but it shows you have more than bluster going for you. Good man!

I lay the blame for partisan nastiness on the doorsteps of Mr.s Limbaugh and O’Reilly and their associates who are fanning the flames in the name of ratings. Yes, there are also extreme liberal blogs but many more like me who want honest discussion of facts with out the finger pointing. There’re enough mistakes made on both sides that we should spend less time on that and move forward. As for support for Mr Bush; I recall feeling very marginalized as an American when he took office. The 52.13% of us who did not vote for him in 2000 were basically told to pound sand, he had a “mandate”.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:55 am 55. Publius:

Absolutely true. The sniping is dysfunctional and bodes ill for the country, which needs a robust opposition.

My preference on that front is a centrist opposition, and to do my part, I’ve started a centrist blog. Akll are welcome at http://thepurplecenter.blogspot.com/

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:56 am 56. Ms. Attitude:

I have a question….I have always considered myself a Republican but not a die-hard conservative. I really wanted Ron Paul as president since I agree with most of his political positions. I realize that the only person I will agree 100% of the time with on political issues is me!

Here’s my question…could I be labeled as a liberal, a RINO or any of those other names?
I’ve always voted republican because I’ve felt that the party matched the majority of my views.

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:56 am 57. BarryD:

The bickering and in fighting is healthy and conducive to the needed change of leadership from RINOs to conservatives.

I have to agree.

Let them be the gingham dog and the calico cat. As soon as possible!

Nov 10, 2008 - 10:59 am 58. Donn W.:

It will never change. I express my concerns about hatred being spewed here and I am immediately bashed for being a liberal. It might interest you to know(though probably not) that I am a registered republican who has voted in every election(national, local, state)since 1968 with 99.9% of my votes going to conservative republicans. Just because I see something I think is a problem(hating)and want to do something about it(stop)you are ready to have me for dinner. Maybe it is later than I think. Maybe we are already eating our own. Now I have real reason to be concerned. I am so sorry if me thinking that hatred is not the way to accomplish anything other than destruction has offended any of you. Go ahead. Continue down the path you have chosen. I will take mine. At least my blood pressure should go down. Yeah-I voted McCain Palin too. Hold on to your hate. It should serve you well.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:06 am 59. Mandy:

Smart analysis, except for one thing: the best thing the Republican party could do for itself would be to flush the toxin of Lain and her followers. Otherwise, prepare for the extinction of the GOP.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:06 am 60. Self-hating boomer:

Mr. Snitch has a point. The donkeys beat each other to a bloody pulp all the way to the convention, and still pulled this off. Division isn’t by itself deadly. Donkey cheating and ownership of the monolithic media had much, much more to do with this than elephant-on-elephant fire.

McCain needs to get together with Feingold and try to close the loophole that allowed 0bama to take hundreds of millions in anonymous contributions. And then when Feingold refuses…

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:07 am 61. BarryD:

Here’s my question…could I be labeled as a liberal, a RINO or any of those other names?
I’ve always voted republican because I’ve felt that the party matched the majority of my views.

I think that RINO refers to the sorts of Republicans who talk about fiscal responsibility while working on increased spending and opposing reforms, and those who promise to fight against corruption on the stump, but are happy to forget about standing up for anything as soon as they’re in DC and there’s more money in being “agreeable” — in the name of “bipartisanship.”

I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries. Liked Thompson, too, but he dropped out. Didn’t agree with either’s whole platform, either, but as you said, I really only agree with me 100% of the time, and then only at a given instant, since I do think about things.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:07 am 62. Jackson Laurence:

#48 makes a pretty good point (even though I’d probably argue a bit with it!). When the Republicans had control of 2 of the 3 branches of government, what did they do with it? A great deal of their current situation is made by their own actions. (And yes, before I get a tidal wave of denunciations – granted the Democrats spent the last 8 years playing Bartleby the Scrivener; but in the end the Republicans have to take responsibility and, hopefully, learn from their mistakes.)

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:12 am 63. Bod:

I think the whole ‘RINO’ nomenclature is pretty misleading, since the ‘true’ policy positions of the Republicans (and Democrats) change over time. It’s just a convenient slogan to pitch around when a specific accusation can’t be made, and to some extent, it’s a bit like defining ‘pornography’ – hard to fully define, but you know it when you see it.

If you’re susceptible to Ron Paul’s message, you might get called a lot of things, but RINO probably isn’t one of them.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:14 am 64. Ten:

Yet another meaningless opinion at PJM, berating the only folks out doing their jobs and creating the merest of vestiges of checks and balances on the now runaway US system of Democrat-”led” government.

Well done, PJM. Not part of the solution makes you part of the problem. Hoping Obama will look the other way, are we?

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:15 am 65. Ms. Attitude:

Thank you BarryD.

Maybe the beginning of recovery for the Republican Party can be the realization that we will not agree on 100% of the issues. But I would like to think that most Republicans can agree that we don’t need government debt and that higher taxes are not the answer.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:16 am 66. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Donn W.
RE: Bashings

I express my concerns about hatred being spewed here and I am immediately bashed for being a liberal. — Donn W.

Maybe it has something to do with the way these so-called ‘liberals’ at Kos and HuffPo and NYT and WaPo comported themselves over the last 8 years.

After all, I see you preaching love and peace to the conservatives. But I have yet to see you sorting out the problems of these so-called ‘liberals’.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Why do you complain about the mote in your brother's eye and cannot see the beam in your own? -- Some Wag, around 2000 years ago]

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:22 am 67. Kelly:

“(republicans) will need to craft a tone which does not reek of excessive partisanship”…uh huh. After all, that worked so well for democrats. Democrats did nothing but snipe and whine during the worst attack ever on foreign soil and through two wars. They now hold both houses of congress and the executive branch…yet Republicans mustn’t so much as whimper?? We must get on board. We must not be excessively partisan. Yeah, okay. Let me know how that works out.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:25 am 68. Kelly:

I meant, worst attack ever on our soil…sorry.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:27 am 69. Ms. Attitude:

Donn W:

I don’t think Mike called you a liberal. It’s that now it seems like the public in general (media, etc) is asking us to play nice with those that disagree with us while they bashed our views and opinions for years. Also, he has had that last paragraph at the end of his comments for a while.

I think that Republicans tend to be more realist than Democrats but we are usually more passionate. I think that we were thrown for a loop when the Democrats were so passionate about a candidate. Especially one that is so far left. We need to get our passion back.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:27 am 70. AlexinCT:

Karen in CT syays: “I lay the blame for partisan nastiness on the doorsteps of Mr.s Limbaugh and O’Reilly and their associates who are fanning the flames in the name of ratings.”

Then you are laying blame on the wrong people. If the media did its job of reporting instead of propagandizing, these people you claim are “fanning the flame” would all be out of business. People listen to them because otherwise they would never get the facts. I am sure you have never listened to them, or worse, you have and thus want them silenced, or you would know that. The left has been very successful at cultivating the illusion that people like Limbaugh, O’Reilly, and Hannity are fanning the flames when what they do is point out the hypocrisy in the media and democratic party. What kind of real “discussions” can you have when the democrats can spout talking points and the media reports it as news while the only time the media thinks the other side is news worthy is when they can use what was said against conservatives? There is a reason the left is so gung-ho to re-institute the “Fairness Doctrine”, and the reason is simple: silence their opposition.

Karen in CT says: “Yes, there are also extreme liberal blogs but many more like me who want honest discussion of facts with out the finger pointing.”

But only after your guys won…

Karen in CT says: “As for support for Mr Bush; I recall feeling very marginalized as an American when he took office. The 52.13% of us who did not vote for him in 2000 were basically told to pound sand, he had a “mandate”.”

At first I wanted to just point out that it was kind of like we felt after Clinton won with something like 41%, or how we are being made to feel now that Obama won, but then I realized this was all bull. First off, remember that the “go pound sand, because we are in charge” practice started with Bill Clinton’s election. Nobody tried to reach out more than president Bush, only to be punished for it every time. You might want to pretend otherwise, but Bush tried to reach across the isle more than Clinton ever did. And I bet he did more than we will ever see Obama do. See, the problem is that the left thinks they should dictate policy when they win, AND when they lose. The examples are plentiful for anyone that paid attention. President Bush tried: “No Child Left Behind”, Medicare Part D, Social Security, defense during a time of war, budgets, and so on. Yet democrats tore him a new one, purposefully undermined him only to then blame him for any possible failure, and when that didn’t work, declared everything he did a failure anyway. Like I said: Bush was a socialist, the massive government growth & spending during his time in office, proves it. Compassionate conservatism shares more with what the left beliefs than what conservatives’ believe in. In fact the only things Bush got right where his tax cuts, his policy against terrorism, and his SCOTUS nominees, and that took some serious anger from his base to get right. And the left wants to roll all of these back (can’t wait till the next attack on our soil). Yet your side, always feeling they are entitled to power and the only ones smart enough to make decisions, hated Bush because he had managed to survive an attempt by Gore to use lawyers steal the election. If Bush had had a (D) by his name the left would have lauded him as the greatest president ever for growing government that big for them. So please, do not give me the marginalized bit Karen.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:41 am 71. Tennwriter:

When the base calls out the old guard, or the RINOs, for lack of conservatism, this is ‘correcting their errors’, it is not ’sniping or whining’. When you engage in pointless, stupid, or dishonorable attacks that is sniping and whining.

Talking about Sarah’s bathrobe is whining. Pointing out that Rahm Emmanuel is hyper-partisan and has anger issues that would reccomend the carrying of mace in his presence is an accurate depiction of reality. Operation Leper by Redstate is protecting the honor of Mrs. Palin, and any other Republican the MSM might target for personal destruction when it suits them.

However to a majority of times, you want to focus on your positive plans to fix the situation. Optimism and bold plans based on conservatism can do the trick. A politics which is soley about the little idiocies of the opponent is not going to accomplish much. We rightly complained about the Left’s lack of plans.

Let’s come up with our own plans to focus mostly on, and on occasion, zing the Left for their silliness.

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:55 am 72. Self-hating boomer:

Alex (70), that’s somewhat off topic, and I wish someone would write a post on that, because what you say is true and important. If these liberals in the media really wanted to silence Limbaugh, Hannity, and co, the way to do that is quite simple: report the news, the whole news, and nothing but the news. The market for right-wing talk radio would vanish overnight.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:02 pm 73. Ferdinand Chetler:

I agree with Donn. After this election season I am tired of it. And I voted all GOP.

Have you seen “From 52 to 48 with love?”
http://www.zefrank.com/from52to48withlove/

It includes quite a few statements of unity from blue folks. I am all for it, but folks on the left like Robert Hurley and Afikpo Chic will excuse me if I am not too hopeful that this movement will catch on. Their own responses to this thread would indicate otherwise.

I am sad and glad that Obama was elected. Sad because there are so many unknowns with Obama, and most of those not good. Sad because his track record indicates he stands for so many things we as Americans historically disagree with. But I’m glad there’s no more excuse to cry racism for every little thing. I’m glad the Democrats now must put up or shut up on their policy positions (well, I’m not “glad”). I’m stuck with a situation I’m not happy with, but I will give the guy the benefit of the doubt, because thanks to the press, we don’t really know him. Be aware that I will be happy to stand athwart history, yelling “Stop!” if he wants to go off the rails, but unlike those looney leftists who advocated killing Bush, or hated his guts for the last 8 years, I’ll support the President because it is what Americans do. Note again, I did not say I would agree with him. If he tries to socialize health care, I will talk about my own experiences living with East Bloc health care prior to the Wall coming down. I’ll push my party to get on the ball. I’ll be happy to dissent. It is thanks to the liberals we have all learned that “dissent is patriotic”. Let’s see if they still feel that way.

I don’t have a lot of hope. Listening to the radio, there seem to be a lot of folks on the left who are eager to put it to folks on the right, now that they are in charge. The Kos Kids have repeatedly spoken of “rubbing salt in (our) wounds” or “crushing them”, and their hyper-partisanship is not likely to abate. These people and their supporters are not fans of gracious winning.

I don’t know what to say about the future of the GOP. The party disappointed me immensely this year. I pulled the lever for McCain with reluctance – I didn’t vote for him as much as I voted against Obama. The post-election sniping and lack of looking for new ideas is a serious problem. And it’s not only a lack of “new ideas” but returning to the ideas that made the GOP popular to begin with. Self-reliance is not diametrically opposed to compassion. Lack of government help is not the opposite of helping those in need. Advocating the free market does not come at the expense of jobs in America. Spreading democracy around the world does not spread terror. The problem is that politicians, policy wonks, and academics (generally) do not understand this. The people who understand this are business owners, soldiers, blue-collar workers and the like. The problem is getting successful non-politicians into these roles. The rules of campaign finance have made it almost impossible for non-incumbents to get elected. The fact that congressmen of both flavors can vote their own pay raises and create laws to protect their own incumbency is wrong. I just don’t see it changing.

Blah blah blah. I’ll stop. These are only a few thoughts towards being tired of the hate and arguing.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:14 pm 74. proud elitist:

Liberal here. I know that may immediately disqualify what I have to say, but one thing I keep hearing from a certain segment of the (old) conservative population is a “No on Gingrich.”

Why? Gingrich et al. practiced the idea of no-holds barred politics. As in, if doing “X” gets us votes, we do “X”. Regardless of whether it followed in line with conservative values. And that doesn’t always work well for the conservative/right electorate because they are made up of a variety of outlooks that do not coincide.

Recall the Terry Schiavo debacle?

I don’t know what the entire answer is, but it seems that after this Obama election, a new tide will need to turn in partisan politics.

AlexinCT: you are wrong. FOX’s own Shepard Smith (and to an extent, Chris Wallace) aren’t exactly on the bandwagon of their Fox brothers, Hannity and O’Reilly. And the hyprocrisies spewed by Limbaugh are insane.

One thing obvious from this election was that people wanted change. They were tired of the past 4 to 8 years. The problem is that the McCain campaign wasn’t listening. Wasn’t hearing/feeling the change vibe.

Republicans used to be the party of Lincoln; the party of ideas.

Now what are they?

((They are overwhelmingly southern, white and over 65 (per the electorate maps)).

Joe the Plumber should not speak for “you” as he doesn’t know what he is saying. And you have be embarrassed that he has an agent now, a lawyer and wants to be a country music star. And that he had his own tax-paying problems while complaining about Obama. And then his Israel comments which Shep Smith slapped him down for…

One more thing: engage young voters, become more 21st century, using the internet, using social networking pages, etc.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:26 pm 75. Sgt. Joe Friday:

“Young people flocking” to the Democrats? Let me translate that: “young people” = single women and guys who want to get laid. Expressing the “correct” political point of view, no matter how insincerely held, is unfortunately a common tool for conquering the opposite sex. (See: Bill Clinton and feminism.)

As for Hispanics, the % of votes they gave Obama is nothing more than that cohort returning to its normal voting pattern, i.e. approx. 2/3 Democrat, approx. 1/3 GOP. The unpleasant fact of the matter is that Hispanics are less affluent than whites and Asians, and poor people do not vote GOP no matter how much they love thir children, dislike gay marriage, or think abortion is an affront to God. How in the world the GOP is going to square this circle, I have no idea – the old way would be to drastically reduce immigration to give those on the lowest rung of the ladder a chance to gain some upward mobility, but nowadays that notion gets you tarred and feathered as a racist. The alternative would be massive quotas and transfer payments to pull Hispanics up the ladder faster, but that’s just a page from the Democrat playbook, with the exception being that presumably Republicans would want to wean their proteges off the government largesse at some point. The risk there is that the recipients of such largesse might object when they are told that the punch bowl is being taken away just when the party’s gotten started.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:31 pm 76. AlexinCT:

Self-hating boomer: Alex (70), that’s somewhat off topic

I don’t think so boomer. Karen in CT’s point was that the reason all this hate existed was exclusively because of talk radio entities whom she accused of just saying stuff to get ratings. I was correcting her.

Conservatives tend to be angry because we feel we are not getting a fair shake. Liberals control the news, they control education (more like indoctrination), and now they want to shut down how we find out the things they lie about when they do it, which seems to be pretty much all the time. In fact, we need to fight the RINOs that want to play by the liberal’s rules. We should be pointing that out on a thread dealing with that fighting.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:40 pm 77. beb:

I’m an independent that thinks McCain was the more qualified candidate in this election but my respect for McCain drops everyday he fails to come out in defense of Palin against the slimy attacks by his surrogates. If for no other reason that common decency, he should end this bullshit immediately.

At the same time, I’m truly tired of the poor behaviour by my Dem friends who evidently have forgotten how to win any sense of honor. Several seem to want to spend these days dancing on the graves of the losers rather than simply enjoying their victory and moving forward.

As an independent my vote is up for consideration every four years. And it usually goes to the candidate with party that has disgusted me the least during that period. I wonder who will be my pick next time.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:45 pm 78. Chester White:

“Unlike drubbings which the GOP took in 1964 or 1974, this defeat still leaves a wealth of resources at the disposal of conservatives — think tanks, the blogosphere, and talk radio, to name a few.”

What makes you think these will survive the promised return of the “Fairness Doctrine?”

A few Republican senatorial squishes like Snowe/Collins “show bipartisanship” and it passes before March 1, 2009.

Nov 10, 2008 - 12:46 pm 79. rvastar:

Sniping, whining, and bickering isn’t the way to revive a party after a stinging defeat.

Wrong. Fighting it out is precisely what’s needed. The recent hatchet job the GOP establishment tried to pull with Palin is perfect evidence of that. These people think that the answer to the Dems is to become Dem Lite: i.e. spend, spend, spend…just not as much. They’ve given up on reigning in Fedzilla and have decided to adopt a futile finger-in-the-dike posture. Principled conservatives, wherever they fall in the social/fiscal spectrum, scare the sh!t out of these people.

It’s not complicated stuff, people. The reality is that human beings, for the most part, are perpetually unsatisfiable creatures – always chafing against whatever circumstance they find themselves in. The poor chafe against their limitations, the rich chafe against their lack of limitations. And while everyone knows that bonded human beings will chafe against their chains, what few realize is that many free people – given enough time and leisure – will start to yearn for the yoke.

Following the Russian Revolution, European communists were perplexed as to why the fires of revolution weren’t sweeping across the continent. Italian communist Antonio Gramsci understood that the way to victory wasn’t in undermining govts but in underming cultures. Thus, he advocated the “long march through the institutions” so as to indocrinate the West’s educated classes, who would then be positioned to spread throughout the West’s cultural institutions (i.e. govt bureaucracy, educational system, news media, and entertainment) and gradually erode the prevailing culture.

Unfortunately, Gramsci understood something else: people need something to believe in. God has been destroyed in Europe, and if you want to see what millions and millions of Americans have replaced Him with, just watch the tape from election night and look into the eyes of the weeping Obama worshipers. The Left has achieved it’s goal, and in so doing, they’ve created a civilization full of historically-illiterate, perpetual adolescents who are just dying to put their necks back into the yoke of govt bondage, caring more about feel-good slogans and schmaltzy pap than they do about facts and reality.

The defining demarcation between the Left and the Right is that we on the Right – whatever our inclinations be of conservative, libertarian, etc. – understand that human beings are fundamentally flawed, imperfect beings that cannot be perfected. Personally, I could care less if the GOP ever won another seat in the House, Senate, or White House. What I care about now are my own integrity and principles.

What I want is a party whose beginning and end is defined by the following two principles: personal freedom and personal responsbility. And whatever doesn’t fit into that model should be opposed. And when the American people asks the party why they should vote for them, I want the party to say the following:

Because we will trust YOU to decide what is best for your life, your family, and your community. When your hard work and sacrifice leads to more money and success, we will leave that money in YOUR hands and trust YOU to decide what to do with it. And the money that is taken in taxes will be used to ensure that your rights and freedoms are protected from criminals within our communities and enemies outside our borders.

Will it do any good? Probably not. Far too many people are too far-gone down the Big Nanny path and the future looks especially grim. But…you never know. And since you never know, there’s always reason for hope. But the key is being prepared to strike when that opportunity presents itself. Fedzilla is going to crash and burn…one way or another…either outright or because some dramatic event slaps the American people across the face hard enough to snap them out of their daze. And when that happens, the question is this: what paths are going to lie in front of the American people?

That’s why we have to fight the “concessionists” and “Dem Lites”. Because I believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that the paths of personal freedom and personal responsibility are always here for the American people to return to. And eventually they will, if for no other reason than this: eventually, they’ll have to.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:17 pm 80. Therese:

Here’s what I think the Republican party needs to do:
1. Continue to point out everyday the things that Obama does that goes against what he promised during his campaign. Don’t let up. Keep reminding people because Obama will not be able to do all that he promised. Already we’re starting to see some of it and he hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet. Once he gets into office, it’s going to be worse and we need to be the ones who help people see the truth.

2. Focus on getting the party back to the right. The country is center-right. (Rasmussen did a poll that confirms this fact,too.) Get rid of moderates and RINOs in the party. What does this mean? Focus on smaller government, less taxes, energy independence and traditional values (especially male/female marriage).

3. Get a new RNC Chairman (perhaps Newt Gringrich) and put emphasis on 2010. I think that by the end of his first year, more people will see through the lies of Obama. This will make 2010 a great year to start getting more Republicans back into the Senate and House. This will help counter the left-wing legislation of the Democratic party.

All of us who voted for McCain know that Obama is going to be a major disappointment to the people who voted for him. People became too emotionally attached to his image and never thought about his policies. Now, they’ll be shaken up when he starts enacting his left agenda.

I believe that to try to fix their mistake, these increasingly disenchanted Obama voters will be eager to vote for Republicans in 2010. They’ll want to put in some controls on his power through the Congress. If we do #1, #2 and #3, we can help save the country from Obamanation.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:35 pm 81. mark l.:

left to their own, the gop is incapable of running itself.
see 2002-2006 spending.

the only means of providing a change of direction, is that newtonian requirement of having to be acted upon, or in this case, finding something to push of…thank god for a democratic ajority, in the sens that the gop has ’something it can push off from’, as opposed to acting like gerbils in a rotating wheel, trying to go someplace.

they remain incapable of fiscal conservatism, the have no agenda on illegal immigration, and they have ‘no’ voice on foreign policy, with the exception of ind-joe liebermann.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:38 pm 82. bobby b:

I love the way the national discourse today seems to be full of Dems talking about how we need to Stop The Hate, and start working together to get past all of our troubles.

You caused all of those troubles. I’m sure you’d love to just Move On.

The financial meltdown? Let’s make home mortgages available to everyone, even if they are broke and shiftless, and for no money down. That way, we can have our friends collect tens of millions in yearly pay for driving Eddie May and Bernie Mack into the ground, while transferring billions into the hands of house buyers who can quickly flip, and if they don’t flip in time, we’ll bail them out when it all tanks.

The economic slowdown? Let’s tell the public, for five years straight, that the Bush economy is about to crash and burn, even though the numbers are great, and eventually, consumers will lose confidence, spending will slow, and we’ll finally have our “crisis of confidence” to blame on Bush!

The war? The one that Bush told us, before we went in, was needed for about seven different reasons back in the famous State of the Union Address, but which now was doone, in the public mind, only for WMDs, because lying Dems screamed that lie for four years over and over, and the lying press repeated it enough on their own? The one that Bush told us would be a long, hard slog, but that the same lying Dems now claim Bush said would be quick and easy? That war?

Katrina? An entire state’s worth of Democratic infrastructure just completely bails on its responsibilities and leaves it’s N.O. people hanging, and it’s Bush’s fault?

You want to Move On?

Dream On.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:55 pm 83. Войска ПВО:

Mwalimu Daudi writes:

“Meanwhile, Democrats are gearing up to steal Senate elections in Minnesota and Georgia.”

..Jim Dand-ee! They want Franken as a U.S. Senator, then I say Bring it on!

(That would be their worst nightmare and would up the stakes for Joe Lieberman.)

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:57 pm 84. Tex Taylor:

I wish anybody calling themselves Republican would take about six months off and let the politics play out. The best thing anybody not voting for Obama could do is simply and politely say “Good luck. And now that you’ve got the majority of the country with the majority of Congress, it is your time Democrats to stand and deliver.” And then do your best to hold them accountable for their failings in the most professional way possible, without the gutter sniping.

The Dimocratic party is trying to rehash the 70’s failed policies, is amoral and devoid of good ideas, and it is a given that they will turn into an abysmal failure. For crying out loud, they are led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, two of the most incompetent and partisan people this side of Kim Jong-il. This will be Jimmy Carter Redux, and with any luck we are ready to usher in real change. It’s been almost 20 years and was long overdue.

America is not going away. Two years from now, when healthcare is even more costly, the economy in shambles, terrorism in returning threat to the radar, Europe now critizing Obama for his massive failings, the military disgruntled, and a return of malaise sinks into even the thickest of skulls, then everyone but the hardcore libbies will be turning on the vacuum of “hope and change” like maggots on rotting flesh.

No, the best things the Republicans could do is to get rid of these dogs that gave us McCain, seek better candidates not necessarily buying off that Jindal and Palin are necessarily the best we’ve got, quietly but passionately stick their nose to the grindstone about how best to limit government, stick it to the MSM by refusing to spend a dime on anybody giving them support, and be ready for the Dims imminent demise.

Four years gang. Four years, is all we have to wait. It will be completely transparent in I predict two. And then give us a worthy candidate – not one out of the Robert Dole or John McCain mold. Surely we can do better than that.

Nov 10, 2008 - 1:59 pm 85. bobby b:

“Four years gang. Four years, is all we have to wait. ”
– - –

How much damage can be done in four years with a packed Senate, House, Prez, and maybe even a Supreme Court? How much can they loot from those they deign to be undeserving of their own property?

I don’t think we have four years.

Nov 10, 2008 - 2:17 pm 86. Rachel Peepers:

First off, talk about rebuilding the Republican Party makes no sense.

There’s virtually nothing that people can go out and “do.” in the sense of rebuilding.

The playing field for this election wasn’t even. Before you can have constitutionally free elections, we’re assumed to a free, objective press (mainstream media). We didn’t.

Which is crucial. Because the bulk of a vote is vastly more persuaded by the press than TV spots, all of which in this election were done by political hacks. The commercials on both sides were idealess, wastes of money. It was a wash. The extra spots Obama was able to run were virtually meaningless.

Next, a candidate needs to believe in the worth of attacking the opponent. McCain tried to be fair in his attacks and he erred on the wrong side. It’s like running a war without using part of your arsenal, like air power. McCain’s reluctance to go after Obama’s
20 year long list of un-American relationships, specifically Jeremy Wright, (never use the word, associations) cost the Republicans dearly.

What’s more, McCain needed an attack and ready response team that we’re sharpened to a razor edge. Brilliant in ideas and execution. McCain went after Obama with the butterknife team.

And to beat your enemy, you have to know him. Obama’s team was, is, smart, ruthless, unafraid and always error on the side of over-attack. When that happened (s) Obama would get on TV and regret the misstep after the damage had been done.

Lastly, I think, in the sense of voter fraud, Obama cheated. Though not pivital, this didn’t help our side. His relationship with Acorn helped him. How much I don’t know.

There, that’s why we lost. Fix these problems, and that leaves the Democrats in 2012 in quite a fix. Because what they plan to do to America will not sit well with a good 60% of the American people.

One last thing, some idiot criticized me for saying if McCain won I’d be celebrating with my patriotic friends, true Americans. Not arguing with people on moveon.org.

Well, patriotic Americans don’t support the misuse of the constitution by consorting with and benefitting from a biased press. Patriotic Americans don’t buddy up with people who get their kicks stomping on the American flag, Bill Ayers style. True Americans don’t have people on their team that do these kinds of things without criticizing them.

The Democrats would love to have a Sarah Palin to run in 2012. She’s the brightest star in the political sky. The Democrats know this and that’s the reason for all the post election Palin attacks.

To win, you don’t have to out spend your opponent.

Just out smart them.

Nov 10, 2008 - 2:52 pm 87. Matt, Esq.:

I’ll be concerned with the “sniping and backbiting and ranting” when it lasts 8 years, as the libs managed it during Bush’s two terms.

However, I do pledge to never call Obama hitler.

Nov 10, 2008 - 2:54 pm 88. Karen in CT:

Tex Taylor – I appreciate your willingness to give Senator Obama a few months to make good while you sharpen your axe. However, I take exception to “America is not going away.” This has been the most annoying aspect of this whole conversation today. I am an American, 10th generation to be picky about it. That I do not agree with your pov does not make me less so. That an administration not of your choosing will be taking the reins does not put “America” on hold. There’s blue on the flag, too.

AlexinCt – It’s been interesting today. Thank you for your comments. I’m quite sure we have been watching dfferent newscasts, however, as I’ve seen Mr Bush get a pass on nearly everything by the MSM. I believe it was Scott McClellan that admitted FoxNews was getting feed directly from the White House as a propaganda outlet – hardly investigative reporting.

All in all, I believe it is the responsibility and right of the blogosphere to keep up and discuss. After all, bloggers are not beholden to sponsors or ratings and needn’t rely on sound bites to fill 27.5 minutes of air time.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:06 pm 89. Tex Taylor:

[I don’t think we have four years.]

Hard for me to believe Republicans don’t see a gold opportunity that awaits them if we do it right and show a little patience. We survived Dhimmi Carter – we can survive this too.

Yes, there will be some pain to go with it but that also builds a little character. Something a bunch of people in this country desperately need to recognize they’ve had it pretty good for 30 years. I have a little more faith in my fellow comrades. Politic is not all there is to America.

Now all of these vacuous governmental promises will be exposed. As a bonus, we can now watch all the race pimps scramble around without excuse, Europe to be shown as an abysmal failure without substance, promises of liberalism finally be exposed as a fraud, as we watch the march of the MSM to irrelevancy. We ought to be cheering with smiles on our face for Obama to turn as far left as possible before he turns off the cliff.

The question I would ask in return, is how much longer could we have survived while working with the thinnest of margins, a bunch of cowards we call our own representatives, and a lying, hostile media? The gutless hacks calling themselves Republicans felt like they had to throw one of the few brave men left (a guy named Bush) to the dogs to save their own jobs? Good riddance to the lot of them.

I’ve seen it all happen before. The fickle, feckless no nothings whine about every 16 years that they need change – 1976, 1992 and 2008. And when they get it, goodbye lefties (for a time).

This time we get it right and we can bury the “progressive” party for good, take a few of these corrupt media types with them, and possibly restore some semblance of decency to our political adversaries.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:11 pm 90. BLiP:

Wouldn’t it be great if Sarah Palin stood in 2012.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:13 pm 91. SGT Ted:

It was the “bipartisan” approach that got the Republicans where they are today: Democrat-Lite. Conservatism works everytime its tried. McCain, the “Moderick” backstabber of his own party showed that “reaching across the aisle” meant leaving your own behind after kicking them in the nads. What happened Nov 4th was “Changing the tone” coming home to roost. We need less “bipartisanship” (which always seems to mean agreeing with Democrats) and more principled opposition.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:24 pm 92. Jim Baker:

I see a much longer term trend here. It is not that conservatives don’t have a voice, it is that they are not being heard. The country isn’t shifting leftward because of any preference toward socialism, it is shifting leftward because it is being educated by a bunch of leftists, who are generally leftists because they are failures in the marketplace. Most folks don’t think much beyond what they have been taught in school. Why would anyone expect that they will? There aren’t many of us policy wonks, who are self inspired enough to think we are the betters of our teachers. This is a trend that will not be any easier to disrupt than the continuous growth of government. The teachers of our children live off of our tax dollars and have an exceedingly powerful union to preserve their current status. We can pontificate all we want. But if we don’t educate our own children, instead of leaving it up to these unionized government workers, we can expect a slow and steady leftward drift in our culture. Most of US share many of the same socialistic tendencies that we try to blame on the Dems. The concept of individual rights and responsibilities is far in our past and the worm started turning the day people started thinking that government could be responsible, while we could still be free. It will never work folks. Socialism will, by the necessity of central planning and control, no doubt result in tyranny. Obama or McCain never mattered much, in my opinion.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:26 pm 93. Tex Taylor:

Karen in CT,

[That I do not agree with your pov does not make me less so. That an administration not of your choosing will be taking the reins does not put “America” on hold.]

The fact you disagree with my pov is your right. Add to the fact you disagreeing with my view irrelevant to the discussion at hand. You’re completely free to follow any whim “the man of hope and change” bestows with my blessing. You’ve got one vote; I’ve got one vote. You won.

The only important point to my message is you got your wish and how we as Republicans, more specifically conservative Republicans, choose to react. So let us all witness if your candidate can fulfill all of these grandiose promises he has made. If he can, you’ve got my vote in 2012.

If not, you better be thinking about what you’re going to do to defend the obvious failure. And this time, lying about the record in conjunction with your media ain’t going to cut it because you’ve got it all.

Because with the advent of the internet, it’s all on record. And you can count on folks from YouTube videos to the PJM making sure everyone remembers all the promises. Or are you now wishing to change the rules of your game?

I sense a little waffling before your butts have warmed the seats? What’s wrong? Is it a whole lot easier and far more fun to bitch about how awful it is than to perform?

All I got to say is you got your chance sister to take the stage. Start playing your music.

Nov 10, 2008 - 3:32 pm 94. Vote Colborne 2016! » Doing Something About It:

[...] there for at least the next four years.  Meanwhile, the Republican Party is doing a fine job of mimicking Chernobyl while doing its absolute best to pretend that the semi-libertarian wing of its party doesn’t [...]

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:00 pm 95. cedarford:

BLiP:
Wouldn’t it be great if Sarah Palin stood in 2012.

If you are a Democrat, I’d agree that what you said is sensible for your side.

One of the sources on Palin, Dr. M Eisenstat, came out today and said she might pass a foreign affairs multiple choice contest but could not talk about any of it with any confidence, remain articulate and the team prepping her found huge knowledge hole after hole. On top of her Africa, NAFTA confusion.

She didn’t know the difference between Sunnis and Shias. Nor Hamas or Hezbollah.
She couldn’t associate the IRA or ETA with any country or describe their activities.

Eisenstat said she was clearly unprepared to step in if anything happened to McCain, confirmed she had behavioral issues. That it would be a mistake to see her as the new de facto “Leader”, and he felt an obligation to tell the truth. (shorthand – she’s pretty ignorant and diva-like)

He said if she cares to dispute it, anything he said, he would be happy to respond further – and that he has many more examples of things he observed her saying or doing not yet public knowledge that would add even more evidence why McCain’s selection of her was a huge mistake.

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:31 pm 96. Martge:

By the way did anybody read the statement by Bill Frist. I find it a good judge of the way the republicans should act. How they should recoup and that they should hold themselves with class and character.

Did you see the sniping and griping after bush won the election from the democrats no. A few were upset over the voting machines and they were found to be correct. The machines in some places were defective. All that has been fixed or almost fixed. So instead of showing sour grapes they republicans should close ranks, rethink their postions and procedures and think about the 2010 election….

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:31 pm 97. Valerie:

Rachel Peepers

I nominate your comment ‘way up there at No. 2 for Best in Class.

Now, all you Repubs, don’t you DARE take six months off! The Change website has been revised, but it is still looking for input from citizens, and that must include you. If nothing else, you are needed to weigh in on the internal discussion by the transition team. If you stay away from the table, somebody else, possibly a nut, will be happy to take your place. So if you have something serious to say, go here. http://www.change.gov/yourvision Take them at their word, and tell them what you think this country needs to do at this time.

I am a Liberal, I do not believe my vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin was wasted, and I do not intend to allow the excesses of my Democratic party to go unchallenged.

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:36 pm 98. Ms Attitude:

http://rebuildtheparty.com/

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:40 pm 99. kabud:

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-gop-gets-off-to-a-bad-start/#comment-35

Ken Hahn:

very true and wise!

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:44 pm 100. Mike:

Ms. Attitude:
Quote:
“Also, he has had that last paragraph at the end of his comments for a while.”

Yeah, I am starting to put that signature in my posts. I guess it will never happen but from the response I’ve gotten on other boards it really tweaks some of the liberals. I enjoy your comments.

By the way, I hope all you liberals out there are going to pay a bunch of taxes because Joe Biden said it’s your patriotic duty to do so and I am waiting for my share of the redistributed wealth.

Nov 10, 2008 - 4:46 pm 101. Mike:

Ms. Attitude:

PS: I forgot to add that the signature is not my idea but I got it from a friend a few days ago. The full text of what he wrote is here if any are interested: http://baregrass.net/?p=101

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:02 pm 102. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: Proof….

Conservative Culture – now there’s an oxymoron to be proud of ! — BLIP over on Dr. Helen’s current thread

….there will be no ‘peace’.

In spite of their recent victory, these people STILL hate. And it only takes ONE to make a war.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[So much for Obama the uniter.]

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:16 pm 103. Micha Elyi:

In my years on the county Republican central committee, I’ve learned that those who whine “Stop the bickering!” are fools who quickly surrender their votes to RINOs and backbiters. (The McCain campaign insiders whispering snarky snot to the press about Sarah Palin now aren’t the GOP’s conservative base now, are they?)

A lesson of this election is that squish can’t win. (Why does this lesson have to be repeated soooo often?) Democrat voters already have a party they’re happy with ask any PUMA how she cast her vote when she stood in the voting booth and decision time came for real. In any election between a Democrat and a Democrat-lite, significant numbers of center-right moderates stay home — so do a few “but I don’t want any spa-, uh, socialism!” members of the GOP base. Whaddya know, that’s exactly what happened this election.

This election also repeated another lesson: “Politics ain’t bean bag.” Sen. McCain put the inexperienced, gaffe-prone, dissembling, Africa-is-a-country-with-57-states Chicago political operator named Obama into the White House the same way Bruce Hershenson elevated Barbara Boxer to a Senate seat from California, by forgetting that lesson and trying to run a campaign the way their seventh-grade civics textbooks said campaigns are run. Sheesh!

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:20 pm 104. Anonymous - San Francisco:

“She didn’t know the difference between Sunnis and Shias. Nor Hamas or Hezbollah.
She couldn’t associate the IRA or ETA with any country or describe their activities”

The way the press is going after this woman is despicable. Have the “smart” men in government done such a good job for us? The approval rate for congress is the lowest in history maybe it’s time to elect someone different. The reason they can’t stand her is because she isn’t part of the Republican “boys club” and she is female – if we have learned anything during this election it’s that black people demand equality for their candidates but women should be treated like second class citizens.

These “tests” determining her IQ level are appalling – I’m Jewish and know more about Israel than the majority of Americans and even I get Hamas and Hezbollah confused at times and I don’t think the IRA is really that important to this country right now.

And nobody knows how “smart” Obama is because we’re not allowed to see his college transcripts, he won’t answer difficult questions from reporters and his campaign has trained him to answer questions. When was the last time Obama was on Meet the Press? Right before the election he was interviewed by Ryan Seacrest – I’m sure that was difficult. The ONLY evidence we have he is “smart” are his “memoirs” although his first contract was canceled because he couldn’t turn anything in and that is it. We have no record of any of his work at law school, he never appeared in a courtroom, and he could barely handle a few minutes of questions at the press conference last week.

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:33 pm 105. Rachel Peepers:

Valerie,

Thanks for the nice comment. It made my day.

Regards,
Rachel

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:53 pm 106. Arthur:

the GOP has to change, but most of them don’t want to know.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:40 pm 107. Arthur:

Palin is a right wing extremist she will never appeal as a presidential prospect to a majority of Americans and if she is the future of the GOP then the GOP is doomed.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:42 pm 108. Therese:

Rachel Peepers,
Great comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:52 pm 109. Anonymous - San Francisco:

Also Martin Eisenstadt doesn’t exist – it’s a fake story except the media is so busy trying to find information to prove Palin is stupid that they didn’t even bother checking to find out if the “source” is real or not. This has been verified – he doesn’t exist. This story has been reported in major newspapers and it’s not even real.

Too bad the media isn’t spending as much time trying to find out the names of all those foreign donors who gave $700 million to Obama or what he did during the years he refuses to talk about in college as they are reporting fake stories about Palin’s IQ.

Nov 10, 2008 - 6:54 pm 110. Stot:

I’ll give the GOP some “new” ideas: balanced budget; no new taxes; no inside deals (this means you dennis Hastert), administer your agencies, (don’t cede them to appointees).

More? Visit the local hospital where veterans are treated (gasp! imagine such a chore),prosecute congressmen found with 90,000 in their freezer–(means not defending them Mr. Hastert), and try to get people that understand YouTube in leadership in place of the Huntley/Brinkley leadership we have now.

New ideas my ass: the GOP might want to stick with the old ones they abandoned. They were the only reason to vote GOP anyway.

Nov 10, 2008 - 7:03 pm 111. AlexinCT:

Karen in CT says: “AlexinCt – It’s been interesting today. Thank you for your comments. I’m quite sure we have been watching dfferent newscasts, however, as I’ve seen Mr Bush get a pass on nearly everything by the MSM. I believe it was Scott McClellan that admitted FoxNews was getting feed directly from the White House as a propaganda outlet – hardly investigative reporting.”

You are ticked off about Fox News, which like president Bush gets labeled as far right wing when they are moderate at best, when the rest of the media – NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and so on – sound like they get their talking points directly from the DNC? Let me guess: you feel it is unfair that the right gets their point of view out unfiltered by your side. Way to focus on the splinter in my eye and ignore that 6 foot beam in your own. Your problem Karen is that you, like most of the people in blue states, are so far on the left that moderate right looks radical, and radical left looks mild & moderate to you.

Nov 10, 2008 - 8:18 pm 112. Duncan Stuart:

The way forward for the GOP? There are plenty of ways forward. One is to reconnect with a changing America. If you read a book like John Zogby’s “The Way We’ll Be” he’s picking up in his research work a return to values such as unity (compared to the somewhat divisive last decade) and tolerance. (Donn is ahead of everyone on this one.) Notice how in the previous presidiential election, negative campaigning appeared to work, but this time around people reacted against negative campaigns: just look at Elizabeth Dole’s loss. Fine woman: bad campaign. So this is one way forward. In some ways McCain’s willingness to work both sides of the house is exactly where its all heading.

A second way forward is to dig deep and find a relevant, forward looking vision for the USA. Obama’s “change” was just a reaction – hey, most of America wanted change. But to what? The GOP needs to articulate a clear picture of what tomorrow can look like.

The third way forward is to clean out the rubbish. It has been remarkable how many – Stephens is just the latest – have been guilty of bribery or morally scandalous behaviour in the past 5 years. There’s just too much rubbish in the GOP, and the house needs a good spring cleaning. All parties go through this – the Dems will also need a good spring clean, probably in 5 years time, I’m sure.

The fourth way is to stop making war with the media. By attacking the media for their perceived biases, the GOP is not making life easy for itself. A charm offensive might be in order.

Nov 10, 2008 - 9:28 pm 113. wy_cowboy:

There’s a reason why Republicans are sniping at Emanuel. The guy sends dead fish to pollsters and others he doesn’t like. There’s also a reason he has “razor sharp elbows.” He’s a strong Democrat hack, and to his credit has brought in more and more Democrats to Congress and more funding.

There’s also a reason why Republicans are sniping amongst each other. The moderate wing has been running the party for years now and has been doing a horrible job of articulating a message that’s clear and conscious. Research has been horrible, funding has been horrible and voter turn out has been horrible. Not to mention the list of candidates both nationally and locally. Whomever the RNC chair is, and I believe it’s Mike Duncan, has done a horrible job overall. While Howard Dean has been visible with getting a message across, where has the RNC chair been?

Nov 10, 2008 - 11:07 pm 114. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: Duncan Stuart, Idiot

The fourth way is to stop making war with the media. By attacking the media for their perceived biases, the GOP is not making life easy for itself. A charm offensive might be in order.
— Duncan Stuart

Sorry. But I can’t make it more plain and simple than that.

Duncan wants us to get out our knee-pads and give the so-called major media our daughters as a ‘charm’ offensive.

The so-called mainstream media are the liars and scoundrels that have sold US down the river. Even the ombudsman at the WaPo admits to it and says, they did a ‘bad job’.

Oh. Great. How niiiiiice. All they’re doing now is rubbing the fact that they have betrayed their so-called ’standards’ and their country. And we’re supposed to accept that and wait for the next BOHICA?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The advertisement is the most truthful part of a newspaper. -- Thomas Jefferson]

Nov 11, 2008 - 4:20 am 115. Rachel Peepers:

Theresa,

Thanks so much for the kind words.

Regards,
Rachel

Nov 11, 2008 - 8:06 am 116. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Arthur
RE: And….

Palin is a right wing extremist she will never appeal as a presidential prospect to a majority of Americans and if she is the future of the GOP then the GOP is doomed. — Arthur

…your point is….what?

That we should deny our morals just to win an election?

That’s the Democrat’s way.

But there is an Higher Authority who WILL decide between thee and me. And therein lies the principle difference betwixt us.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -- Edmund Burke]

Nov 11, 2008 - 9:42 am 117. Duncan Stuart:

Chuck – no need to be sarcastic. I know enough journalists to know that if you consciously piss them off and attack them, then they’ll be less sympathetic next time. They’re just human.

The GOP seems to make a continual habit of attacking the media, even when they’re doing a fair job. Attack, attack, attack. It’s just not a great strategy. By contrast history shows us several presidents – GOP and Dem – who have quite successfully disarmed the media by opening up a little and both demanding and giving a little more respect. Actally McCain was brilliant at it during the primaries – and by every account I’ve read, the media were clambering to be aboard his bus. The GOP could learn from that.

Palin too showed a media charm offensive (she hosted media people at the mansion well before the Primary season began,) and those media people – William Cristol being one, were the ones who alerted the GOP to Palin’s potential candidacy.

It doesn’t pay to be too black and white. The USA errs toward inclusiveness – not ‘us and them.’ I think that’s what makes the USA so great.

Nov 11, 2008 - 10:57 am 118. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Duncan Stuart
RE: Idiot

I know enough journalists to know that if you consciously piss them off and attack them, then they’ll be less sympathetic next time. They’re just human. — Duncan Stuart

I’m not being ’sarcastic’. I’m being truthful. And I don’t care what you say in defense of the so-called mainstream media.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The Truth will out....]

Nov 11, 2008 - 11:13 am 119. PeterH:

If the GOP needs partisan press coverage they should have some of the billionaires in the party finance some.

Nov 11, 2008 - 2:20 pm 120. Duncan Stuart:

Chuck, you might watch your tone. I’m not an idiot and neither are you: so don’t label me. Arguing ad hominem doesn’t exactly add weight to your points.

I’m interested in why you put inverted commas around the term: mainstream media. Either they’re mainstream or they’re not.

And whether you or I think they veer to the left or the right, (and just who exactly defines the centre line??) they’re still the mainstream media whether we like it or not. I go back to the original point: the GOP has the choice of inflaming those media relationships or otherwise. I haven’t seen any advantage in the former strategy.

Cheers

Nov 11, 2008 - 3:37 pm 121. nlcatter:

chuck pelto -loser

Nov 11, 2008 - 5:49 pm 122. Jason Sieckmann:

Yeah, yeah. Everyone thought that the democrats were done after Kerry too. All of the chatter was ‘what will they do now?’ So now comes the predictions for the end of the Republicans. I’m sure that they will both just be trading away, every so many years, like the good little socialists that both parties are in rotating presidencies.

Nov 11, 2008 - 6:26 pm 123. The Historian:

MCCAIN’S TARNISHED HONOR

John McCain has damaged his own reputation for no apparent reason:

http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/mccains-tarnished-honor.html

Nov 12, 2008 - 9:28 pm 124. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Duncan Stuart
RE: Tone

you might watch your tone. I’m not an idiot and neither are you: so don’t label me. — Duncan Stuart

Then I suggest you stop presenting yourself as one. Then, I’ll have little cause to describe you as such. Neh?

Arguing ad hominem doesn’t exactly add weight to your points. — Duncan Stuart

As I stated earlier, but you ignored….i.e., acting like an idiot….the so-called mainstream media is a traitorous bunch of propagandist vipers. Making nicey-nice with them is like trying to sleep with a scorpion. The moment you make a wrong move, they’ll sting you again.

So. I’ll call them as I see them. It’s referred to in military parlance as “Know your enemy.”

Indeed, there is a tale of a cadet at the US Military Academy who asked his Training And Counseling (TAC) Officer (guidance counselor, if you will) why they were required to subscribe to the New York Times, as it only denigrated the military and the administration.

The TAC Officer replied, “Know your enemy.”

Hope that helps….

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Know your enemy and know yourself and you shall never be defeated. -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War]

Nov 13, 2008 - 3:45 am 125. G Smith:

Sarah Palin is an “able spokeswoman”? Why do you think so many better-educated and suburban voters flew away from the GOP? You won’t get us back if you put that smirking, sneering anti-intellectual up on a pedestal. I trust ‘Joe Six-Pack’ to do the job he’s skilled at – not to be my President.

Nov 13, 2008 - 10:47 am 126. Duncan Stuart:

Chuck, I think you try to reframe the question by using the wrong metaphors. Sun Tzu is a bit of a “rent a quote’ to throw at most situations. A bit like Mao used his little red book – from which you could find anything you want to support any argument on any subject.

I’ll stick with my opinion – you haven’t illuminated a good alternative stance. So long as the GOP keeps attacking the complex amalgam of mainstream media they’re going to make life even rockier for themselves.

Your views are very binary. You treat a wide swathe of media as if they are one enemy. the result: a head on attack instead of a more subtle use of different strategies. When you look you’ll find quite a few Sun Tzu quotes that explain the problem.

While you’re at it, you might like to look up a few books on anger management as well. Here’s one: Don’t Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, and Other Destructive Emotions: Library Edition by Pema Chodron.

I’m sure a few of us posters on this website would be happy to chip in.

Cheers

Nov 13, 2008 - 11:13 am 127. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Duncan Stuart
RE: Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu is a bit of a “rent a quote’ to throw at most situations. — Duncan Stuart

There ya go, again….

Sun Tzu was mandatory reading at the Infantry School when I went through there in the 1970s for Infantry Officer Basic Course and 1980s for Infantry Officer Advanced Course.

I’ve counseled you about behaving like an idiot. But, as being an ‘idiot’, you just don’t learn.

RE: Reframing the Question

I think you try to reframe the question by using the wrong metaphors. — Duncan Stuart

Think again….

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Idiot, n., Informal for a stupid person.]

P.S. My working definition of ’stupid’ is someone who is ignorant and proud of it.

Nov 13, 2008 - 11:45 am 128. RF:

#1 & #2 Best post! (All conservative post’s are good tho’;)

“Go celebrate. Play with your kids. Invite friends over.
Head over to the local Holiday Inn with the big bright sign that says, “WELCOME IDIOTS”. Celebrate your pitiable pyrric victory till the cows come home. Or your wives. Whichever comes first.” Best line!

92. Jim Baker Good post!
“The country isn’t shifting leftward because of any preference toward socialism, it is shifting leftward because it is being educated by a bunch of leftists, who are generally leftists because they are failures in the marketplace.”
The free thinkers are “taking over”? We’ll just have to educate ourselves beyond them.

Nov 13, 2008 - 1:01 pm 129. RF:

“Young people are flocking to the Democratic Party.”

“But voters under 30 years of age were still the same 11 percent of the vote that they were in 2004. The surge of young voters, which was supposed to animate Obama’s rise, failed to happen.
The turnout efforts of groups like ACORN made a huge difference. Ultimately, it was the difference in voter turnout among Republicans and Democrats that, in addition to the higher black vote, elected Obama.”-Dick Morris 11-11-2008

Nov 13, 2008 - 1:18 pm 130. Duncan Stuart:

Chuck. Sure, Sun Tzu is mandatory reading for many. But like any weapon, that doesn’t make it safe in the hands of just old anybody. The secret, is to know when and where to use the right words, and the right weapons. Your approach appears to be grab a book, any book, and beat others over the head with it. Not exactly productive.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do than to waste time conversing with you. You can call me names after I’ve gone if it makes you feel better.

Cheers.

Nov 13, 2008 - 3:21 pm 131. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Duncan Stuart
RE: Changing the Subject

But like any weapon, that doesn’t make it safe in the hands of just old anybody. — Duncan Stuart

Again…the idiot comes out.

Just because you disagree with it doesn’t mean it is nonsense. As obviously Sun Tzu has been around a LOT longer than YOUR sense of ‘wisdom’. And yet you deny it.

Such is the nature of an idiot.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. The so-called mainstream media is still a viper in the heart of public opinion. And nothing you’ve said disproves that.

Nov 13, 2008 - 4:51 pm 132. bobby b:

“Eisenstat said she was clearly unprepared . . . . ” (by Cedarford.)
- – - – -

Uh, Cedy? Why is it that so very many of the Democrats’ scream-it-five-hundred-times-on-the-internet Big New Talking Points turn out to be complete lies? Is it because there’s really no substance to your positions at all?

—
“You know that story about how Sarah Palin didn’t understand that Africa is a continent?

MSNBC thought it knew the source of that tidbit, originally leaked on Fox News Channel. It was, according to the station, a John McCain adviser named Martin Eisenstadt, senior fellow at the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy.

One problem: There is no Harding Institute. There is no Martin Eisenstadt.

They are both figments of the very active imaginations of a filmmaker named Eitan Gorlin and his partner, Dan Mirvish, according to the New York Time.

How embarrassing.”
—

http://voices.kansascity.com/node/2803

Nov 13, 2008 - 5:08 pm 133. Obama gets off to a “bad start” « Our Twisted Reality!:

[...] 14, 2008 by Cat Wrangler Monday, Jennifer Rubin wrote a column called “The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start.” Let’s take a look at the other side of the issue. It seems like our president-elect is [...]

Nov 14, 2008 - 1:22 am 134. Diane:

Too many Republicans, once they were elected, turned out to be RINOs (Republicans In Name Only), not true blue conservatives. They embraced liberal ideas such as No Child Left Behind and MediCare prescription drug coverage. They spent like drunken sailors. Most recently, Republicans embraced bailouts instead of taking steps toward abolishing programs and allowing the marketplace do its job. RINO means the variety of Republicans earlier generations called blueblood, country club, establishment, me too, moderate, and Rockefeller.

If Republicans are serious about winning future elections, they must embrace ideas of Ronald Reagan and true blue conservatives: Cutting the size and scope of government, lower taxes, energy independence, strengthening the family, protecting human life, getting control of the borders, greater individual freedom, and national defense second to none.

If people want liberals, they will vote for Democrats, not “Democrat Lite” Republicans.

There is still too much Rockefeller Republican influence in the GOP. If I were in charge of the Republican National Committee, the first thing I would do is move headquarters out of the Beltway and out of the reach of K Street to a nearby middle class suburban community with some semblance of the real America. The pricey antiques and art objects would be sold. The gourmet coffee service would be discontinued. Headquarters would be equipped with mass market products products from large chain stores or over the internet. All employees and volunteers would be instructed in how to deal with “Mr. Moneybags”, an elderly Rockefeller Republican who wastes no time in scurrying to conservative winners and lecturing them to “Get away from those right-wing nuts” and “Move to the middle”.

I have seen plenty of Republicans lose, not because of lack of money, but because the conservative base would not vote for them. I have also seen well-heeled RINOs lose to conservatives with long lists of small contributors.

Nov 16, 2008 - 7:31 am 135. Pajamas Media » The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start:

[...] Pajamas Media » The GOP Gets Off to a Bad Start There is still too much Rockefeller Republican influence in the GOP. If I were in charge of the Republican National Committee, the first thing I would do is move headquarters out of the Beltway and out of the reach of K Street to a … [...]

Nov 23, 2008 - 8:44 pm

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