Not just the party of no, the party of hell, no!
Fred Barnes, donning his skirt and grabbing pompoms, writes in the Weekly Standard that the key to GOP success is to keep on being what they’re being: the party of no.
“… And not just a party that bucks Obama and Democrats on easy issues like releasing Gitmo terrorists in this country, but one committed to aggressive, attention-grabbing opposition to the entire Obama agenda.
Many Republicans recoil from being combative adversaries of a popular president. They shouldn’t. Opposing Obama across-the-board on his sweeping domestic initiatives makes sense on substance and politics. His policies — on spending, taxes, health care, energy, intervention in the economy, etc. — would change the country in ways most Americans don’t believe in. That’s the substance. And a year or 18 months from now, after those policies have been picked apart and exposed and possibly defeated, the political momentum is likely to have shifted away from Obama and Democrats.”
Barnes bases his argument on the history of past GOP comebacks, and here’s the thing: He may be right — becoming the party of no may be exactly the thing to do (although the headline on the piece — “It’s the route to Republican landslides” — oversells it a bit.)
The key question is whether this is an historic shift in the electorate or just a temporary reaction to a failed Bush presidency. If it’s temporary, then the Barnes approach might work. If it’s an historic shift, the truth is the GOP ought to take the Barnes approach anyway, because they’re going to be screwed for a while anyway.
I happen to take the historic shift position, but time will tell.
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233 comments Add your comment
clyde
May 10th, 2009
6:40 am
Should the economy turn for the better and not become a double dipped recession,Obama will be re-elected in 2012.The Republicans will be left out in the cold.On the other hand,should the economy refuse to turn,then Obama’s finished.That’s my take on the situation.
Ken
May 10th, 2009
7:02 am
No No No No taxes for my Grandson. No to Government Motors. No to Bank of America. You get the point.
Mrs. Godzilla
May 10th, 2009
7:06 am
Fred Barnes on Mother’s Day? EWWWW, Jay.
TnGelding
May 10th, 2009
7:08 am
Fred could start by not misrepresenting Obama’s policies. I think you’ll see a dramatic shift when the economy starts growing again, but conservatives don’t do nuance very well. The GOP has fooled the electorate before, many times, so it could certinly happen again, but let’s hope not. If Obama does fail, there has to be a better alternative.
No seat at the table:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/42427
TDone
May 10th, 2009
7:19 am
So for the 8 years of the Bush Administration, did the Social Democrat Party ever say No?
TnGelding
May 10th, 2009
7:20 am
Ken
May 10th, 2009
7:02 am
No to America’s vibrant future?
Some of you folks still don’t understand these perilous times and the drastic measures needed to survive them.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
7:34 am
Happy Mother’s Day!
And to all you liberal women out there, Happy Whatever Day!
~~~~~~
bookman- Maybe this is above your pay grade, but Obozo was the #1 Most Liberal Senator during his brief time in Congress, what are you talking about with this “strategy?”
We could could become aisle reaching moderates and meet you half way, we would still be 50% better than the democrat party.
It is not a strategy to act on your beliefs, it is what you are expected to do.
And I expect that Obozo will implement his full fledged marxism the first chance he gets.
What right minded Conservative would not oppose that?
Joey
May 10th, 2009
7:35 am
Between Bookman and Barnes, who really wants the Republican Party to be viable?
Let’s consider thisexample:
In 2008 Jay wrote articles expressing support and preference for McCain as the Republican nominee.
Immediately after McCain obtained the nomination, Jay dropped him like a hot coal and gave full support to Obama. (I think Jay performed the same act for Dole in 1996, as well as supporting McCain in 2000.)
Immediately after Jay’s Republican Candidate lost the 2008 General Election, Jay leaps into the mode of trying to fix the Republican Party. How does he fix it? Move in the direction of the guy who just got wolloped in the national election.
So who among us Jay-blog-members really believes that Jay wants the Republican Party to be revitalized and successful?
Who? Right. Not even Jay believes that whopper.
Bud Wiser
May 10th, 2009
7:37 am
So you Bush haters always pop up and describe, like Jay the drone, his presidency as “failed”.
Just what exactly did he fail at?
He led us toward the path to victory when the rest of the world turned away in shame from the genocide and brutality being conducted by a madman on a daily basis, by seeing to his removal and the establishment of a permanent democracy in Iraq – no failure there.
He was relentless in pursuit of the terrorists after 9/11 – no failure there, unless of course you are a rollover simpering lap dog democrat, who supported the war on terrorism immediately after 9/11 until elections rolled around, then you were against it. (see John Kerry…)
He gave us huge deficits as he spent money that he did not have, at a greater scale than any Democrat in history, spent on social programs and various entitlements, so the slobbering left should be happy with that and not describe that as a failure, should they? Do they feel that massive deficit spending is their venue and theirs alone?
Oh well, it may have been a very unpopular presidency, especially to the left, but failed? I think not. Rewrite your own life history if you want to Jay and claim that your massive personal successes are what brought you to this self-strangling and failing rag known as AJC.
You media people are really good at changing the facts to suit your little reality.
Maybe that goes a very long way in explaining why all of the left wing ‘media’ outlets are failing financially, and in a massive way as well.
Lets see you spin that little fairy tale into how it is not your fault … “it’s the internet, it’s access to news on an immediate and unprecedented way in global history, blah, blah, blah.”
Maybe it’s more like cartoon books – people merely got tired of reading outrageous fiction, and seeing a once proud venue become just another political lap dog.
Mike
May 10th, 2009
7:37 am
I don’t think Jay read the quote very closely:
“Opposing Obama across-the-board on his sweeping domestic initiatives makes sense on substance and politics. His policies — on spending, taxes, health care, energy, intervention in the economy, etc. — would change the country in ways most Americans don’t believe in. That’s the substance. ”
Barnes is saying that the GOP should oppose Obama’s policies because they are bad policies. Jay is claiming that the GOP is opposing them for purely political reasons.
Republicans opposing Obama’s policies is no different than Democrats opposing Bush’s policies, with the exception that our partisan media did not universally label the Democrats “the Party of No” for daring to disagree with Bush.
Dave R
May 10th, 2009
7:43 am
I happen to think that the only thing keeping Hope & Change from being re-elected is a full-fledged depression, or a major terrorist attack.
The dumbed-down electorate is too enthralled with the American Idol Presidency to vote out “Mr. Cool”.
Style over substance is the rule of the day for America.
And Gelding, America’s vibrant future is rooted in our PEOPLE, not our GOVERNMENT. We understand all too well what these policies of bailouts and lack of personal responsibility are going to do to this country. It is a shame that you libs don’t take a longer view instead of the instant gratification you need.
So chalk up a big, fat NO for me as well.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
7:49 am
bookman- What exactly are you trying to accomplish with this spam filter?
Cherokee
May 10th, 2009
7:54 am
Boy the whiners are out today.
I always wonder why people listen to right wing pundits, who have been proven wrong so many times. If you pay any attention at all to Barns, or Kristol, or Limbaugh, you deserve the failure that will inevitably come your way.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:02 am
Alright, let’s try this line by line
The Godless heathens seem to be a bit confused this morning-
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:04 am
Lines 3 and 4-
So if the Islamic lunatics are wiping out our large buildings, slaughtering and beheading innocent civilians, shouldn’t we be doing more unto them than just waterboarding?
Yeesh, what a simpleton.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:05 am
Cool, the spam filter is rejecting Cynthia Tucker text, I’m good with that.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:30 am
Check out this gathering of haters, extremists and idiocy-
Obama Likes Wanda Sykes Joke About Rush Limbaugh — ‘I Hope His Kidneys Fail’
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/336173.html
Let’s all pray this morning for these bozos, may the Lord take away their anger, hate and rage and give them some of the “hope” they say they long for.
godless heathen
May 10th, 2009
8:36 am
From below: NJ states “And if those figures are roughly correct, there are more gays in the military than that other minority that right winger love to hate, hispanics, who make up about 13 percent of the military.”
So where are the numbers coming from (maybe I shouldn’t ask, because I suspect where they are coming from.)
Again, I call BS on the assertion that 1 in 6 Marines are gay. A rate 5 times more than the general population! Why would gays be so drawn to such an organization? They don’t teach hair dressing or interior decorating at Parris Island.
Ray
May 10th, 2009
8:45 am
Just got my notice from the Social Security Administration that they will make a $250 deposit in my account during the month of May. Boy, am I ever relieved, and stimulated. Like peeing in the ocean and expecting a rise in the water. Policies you can believe in…. who wouldn’t say no. I’ll just use the money to pay my latest tax hike. It will end up in the pockets of those “more deserving”.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:51 am
So supporting “internationalism,” “multilateralism,” abortion and racial quotas means you’re “moderate” and “nonideological”? And anyone who feels differently is an extreme ideologue? Absolutely. The aim of a large swath of the Left is not to win the debate but to get it canceled before it starts. You can do that in any number of ways – busting up campus appearances by conservatives, “hate speech” prohibitions, activist judges’ more imaginative court decisions, or merely, as the Times does, by declaring your side of every issue to be the “moderate” and “nonideological” position – even when, in many cases, the “extreme” position is supported by a majority of voters. Likewise, to Colin Powell, it’s Ann Coulter who’s “vicious,” not Michael Moore, who compares the jihadists who blow up Western troops in Iraq to America’s Minutemen and gets rewarded with a seat next to Jimmy Carter in the presidential box at the Democratic Convention.-Mark Steyn
And they wish the opposition dead.
Redneck Convert
May 10th, 2009
8:53 am
Well, Happy Mothers Day everybody. I’ll be taking the missus out to Ryans and I’m warning you not to be in the food line when she’s there. You might could end up missing some fingers.
The Rev. Postlewaite will be preaching about the godlessness of this Obama this a.m. down at the Church of Holiness. He’s for everything we’re against. Obama, that is. Anyhow, we got a Patriotic Duty to say no to helping out the bums and giving out free health care and going against Free Innerprize with Socialism. Anyhow, the Rev. Postlewaite does the best he can but he’s no Rev. Jim Bob Buice. The Rev. Jim Bob could give a real stemwinder against the librul Democrats but the state won’t let him around kids no more so we have to take the pastor we can get. Or else make the church Adults Only.
Anyhow, I’d like to know what choice Bookman thinks us Conservatives have but to say no. If we go along with Obama the librul Democrats get all the credit if things go right. And only part of the blame if things go wrong. And so, much as I’d like it to be diffrent, we’re going to be out in the wilderness anyway, so we have to hope the country goes to heck in a handbasket so we can say we told you so and get back into office and pass more Tax Cuts and get Trickle Down working again.
Well, like Bear Bryant use to say, call your Mama. I wish I could call mine. Have a good Sabbath everybody.
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
8:55 am
Gee, I wonder why bookman didn’t cut and paste this Fred Barnes paragraph-
This scenario has occurred time and again. Why do you think Democrats won the House and Senate in 2006 and bolstered their majorities in 2008? It wasn’t because they were more thoughtful, offered compelling alternatives, or had improved their brand. They won because they opposed unpopular policies of President Bush and exploited Republican scandals in Congress. They were highly partisan and not very nice about it.
DB, Gwinnettian
May 10th, 2009
8:56 am
I wish I could call mine.
Me too, RC. Me too.
Donovan
May 10th, 2009
9:09 am
Thank you Bud Wiser, Mike, and Dave R. I couldn’t have said it better. What is so hard to understand in the word NO to generational theft by the Democrats, to government intrusion into every facet of American life, to Socialism, to shutting down Gitmo, to higher taxes, to wreckless spending, to weakening our national defense, to exposing our successful interrogation techniques, to having tax cheats run our government departments, to an inexperienced president, and to having trillion dollar deficits. A failed Bush policy is merely the fabrication of the left wing propaganda machine that the dumbed-down electorate swallowed hook, line, and sinker.
Crooked Pol
May 10th, 2009
9:13 am
Is this another blatant case of crooks buying crooks???
“Two Georgia insurance companies with the same boss funneled $120,000 — nearly 10 times the legal limit — to Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine’s campaign for governor, records in Georgia and Alabama show.
“The documents show Oxendine, who wields regulatory power over all insurance companies in Georgia, took the money through 10 Alabama-based political action committees set up by Donald V. Watkins, a director of Admiral Life Insurance Co. of America and State Mutual Insurance. Both companies are headed by prominent businessman Delos “Dee” Yancey III and are run out of the same building in Rome
“
Lin
May 10th, 2009
9:32 am
I completely agree with the nos for bailouts. The alternative there is to let the bad apple compaines fail, the markets adjust, and business will continue. The only reason for continued bailouts is to keep people (voters) from suffering today, to give instant gratification. Our capitalistic system doesn’t work that way and there’s a real risk to the system when the government doesn’t let normal business cycles work out.
The Republicans’ problem is that the nos don’t come with better alternatives…I’m not crazy about socialized medecine, but it’s pretty easy to see that skyrocketing medical costs are hurting our businesses and that lack of medical care for about 20% of our population contributes to the ongoing problem of a generational underclass. So, Republicans, give some better alternatives–don’t just say no. Nobody in their right mind can say that our medical system doesn’t need to work better, and for a bigger percentage of the population. Status quo won’t get the job done.
That inability to forward a better idea applies to many of our big problems: the deficit, education, the economy and growing government intrusion into our lives all need good alternatives to the Obama agenda.
And the Republicans ain’t making it happen!
jt
May 10th, 2009
9:46 am
Until you sheeple wake up, the R & D will continue to be elected.
There were at least two “different” parties in the late USSR too.
Goverment will never yield to justice, only to expediancy.
At least the brave youth of the former USSR had the US to use as an example. Who are we going to have, when people finally get enough of the corruptocrats?
m=saintsimonslover
May 10th, 2009
9:55 am
I can GUARANTEE the economy won’t turn around ! Company’s are worried and rightfully so that Obama will stick his nose in their business and try to tell them how to run their businesses.I guess if the chickens say no to the fox, they are being obstructionists in Comrade Bookman’s world.
AmVet
May 10th, 2009
10:12 am
Happy Sunday, Mothers!
And a warm and peaceful Sabbath to our Christian frauds here.
Being adamantly opposed to BHO’s policies, as Mike notes, is no reason to get one’s panties in wad. Having honest differences in opinion over policy is good for our republic. And when there is intellectual compromise and basic integrity involved, the nation generally wins.
But this new and unimproved Republican Party goes far, far, far beyond that. For decades now they have tried to con people into believing they alone were the great moralists of our age. (Well to the extent they want to censor/banish everything not their cup of tea, yeah, I guess they are). The great forward looking visionists of the Republic. The defenders of our futures and the party that was going to protect us against all enemies foreign and domestic.
But the hard cold realities and results are VASTLY different than the endless romanticized rhetoric from a hijacked and languishing party, who is in the midst of an identity crisis whose bedrock is denial. And an utter lack of responsibility, personal or collective, in acknowledging their longstanding and ever-growing abysmal track record. (i.e. the first 7:37)
Will the GOP rally and get back to the point where it is again a viable party with intelligent men of honor carrying it’s banner? A party that can somehow promote the best of our historic traditions? And actual American conservatism rather than this half-baked sham?
Let us all hope so, for the reasons cited above.
But it is nearly written in stone now – as long as it is headed by these shameful corrupted frauds, deadly bungling chickenhawks and hyper-conflicted puritans, there ain’t no way in hell…
The GOP’s new theme song
Susan Myers
May 10th, 2009
10:26 am
The juvenile behavior of the Republicans is sickening; griping, whining, posturing and constant blaming. It’s way past time to put away childish things, Republican Party of No. You offend everything good about this country. How about you lay down your salaries and benefits until you begin to conduct yourselves with more discretion and some intellect to participate in the process of restoring our economy? The gamesmanship must come to an end unless of course you want us to believe you really are a homogeneous group intellectually void of fresh ideas and honesty.
SOUTHERN ATL
May 10th, 2009
10:48 am
“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY”!!!
Believe it or not, history is being written everyday in this “Great Nation”. This is a new generation “GENERATION JONES”!!! There have been several experiments/research dealing with people and how they have influenced change on all levels. Most American people are concerned about SURVIVAL and what’s best for their families and friends.
Four years from now, historians will write about how America turned the pages to a new way of “EXPRESSION” driven by “GENERATION JONES!!
AmVet
May 10th, 2009
10:48 am
Former Rep. Tancredo Calls Obama a Cult Leader
This man epitomizes today’s discussion regarding the many delusional and self-immolating examples of Republican “leadership”.
Here is a man, fitting to a tee the classic description of chickenhawk, who probably couldn’t garner 10,000 votes outside of Colorado referring to man who received nearly 70 million votes last November a “cultist”.
Stuck on stupid…
godless heathen
May 10th, 2009
11:01 am
“I wish I could call mine.”
“Me too, RC. Me too.”
Same here.
No wife mother, mother mother, or even grandmother anymore. So I can work on the woodshed I’m building and come in here now and then to try and talk sense into these dang liberals.
For you all that are fortunate enough to be with your mothers today, make the best of it.
You never get used to a world without your mother in it.
jt
May 10th, 2009
11:08 am
Hey AMVET- I love that chick. Why can’t the authorities leave her alone.?
Anyhow- here is the new song for the Obama wing of the R&D party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fa4cu1t1D8
jewcowboy
May 10th, 2009
11:09 am
Joey,
“So who among us Jay-blog-members really believes that Jay wants the Republican Party to be revitalized and successful?”
A strong reasoned opposition party is in the best interests of this nation. Please note I quantified it with reasoned. Opposing something just for the sale of opposing is not reasoned and accomplishes little. Sometimes you need compromise, and sometimes you need unilateral control over an issue.
A weal ineffectual opposition party who decided to oppose everything regardless of merit is detrimental to the nation, because true discourse cannot be has, and true compromise when needed cannot happen.
jt
May 10th, 2009
11:12 am
Susan Meyers–You asked “How about you lay down your salaries and benefits until you begin to conduct yourselves with more discretion and some intellect to participate in the process of restoring our economy?”
In ADDITION to our children and grandchildren’s?
jewcowboy
May 10th, 2009
11:14 am
Dave R,
“America’s vibrant future is rooted in our PEOPLE, not our GOVERNMENT.”
I would submit our vibrant future is rooted in both. Our past successes are due in no small part to our system of government.
The Baron
May 10th, 2009
11:15 am
Jay, that’s the problem. Saying “hell, no” to everything isnt a political philosophy. That’s why the GOP finally met its match in Obama. It’s incredible that most commentators cannot see this. America has moved on to a more common-sense, tolerant and inclusive world view, especially after W’s catastrophic 8 years. Americans dont want to be led by dogmatic ideologues again. They now want leaders who recognize that there’s white, black and grey in-between. Not raging, raving, bigots who cannot bring themselves to be truthful enough to accept when mistakes have been made, even when the mistakes are as glaring as the macho invasion of Iraq, the Schiavo hoopla, the denial about waterboarding as torture, etc etc.
The GOP can say “no” and “hell no” as much as it likes. But if it doesnt begin to address every issue on common sense, inclusive merit, as well as profer its own constructive ideas about the key strategic issues affecting America, it will lose many elections into the future. Where is the GOp on Healthcare, Education, Climate, Energy, etc? Just “No” and “hell no”? Jeez!!!
jt
May 10th, 2009
11:20 am
In issues that effect minuscule portions of our population(sex rights, abortions, guns,……) the R&D party puts on a good show of partisanship.
The issues that effect us ALL(killing our kids through war, torturing, and stealing,expanding corruption) the R&D is remarkably non-partisan.
God, please save us from non-partisanship.
Ray
May 10th, 2009
11:25 am
Susan,
What makes you think that all of those “evil, scheming people” on Wall Street are all Republicans? I would guess that there are a fair share of liberals who haven’t been saying much about their “good fortune”. Lay down your salaries and benefits….. we will all be doing this when Mr. Wonderful’s tax schemes are passed by this Congress. Then it will be everyone’s problem, not just the evil banks.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
May 10th, 2009
11:30 am
If you think the Bush presidency was a “failed presidency” (and neither I nor any rational, thinkig person does) just wait for the stagnant growth and hyper inflation that will kick in in 2010 and after as the second half of the Obama Depression. Also, it is almost cetain that the US will be hit by terrorists after Obama eviscerated and demoralized the intelligence community.
getalife
May 10th, 2009
11:31 am
Sykes was good but nobody will beat Colbert’s performance.
So, the gop will vote no on everything and wait until it swings back so they can destroy the country again.
Pitiful.
oldmac
May 10th, 2009
11:42 am
So, I thought there was supposed to be a conservative column starting up. Either I missed something or it didn’t happen. Maybe the check bounced? Or…April Fools joke?
km
I Report :-) / You Whine :-(
May 10th, 2009
11:45 am
The very future of this great nation rests with it’s children, they are not objects to be scorned as a “burden” nor should they be despised for their carbon footprint, they are the ones who will care for us when we no longer can, they will protect this country and they will conduct it’s business in a manner which will either provide for the generations that follow them or will saddle those generations with their selfish excesses.
To that end, I honor all of those mothers who have not looked upon this life as a end to secure them a continuous state of comfort and self indulgence, I salute those mothers who have sacrificed of themselves to give our future generations a chance to succeed, who have raised them in the eyes of God, who have striven to give them the best education possible, who have lived their lives as an example of caring and love, and who have not taken from them in a self centered gratification of their every whim and desire.
In other words, to all of you Conservative Christian God fearing mothers out there, this is your day and make no mistake, we are so proud of you and so indebted to you.
We love you.
And for all of you liberal women out there, in your egotistical, wrapped up in yourselves, no expense spared journey through life, well, it is Mother’s day, perhaps I will finish my thought tomorrow.
Dogs Against Whiners
May 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
Whiner, the world would be much better off without you. You just suck.
Kamchak
May 10th, 2009
12:28 pm
Dogs Against Whiners
Au contraire. Andy is the epitome of the sentiment “there but through the grace of God, go I.”
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 10th, 2009
12:30 pm
The country would be a whole lot better off if people of all stripes would just stand up for what they believe and let the chips fall. I think that’s what the general public does on the whole. The politicians might be better off if they followed our lead instead of spending their whole lives trying to “position” themselves. I just believe what I believe; sometimes it’s popular and most times it’s not. So be it.
TnGelding
May 10th, 2009
12:37 pm
Dave R
May 10th, 2009
7:43 am
What you call bailouts, I call investments. It’s hard to take personal responsibility when you’ve been fleeced by slick loan originiators and then lost your job. The first posting above was correct. It will determine Obama’s future. I happen to think his, and ours, is bright.
Cheney impressive on Face the Nation:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5004452n
More later. Chores to do.
Susan Myers
May 10th, 2009
12:47 pm
jt @ 11: 12,
Yes.
jt
May 10th, 2009
12:49 pm
For Ye who have faith in Goverment-Sachs and President Obama.
He recently endorsed http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/.
You TOO will be saved by our benevolent goverment. If you are struggeling with your house payment on your overpriced 150,000 dollar home, the goverment will help you by REFINANCING. The goverment will lower your payment by as much as 100 dollars a month with NO OUT OF POCKET CHARGE. And there is a SIX MONTH WAITING LIST! Pay no attention to the SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR refinance charge. To take advantage of these ignorant people is
Insidious and revolting.