The Great GOP Purge of 2009 commences in earnest now
The decision by Dede Scozzafava to endorse Democrat Bill Owens in New York’s 23rd congressional district has set the right wing a-howlin’ anew.
It’s downright comical.
Scozzafava is “a skank … a nasty person.” She had “plunged her knife into the back of the party that had chosen her for the nomination.” Michelle Malkin even condemned that “radical leftist Dede Scozzafava” for showing a lack of proper gratitude to the Republicans.
Gratitude?
Scozzafava had served 11 years in the New York Assembly as a Republican, rising to the leadership post of minority whip. In the congressional race, her work over the years won her the support of GOP leaders in all four counties that comprised the district. Yet over the last few weeks, she has been told by a roster of national party leaders that she is not fit to serve the Republican cause. It was made very clear that she had no place in the party, that she and others like her were in fact utterly despised by those they once saw as colleagues.
After all that, they expect gratitude?
If conservative Doug Hoffman wins the seat tomorrow, as still seems likely, the right wing will celebrate it as vindication for their crusade to purify the party. Their hunt for witches and heretics will have claimed its first official victim, and witch hunts are never satisfied with just one victim. They burn and burn and burn until the passion runs out of fuel.
The laughably egotistical Erick Erickson over at Redstate.com is already drawing up lists of suspected GOP moderates to be purged. He wants someone’s head at the National Republican Congressional Committee, which endorsed Scozzafava, and he suggests NRCC chairman Pete Sessions. He has also marked Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a moderate running for the U.S. Senate, as the next Dede Scozzafava.
“NY 23 means GOP must come our way,” he said on Twitter. “We will not go their way. Happy to compromise, but not sell out.”
And what about Newt Gingrich, one of the few party leaders to support Scozzafava? He is scurrying back into shamefaced conformity, lamely explaining that he had been tricked. “I’m very, very let down because she told everybody she was a Republican, and she said she was a loyal Republican,” he said Sunday. Loyalty is a two-way street.
If you’re a moderate GOP senator like Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins, what are you thinking as you watch your fellow Republicans march by your window, torches and pitchforks in hand? If you’re a moderate GOP voter still harboring hopes that your party will regain its sanity, what are your options? If you’re Mitt Romney, one of the more moderate GOP presidential hopefuls, how do you get out in front of this parade, and do you really want to?
And if you’re Rahm Emanuel watching from the White House, how do you think this fits into your strategy of portraying Obama’s opposition as uncompromising extremists? As Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett put it over the weekend, “It’s rather telling when the Republican Party forces out a moderate Republican, and it says, I think, a great deal about where the Republican Party leadership is right now.”
I think this is only the beginning.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
307 comments Add your comment
Call it like it is.
November 2nd, 2009
8:54 am
first
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
8:56 am
That’s right, GOP … keep purging those who are impure … keep moving to the right … and we’ll keep taking the independents
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:02 am
Meh. While I would like to believe that most voters will recoil in some kind of horror at how right wing extremists essentially hijacked a party nomination process, truth is Jay that this is pretty inside-baseball sort of stuff and will be forgotten by most this time next week.
If it’s another nail in the coffin, it’s kind of like a short finishing nail used for half-inch quarter-round.
That said, if time permits I’ll have to go check out the linked right-wing nutjob websites; I’m sure it will make for entertaining reading.
(A skank? Did they really call her that?)
Finn McCool
November 2nd, 2009
9:04 am
Let it purge, let it purge, let it purge!
Call it like it is.
November 2nd, 2009
9:04 am
Jay, were you watching Frankenstein this weekend as you wrote this? Torches, pitchforks, witchs and bogey men. Who’s trying to scare who? I think it ironic that your going after the Republicans in NY, yet here in Atlanta you have the “exact” same thing going on with Norwood, who is a lifelong democrat, yet the democratic party is going after her as you say with torches and pitchforks.
Funny how you pass this up and go to a different state with no dog in the fight just to try and bash on the Republicans.
Jay
November 2nd, 2009
9:05 am
If it ended here, sfd, I’d very much agree with you. But this success will fuel the fire on the right.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:06 am
dB –
“(A skank? Did they really call her that?)”
you’re obviously not familiar with Michelle “stalker of 7-year olds” Malkin … frankly, I’d be surprised if that was the worst of it …
Jay
November 2nd, 2009
9:06 am
Norwood a lifelong Democrat?
Hmmm.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:07 am
But this success will fuel the fire on the right.
Ah. I see. You think they need this to go on torchin’ s–t. I don’t.
F. Sinkwich
November 2nd, 2009
9:07 am
Moderate Republican? LOL
She a moonbat endorsed by Daily KOS and Acorn.
And loyal?
She endorsed the donkey.
If you want to vote for a liberal moonbat, vote for a democrat.
Citizen of the World
November 2nd, 2009
9:08 am
The further right the Republican party goes, the more the center shifts. And the more the center shifts, the more centrists will find themselves on the left.
It’s even happening to one of my relatives who first started listening to talk radio in her car, then as the brainwashing progressed, started believing that FOX News was the only place one could get the “real story,” etc. Of course, even through all this she tried to delude herself that she was an “independent conservative,” but she always voted Republican. Now they are getting too extreme even for her, and liberal is not quite such a dirty word any more.
If this is only the beginning, then it could also be the beginning of the end. Let’s hope so.
AmVet
November 2nd, 2009
9:09 am
Yikes! Newt making sense!?!?
In retrospect, it was an obvious oxymoron, that I for one, never believed. But you know me, given their history, I believe almost nothing to come out of the mouths of these proven liars and vindictive little flamethrowers.
He was “tricked”?
What a dork.
Virtually all of the conned either suffer from Headin Rectalitis or Botchitall Syndrome…
So, the GOP Divine Wind rolls along gathering speed like a pile of sh*t flowing downhill.
But like their Japanese counterparts, they have a date on the deck of the USS Missouri.
I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be in their shoes…
Mrs. Godzilla
November 2nd, 2009
9:09 am
Hey Dede….Congrats for leaving the dark side.
Have your people call my people and we’ll do lunch.
Welcome to the big tent!
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:10 am
and why shouldn’t she endorse the democrat after the way her own party treated her (or do you only expect that from “democrats” (in name only) like Lieberman and Zell “I challenge you to a duel” Miller)
Normal
November 2nd, 2009
9:11 am
Well, at least the Republican Party hasn’t lynched anyone yet…
Remember folks, if they want us all to be the same, they don’t want democracy.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:12 am
USinUK, in fairness to the right wing’s favorite anchor baby, it wasn’t Michelle who called “skank” but, rather, some blogger who modestly refers to his site as “extreme wisdom.”
Not that I’d put such name calling and much, much worse past Malagulag. And yeah, I’m familiar with her stalking techniques.
david wayne osedach
November 2nd, 2009
9:14 am
It is about time! Please don’t rush. There is plenty to purge!
Brad Steel
November 2nd, 2009
9:14 am
The Palin-Beck lead charge off the cliff is going to be funny. A party lead by two loud-mouth, self-promoting, self-absorbed 1/2-wits will yield comic fodder that hasn’t been seen since Clinton’s intern BJ.
Meanwhile as the useless ideologues fight it out over gay marriage, 10 commandment postings, creationism and abortion; Obama can be free to focus on closing down Iraq, leaving Afghanistan and reducing unemployment.
Hey, republicans, here’s a clue: when someone says: go screw yourself, it’s just a hackney aspersion, not a helpful hint from Heloise.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:14 am
GOP – the new “niche” party … like the Greens.
“it wasn’t Michelle who called “skank” but, rather, some blogger who modestly refers to his site as “extreme wisdom.””
give her time, dB … give her time … me, I like what Monsieur Bogg had to say about it: http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/
jt
November 2nd, 2009
9:18 am
“Gov. Charlie Crist, a moderate”
“moderate GOP senator like Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins”
“Mitt Romney, one of the more moderate GOP presidential hopefuls, ”
“the weekend, “It’s rather telling when the Republican Party forces out a moderate Republican”
It is laughable when flaming liberals try to redefine the term moderate.
Let the “moderates” tremble. There is always room in the Democrats “big” tent.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:18 am
GOP – the new “niche” party … more like the BNP, as I think about it …
jt
November 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
Go lick the hand that feeds you.
Icarus
November 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
This is getting a bit awkward Jay. Could you please go back to writing crazy lib’ral stuff so I can beat up on you and earn some conservative cred back?
F. Sinkwich
November 2nd, 2009
9:22 am
The Republicans nominated the democrat’s and media’s favorite moderate to run for president last year. We all know how that turned out.
All you libs should lighten up. You own the government and can do whatever you want with ZERO republican support.
Go for it!
Geezers and recluses
November 2nd, 2009
9:22 am
The McCain-Palin ticket lost every demographic group by large margins in 2008 except white senior citizens and the dwindling fifth of America that’s still rural.
Good work big-tent guys. But your chins up. The 1/2-wits running your party will certainly have a strong turn-out among other 1/2-wits.
DoggoneGA
November 2nd, 2009
9:23 am
Since no two people can ever agree 100%…once you start purging, there’s no end to it until only one person is left. Maybe someone should open a book on who that last, lone R will be.
DoggoneGA
November 2nd, 2009
9:24 am
“It is laughable when flaming liberals try to redefine the term moderate”
They don’t have to “redefine” it. The R’s are doing a great job of that. Whoever they throw out as not being “pure” enough is quite likely to fit the definition of “moderate” anyway.
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:26 am
I like what Monsieur Bogg had to say
heh. I’m sure tbogg exaggerates by as much as seven, eight percent.
Dr. R
November 2nd, 2009
9:27 am
Let’s note, however, that while the GOP seems intent on purging its ranks of those who haven’t taken The Pledge to extremism, the Democrats aren’t all that welcoming to the centrists, either. Take the health care debate. Obama takes the pragmatic road away from a public option, yet Harry and Nancy (aka, The Ropers) drive him and the party back to the left with their newly unveiled plan. So we’re not welcome in the GOP, and the Democrats say they want us but stick to their far-left government-driven agenda. Surely at some point, we’re going to have enough of us left to forge an actual, viable third party that lasts more than one election cycle and isn’t driven by a single issue or personality. It hasn’t happened before for a number of reasons, but that was before we had two parties distilling themselves to this degree of all those who don’t follow every scintilla of their game plan. Libertarians, Perotistas, Greens and your basic GDIs — somebody is going to want us at some point and give us a reason to swing their way.
Mrs. Godzilla
November 2nd, 2009
9:29 am
From WSJ
Democrats’ Quiet Changes Pile Up
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125712507804421903.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy
Keep it up righties…..please!
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:32 am
Dr. R –
I think you may want to go back and look at the recent history of the health care debate – Reid came out a couple of months ago and said no way in hell would there be a public option in the Senate version. it was only after they realized that the American People WANT a public option that he began to become more flexible.
dB – TBogg is my first stop in my morning blog routing – it always helps to start the day spewing tea across the screen … you visit for the snark, you return for the thursday bassets …
Grumpy
November 2nd, 2009
9:33 am
Hoffman is against earmarks. Dede and Owens are willing to take every dollar of pork and welfare they can get their grubby little hands on. Good riddance to both of them, hopefully.
danjonglee
November 2nd, 2009
9:33 am
Where are all the moderates in the NeoLib Democrat Party? They get an invitation to the White House to be re educated on the issues everytime they disagree with the Administration.
Common Sense
November 2nd, 2009
9:34 am
After 22 years, I am not renewing my subscription to the AJC.
It has shrunk to almost nothing, the news is stale by a day or two and the left wing bias has become intolerable.
Marsh
November 2nd, 2009
9:35 am
The party of No is being derailed by the rightwing taliban fringe. They will be completely irrelevant in two more election cycles.
Geezers and recluses
November 2nd, 2009
9:36 am
Grumpy
Ny’s 23rd would be in its own little depression if it was not for stimulus spending and federal government support.
Duh!
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
9:37 am
Enter your comments here
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:39 am
TBogg is my first stop in my morning blog routing
I seem to remember that particularly snarky DFH from Atrios’ darkest days (i.e., after JFK’s loss to GWB).
Have to make more frequent stops at his fancy FDL perch.
(and I remember FDL from back in the day when Jane’s operation was so raggedy that she was using the same crappy blogger.com homepage template that I was using for my crappy little site. They grow up so fast!)
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
November 2nd, 2009
9:39 am
Change is gonna come. Unfortunately, for President Obumbler he won’t bring change, his presidency will end with change that the people have wrought upon him. Witness NY 23rd, good ol’ Virginny, and, yes, even Tony Soprano-land has had enuff of Obumbler.
Change is gonna come – Palin/Liz Cheney 2012
Mrs. Godzilla
November 2nd, 2009
9:41 am
Palin/Liz Cheney 2012
oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
9:41 am
It’s never nice watching a train wreck.
I don’t get the Ms Malkins of the world. Just who do they think picked the nominee? It wasn’t a Central Committee. It was the locals. If that’s who they want to represent them, fine. If it doesn’t fit with their idea of party purity, maybe they’re a bit out of touch.
And before anyone on the Left gets too smug, Dems have had their own experiments with Party purges. Remember Senator “I’ll disagree on one issue” Lieberman? The farleft and MoveOn took care of that. Why haven’t farleft Dems carried it further? Possibly because they have the levers of power in the House and Senate. Why purge when your minority has firm control and can fend off challenges to your rule, even against the most ethically-challenged members?
Doesn’t bode well for democracy, though.
Then again, Democrats and Republicans haven’t bode all that well for some time now -
Grumpy
November 2nd, 2009
9:43 am
Hey Geezers, maybe if the state’s confiscatory tax policy were revisited, more businesses would think about relocating there.
Instead, they have been reduced to blaming everything but their own policies, and holding out the tin cup to survive. And the answer to this, according to Dede and Owens, is to give them a bigger cup and more welfare. Sweet deal if you can get it. Keep them dependent on government – the mantra of the Democratic party.
John J
November 2nd, 2009
9:43 am
This strategy is right out of the Rahm playbook, and it worked to perfection in the last election. Now that the R’s want to steal a page it is a mortal sin? Even you can’t believe half the stuff you write.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:44 am
dB –
I like Jane Hamsher okay – but, if I’m going to really want to read a good thought piece, I like Hullaballoo (can’t remember her name, but dang, she’s good) … if I’m in skim mode, I like Atrios … but, if I need a good blast of tea shooting through my nose, TBogg never lets me down
Citizen of the World
November 2nd, 2009
9:45 am
Dr. R, the public option, which most Americans want, is a compromise for many liberal Democrats. We consider that to be a center position, one that will give people an option and the for-profit insurance companies some competition. Many of us see universal single-payer as the most simple, least costly and truly workable solution to our health care problems, but because too many people think that’s some sort of far-left, socialist solution, we’re willing to compromise with a public option.
Adam
November 2nd, 2009
9:45 am
I guess the broad minded, big tent Democrats would never do something so shameful. Just ask Joe Lieberman. VP candidate to the doghouse because he wouldn’t sign on to every aspect of their radical agenda.
Brad Steel
November 2nd, 2009
9:46 am
“– Palin/Liz Cheney 2012″
oh please, oh please, oh please!!!!!!
mike
November 2nd, 2009
9:46 am
LOL. I guess Republicans need to be more accomadating of those who do not adhere to ideology like the Democrats. I mean look how accepting they were and continue to be of Joe Lieberman’s bucking liberal dogma. Lord knows he has been shown a lot of “gratitude” by Democrats,
Nothing new about any of this, but Jay has red meat to crank out so rolls out the “purge” talk, demonstrating once again that hyper-partisans can’t resist demonizing those who dare not share their narrow views by using terminology intended to compare them to totalitarian regimes.
I mean how dare any voters not blindly follow the edicts of their party bosses? Don’t they know that folks like Jay and party regulars know better than they?
vince neil
November 2nd, 2009
9:47 am
All the keyboard happy dems need be somewhat cautious…..recent victories by merit of a cult of personality have short legs and shallow support………the ideals and ideas put forth by the congressional leadership are NOT those of the majority…..time will tell who is really on the verge!
DoggoneGA
November 2nd, 2009
9:48 am
“Dems have had their own experiments with Party purges”
Umm..I don’t see the correlation between someone chosen by the voters in a primary being forced out by the party elites…and someone NOT chosen by the voters in a primary election CHOOSING to leave the party. Is it just me? Or are these REALLY exact opposites of each other?
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:48 am
Mrs G –
9:41 – keep in mind, he doesn’t say WHICH Palin … me, I think that the kid who didn’t want to be her prop at the hockey match would make a better president (which kid was that? piper? zamboni? deerstalker?)
Vickers
November 2nd, 2009
9:49 am
Palin/Liz Cheney 2012 ?!? That would be a hoot. They would be running as the Liars Party candidates.
Taxpayer
November 2nd, 2009
9:49 am
A little purge is good for the soul. However, activity appears to have slowed in that regard. What the GOP needs is a good surge in their purge. Knock the moderates out with one fell swoop with a concerted effort. Move from 17 percent to a tithe in the next round. That should help to shorten that path to the end of their time. Then, we can let the history books explain to future generations the plight of the party, starting with Abe. In the beginning… .
Bubba
November 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
I love it. Ford, the only automaker not to agree to government control, makes $1 billion in the last quarter. The free market rules again!
TnGelding
November 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
Dedicated to Reporter:
http://projects.accessatlanta.com/gallery/view/atlanta-holiday-guide/entertaining/obamashalloween/
Dr. R
November 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
US in UK, something has been lost in the translation across the pond. Your claim that a majority of people want a public option is folly. I’ve seen polls skewed both ways, always based on how the question is asked. But do you think that if that were indeed the case, that the majority party and the administration would hesitate to push for it? They have done so because there is no consensus, and they are smart enough to know it. Reid favors a public option but was willing to hold it out to get Olympia and the blue dogs on board, but he and his party’s lack of a spine is showing in their wishy-washiness. I don’t favor such a plan, myself, but at least put the damn thing out there and vote on it and let’s see for sure what the people want. They’re so busy sticking a thermometer up our wazoos they don’t even know what they stand for these days. They clearly let the Tea Party crowd get to them and shake their will, proving that Dems are the party of Barney Fifes who don’t have the stones to come up with a plan and stick to it. Which is why they are destined to lose power again in the near future. The GOP is run by lunatics, no doubt, but at least they are dedicated to their lunacy, which is more than one can say for the Nancy party.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
Pitchforks, burnings, witch hunts–now we’re getting somewhere! What about lynchings and cross burnings? They started that yet? If they can do all that up North, we danged sure can do it better down here. We taught the whole country! All somebody’s got to do is use the word “secede” and I’m in! The South shall rise again!
Anyhow, Bookman done a pretty good write-up here. I was about ready to give up on the whole news reporting business yesterday. I was scanning the innernet tubes for news yesterday and I come across a headline that said, “Nebraska football player ticked over hitting parked cars.” Well, I told myself, I’d be ticked too if somebody parked a car where I could hit it and mess up the paint on my Ford F-450. Anyhow, I got to reading the report. Turns out some cops give the football player a ticket for hitting some parked cars and the headline should of said “ticketed.” Seems like the ones that do the worst in writting and spelling in school get hired to do the news. I’m just glad Bookman ain’t one of those. Don’t get me wrong, he’s no Norman Einstein, but at least he spells things right most of the time.
Anyhow, keep the good news coming, Bookman. Us Conservatives won’t stop till we get the whole country back to the good old days when Those People kept their place and we didn’t have all these crazy guvmint laws and rules and freeloaders and stuff like that.
Have a good day everybody.
mike
November 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
“That’s right, GOP … keep purging those who are impure …”
Right, because as is regularly demonstrated on this board, liberals are very tolerant of folks like Lieberman or the blue dog Democrats, or as Dr. Chad calls them, “whores”.
“keep moving to the right … and we’ll keep taking the independents”
LOL. Yeah, you guys keep in “taking” the Independents and things will be super.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/123854/Conservatives-Maintain-Edge-Top-Ideological-Group.aspx
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
DoggoneGA
Well, since you’ll go to the umpteenth degree to never criticize Democrats….
Or am I incorrect in my read?
Sluggo
November 2nd, 2009
9:52 am
It’s good to see that Tiffany at the DNC still sends Jay his column.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:52 am
Adam –
“Just ask Joe Lieberman. VP candidate to the doghouse because he wouldn’t sign on to every aspect of their radical agenda”
defeated in a PRIMARY, dear … by the VOTERS … not ousted by the party elite.
nice try, though.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
9:54 am
mike –
that’s right – you keep grasping onto that Gallup poll … I’m sure it’ll keep you warm at night.
(in the meantime, please learn the difference between describing yourself as “conservative” and saying that you’re a Republican)
mike
November 2nd, 2009
9:54 am
Redneck –
Thanks for showing us yet again that, beyond ignorant and empty bigotry, you have nothing to say. Must suck to be living life so consumed with mindless hatred.
Jay –
Thanks for showing us yet again that you are utterly accepting of bigotry, as long as it is directed towards people who don’t share your political views.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 2nd, 2009
9:55 am
I never thought there could be so much confusion, the “Republican” candidate endorsed the democrat two days before the election.
Am I missing something?
Fix-It
November 2nd, 2009
9:55 am
The thing I find funny is the leftist dimacrats can go any number of places in the world if they want a cradle to grave, mommy government, so why don’t they just leave? Why do they want to ruin the United States? Well let me tell you why, the first lefties to migrate to the socialist government create a new royalty of people who live above the common man. These left wing nuts believe they are changing the US for the better but when the great majority of them find out that they are going to be a commoners I would bet they will not be happy. There is not room for all you lefties to become royalty, but you keep on believing that this is change for the better, or better yet go live under a socialist regime for a while.
Normal
November 2nd, 2009
9:57 am
It sounds like some here have been full beaver mooned…just sayin’
TnGelding
November 2nd, 2009
9:57 am
Bubba
November 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
They were doing better. That’s why they didn’t have to take government money.
The rest of the story:
“The automaker said Monday earnings were fueled by U.S. market share gains, cost cuts and the Cash for Clunkers program, which drew flocks of buyers to showrooms this summer. Ford’s shares rose 58 cents, or 8.3 percent, to $7.58 in pre-market trading.”
http://www.ajc.com/business/ford-surprises-with-1b-182622.html
Bubba
November 2nd, 2009
9:57 am
What will Obama and the agents of change do to penalize Ford? We can’t have a private company outperforming the government-run automakers can we? Look for the Dems to start talking soon about taxing “immoral” profits of automakers.
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
9:58 am
Off Topic
G’morning, Taxpayer
Had a chance to look over the two health bills. Addressed many of the issues that needed addressing for health care reform. Let’s hope the big elements make it through.
Couple elements stood out, though. Seems to illustrate how Democrats can come up with some really good ideas, but in the execution they go bonkers. For instance, some people are going to have difficulty with affording insurance. That was one of the drivers for this effort. So what do House and Senate Democrats do? Offer subsidies to families of four making nearly $90,000 a year! Say what?!!? Families making $50,000 a year pay taxes to subsidize families making $90.000?
Reminds me of someone saying ‘can you pick me up a gallon of milk at the store?’ and the person returns with a gallon of milk, a take out meal, utensils, plates, then goes into the person’s house and sets everything up. It’s nutty.
I used to wonder if it was altruism run amok. Now I wonder if it’s more the desire to get as many people as possible used to receiving a benefit (which will turn into a right) provided by Democrats.
mike
November 2nd, 2009
9:58 am
USinUK –
“that’s right – you keep grasping onto that Gallup poll … I’m sure it’ll keep you warm at night.”
Well, even apart from that poll, I am not so silly as to believe that one party is ever going to have the permanent majority that partisans seem to see around the corner. You are going to be as disappointed as your mindless partisan peers on the right were.
“(in the meantime, please learn the difference between describing yourself as “conservative” and saying that you’re a Republican)”
I guess you didn’t read the poll. Let me help you:
“Perceptions that there is too much government regulation of business and industry jumped from 38% in September 2008 to 45% in September 2009.
The percentage of Americans saying they would like to see labor unions have less influence in the country rose from 32% in August 2008 to a record-high 42% in August 2009.
Public support for keeping the laws governing the sale of firearms the same or making them less strict rose from 49% in October 2008 to 55% in October 2009, also a record high. (The percentage saying the laws should become more strict — the traditionally liberal position — fell from 49% to 44%.)
The percentage of Americans favoring a decrease in immigration rose from 39% in June/July 2008 to 50% in July 2009.
The propensity to want the government to “promote traditional values” — as opposed to “not favor any particular set of values” — rose from 48% in 2008 to 53% in 2009. Current support for promoting traditional values is the highest seen in five years.
The percentage of Americans who consider themselves “pro-life” on abortion rose from 44% in May 2008 to 51% in May 2009, and remained at a slightly elevated 47% in July 2009.
Americans’ belief that the global warming problem is “exaggerated” in the news rose from 35% in March 2008 to 41% in March 2009.”
What party has policies that are in line with the above shifts? Hmmm.
You should spend less time sneering and more time thinking.
Normal
November 2nd, 2009
9:58 am
Yes, Whiner, you are. And why did she endorse him?
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
9:58 am
Remember Senator “I’ll disagree on one issue” Lieberman? The farleft and MoveOn took care of that.
Oh please. The people who tried to “take care” of Joe were actual CT primary voters.
N-GA
November 2nd, 2009
9:59 am
When Jesus Christ returns, the GOP will diss him too….then demand a different savior!!
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
10:00 am
USinUK 9:52
You may want do read back about what Democratic leadership had to say during the primary, as well as the efforts by MoveOn to oust him.
It wasn’t their finest hour.
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:00 am
USinUK –
Why don’t you address that the “purity” issue that you and Jay have been sneering about?
Please tell me how the Lieberman/Lamont case is any different.
DoggoneGA
November 2nd, 2009
10:01 am
“Well, since you’ll go to the umpteenth degree to never criticize Democrats….”
If you pay REALLY, REALLY CLOSE attention you’ll see that I seldom criticize any politicians. I think they’re ALL clowns and any criticisms I might have they’ll never hear anyway, so what good does it do to criticize. And please note, before you sharpen your knife, that I did NOT SAY I NEVER criticize them.
I just hope whatever they happen to be up to at the moment doesn’t blow up in our faces, and if it does I just hope I’m far enough away to get off with a simple flesh wound.
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
10:02 am
sfd
I was speaking of the efforts of the Democratic “it’s all about Iraq” leadership and special interest groups, to influence the voters.
Good morning, N-GA!
Just had to see if the anthill was active, didn’t you?
DeKalb Conservative
November 2nd, 2009
10:03 am
Mitt Romney is not a moderate Republican.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
10:03 am
“Oh please. The people who tried to “take care” of Joe were actual CT primary voters.”
of which I was proudly one … (and am looking forward to hopefully finishing the job when he next comes due)
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
10:06 am
Doggone/GA
Please don’t start up with that “don’t say what I do” nonsense again. Please read my post. It was a question.
So you never/seldom/rarely criticize politicians? And your not criticizing is across the board with both parties?
The gist of my earlier comment was, it seems to me that you are very, very reluctant to accept that Dems do anything wrong and Republicans are the cause of the problems. If my impression is incorrect, I look forward to seeing a Fair and Balanced commentary in the future.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
10:07 am
mike – 10:00 – scroll up. I did.
DeKalb Conservative
November 2nd, 2009
10:08 am
I honestly don’t care who wins the NY 23 race. Regardless of outcome, the message has been sent. The days of GOP folks moving to the left might have bottomed out. If anything this is giving additional relevance that the Tea Party movement is nearing the influence that has been enjoyed by a MoveOn.org for years.
get on it
November 2nd, 2009
10:09 am
If I were to ever vote for a Republican for president, the ticket would have to include someone like this woman. I would not care at all who ran with her.
http://www.out.com/detail.asp?page=1&id=25589
N-GA
November 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
Good morning to you, Paul. We just got back from the Eastern Med. Of course nothing has really changed here. But the Europeans still have hope!
But first, how is your wife doing?
stands for decibels
November 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
Don’t ya love how righties cling to that pro-life self-identification polling? how they focus on how warm and fuzzy the term “pro-life” sounds?
Funny how they pay no attention to how people actually regard the issue of re-criminalizing first trimester abortion, which remains about as welcome with the public as Levy Johnson is at over at Sarah and Todd’s house.
a new CNN poll found that 68% of respondents believe Roe v. Wade should not be overturned, and a recent WorldPublicOpinion.org poll found that when asked, “Do you think the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortion or do you think the government should leave these matters to the individual,” 69% said that the matter should be left to the individual. Kull adds that “of the 29% who said that the government should be involved in trying to discourage abortions, a remarkably low 8% favored using criminal enforcement methods.”
Which, at the end of the day, is what being “pro-choice” is really about–whether you support current law. I do. Most Americans do, whether they call themselves “pro-life” or “pro-My Little Pony.”
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
USinUK –
““Oh please. The people who tried to “take care” of Joe were actual CT primary voters.””
Yeah, I guess all of those pundits at the HuffPost and MSNBC are CT primary voters. What a joke.
It is amazing to me the mental gymnastics people will go through to justify their hypocrisy.
“of which I was proudly one … (and am looking forward to hopefully finishing the job when he next comes due)”
What’s the matter? Joe not “pure” enough for you?
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
paul and mike –
I know that MoveOn (and Kos) are the favoritest bogeymen of the right (just behind Soros), but, believe it or not, Democrats really don’t make up our mind on things based on what they say any more than Republicans make up their mind on things based on what Bill Kristol says.
Both of you need to go back and review the actual VOTES … you know, by actual CT VOTERS – not only in the primary, but the final votes in the election. the REPUBLICANS voted Lieberman into the Senate, not the Dems … it had nothing to do with the “democratic party machine”. that was due to nothing else other than voter dissatisfaction with the job he did.
pat
November 2nd, 2009
10:10 am
Frank Zappa once said that stupidity has a greater presence in the universe than hydrogen. While I am not a huge fan of Zappa, I tend to agree. Every time I view this blog, this statement is verified.
DoggoneGA
November 2nd, 2009
10:11 am
“If my impression is incorrect, I look forward to seeing a Fair and Balanced commentary in the future”
Your impression is incorrect. And I am “fair and balanced”…I despise ALL politicians. That’s the best your going to get, don’t hold your breath waiting for more.
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
10:11 am
off topic followup
Taxpayer
Wasn’t it you who said all the farleft Democrats in the House who said they wouldn’t vote for a bill if it didn’t have the public option they wanted would fold and go along anyway?
If so, you were correct. They folded.
Saw another CBO assessment. Public option may attract as little as two percent. And the people in it, who had trouble getting insurance elsewhere (which is why they’d go to a public option) will likely end up paying way, way more than people with private insurance.
Wasn’t the kind of reform I was looking for -
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:11 am
sfb –
“how they focus on how warm and fuzzy the term “pro-life” sounds?”
Yeah, it is a partisan spin game just like “pro choice”. Can you see that?
DeKalb Conservative
November 2nd, 2009
10:13 am
I was extremely critical of Newt Gingrich when he made his initial endorsement. The fact he supported her because she said she wouldn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi as speaker and wouldn’t support a few other Democrat causes is illogical.
His reasoning this weekend was weak at best, citing that he was supporting the 11 people that nominated Dede.
Expect to see more of this. The GOP needs to clean its own house and get a central message if they ever expect to make progress as a party this century. Public opinion around issues is starting to shift, however the NY 23 race makes it apparent that the GOP isn’t necessarily in line with what the public wants.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
10:15 am
“What’s the matter? Joe not “pure” enough for you?”
well, let’s see … he campaigned for McCain, he’s suddenly FOR filibusters (when, in 1993, he was agin’ em), he’s more concerned with how things work out for Joe Lieberman than how things work out for the poor in CT (of which there are many), he’s pretty much consistently voted against the things that I am for …
… so, no. as far as the “USinUK” platform goes, he’s not “pure” enough.
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:16 am
USinUK –
“I know that MoveOn (and Kos) are the favoritest bogeymen of the right (just behind Soros), but, believe it or not, Democrats really don’t make up our mind on things based on what they say any more than Republicans make up their mind on things based on what Bill Kristol says.”
Did I ever claim you did? Why are you directing this straw man at me.
I don’t doubt what you say, but your comment only demonstrates why Jay is wrong here. Local folks made this decision, not Palin.
“Both of you need to go back and review the actual VOTES …”
Again, you are not saying anything that contradicts anything I said. I could careless about the votes or any “machine”.
My point is that Democrats were as strident in their partisan demand for ideological purity as the Republicans that you and Jay are carping about.
Pokey
November 2nd, 2009
10:17 am
More comfort food from JB!! Does typing this silliness make you feel better JB?
Paul
November 2nd, 2009
10:18 am
N-GA
Well, more properly now, welcome back. Sometimes the opinions do seem more like reruns than a new season, don’t they?
Must’ve been a wonderful trip. So much history, so much to see. I knew a young man, nice enough, not all that sharp but adequate, joined the military and was all in a panic because he was being sent to Turkey. He’d never been very far away from home. Anyhow, I knew he was quite a religious guy, so I asked him if he’d some day like to vacation where the Apostle Paul traveled, where he established churches. He thought that’d be great. I told him that’s where the military was sending him. He brightened right up.
Sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective.
She’s doing, well, thank you. Procedure took care of it. Pancreas discharged stones (one possibility is her gall bladder produced them before she had it taken out 20 years ago, they lodged in the pancreas and got loose) which blocked the tube going into the small intestine. Lots of backup caused the pain and caused liver problems. Endoscopy worked, it seems. So that’s okay. Thank you.
DeKalb Conservative
November 2nd, 2009
10:19 am
@ USinUK
The republicans voted Lieverman into the Senate?!?!
I hate to quote Wikipedia, but here’s the 2006 results “Lieberman received support from 33% of Democrats, 54% of independents and 70% of Republicans.”
Sounds like you’re onto something, except, there aren’t that many Republicans in CT.
Marsh
November 2nd, 2009
10:19 am
Sarah Palin/Ann Coulter 2012, because there should be a man running.
USinUK
November 2nd, 2009
10:20 am
mike –
“Did I ever claim you did? Why are you directing this straw man at me.”
please note that I wrote that post to you AND PAUL
mike
November 2nd, 2009
10:20 am
USinUK –
“… so, no. as far as the “USinUK” platform goes, he’s not “pure” enough.”
Right. So you have a right to make a decision about who you want to vote for, but Republicans are not. Otherwise, the conservative version of you will come out and whine about the Democrats drive for “purity” will drive Independents to the GOP.
I’m not surprised that you justify you hypocrisy with the “but I am right” argument. It is the favorite argument of all hypocrites.