Northeast conservative wants divorce from GOP
David Brooks, the conservative columnist for the New York Times, looks at the current state of affairs and wants a divorce, or at least a trial separation:
“Can current Republicans change their underlying mentality to adapt to these realities? Intellectual history says no. People almost never change their underlying narratives or unconscious frameworks. Moreover, in the South and rural West, where most Republicans are from, the (belief that government is the problem) has deep historic and psychological roots. Anti-Washington, anti-urban sentiment has characterized those cultures for decades.
It’s probably futile to try to change current Republicans. It’s smarter to build a new wing of the Republican Party, one that can compete in the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic states, in the upper Midwest and along the West Coast. It’s smarter to build a new division that is different the way the Westin is different than the Sheraton.
The second GOP … would be filled with people who recoiled at President Obama’s second Inaugural Address because of its excessive faith in centralized power, but who don’t share the absolute anti-government story of the current GOP.
Would a coastal and Midwestern GOP sit easily with the Southern and Western one? No, but majority parties are usually coalitions of the incompatible. This is really the only chance Republicans have.
The question is: Who’s going to build a second GOP?”
I don’t have an answer for him. Maybe Chris Christie? Somehow, though, I have a feeling this is all going to end up being Barack Obama’s fault.
– Jay Bookman
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563 comments Add your comment
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
January 29th, 2013
9:35 pm
………… and Rock City !!!!
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
9:38 pm
Oh, Fred, if you do make the pie crust from scratch remember to prepare it without completely obliterating the particles of lard, I think you’ll find that the scratch crusts are definitely better, but they do take time and PATIENCE…just in case you wanted to know..
Really? I remember watching Julia Childs and I THINK Jacques Pepin do a little segment on Thanksgiving during the Macy’s parade where they both cooked their pie crusts and got 3 brands of frozen and did a taste test on the street. The results were that none got any more votes than any other. At the end, she said that for all the hassle just buy a frozen one. This was back in the late 70’s. Since I don’t bake, I deferred to her judgment.
getalife
January 29th, 2013
9:38 pm
The last time it hit 14,000 I got out.
Then it collapsed.
Bought GE at 5 bucks a share.
Easy money.
TBS
January 29th, 2013
9:38 pm
Scout and Fred
Don’t forget FDR State Park @ Pine Mountain or Red Top Mountain………………..
Put those on your list
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
9:39 pm
USA Patriot
January 29th, 2013
9:31 pm
“Really? What have you given me to listen to except personal insults and attacks? I’m all ears.” Great, now the neanderthal is Ross Perot!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Whatever happened to USMC. He sure as hell turned coward and slunk out of here after the election……….
Recon 0311 2533
January 29th, 2013
9:39 pm
Unless you have been to “South of the Border” (at I-95 on the S.C./N.C. border) and seen “Big Poncho” you ain’t lived !!!!!!!!!
Dang, that’s close to home, well actually not my home but my parents lived close in Whiteville, N.C.
josef
January 29th, 2013
9:42 pm
SCOUT< FRED, TBS
For my money…the Haunted Church at Gluckstadt and the Swinging Bridge on Hermaphrodite Road in Byrum…around Jackson…
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
9:43 pm
TBS; After watching Full Throttle Saloon I want to go to Sturgis and see the Twin Peaks of Angie.
Mick
January 29th, 2013
9:47 pm
0311
First went to south of the border in 1970, it was a boys dream – firecracker heaven! Stopped there this past summer and the place is kind of a dump, don’t think I’ll be pulling off to visit in the future…
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
9:48 pm
Scout/Recon: Is this the place ya’ll are talking about?
http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/history/
josef
January 29th, 2013
9:48 pm
FRED
Did you ever go out and hear the Singing River?
Recon 0311 2533
January 29th, 2013
9:51 pm
0311/8541,
Brought times from the past…Camp LeJeune, times of war, Wilmington N.C. state college girls, Carolina Beach girls, Myrtle Beach girls and orders to Vietnam. Semper Fi
josef
January 29th, 2013
9:55 pm
Okay, check out time…see y’all later…
Recon 0311 2533
January 29th, 2013
9:56 pm
Fred,,
I think so but as I recall it was only a piss call along the way.
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
9:58 pm
josef: Nope I never did. I had never heard of it til now. It was a bit east of me. I was Long Beach/Pass Christian area and we didn’t go much past Biloxi for too much of anything other than on our way to Florida.
Fred ™
January 29th, 2013
10:00 pm
I’m out too. Been working out, trying not to be so fat and it’s kicking my butt. Ya’ll be cool.
Just for you Scout and Recon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycCucQwQBKk
Ellen
January 29th, 2013
10:02 pm
Karma has been patient for the Southern Strategy. But well worth the wait!
Recon 0311 2533
January 29th, 2013
10:06 pm
Fred, thank you on your last. It always brings tears to my eyes. out
Ninja
January 29th, 2013
10:07 pm
Wow, so now David Brooks is a librul too? That corner keeps getting smaller and smaller. Then again these same people think that cutthroat conglomerates like Viacom are librul too, so there you go.
Alex
January 29th, 2013
10:10 pm
@ fred, yes it IS a hassle, but times have changed and scratch crusts are definitely better to these buds Jacque..what a joker and Julia–”I remember it well..”
Fred, I’ve been drinking balkan wines for a while when One of the only commodities labelled made in croatia was this pretty nasty, white wine. This was in the days of Yugoslavia, I’m glad they have improved. Only a few dinar ! Slivovitz can double as a paint remover. Thanks for the references…goodnight!
RB from Gwinnett
January 29th, 2013
10:43 pm
“Check the unemployment and labor participation rates for starters.
But thanks for asking”
Wait until the illegals are able to take the jobs our “less fortunate” will do and leave the “less fortunate” with nowhere to go.
I wonder if they’ll ever figure out that dropping out of school and having a lousy work ethic won’t get you very far in ANY society.
globeflyer
January 29th, 2013
11:10 pm
Brooks is a “Joe Scarborough”-type Republican. Mostly liberal, but will latch on the the “GOP” label when the opportunity to do so is advantageous.
ODD OWL
January 30th, 2013
1:18 am
Poor Republican voters are in a state of perpetual denial… They refuse to acknowledge that President Obama, the Democrats and We the People have successful divided and conquered the Republican party… Which wing of the Republican party will be the “loyal opposition” to the dominant and powerful Democrat party, mainstream or tea party ??? Popcorn anyone ???
appleseed
January 30th, 2013
1:30 am
I’m just on here at this hour “Turning out the lights”
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
January 30th, 2013
4:31 am
Good morning all y’all…Did you see this?
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20130130/US.Budget.Fight/
repentcauseJISL
January 30th, 2013
4:34 am
I want a divorce from northeast and far west and Atlanta
Joel Edge
January 30th, 2013
5:37 am
Good one, Jay. Charles Krauthammer got a laugh out of that the other day.
http://wp.me/p2aVG0-yeW
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
6:02 am
Mornin’.
I haven’t read all the comments, but I’m imagining that the blog regulars have more or less united on that whole “David Brooks is a derriere chapeau” resolution, yes?
(I did ctrl-F the thread and didn’t find a single occurrence of the phrase “wrong about everything,” which is a bit troubling.)
TaxPayer
January 30th, 2013
6:59 am
Southern Republicans are definitely in a class all their own. You’d think they would eventually graduate from kindergarten though.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
January 30th, 2013
7:01 am
Jay, you and Brooks must be the only 2 talking heads that believe liberal dems will vote for a rino.
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
January 30th, 2013
7:10 am
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
January 30th, 2013
7:01 am
I submit that any Progressive/Liberal will vote for the person who has their interests at heart, be he Republican or democrat. Everybody votes for their personal self interest first.
MiltonMan
January 30th, 2013
7:11 am
Brooks is a con??? Let’s look at this guy:
Favors same-sex marriage
Favors pro-choice & government funding of abortions
Called Sarah Palin a cancer
Was credited with the slogan “Run, Obama, Run”
He stated that Obama would make a great president
etc.
etc.
etc.
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
7:11 am
Bob, get a full time job.
Fred ™
January 30th, 2013
7:12 am
So much hate Miltonman, so much hate. I pity you.
guy
January 30th, 2013
7:14 am
Very important article! World changer too. WOW!
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:15 am
MiltonMan has this sweet ride–when it’s about to run out of gas, an audible signal goes:
etc.
etc.
etc.
TaxPayer
January 30th, 2013
7:17 am
Is Brook’s a Republican? Does he do math and science.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:18 am
But seriously, what this thread tells me more than anything is that a lot of far-righties won’t admit that the object of their scorn for the past 4+ years now is fairly conservative by most rational reckonings of the term. Thus it’s hardly surprising that non-crazy Tories like David Brooks and Andrew Sullivan find him appealing on a lot of issues.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:25 am
As for my “wrong about everything” comment, I was of course pondering how horribly off the mark guys like Brooks and Little Tommy Friedman were about our Excellent Iraq Adventure, and how horribly wrong they are about the “debt crisis” (see also here) today, and how they continue to live the high life thanks to the so-called-liberal NYTimes.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 30th, 2013
7:38 am
“I have a feeling this is all going to end up being Barack Obama’s fault.”
You’re such a puss-cake, Bookman. Waaaa. Waaaa. Who’s gonna blame Obama by the way, The Press?
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:39 am
Common sense should tell you being a Boy Scout leader, to a pedofile, would be like a starving man finding himself in a large, well stocked supermarket.
I would not want my son to have a gay Scoutmaster.
By the way, I’m willing to work out a hot-stove trade with the conservatives.
We’ll take David Brooks off your hands (we can put him to work cleaning out the locker rooms, washing the unis, etc.) in a straight-up trade for our no-hit/no-glove/bad-knees “indigo.” Deal?
Cherokee
January 30th, 2013
7:42 am
Milton there are several who would argue that same sex marriage and freedom for women *are* conservative beliefs. It’s all about freedom for adult Americans to make their own decisions, without the heavy hand of government sticking its nose into our lives.
Them there are conservative values, my friend.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:45 am
Them there are conservative values, my friend.
Them there were. Nowadays it’s basically “freedom for me, but not for thee. Particularly if thou dost hath ladyparts or The Gay.”
(Although they’re coming around slowly on that latter bit, to be fair.)
the cat
January 30th, 2013
7:52 am
All over the world heads are exploding. Gomer is GAY!!!!
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ap/ap/entertainment/actor-jim-nabors-marries-male-partner-in-seattle/nT9md/?cid=buzzlink
Good for him and him. I wish them many years of happiness.
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 30th, 2013
7:56 am
Brook’s pant-gazing is nothing compared to Rush,Hannity, and Erickson’s current fixation with Boy-Toy Rubio.
.
Border-line obscene.
Watch your six Rubio.
.
sheeesh.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 30th, 2013
7:58 am
cat
typical Marine j/k
TaxPayer
January 30th, 2013
7:58 am
Gomer is GAY!!!
Ok, I’ll refrain from the comments about scout and his fear of the dreaded gay foxhole, etc.
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
7:59 am
All over the world heads are exploding. Gomer is GAY!!!!
this was news?
Anyway, mazel tov to Jim and Stan on their nuptuals. Anyone know where they’ve registered?
stands for decibels
January 30th, 2013
8:03 am
back-door men (not talkin’ Pyle and Carter, here) SHEETZ
Levels of blackness
January 30th, 2013
8:05 am
Wasn’t it little Barry who lectured Corporate CEO’s not to jet off to Vegas just because they can? Another “do as I say not as I do” moment
for hypocrite Lefty. Jeeeeez this country is in deep deep doo doo.
Simplythetruth
January 30th, 2013
8:08 am
William Smith, I believe that you are on the right track. Confusion, side shows, carnival barkers, all designed by politicians of both parties, to guarantee that nothing gets accomplished. When you read these blogs, all you get is the same old tripe, your side doesn’t get it, or you’re stupid. Why do any of us accept laws that are passed, that exempt members of Congress from them? In our state, the current majority is as sorry as any that we have had in the past . Talk is cheap, however, the current state and national governments aren’t. Our state and national elected leaders (both sides) are not setting a good example. It is time for The People to show through our actions and speech, how to act in a more mature manner.
Cherokee
January 30th, 2013
8:15 am
this was news?
Reminds me of Austin Powers, waking up to discover that Liberace was gay… who would have thought that???
LIBERAL Progressive and damn proud of it.
January 30th, 2013
8:20 am
Republicans have been redefining the word, “conservative” for years. So now, it means radical. And marriage still means marriage.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 30th, 2013
9:45 am
Towncrier — “This is crazy, Jay. I may impugn the intelligence or wisdom of people sometimes, but I never get personal like this.”
The hell you say.
I don’t think it was right of people to slag on you like that last night, but for what it’s worth, you’ve done it yourself a number of times.
GC
January 30th, 2013
1:42 pm
Northeastern and Western Republicans used to be the party before Nixon’s southern strategy. All the Southern Republicans are ex-dixiecrats, practically confederate and the arch-enemy of traditional Republicans. It makes sense, if there any left (most of the pre-Nixon Republicans are probably in their 80’s now) for them to separate from this new group. But they have a branding problem. Maybe they could go with ‘Lincoln Republicans’ or ‘Log Cabin Republicans’ …
Jerry Eads
January 30th, 2013
1:49 pm
I learned what I still think of as conservatism during my philosophy minor courses in the 60’s. Taught not by “them dangerous university Communists” but real live conservative thinkers. I learned to have great respect for that perspective. David and George Will I read always and deeply respect (if not always agree with) their perspectives. From my early training, they are the ONLY two actual – and consistent – conservatives in print. Kyle seems to be more careful lately, but he has been prone to the blind knee-jerk lockstep rightwing radicalism so prevalent in Georgia and the rest of the couuntry. I’m pleased to see him seem to consider onservative principles. Can’t blame David for wanting to bail. The label Republican today generally should not ever be confused with the term “conservative.’ It’s no mystery at all why so many of us voted for Obama, much less any Democrat who darkened the door of the ballot in Georgia. As a reminder, Lincoln was a Republican.
hamhock
January 30th, 2013
3:53 pm
Back to that famous FOX phrase, “anybody but Hillary”. How did that work out for you before?
keith
January 31st, 2013
2:49 am
a conservative working for the ny liberal rag. yea right, bookmans crazy as hell too.
Slick
January 31st, 2013
8:38 am
“Northeast conservative……” and that’s pretty much when I knew this was some BS.
That Black Guy
February 1st, 2013
6:10 pm
That Black Guy
February 1st, 2013
6:19 pm
Jack
February 3rd, 2013
8:26 pm
Again demonizing those who fear a highly centralized government. These folks have seen the overreaching Federal power up close and personal for decades for sure. They have history to tell them that the federal government will always take a mile for every inch you give them. Yet these folks are those who will volunteer to defend this country in numbers far exceeding their critics. Kind of ironic isn’t it?
Dr. Socrates
February 4th, 2013
9:37 am
There already is another, more sensible wing of the Republican party: Libertarian. Unfortunately, it tends to attract conservatives with bizarre views outside of being anti-government, e.g., Ron Paul’s views on foreign policy. The fact is that the Republican party is dominated by SOCIAL conservatives who have lost their way. As social mores have evolved over the last 100 years, these jokers have been left behind and are now in the minority. Intellectual conservatives no longer hold strong religious beliefs but do believe in the righteous power of science and technology and all of the rewards those disciplines have bestowed on humanity. From space exploration to lengthening human life, science is now where “god” used to be, and rightfully so. The hodge-podge members of the loosely-defined Libertarian party have a chance to unify under the umbrella of being anti-government so long as they relegate their social views to the wastebasket where they belong. A consistent message of anti-government will win out. Topics like abortion must be usurped by topics like abolishing welfare, Social Security and taxes. Those messages, while earth-shattering to some, will win the true conservatives over. Let the fake conservatives whose low IQs are reflected in feeble-minded religiosity wallow in their excrement.