Within the GOP, ‘battle lines are being drawn’
“Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away.”
———————————-
From conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, a cry for a RINO uprising:
“Indeed, as the base seeks El Savior, isn’t it time for a RINO Rebellion?
Take a cue from the tea party, RINOs. Embrace your alienation. Slap a bumper sticker on your angst and rally that dispassion. Witness how bloggers turned others’ insults into a movement. What were random basement bloggers in terrycloth bathrobes and Uggs are now the respected and influential Pajamas Media, a.k.a. PJ Media.
Own your insult, in other words. Why should RINOs hang their heads in shame and be relegated to the fringes of their party? The party is the fringe. Isn’t it time to reclaim the salt lick? RINOs need to be defiantly proud, aggressively centrist and unapologetically sane.
… RINOs need to stop being so normal and grant their better angels a sabbatical. Forget taking back the country. Start by taking back your party. Do it for your country.
RINOs: The Strong. The Proud. The Many.”
From former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough, a plea to fellow Republicans to flee the nice, cozy bubble and experience “Reality World”:
“… it was the Conservative Entertainment Complex that led Republican thought leaders, grass-roots activists and even the presidential candidate himself into believing that a GOP victory was imminent on Election Day. The Romney team was so isolated deep inside this conservative media bubble that they continued to believe victory was theirs well into the evening.
That embarrassing political tale proved that conservatives had finally become what they had once mocked: an insular movement so lost in its own echo chamber that it rarely made contact with those who didn’t share their world view.
… Conservatives should celebrate the gains they have made in the media world over the past two decades. But their greatest challenge moving forward is to begin breaking down the walls they have built that keeps them locked inside a comfort zone that distorts political reality and cedes great advantages to Democratic candidates. What conservatives must do instead is dare to think different, apply eternal truths to current realities and then start spreading their gospel of conservatism to the swing voters who have rejected them in five of six presidential races.”
———————————-
From Ramesh Ponnuru, longtime conservative intellectual and visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a reminder that it ain’t 1980 anymore and M*A*S*H ain’t the number one hit on TV:
Today’s Republicans are very good at tending the fire of Ronald Reagan’s memory but not nearly as good at learning from his successes. They slavishly adhere to the economic program that Reagan developed to meet the challenges of the late 1970s and early 1980s, ignoring the fact that he largely overcame those challenges, and now we have new ones. It’s because Republicans have not moved on from that time that Senators Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, in their responses to the State of the Union address last week, offered so few new ideas….
In his first Inaugural Address, Reagan famously said that “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” The less famous yet crucial beginning of that sentence was “in our present crisis.” The question is whether conservatism revives by attending to today’s conditions, or becomes something withered and dead. “
———————————-
John Podhoretz, in the conservative New York Post, on those in the GOP who value purity over success:
It is true that the Old Establishment has much to answer for.
It has become encrusted with parasitic barnacles. There are policy wonks who last had something interesting to say during the Ford administration.
There is a profiteering consultant class that makes out like bandits whether the GOP wins or loses and now is actively stifling innovation of the sort that the Obamans deployed so brilliantly in 2008 and 2012.
Still, there is something bizarre about the notion that Republicans are acting illegitimately if they try to take a role in internal Republican politics.
The key difference right now is that the Old Establishment is obsessed with expanding the number of voters who’ll pull the lever for Republicans — while the New Establishment is so consumed with putting an Oedipal stake in the heart of the Old Guys that it seems actually to prefer a smaller GOP.
Which is nuts.”
————————————-
I just thought you should know that it’s not just me saying it.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
364 comments Add your comment
Granny Godzilla
February 20th, 2013
9:32 am
The fact that there is in-fighting within the GOP is now a liberal talking point….
because…
wait for it….
there is in-fighting within the GOP.
It ain’t brain surgery.
JohnnyReb
February 20th, 2013
9:32 am
Butch – you are correct. Jindal should have never stated that. I would not vote for him as dog catcher. One does not air dirty laundry.
RF
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
“Conservatives control 30 governorships, 29 state houses totally and at least 1 chamber in another 6 and will control the US house of Reps until at least 2022.”
Problem is, td, their control is shrinking to the state level, and they’re growing increasingly out of touch on the national level, which typically works via compromise toward the center. Republicans know this, and up until 2008 were pretty good at maintaining a good rhetorical stance and balancing the push/pull of political power to keep it just to the right of center. They are looking increasingly ridiculous and out of touch beyond the state level, and they lost some important congressional races last year. Unless they put forth some better candidates in 2014, they’re likely to lose more than they’ll win on the national level, and many of them know it. Unfortunately, Rove and his gang are still awfully good at convincing the older money crowd to finance their electoral lunacy, so the rants continue and the party becomes more marginalized at the national level. And I suspect in the next few years, some of the states that ushered them into power will grow tired of their rants and we’ll see the beginning of a slow, steady shift away from them towards more moderate ideas. The band sounds good, the people are smiling, but the Titanic is sinking.
Jay
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
“I love it when progressives attempt to tell Conservatives that the only way for them to survive is to become progressive lite.”
td, it’s not progressives sending that message.
Every person quoted above considers himself or herself a conservative and a Republican, yet they also feel that the party as currently constituted is in deep trouble and in some cases may not have a place for them any longer. In 15 minutes, I could find another half-dozen or more of such statements, all by people who identify as conservative.
If you care to dismiss them as RINOs, then I would argue that you prove their point.
JamVet
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
“Not on federal lands.”
Yep, no more letting the giant corproate mooches on OUR land and selling OUR assets at give away prices.
Uncle Sam needs to be a decent landlord and get rid of the squatters…
alex
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
Jay, do not attack other bloggers personally, funny, really funny, read any of FRED recently, anyway-Buffalo Springfield-great band, terrific band, top 5
Feed the grannies and the Kam and the fred–they are hungry for something they already believe..
DannyX
February 20th, 2013
9:36 am
“Conservatives control 30 governorships, 29 state houses totally and at least 1 chamber in another 6 and will control the US house of Reps until at least 2022.”
And how are things working out td? Most Republican governors have horrible approval ratings, especially the Tea Party governors. Rick Perry for instance has a 40% approval according to a recent Dallas Morning news poll, PPP has him at 41%. Rick Scott in Florida is at 33%
Paul
February 20th, 2013
9:36 am
straitroad
“Jay, you’re making an assumption that there is a problem with the GOP because that is the liberal talking point right now.”
You’re saying Joe Scarborough is a liberal?!!?
Do you even know who he is?
Others have tried to make the same point. A guy with a 95% lifetime conservative rating from the American Conservative Union is a RHINO or a liberal…
Brosephus – the iron dome has given way to carbon steel.
mm
February 20th, 2013
9:36 am
straitroad,
“If Hillary is elected in 2016, the media will do its job a little better but we’ll still have some of the same elements of the kid glove treatment because she is a female. If the media carried the water for the GOP as they do for Obama, the party’s perception would be different as would the election results.”
And you cons can’t figure out why you are losing national elections?
pete
February 20th, 2013
9:36 am
OK…this made me shake my head and think, ‘wow, how stupid can some folks be’. Eating breakfast this morning at a local eatery, and there are these 3 folks sitting behind me. All 3 are unemployed. How do I know? Because all 3 of them were talking about how it was Bush’s fault that they lost their job in the first place, and it is also his fault that they can’t find a job now. Talk about a low information voter. I sat there and just started laughing, and my friend offered to buy their breakfast. So the 3 guys introduced themselves, and then Lee, the guy I am with, says his name is ‘Big Government’, and that he was there to help them. Holy crap, we laughed the whole way home. You really can’t fix stupid.
Recon 0311 2533
February 20th, 2013
9:36 am
Bozo only won this last election by 3M or so votes. What were the percentages, 52/49? Hardly a mandate.
Kayaker 71, of course when you have people like the poll worker in Hamilton County Ohio who voted 6 times for Obama and is only getting caught now after the fact, you kind of get how Obama won the election.
Brosephus™
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
Fred
Sleep is for the weak!!!! Or at least, that’s the message I’m trying to convince myself into believing.
You know that I’m one of those over achieving Knee Grows, so I help when and where I can.
Aquagirl
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
Jindal should have never stated that. I would not vote for him as dog catcher.
Yep, Jindal hurt some fee-fees.
RF
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
@DDR 9:26- I was doing pretty good at avoiding those images…and they you laid them out in detail. Luckily I have housework to do and hopefully that will take my mind off that!! LOL
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:37 am
Self reliance, responsibility for your own actions and decisions, love of country……. these might be the thoughts of a bunch of old white guys but I’ll take them any day.
It’s a damn shame that you are fooled by THOUGHTS and not moved by DEEDS. The Republicans mouth that stuff but they sure as hell don’t live it.
GT
February 20th, 2013
9:38 am
kayaker 71 “only won” is the key to your speech, don’t you wish you could say that? How many of us go looking for a loser to give them lectures, most losers go to the winners for advice.
And if O is a Bozo and he is the winner, what in hell does that make you who are the loser.
Erwin's cat
February 20th, 2013
9:38 am
Is it paranoia if they are really out to get you?
kayaker 71
February 20th, 2013
9:38 am
Broephus, 9:31,
Politics at the Presidential level and House elections are as different as any election can be. The media played a huge part in getting Bozo elected in November. Except for selective endorsements, you can essentially take them out of the picture for House elections. People like Bookman and other “journalists” wouldn’t take on Bozo if he molested his children. None of these girley men would. Remember the words of that famous House Speaker, Tip O’Neal, “All politics is local”.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
February 20th, 2013
9:39 am
“Any conservatives out there willing to take on the actual content of the opinions posted here?”
Bookman, please help a poor wretch like me out with a little elaboration.
Are you soliciting comment on the text you copied and pasted into your blog, or are you offering a goad to engage your faithful readers of the liberal persuasion?
alex
February 20th, 2013
9:39 am
Self examination, questioning ones ideas on a daily basis or reinforce your thought without regard to their “correctness”, I’ll choose the former, for you Jay, that is not possible, “what you see is all there is”
pete
February 20th, 2013
9:40 am
Joe Scarborough is a RINO. He said he was a Republican to get votes.
barking frog
February 20th, 2013
9:41 am
The DNC has written off the South which is a mistake.
Contested primaries and General Elections make for
honesty in politics and usually stop hacks from walking
into office.
Paul
February 20th, 2013
9:41 am
JohnnyReb
The points Scarborough and others make is what we’re hearing from the far Right is NOT conservatism, and every attempt to label their beliefs as ‘conservative’ and label traditional conservatives as ‘not conservative’ is a big part of the problem.
It’s like JamVet recites – past conservative Republican principles which led to legislation in many areas – such as protecting the environment, expanding federal parks and protecting the land from commercial interests – are now items that those calling themselves ‘conservative’ denounce as ‘liberal’ or ‘progressive.’
Brosephus™
February 20th, 2013
9:41 am
Paul
Before long, depleted uranium will be useless against that fortification.
Jay
February 20th, 2013
9:41 am
Escaped, I expressed myself with adequate clarity on that point already.
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:43 am
If progressives can learn to work with the moderates in the Democratic Party, and if that party remains stable, I really think that the demise of the GOP is near.
Don’t hold your breath. Why do you think the Presidents budget was rejected in the Senate 99-0? The Republicans rejected it because Obama proposed it. The Democrats rejected it because it contained meaningful compromise with the Republicans on entitlement cuts.
The hard left is just as butt headed stupid as the hard core right.
Doggone/GA
February 20th, 2013
9:43 am
“When the girl woke up crying ion hunger in the middle of the night, I didn’t have the “parts” she needed lol so I got to sleep.”
Got a story you’ll both enjoy! A couple decided when their baby needed feeding in the middle of the night they would swap going and getting him. Obviously Mom would do the nursing, but Dad could go get him and take him back. One night the baby cried when it was Dad’s turn, so Mom nudged him and said “Honey, go get the baby”
Dad got up, picked up the cat, dropped him in the closet and closed the door. And went back to bed.
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
9:43 am
“Bozo only won this last election by 3M or so votes. What were the percentages, 52/49? Hardly a mandate.”
he still beat the crap out of your guy.
Shine
February 20th, 2013
9:43 am
So where exactly is the presidents budget and the we all in this together sacrifices the dem base is supposed to take after the tax increases?
Cherokee
February 20th, 2013
9:43 am
YouLibs – thanks for the clarification.
DebbieDoRight – brilliant…. post of the day….
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:44 am
<i.Paul – there are basic beliefs among Conservatives that cannot change.
Please list these unchangeable ideals?
Escaped from Email Purgatory
February 20th, 2013
9:44 am
Bookman.
Nah, pretty much you expressed yourself with somebody’s else’s adequate clarity.
F. Sinkwich
February 20th, 2013
9:44 am
O’bozo killed coal. He will kill the Keystone XL. He issues moratoriums on drilling. He closes federal land for exploration. Etc.
So, in lib world, in order to be perceived as more mainstream, Repubs must join O’bozo’s war on fossil fuels and embrace Solydra, the POS Volt, and solar powered windmills?
Not gonna happen.
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:44 am
Paul – there are basic beliefs among Conservatives that cannot change.
Please list these unchangeable ideals?
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
9:45 am
“He will kill the Keystone XL.”
one can only hope.
“Nah, pretty much you expressed yourself with somebody’s else’s adequate clarity.”
and that has to be one of the most asinine things I’ve seen posted here all week … and that’s saying something.
Granny Godzilla
February 20th, 2013
9:46 am
kayaker 71
“People like Bookman and other “journalists” wouldn’t take on Bozo if he molested his children.”
.
.
.
.
Nasty Ugly Piffle
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:46 am
alex
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
Jay, do not attack other bloggers personally, funny, really funny, read any of FRED recently,
Aw, my butt hurt stalker. He’s mad I ignore him. Unrequited love can be so ugly.
GT
February 20th, 2013
9:46 am
kayaker 71 you are right I never heard Jay use the word Bozo in his descriptions. If he could just articulate better the Republicans would have won. Silly Jay…
Steve
February 20th, 2013
9:47 am
Whatever happened to respect for our President? Using terms like “Obozo” is the reason nobody is going to read the rest of your post.
Drudge
February 20th, 2013
9:47 am
I think we should only have 1 party. That seems to be what you are all driving at. A 1 party system. That is a splendid idea. We could hold show elections where Obama gets 100% of the vote just like Stalin, just like Kim Jong Il, just like Hitler, just like Castro… Forward.
TaxPayer
February 20th, 2013
9:47 am
Will cons eat what they hunt or mount their trophy RINO’s? Will Paul Broun show us his RINO trophy room some day?
They’re such animals.
Cherokee
February 20th, 2013
9:48 am
“you kind of get how Obama won the election”
And as long as you continue to comfort yourself with fables like this, your party will keep losing…
DebbieDoRight - Minister Of Propaganda
February 20th, 2013
9:51 am
Jay: Do not attack other bloggers personally;
Do not post under another blogger’s handle;
Do not interact with any other blog personas that you may have created
Dangit! Just like jay to take all the fun outta blogging!
=============
Steve: But let’s be clear – even the GOP is in disarray and free-fall, leave it to the Democrats to find a way to screw things up and not take advantage of this situation to become stronger.
Excellent point. When the Dems/Harry Reid had a chance to put a stop to all the Republican stone walling and government slow downs; he didn’t do it. He folded. Instead of looking at what’s happening NOW and doing/governing on the now; he looked at what could happen in the future. Sad.
Paul: Jay’s been like the relative watching the older couple who just had their first child. …………The relatives could see what was going on……… time they reclaimed their role and reigned in their spoiled, self-centered, arrogant child.
Oooh good analogy! I am SO stealing that one! Sorry
Paul: Fits in with the topic. Some of the old guard Republicans are finally telling the nutters, “You’re nuts!”
McCain, though he may not be “technically” nuts; does however hold First Runner Up to the Miss CrazyAsHell Nutter Award.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
February 20th, 2013
9:51 am
Holy crap, we laughed the whole way home. You really can’t fix stupid.
And there’s your sign.
Fred ™
February 20th, 2013
9:52 am
Whatever happened to respect for our President? Using terms like “Obozo” is the reason nobody is going to read the rest of your post.
Who are you kidding? It’s the ONLY reason his fellow far right wing fanatics will read his post.
Paul
February 20th, 2013
9:52 am
Sinkwich
I thought you’d left. You must’ve missed this:
“(Sinkwich) ““Is the GOP’s policy agenda in bad need of an update? You mean like embrace higher taxes…nope.”
(Paul) Do you think it is right that Facebook just made over a billion dollars in profit yet paid no federal tax? In fact, taxpayers gave them nearly half a billion in subsidies?
Or is that a policy belief – we can’t raise taxes on anyone – that Republicans should continue to advocate? Even to middle class families looking at corporations earning billions in profits and paying no taxes?”
Doggone/GA
February 20th, 2013
9:52 am
“So where exactly is the presidents budget”
Chuckle
GT
February 20th, 2013
9:52 am
F. Sinkwich he stopped you from eating fried chicken too..
Dependence is a hell of a disease. It makes us weak, not to mention the global warming you are in denial of. One of the reasons the GOP in the northeast is singing O’s praises is they have felt the effects. One of the great things about living in a cave, you are not bothered as much about the rest of the world. It is so bad for you that you become satisfied with it as a way of life not only for you but the rest of us.
Granny Godzilla
February 20th, 2013
9:53 am
Cheap clean renewable energy…
What a concept!
barking frog
February 20th, 2013
9:54 am
WINO is such an obvious acronym but I can’t put words
to the letters……Women in name only…White in name only..
life is such a quandary for a twit……
Paul
February 20th, 2013
9:54 am
DDR
Well, if a guy who can act nuts tells others they’re nuts, then man-oh-man, they must be REALLY nuts!
williebkind
February 20th, 2013
9:54 am
51% voted for the KING. I dont see the death of anything. I dont see the need to change anything. As soon as the northen morons go bankrupt they will change that 51% to the republicans favor. It is going to happen because we are out of free stuff.
GT
February 20th, 2013
9:55 am
Drudge the Republicans are doing it to themselves, sugar.
Doggone/GA
February 20th, 2013
9:56 am
“51% voted for the KING”
Funny, I don’t remember anyone named KING running. Only Romney and Obama. Sure you have the right election in mind?
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
9:56 am
“51% voted for the KING.”
there was an Elvis write-in campaign and I missed it????
damn!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
February 20th, 2013
9:56 am
51% voted for the KING.
Aaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnndddd, I stopped reading.
williebkind
February 20th, 2013
9:56 am
“Cheap clean renewable energy…
What a concept!”
With two failed solar companies leaving the tax payer the bill, I would not call it cheap renewable energy.
Drudge
February 20th, 2013
9:57 am
I still can’t get over the fact that 1/2 of the country just can’t see the writing on the wall. That, or they don’t care. Subjugate yourselves to outright embezzling liars (Obama, Jesse JR, Pelosi, Boxer, Wasserman, Warren) in exchange for your pittance and Obamaphone. People who will do and say whatever they can to get elected, regardless of the remote possibility to deliver. They get their lifetime pension, you get debt, inflation, crumbling schools – you get Detroit. Such a deal!
Erwin's cat
February 20th, 2013
9:57 am
life is such a quandary for a twit……
Doggone/GA
February 20th, 2013
9:58 am
“With two failed solar companies leaving the tax payer the bill, I would not call it cheap renewable energy.”
And nevermind all the successful companies. It’s ONLY the failed ones that matter. Right?
barking frog
February 20th, 2013
9:58 am
williebkind
It is going to happen because we are out of free stuff.
…………………………………………………………….
williebsilly, we are not out of free stuff…
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
9:58 am
Doggone – 9:56 – heeheehee … great minds
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
February 20th, 2013
9:58 am
With two failed solar companies leaving the tax payer the bill…
Enron says, “What”?
GT
February 20th, 2013
9:59 am
williebkind check out the books, the only reason the north will go bankrupt is it has to carry the south. We are the load not them and it is a direct result of our political thinking.
Moderate Line
February 20th, 2013
9:59 am
RF
February 20th, 2013
9:35 am
“Conservatives control 30 governorships, 29 state houses totally and at least 1 chamber in another 6 and will control the US house of Reps until at least 2022.”
Problem is, td, their control is shrinking to the state level, and they’re growing increasingly out of touch on the national level, which typically works via compromise toward the center.
++++
Shrinking at the state level? Politics has a short memory. In 2010 the Republican constrolled more state legislative than any year since 1928. So they are shrinking from a historical high.
The Democrats controlled state legislative from 2007 to 2010. The Republicans have controlled them from 2011 to 2012. Shrinking or not they have increase the power the last two years.
Also, prior to 1994 how many times did they have a mojority of state legislature. Since 1994 they have controlled states legislatures 10-6 years.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-historic-win-state-legislatures-vote-2010-election/story?id=12049040
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0416.pdf
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0418.pdf
Erwin's cat
February 20th, 2013
9:59 am
51% voted for the KING.”
there was an Elvis write-in campaign and I missed it???
No, it was the Johnny Cash/Richard Petty ticket
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
February 20th, 2013
10:00 am
Subjugate yourselves to outright embezzling liars
The smoking gun is the mushroom cloud.
We will be greeted as liberators.
Lord Help Us
February 20th, 2013
10:00 am
‘Enron says, “What”?’
the two or three energy companies that GWB bankrupted say, ‘what?’
williebkind
February 20th, 2013
10:00 am
“there was an Elvis write-in campaign and I missed it????
damn!”
Yep, you must have missed it because the great entertainer won.
JamVet
February 20th, 2013
10:00 am
Escaped, It is most curious that escaped cannot articulate the first cogent thought about what he thinks of those quotes and the current unenviable position that the GOP has put themselves in.
Nothing to share?
Nothing at all?
Let me help out a tad.
Bobby Jindal just recently labeled his own party as stupid, backward and insulting.
Hello?
But the rub?
He nor any other person in position of power in that dysfunctional organization is going to DO the very first thing about changing that.
Nothing at all.
So prepare yourselves for more electoral beatdowns like the last one, cons…
Bob
February 20th, 2013
10:00 am
Repubs need leaders like Biden “I said, ‘Jill, if there’s ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony … take that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,’” Biden said. “You don’t need an AR-15. It’s harder to aim, it’s harder to use and in fact, you don’t need 30 rounds to protect yourself.”
Grasshopper
February 20th, 2013
10:01 am
Good Lord, talk about being bereft of ideas…
What is this, GOP bashing blog number 748 this year alone? And so few posts actually explaining or defending Democratic policies. Do you even know what you stand for any more?
Steve
February 20th, 2013
10:01 am
Progressives need to work on messaging. It’s time we work to erase the perception that the words “liberal” and even “socialism” are negative words. Democrats are getting better at standing up for their beliefs, but it’s time we grew some “cajones” and showed more self confidence when selling our ideas.
F. Sinkwich
February 20th, 2013
10:02 am
“(Paul) Do you think it is right that Facebook just made over a billion dollars in profit yet paid no federal tax?”
Unless they broke the law I’m okay with it.
As you remember, however, the Mittster was all about reforming the tax code to eliminate a host of deductions but you lib ilks crapped all over him about it. Now you whine…
Figures.
комиссар (Occupation)
February 20th, 2013
10:02 am
Drudge: “I think we should only have 1 party. That seems to be what you are all driving at. A 1 party system. That is a splendid idea. We could hold show elections where Obama gets 100% of the vote just like Stalin, just like Kim Jong Il, just like Hitler, just like Castro… Forward. ”
No. What you have to see is that what we have now with our supposedly advanced two-party system is in fact the perfect embodiment of that very Stalinist logic that you describe, only in an even more durable and inscrutable form! And the reason is that, as it happens, in this system you don’t even need the fake elections and the single dictator but can simply let the people vote, and by letting the political horizon be squeezed into a narrow and artificial range of options, not through any dictatorship but through neglect of general civic life and with help from a press that is cynical and self-serving and given to ever greater trivialization and fetishization of the pageantry of the political process as such, allows it to happen by default. It’s perfectly ingenious when you step back and look at it from afar. It’s a system that is almost perfectly immune to critique because the masses take to it very naturally and consider it the natural by-product of a evolutionary process whose underlying logic is reasonable and just. Nothing is more alluring and satisfying to them than a sham spectacle where “The Two” great versions which for now and all time encapsulate all human possibilities for organizing their political life go tete-a-tete, mano a mano in the arena of electoral combat. It’s Stalinism without the gulags and without the vicious dictator! It’s irresistible!
Drudge
February 20th, 2013
10:03 am
GT – right, so the media and this administration has no hand in demonizing republican leadership or fanning the flames of perceived internal conflict? Sure, that is believable based on the fact that we are on this blog in the first place – couldn’t ask for a better example, sweetheart.
You don’t think the same thing happens on the left? How about 26 states refusing Obamacare funds? A lot of Dems in there. How about the gun control bill standing no chance in the senate because of rebel Dems seeing the nonsense? But that doesn’t get the same amplification, does it?
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
10:03 am
“No, it was the Johnny Cash/Richard Petty ticket”
somehow, I don’t think this would make quite the political poster they would like
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5ulp2jhlu1rxi0yeo1_1280.jpg
Lance in Carrollton
February 20th, 2013
10:03 am
Jay,
If people only listen to the news they want it presented,(Conservatives-Fox News, Liberals-MSNBC) they will not believe that a problem exists. The only argument that will occur is that someone is a RINO, or “why should I listen to a liberal to help my party.” This is the main problem today with governance by Conservatives. Politics in a republic is based on the idea of compromise amongst people from different regions. A Northeast Liberal meets with a Southern Conservative and they compromise for the greater good. When no compromise occurs, it shakes a repubilican form of government. When a Republican compromises now, like Senator Chambliss has done, they are bastardized as a RINO. When Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and Milton Friedman, set the groundwork for the modern Conservative movement, they never imagined a time when Conservatives would stay away from conversation, and only talk amongst themselves. They would never imagine that their ideas would be considered dogmatic, because they were against the status quo of Keynesian Economics and top down governence from Roosevelt and Truman. They wanted new and fresh ideas to lead their political movement. If the Republican Party cannot find a way to become a “big tent” party, as it once was, the party will continue to lose national elections, and eventually local ones as well.
kayaker 71
February 20th, 2013
10:03 am
Roughly half of the American electorate rejected Bozo and his liberal nonsense. You would think, by the comments on this blog, that Bozo won by a landslide and has a mandate to do whatever he pleases. Nothing could be further from the truth. The upcoming House election will give a much more credible look at how America really feels about his clown and his policies. Without the media hammering away every day on the Republican opposition, voters take on a whole new perspective on elections. The last time wasn’t pretty. We will hope that this one won’t be either.
Paul
February 20th, 2013
10:04 am
Sinkwich
If you’re okay with corporations having billions in profits and paying no taxes, they why would you support Romney for allegedly trying to stop that?
td
February 20th, 2013
10:05 am
Brosephus™
February 20th, 2013
9:31 am
Conservatives control 30 governorships, 29 state houses totally and at least 1 chamber in another 6 and will control the US house of Reps until at least 2022.
Yet all that did not translate to victory on the national level. I’d wager that GOP electoral victories are tied more to low voter turnout than to their platform or messaging. Fewer people vote in state elections vs federal ones.
There is only one Federal election and that is for President. Every other election is at a state level.
комиссар (Occupation)
February 20th, 2013
10:05 am
In other words, Drudge, to finish my thought from 10:02:
The two (as in two-party) is the new one!!
Steve
February 20th, 2013
10:06 am
kayaker – if you look at the Electoral college counts, Obama (who is “Bozo”?) won handily. Most elections are close, but this one wasn’t.
barking frog
February 20th, 2013
10:06 am
I’m afraid the economy will collapse
I’m afraid someone will attack me when I’m not armed
I’m afraid the government will take my guns
I’m afraid my insurance premiums will go up
I’m afraid the poor will become wealthy on welfare
I’m afraid I’m a Republican………..
Granny Godzilla
February 20th, 2013
10:06 am
williebkind
February 20th, 2013
9:56 am
“Cheap clean renewable energy…
What a concept!”
With two failed solar companies leaving the tax payer the bill, I would not call it cheap renewable energy
.
.
.
.
OK, 2 out of how many?
And what is the failure rate compared to that of other industuries.
Remember, just because Arbusto Energy went belly up we didn’y give up looking for oil in Texas….
USinUK - former Girl Scout
February 20th, 2013
10:07 am
“If you’re okay with corporations having billions in profits and paying no taxes, they why would you support Romney for allegedly trying to stop that?”
nicely played, sir.
Drudge
February 20th, 2013
10:09 am
комиссар (Occupation) – that was about 1000 words of total chatter. Seriously, at no point did you come close to what could be considered a coherent train of thought. You are why I am mortally afraid for this country. I apologize, we have failed you.
For the record, Stalinism cannot exist without gulags, without vicious dictators. That is the very definition of Stalinist models; read Machiavelli.
GT
February 20th, 2013
10:09 am
Drudge the right invented lying; it is one of the only contributions you have made to modern America. When you were moving Virgin Island non citizens, black faces to the front of the Republican convention so the national audience would see them, that that was a lie, Sugar. When you claim to favor equality for women yet have but one in your Congressional leadership, you lied again, Sugar. You built a whole network and make it the lie network like ESPN does sports. If you get a little rusty on your lying you can tune in to watch a professional, it gets you back in shape in no time.
williebkind
February 20th, 2013
10:09 am
“williebkind check out the books, the only reason the north will go bankrupt is it has to carry the south. We are the load not them and it is a direct result of our political thinking.”
With all the poor minorities in the south, that is a huge burden to pay for their house, clothes, school, food, energy bills, cars, and cell phones but you have bought their vote. That is a good trade is it not? Slowly that scenario is changing for reasons such as the moving of companies to the south and unions will not have the treasury to back liberal candidates.
As my pappy used to say, ” The sun dont shine on the same ole dog’s a&& all the time.”
hewhoasks
February 20th, 2013
10:10 am
When I considered myself a conservative I liked the old classic definition of conservative: “Unless it is necessary to change it is necessary not to change.” Still do, but there is so much blather and noise obscuring “necessary” that the definition is useless. So-called conservatives are making conservatism useless. So be it. Most of the internal conservative/Republican discussion is of the form “How can we keep misusing conservatism and yet regain support?” Seems like events are saying “Can’t.” So be it.
JamVet
February 20th, 2013
10:10 am
I dont see the need to change anything…
HallellujahI
The most strident of the right wing extremists ultimately turned out to be the best friends that non-Republicans could ever have!
…northen (sic) morons…
Hysterical with a capital H.
willie reminds me a great deal of those semi-literate tea partiers and those posters they carried around with spelling errors on them that would embarrass a fifth grader…
JKL2
February 20th, 2013
10:11 am
Draconian sequestration cuts mean spending is only going to increase $110 Billion.
obama standing proud for doing nothing except blaming the Republicans for all our problems.
It’s a shame the American sheeple couldn’t elect a leader as president.
mm
February 20th, 2013
10:12 am
“Kayaker 71, of course when you have people like the poll worker in Hamilton County Ohio who voted 6 times for Obama and is only getting caught now after the fact, you kind of get how Obama won the election.”
You cons still can’t admit that it was your terrible policies and ideology that cost you the election, eh?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
February 20th, 2013
10:13 am
51% voted for the KING. I dont see the death of anything. I dont see the need to change anything. As soon as the northen morons go bankrupt they will change that 51% to the republicans favor. It is going to happen because we are out of free stuff.
As long as they keep beating the strawman.
We will keep winning elections.
Proceed
Oscar
February 20th, 2013
10:14 am
The RINOs anf blue dog dems should get toogether and form a party in the center. Call it tne Blue Rino Party. Nice ring to it.
barking frog
February 20th, 2013
10:15 am
Drudge
You are why I am mortally afraid for this country
……………………………………………………
You are why I AM mortally AFRAID for this country.
self identified republican.
Hiram
February 20th, 2013
10:15 am
All of this noise is a subset of the environmental issue. When our planet looks like Mars, you want have to worry about your AR-15 or Obama Care. All we need are more idiots like Broun on science committees, and we will soon be relieved of all of our worries. Last weeks’ NOVA was sobering: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/earth-from-space.html
GT
February 20th, 2013
10:15 am
williebkind this is too easy, you, the right, carried the south,buy a newspaper.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
February 20th, 2013
10:15 am
With all the poor minorities in the south, that is a huge burden to pay for their house, clothes, school, food, energy bills, cars, and cell phones but you have bought their vote
Another strawman. Proceed
Pssst and they are way way way more white people on welfare than black or hispanic.
комиссар (Occupation)
February 20th, 2013
10:15 am
kayaker: “Roughly half of the American electorate rejected Bozo and his liberal nonsense. ”
“Liberal” nonsense? Like the fact that earnings of the ultra-wealthy have recovered and soared to ever more stratospheric levels under this “liberal” president (w/as yet no prosecutions of bankers for the crash era misdeeds)? Or like the fact that government is now going to have shrunk to mid-20th C levels, to the smallest levels in generations in other words, under this president? Wow, that’s some “big guvment” liberal you got there!
“The upcoming House election will give a much more credible look at how America really feels ..”
The House is about as reliable an expression of what the nation “really feels” as the Goldman Sachs board. It’s effectively an alien body lodged in the body politic.