For conservative activists, it’s manifesto mania
Another week, another manifesto proclaiming conservative principles for America.
Today’s edition is titled the Mount Vernon Statement, and it includes some heavy hitters from the conservative movement: Edwin Meese, Ed Feulner, Tony Perkins, among others.
In light of the explosion of conservative manifestos as we enter the 2010 election season — HotAir.com says there are at least seven — it may be tempting to portray them as the attempts of various center-right groups to grab the reins. I think it’s a little more complicated than that.
The Mount Vernon Statement, for one, is pretty broad and generic. Not much for anyone to quibble with there, except to the degree that far-lefties who fancied themselves ascendant in the past year have demonized words like “market.” But it is a bottom line.
The debate will come in the platforms stacked upon that one. So far, elected Republicans haven’t laid out anything explicit, only hinted at something approximating a warmed-over Contract With America. If their list(s) sounds more like Newt Gingrich ca. 1994 than Paul Ryan’s much newer Roadmap, they will face the question of what’s new — not to mention why anyone should believe them this time.
On the other hand, nothing is more grassroots than the Contract From America springing up from the Tea Party Patriots. Activists voting online will select 10 planks from a list of 21 nominees, ranging from a balanced-budget amendment to auditing the Federal Reserve to passing market-based health-care reform. (Note that none of the 21 relates explicitly to anything one might call social conservatism.)
At HotAir.com, Allahpundit warns conservatives not to get too attached to any one entire list:
Progressives thought that 60 Democrats meant 60 liberals, or at least 50 liberals plus 10 weak-tea centrists who could be bullied, but of course it hasn’t played out that way. The balance of power is in the center, which is why people like [Joe] Lieberman continue to be able to dictate terms to Harry Reid. When the GOP regains power (and even in 2012 or 2014, it’s unlikely to be with a 60-seat majority), they’ll face the same problem with [Olympia] Snowe and [Susan] Collins and Scotty [Brown]. Point being, you’re going to have to water down conservative programs to keep moderates like them in the fold or draw off people like Ben Nelson, and watering down programs necessarily means compromising on core principles sometimes. Unless you think you can elect 60 hardcore Reagan Republicans — which, I hasten to add, even Reagan couldn’t do while the Reagan revolution was in full swing — you’re bound to see those principles betrayed. Which isn’t the end of the world: It helps to stick a firm stake in solid conservative ground so that the Republican chieftains who are leashed to it don’t stray too far. But they will stray, because they have to in order to pass legislation. We’re all on the same page about that, yes?
Well, are we?
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73 comments Add your comment
Jefferson
February 17th, 2010
2:45 pm
What a bunch of yahoos, nothing wrong with our country.
JF McNamara
February 17th, 2010
3:17 pm
Just another propaganda campaign.
When they get back in control, the same thing is going to happen as is happening now. Nothing. They just want control so they can make more money. They could care less about the United States, and aren’t even going to attempt to solve any of our big problems because it will hurt big business or cost them votes.
Cooperate and actually pass some real legislation. You’ll have my attention then.
LA
February 17th, 2010
3:21 pm
Bookman just posted the same article only he wrote the word, yawn after the title.
I often wonder why the AJC employs such stupid people but then again, they employ Cynthia McKinny, I mean Tucker.
MAC
February 17th, 2010
3:33 pm
Forget the Mount Vernon statement, if you want something with real meat, new NJ Gov. Christie’s speech to the state legislators is a great reference point on what needs to be done with Federal and State government:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/chris_christies_speech_on_budg.html
MAC
February 17th, 2010
3:37 pm
The portion of the speech on fat public pensions and healthcare and “fairness” is particularly noteworthy and badly needs to be addressed in Georgia and the City of Atlanta.
Kyle Wingfield
February 17th, 2010
3:38 pm
I agree, MAC, Christie’s speech was great. It was a little too long for me to do much of anything with it on the blog, but it’s definitely worth reading.
Now, if he can just pull it off.
kitty
February 17th, 2010
3:49 pm
either party gets elected and we get more of the same…someone besides the average guy is always getting the pay off. I suspect it is mostly the politicians of either party actually. Something must be in the water of DC where a person’s integrity just melts as if it never existed.
LA
February 17th, 2010
3:50 pm
Obama is one clueless president.
On anniversary, Obama defends economic stimulus
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61G38U20100217
Ragnar Danneskjöld
February 17th, 2010
3:52 pm
Nothing wrong with multiple conservative statements of principles. There is surely little conflict among those various statements, and floating ideas like this creates a chance to harmonize our efforts. More like the Gingrich years than the Delay years.
Adolph's Quick-cuts
February 17th, 2010
3:53 pm
Conservatism has nothing to fear from the Mount Vernon Statement. It still remains undefined.
The Mount Vernon Statement reads like many passages I’ve memorized from “Mein Pet Kampf”, which Bush was reading on 911 to that assembly of Hitler Youth.
OT: I’m blushing after reading the “Best looking People are found in the 49 contiguous states” article.
Tiger to hold press conference Friday. Be there. Must see tv.
Churchill's MOM
February 17th, 2010
3:53 pm
I just don’t see there is a lot here. What I’d like to see are: 1. Balanced Budget 2. Term limits 3. End ALL Foreign Aid 4. Jail the crooks responsible for the financial mess we are in now and 5 Make it a felony for congressmen to accept anything from lobbyist.
I’ll sign the on line form but I’ll bet after the next election that the Republican party will just be the Democrat lite Party.
sam
February 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
i have a manifesto….
1. make america better by restoring values, sticking to principles, and being smart with money..
i’m no edwin meese but you get my point.
kitty
February 17th, 2010
3:55 pm
interesting…in Christie’s speech I didn’t see anything about changing HIS pension or anything to do with the legislature’s pensions…telling that is. Just the regular guy getting shafted again.
Gil Favor
February 17th, 2010
3:58 pm
Obama is the best president we’ve had since Ike.
Are you better off now than you were a year ago?
You betcha!
The Tar and Feathers Party
February 17th, 2010
4:06 pm
If the manifesto don’t mention Tarrin’ and Featherin’ then Ah ain’t interested. Now head em’ up and move em’ out.
hank
February 17th, 2010
4:08 pm
We the dumb peeps, in order to be as ignorant as possible…..
The Tar and Feathers Party
February 17th, 2010
4:09 pm
I once posted a bunch of crap from “Mein Kampf” on WoodenHeads blog, before he retired in disgrace and all, without saying where it came from. Everyone agreed with what it said, until I told them were it came from. Ah got banned, again.
LA
February 17th, 2010
4:14 pm
“We the dumb peeps, in order to be as ignorant as possible…..”
That sounds like the democrat voting block on the south side of Chicago.
Gil Favor
February 17th, 2010
4:18 pm
And KYLE? Hello, Kyle? You’re not fooling anyone, nor is any conservative renegade from the Bush Era fooling anyone else, that you are somehow resurrected free of the sins of your political past simply because you criticize the mutt in the “refounding america” litter.
You can’t distance yourself from the Mount Vernon statement and expect anyone to believe that your philosophy is not evil incarnate just like it were a year ago, or two year ago, or ten year ago: You promote the abuse of the madding crowds of poor rabble for the aggrandizement of a handfull of grandfathered gentry.
you don’t love justice. You love money. But only your money. Anyone elses money is to be grifted away from them by using the flag, apple pie, baseball, and wielding patriotism like a bat over the average citizen’s head. “Accept the status quo or the terrorist win.” Give me a damn break. Admit it, and maybe God will forgive you. I know I wont.
But don’t insult our intelligence by teeing off on the mount vernon statement like it’s your coming out party as a reasonable human being.
Cause it aint.
word.
Gosh this reminds me of the time …….
Gil Favor
February 17th, 2010
4:20 pm
That’s not why you got banned, Tar Baby. I would tell you why, but I just washed my hair. (Betty Davis).
Jklol.
Jack
February 17th, 2010
4:21 pm
Could not disagree with you more.
IF the republican party wants the support of the Tea Party, then republicans must toe the line. Doing things like campaigning for the liberal John McCain or joining Lindsay Graham in bipartisan efforts in Congress is a great way to ensure that Tea Party voters will sit on their hands rather than vote for these type republicans.
Go ahead, agree with Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, Johnny Isakason and other middle of the road republicans who don’t mind if democrats get things done as long at it is for the “good” of the country. Just don’t expect to return to Congress.
NowReally
February 17th, 2010
4:21 pm
The Mount Vernon Statement is a total waste of brain power (in this case lack of brain power) and isn’t worth the words written on paper, blog space or any political discussion. The conservative movement doesn’t hold water and in my opinion lacks any authority in reference to the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. They want to be the champion of the Constitution, only when it benefits their movement. These people lack morals and are extremely hypocritical. I keep asking myself if their movement is based upon the reality of our current circumstances. What principals are they preserving?
Is this statement based upon the reality of LIFE?
“Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?”
We are in 2010, not 1776; things change. If things were not suppose to change we would still be living in 1776 and there would not be a reason for enhanced thinking.
Jefferson
February 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
And he’s bound for New Orleans…
arnold
February 17th, 2010
4:33 pm
The Republicans (conservatives) will preach the same old same old. Cut taxes and increase the debt. You can’t keep spending without a deposit to the account. It’s just common sense. I wrote that on my palm so I wouldn’t forget a changey hopey thing.
Gil Favor
February 17th, 2010
4:37 pm
I doubt that’s an ink stain on your hands, Arnold. Kung Fu gripped and slow handed is no way to blog, man.
Jklol.
Intown Lib
February 17th, 2010
4:37 pm
Me thinks the Repubs are counting their chickens too soon. It’s 9 months to November.
Gil Favor
February 17th, 2010
4:38 pm
Y-y-yeah! The r-r-repudlickans have p-p-peaked too soon!
Intown Lib
February 17th, 2010
4:41 pm
A manifesto to maintain the status quo … not very motivating.
CJ
February 17th, 2010
4:48 pm
With all due respect, the Mount Vernon Statement is a continuation of the con that is today’s con-servatism.
The signatories of that Statement don’t believe in limited government, balanced budgets or any of the other crap that they profess–as evidenced by the Bush/Frist/Hastert years. They were totally silent when the guys that they helped elect an up deficits, spied on American citizens, destroyed markets, added expensive entitlements, legislated specifically for personal gain, and on and on. In fact, they were worse than silent. They cheered them on.
One would have to be an idiot to fall for the their lies again.
Del
February 17th, 2010
4:52 pm
“Me thinks the Repubs are counting their chickens to soon. It’s 9 months to November”
Yes but it’s way past the gestation period for Obama and the Dem’s and they haven’t accomplished anything other than managing to pi$$ off the voters.
LA
February 17th, 2010
4:52 pm
“Me thinks the Repubs are counting their chickens too soon. It’s 9 months to November.”
Yep, VA, NJ, Mass and democrats dropping out and “retiring” like flies really is a sign that the GOP is headed south.
LOL
JF McNamara
February 17th, 2010
4:54 pm
Who cares about the Tea Partyers? No one is going to cater to them. They sat by for 8 years as the Republicans drove us to the brink of bankruptcy and said nothing.
They are just a group of loud extremist and they will mindlessly vote for Republicans, because Democrats and Big Government are the greater evil. Just another “nut” wing of the Republican party to join gun nuts, abortions nuts, marijauna nuts (Libertarians) and religious nuts.
LA
February 17th, 2010
4:59 pm
“They are just a group of loud extremist”
Yeah, they voice their concerns about the communist in the White House. Yep, them sure is extremist!
LA
February 17th, 2010
5:00 pm
Obama Defeats FDR (in Spending Other People’s Money)
After he signed a law last week authorizing the U.S. Treasury to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion, President Barack Obama delivered a characteristically sanctimonious speech. It was about his deep commitment to frugality.
“After a decade of profligacy, the American people are tired of politicians who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when it comes to fiscal responsibility,” he said. “It’s easy to get up in front of the cameras and rant against exploding deficits. What’s hard is actually getting deficits under control. But that’s what we must do. Like families across the country, we have to take responsibility for every dollar we spend.”
To put Obama’s Olympian hypocrisy in perspective, one need only examine the federal budget tables posted on the White House website by Obama’s own Office of Management and Budget.
http://cnsnews.com/commentary/article/61454
LA
February 17th, 2010
5:01 pm
Obama. The one term president.
CNN poll: 52% say Obama doesn’t deserve reelection in 2012
52 percent of Americans said President Barack Obama doesn’t deserve reelection in 2012, according to a new poll.
44 percent of all Americans said they would vote to reelect the president in two and a half years, less than the slight majority who said they would prefer to elect someone else.
Obama faces a 44-52 deficit among both all Americans and registered voters, according to a CNN/Opinion Research poll released Tuesday. Four percent had no opinion.
Del
February 17th, 2010
5:05 pm
anti gun nuts, pro abortion nuts, pro marijuana nuts, anti religion nuts. add in pro illegal immigration nuts, anti business nuts, pro socialism nuts and that pretty much describes what the democratic party is made up of and also describes what the American people have been rejecting. Get your head unstuck from where the sun never shines.
gordon gecko
February 17th, 2010
5:31 pm
greed is good ,its the conservative mantra as they stab their neighbor in the back for crums, a pre-fab home, a foreign suv, and of course a righteous judgmental christian church on the corner block…..
Baghdad Bob
February 17th, 2010
5:32 pm
Well reasoned, Del, but the truth is that the american people rejected the conservatives and the GOP. Total rejection. Utter abhorence of a political ideology.
Now, a little fine tuning is necessary because it appears that the voters were so frightened by the Bush’s Iraq and equally disgusted by the Global Warming Green scam, that they may have thrown out some of the baby seals with the Bathists. (Just like the Iraqis did).
So november may bring a couple of surprises, but overall the voters are happy and a lot better off now than a year ago.
Peace out.
Baghdad Bob
February 17th, 2010
5:34 pm
Good, LA. In fact greatness!!
now let me ask you something if you don’t mind: Is Obama a liar? Was Joe Wilson correct? Does Obama Lie like a liar who lies about lying?
Yes or no, does Obama tell lies?
dewstarpath
February 17th, 2010
5:42 pm
LA – You need to submit a job application to the AJC,
since you believe they hire such stupid people.
Your blog rants are the essay they’re looking for.
LA
February 17th, 2010
5:49 pm
“Yes or no, does Obama tell lies?”
Yes he can!
LA
February 17th, 2010
5:49 pm
“You need to submit a job application to the AJC,
since you believe they hire such stupid people.”
I would if the AJC were not a failing newspaper.
gordon gecko
February 17th, 2010
6:13 pm
Neocon Misinforming/Stratergy marketing: fooling/making up intelligence in order to scare the public into a War of choice over mythical WMD by a Texan beholden to the oil industry, yes ma’am- unnecessary death and destruction- you betcha, bowing at the alter of the all-mighty dollar- forshizzle, masturbating all over phony patriotism- according to the magic 8-ball sho- nuff……..
The Tar and Feathers Party
February 17th, 2010
6:22 pm
You can call me Rowdy, Gil, as in Rowdy Yates, now git back to work, or this ram rod is gonna smack ya one. This ain’t no union outfit.
hatin' on the stupid
February 17th, 2010
6:23 pm
LALA: Yeah, they voice their concerns about the communist in the White House.
What, in your opinion, if you’re capable of rational thought, characterizes our duly elected president as a communist?
LA
February 17th, 2010
6:27 pm
“What, in your opinion, if you’re capable of rational thought, characterizes our duly elected president as a communist?What, in your opinion, if you’re capable of rational thought, characterizes our duly elected president as a communist?”
1: He studied under communists.
2: His administration has admitted to loving Mao.
3: His Czars are avowed communist. Their words.
4: He admires China.
5: His mom loved communism.
Bottom line: He’s a communist. Liberals love communism.
LA
February 17th, 2010
6:29 pm
stupid
It must really suck to know that your messiah Obama is a one term president who has destroyed the democrat party.
hatin' on the stupid
February 17th, 2010
6:36 pm
lalala: It must really suck to know that your messiah Obama is a one term president who has destroyed the democrat party.
What really sucks is to see hypocrits like you try to destroy a centrist president that has continued most of his predicessors policies with lies. You’re a lier and a hypocrit and no doubt a racist, and it’s people like you that are destroying America.
The Tar and Feathers Party
February 17th, 2010
6:43 pm
Both the repukes and the dummycrats are destroyed, now the Tar and Feather Party is takin’ over, and there will be tarrin’ and featherin’
Jess
February 17th, 2010
6:43 pm
What the repubs. need is a few strong leaders, not a bunch of pretty words. Obama has plenty of pretty words and delivers them eloquently, but I think people have learned this doesn’t mean much if nothing happens. Leadership is what they need.
As for the message. It should be a tweaking of the problem areas, not revolution and reform of our entire system. I think these words scare people. They certainly do me.