A Tale of Two Cities on a Hill: The Republican Party at a Cross Roads
By aceintx Posted in Archived — Comments (75) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The Republican Party is at a crossroads. The first path leads to Ronald Reagan’s shining city on a hill, the other to the Democrat’s dark, dingy and socialist city upon a very different hill. The first way has been articulated in a recent speech by Representative Mike Pence at the Annual Silver Elephant Dinner in South Carolina, the other way has been articulated by several Republicans of late including Representative Tom Cole on Fox News Sunday last week, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels at the Fund for American Studies annual conference in mid April and others pushing the Party leftward.
Representative Pence makes a compelling case that the current minority status of the Republican Party is a consequence of the Party’s abandonment of first principles:
It’s good to know where we’ve been and what we’ve done.
It reminds us of the things that brought us to the place we are today, and in some measure, foretells our tomorrows.
Republicans would do well to think about where we’ve been…and what we’ve done as we ponder the way forward.
And that’s why I’m here: to talk about the future of conservatism. But to do that, we must look back a bit. As I said, I’m not much of a photographer in the artistic sense, but I do know how to keep things in focus.
A lot of people want to write the obituary for the Grand Old Party in 2008 but I believe the reports of our demise are “greatly exaggerated”.
I believe that conservatism will continue to define American politics in the new century as much as it did in the last.
But when I look back at Election Day 2006, I am convinced that we are in the most perilous and yet the most promising time in the history of our party.
It is a perilous time because we have wandered into the wilderness.
It is a promising time, because every great political movement in our history has come out of the wilderness.
The late William F. Buckley, Jr. often admonished that “despair is a mortal sin” and I do not invite it, but the facts are not encouraging.
The Republican Party lost control of Congress in 2006. And in the three special elections in Republican districts this year, Democrats have won every time. And every national poll shows our president and our party at historic lows. We are in the wilderness.
But there is a way out. The author Mark Helprin wrote, “the way out of the wilderness is the truth; recognizing it, stating it, defending it, living by it”. Here’s the truth as I see it.
I believe the Republicans in Washington did not just lose our Majority; I believe we lost our way.
After 1994, we were a Majority committed to a balanced federal budget, entitlement reform and advancing the principles of a limited federal government.
In recent years, our Majority voted to expand the federal government’s role in education by nearly 100 percent, created the largest new entitlement in forty years, and pursued spending policies that created record deficits and national debt.
This was not in the Contract with America.
Now, our opponents will say that the American people rejected our Republican vision.
But I say the American people did not quit on the Contract with America -- we did.
We walked away from the limited government principles that minted the Republican Congress. And the American people walked away from us.
To start our way back, to find our way out of this wilderness, we have to admit that Republicans are in trouble for a reason.
And it has nothing to do with Democrat spin or their vague campaign generalities about hope and change and liberal utopia. It’s about Republicans forgetting what they believe and why they believe it. It’s about Republicans acting like Democrats.
At this Silver Elephant, it saddens me to say that our sterling symbol is tarnished, certainly not by the good conservatives in this room and across the nation. You are the heart and soul of this party.
It has been tarnished by those who abandoned principle for power and cost this party both.
In the name of "governing" and "compassion", our party in Washington has become what we replaced.
The time has come to say at last...the era of Big Government Republicanism is over!
And the good news is, while Republicans may be losing ground, our conservative agenda is still winning!
(Emphasis added is mine.)
After that I’m thinking that if the McCain people aren’t considering Pence for VP, I want to know why not and how long will it take to pull their heads out! I realize it’s not a good idea to pick a VP based on a speech, but if this is truly what Pence believes and this is what we can expect from him…I’m on his wagon as of now!
Anyway, this path to Reagan’s “Shining City on a Hill” is contrasted by our current leadership on the hill in several ways.
First is the state of denial that is pervasive amongst our representatives and party leadership in Washington. Have they learned the lessons of 2006? Has Cole gotten the message I discussed in my resent Red State post: Smack Down Of Tom Cole At NRCC Blog Is Up To 2035 Posts! Did Congressional Republicans Get The Message?
Consider this gem from Representative Cole in an exchange with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday after Wallace refers to recent polls showing Republicans trailing in generic polls 50% to 30% and asks how bleak are Republican prospects this year:
Well, we've got a challenging landscape, no doubt about it, Chris. But I think the fall elections are fundamentally different than a series of specials.
We actually, if you'll recall, won all the special elections in 2006 and then got our clock cleaned pretty good at the end of the year. So I think once we're in a presidential year, the dynamic changes and we'll be in a lot stronger position.
Challenging landscape? Ya think? “the fall elections are fundamentally different than a series of specials”? Really? I wouldn’t expect him to say anything else but these were no ordinary losses. These loses involved so called “Safe” districts where Republicans don’t lose!
Sure, the Dems beat us by running Conservative candidates which Pence pointedly addresses in his speech:
Just a few weeks ago, in Louisiana and Mississippi, Democrats who articulated platforms of pro-life, pro-gun and anti-taxes beat their Republican opponents -- in solidly Republican districts. And in 2006, in district after district, many of the seats we lost went to those who articulated a conservative message.
This wasn’t coincidence. Democrats handpicked their candidates for those races precisely because they knew the power of the conservative message.
We will only defeat the Democrat agenda by presenting a positive, conservative message in vivid contrast to the thinly veiled liberalism of the new Democratic majority.
If I could speak directly to Cole, I’d ask, “if we can’t win special elections in these three districts Mr. Cole….How are we going to win in Purple districts”? Oh and another question, “Mr. Cole, “What is the Republican Party currently doing to recruit Conservative candidates in other districts so we don’t get out Conservatived by the Liberal Democrats”?
Then Cole throws out the usual, “well, we’re not as bad as the Dem Congress” by pointing to the high negatives for Pelosi and Company and talks about how we have a great chance to contrast with them! Are you kidding me? They had their chance to contrast themselves with the Dems by upholding Bush’s veto of the Farm Bill! Did they? More on that later! &@#$ idiots!
Pence continues his speech with an eloquent description of his dresser top and explains how the things most important to us belong in this place of prominence in our lives and asks what is the current state of the Republican dresser.
What’s on our party’s dresser?
These days, it’s hard to tell beneath the clutter. The Republican dresser has become a catchall, a landing place for the accumulated stuff of the day’s work and activities: Piles of change, money clips and receipts, mementos of the day’s spending. The meaningful reminders of the homeowners are barely visible, dusty and overcome by the clutter of expediency and politics. They’re there, but you have to look hard to see them.But you know what they are.... they’re what brought you here tonight...
I believe the cherished ideals on top of our dresser are life and liberty and limited government.
And I believe the future of our movement demand that we put them back front and center...
And make no mistake about it; I believe the future of conservatism begins with a commitment to the unalienable right to life. Without the right to life there is no right to liberty or property. Our party must be willing to stand for the unborn and commit to appointing justices to the Supreme Court who will consign Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history.
And I believe the future of conservatism demands that we stand for the font of life: traditional marriage. Marriage was ordained by God and instituted in law. It is the glue of the American family and the safest harbor to raise children and it must be defended.
And I believe the future of conservatism demands that we stand with those who defend our liberty at home regardless of what the polls or the pundits tell us to do. Whether the national media will ever admit it, freedom is winning in Iraq. We must take the fight over Iraq to the opposition and tell the American people the truth. Thanks to our Commander in Chief and tens of thousands of our men and women in uniform, the surge is working, Al Qaeda is on the run, and Operation Iraqi Freedom is a widening American success.
And I believe the future of conservatism demands that we defend our liberties at home by opposing censorship, whether it takes the form of the so-called Fairness Doctrine or takes the form of Campaign Finance Reform. Our freedom to speak and listen to who we want when we want is a blood-bought American right. We must not permit the Democrats to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
And the future of our movement demands that we defend our economic liberty and stand for the free market, whether in the freedom of Americans to engage in international trade or the freedom of parents to choose whatever public or private school their children will attend. Conservatives know government has no place standing in the way of commerce or standing in the school house door barring exit to poor children from our most dangerous and failing schools.
And the future of our movement demands that we stand for economic liberty and fight for energy independence. We must confront the environmental Left and give the American people more access to American oil! The American people need to know that one party wants America to tax our way to lower oil prices and one party wants America to drill our way to lower oil prices
And lastly, I believe that we must return our party to the principled practice of limited government. We must again be the party of a balanced federal budget that lives within its means by instituting spending discipline and pro-growth tax relief. We must embrace entitlement reform built on Lincoln’s adage that government not do for a man ‘what he can and should do for himself’.
And our candidates must be willing to expose the Democrats’ plan to pass the largest tax increase in American history, explode government spending and over-regulate our economy in the name of climate change.
Life, Liberty and Limited Government-these are the cherished ideals atop the dresser of our party and this movement.
And these are the ideals to which we must return.
It’s time to clear the dresser.
Its time to get back to standing for the things that matter most to our party and our nation.
If that doesn’t stir your blood you’re brain dead or a Dummycrat, (is that an oxymoron?)! Pence would get my vote for VP and later President for his comment on Campaign Finance alone! He’s the only Republican that I’ve heard mention it since it was foisted on us with GWBs signature and the SCOTUS.s twisted reasoning! Our nominee and his championing of this legislation aside, repeal of CFR should be a central plank of the Republican Party Platform and the Party should be aggressively campaigning on repealing its more draconian restrictions on free speech!
Again Contrast the above goals with Cole’s defense of his vote along with 99 other Republicans to override the President’s veto of the 2008 Three Hundred Billion Dollar Farm Bill after Wallace challenges him based on his and Congressional Republicans lack of fiscal discipline and override of GWB’s veto of the 300 Billion Dollar Farm Bill:
Well, first of all, Chris, every spending fight we've had this Congress with the Democrats has been because they wanted to spend more, not less. So I think we're on the right side of the spending battle.
WALLACE: But you voted with them to spend more this time in the farm bill.
COLE: Well, if you'll let me finish my answer, on the farm bill, it actually came back spending less money than the farm bill that all of us had voted against a few weeks earlier, and without the tax increase provisions in it.
The president holding tough, frankly, made it a much better bill than it would have been. But at the end of the day, we thought getting something done — at least those of my colleagues who voted with me thought getting something done for farm country was extraordinarily important.
And this bill actually costs less, had put income limitations for the first time and, frankly, had no tax increases in it, which the earlier bills did. So we thought it was a marked improvement…
Do what? “…on the farm bill, it actually came back spending less money than the farm bill that all of us had voted against a few weeks earlier, and without the tax increase provisions in it.”? Again Mr. Cole…are you serious? So now we have Republican Leaders in the House of Representatives defending increased spending because we didn’t increase it as much as the Democrats wanted? And did you actually say the increases in the welfare provisions in the Farm Bill were a good thing?
Then there’s this pearl of wisdom:
The question always is are you going to do better by cutting the deal now or going forward.
Why “cut the deal now”? Had you upheld GWB’s veto you’d have gotten more cuts in the program or Pelosi and Reid would have had to answer the tough questions you are now facing because it would have been the Democrats who were the only ones pushing for increased spending. By voting for the override, Pelosi gets a free ride and avoids the big spending label because you have made yourself the focus of the angst of the American People by helping to pass a bill which wouldn’t have passed without you!
Pence goes on to reference Buckly and Reagan:
For years, the late William F. Buckley, Jr. carried a keychain that was inscribed with the words, “don’t just do something, stand there.
Buckley knew-when we stand on conservative values, Americans stand with our party.
As Ronald Reagan told CPAC in 1975, "A political party cannot be all things to all men. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs, which must not be compromised to political expediency, or to simply swell its numbers.”
Buckley was right.
Reagan was right.
The way back to a Republican Majority is to the Right.”
Contrast this with the comments from, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and others in our party that lecture us that it’s time we get over Ronald Reagan.
Pence finishes with an appeal to the vision of the founders for this country and a return to what the GOP has always stood for:
Make no mistake about it, these are perilous days for the Grand Old Party, but as I said at the outset, I also believe they are days of promise and opportunity. And I still have hope.
But my hope is not built on the promises of politicians or parties.
During this campaign season, the American people keep hearing that if they only “believe” -- if they only have “hope” -- then they will get “change they can believe in”.
But most Americans know better than that.
The change America needs is one which leans upon the tried and true principles of our founding -- and the hope which America has is built upon the One who blessed its birth.
Benjamin Franklin shared a basic understanding of our founding fathers when he said, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs in the affairs of men.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
And I would ask my countrymen, ‘is it probable that a nation or a political party be renewed without His aid?”
So I say, to move forward, we must acknowledge, as did our founders; that political movements may "grow tired and weary" and they may “stumble and fall”.
But, as has ever been true for every generation of Americans, "they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength”. “They will mount up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary”
Men and women of this movement let us seize upon this moment in history.
Let us renew our commitment to life, liberty and limited government.
Let us embrace the champion that history has chosen for us
And let us ever depend on Him who set this miracle of democracy on these wilderness shores.
And if we do that I believe that today’s clouds of peril for our party will break and the dawn of a new day -- a day of promise and opportunity will light our way.
Because every time our people have humbly taken the cause of life, liberty and limited government to the throne of grace, throughout American history-Freedom always wins.
I left out Pence’s case for electing McCain in 2008 partly because of the size of this post and because I think a comparison of McCain with Winston Churchill is a stretch. This is an omission for which I will no doubt be criticized, but I can take it. :>) That being said, I would recommend going to the links I’ve provided above and reading this speech. I’d also recommend going to Fox News to view Cole’s performance last week, the video is even more pathetic than it reads!
That's my thinking Gator....and Congressional Republicans desperately need to get a clue!
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
If you want to talk civilly and discuss Ideas with me Gator I welcome the opportunity...I thought your first post was an attempt to be constructive...
If you can't get past my tag I suggest you troll somewhere else or quit the site like you said you were going to do because I have no intention of taking it down to appease you.
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
You troll Redstate looking for my every post and whine about my tag...it's getting old.
I replied to your first post here thinking you agreed with my thoughts about Pence being a good VP nominee but as usually it was bait to get me into a dialogue with you so you could once again attack me.
If you'd go back to your cry baby post where you promised to quit the site because we're so mean to your guy you would see I was asking you to stay because I don't want to chase anyone off. I said I didn't mind your snarky comments and petty attacks because I have a thick enough skin and I could take it. Now I regret it and wish you would take your ball and go home because I can't stand someone who likes to dish out on others plates something they can't eat themselves.
Now...Do you think Pence would be a good choice or do you want to whine about my tag some more?
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
If you want a discussion with me, you must first get rid of that bloody banner. The message it sends is nothing but poison for party unity and it pisses me off to no end!
Get over it and consider yourself ignored forth with!
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
---
Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
What I want to know is why Pence is not the Minority Leader? Why are we stuck with the dork Boehner? We need to start kicking butt in the House and start getting our entire caucus on the same page, same agenda , with the same message, and the same tenacity as Pence. Yes, I'm certain he'd make a great VP. But right now, his calling is to get the GOP in the House in order. Shake up the leadership! Shake up the members! There's more then a few good candidates for VP in the GOP; now is not the time to take one of the more sane voices in the House and stick him on the ticket.
Because to be the minority leader, he'd need the support of a majority of the Rs. He doesn't have that.... now. We can hope, but right now, Conservatives are out of vogue.
Hey man, I had just read that speech at Human Events, and was thinking it was worth a write-up -- but not looking forward, since that was a lengthy speech.
And lo and behold, you got it covered. Good job, AC!
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
I'm always happy to zoom a worthy writer...it tells me I'm onto something at least from time to time!
:>)
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
Just ONE day where we can all laugh at the Dems together? As Pfleger is ousted, as Hillary fights and claws her way out the door?
ace has to stir up another McCain fest? One day of everyone banding together to point and laugh is too much to ask?
Good job? I guess.
How am I stirring up a McCain fest? This is a post about a great speech by Pence and to a lesser extent Cole and the Congressional leaders lack of leadership...it has absolutely nothing to do with McCain!
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
Maybe you should read the posts before commenting on them!
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
... for one, and for two, look at the comments. McCain wars above and below.
Maybe you should read your comments before you start saying what you did and did not stir up.
try taking it for what it is and don't expect me to lead the cheer leading squad. I have little love for McCain as everyone knows but I'm on board at least for a vote in November. I just don't get the obsession with a couple sentences or potshots as you call them out of a post that could be a chapter in a book.
This post was and is about contrasting Pence with Congressional Republicans. I made a conscious effort to leave McCain out of it.
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
Again, I would encourage you to read my diary. I'm sure at least part of it will lift you spirits...if you ignore the parts about Cole on FNS last week...LOL
:>)
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
As for the McCain wars above and below...I shouldn't be held responsible for what others post and if you'd read my posts you'd see that I've tried to steer everyone away from the anti McCain posts.
I will admit to allowing myself to be baited by Gator with his childish obsession over my tag but even then I started out trying to dialog with him. and he instead decided to continue his attacks. That said, I'm ignoring him from here on and I apologize for my part in the exchanges with Gator, but I won't accept responsibility for any negative comments toward McCain here because he wasn't the subject of my diary and your post criticizing me above is in error IMHO.
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
"After that I’m thinking that if the McCain people aren’t considering Pence for VP, I want to know why not"
1) Because Pence and McCain would be very far apart on many issues. McCain has said he wants a VP that is like himself. Pence is not be that person.
2) The McCain camp will assume that Indiana will vote for the R candidate for President, no matter what. He doesn't need to pick someone from Indiana to carry Indiana. Besides, we are only good for eleven delegates in the electoral college.
I still believe McCain's best VP pick, from a purely pragmatic standpoint (and pragmatism is all we have remaining at this point), is Hillary Clinton. He'd keep all the pragmatic party Rs, all the "moderate" Rs, he'd take all the Independents, and he'd bring over all of Hillary's D votes (including and especially the New York electoral college votes). He'd win the general by a landslide. And best of all, he'd firmly throw the Conservatives under the bus at no cost to his goals.
And best of all, he'd firmly throw the Conservatives under the bus at no cost to his goals.
What are you, the opposite-aceintx? You know what, I don't think anyone should be throwing anyone else under the bloody bus! I just chewed out aceintx for having a banner in his signature that is very anti-party unity! Then you come along and be the same kind of jerk!
McCain has never missed an opportunity to throw his own party - and especially conservatives - under the nearest bus.
For many, if not most of us, the only glimmer of light in '08 is that McCain will prosecute the War to a clear win, he will be marginally better than the Democrat on other issues, and he may nominate better judges.
We've just lived through the biggest expansion and entrenchment of government since FDR & LBJ. I personally hold out no hope that McCain will reverse the trend. He's only marginally better than Huckabee would have been and hopefully some Congressional R's (Pence, Shaddeg, etal) will be able to hold some sort of line on some of the crap McCain seems committed to (AGW & Immigration for two). And BTW, if you believe McCain's crap about "enforcement first", I can get you 100% financing on a great bridge that used to be in London.
Look out Republicans, here comes the Straight Talk Express.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
are to beat this marxist not for one do not need to hear throw conservatives over under/in front of the bus.....I am trying for the sake of this country to be "unified" and I am hoping we all can "just get along" ;-)
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
Jaded...for what it's worth I intended this post to be constructive. Gator can't get past my tag and I'm stuck with a nag nipping at my heals and everyone else is dragging McCain into this when I only committed one sentence to him as I recall.
Everyone here knows where I am where McCainis concerned and I don't wish to kick a dead horse...I'm sorry some can't help themselves
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
on his reponse to the other poster who said "McCain will throw sunder the bus"....that statement made mad...kinda in a way like I can talk about my mother but you better not :-)
You are more than entitled to your icon which best represents your feelings about the GOP without being overt in anyway and Gator needs to just stay away from your posts.....we are not in lockstep with one another (brownshirts) but we all have similar goals a Republican party that is back on track to small government....so lets get to work! (hattip to Neil)
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
No way in heaven, hell or anywhere in between.
We've just barely survived eight years of compassion. I thought I was voting for a guy in 2000 who would hold the line on spending, who would fight for his judicial nominees and who would seek to limit government. What I got was campaign finance reform, Medicare Part D, NCLB minus vouchers, an "all hat no cattle" presentation on Social Security, good judicial nominations with absolutely no support when they were stonewalled by Dems, Harriet Miers, absolutely no leadership from the WH with regards the Rs in Congress and NewTone for Ds who've brought lying to a plateau Josef Goebbles would envy. And then there's amnesty and no fence and enforcement vis employers on a late and limited basis.
We managed to bear Miers and amnesty, belatedly. McCain is no more a friend of conservative principles than GWB. He gets absolutely no honeymoon. Burn me once, shame on me. Burn me twice...
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
what did you think of McCains latest offering...I thought it was sickining...I had to turn down the Radio...not kidding
"The entire leadership should be run through a dull shredder."..mbecker908
Look guys...I don't disagree with either of you where McCain is concerned and you certainly won't hear me trying to coerce anyone into line that has no desire to go there...it's all I can do to tag along at a safe distance....but McCain has nothing to do with this post.
McCain will inevitably give us meat to chew on in the months to come so can you guys keep your powder dry and deal with the subject of my post for now?
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
That anti-moderate and anti-McCain banner says otherwise. The kind of vile, divisive message you are displaying should not be allowed on this site.
For Republicans AND conservatives.
As his banner expresses some current conservative agnst I think it's OK.
paying no attention to anything he says or does.
Right now I just want to - gag - see him get elected. Then we deal with what reality is going to look like. Now it's all fluff and BS.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
McCain has never missed an opportunity to throw his own party - and especially conservatives - under the nearest bus.
For many, if not most of us, the only glimmer of light in '08 is that McCain will prosecute the War to a clear win, he will be marginally better than the Democrat on other issues, and he may nominate better judges.
We've just lived through the biggest expansion and entrenchment of government since FDR & LBJ. I personally hold out no hope that McCain will reverse the trend. He's only marginally better than Huckabee would have been and hopefully some Congressional R's (Pence, Shaddeg, etal) will be able to hold some sort of line on some of the crap McCain seems committed to (AGW & Immigration for two). And BTW, if you believe McCain's crap about "enforcement first", I can get you 100% financing on a great bridge that used to be in London.
Look out Republicans, here comes the Straight Talk Express.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
I point you to the following from the posting rules for this site:
The posting rules for redstate.com are as follows:
# No profanity.
# No personal attacks.
# No harassment or demonization of a particular individual.
# No disruptive behavior or off-topic remarks for their own sake.
Youve managed to hit on 3 out of 4, All you need to do is call me a dirty name and you'll be batting 1000.
I'm sick of the insults...if you don't like me stop commenting on my posts unless you have something intelligent to say!
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
If he did that he'd be ensuring the birth of a third party. Republicans would forever lose my vote. If a viable third party was not founded then America would lose my contribution to society as well as my tax money, because I'd become an expatriot and move to a country that has a political party that still stands for moraland ethical behavior and personal responsibility!!!
But there is no way McCain would do this, because while mistaken on several issues he is a decent human and his loyalty is not for sale (At least I'd like to think not)
are stupid enough to do this. Let me put it this way: do YOU want to be the one heartbeat between Hillary and her lifelong dream of power? <j/k --- mostly...>
But seriously, you don't want your VP sucking all the oxygen from the campaign -- and once elected you really don't want the Hill&Bill show getting all the press.
True-being between Hillary and power is like being between a Bull and Red. Seriously if Bill and Hillary were King and Queen, instead of Pres and 1st lady.....goodbye Billy...All hail Her Majesty.
This isn't a personal attack, it's my reaction to this idea:
I still believe McCain's best VP pick, from a purely pragmatic standpoint (and pragmatism is all we have remaining at this point), is Hillary Clinton.
C'mon, man. Just throwing out wild ideas for the sake of getting people agitated has to be a violation of the thinking rules, if not the posting rules. The reason it's silly is not so much that McCain wouldn't consider it, it's that Hillary would never do it, even if she and Bill were down to their last dollar.
No, I'm sorry there are going to be no amazing bipartisan tickets in this election. Hillary is going to endorse Obama and steer her friends in his direction and negotiate to stay as relevant among the D(s) as she can. She's going to bet on the Democrat propensity for Redemption so that she and Bill can get their money back, keep the close ties they need, and reemerge in 2012.
She would never, ever, ever accept a position on the ticket with John McCain, even if he offered. It would destroy her chances of running in '12.
Now, please allow me to go and barf to handle my gut reaction to that "pragmatic suggestion."
Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.
Even though Tom Toles is drawing cartoons saying that Obama is the "duly chosen" nominee of the party, Hillary still whomped him in terms of the actual popular vote totals. She whomped him to the tune of at least 4-5% according to our own Dan McLaughlin. It has to be astonishing to all of Hillary's supporters that Obama is getting the Royal Road to the nomination despite losing the popular vote contest by such an enormous margin. Even though Hillary and Bill have to be feeling bruised and battered by a Democrat Fourth Estate that turned on them so transparently in this primary contest, she would never, ever risk losing the majority of people who voted for her by switching sides and joining a ticket with McCain.
In the end, Hillary's vote totals will mean that's she wields enormous power in the Democrat party, even though Obama is going to get the Golden Ticket. If she accepted a VP slot with McCain it would be the ultimate loser move because:
1) She'd alienate 90% of the D(s) who voted for her.
2) She'd turn 100% of the D(s) who voted for Obama into an angry mob wielding torches and pitchforks against her and her entire family.
3) She'd lose whatever influence she still has in the Democrat party by openly partnering with a Republican against the Godchild.
So it isn't going to happen. And I was being a little backhanded with McCain here. I honestly don't think he'd consider it either, for similar reasons.
If anyone wanted to see a way that Barack Obama could sleep for the next five months and still win the Presidency, it would be to have Hillary join McCain on the Republican ticket. I mean, that idea is pragmatic only in the sense that keeping the gun fully loaded, cleaned and oiled is the best way to ensure success when you put the barrel in mouth and pull the trigger, not to put too fine a point on it.
Defend Liberty -- Join the NRA | Live in Massachusetts? Join GOAL.
from a Republican that actually knows, remembers, and can articulate what true conservatism is. I can't even begin to imagine the reaction of an electorate that has had it with good 'ol boys politics to such a message of hope and freedom.
Talk about 'change'! This is it in spades. Unfortunately, the GOP leadership is, for the most part, lacking in any semblance of the testicular fortitude needed to actually lead in a bold, fearless way. They have sold their soul, and that of the party, for a mess of short-sighted, expedient, self-aggrandizing porridge.
Such a pity.
"All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
remind me of the Scottish nobles in 'Braveheart'. If you remember the movie, the nobles main concern was keeping their percieved "power" and gain whatever scraps of land the British would give them. While they may have told the Scottish citizens they supported independence and freedom, the truth was they were embarrassed by those that wanted their freedom and sold them out every chance they got. They thought this would keep them in good graces with the British so they could keep receiving whatever scraps the British threw their way. Our party leadership is the same way. They may talk about being conservative when around conservative crowds, but the truth is that in their blue-blood hearts, they are ashamed to be associated with us. They will sell us down the river any chance they get if the libs promise to throw some pork their way or invite them to an occassional DC party. Let's hope there are some William Wallace's out there that are willing to lead.
Jindal in 2012!
Amen, the way to the majority is firmly and strongly to the right, as Pence has known and even the Democratic leadership has known. Pence is a leader who ought to be the minority leader in the House and run for the Senate. Pence is one of the few in the House who I would not throw under the bus along with Shadegg, two of the few conservative House members. Course we all know the chance of McCain picking someone this outspokenly conservative is equal to a snowballs chance in h*ll, possibly smaller. This party isn't my party, all we can do is hold our breath for the next four to eight years while the party shoves Scoop Jackson/Lieberman Democrats down our throats in the name of electability.
The trouble with our friend John McCain isn't that he's ignorant, but that he knows so much that isn't so.
Yeah...Id be surprised if McCain's ego would allow him to pick someone who would out shine him, and he's so sure he's right that his self righteousness wouldn't allow him to admit someone who doesn't think like him could be good for the country!
Here's to hoping I'm wrong...Cheers!
:>)
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
Tom Cole's argument for why he, along with 99 other Republicans, voted to override Bush's veto of the Farm Bill encapsulates the mindset that has pervaded and corrupted the thinking/politicking of Republicans in Congress.
But at the end of the day, we thought getting something done — at least those of my colleagues who voted with me thought getting something done for farm country was extraordinarily important.
In other words, "something" needed to "get done" and they went ahead and did "it", whether or not it was good policy on its own merits was for all intents and purposes, irrelevant.
All they were thinking about were the headlines; "Farm Bill Passed By Grand Bipartisan Coalition." Notwithstanding the fact that the word "Bipartisan" seems to hypnotize and put bovine smiles on the faces of "moderates" and Independents, the "get things done" go-along-to-get-along mentality is a sure loser.
It is what made certain Bob Michel never got to come close to sitting in the Speaker's Chair.
"First you win the argument, then you win the vote." - MARGARET THATCHER.
So let's start winning the argument.
The Republicans in Congress overrode the President's veto because they cannot fight for their principles as a unified group, particularly when economic times are tough and they're in a weakened condition and staring down the barrels of an almost certain trouncing in 2008. A slow economy, skyrocketing fuel prices and an increasingly grim electoral outlook almost guaranteed that they were going to throw huge quantities of money at the farm belt, and so that's what they did. Because the Republican Party has become a bad word in national politics, they've all "rebranded" themselves to try and at least hold on to their constitutents -- there is no "core" left to trump expediency.
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was that Bob Michel never wanted the Speaker's Chair. He was perfectly content being in the minority and our current "leadership" seems to have the same mindset.
Jindal in 2012!
This is something that has bothered me since the day after the 2006 elections....I don't know if it's just me, or if anyone else got the same feeling...but based on statements and the postures of Republicans it was almost like there was a sigh of relief from the Republican Party Leadership after the loss and almost a giddiness at the prospect of being in the minority...almost like they we saying, "Finally the pressure of governing is off our shoulders and we can just go back to being naysayers instead for advocating for our ideas"!
Was it just me, or did anyone else get that feeling?
"A political party cannot be all things to all men."--Ronald Reagan
The GOP has certainly not found it necessary to take the loss very seriously. It's almost as if they've taken on the Dem tactic of hoping things will get so screwed up that they'll be back in leadership by default once the voters get sick enough of it. Which, of course, is a piss-poor example of real leadership.
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the problem is, is that they aren't even naysaying any more. Like I said earlier, they are like the Scottish nobles in 'Braveheart' who were just happy receiving some crumbs every now and then from the British.
Jindal in 2012!
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
that Gator felt the need to attack instead of comment on this piece.
Recommend.
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Just a typical, small town, British-American girl...
that Gator felt the need to attack instead of comment on this piece. Recommend.
... says everything two times.
Did you notice your comment and c17wife's comment are identical? Did you notice your comment and c17wife's comment are identical?
Stop. Hurting. My. Brain.
thanks for pointing that out, Absentee. dangit.
You know... we never see them -at the same time....... -
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I think we were posting at the same time. I don't know about the rest of you, but the site is very sloooowww for me today/tonite. But, it could just be my crappy DSL.
Seriously, just trying to give a brother some love for trying. And, I hadn't read the blog before, and I seriously do think it makes some great points.
Take a Motrin and drink some sweet tea for me. :>)
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Just a typical, small town, British-American girl...
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
It's always nice to be inspired by an outstanding Conservative Patriot.
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An inspiring article, and it is certainly easy to see who can READ and who is too ignorant to read.
worth noting. This was a great diary.
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Just a typical, small town, British-American girl...
An inspiring article, and it is certainly easy to see who can READ and who is too ignorant to read.
The attack of johnny two times ;0)
Founder and contributor to The Minority Report and Editor for The Hinzsight Report
To boil this down for everyone, McCain should choose Rep. Mike Pence as his VP.
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