I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.
But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).
I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.
But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).
Arlen Specter was clearly a Democrat in disguise.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
I think the Republican Party is in some trouble, certainly, and there are some worrisome long-term trends. On the other hand, it is normal for the party that does not hold the White House to pick up seats in the interim elections, so we will probably see some sort-term gains in 2010. I don't hold out much hope for them in the 2012 presidential elections, but then again that's a political lifetime away. We shall see.
But on balance I fear the Republicans are pandering to trends that will hurt them in the long run. I really, really want them to re-grow their moderate wing (you know, the group currently dismissed as RINOs).
What is going to happen is that people are going to start feeling betrayed and disgusted with Democrats for botching everything even worse than the Republicans botched things.
THEN
In order to win increasingly conservative or just plain angry districts, Democrats are going to give in to xenophobic trends and other populist stuff - all while looking weak and losing anyway. Hispanics ae goping to increase their Republican numbers, put off by the populist drivel and you won't think that the trend looks as dangerous. The GOP will then solidify its sway over religious or conservative hispanics to a greater extent and come in for a win in 2012. The demographics will change.
The GOP is inclusive to all except blacks really. They are the only demographic group that is practically shut out to the Elephant. Hopefully as black cultural leaders start to wake up and stop poisoning the wells, nroads can be made to a greater extent.
Fingers crossed.
Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 09-03-2009 at 03:40.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
He says my call for right-of-center organizations to stop supporting WND's conspiracy peddling is "bullying tactics".
He says he has never heard of me.
He says that WND didn't say they were "concentration camps"; they just said that the legislation "appears designed to create the type of detention center" that people "fear" could be used as "concentration camps for political dissidents, such as occurred in Nazi Germany." He calls this "nuanced".
He claims I have called "for an all-out jihad against WND."
He says, "Am I scared? No, folks. I'm not." and says he's just standing up for "truth".
In The Washington Times, Farah "questioned Mr. Henke's motives and standing", arguing that The Next Right is "pretty much a Republican establishment group who has worked for the RNC and the Republican Party and I can certainly understand why a group like that would have problems with World Net Daily." He added "these are not journalists, they are political activists who have their own agendas."
So, he's taking the "you can't handle the truth!" approach so beloved by true believers and conspiracy theorists. He also seems to think I'm part of the "Republican establishment" and aligned with the RNC. This is an interesting argument, considering the fact that I'm trying to get the RNC to stop working with Joseph Farah.
I find myself in complete and utter agreement with Newt Gingrich:
VAN SUSTEREN: All right, the 23rd congressional district in New York -- you're getting heat from Glenn Beck and others because you have endorsed the Republican candidate, and many Republicans, like Tim Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin -- Governor Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey -- they've all endorsed the independent, and you're getting heat.
GINGRICH: Sure.
VAN SUSTEREN: And?
GINGRICH: Well, I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don't like the outcome.
There were four Republican meetings. In all four meetings, State Representative Dede Scozzafava came in first. In all four meetings, Mr. Hoffman, the independent, came in either last or certainly not in the top three. He doesn't live in the district. Dede Scozzafava...
VAN SUSTEREN: He doesn't live in the district?
GINGRICH: No, he lives outside of the district. Dede Scozzafava is endorsed by the National Rifle Association for her 2nd Amendment position, has signed the no tax increase pledge, voted against the Democratic governor's big-spending budget, is against the cap-and-trade tax increase on energy, is against the Obama health plan, and will vote for John Boehner, rather than Nancy Pelosi, to be Speaker.
Now, that's adequately conservative in an upstate New York district. And on other issues, she's about where the former Republican, McHugh, was. So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so. And I don't think it's a good precedent. And I think if this third party candidate takes away just enough votes to elect the Democrat, then we will have strengthened Nancy Pelosi by the divisiveness. We will not have strengthened the conservative movement.
VAN SUSTEREN: What is it that they have identified as why they think the independent candidate...
GINGRICH: Well, there's no question, on social policy, she's a liberal Republican.
VAN SUSTEREN: On such as abortion?
GINGRICH: On such as abortion, gay marriage, which means that she's about where Rudy Giuliani was when he became mayor. And yet Rudy Giuliani was a great mayor. And so this idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent -- that guarantees Obama's reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.
I find myself in complete and utter agreement with Newt Gingrich:
VAN SUSTEREN: All right, the 23rd congressional district in New York -- you're getting heat from Glenn Beck and others because you have endorsed the Republican candidate, and many Republicans, like Tim Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin -- Governor Pawlenty, former governor Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Dick Armey -- they've all endorsed the independent, and you're getting heat.
GINGRICH: Sure.
VAN SUSTEREN: And?
GINGRICH: Well, I just find it fascinating that my many friends who claim to be against Washington having too much power, they claim to be in favor of the 10th Amendment giving states back their rights, they claim to favor local control and local authority, now they suddenly get local control and local authority in upstate New York, they don't like the outcome.
There were four Republican meetings. In all four meetings, State Representative Dede Scozzafava came in first. In all four meetings, Mr. Hoffman, the independent, came in either last or certainly not in the top three. He doesn't live in the district. Dede Scozzafava...
VAN SUSTEREN: He doesn't live in the district?
GINGRICH: No, he lives outside of the district. Dede Scozzafava is endorsed by the National Rifle Association for her 2nd Amendment position, has signed the no tax increase pledge, voted against the Democratic governor's big-spending budget, is against the cap-and-trade tax increase on energy, is against the Obama health plan, and will vote for John Boehner, rather than Nancy Pelosi, to be Speaker.
Now, that's adequately conservative in an upstate New York district. And on other issues, she's about where the former Republican, McHugh, was. So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so. And I don't think it's a good precedent. And I think if this third party candidate takes away just enough votes to elect the Democrat, then we will have strengthened Nancy Pelosi by the divisiveness. We will not have strengthened the conservative movement.
VAN SUSTEREN: What is it that they have identified as why they think the independent candidate...
GINGRICH: Well, there's no question, on social policy, she's a liberal Republican.
VAN SUSTEREN: On such as abortion?
GINGRICH: On such as abortion, gay marriage, which means that she's about where Rudy Giuliani was when he became mayor. And yet Rudy Giuliani was a great mayor. And so this idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent -- that guarantees Obama's reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.
Well Gingrich is an idiot. The 'Republican' candidate dropped out (since she was last in the polls) and endorsed the Democratic candidate.
This is the same candidate who wouldn't sign the tax pledge at first, supported card-check (IE Union thug handout legislation), and wouldn't commit to running as a republican in the next election. Years and years of doing whatever it took to get reelected instead of giving a damn about passing GOP platform legislation lead the GOP to where they are now.
CR
Ja Mata, Tosa.
The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail; its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storm may enter; the rain may enter; but the King of England cannot enter – all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement! - William Pitt the Elder
Well Gingrich is an idiot. The 'Republican' candidate dropped out (since she was last in the polls)
Well one would find oneself last in the polls if under fire from one's own party.
Good development though. Let the GOP alienate the centre by purging the party from moderates and putting hardliners in their place.
Palin / Plumber for president 2012!
Anything unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Texan by birth, woodpecker by the grace of God
I would be the voice of your conscience if you had one -Brenus
Bt why woulf we uy lsn'y Staraft - Fragony
Not everything blue and underlined is a link
Dems picked up a Congressional seat guys, this must mean that the GOP is shrinking.
What does the fact that a Conservative candidate polled over 45% against the democrat's 49% tell you about that race? Wikipedia doesn't even have Hoffman's picture up.
I'm OK with Republicans losing races, just as long as Conservatives can make a strong showing. I'm registered in that guys party up here.
Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 11-04-2009 at 14:01.
"That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
-Eric "George Orwell" Blair
"If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
(Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Re: A Problem of Shrinkage
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Originally Posted by Lemur
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