The nation needs a better GOP - Los Angeles Times »
Posted By deathray 6 months, 2 weeks ago in Political NewsThere are optimists within the Republican Party. They look at the wreckage left behind after last year's elections, and recall 1964. That was the year that Barry Goldwater, the Republican nominee for president, was so badly trounced that pundits proclaimed the GOP dead. But it was also the year that a new breed of conservative activists, myself among them, brought a new energy to the party that eventually reshaped it and led to years of Republican domination of the executive branch.
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deathray
Hm...summarizing a life...Investment banker, sailor, unintentional gourmet cook. Ex US Naval officer, also Foreign Service. Split my time between NYC and Miami Beach ...
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deathray6 months, 2 weeks ago
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FTA:
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"Republicans have to put a leash on attack-dog tactics and engage in a constructive manner to deal with serious problems facing the country."
The operative phrases here are "attack-dog tactics" and "engage in a constructive manner".
Remembering Reagan's approach to winning elections would be a real winner for the GOP...simply rebranding many of the failed policies that were a legacy of the Reagan Administration will not.-
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Bkumm6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Reagan was not the Savior of America any more than President Obama is. But, of course, you're right that if the Republicans go back to the Reagan bait and switch tactics they will start winning elections.
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Reagan didn't win elections by just attacking his enemies. He won by attacking his enemies in such a way that even his enemies liked him for doing it. He was a master at telling someone what they wanted to hear and then making them believe that that was he was going to do all along. -
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DarkWizard6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Good post DR.
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The operative phrases you picked also show a distinct move away from offering any real solutions and just using fear and intimidation tactics to control their flock.
The GOP doesn't offer a better product and instead of fixing the problem they just say how much worse things will be under democrats. When they can move beyond this ploy (which isn't working) they may start to rebuild their party.
I expect that many of the republican/neocon faithful will have plenty to say about this article and our comments, but again, they will offer no solutions...just schoolyard barbs. -
steveleeComment removed: Hard Banned
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mark-stevens6 months, 2 weeks ago
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The GOP'S have an attitude problem that doesn't fit anything. I have called several times the National Republican Committee telling them to go after the lack of immigration control. 85% of America wants it controlled, something the Democrats openly do not want to do.
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It seems the Republicans aren't trying to fix it either
A ****** off Democrat!! -
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gamahuche6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Sorry to be late getting here. Time zones and suchlike..
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And great to see you making a long-delayed and awaited public foray DR!
My old bones had been telling me for the last couple of days that something was in the wind!
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The least election was a foregone conclusion - I was recommending the bookies with the best odds on Obama from Day 1..
The only person he had to beat was Hillary.
McCain NEVER looked like a serious candidate, never seemed to have his heart in it, made a lunatic choice for a running-mate and then hoped that the pretend plumber would fix all the leaks.
And the Republican strategy now - drinking the dregs from the bottom of their cups at their "tea-parties"..
It will take a VERY different Republican party to win an election..
Perhaps if they passed out a few joints maybe they'd get a little more traction.
A very BIG maybe though - they'd probably try to get away with using rope-hemp.
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Bkumm6 months, 2 weeks ago
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In many ways, I'm offended that the Republican Party has lost its way. It has become a Party dominated by its own fringe of social conservatives, Luddites and Burke style reactionaries, rather than a Party that supports a very American style of opportunism. Despite the damage that it causes if unchecked, we need that kind of push. It is damaging to the nation, in the long run, to let one Party dominate the political landscape in such a way as to fundamentally change the very nature of the American Republic.
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In many ways, that is what has happened since 1968. The Republicans have dominated the Executive and, by doing so, have changed the very nature of the Republic. This Party, once devoted to an ideal of the past leading to a better future through opportunity, has instead become mired in the idea that he past is as good as it gets. They long to return to Reagan, without understanding that Reagan caused (or exacerbated) many of the problems we now face. They long to return to the "Contract With America" and the condescending smugness of Newt Gingrich, without contemplating the damage that he caused.
We need the Republican Party. Not the GOP, but a Party that remembers the ideals for which they fought so long. The Democrats, if left unchecked, will also fundamentally change the Republic and as we've seen over the last forty years, that may not necessarily be a good thing. -
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TheRealizer6 months, 2 weeks ago
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I am not ready to blame one party or the other for the malise that now grips the country. It has been the result of self serving elected officials of both parties. Tax breaks for outsourcing and offshoring, trade agreements WITHOUT a level playing field. All of these things have resulted in the destruction of the life blood of the nation, the Industrial-Manufacturing base which allowed us to be an EXPORTING nation and the worlds economic giant.
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deathray6 months, 2 weeks ago
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I think it's very important that industry development drives financial development, rather than vice versa...we have found that when things go as they have for the last 20 years, the us economy experiences a series of boom and bust bubble cycles.
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sinophil496 months, 2 weeks ago
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America WAS the exporting titan of the world for decades until the early 20th century when the Trading With the Enemy Act and the Smoot-Hawley Act caused a decline of US exports. This decline was one of the causes of the Great Depression. US exports picked up again after WWII and we were the undisputed export champion once again.
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However, since the 1980's we have had an ever increasing trade deficit every year. The industrial base of many other countries improved, while ours declined. Oil obviously plays a major role in our trade imbalance
I do not know where the greater blame lies - Our short-sighted industries that seek short term profit gains, while ignoring long term improvement thru research and development and increased capital expenditures for modern equipment. Our auto manufacturers that fight every piece of legislation to improve fleet gas milage. Our financial industry that overvalue mortgages and over-leverage their companies.
Or our politicians for selling their collective souls to lobbyists and industry bribery.
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CRYMTYPHON6 months, 2 weeks ago
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It is an excellent article.
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It is a reasonable article.
And that is the problem.
The Republican core regards 'reasonableness'
as weakness.
Strength is in anger ,
in absolutes of them and us ,
in total disbelief that any fact
of science, history or politics is
true, - if it shouldn't be true.
Reason is compromise;
and as Cheney and Rush would say,
compromise is defeat.
The coherence of the current Republican
core is based on a 'never turn back' attitude;
appeals to re-examination are betrayal.
If every victory has the seed of its own destruction,
so also do most defeats have some lesson to provides
the way out.
- but in the last 8 years, the Republican party may have been
reduced to a 'base' that can not change; can not adapt .
in which case, nature must fill the empty niche with a new
animal.
Probably not by 2012 though.-
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DarkWizard6 months, 2 weeks ago
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CRYMTYPHON,
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You have stated, very elegantly I might add, the state of the GOP.
Their inability to grasp their situation and "adapt," as you stated, is of great concern and frustration. I would love to see them recapture the ideology of small government, controlled spending, and other true conservative philosophies. But, instead, they have become the lunatic yelling at the wall that, "We just don't get it!" And, yet, it is they who don't "get it."
This is why I have resorted to calling them the "caveman crowd." Until they understand that politics works like business (supply and demand) they won't acknowledge the fact that they no longer offer a product or service the majority of the American public wants to buy.
If the republican party refuses to step up to the plate, then it is up to a progressive party or some other party to make a run at becoming the checks and balances to the democratic ideologues.
This is not a statement AGAINST the democratic platform or FOR the republican platform, but rather holding to the business concept that competition breeds a better product. Also, loosing the ability to vote for the lesser of two evils leaves us with only one evil (if you subscribe to that thinking).
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quicksilver06026 months, 2 weeks ago
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While reading this article, I'm reminded how unfortunate it is when any entity with a degree of power, begins to take itself too seriously...it's as if the GOP has digested all its press from their Glory Days and now in turn, operates on a level of blindly misguided notions fueled by a tremendous sense of entitlement.
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Dear GOP - may I suggest it is NOW the time you begin believing your own press.
Great post, DR!-
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Beau78906 months, 2 weeks ago
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While the Republicans were redefining and refining their brand in the '80s, they became very skilled at the art of manipulating the debate in order to spread their message. As a whole generation of Americans were exposed to the way the GOP controlled the discussion, the majority of Republicans became used to people following the narrative the way they wanted to tell it.
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At this point, they're frustrated that their tactics have lost effectiveness, and haven't yet figured out that it's not the aggressiveness of the tactics that count, it's the underlying message behind them. The majority rejected that message some time ago, so now the Republicans are left with...empty rhetoric.
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fiftynine6 months, 2 weeks ago
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I think what you see on propeller is a very good indication of the "republican " party today.Sore losers that would resort to overthrowing the government to have their way.
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I have never been happy when my party loses an election but i have always looked at it as the American process at work.After two elections,one of which could be argued was stolen from Americans,were campaigns that were not about problems or policys but about personal attacks.
The rove/cheney style did nothing to help the country but changed the landscape of the election process for the worse by dividing a nation along false ideology that they promoted.Ideology that wasn't even close to what the republican party used to stand for.
When the current party said it was un American to stand against a war of preemption,and that people like myself(that are American war veterans that served honorably)were terrorist sympathizers.When people were arrested for PEACEFUL protest and for wearing T-shirts of the opposition i knew that the republican party as i knew it was dead.
I do agree that we need a viable party(s) so we can keep our checks and balances,but those party's have to represent Americans and our core beliefs.
AS an American and as a democrat i truly hope that the real republican party finds it's way back.We need good ideas from both partys for our country to regain the stature we once had. -
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tadair9196 months, 2 weeks ago
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To all of you squaking about the GOP like giddy children eating cold icecream on a hot summer day:
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I fervently warn you all what got us here. It was mindlessly towing the party line. Doing whatever the executive branch wanted under the guise of Republicanism. It was the teamthink mentality that allowed us to be hearded in this direction. Whatever you say, Mr. President. Yessir.
You have been warned.-
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Will13136 months, 2 weeks ago
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It was mindlessly towing the party line. Doing whatever the executive branch wanted under the guise of Republicanism. It was the teamthink mentality that allowed us to be hearded in this direction. Whatever you say, Mr. President. Yessir.
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Almost verbatim.. what I told my congressman when he ask why I wasn't raising funds and putting up signs for him in 2004..... He had planted his lips so firmly on Bush's ass. my mistake was telling while offshore fishing ON HIS BOAT..
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cowboygrandpa6 months, 2 weeks ago
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FTA
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"Today, the Republican belief system has degenerated into an embarrassing hodgepodge that worships political victory more than ideas; supports massive deficits; plunges the nation into "just-in-case" wars without adequate troops, supplies or armor; dismisses constitutional strictures; and campaigns on a platform of turning national problem-solving over to "Joe the Plumber." It's hard to see how all that points the way to a reawakening of voters to trust in the GOP.
This may suggest, of course, that the party should just toss in the towel, accept its designated role as the Whigs of the 21st century and leave governance to its betters. But American freedom depends on power checking power. If Democrats control the legislative and executive branches without meaningful opposition, the country will be the weaker for it. Some of President Obama's initiatives would dramatically shift the boundaries between public and private, reshape the relationship between citizens and government and alter the lens through which America views its international commitments. These are serious matters and deserve serious, and constructive, engagement.
Merely attacking administration proposals and labeling Obama a "socialist" will only ensure that instead of rebounding, as the GOP did in 1968, the party will slip even further into irrelevance. And that will not be good for America."
The GOP must let go of the Reagan lie and realize they caused a lot of damage with their bull crap trickle down economics. They must admit that "Tricky Dick Nixon" and the ones who followed him were out of touch with what America needed.
To blindly continue following the path they are on is to walk off the cliff and wave goodbye to America.
We need a strong two party system. One to balance the other.
Without that we will have a one ruling party system, like Communism or Fascism, the very thing we don't want.
We need to right this country soon. Tax breaks for outsourcing, shipping work overseas to reap up front profits while weakening and destroying our manufacturing capacities is a double blast of economic and human waste.
To rebuild America we must invest in America and make her strong again, not allow our leaders to sell us out to foreign markets for the short term profits. -
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beavith16 months, 2 weeks ago
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skyking2p6 months, 2 weeks ago
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one could get past that by not listening to Rush oxycottnballs and try and come up with you OWN talking points. We are ALL Americans here. No one is trying to destroy America. Obama seems to be a family man who loves his wife and kids and has lots of friends. Why would he want to destroy his country? Yet I read that every day here.
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deathray6 months, 2 weeks ago
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i believe there IS a lot of pent up rage from the deocratic (sp) ii that's funny, anf yeah. i realize it was a typo) voter over the last 8+ years...
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i was hoping to elicit some thoughtful responses from the more conservative leaning posters on this thread, regarding party affiliation, issue identification, room for compromise, and i guess, whether or not there is agreement with the writer of the oped that there must be room for compromise, and adaptation. Where would you agree to change the platform of the GOP these days? -
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Bkumm6 months, 2 weeks ago
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For nearly thirty years now the Democratic Party (and Democrats in general) have had to listen to Republican (that is Neo-Conservatives) mouthpieces describe us as "traitors", "socialists", "communists" and "anti-American". We've had to listen to self-described "entertainers" run us down and misuse the name of our proud Party, calling us the Democrat Party in defiance of both convention and good English. We've had to tolerate being called "weak on terror", "weak on defense" and "against what America stands for". We've been the targets of investigations, political malfeasance, lies, slander, libel and mud slinging dirty tricks for more than a generation. Yeah, we're pretty ******. Can you blame us?
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But, that's not really the point. The point is that it isn't the Republican Party that caused all of that. But, the Republican Party allowed it to happen because some people in the Party were so disgusted with the failures of the Democrats that they decided that ANYTHING would be better. Obviously, they were wrong. It is time and past time for the true Republicans to take back their Party from the douchebag wing of the Party and reclaim their former glory as the protectors of the American ideal of the present generation making it better for the next generation. We'll take care of the crap that happens along the way. You guys push us to make sure that we don't neglect the future. Should work just fine. -
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DarkWizard6 months, 2 weeks ago
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"There's a lot of rage in your average deocratic propeller poster. How does one get past that?"
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Your question, while being honest, illustrates the very dilemma you ponder. You address the average democrat on propeller, but not the average republican that incites that "rage."
When it stops becoming and us v. them game, and some respect and compromise is truly examined, the dialogue may change to one that shows mutual respect. Unfortunately, the majority of republicans, at least here on propeller, have shown nothing but disdain for democratic philosophies, democratic politicians, and for Obama. Much of this has been going on during the whole of 2008 as elections were upon us.
Until I see the "conservatives," or whatever you want to call yourselves, move away from talking down to democrats and acting as if you have inherited a position of superiority through divine intervention, you will be at odds. -
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Radiofreeeuropa6 months, 2 weeks ago
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beavith, your often humorous, candid and reasonable remarks are hardly the norm here either my friend. But it seems all reasonable people feel the same way, that to proceed from here we need the best ideas from everyone. We must learn that history reveals neither of these parties is entirely good or entirely bad...and America needs as much political plurality as it can get.
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I just think the GOP let it's least intelligent, most obvious bloviators seize control of their agenda. -
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CaptainLucid6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Why the rage? Because most democrats truly love their country.And W not only destroyed so much but he did it with such arrogance that it transcended from "we want to drill for oil but we will try to respect the environment to "we will destroy and pollute this environment as a matter of principle"
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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donald516 months, 2 weeks ago
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Declare the repugs what they are and throw all of them in jail as a terrorist party - torture, preemptive war, eavesdropping on Americans, want to seccede, want a revolution, want their assault weapons with no control over who buys them, want to throw out habeas corpus, Gitmop/Abu Ghraib, let 911 happen, don't give a darn about collateral damage in war.... and they look at all their Watergate, Iran Contra and Plamegate convicted fellons as heros - they are un-American terrorists in America!
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Until there is justice for the damage the repugs have done, we true Americans will continue to be upset!!!!!!!
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tehranchik6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Very telling comment from the article.
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"Today, the Republican belief system has degenerated into an embarrassing hodgepodge that worships political victory more than ideas; supports massive deficits; plunges the nation into "just-in-case" wars without adequate troops, supplies or armor; dismisses constitutional strictures; and campaigns on a platform of turning national problem-solving over to "Joe the Plumber." It's hard to see how all that points the way to a reawakening of voters to trust in the GOP."
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If republicans could just get back to being republicans........
These men that ruled our country and much of the world over the last several years aren't republicans. They are a new breed of greedy, megalomaniac, power mongering, blind men.
Under the guise of 'keeping us safe', they have torn our country and all it stands for, to shreds. They've made their billions and gone home. They've divided the left from the right, the have's from the have not's, the religious from the non religious so deeply that it will take a miracle to ever bring any unity back to the people.
A better GOP? I say bring back the REAL GOP.-
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sinophil496 months, 2 weeks ago
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tehranchik - Thanks for reminding us about Joe the Plumber. I am perplexed and bemused how the Republicans allowed him or made him into a national spokesman for their party, alongside Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Coulter, et al.
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I am astounded that such a negative and polarizing figure like Cheney still spouts off such venom and vituperation. Doesn't he know when to shut up? Doesn't he know he is actually harming his beloved GOP far worse than he is inspiring their ever-shrinking population base?
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cloud156 months, 2 weeks ago
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The most important aspect of our government is the opposition to power. Without a strong opposition the nation becomes too single minded. We start going down a road that veers to far away from what is good for us.
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I have been seeing people celebrating the downfall of the Republican Party. But I can't help but think, why? The loss of credibility for either Republican or Democrat is a travesty for all of us. Its something we should be upset with, not happy with. What we need is not for Republicans to fall apart, but rather we need the GOP to regain its strength. Maybe not with the same values as the past 8 years, but maybe with a return to what they used to stand far. Maybe with a better seperation of church and state.-
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cushi6 months, 2 weeks ago
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As strongly as I disapprove of the way the GOP has comported itself over the last 8 years and continuing to this day, I have never wished for the demise of the party. I have, however, pointed out on numerous occasions that the party is dying because of it's own stiff necked, arrogant attitude! I take no pleasure in seeing such a potentially powerful and much needed arm of American politics bite the dust, but as surely as I've said it before, I'll say it again, unless the party reclaims its sanity and moves to regain a measure of the respect it once held, it is going to go the way of the dinosaurs.
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Bkumm6 months, 2 weeks ago
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The GOP of today has a fundamental problem that has nothing to do with their political platform. Their leaders are either moderates with no spine (McCain, Specter, Steele) or demagogues with bankrupt ideals (Palin, Joe (the Plumber), Hannity, Rush, O'Reilly). I'm not sure which group is harder on a political party, but I have my suspicions. When Rush can make the leader of the Republican Party back down there is an issue. Rush Limbaugh is a self-described "entertainer". As such his smack is just that, smack. He can't run for office and he knows it. Worse, he won't try. But, he'll sit on the outside and take pot shots at those that do have the courage of their convictions (Al Franken) to do so. Hannity and O'Reilly are similar. If they are so sure that they know what the American people want and need, then they should run for office. They won't and they can't and they know it. When Republicans start to ask themselves why their "intellectual leaders" can't and won't run for office, it will be the first in a long series of steps back to the Republican center.
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They've got a long way to go, baby.
But, we Democrats need to keep our eyes open. We can not allow the fringe groups in our Party (always a much bigger tent) to drive the agenda. We must also be a Party of the center. Our center can be left of, but it still must be the center. We must also temper our enthusiasm with reason. They (the Neo-Conservative wing of the GOP) tried to do too much too quickly while ignoring the American ideal. We must be careful not to do the same.-
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steveleeComment removed: Hard Banned
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CRYMTYPHON6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Moderates = no spine?
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McCain, Specter, and Steele?
Those are good men;
not spineless at all.
They are politicians ,
- and make compromises that we mere posters don't have to make.
To be a 'moderate' in a party of idealogy creates the paradox
that one must have more 'spine' than the hard-liners.
Moderation is for those who question themselves;
in other words, the grownups . -
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Bkumm6 months, 2 weeks ago
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On another note, I would strongly encourage people like Wolfie and pc25 to join the discussion. I'd be interested to hear their take on things. Where, oh, where is FSUgrad95 when you need him? LOL>>> Heck, or Masked Protester? I'd even take AlphaLuvmyhypocrit back just for this thread.
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simonsez6 months, 2 weeks ago
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I'll add my 2 cents ...
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Much of Obama's support came from individuals who weren't even alive when Nixon and Reagan were Presidents.
This last election was a personality contest, plus outrage against an unpopular war. Then it spun into the abyss of the housing crisis, which was both parties fault, at the worst possible time.
When things subside, somewhat, the dialogue will return to ideas and like it or not, most Americans are conservative in their thinking toward the extent of government we want in our lives.
My new photo is the county map of the last election and it is primarily red. Conservatism is not dead ... it does need better leadership than it has had lately, but that will come from somewhere.
The rumor of our death may be exagerated ...-
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Radiofreeeuropa6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Simon, the map that has a lot of red is simply places where very few people live. If you look at a chart based on population rather than simple land mass...it's quite a different story. The primary problem is the record...what was actually done during the Republican powered era was observably very bad for the nation at large. And your right demographically those who were alive during Nixon and even Reagan are and will continue to be a smaller and smaller segment of voters and that is the problem for the GOP not being addressed. Their message and actions do not appeal to younger voters. Now this is primarily because the loony fringe got a hold on the party (and the neo-con imperialists). What I'm getting at is that Burke style conservatism has a legitimate seat at the table...whatever this other nonsense is called that has been tauted as conservatism has no place in any American future. And as much as I have opposed recent republican ideologues, I no more want to see conservatives disappear than I would want the president to fail...we need more plurality not less.
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DenCuddy6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Don't worry Simon, I have plenty to say when needed. I'm simply reading a well discussed thread, taking in different points of view with surprisingly few taunts or the usual nastiness. It's truly refreshing. I voted you down due to the redistribution of wealth and intrusive politics you describe the dems of having, while I've watched it for the last 8 years.
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Spadecaller6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Interesting article, DR.
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"i was hoping to elicit some thoughtful responses from the more conservative leaning posters on this thread, regarding party affiliation, issue identification, room for compromise, and i guess, whether or not there is agreement with the writer of the oped ..."
A most optimistic sentiment - DR
Rarely do the members from the ultra conservative ranks on Propeller respond to the substance of these articles. At best, the replies are usually attempts to compare how the shortcomings of their own party and players are equal to or not as bad as the aspects the Democrats.
Simonez's response is typical. His first statement attempts to dismiss the meaningfulness of Obama's election - that it came as the result of the ignorant youth lacking in historical awareness. Not even a worthwhile hypothesis to debate...
Then he goes on to add that it was not principles that people voted for or against but personality.
Of course that dismisses all the people in the nation who were opposed to the Republican's platform and who supported Obama's ideas.
And tpical of the denial that most conservatives (not all) demonstrate is their belief that the over "exaggerated" decline of their party is cyclical and that it will just pass like a bad storm. Of course, that questionable theory is easily debatable and certainly far from what the polls show to be the case. (Regarding issues and their support)
But when it comes to discussing the issues that have driven so many Republicans away from the party, Simonez does what most hardcore Republicans do; they deny the issues that are driving voters away, such as gay rights, torture, Iraq war, health care, etc...
When I have talked to some of my mainstream centrist conservative friends (believe it or not, I do have a few...) they admit that what has turned them off the most is that the party has failed to reflect their views, because they have chosen to represent the most extreme and vocal right wing fringes of their base.
The evangelicals and extreme right wing conservatives are their most energized participants, but their views are not compatible with centrist conservatives or independents. This is probably because their are basic conflicts within the conservative movement.
Currently the GOP has proven to be a party of means and not values. Whatever means they can use to win elections -- to put down Democrats, and to gain or preserve power becomes their justification for all kinds of poor conduct that turns off most Americans.
Americans have become more intolerant to dirty trick and dirty campaigns. -
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Spadecaller6 months, 2 weeks ago
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It was not factual; you took one aspect and left out all the others. It is that kind of "fact" that is annoying to read. It's spin. I am not the only one that was opposed to the GOP platform and that voted for the platform of the Democrats.
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It is indigenous,misleading, and inaccurate to pigeon hole "much of Obama's stupor..." That's your take and quite bias. Then to characterize it as fact, is absurd.
Also your previous comments and predictions before the last two elections were totally wrong. Considering the current exodus from the GOP, you should avoid making predictions about the GOP's rosy outlook for the next election. That is just plain old rah rah barrom bs.
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TimALoftis6 months, 2 weeks ago
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If the Republican Party becomes to weak or small it will begin to hurt the Democratic Party and inevitability the Country as well. The Nation needs at least a good viable two party system...if the Republicans become to weak it will only create a opportunity for the Democrats to 'Over Reach' with out any risk of serious or immediate backlash. A weak Republican Party could also cause the Democrats to become very complacent.
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donald516 months, 2 weeks ago
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Tim, at least the media and Dem greater transparency will not let the Dems get away with what Dumya and his secrecy did!
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Publish the Cheney Energy Meeeting MInutes so we can have more proof that Cheney is guilty of war crimes for his war of choice!
America will never get back its respect , nor its leadership as the world's premier democracy, until justice for all the Bush crimes is metted out!
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donald516 months, 2 weeks ago
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The repugs gave us the two worst Depressions in our history and is the only party to try impeachment of a president (with bogus reasons in both cases) ... and you want them back?
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Anything is better than another Repug Party that has lied to us continually since Newt's Contract With America! -
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rimbaud6 months, 2 weeks ago
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People are reluctant to identify themseleves as Republicans for the same reasons as they are reluctant to identify themselves as Christians: they don't want to be seen as supporting such notions as the "earth is only 6,000 years old, Intelligent Design is science, the Grand Canyon is evidence of the Great Flood, the USA is a Christian nation, only Christians can be good Americans..."
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http://happyriches.blogspot.com/2009/04/ten-signs-... -
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lovemylibs6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Leadership and ideas are what will bring people back to the GOP. There is just too much that is good about conservativism for it to fail. The problem has been that conservativism was not followed by the party that claims it.
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The leaders of the GOP since Reagan have been poor. George H.W. Bush was a good soldier but not much of a leader. Newt could have been the man but became caught up in politics of personality and forgot about the brilliance that he once had. McConnell is too socially conservative to draw people to the party he leads. As a leader, he is deficient in most qualities that a true leader must have. Michael Steele has promise but must be allowed to function.
The next party leader should be a true fiscal conservative and, just as importantly, at least a moderate on social issues. America has changed and the GOP has changed. But they are moving in opposite directions. It's all about fiscal roots and social flowering.-
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donald516 months, 2 weeks ago
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love, H a good soldier? A good soldier is not a pilot that kills from afar, never having to look his enemy in the eye. Then, his little, preemptive war against Noriega.... killing an unknown number of Panamanian innocents.
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Love. you obviously not only fail in having any values, but also in your knowledge and intepretation of history! More revisionist, wrong history from you, Love! -
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deathray6 months, 2 weeks ago
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how can you be a social moderate (or liberal) and a fiscal conservative at the same time? who pays for the education programs, the food stamps, the inner city development programs, the sex education, etc, ad nauseum?
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that sounds like a pat answer, but once you get under the skin of that question, it becomes at least an order of magnitude more complicated. -
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lovemylibs6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Sorry, DR. The neggers are out in force which limits my desire to have a serious discussion with you about the particulars. Rest assured it is not a pat answer I offered above. It was rooted in my beliefs that there is too much spending in the Republican party and not enough empathy on social issues. It's more about human morality than religion for me, which shapes my definition of fiscal conservativism / social moderacy.
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alakazam6 months, 2 weeks ago
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I have been thinking of the things that attracted me to the GOP when I was younger.
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Bear in mind that these things may not have actually been the position of Republicans at the time but they were my Perception of what the GOP stood for.
1. Small Government- The idea that the Government should be only as large as absolutely necessary to do it's job.
2. Individual Liberty- Unless someone is infringing on the rights of another they should be left to do as they please.
3. Strong Defense- in the sense of strong military protectionism...not necessarily isolationism but far removed from militant adventurism.
Anyone could effectively argue that those three points were belied in terms of action. That's not my point. The point is the Party claimed high ideals even though it often failed in living up to them.
Look at the GOP today.
1. Massive deficit spending and increase in the size of the Federal Government.
2. Illegal searches and wiretaps, the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, Removal of Habeas Corpus.
3. Promoting a foreign War for corporate profit by deliberate disinformation, absolutely rampant waste in the prosecution of that War, the constant application of pressure to open even more foreign fronts.
This is not the GOP ...at least not the one it was 30 years ago. Again...bear in mind that I am not talking about the actions of a few...I am talking about the Party as a whole.
I don't think just giving high ideals lip service is gonna cut it at his point. The GOP has become an Orwellian monster and I don't think people are gonna just jump right back in the belly of the beast.
I think the only hope for the GOP is for the moderates to reject the extremists...run them out of the party and get in touch with their constituency...the actual people they represent. I am not talking about analyzing polls but getting out and talking to people. The ones running the show now are completely disinterested in what the People want and are not likely to change. There needs to be a grassroots reconstruction of the Party.
That happens and you will see a genuinely Conservative Republican Party again.
I would really like to see it myself. -
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frctm56 months, 2 weeks ago
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There is an odd paradox with having Republicans in government where their job is to hate government and get it out of peoples lives. Therefore, a Republican using government to help people is not consistent with their philosophy. They join government to destroy it.
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Icantwait6 months, 2 weeks ago
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My Fellow Americans: Radical Democrats are the worse kind and are destine to destroy this country. I read all this hate monger material about Bush, Cheney, far right, neo con, etc. These people don't really understand the foundation of American. The Government isn't responsible for supporting each and every individual. That is the responsibility of each and every single American citizen. The Tax Payer Piggy Bank is for taking care of certain American essentials. It is not intended for people who invade our country, refuse to participate in the work force, or pretend by defying Constitutional process they are owed a living. We need a strong Defense, a strong work force, and strong Patriots. We need people who love this Country and all it has stood for, not cry babies, that whine about every stupid element of life. It's not the fault of Bush, or Kennedy, or Roosevelt, or even Lincoln it's the responsibility of every American to make it better. Get off your TV Butts and get involved in the procedures that made our Country the greatest in the World. Get rid of Government control of our Lives and make a difference. The answer is not the present Administration that wants to level the playing field because playing fields are never level. Every Country has those that excel in Power, Prosperity, and Intelligence you can't punish hard work and ingenuity for the few that are weak and lazy. Maybe we should kill off the ones that don't produce that way we would not have to spend our money on dead wood. Maybe that day is coming. Time to execute those spending our money that are housed in jails, cut off benefits to the Welfare tribes, ship out the Illegals, and time to replace our Politicians. Time to clean sweep our Country and start over with a new breed of hard working, honest, morally strong Americans. The Real American
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gamahuche6 months, 2 weeks ago
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Congrats, my good man!
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You have managed to encapsulate the new Nazi ideology perfectly - for those who like their bitter medicine in large capsules - and produced one of the most gutter-snip posts ever on propeller - well lets say during the last 2 years 8 months that I have had the honour of being a member.
"Time to execute those spending our money that are housed in jails"
This is a particularly Hitlerian concept - especially if you extend the definintion to Jews, Commies and money-lenders..
You seem to have forgotten that bit of the screed.
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