I like Peggy Noonan. She is a sincere and down to earth Irish girl with talent. And I have disagreed with her on more than one occasion. Today, she laments the state of the Republican Party and I concur with the main thrust of her piece in the Wall Street Journal. Some points I don’t totally agree with and there are things she could have said and did not. Perhaps she was pressed for time as I am and they did not make it in for the deadline.
What happens to the Republicans in 2008 will likely be dictated by what didn’t happen in 2005, and ‘06, and ‘07. The moment when the party could have broken, on principle, with the administration – over the thinking behind and the carrying out of the war, over immigration, spending and the size of government – has passed. What two years ago would have been honorable and wise will now look craven. They’re stuck.
Mr. Bush has squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years. But so has the party, and so have its leaders. If they had pushed away for serious reasons, they could have separated the party’s fortunes from the president’s. This would have left a painfully broken party, but they wouldn’t be left with a ruined “brand,” as they all say, speaking the language of marketing. And they speak that language because they are marketers, not thinkers. Not serious about policy. Not serious about ideas. And not serious about leadership, only followership.
I have to make some appointments so take it away and read the whole thing. I’ll add further thoughts later.
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I read it this morning and got even more depressed (HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME ON A FRIDAY!). I call it her “pre-obituary” for the GOP. And, I agree, she is so right about so much.
Sometimes, however, she verges on the melodramatic and overstates the case (for effect, I’m sure). Time will tell if this is one of those pieces.
She’s really mad at the GOP. I think that plays into the direness of her description.
It’s a good article. Republicans need to go back to be Republicans instead of being Repubeicans or like Demmeroids. Follow the lead of Inhofe, Coburn, DeMint, and Sessions and not Specter, Snowe, and Craig.
#1
Indeed.
2. CJ
You foregot Flim-Flam Graham (you know, McCain’s mini-me).
Too much time for the left to crater. Lest we forget, Denver will be a bloodbath!!!! Inside and outside the building! America will see the dhimmis for what they really are: dirty ill behaved hippies burning down a city and ill behaved and bitter politicians fighting over control. And, whoever emerges from Denver will have the loser’s followers hating them which may either translate into McCain votes or stay at home. McCain in the White House with a Repub controlled congress may be able to keep him in check, and remind him who ‘brung’ him there.
I’m not so sure Noonan is being too melodramatic. This is dire, and they don’t get it. Not only does the GOP not get it, I’ll bet they think they need to be even more left than they are now….. and become unrecognizable to me. Independent has a good ring to it.
Faster…… a Republican controlled congress? I can’t see that happening. The count of expected losses for the Republicans is staggering.
#4 RickG
I know I didn’t include a few of them… it could wind up too long!
6. aw
Well, I have to wonder if the decline of the party is completely about GOP foibles or whether it has something to do with people’s attitudes. Though otghers disagree with me, I have posited the theory that maybe the GOP is less conservative these days because people in general are less conservative.
If most Republicans were still Reagan or Buckley conservatives, would we have John McCain as our nominee? So either conservatives have left the party, or the party is less conservative. (I don’t buy this junk about Iowa and NH making the decision for the rest of us and we have no choice; if Republicans are that weak-willed so as to be led around by the nose by Iowa and NH, then the party deserves any bad thing it can get.) The fact is, state after state voted for McCain until the opposition saw he was, in fact, the choice of the GOP.
Now at least I have a little data to back up my theory. Michael Medved pointed out that of the three recent GOP losses that caused concern - in Louisiana and Mississippi - the GOP ran a very conservative condidate in each race. NOw, I don’t know them, so I don’t know if they were very good campaigners (I suspect not) but the party didn’t lose because it failed to present conservatives. They were conservative, and still lost to the Democrat.
My, my, this fall is going to be interesting - maybe like a train wreck, but still interesting.
Yes, most likely, but there’s still time for the left to crater. They have the power to do so. I am hopeful the convention will leave a bad taste of dhimmicrats in everyone’s mouth. It has a lot of potential…..
Hey, Faster, quit bogartin’ the pipe! A Repub controlled Congress after November? Dude, what is in that thing?
Rick, good points. I don’t have the answer. As I understand it, the last three losses also had Dems running as if they were conservative Republicans. I didn’t watch the races and am clueless. I do know the Republican party is leaderless. It really hit me when Newt started talking up global warming about two months ago… then made that stupid commercial. Newt used to be my idea guy. Not any more. The new group in Washington and the contract with America was inspiring. The republicans simply inspire no one.
It could happen!
And the Democrats have empty promises. Both are equally shallow, but one will do way more harm than the other!
Rick #9, I tend to agree with you. 9/11 only pushed people back into church for a little while. We as a nation seem to have to suffer a bit to turn our faces back towards God and His law. Once the suffering stops, we turn away again. It’s the nature of human beings. Perhaps God’s only design flaw.
Faster getting the message out, painting a picture with words, convincing people, is McCain’s job. As Texpat says, ” This election is John McCain’s to loose”
Eve ate that dratted apple Big45…… musta been a golden delicious!
Yup, agreed. But I hold out that the dhimmis will do themselves in.
AW, true, but I’ll bet she looked hot doing it!
9: Rick -
I think the problem during the primaries is that there was one real “moderate” - McCain, and a number of different conservatives, Tancredo, Duncan, Huckabee, Thompson, etc., as well as some who were difficult to classify - ie Ron Paul. What’s really interesting is that the truly liberal candidate - Guilani - never got out of the starting blocks.
15. Big45
Good points, if hard to swallow. I don’t think a true conservative CAN’T win, but he has to, as AW says, a real leader. McCain got some flak for sayhing we should “get over” Reagan, but I think he had a point. There is no Reagan in the party, there will not be another Reagan in the party. We need to develop and support new, unique Republicans - not because they are “the next Reagan,” but because they are solid, articulate, electable conservatives.
More Bobby Jindals and fewer Larry Craigs.
20. fa
Well, I never said the party was liberal, only that it may not be as conservative anymore as, for example, a lot of us on LST.
And, AW is right. The Democrats, particularly in the south, have gotten smart and are running conservative Democrats again. They are beating us at our own game - not only in the recent special elctions, but even in 2006, with folks like Heath Shuler.
So, to that extent, Noonan is right. GOP needs leadership, especially on the local level.
America needs and wants real leadership in the White house and Congress. All the republicans had to do to guarantee their complete and continuing control of the White House and congress was to lead and act like conservatives. In this we have failed and the blame for any losses can be laid at the feet of the RNC not the liberal media even though they were more than willing to assist with the self destruct.
Now the Republican’s only chance at a reprieve lies in the fact that that other side fielded an even worse team than we did.
PITIFUL!!!
Rick, I’d like to see Jindal way up there if he remains true to his values. I’ve contributed enough to him over the years to get a hand signed invitation to his inauguration. I saved it hoping that someday it would be worth alot!
This is an interesting thought and we won’t know until for a bit, but these conservative democrats may not march in lock step with their liberal leadership. It will be interesting to see.
5, 10, 14, 18 - These posts are symbolic and a microcosm about what is wrong with the republican party. Hoping the “dhimmis” implode and calling the republicans the lesser of 2 evils are not exactly winning solutions.
RickG has it right. The Democrats are making each race local. They are running conservative dems in conservative areas. They ran “protectionist” dems in the midwest. Liberal dems are running in the coasts. The irony is that it was the republican party who taught us that “all politics is local”.
26
Well, actually the quote is from a Democrat.
“All politics is local.”–Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Democrat, Speaker of the House
27 - I stand corrected…
Noonan piece is available to subscribers only.
Arrgh!
Shannon you can get it through RG’s linking of it as WSJ
Here ya go Shannon, try this.
http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html
29. Shannon
texpat’s link worked for me…
??
#9 Rick
Read this short one by Kim Strassel at the WSJ on the conservative congressmen who lost and one who won that was virtually unreported.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121029170064979347.html?mod=opinion_columns_featured_lsc
Texpat GREAT stuff (even better if it wasn’t so danged sad and TRUE).
As was suggested ‘elsewhere’ today……..if we can’t get the RNC in here to read…..let’s go to THEM and Blog until they have to shut off their blog or at least READ our thoughts! I cited Texpat’s Noonan excerpt over there…..
http://blog.nrcc.org/comment.cfm?entry_id=400
Theses guys leaders? Leaders my ass. Not a leader in the bunch. A bunch of asses, yes. If you’re looking for leadership you’ll have to look elsewhere.
#34 KF
Wow ! Everyone should go and read the comments at the National Republican Congressional Committee website blog Katfish just linked. There are a alot of really angry conservatives out there. There must be over 100 really pissed off comments at the site. The RNC has got to be reading this. I wish I was a fly on the wall there right now.
#15 Big45Iron
You almost sound Jewish there (as in Old Testament). Every time the Jews started drifting away from God, He would allow them to be conquered. Once they got their act together again, He would raise up a new leader to allow them to regain their freedom.
Katfish, WOW, there are alot of ticked off Republicans posting on GOP’s website.
NativeAmerican - God works that way, regardless of a person’s religion.
Thanks for the alternate link.
The original is still subscriber only.
#39
yep.
Hope for America.
I think the presence of “Ron Paul Republicans” in congress is overall, a good thing.
But on a lighter note, I have to wonder what the impact might be if “fearless leader” commanded all of his loyal Ronulans and Paulbots to support Barack Obama.
Peggy is right as usual about the Bush crowd. They squander opportunity everywhere they go.
#40 Bless your pointy little head, still talkin’ ’bout a revolution
Peggy’s piece is wistful in ways with an unwritten but definite great respect for RR and his principles. I think it a bit too bleak and sorrowful, but fully understandable and likely born of association with the Beltway types who have lost touch for the most part with the folks who brung ‘em. The folks who brung ‘em are still there and more livid by the day at the behavior that she so deftly describes.
If the country has become less conservative the RNC would be raking in the $$ so fast it couldn’t be counted as it came. From the recent comments of LSTers the appeals are going unheeded and are indeed eliciting sharply worded rejections. Their web site wouldn’t be in a withering firestorm of protest if LOTS of folks weren’t happy. The sound of purses snapping shut has to be reverberating there. And it isn’t just down here in the “safe” Southland that the natives are disgusted. Friends and kin in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Pennsylvania, and Missouri are as hot as we are over it.
Is it a mell of a hess? Absolutely. Are there convention delegates who are having second and third thoughts about the presumptive nominee? Likely growing daily. Are there any who might wanna revolt at convention? Probably. What’s missing is leadership from the top. Maybe leadership from the middle would suffice, who knows?
Oh, for a brokered convention floor fight in which the delgates were not mere robots casting their programmed votes, which could be done remotely of course without the expensive convention show…. The networks love excitement and action, which conventions of recent years have not delivered, and thus audience share has not produced the ratings desired but rather yawns from the great unwashed. ‘Tweren’t that way in the 50s and 60s.
Happily, in Dist. 22 Pete Olson is running a true conservative campaign as surely others are around the country. So support him and them and begin the rebuilding while we cast about for national leaders to emerge. They are there, we just haven’t found them yet. Or perhaps things are not yet dire enough for them to step forward.
Prevent defenses rarely work, and the Repubs have flubbed the last several uses of that lately, as Peggy says. Waitin’ for the Dems to implode is a stepchild of the prevent defense, and that won’t work either. Whistling past the graveyard is a lousy tactic fit for the linguini spined.
Here’s a perfect example of how the Republican Party is killing itself.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=80498&s=f
Republican Jed Pittman is the County Clerk of Pasco County, Florida. He’s also horrendously obese and cannot move without the use of an electronic scooter, and as a result he only shows up at work a day or two every week. He draws $136,000 a year from taxpayers in salary, plus an additional $75,000 that he gets by gaming the state’s retirement system. How can we even begin to counter the Dems when we have trash like this in our own party?
Wrong album. That was on the title track from Volunteers.
#47 You impress me yet again with your musical knowledge.
Mr.Fish, I went over to the spot and had my say. I must say it’s cathartic. Thanks for the link
Way off topic but since phil and I brought up Jefferson Airplane…cripes! What happened to Grace Slick???
Hamous, I guess she is my age……… so that’s what happened to her…. age.
Well, she is almost 70 now.
Yikes you are right, she is 68. What ever she is having, I want some!
Interestingly enough, the most unfortunately memorable Slick was her video days…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH-UqB7uYiE
…keep in mind that she would have been in her 40’s at the time that was filmed!
They were signing about Hillary even back then with her plastic fantastic lover.
Surrealistic Pillow is one of my most favorite albums.
About 10 years ago I saw Jorma Kaukonen play at UH-Downtown. He was still sounding good then. I think he still tours.
#34 Katfish, Thank you, sir, for the RNC link. Saw your post there. Bravo. Like AW, I enjoyed the catharsis of reading the posts. Amazing that they didn’t fry the ether. Will have to go back and finish them, but what I’ve read thus far is as satisfying as a Death by Chocolate dessert. Yum
“Mr. Bush has squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years.”
Squandered?
I would say he’s completely annihilated it.
It’s bleedin’ demised. It’s ceased to be.
It’s bereft of life and pushin’ up the daisies.
Mexico’s been telling Jorge Dubbed-Ya to eat bull manure for 7 plus years now and he’s happily obliged.
He’s caved to demmies…jumped in the sack with Ted Kennedrunk…and he continues to leave Ramos and Compean in prison.
He sends our fine soldiers to Iraq, while he surrenders our homeland to the invasion from the south.
He’s THE reason the Re-Duped-Again party’s in for the beating of it’s political life in November 2008.
Perhaps it is time to storm the local and national GOP headquarters. Not break anything, not threaten anybody, just be loud!
I’d like to throw out a thought, without getting decimated. It’s just a wild thought.
Bush was in Saudi land trying to get oil production loosened. No go. No go with his buddy in the Arab world. Bush and Rice have been pushing for Israel to give up more land. Israel says no go. Is it possible Bush was to convince Israel to give up it’s land for the Arabs and in return would get oil much cheaper? Since he didn’t accomplish anything, he and we are being smacked down?
#58 - That blog is EN FUEGO folks!
And sadly I can’t blame them………..Juan McGoreBull Warming?
Aw Heyullllllllllllllll NAW!
Sorry sonomabeech jes went from barely tolerable to the pits with Kennedy et al……….
Mayhap Mr. Bush is exhausing all possibilities before going the Executive Order route….
Anyone got enough brain space left to research THIS?
Rep Sam Johnson from TX just put up HR 5515 that would:
Section 101(b)(2)(A), which reduced to simple language* would preempt and ban any and all state or local law for immigration-related issues enacted to impose employer fines or sanctions, or would forbid any laws requiring employers to verify work status or identity for work authorization. It would also prevent any unit of government from verifying status of renters, determining eligibility for receipt of benefits, enrollment in school, obtaining a business or other license, or conducting a background check.
Human EVents has the article.
OMG from a freakin TEXAN???????????????????
Noonan’s got it.
Katfish. That’ why We the People need to fire Rep. Sam Johnson. Bush, also from texas, would love this. So would MS-13.
#62 Katfish, Well McCain’s speech yesterday surpassed my MAD (Maximum Allowable Disgust) and thus I commented on OC I will happily write in Fred Thompson this November.
I hope the good conservatives will continue the meltdown on the RNC site and start making noises about a brokered convention/delegate revolt. I dare say even McCain announcing a very well-known conservative as VP choice would be too late to stem the anger now. He’s backstepped on no amnesty already….
#60 Big45Iron, Great thought. We are The Loud People already, no?
RE: My #64 - Texpat has clarified for me and I’ve apparently mis-interpreted…………hopefully he will post about same.
Cut the Budget and Get the dollar UP!
its political life in November 2008.