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Wednesday, February 6. 2008

Election time is Silly Season.

Happened to hear�Rush while doing a quick errand today. Rush re McCain: "They are trying to run us out of the Republican Party."

Rush is usually right about things, but this proves to me that he has MDS bad. It's nice, in a way, to see that he is imperfect in his insights. My�comments for Rush:

1. Who is "they"? "They" are Republican voters, like me. There is no vast anti-conservative conspiracy.
2. "run us out"? That's crazy. I voted for McCain, but I am much more conservative than McCain, and I have no wish to run anybody out. I just voted for the guy who I think can win, and who will put sane folks on the courts and benches.
3. The "Republican Party." The GOP, as we have said before, is not owned by Conservatives.�There are times when I wish it were, but a diversity of opinion is a healthy thing, overall.

People need to get a grip. One more point: I do not think people vote simply on proposed policies and positions. If they did, you could run position papers for office. Sometimes they vote simply for who they "like" or trust as a person. How people vote is often complex, but they own their vote, and can do with it whatever the heck they want. It's silly to blame them and it is silly to blame McCain, because no-one is forced to vote for him.

Addendum: Wizbang on why to get behind the peoples' choice

Posted by The Barrister in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects, Our Essays at 14:33 | Comments (22) | Trackbacks (0)

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Republicanism is nothing more than a marriage of convenience for self desribed conservative purists.

Another radio blowhard, Hamity admits as much regularly.

Message to Rush's us:

If y'all don't like playing in the Big Tent, leave it.

But don't cry and blame anyone but your own selves.

#1 Leag on 2008-02-06 15:17 (Reply)

I don't listen to Rush regularly, but it seems he came up with this theme about 6 months late. Back then, maybe he could helped Thompson's campaign. Now, it's probably too late unless Romney really rallies.

Maybe he thinks a nightmare Obama or Hillary presidency will help his ratings.

#2 NJSoldier on 2008-02-06 15:22 (Reply)

I think it's funny how the socially conservative folks accuse anyone not in lockstep as not Conservative. Those of us who're fiscal conservatives see the Republican party of the past 8, with their aggregious expansion of entitlement spending, as having completely betrayed conservatism. The last thing our fiscal deficit needs is more "conservatism".

#3 JimDesu (Link) on 2008-02-06 15:24 (Reply)

Wait, JimDesu; We need FISCAL Conservatism badly. (Smaller government, Reduced spending & more Tax cuts to raise revenue).
The Social Cons can't see that Limited Government will get them more of what they want than trying to make a "theocracy" (yes, I'm exaggerating!) of the bloated government we have.
Susan Lee

#3.1 Susan Lee on 2008-02-06 17:33 (Reply)

The Barrister,

Very nice. When Rush was a towel boy for the KC Royals I'd been an active conservative Republican for years. Back then we were in the wilderness because Bill Moyers, (campaign manager for LBJ) had run the repulsive "Daisy" commercial saying a vote for Goldwater was a vote for nuclear war.

The only intolerance I see now in the Republican Party are those "conservatives" who brook no deviation from their agenda. Well conservatives, you can't eat a meal in one bite, and you can't have every item on your agenda rubber stamped by those of us who are conservatives but understand the realities of power acquisition, control, and the compromises needed to retain that power.

You blow this and you'll sure as hell know what the political wilderness looks like cause you'll never see power again in your lifetime. And Rush will retire with his multi millions of dollars ....you...you'll have bubkis. NO make that Socialism.

#4 Habu on 2008-02-06 15:45 (Reply)

1) THEY -- are the bi-coastal, liberal, big-government types, those whose reputation or living either have been or are dependent on government largesse and/or access. This includes career politicians. This could also include the inherited wealth crowd.

2) RUN US OUT -- actually would be better stated as marginalization to minimize relevance and influence while at the same time taking the vote for granted.

3) REPUBLICAN PARTY --- presumably to be differentiated from the Democrat Party on the issues that presumably differentiate them. Presumably these are national security, fiscal policy, limited government and a comparably conservative social policy.

Barrister, you also make this point: "Sometimes they vote simply for who they "like" or trust as a person. How people vote is often complex, but they own their vote, and can do with it whatever the heck they want. It's silly to blame them."

So, what is your problem with people who oppose McCain?

#5 B on 2008-02-06 15:56 (Reply)

Because, at this point, McCain is the de facto nominee. Far from my first choice, but the choice of regular Repub voters - not fat cats - from across the country.

#5.1 The B. on 2008-02-06 16:17 (Reply)

I am a regular Republican voter, not a fat cat, and not what I classify as an evangelical in today's context, and McCain is not my choice.

He is a nasty, unevenly-tempered old man whose most recent legislative accomplishments or attempted accomplishments were limitation of free speech and amnesty for illegal aliens, respectively. He also is using his military service as a political tool, which is unseemly, as Huckabee using his supposed Christianity as a political tool is unseemly.

On top of that, he dumped his first wife (after a crippling car accident) for an heiress nearly 20 years his junior, making him a gigolo and and an absolute hypocrite for criticizing Mitt Romney's (self-earned) wealth.

#5.1.1 B on 2008-02-06 16:26 (Reply)

"McCain blames himself for the breakup of his first marriage. McCain wanted a fuller, faster life than he found back home with his first wife. Carol Shepp McCain, who lives in the Washington area, has spoken kindly of her former husband, says she supports his candidacy, and attributes their divorce to ''John turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again.''
McCain has taken responsibility for his divorce, the accident occurred while he was a POW, divorces were and still are more common in viet vets. Blowhard limbaugh has had 3 divorces and spouts off about morality and conservatism, I agree with many of his opines, but find him to be a hypocrite. McCain has done more for his country in a day, than El Rushbo will do in his life.

#5.1.1.1 infidelcruz8r on 2008-02-06 20:33 (Reply)

The latest National Intelligence Estimate was a purely political paper designed to halt the talk of the US taking out Iran's nuclear plants.

GRASP this for a political paradigm change .

The President is not bound by any NIE and Bush recognized the last softball for what it was. If a Democrat is elected........

Imagine that a week before leaving office, instead of trashing the WH like Clintonistas did or signing a thousand pardons Bush launches a full blown air attack on Iran to blow away their nuklar stuff .

Think the new President would have a new #1 item on his/her agenda? Yeah baby...bombs away.

#6 Habu on 2008-02-06 16:03 (Reply)

Obama would move to recall the bombs post haste, apologize and work with his Democratic controlled congress to pay for damages and compensate for pain and suffering. Hillary would cry.

#6.1 phil g on 2008-02-06 17:41 (Reply)

Phil G.
Calling back the bombs .. now that's a new concept.

Let's see, Bush is President, orders and attack that is carried out, destroying large parts of Iran ..exactly how does an president in waiting undo that?

See Phil, the planes take off, drop their load say two weeks before the inauguration of the new president ..there's NOT A DAMN thing he/she can do about it.

But it does hand them a multidimensional foreign policy problem....

But I'm all ears if you can tell me how a sitting President can be stopped from ordering that type of attack? Can't be done

Now I guess the new prez could just give them a few nukes with the missiles but I think that might meet some legal problems.

#6.1.1 Habu on 2008-02-06 17:55 (Reply)

Something's in the air tonight. The 5th cable is cut and Iran is offline. Bush just got back from a nice visit to the ME. I definitely think something is going to happen. We do Iran and Israel takes care of the blow-out from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria - all of which will go 'nuclear' when their Big Daddy gets hit.

Win/win. oh...and no griping from 'those Arab' countries.

#6.2 Meta on 2008-02-06 18:12 (Reply)

The Republicans have slowly eliminated their best candidates, and the Democrats never had any worth a damn, so we are in a fine pickle now.

#7 bob on 2008-02-06 17:33 (Reply)

THEY = Inside the beltway elites and the MSM

METHOD = Denial of media access to Tancredo, Hunter and Thompson. Thompson broke through briefly with his atypical entry into the race, but was buried when he didn't "play ball" and show significant fire in the belly.

RESULT = Facturing of the conservative block and voila a liberal RINO on a fastrack to nomination.

Don't blame me, I voted for Fred. Still would given another chance.

I don't see that any of the front runners are going to provide Adult Supervision in D.C.

#8 Rob on 2008-02-06 18:39 (Reply)

Just because McCain has what looks like an insurmountable lead does not mean that Conservatives have to cave in on their ideas and play along like good little voters. McCain must be made aware that he has to accommodate the Conservatives or that he will be left hung out to dry in November.

Anything short of this kind of brinkmanship will push Conservatism out of the national Conversation for who knows how many election cycles.

#9 Peter Boston on 2008-02-06 19:36 (Reply)

That kind of brinkmanship will lose the election and assign the Rep Party a permanent status as a minority party ..hope you enjoy socialism.

BTW ...how many conservative ideas and "principles" will survive after 30 years of Democratic domination, including the SCOTUS.......let me help you out .....ZERO

And why is it that you conservatives, who are a minority and thus the tail, can wag the dog and win the only win that counts..the WH?

#9.1 Habu on 2008-02-06 20:03 (Reply)

You're never going to inspire the large mass of voters in this country to move to the right by continuously compromising towards the center. A principled example needs to be set at some point, or else nobody will understand what conservatism means.

#10 Some guy on 2008-02-06 23:19 (Reply)

There are two reasons that I may vote McCain. One is his support of the war on terror. The other is that he may appoint someone decent to the Supreme Court. What makes you - Barrister- so sure he will appoint strict constructionist judges to the court? I can picture him consulting with Kennedy or Schummer and picking someone like Ginsberg or Souter. I know we would defintely get another Ginsberg from either of the Dems.
You should also listen to more of Rush than a few minutes to get a feel for what he is really saying. He has never said that he is defintely not going to vote for McCain. He has just entertained that possibility. Today he said that it's a long time til Nov and much can happen between now and then.
He also said that conservatives in the Repub Party are treated the same as blacks are in the Dem party. Courted every election cycle and then left high and dry the rest of the time. It's understandable why we are frustrated with the likes of McCain. How many times do we have to get poked in the eye by this guy? I find it typical that he play's dirty and lie's about a Repub, Romney, and then says that he will run no negative campaign against Hillary. Thats what he's done his whole carreer, stuck it to Republicans and sucked up to Dems. Check how many bills bearing his name along with some lib Dem and see how all these bills are compromises where the left gets everything and the conservatives get squat. Maverick my ass. It just gets so tiresome voting for someone with an ideology you share so little with, just because you think he has the best chance of beating the Dems. Plus, I just don't trust this guy.
I know.. Habu. You were doing something noble while I was in diapers and I have no testicles and am a panty waste. Still have an opinion though.

#11 sean on 2008-02-07 00:09 (Reply)

On another subject (sorry):

http://tinyurl.com/3x24fj

Hillary's Big Risk
[Stephen Spruiell]

By loaning herself $5 million from her and Bill's personal wealth, she's taking a big risk by opening up a direct connection between Bill's post-presidency business deals and her presidential campaign. The timing � coinciding with last week's big story in the New York Times about Bill's shady activities in Kazakhstan � couldn't be worse. Time to start taking a closer look at other deals. Amanda Carpenter suggests that, as usual with the Clintons, the People's Republic of China is a good place to start.

[open the tiny URL for the piece's hyperlinks]

#12 buddy larsen on 2008-02-07 01:32 (Reply)

McCain on free speech vs clean government
http://rhhardin.home.mindspring.com/imuscut.mccain3.ram
(April 28, 2006)

The people's problem is the November alternative.

#13 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2008-02-07 11:00 (Reply)

you guys are funny. 24 million dems go vote vs. 8 million Republicans. Hmmmm. Maybe someone is staying home? Maybe that same someone will sit out the next election.

See, it's not about Rs and Ds. It's about the conservative independent, who is now staying home in droves.

Jokes on you guys. McCain will not be elected. period.

#14 Phil on 2008-02-07 11:46 (Reply)

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Wednesday, February 6. 2008

Rush is Wrong