Young, Free, and Singularly Right

Guardian Unlimited ^ | 2.16.2004 | Matthew Wells

[NYC GOP Chick]

Young, free, and singularly right

The youth wing of George Bush's own party is unhappy at the president's complacency ... and his 'lurch to the left', writes Matthew Wells

Monday February 16, 2004


The president of the New York Young Republicans, Paul Rodriguez, addresses a rally. Photograph: Matthew Wells
 

The New York Young Republican Club was in angry mood. The guest speaker was an expert on the still-hated Clintons, and he'd come to warn them that Hillary and Bill are still ruthlessly plotting the senator's assault on the White House.

But aside from the obvious indignation levelled at the Democratic party now its election machine is in full swing, there was also open dismay at how the current White House has reacted to the challenge so far.

The mood of dissatisfaction was apparent even before the well-attended monthly meeting began, as the club's president, Paul Rodriguez, fended off the "Vietnam problem" - John Kerry's Purple-Hearted war record versus the commander-in-chief's fitful attendance record with the Texas - or was it Alabama? - National Guard.

"It's a momentary issue. It's February and the election is in November. Look, there was no bigger draft dodger than the guy who Bush's dad ran against," he said. "The bigger problem for the president is there are conservative Republicans who are unhappy with things like his immigration stand and excessive spending."

Kevin Degidon, another besuited club member, interjected defensively to explain how the leadership should pacify the party faithful in terms of the government's soaring budget deficit.

"All he [Bush] has to do, is tell the base that if the liberals were in, we would be spending a whole lot more money," he said.

Republican self-doubt is not unfounded. The preferred opponent, Howard Dean, has all but evaporated and has been replaced by a war hero and experienced Washington insider. Frustration at the White House response peppered the evening's proceedings and erupted at one point into a full-blown row.

An ultra-Conservative suggested that Bush was destroying the party's ideals and was "not fit to stay in office". Club member Alexander De Filippi had been fuming for ten minutes already, and when the attack came, it was too much to bear.

"You're a liar", he shouted, urging everyone in the room to get back into the mainstream, behind their president.

But the rumblings continued. One woman expressed her dismay at the president's "lurch to the left", and several members lamented the president's hour-long TV interview on February 8, tying it to an unimpressive State of the Union address at the end of January.

"It wasn't stellar," said one. "He should have had a lot more ammo, and been better briefed" said another.

One participant was clearer than most about what was alienating the party's grassroots. "This compassionate conservative crap is what kept three million people at home [in the 2000 race]. If it was three last time, six million could stay at home this time."

Guest speaker Carl Limbacher, the editor of Newsmax.com, told the packed meeting that he was worried that the White House had become too passive. "Eventually Karl Rove will unleash the attack dogs, you'd think. But they never do it."

Limbacher's concerns may by now have begun to be addressed with the release of the first web-based Bush-Cheney campaign advertisement. It accuses Kerry of hypocrisy in promising to curb the power of Washington lobbyists while accepting campaign donations from many of them.

Perhaps those concerned at White House indifference to the developing election campaign should note that nine months away from polling day, the Republicans have already gone on the offensive with a televised attack aimed at a Democrat who has not even won his party's nomination yet.

New York State is home to the Clintons, so it is perhaps not so remarkable that they still provoke the greatest animosity at the meeting. Much of the night was spent gleefully gossiping about the possibility that Kerry had "done a Clinton" and become involved with his own Monica Lewinsky, despite the fact that the unsourced allegation which had emerged a few hours beforehand on the infamous Drudge Report website was swiftly and unequivocally denied.

Many in the room were adamant that the story must have emerged by way of disgruntled operatives inside the defunct Clark campaign - a sign of the finely tuned culture of political conspiracy that dominates both parties.

It may be true that Republicans in New York are on the fringe of the party, lacking support from national headquarters as they can deliver so little. It is certainly true that they feel beleaguered in a city where they are outnumbered by Democrats by five to one. But Bush-Cheney campaigners will be listening to the kind of dissatisfaction displayed at the Young Republicans meeting on Lexington Avenue, and reacting accordingly in the weeks to come.

[NYC GOP Chick]

New York Young Republican Club

[NYC GOP Chick]

Actual GOP/Conservative activity in NYC! :)

[jmc813]

Judging by this story, the NY Young Republicans Club seems like a microcosm of FR.

[Dan from Michigan]

This from the Guardian? Isn't that like the NY Slimes of the UK?

The youth wing of George Bush's own party is unhappy at the president's complacency

Not just true in NYC. I know some who had enough and are voting Constitution/US Taxpayers Party. I know a lot of others who are on the fence.

If it was three last time, six million could stay at home this time."

That's what scares me. In my county, a "moderate republican" for congress got 53% of the vote and got only 40% or so of the vote. This was with Geoff Fieger on the top of the ticket - our state's white version of Al Sharpton. In 2000, a conservative got 65% in my county for that same congressional district and won by 88 votes.

Bush has to move right on domestic policy - especially on spending. He needs to get conservatives to vote FOR him and not just AGAINST John Kerry, who isn't a war hero, Matt.

[Texas Eagle]

I don't blame them for being upset. Maybe, unlike their selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-possessed parents and grand-parents they realize that it is the next generation who pays for the current generations goodies.

[Oschisms]

We're effing huge!

(Sigh)

[Cacique]

That's because many of us are FReepers, including Paul.

[olde north church]

I wouldn't worry to much about it, non-Republican Conservatives will play the "pout" card. They will argue "principles" and vote with some 3rd party candidate's ego trip or sit at home.
The end result is the same, they wind up sitting in a corner, pouting, whimpering, "if people only understood".
I've seen enough elections in my time and have enough common sense to know you don't build political parties from the top down.
There IS a distinction between a principle and ideal. How many people can distinguish the difference?

[Copernicus]

Judging by this story, the NY Young Republicans Club seems like a microcosm of FR.

The best thing the Conservative/Libertarian/Constitutional electorate can do is make themselves available to the errant brotherhood for questions and comments.

Epiphany may come slowly, but it will come.

Best regards,

[olde north church]

IMHO, part of the difficulty lies in a logic that compartmentalizing Conservatives/Libertarians/Constitutionalists in the same slot.
Conservatives and Constitutionalists have at least the common bond of the Constitution at the heart with variance of interpretation at the heart.
On the other hand, the Libertarian view may be considered as conservative, considering tax policies and 2nd amendment RIGHTS, one could hardly consider the social issue position of many Libertarians to be in tune with that of conservatives.
Thank you

[Tabi Katz]

Hmm...a president named Bush, it's February, and already they're writing his eulogy. Sound familiar?

[Copernicus]

On the other hand, the Libertarian view may be considered as conservative, considering tax policies and 2nd amendment RIGHTS, one could hardly consider the social issue position of many Libertarians to be in tune with that of conservatives.

The Social Issue position of Libertarians is consistent across the board with their other positions: "Government governs best that governs least", a position Conservatives heartily endorsed at various points in history. (Barry Goldwater, James Madison)

Almost any Social Issue of Conservatives/Constitutionalists (abortion) can be addressed by Free Market Remedies independent of Government Oversight and control.

Since just about all Churches are 501(c)(3) Corporations now, let them create "Special Purpose Entities" for the relief of unborn Children and provide aid and comfort to the misguided souls who seek to kill them. There is no need for Government Taxation by force of arms to support or deny such relief.

Best regards,

[olde north church]

There is where the soup does drip, many a slip from the bowl to the lip.
From where would the anti-abortion enforcement be derived, private police?
One could also consider any drug-addicted citizen as uninformed or less than able to make informed choices?
I would say most people prefer a limited government, that is the nature of humanity, the question is, how limited?

[Copernicus]

From where would the anti-abortion enforcement be derived, private police?

Enforcement is not a true choice.

Whether government condones or condemns abortion, abortion will continue as it did before Roe and as it will after.

Even now, in the age of "legal" abortion, abortion providers run into difficulty providing abortions simply because the internal dissonance experienced by practitioners of the "healing arts" make it impossible for them to take life in the name of healing.

We may have already reached a grim farcical peak where the hygienic standards and practices of "legal" abortuaries may not measure up to the hygienic standards and practices of yesteryears illegal abortion mills.

Legal or illegal, they remain what they have always been- places of physical and spiritual death.

Bottom line: people who seek abortions are troubled souls and the people in the business of healing souls should learn not to rely on government to offer remedies.

It is a very difficult, complicated and messy process hence the reason many people, even people of good will, shrink from the task and shove it into the hands of "government".

Best regards,

[firebrand]

This is truly amazing! Nice graphics on that website, too.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks! But I'm probably going to wind up redesigning the whole site sometime this year. :)

[NYC GOP Chick]

Oops! I nearly forgot to *ping* you to this one! :)