Conservative Think Tank: Mess Is the GOP's Fault (Gingrich "extremism must be punished and ignored")

Newser ^ | April 30, 2012 | Mark Russell

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Newt Gingrich, Grover Norquist slammed for radicalizing Washington

Washington is more dysfunctional than it has been in 40 years, and while Democrats have deserved their share of the blame over the years, today "the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party," write Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein in the Washington Post. What makes their column particularly interesting is that Ornstein is not liberal, but a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and Mann is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Together, they call the GOP an "insurgent outlier in American politics" because of the party's extremism, antagonism to facts and science, hatred of compromise, and complete opposition to the Democrats' legitimacy.

The biggest two culprits of the Republicans' radicalization over the past 30 years, according to Mann and Ornstein, are Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist—Gingrich for deliberately making the Capitol dysfunctional in order to stoke and use anti-Washington rage around the country, and Norquist for creating an anti-tax pledge that makes compromise impossible. In response to the GOP's nuttiness, Mann and Orstein call on journalists to stop trying to present "both sides" on the issues, and instead concentrate on "truth," focus on who is "taking hostages, at what risks and to what ends," and to stop treating filibusters like they are routine. Ultimately, though, if democracy "is to regain its health and vitality, the culture and ideological center of the Republican Party must change," they write. And the only way that will happen is if voters start "punishing extremism."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's Newt's fault?

..In response to the GOP's nuttiness, Mann and Orstein call on journalists to stop trying to present "both sides" on the issues, and instead concentrate on "truth," focus on who is "taking hostages, at what risks and to what ends," and to stop treating filibusters like they are routine. Ultimately, though, if democracy "is to regain its health and vitality, the culture and ideological center of the Republican Party must change," they write. And the only way that will happen is if voters start "punishing extremism."

Those methods exactly parrot Green gurus' solutions on how to confront global warming "skeptics." Perhaps the "extremists" have a solid foothold and the Elites can't shake it loose.

Newt Gingrich of Georgia and Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald throw mock tea crates into the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, Ga., in 1994.

[Diogenesis]

Nonsense.

The Extremism is from Team Romney who
attacked Gov. Palin and her children to throw
the 2008 Election to Obama .... FOR ROMNEY.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS WAS PLANNED.

It shall, hopefully, not be rewarded.

[lowbridge]

“What makes their column particularly interesting is that Ornstein is not liberal, but a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute”

Alone. Wikipedia refers to Ornstein as a “centrist liberal”.

[Flintlock]

Ya gotta have RINOs.
The party NEEDS RINOSs.
RINOS, RINOS, RINOS,.................MORE RINOS.
GOTTA HAVE ‘EM—GOTTAGOTTAGOTTA

ad naseum.
“Principles?” WE DON’ NEED NO STEEENKING PRINCIPLES!

[lowbridge]

“What makes their column particularly interesting is that Ornstein is not liberal, but a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute”

Baloney. Wikipedia refers to Ornstein as a “centrist liberal”.

[LibLieSlayer]

Democracy? These idiot fools think that we live in a democracy... that is what the communists want. Mob rule and let the parasites in the urban areas rule America... no electoral college etc. We have a Republic and these two guys are leftists. You want the real truth??? THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE WITH COMMUNISM, ISLAM OR SATAN. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL AXIS OF EVIL. THESE GUYS ARE BELTWAY DRONES... COOPTED AND INDOCTRINATED... THEY TOOK THE WRONG COLOR PILL.

LLS

[MulberryDraw]

Mann and Orstein call on journalists to stop trying to present "both sides" on the issues, and instead concentrate on "truth,"

If the LSM did this, then they would mute Mr. Obama virtually every night on the news instead of me having to do it.

[Fresh Wind]

In response to the GOP's nuttiness, Mann and Orstein call on journalists to stop trying to present "both sides" on the issues

Seems to me that "journalists" have been doing exactly this for a very long time while all the while insisting that their reporting is not biased.

[sirchtruth]

These rinos are a much worse enemy to conservatives than any liberal. That's what loyal republicans do not get and either need to wake up to this reality, or they will stay on the insanity train and ride it off the rails!

Until you ABO/Romney/Rino/GOPe loyalist voters realize the republican party HAS to change from within the destruction of this great nation will continue!

[Pat4ever]

The Brookings Institute, employer of Thomas Mann, is a center-left group with an agenda. Diane Feinstein is a funder.

[Adder]

Heard all I needed to when NPR gave these clowns nearly 10 minutes this am for the same crapola. Most of what they said was toilet paper material.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Here is a little rewrite of what they wrote, to put it in context:

“Washington is more dysfunctional than it has been in 40 years, and while Muslims have deserved their share of the blame over the years, today “the core of the problem lies with Christians”.

They call Christians an “insurgent outlier in American politics” because of the religion’s extremism, antagonism to the inherent truth of Islam, hatred of Muslims, and complete opposition to the legitimacy of Sharia law.

They blame Christians for deliberately making the Capitol dysfunctional in order to stoke and use anti-Muslim rage around the country, and creating an anti-dhimmi-tax pledge that makes compromise impossible.

In response to the Christian extremism in clinging to their religion and Haram practices, they call on journalists to stop trying to present “both sides” on the issues, and instead concentrate on the “truth of Islam,” focus on who is “obstructing the true faith, at what risks and to what ends,” and to stop treating the constitution like it is supreme.

Ultimately, though, if America “is to regain its health and vitality, the religion of the people must change to Islam,” they write. And the only way that will happen is if leaders start “punishing extremist Christians.”

[FatherofFive]

because of the party's extremism, antagonism to facts and science, hatred of compromise, and complete opposition to the Democrats' legitimacy

They got one thing right. I completly oppose the democrat=marxist=socialist=communist legitimacy in destroying America.

If I wanted America to fail

[upchuck]

Together, they call the GOP an "insurgent outlier in American politics" because of the party's extremism, antagonism to facts and science, hatred of compromise, and complete opposition to the Democrats' legitimacy.

It would appear the author of the WaPo article (read it here) is not a conservative.

[Venturer]

This is what passes for intelligence?

[MachIV]

“Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice”. BG

Today’s think tankers would declare the founding fathers radical extremists. We went to war with lead flying and blood flowing over issues that were less aggregious than what we are dealing with today.

[FatherofFive]

We went to war with lead flying and blood flowing over issues that were less aggregious than what we are dealing with today.

I had a similar conversation - hard to believe the people of Mass. led the revolution!

[Waywardson]

Gingrich is a moderate who will soon endorse Romney and Norquist is a traitor for dollars to radial Islam.

[txrangerette]

Norquist’s anti tax pledge serves a huge purpose...it places the focus on cutting the size and scope of government...of necessity.

Without that, you’d get a total cave...not merely a partial one like we have now..to the crazed Dems tax, spend and elect, tax, spend and elect political philosophy handed down from FDR.

So it puts elected Repubs in a straight jacket, huh??

What a shame...NOT.

As for Gingrich, he has had some trouble having himself marked a true conservative, having done, said and written a few clunker things in his career. But THESE clowns call him a “conservative extremist”.

Do they pass around the weed or the pipe, where these two hang out??

[GeronL]

They aren’t conservative enough in reality

[McGruff]

A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

http://www.mofopolitics.com/2008/11/05/ronald-reagan-1975-cpac-speech/

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As for Gingrich, he has had some trouble having himself marked a true conservative, having done, said and written a few clunker things in his career. But THESE clowns call him a “conservative extremist”.

They have to convince people that Newt is an extremist in order to keep Mitt from looking like a liberal that has been pandering and slobbering all over the mushy middle - while giving the base the finger.

Mitt is no mystery. He'll be whatever the K-Street to Wall Street crowd tell him to be.

[txrangerette]

Can’t keep on the topic, can you?

Gingrich endorses Romney to stop Obama. He has said, straight up, Obama second term = a destroyed America.

You can argue that on principle none of the many who have endorsed Romney should have, but you can’t successfully argue that Newt Gingrich has no point about Obama and this nation’s immediate survival.

IF you try, what does that make YOU...blind to reality, a secret Obama shill...who knows?

Norquist’s role vis a vis radical Islam is a whole other topic.

Nothing to do with this thread, nothing to do with the point, thread aside.

I defend his no tax increase pledge.

It’s a good thing we have it, as the GOP would be so much worse than it is, without it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Reaching across and compromising with your enemy apparently is the preferred method. Maybe to the GOP-e, those sitting across the aisle, don’t hold such different views.

To find votes, they’re going to sell it that Mitt and McConnell and Boehner will be ready, willing and able to “work for the American people” by working with the opposition.

[hcmama]

Ornstein is a huge Ron Paul supporter—and a crank (that may be redundant).

[BilLies]

Ornstein helped draft key parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, also known as the McCain-Feingold Act.[2]
Ornstein is a long-time friend of current U. S. Senator and former comedian Al Franken. Ornstein considers himself a centrist.[3]
(Wikipedia)
This is a conservative by the measure of Newser. Ornstein has always been a Rockefeller type “Conservative. He considers himself a Centrist LIBERAL.
NOT ALL THE FISH IN THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE TANK are Conservative or even close by FR standards.

[txrangerette]

Paul Ryan has a better grip on reality than that. Hopefully that grip will help the rest of them see the light at least in terms of the train wreck that’s coming if they don’t change to be MORE conservative, not less.

He can lay it out in the starkest of terms.

We have a very small window of opportunity to start fixing it, but that will soon close, and then it appears to be hopeless for this nation.

[central_va]

A a certain point we will devolve to a one party system with gradations within the party. We may be there now. The left vs. right monikers will go away, and factions will exist inside that one party. Unfortunately the one party will be socialist/liberal.

Maryland is a perfect example of a one party state. So is most of New England.

[Daveinyork]

Having moved the center to the left, the radicals are accusing the conservatives of extremism for trying to keep it from moving further left, let alone getting it back to the right.

[TexasFreeper2009]

lol

Clearing the path for the RINO Romney.

[deoetdoctrinae]

WE CAN REACH NEW HEIGHTS
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER


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[E. Pluribus Unum]

"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" --Barry Goldwater

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I hope you’re right. The GOP seems to use conservative members and the base when it suits them but only until they get what they want.

[EternalVigilance]

Our elite political class these days is so far removed from reality that they couldn’t find it with the Hubble Telescope.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

GROVER NORQUIST IS NEITHER A "REAL" REPUBLICAN AND CERTAINLY, NO CONSERVATIVE....

IN FACT he is not only a TRAITOR and ISLAMOFASCIST SUPPORTER, ENABLER AND APOLOGIST....

....His influence peddling (going back to George Bush) and enabling has had a detrimental affect and allowed the Muslim Brotherdhood to gain a foothoold in the Conservative Movement and reaches to the highest levels of Gov't to include the White House, DHS, DOJ and Dept of Defense....

....Making this bottom-feeding, snake and charlatan one of the most despicable (AND DANGEROUS) scumbags in the US at the present time....

....And its about time that "we" Freepers do something about it/him.

SEE: http://muslimbrotherhoodinamerica.com/ and pay particular attention of parts III and IV.

[Col Freeper]

Baloney. Wikipedia refers to Ornstein as a “centrist liberal”.

You are correct.

Neither of the individuals named, nor their organizations, are "Conservative".

Just more 5th Column media lies.

[txrangerette]

The thing about Ryan...you can hardly accuse him of being Newt Gingrich, can you?

Chairman of the House Budget Committee, and someone who knows so much, he’s forgotten more than what most people in DC ever knew.

I realize he endorsed Mitt, but what’s a young, up-and-comer to do? sarc/

The thorn in all their sides is REALITY, not Newt Gingrich or Norquist. And Ryan is about the best I’ve ever seen on that.

It’s reality that we have a spending problem, an out of control big government problem.

Taxes aren’t too low.

And even if you started literally confiscating what people have, you would barely dent the deficit much less the debt. Taxing our way out, even if politically feasible, is a dead ender.

Obama gets away with far too much, about that.

Wouldn’t hurt a thing to go after the would-be despot on it, 24/7.

[txrangerette]

This just in.

From Forbes:

Obama’s Plan To Seize Control Of Our Economy And Our Lives (Read this executive order)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2878081/posts

How do you compromise with this, you knuckleheads who are attacking Newt and Grover????????????????????

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

you knuckleheads who are attacking Newt and Grover????????????????????

KNUCLEHEADS?

Why don't you get your head out of the sand (or some other unmentionable bodily orifice) and do a little due diligence on Norquist, then come back and attack/challenge us who want to "out" this scumbag...as in "out" him as a TRAITOR and "out" him from any position of influence within the Conservative Movement and if possible, the Republican Party altogether.

SEE MY POST #35

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: Obama’s Plan To Seize Control Of Our Economy And Our Lives ::

I’ll go on record at this time and predict: If Obama is re-elected, your 401K monies - as they sit - will be taxed and all further contributions to the 401K will be after tax from your paycheck.

[Biggirl]

Ignore at your peril Washington D.C.

[Biggirl]

Looks like 1972 all over again!

[dfwgator]

The GOP-E mouthpiece has spoken.

They are really scared....and they should be. Rebellion is brewing!

[Waywardson]

I would submit, as did Cicero, that the enemy within, aka RINOs are a greater threat to God and Liberty than are any easily identified socialists.

Obama win = A united GOP against him.

A Romney win = a House divided which cannot stand.

Ergo, Romney is the greater threat.

I do understand this is counter intuitive, but consider that we have been losing the war for the soul of America since Wilson and then consider that each loss has always been to the rot within the party. The betrayal of principle, again and again.

No more. Not one inch further. Come what may and that may be the very end itself, so be it. Not by my hand, not on my watch. ENOUGH !

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We’ve seen the house divided - up close and very, very personal — right here on FR.

Instead of all the back-biting we must put our money and our muscle into state races and build up rock solid conservative state houses and governor’s offices. They are our fire wall now.

SHOW the GOP-e we are building our defensive lines — all 50 of them.

[txrangerette]

Attacking Gingrich and Norquist is so far off the real problem, it’s crazy.

Newt is a reformer, and governed as Speaker as a conservative. That record is clear. He fought and won many a battle that took the party and nation to a better place. The Romney E pick was a forgone conclusion within a house divided. And Newt’s right: Obama is a dire threat, not years from now, but NOW.

I respect those who can’t bring themselves to vote Mitt, and I also respect those who cast an anti Obama vote for Mitt if their state is key, and hanging in the balance by a handful of votes.

Without Norquist’s no tax hike pledge, the GOP would be even MORE lost.

States must now line up and fight the Federal Leviathan under Obama with every tool at their disposal, unless or until he’s ousted from office.

If Mitt should win, states have to still weigh in and take back control under the Constitution of our Republic of States.

[JediJones]

Absolutely disgusting. These are more of the establishment liberals who Newt has been fighting his entire career. Newt stands for conservative principles. The RINO brigade and faux conservatives stand for violating conservative principles and calling it “compromise.”

They think the government needs more of our tax money. That’s all you need to know to know they’re immoral lunatics.

Romney is one of their type so they should be happy with where things are going now. Newt would’ve completely reformed the following:

Social Security
Welfare
Food Stamps
Unemployment Benefits
Management of the bureaucracy
EPA

Romney will “take a look at some of that” and do nothing.

[JediJones]

To find votes, they’re going to sell it that Mitt and McConnell and Boehner will be ready, willing and able to “work for the American people” by working with the opposition.

Much of the base is in denial now. Once what you say happens, and it will without question if Mitt wins, we will get a repeat of 2006 and 2008 in 2014 and 2016, with a huge Democrat takeover. And with Mitt and the Repukes having accomplished nothing in their term, the Dims will have a huge mandate to do whatever they want. And if there is one movement that has its act together, is unified and organized, and is ready to overthrow the big-money special interests, it's the commie libs. This country won't survive a Romney win because it will lead directly to a communist takeover in 2016 that might be unstoppable and irreversible without a civil war.

[JediJones]

Any chance the 2nd book from the bottom is a picture book?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The states must remember that they have a duty and a purpose and that they have power and the law behind them. Texas and Wisconsin are two examples of what state governments who FIGHT for what is right and legal will face and how it must be done. And the states must support each other wherever and whenever they can.

We must be a “Band of Brothers” against the overreaching Federal Government. Every time a state takes the easy path - folds under the guise of compromise - in order to “get” back their share from the Federal “kitty” they lose more freedom and state rights slip further under the iron control of Washington DC.

It’s time we stop forgetting to build-up strong conservative power bases in every state and support stalwart candidates and remove the go-alongs.