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The Conservative Moment: GOP leaders squelched the opportunity offered by the Tea Party, but..
The National Review Online ^ | September 4, 2014 | Neal B. Freeman

Posted on 09/04/2014 3:03:55 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

[SNIP]

"......Imagine if you would a prayer breakfast in Washington attended by the leadership of the GOP — Messrs. Boehner, McConnell, Priebus, and their associates. They drop to their knees, bow their heads, and invoke divine intercession in the country’s troubled affairs, and in the party’s parlous condition. Would it be too much to ask Him to deliver unto them a mass political movement, self-financed and benignly led, God-fearing and well-mannered, almost all of whose members believed in the literal version of the Republican platform and almost none of whose members wanted anything from the federal government but constitutional restraint?

Yes, it would have been too much to ask, but, yes, it has been given unto them, anyway. The Tea Party arrived in vast, friendly numbers and said to the GOP, “We’re not from the federal government and we’re here to help.”

What happened next was not pretty. Or smart. The GOP brass responded with insults, attack ads, collaborative media trashing, and, finally, over the past six months, the charge of McConnell’s geezer brigade seeking to “crush” the Tea Party. And here we thought congressional Republicans were too prone to compromise, too quick to split the difference.

Our colleague M. Stanton Evans once said of the two-party system: “One is the evil party and the other is the stupid party. I’m proud to be a member of the stupid party.” I am as well, but sometimes party stupidity asks too much. Here we have before us an epochal opportunity to revive the national enterprise, and we are woefully (and smugly) ill prepared to realize it. As we look forward to 2016, where do we find ourselves? We find ourselves, in my estimate, with no candidate, no message, no coalitional unity, and a thoroughly rusted party machine. Only this question remains: Can we rally in time to save the country from a terminal identity politics that could over the next few cycles bring us not principled and experienced leaders, but (regardless of their qualifications) the first woman president, the first Hispanic president, the first gay president?

I wouldn’t bet the rent money on us. But I know that we have no chance whatsoever unless we divide the labor and begin to engage now. So let’s roll.......

[SNIP]

........Seize it as a teachable moment, Mr. Speaker, an occasion to remind every government executive that the essence of the job is to allocate limited resources.

And to our friends in the GOP: Make nice, Mitch. Nobody likes a sore winner.

Continued...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2014; 2016; congress; sweep
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Not one dime’s worth of difference. Two wings of the same Socialist Uniparty.


41 posted on 09/04/2014 7:40:29 AM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: txrangerette; Nextrush

Good discussion.

Conservatism is on the rise.

U.S.
Great Britian
Australia
Canada

Our Republic, their Parliaments - different, yet the conservative pull is there (reduce the size of government). We cheer to see it happening in other countries around the world. It is a shot in the arm - just as the Tea Party movement has encouraged them.

Our Republic doesn’t have as much “wiggle room” and procedural options between elections. We can see how having multiple parties (here and abroad) is debilitating. Bill Clinton got in twice with the vote split 3 ways; the right split and the Left took the election.

Much will depend on building conservatism up from the bottom. Those at the “top” watch that movement.

LOCAL! LOCAL! LOCAL!


42 posted on 09/04/2014 9:17:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: tanknetter; Cincinatus' Wife

So it’s really hard to lay blame for Romney’s defeat at the hands of dissatisfied Conservatives. At least alone.”

Agreed. On the night before the election, Romney had a tremendous crowd show up at some odd hour, IIRC, and he was overwhelmed with the turnout, where zippy was having peeps bussed in, paid to show up in union thug shirts, free cig’s etc. The fraud here in WI (OMG - everyone says no fraud - my fanny.... grrr) and the dead peeps voting, etc. did cost Romney. Yes — multiple reasons.

Also, keep in mind all “obamaphones have text messaging” and I saw a detailed Bret Baier report on how the Dems used texting statements to the low-fo-voters saying things like “you wouldn’t want your neighbors to find out you didn’t vote for Obama, now would you?” Geeeeeeeeeesh.


43 posted on 09/04/2014 10:14:28 AM PDT by WaterWeWaitinFor (Would Winston Churchill stand still for all this nonsense? Cruz our new Churchill?)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Same song, same verse, same old lines... You trust the GOPE leadership to respond to conservatives that are left in the Party, really? You believe they give a hoot about conservatives at this point? How have they responded since 2010 other than to shoot us the bird and call us racist.

If you are satisfied with the Vichy leadership go for it and strongly support it. I say enough even if it means out right control of the Congress by liberals rather than the back door approach you support.


44 posted on 09/04/2014 10:38:57 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

No the GOPE lost the country. You can spin this until it looks like a pretzel but the GOPE is the reason for the countries demise. This BS about the conservatives and purist costing the country is a load of garbage put out by the GOPE and their supporters to make excuses for their one screw up after another.

They are liberals do you honestly think they are going to take responsibility for their actions, those out of the closet liberals aka Democrats/Socialist, don’t why should the GOPE republican liberals be any different???

This is all on the GOPE and their lackeys.


45 posted on 09/04/2014 10:42:35 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: sarge83

I don’t trust but I don’t cut my own throat either.

Try debating the issues and lighten up on personal accusations.


46 posted on 09/04/2014 12:17:03 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: txrangerette

When the folks in Canada stayed away from the Progressive Conservative Party for ten plus years voting for a “third party”, it led to the new Conservative Party of Canada and Stephen Harper as Prime Minister.

It took a third party break off movement to move Canada to where it is today with Harper.


47 posted on 09/04/2014 1:38:07 PM PDT by Nextrush (OBAMACARE IS A BAILOUT FOR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY)
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To: Dedbone

GOPe = GOP Elitists

The leaders of the Republican Party who control the party and only pretend to be conservative when it is a benefit to them.


48 posted on 09/04/2014 1:56:54 PM PDT by savedbygrace (But God!)
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To: savedbygrace

Thanks. God bless.


49 posted on 09/04/2014 8:09:44 PM PDT by Dedbone
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I think the debate is clear, you are willing to after 25 yrs of one lie after another and one back stabbing after another and one insult after another, hold your nose and vote for these liberal clods again, all based on their “promises” to really-really change this time.

I on the other hand have had enough of the knife in the back by my alleged good Party friends in the so-called “Big Tent” that is the Republican Party. Being labeled racist and the punch in the nose by comrade McConnell was the straw that broke the camels back.

If you think voting a Party with no vision, and no difference between them and the democrats except the price tag is the way to go then vote for them. I will not be a party to the death of my Country by a thousand cuts.

When the Republicans or the party that replaces them offers a difference and real choices they might get my vote back, until then, the GOPE made their bed they can lay in it without me.


50 posted on 09/05/2014 10:10:35 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

And you are not cutting your own throat but you are voting for the same people who have slowly laid your throat open for 25 yrs.


51 posted on 09/05/2014 10:12:53 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: sarge83

You don’t have a clue as to who I have supported and/or voted for the last 25 years.

But characterizing me suits your agenda.


52 posted on 09/06/2014 1:15:32 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Sybeck1
I won’t be missing in November. I will be voting against Thad Cochran.

Majority Leader Reid thanks you for your principled contribution to Progress!

53 posted on 09/06/2014 1:36:13 AM PDT by cynwoody
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To: cynwoody

Looking forward to it. Do you enjoy voting for people that call you and your family vile names?


54 posted on 09/06/2014 7:02:16 AM PDT by Sybeck1 (Thad is a thud for me)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Cincis I don’t have a clue whom you voted for the last 25 yrs. but I do have a clue who you intend to vote for in 2014 based on your recent posts. You are going to vote Republican, not conservative but Republican and that is your prerogative.

The arguments you have made in support of voting Republican and asking others to follow are the same arguments the GOPE and Party people have made for 25 yrs. are they not?

And what is my agenda? Is it that I am anti-liberal? Am I anti-Republican? Regardless of party affiliation if the candidate has a (D), (R) or (I) in front of their names if they are liberal I will not support them. If that is treason among Republican circles then make the most of it.


55 posted on 09/08/2014 10:26:27 AM PDT by sarge83
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