Posted on 07/07/2004 1:51:17 PM PDT by neverdem
The lineup of primetime speakers at the Republican Convention predictably reflects its New York location by giving prominent spots to the hosts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki. But those enjoying the coveted spotlight also pay tribute to New York's former Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Joining the hosts will be other mavericks and dissidents who represent a minority in Ronald Reagan's GOP. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona's Senator John McCain, and California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will all be at the primetime podium. The only announced speaker who actually agrees with President Bush on major issues is Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georigia.
The decision to showcase rogue elephants as representatives of the modern Republican party is not the mark of a self-confident party establishment. If the lineup is intended to make an overwhelmingly conservative party attractive to swing voters, it does so by pretending to be something it's not. The Republican party seems to habitually internalize the criticisms of its opponents. When the only Reagan Republican to enjoy a prominent supporting role at the party's convention is a Democrat, the GOP has a serious identity problem. The Kerry-Edwards ticket is liberal. The Boston convention will not be featuring Louisiana senator John Breaux in an attempt to pretend otherwise.
At the Big Apple convention, three Kerry Catholics will be representing the millions of faithful Catholics being aggressively courted by the Bush campaign. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will likely be heard from as a congressional leader, but haven't senators who have been on point on crucial issues like abortion, cloning, same-sex marriage, and international human rights earned primetime placement alongside their tormentor John McCain? Conservative Republicans should be asking why senators like Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback aren't enjoying the same public embrace as the New York Times' favorite Republican.
While it is true that conservatives like Colorado Governor Bill Owens and Rep. Melissa Hart (Penn.) will have prominent roles on the platform committee during the week before the convention opens, they will not be spotlighted like the speakers who regularly break ranks.
Given the political ambitions of some of the speakers, the party faithful should pray that Rockefeller Republicanism is not back in the future.
That's why we're commonly referred to as the "stupid party".
It seems to me that the Republicans actually allow a variety of political views in the party while the democrats allow no such diversity.
This is a ridiculous article and one wonders if she'd like to go back to the convention where Pat Buchanan got prime time......just what we need.
Exactly why I have no problem at all with this. Let the friendly, warm-and-fuzzy types be the face of the administration. And the far-right Buchanan types be the brains of it! It is 100% the opposite of what Bush 1 did -- I am glad we are learning.
Featuring Guiliani and Pataki reminds of 9/11, and their and Bush's response.
Arnold is the Terminator, and just plain fun to listen to.
It's a show, for heaven's sake, and will be a hell of a lot more entertaining than the dullness in Boston.
I long for the day of three major parties.
the Dims are doing their part by tacking hard left, the GOP is showing it's true colors by oozing into the vacuum of the so-called middle...What remains is for those who hold Reaganesque views to split from this train wreck and ally themselves in a new Conservative party. They may swell the ranks of the Constitution party or they may start another one to which the CP will not feel the need to stand apart from.
But true Reagan Conservatives OUGHT to GET OUT of the Republican party BEFORE 2008. If they did so it great enough numbers, they would be able to assemble the necessary political gravity to break through the roadblocks which now exists to a third party.
Actually, even the threat might be enough. If the GOP was served notice that 40% of it's party and a like number of it's officeholders were willing to invoke the "nuclear option" if the party refused to return to what brought them their greatest success, they might not HAVE to leave...but they HAVe to MEAN it when they threaten to.
So, let Santorum and Brownback, and all the rest who would claim the mantle of Reagan take great political risks - as HE did - for what they believe in.
Or let them shut up and continue to soil their hands with the likes of Arlen Specter and we'll know them for who they are.
Might we cause things to get worse by such a separation? Certainly. but, to paraphrase a line from Ralph Nader, you only switch from the slow train to hell to the fast one. I suspect that until we arrive at that station, too many people will sleep through the ride to stop the train in any case. We might as well go through the fire and come out purified on the other side.
Bloomberg, Rudy, and Pataki are major locals so they'll get facetime. I can't fault the RNC for that.
I just hope Cheney is forceful on the right.
The article is annoying and even more annoying was Rush saying he agreed with the premise. Yuck!
Oh, and to clarify, I don't really give a rip about the convention, it's the fact that the so-called "brains" of the party is NOT Reaganesque...its Rockafelleresque.
This is not a show for the people, it's who they really are. they don't have the courage of true Conservative positions. when they do get it right - appointing good judges for instance - they don't have the convictions to back it up and they let the Dims slap them around for their timid efforts.
If this were only about a moderate facade for the sheeple, I wouldn't even notice. I have to support Bush this time because the judicial appointment issue is just to critical in our oligarchy, but after this election, that ship has pretty much sailed - time for a sea-change.
This much IS true...
This Convention is THE Coronation of the RINO-wing's rise to the throne of the GOP.
It will ONLY serve to annoy and alienate true conservatives who duly note they and their platform are relegated to the backseat, virtually guaranteeing the base will abandon the GOP in '08 if not '12 to regroup elsewhere.
ping
OK, who the hell else SHOULD be speaking at a Republican convention?? The three most popular politicians in America right now are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain. Does it occur to Miss O'Beirne that there might be a REASON for that??? I love Rick Santorum, but after his comments on homosexuals, he is radioactive. There simply isn't a "true conservative" with the stature to deserve a prime time speaking slot at a Republican convention. So I suppose we should make the purists like Miss O'Beirne happy by putting up obscure Senators like Sam Brownback, whom NO ONE WILL WATCH, while forcing Arnold Schwarzenegger to the sidelines. Give me a break!!
The rinos in this party have to be the stupidest people I have ever seen, especially when the Republicans are sitting on the verge of long standing power, given to them by those moral people whom the democrat party left. Lets do the brilliant thing and leave the moral right with nothing, and watch our base go walking. I go walking with them.
given that the media is cutting down on the length of coverage, who would you think they will cover? Will Arnold get time or will they cut away form Owens while Brokaw tells America what is wrong with Republicans? I may not be thrilled with Gulliani as the face of the party, but more people -independents- will watch him than will watch Santorum. Rick is right, Rudy will say the right things on TV.
This is Reagan's year and should be treated as such. Nelson Rockefeller, I believe, once tore a sign supporting Reagan out of hands of an activist at the Republican convention in 1976. I've seen in books a reprint of a sign that followed, saying, "Rocky, please don't steal my sign!"
Rockefeller represented a variant of Republicanism that should not only be buried, but have a stake driven through its heart.
Regards, Ivan
No, the conventions first mission is do no damage to the base. Second preach why Republicans are right on issues to the general public.
You can just as easily destroy your base as gain new members. Your goal is to get your base pumped up and gain new converts.
I think Micheal Reagan should be one of the speakers.
Well, if the "base" is not aware that the world cannot afford to have John Kerry in the White House, then the "base" is ignorant.
If the "base" is going to be in a snit over Rudy Guiliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger, it's no wonder we're called the "Stupid Party."
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