Posted on 06/20/2005 9:25:15 PM PDT by quidnunc
The second-century physician Galen observed famously: "Triste est omne animal post coitum." So perhaps it was inevitable that such a lusty beast as American conservatism should fall prey to unhappiness sometime after its greatest electoral seduction. All the same, the droopy state of the American right these days is unnatural.
Last November, American conservatives were full of grand visions of a permanent revolution, with spending brought back under control, Social Security privatized, conservatives filling the federal bench, and a great depression visited on the lawsuit industry. Six months later, listening to conservatives is as uplifting as reading William Styron's "Darkness Visible." Larry Kudlow bemoans "the dreariest political spring." John Derbyshire worries about the "twilight of conservatism" as the Republicans go the way of Britain's Tories. For Pat Buchanan "the conservative movement has passed into history" much as, some would say, Mr. Buchanan himself has done.
Conservatives whinge that George Bush has presided over a huge increase in federal spending. Social Security reform is stalled. A plan to deprive the Democrats of the power to filibuster Supreme Court nominees failed at the 11th hour, when seven Republican Senators defected. America is confronting protracted resistance in Iraq. And, needless to say, liberals remain firmly in charge of the commanding heights of American culture, from the Ivy League to the Hollywood studios.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
This is so true.
We are winning on so many levels.
We just confirmed our most important people for judgeships.
We will confirm even more this summer.
The polls always look bad for the GOP and then we win.
I bet anyone on this board, that not only do we make gains in the House, the Senate, and at the state level in 2006, but we will reach a filibuster proof majority.
"Consider, for instance, Mr. Bush's failure to control public spending."
Consider, for instance, Mr. Bush's failure to find his veto pen.
"I bet anyone on this board, that not only do we make gains in the House, the Senate, and at the state level in 2006, but we will reach a filibuster proof majority."
Well, if Dickie Durbin and Howie Dean keep up their childish antics, you are likely right!
This article boils down to:
The Republicans have by far the most powerful political machine in the country.
The Bush administration is trying to practice "statecraft as soulcraft" (to borrow a phrase from George Will): to use government for conservative ends...
But political machines and big governments aren't suited to conservatism at all. You can't use government for conservative ends and get conservative government--you just get more government. And political machines are built on pork and power, not shrinking government.
Yay! /sarc
What wonderfully conservative company...
Had that battle been won things would look a lot different now. That's probably another reason McCain undermined it.
I will take that bet. I then win either way. What kind of action are you promising, and what odds, since it's such a lock for you?
I suspect too few will see the irony.
Consider, for instance, Mr. Bush's failure to find his veto pen.
----
Yes, a "veto pen" for ----
a. Illegal immigration
b. Runaway government spending
c. A weak Congressional majority without leadership
Those who would white-wash a squandered Congressional majority, RINOs popping up as fast as Clinton's bimbos, and a reactionary national agenda...had better look again.
I am still looking for COHESIVE, CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP...
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
you forgot to mention the propensity to go along with every jackbooted thug, police state wishlist that comes their way
If the American dream means anything, it means finding a plot of land where you can shape your destiny and raise your children. Those pragmatic dreamers look ever more Republican. Mr. Bush walloped Mr. Kerry among people who were married with children. He also carried 25 of the top 26 cities in terms of white fertility. Mr. Kerry carried the bottom 16. San Francisco, the citadel of liberalism, has the lowest proportion of people under 18 in the country (14.5%).
We're walloping the Democrats soundly and they're whistling past the graveyard.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Allen/Steele or Allen/Sanford or Allen/Pence in 2008.
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