Cheer Up, Conservatives! You're still winning.

The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal ^ | June 21, 2005 | John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge

[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-

[watsonfellow]

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.

[agitator]

"Consider, for instance, Mr. Bush's failure to control public spending."

Consider, for instance, Mr. Bush's failure to find his veto pen.

[jocon307]

"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!

[LibertarianInExile]

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

[LibertarianInExile]

Note the image that accompanied the article:

What wonderfully conservative company...

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I think Frist had the votes to win the filibuster battle until McCain engineered a mutiny. He probably expected to face Frist in the primary and didn't want to give him an important victory.

Had that battle been won things would look a lot different now. That's probably another reason McCain undermined it.

[LibertarianInExile]

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?

[Pelham]

I suspect too few will see the irony.

[Carry_Okie]

One major act of terrorism resulting from non-existent border control and it's a world of hurt for Republicans, even though conservatives have opposed the President's policies consistently.

[EagleUSA]

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...

[goldstategop]

LOL! I just posted it but you guys beat me to it. The authors are so right - we're the party of the future and the liberals are the party of the past. We're on a roll!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[agitator]

you forgot to mention the propensity to go along with every jackbooted thug, police state wishlist that comes their way

[goldstategop]

This quote perhaps says it all: the Right is the party of destiny attracting younger Americans with families. The Left is attracting singles and homosexuals. I'll take the former any day in determining the course of the American future:

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".)

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Allen/Steele or Allen/Sanford or Allen/Pence in 2008.

[Kuksool]

The RATS recent MO is to portray the GOP as a party that is drunk with power and corruption. The smearing of Tom Delay is just the beginning. The RATS with the aide of the liberal media are aiming for several other top Republicans. The Far Left is hoping that media focus on alleged GOP scandals will divert attention from their own extremist positions.