Just as conservatism evolved away from the isolationist, business-versus-labor model — leaving Pat Buchanan and his ilk floundering about in the political wilderness like beached whales — so too is conservatism evolving apace away from the small-government, libertarian model so dear to the hearts of Rush Limbaugh and his acolytes.
Bush has recognized this and has parlayed it into two presidential terms.
However, if movement conservatives start an ideological war withing the GOP, everything which Ronald Reagan and those who believe as he did accomplished is in danger of being wrecked.
The my-way-or-the-highway conservatives are fast becoming the mirror images of the lunatic-fringe Democrats from moveon.org.
If the GOP is driven to the right, the Reagan Democrats who are socially conservative but fiscally liberal will be alienated and will rejoin the Democrats.
This is the reason Bill Clinton was elected twice.
The GOP better get THEIR act together.
BTTT...
So all it takes to stay in power is to rally behind a cause inimical to our best interests?
If I wanted that I'd be a Democrat.
For what it's worth, conservatives didn't start this food fight. Bush did.
I have supported Bush for five years, in spite of his sometimes doing things I don't like. But as I've said before, judicial appointments are the bottom line. A lot of other conservatives feel the same way.
Bush has done this to himself. There still may be time to pull his ratings and his reputation back up, and he has certainly shown himself capable of recovering before. He can be a fighter, but I hope he decides to fight his enemies instead of his friends. I hope he takes a good hard look at this whole business and finds a graceful way to back out of it and start over.
So, do you think your comments promote unity or drive people away?
Do you think the evolution away from small government by conservatives is a good thing?
Let me see if I got this straight.
"First the GOP gets rid of the isolationist non-free-traitors. Then it shakes loose that pesky small-government, libertarian wing. Ideological purity? That's just silly talk. Dig up the corrupt Jay Hanna GOP of the Gilded Age, that's WAAAAAY better than trying to get elected based on a platform. Screw these people who want a party philosophy...we run to put our people in power, the only principle is WIN!"
I'm aghast at how fast you people want what had yet been a party of principle to race to join the Democrat whoring. And you think...somehow...it's VIRTUOUS to do so. Who are you, and why do you call yourself conservative, anyway?
The GOP better get their act together and start acting like Republicans. Where is the smaller government? Even Bill Clinton won by declaring the era of big government is over. The GOP should impliment that popular sentiment if they really want to win.
"so too is conservatism evolving apace away from the small-government, libertarian model"
You're saying this as if it's a good thing...or am I missing something?
BS ... the liberal MSM put his piece of crap over the top twice. Had he been a Republican they would have torpedoed his candidacy way back in the early '90's.
This seems to describe that antithesis of Rush & Co.
There are two things that kept George in office for his second term...And barely, at that...
The first thing is that we wrapped ouselves in the flag to support this two-term long war...
The second, George promised to pick Supreme Court Justices in the mold of Thomas and Scalia...
Question: Where would George be without the war???
(This is the reason Bill Clinton was elected twice.)
I have seen governor Ryan (R, Illinois) voted for twice. I have seen Bill Clinton voted for twice. Both men destroyed their party.
There is something to be said for integrity.
I fail to see how this article can claim that Republicans are no good at governing. Bush has been very successful until about 6 months ago. His alleged failure at Katrina was more a political failure (not getting in front of the cameras quickly) than anything else. He is not directly responsible for FEMA's incompetence, and he is not at all responsible for the Louisiana government and New Orleans failures. He fired the FEMA head and that is really all he can do.
None of this proves that Republicans "can't govern." I'd like to see them try to defend a nation against terrorism and bring democracy to the Middle East. They all lack any kind of vision, and of course won't allow for any mistakes.
When they rejoin the democrats will they take Bush with them????
RINO's on parade alert!