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Noonan: Baseless Confidence. It may take a defeat in Nov for the GOP to unlearn the lessons of power
WSJ Opinion Journal ^ | May 11, 2006 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 05/11/2006 12:31:45 AM PDT by FairOpinion

The Republicans talk about cutting spending, but they increase it--a lot. They stand for making government smaller, but they keep making it bigger. They say they're concerned about our borders, but they're not securing them. And they seem to think we're slobs for worrying. Republicans used to be sober and tough about foreign policy, but now they're sort of romantic and full of emotionalism. They talk about cutting taxes, and they have, but the cuts are provisional, temporary. Beyond that, there's something creepy about increasing spending so much and not paying the price right away but instead rolling it over and on to our kids, and their kids.

So, the normal voter might think, maybe the Democrats. But Democrats are big spenders, Democrats are big government, Democrats will roll the cost onto our kids, and on foreign affairs they're--what? Cynical? Confused? In a constant daily cringe about how their own base will portray them? All of the above.

Where does such a voter go, and what does such a voter do? It is odd to live in the age of options, when everyone's exhausted by choice, and feel your options for securing political progress are so limited. One party has beliefs it doesn't act on. The other doesn't seem to have beliefs, only impulses.

What's a voter to do? Maybe stay home, have the neighbors over for some barbecue, and then answer the phone when a pollster calls asking for a few minutes to answer some questions. When they get to the part about whether America is on the right track or the wrong track, boy, the voter knows the answer.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: 109th; 2006; 2006election; cutoffnose; election; noonan; peggynoonan; spinelessgop
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To: bpjam

Peggy wrote several Bush bashing articles of late. I used to like her, but as I said, I am very disappointed in her.


21 posted on 05/11/2006 12:59:38 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: GregH

"Exactly how having a Dem Control of congress is going to help America? It will lead to more taxes,more illegals, more activist judges pushing perversion down the society and creating special rights for terrorists.."

By doing what you said, they will try to move forward full steam with socialism, and fail miserably. Then at the next election republicans will act like republicans, and sweep in a landslide like 94. At least thats what the plan is.


22 posted on 05/11/2006 1:03:55 AM PDT by RHINO369
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To: RHINO369

The Dems will have enough activist judges installed to continue their agenda even they are voted out of office.

Thats why we cannot let the Dems control congress.


23 posted on 05/11/2006 1:09:33 AM PDT by GregH
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To: Rokke
It is precisely to avoid the apocalypse you describe that I join the critics in calling for a turning. I do not think that conservatives are so weak in their beliefs that we dare not utter the truth lest they sleep though the election. The board is here for us to hash these matters out, not to censure every uncomfortable reality.


24 posted on 05/11/2006 1:09:50 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, Attack..... Bull Halsey)
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To: RHINO369

"By doing what you said, they will try to move forward full steam with socialism, and fail miserably. "


===

How long has the communist regime been in power in Cuba? aNd it's still there. Are you really anxious to turn the US into a communist country?


25 posted on 05/11/2006 1:10:41 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion

The world has passed her by.

She used to be a very talented writer -- but for the last year, she's been losing it quickly, and sounds like most of the punch-drunk mass media writers who could have been "somebody," but failed to keep up with the fast-evolving world of writing.

I think it's mainly that the whole bunch of them stopped growing about ten years ago, whether conservative or liberal -- and are hoping the old style of mass media self-importance and self-indulgence is going to make a comeback -- if they keep on repeating history, as though they knew the future.

So sad. They stopped growing and insisted everybody else has to too -- so they can remain at the top of the heap, in their faded memories of the past. The rest of the public has to contend with Alzheimer's; with people in the media, it's Helen Thomas' Disease. It's fatal but they go on breathing for a long time after the brainwaves have flatlined. Their editors can't tell the difference and go on cutting the checks until the publications themselves pass into history.


26 posted on 05/11/2006 1:10:55 AM PDT by MikeHu
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To: FairOpinion

While that could be the result, I'm afraid it would be more along the lines of "we took too hard of a line and that's what why we lost. People want us to moderate."

You'd think the threat of losing office would be enough to wake them up...the writing is on the walls already - they need to wake up.


27 posted on 05/11/2006 1:13:12 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: nathanbedford
"It is precisely to avoid the apocalypse you describe that I join the critics in calling for a turning."

Is your "turning" a turning over of the House and Senate to the Democrats? Is that what you are advocating?

"The board is here for us to hash these matters out, not to censure every uncomfortable reality."

It appears to me that Peggy's commentary is still posted at the top of this thread. Where is the censuring? Or should I be censured from speaking my opinion about her?

28 posted on 05/11/2006 1:13:15 AM PDT by Rokke
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To: FairOpinion
For the most part, I tend to agree with Peggy. Just as the politicians lose track of the common folk, we don't really know how they operate. Peggy understands them better. So much should have been done with a Republican president, house and senate. So much has gone wrong with the judicial branch and the scales were not balanced. Activist judges will be the death of us. The Repubs are so busy finessing a status quo that they aren't minding the country properly.
29 posted on 05/11/2006 1:14:50 AM PDT by Ruth A. (we might as well fight in the first ditch as the last)
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To: FairOpinion
My vote has to be earned, not taken for granted.
30 posted on 05/11/2006 1:17:38 AM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: DTogo

"My vote has to be earned, not taken for granted."


====

So please tell us how the DEMOCRATS "EARNED" your vote. That's whom you will be helping.


31 posted on 05/11/2006 1:19:47 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion

And something else to think about:


All investigations, all the time (if Dems capture Congress)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630350/posts


===

New Taxes Will Be Imposed on the Wealthy - by Democrats


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1629665/posts


32 posted on 05/11/2006 1:21:21 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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Republicans and immigration by Thomas Sowell

"Frankly, the Republicans deserve to lose this fall's election, after their wild spending and pandering to economic ignorance on gas prices. But a Republican defeat would only bring in the Democrats -- and the country does not deserve anything that disastrous. The Democrats' petty obstruction and irresponsible demagoguery in wartime disqualifies them for national leadership when a nuclear Iran and nuclear terrorists loom on the horizon.

33 posted on 05/11/2006 1:25:39 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion

If the GOP doesn't earn my vote, they may earn themselves a defeat. Temporary minority status might just be what's in order to wake the GOP up, or shake out the RINOs next time around. A simple majorty does not mean absolute power, as demonstrated by all three houses right now controlled (but ineffectively ruled) by the GOP.


34 posted on 05/11/2006 1:32:01 AM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: monkeyshine

That will most likely be the out come, the GOP real problem is not 06 but 08. That said the GOP might very well lose enough close races (due to conservative disapontment with the GOP) to lose the house. Hope not, might still be able to get back some very upset conservatives but I don't how how. Conservatives just no longer trust Republicans.


35 posted on 05/11/2006 1:33:14 AM PDT by jpsb
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To: DTogo
"Temporary minority status might just be what's in order to wake the GOP up"

Temporary...like 12 years...or perhaps 40?

36 posted on 05/11/2006 1:33:31 AM PDT by Rokke
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To: Howlin

Wow, what a rogues gallery.


37 posted on 05/11/2006 1:33:32 AM PDT by Once-Ler (Beware conservatives whose political consistency dictates all Presidents must be impeached.)
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To: DTogo

You didn't answer. How are the DEMOCRATS earning your vote?

By not voting for the Republicans, you are voting for Democrats.

It's one or the other.


38 posted on 05/11/2006 1:33:35 AM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)
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To: FairOpinion

"Maybe you should send this collage of Dem pictures to Peggy and ask her if she really wants THIS to happen."
P

Maybe you should send this collage of Dem pictures to Bush and the Republicans in the senate ask them if they really want THIS to happen.


39 posted on 05/11/2006 1:44:18 AM PDT by toomanylaws
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To: FairOpinion
By not voting for the Republicans, you are voting for Democrats.

No, as previously stated, my vote has to be earned and not taken for granted. I'm beginning to empathize with black voters who vote Democrat...

40 posted on 05/11/2006 1:45:36 AM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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