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How Come I'm Not Devastated?
Human Events ^ | Nov 09, 2006 | Rabbi Aryeh Spero

Posted on 11/09/2006 12:00:39 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

The Republicans lost big. I'm a Republican -- and yet I'm not devastated. For the first time, the loss doesn't feel personal. Why?

Because from President Bush on down, no one in the party seems to touch us the way some Republicans previously did. Many haven't gone out on a limb, in our behalf, to champion our causes. Many didn't respond to our offers of help.

Many of us who take the issues seriously were sickened every time Beltway Republicans and RNC leaders referred to those Democrats -- who mock us, and our country, and care more about terrorist "rights" than the safety of our families -- as "our friends" across the aisle.

It's hard to feel personal about elected officials who seem incapable of enunciating what I believe and what I stand for. If they understood what we hold dear and why -- who we are -- they would be able to express it themselves. Unless, of course, they really don't feel it. They don't seem to be one of us.

Fire begets fire. But this crop of Republicans seems unwilling daily to fight hard and say what has to be said. No passion. They leave us cold. What they do possess is loads of timidity and a pre-occupation with appearing "reasonable" -- Washington-like. It’s our party but not “our guys."

Never in my lifetime has the party been so bereft of individuals to whom one can feel a personal bond, an affection, a long-distance connection. Never before has the party been so comprised of colorless, political robots. The party has no personality. It has become a shell without a core, a hodge-podge without a germinating seed.

It has become a party of slogans, such as "stay the course" and No Child Left Behind instead of one with guts and patriotic heart. It is too globalist and Madison Avenue and not enough Main Street. They took our loyalty and belief in them for granted, giving themselves permission to prolong, much too long, Iraqi nation- building with American lives and dollars. Assured of our patience, they chose easy-way-out political-correctness.They didn't respect us -- until election eve.

They seemed so unrecognizable -- these pre 1980-like Republicans, as often does their President whose every other sentence starts with "compassion" as well as references that are alien to this life-long conservative. I often cringe.

It's a group who won't stand up for their own. The minute the media make a charge against a Republican colleague or supporter, they've shown they'd rather appease the media than stand by a brother. This is not an endearing quality. Nor is it manly. All along we’ve wondered: Would they stand up for us?

While we often find the party an ideological home in which to hang a hat, it seems to have lost the ability to touch us emotionally. Reagan did, as did “Bobbie” for the Democrats. Only that can explain why millions of die-hard conservatives are this afternoon, upon the heels of this week’s defeat, able to make reservations tonight for a dinner. We feel anxious about the country's possible new direction, but we aren't in mourning for friends. Too bad, unlike in the past, the loss doesn’t seem personal.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: killthenbeatthebody; spero
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

I don't feel bad either. These people needed to go so we can become the party of individual thinkers. Some others need to go. I kind of think of it as a cleansing process. We need to get our priorities set and come together. We need to find good people; not silly lap dogs that care only about their cushy jobs.

Actually I feel energized. Look, we know the what the left is about already. They are going to try every trick in the book. But, we will remain strong in our beliefs.


101 posted on 11/09/2006 1:30:14 PM PST by freekitty
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To: JFC
so I feel your pain BIG TIME, in Cheney's words.

For the record, "big time" are Cheney's words.

"I feel your pain" is a Bill Clinton standard.
102 posted on 11/09/2006 1:31:32 PM PST by Xenalyte (Viva España!)
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To: MrRights
Mr. President, Our party is wounded, we implore you now to try to bring us home to our conservative values.

Asking Bush to "bring us home" to conservatism is assuming a fact not in evidence.
103 posted on 11/09/2006 1:33:31 PM PST by Xenalyte (Viva España!)
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To: TUAN_JIM
I voted all Republican, as always, but I've never been less excited about doing it.

The only other time I was even less excited about voting Republican, was voting for Bob Dole in '96. Man, was he a horrible candidate. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

We Republicans sure know how to pick 'em sometimes!

104 posted on 11/09/2006 1:34:49 PM PST by kevao
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To: auto power

And Bob Dornan-"B-1 Bob"


105 posted on 11/09/2006 1:35:07 PM PST by unkus
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To: ElPatriota

Of couse he will become the darling of the left...


As our first Hispanic President.


106 posted on 11/09/2006 1:35:58 PM PST by wolfcreek (A personal attack is the reaction of an exhausted and/or disturbed mind.)
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To: RegulatorCountry
I know which ones are weak for us and deserve a stiff primary challenge

LOL!!! Good luck taking on the RNC.

107 posted on 11/09/2006 1:37:20 PM PST by kevao
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To: docbnj
I agree the loss of Rick Santorum shows that the election was more about "any change is good change" rather than a rejection of RINO values.

Conservatism would be better served by running conservative candidates in the primaries, and conservatives getting more involved in party politics. This notion of sitting out if the party doesn't do what they want, all the time and on every issue, only serves to make conservatives look childish and inflexible. RINOs get into office because they get voted in from the people, esp. Republicans in the primaries. The character of our government is a reflection of its voting citizens, i.e. we get the government we deserve.

Reagan worked with a Democrat Congress to the detriment of the national debt and a failed illegal immigration policy, all so he could win the battles he could. Were he president today, many here on FR would be calling him a RINO as well.

In addition, we see collectivist thinking in places like Ohio, where congressional races were lost due a governor's indescretion. Believe it or not, there is no lie detector test or psychological evaluations for honesty to become a Republican, nor should we condemn an entire political party over the behavior of a few of its members.

How many conservatives who are married out there can say they have the perfect spouse? For that matter, how many conservatives out there can say their past and/or present behavior is as spotless as what they demand from their representatives? People are people and as such are flawed, and basically you have to accept them as they are. Wait around for the perfect politician, and you'll be waiting a long time.

Expelling conservatives already in office who may occasionally falter and replacing them with valueless socialists doesn't do anything good for this nation.
108 posted on 11/09/2006 1:39:56 PM PST by kidao35
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To: Brilliant

When Bush signs the amnesty bill the GOP will be out of power for 40 years. Impeachment is sounding good.


109 posted on 11/09/2006 1:46:28 PM PST by John Lenin
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To: kevkrom
According to Dick Morris...

Dick Morris is a great prognosticator, so long as you remember that he doesn't ask himself "What is my prediction?" but rather "What prediction is most likely to get me quoted, and asked on TV talk shows?"

110 posted on 11/09/2006 1:48:27 PM PST by Pilsner
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

The Dems are going to stuff the ballot boxes by granting amnesty to the illegals, which will ensure their majority for at least 20 years. When and if the GOP ever recovers, it will be only because they outdid the Dems in passing handouts to their far left constituency. In other words, if the GOP does recover control, it won't be as a conservative party.


111 posted on 11/09/2006 1:48:43 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: MrRights

Me too Mr Rights...I was morose all day yesterday. Better today though...like our brave soldiers and military brethren..we fight on. The Dims will give us a huge target rich enviroment. Time to rebuild our base with solid, true blue patriot conservatives.


112 posted on 11/09/2006 1:52:35 PM PST by tflabo (Take authority that's ours)
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To: Brilliant

Dick Morris has been wrong about nearly everything.

Get out. Get involved. Stand up for conservative values and we'll throw out the socialists in 2008.


113 posted on 11/09/2006 1:54:05 PM PST by joeystoy
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To: Brilliant
According to Dick Morris, it's going to be another 20 years or more before the GOP recovers control of the Congress.

This....from a guy who PAID prostitutes to hold a leash connected to a dog collar around his neck while barking like a dog down on all fours.

Only in America could such a person re-establish himself as a credible source on national politics.

114 posted on 11/09/2006 1:55:42 PM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: ElPatriota
YOU KNOW WE WILL COME BACK... we just have to take it one step at the time. It's just like a death in the family... this is time for grieving... it's ok to be sad, ambivalent or even depressed... for some time... then we'll snap back, you'll see :)

Thanks, that helps. Bears repeating.

Trouble is, this feels like icing on the cake after so many disappointments from this administration in the last couple of years.

115 posted on 11/09/2006 1:59:18 PM PST by ichabod1 ("For make benefit of Our Glorious Socializt Revolution")
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To: Obadiah
Now, I fear, our country is slowly but most certainly seeing the hand of God's blessing being removed from us as a nation.

'Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people'. Prov 14.34

116 posted on 11/09/2006 1:59:37 PM PST by tflabo (Take authority that's ours)
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To: Brilliant

"it's going to be another 20 years or more before the GOP recovers control of the Congress."


Considering the direction this country is going, 20 years from now it doesn't matter any more. There may only be one party and sharia law.


117 posted on 11/09/2006 2:03:43 PM PST by 353FMG (I never met a liberal I didn't dislike.)
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To: ElPatriota

"Hope you are right, but STILL... I never had any inkling Arizona was so PRO-HOMOSEXUAL. I thought Colorado would be the first one... but ARIZONA? :)...

I wish we had an ORGANIZATION dedicated to fight the homosexual agenda FULL-TIME. This people are aggressive, almost dangerous."

Same sex marriage is against the law in Arizona. The proposition was a revision to the State Constitution to make sure activist judges didn't overturn the law. The trouble with the proposition is that it included a lot of other stuff besides merely stating that "marriage is between one man and one woman." Some of the wording made it sound like unmarried men and women would be affected too, and the gay lobby made a big deal, saying that it would take away benefits from unmarried people. And they were right - it was a poorly written proposition and deserved to be killed off.

Arizona is not "pro-homosexual." But apparently we don't know any people who can write a coherent ballot proposition that does exactly what they want it to do and no more. I recall several of them over the past few years that have been overturned by the courts because they were obviously unconstitutional.


118 posted on 11/09/2006 2:04:59 PM PST by Tarantulas ( Illegal immigration - the trojan horse that's treated like a sacred cow)
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To: MrRights

"we implore you now to try to bring us home to our conservative values."


MrRights, I am deeply saddened to inform you that you're pissing in the wind.


119 posted on 11/09/2006 2:10:50 PM PST by 353FMG (I never met a liberal I didn't dislike.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

What fascinates me about the election is how close the races were. A lot of Republicans lost, but many of them by the narrowest of margins. Look at VA, over 2 million votes cast and the winner prevailed by only 7,500.


120 posted on 11/09/2006 2:13:38 PM PST by jwparkerjr
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