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.
Heck! They'd set up a Taliban style government in the USA if they could!
Look at it this way. Now you don't have to cringe when the budget or immigration comes out, because its not personal to you. Now you can fight liberalism on your territory, and not have to work around comfortable and cocky politicians from your own party in Washington.
"It's not so much that we lost, it's how huge the loss was."
In the greater scheme of things, our losses are below average for a 6 year midterm. Regain 7 House seats and 2 in the Senate. Does that sound insurmountable? Absolutely not, especially considering that most of the Democrats elected ran as conservatives. We here in NC know a thing or two about Democrats running as conservatives ... John Edwards, who immediately went to the left of Ted Kennedy and stayed there. He knew better than to run for reelection.
"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"
This is an excellent point. And I think goes along with Rush has said about not carrying water, or making them successful. So many times, weren't some of the talk show hosts saying what we wished our elected leaders would say what they were saying?
That's very true, and it gives me some encouragement. I think what makes us glum is that we aren't sure we can afford to screw around with unseriousness for the next two years.
Well said!
What do we say to dry their eyes?
Buck up?
Cowboy on?
Oh this is long BATTLE no question about that... But it shows that their PR machine did not convince the voters. Did you see what happened in CO?... 2 propositions... people responded beautifully.
On the other hand, Arizona was a surprise!... I wonder if there is a connection to Weasel McCain...:)
"I dont know what 2008 senate seats are weak for the Dems in 08 yet, if there are any."
I know which ones are weak for us and deserve a stiff primary challenge.
The rabbi's right on.
The biggest betrayal to me is those who tried to out-democrat democrats, under the label of being a "conservative". I think Bush is one of the worst offenders.
They DID make English official language though.
Lindsey Graham comes to mind.
I do feel very sad. First, Bush did his best, and Rumsfeld was great. The Democrats made the issue internal politics, instead of focusing on the enemy.
From now on, in my mind, I think of the Democratic Party as the Party of Treason. This is not the first time they have occupied this role. They pressured us to give up fighting the North Koreans, and we quite without achieving victory, helped by RINOs.
They they pressured us into abandoning our allies in Indo-China, with the loss of millions murdered in Cambodia, and thereby kept alive the Communist threat for another generation.
We now know that Ted Kennedy conferred with Soviet agents on ways to undermine Reagan. There is no way to work with someone who will do that, if your aim is to help America. All these supposedly moderate Democrats are in bed with Ted. That goes for Webb. Their conscience is dead. (Set that to rap, if you will.)
Now they are pushing to have us leave Iraq prematurely. I do not have any respect for the Democrats, nor really for anyone who supported them. There are some good people who voted mistakenly for the Democrats, but there are also nice alcoholics, and interesting psychotics. We are all people, but one does not need to have admiration for evil policies and their supporters.
If you don't think that we lost some good congresscritters, read this:
http://view.victory.ricksantorum.com/?ffcb10-fe8a1c717c62027e71-fdf310717066077576117672-ff001675766104
The Republicans lost their compass, overspending and earmarking and handing out goodies like ... well ... like Democrats. That is not what we elect Republicans to do.
Hopefully this mid-term drubbing will be a wake-up call. The next two years are going to be nasty, but let's see if the GOP learns anything in time for 2008.
If they do, this election could be a blessing in disguise.
It's all about framing and linguistics with the Goebbelsian propagandists of the left. Why, it's their right to govern!
Imagine... those RACISTS! :)
I like the President, he is the second best President in my life time, but I see him as a moderate who sometimes leans conservative, and always have.
"How Come I'm Not Devastated?"
Get back with me about that in March!
LLS
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