FIGHT! (National Review)

National Review The Corner ^ | November 5, 2008 | Peter Kirsanow

[greyfoxx39]

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Fight   [Peter Kirsanow]

Now back to the real world. It's traditional that a new president get a honeymoon of some indefinite length. It's also traditional for Republicans (and many conservatives) to act as Charlie Brown to Lucy with the football.

 

Obama will get the most lavish and extended honeymoon in history. Every time he walks to the podium without falling down will be trumpeted as the greatest accomplishment since MacArthur returned to the Philippines. It will be the natural tendency of Republicans to join in the praise, and worse, to try to be "bipartisan" when it comes to legislation that is manifestly bad for the country and abhorrent to conservative principles. This tendency will be magnified by the Republicans' fear that any opposition to Obama's policies will be portrayed as motivated by racism rather than principle.

 

Senator McCain is an American hero, a remarkable man. I can think of few I respect more. But he's likely to be the first to be leading the charge toward bipartisanship. This would be a mistake of galactic proportions. This must be resisted.

 

It's all well and good for Republicans to congratulate Obama today, and on Inauguration Day. The GOP shouldn't oppose merely for the sake of opposition. But if they were paying any attention to what Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Rangel, Schumer, etc, have been saying over the last year, they should realize that on the major issues of the day, liberals are determined to take the nation down a hard left path that will,  in the words of Obama, "fundamentally transform" America.

 

Republicans and conservatives will be taking a needed hard look at ourselves. Losers usually do. We must reassess, recalibrate and argue.

 

But in the meantime, we still have principles to defend and we must defend them vigorously. Particularly in the first 100 days when many of the most objectionable bills will likely be brought up.

 

For those inclined to make nice, which of the following Democratic agenda items are you prepared to sign on to so that you'll get invited to the right parties?

• Employee Free Choice Act
• Fairness Doctrine
• Freedom of Choice Act
• Nationalization of health care
• Estate tax increases
• "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" (driver's licenses for illegals)
• Capital gains tax increases
• Defense cuts
• Liberal judicial appointments
• Racial and ethnic preferences
• Income tax increases
• Bans on oil drilling
• Global poverty tax/Kyoto

These are but a few. Perhaps the most worrisome agenda items are those that will betray a fecklessness in foreign policy that could lead to a nuclear Iran, a vulnerable Israel, an imperial Russia, and an imploding Pakistan.

In many cases, the congressional math may preclude Republicans from little more than voicing principled opposition. But that's not nothing. It's imperative. Republican politicians for too long have been spectacularly inept in communicating their ideas, principles and positions. They've been unconscionably silent in defending their own. They shouldn't then be surprised when they get their hindquarters handed to them.

Last night was Obama's night. January 20th too. Watch for genuine opportunities to work together for the betterment of the country. But on every other occasion fight. Fight every attempt to entrench a new entitlement. Fight every attempt to redistribute wealth. Fight every attempt to radicalize the courts. Fight every attempt to weaken our defenses. Fight every attempt to restrict political speech. Fight every attempt to revise history. Fight for what's best about America.

11/05 10:33 AM

 

[truthandlife]

I was thinking about what Rush did yesterday in Operation Chaos. I don’t blame him because he didn’t know the future but he should have messed up the political process because it always comes back to bite you.

[1Old Pro]

Republicans FIGHT for Conservative principles ?????

That’s a joke worthy of a SNL skit.

[concerned about politics]

Hey, stick a grin on it. Socialism always fails, goes to far.

The socialist nations around the world have a lot of money invested in Oboma. Not only will the "middle class" and the poor in America be waiting for their free government check, but the socialist nations abroad will be waiting for their share of the U.S. wealth as well. They'll be waiting by their mailboxes, too. Oboma owes them.

[Pharmboy]

Absolutely. I am wearing black today and feel as if I am at America's wake. I have Brahm's German Requiem on the player and am trying put put a good face on for my coworkers. Next up: Mozart's Requiem. Perhaps Borges has another suggestion?

Grim.

[Pistolshot]

Bears repeating for the next two years.

FILIBUSTER JUDGES. FILIBUSTER APPOINTMENTS. FILIBUSTER LEGISLATION

And don't forget this little gem we will have to kill.

PERMANENT AWB.

[greyfoxx39]

Martial law is on tap on the near horizon.

Don't forget the "National Civilian Security Force"

[Tarpon]

Socialism, a long twisted tale of promises broken.

[timestax]

NO NEW TAXES, NONE !

[dandiegirl]

Any Republican that goes “across the aisle” to advance the liberal agenda must go. No more, let them come across to us. We need Republicans with spines.

[lonevoice]

That’s a really good post. Hat tip.

[greyfoxx39]

How you doing today, greyfoxx? Are you in mourning weeds?

I am wearing a long black dress...however, I usually wear black anyway....I am disgusted, disappointed and worried. How about you?

[bolobaby]

How many times did the dems *actually* filibuster? I’ll give you a hint: zero.

At this point, “filibuster” is just a word. You throw it around to mean “you try and pass this and we’ll debate it to death.”

So when I say “FILIBUSTER [EVERYTHING]” I really mean “be the obstructionists that the democrats have been.

[Tennessee Nana]

Among the Democratic agenda items ....

I didnt see AMNESTY Bill ....

[concerned about politics]

Socialism, a long twisted tale of promises broken.

yep. Lots of people voted "in the moment." They were swept up by Obomas cash. Give it a few days for the Oboma spin to slow down, and people will wake up to what they've done.

Remember Clinton and the Monica scandal? The spin to protect Clinton went on 24/7. People were "wrapped up in the moment". Republicans were being blamed for everything, and the nation thought the Republicans were filled with hate and animosity toward Clinton. After the impeachment and everything died down, people looked back and saw a different picture. Clintons approval rating dropped to 23% and has stayed there ever since.

[Tennessee Nana]

The bailout...

And the AMNESTY Bill...

[greyfoxx39]

Good post. I hope you are correct in that race can't be used again.

I just wonder how the "race" benefits will be alloted. Will the hispanics be treated equally with the blacks? NM hispanics and natives backed Obama...my bet is that they will find themselves shoved aside when the goodies are handed out.

I'd like to get a look at the guest list for the main Inagural Ball...I'm sure it's been ready for weeks.

[Borges]

I have Brahm's German Requiem on the player and am trying put put a good face on for my coworkers. Next up: Mozart's Requiem. Perhaps Borges has another suggestion?

Gotterdammerung?

[MeanWestTexan]

Yep.

I am thinking a magazine newspaper chain might be in order.

Can Murdoch get USA Today. Seems like a place to start, along with Gannet or one of those?

Would be a toe hold.

[Alkhin]

YOU CAN START BY GETTING RID OF PEGGY NOONAN AND ALL THOSE RINO WH*R*S WHO WENT RUNNING TO OBAMA BECAUSE THEY WERE JEALOUS OF THE PROM QUEEN.

DONT BOTHER COMING BACK NOONAN ET AL. THAT'D BE LIKE TRYING TO GET BACK IN AND MAKE LOVE TO YOUR EX BOYFRIEND AFTER YOU HUMILIATED HIM BY LIFTING YOUR SKIRT FOR HIS BEST FRIEND AND ASKING HIM TO KISS YOU. WE DONT WANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU AROUND ANY MORE!!

[greyfoxx39]

Good post. Well thought out and on the mark.