Posted on 01/28/2009 9:17:33 AM PST by St. Louis Conservative
Republicans' 2008 election losses have spawned a spate of self-reflection. Was it just President Bush and the economy? Was it too much religion or ineffective candidates? Was opposition to immigration reform the death knell with minorities, or did Republicans fail to explain tried and true conservative principles? The theoretical argument rages among media elites and Beltway insiders, but the impact of Republicans' declining fortunes is more vivid--and the test of their ability to battle back more concrete--just a few miles south of Washington D.C. in the suburbs of Northern Virginia.
Tom Davis spent 14 years on Fairfax County's board of supervisors and then 14 more in Congress. He hasn't had many leisurely Saturday mornings in the last few decades, with all the civic events and campaign mixers to attend. But on a rainy Saturday, he and his wife, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, were relaxing in their living room, their two small white dogs scampering about. They are both officially retired (albeit not entirely voluntarily and perhaps not permanently) from politics--she after failing to be reelected to her Virginia state senate seat in 2007 and he after retirement from the House last year.
It is not clear whether Davis is talking personally when he explains that in the George W. Bush era, Virginia Republicans were often "just collateral damage." The only way for voters to vote against Bush in midterm elections was to vote against Republicans in House, Senate, and state races. "It's our own fault. The party branding is what killed us."
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
I'm no fan of childish acronyms. I like specific examples of conservative principles being breached by those claiming to represent me. It is too easy to call names. I think it is possible to point out whenever someone breaks rank with the principles of conservatism and explain why the behavior breaches the principles of conservatism.
The "RINO" label was counter productive during the primaries.
The reason Pres. Bush will be blamed is because the executive branch is in charge of monetary policy...there is blame to go around...I hear much about Obama recession here...but when I go to the grocery store I hear about Bush’s recession...It’s not fair, but it’s reality.
Ah, yep, and this was not by accident.
Stupid Republicans want to "include" these people, who will never vote for DemoRat lites, but will fervently seek out conservatives when they finally wake up.
You can't fix stupid, but sometimes ignorance explodes in epiphany and cures itself.
No question that Paulson’s sudden presentation of a doomsday scenario turned the election around. Everyone I know was absolutely scared to death, and they hadn’t had a clue the day before that there was anything wrong with the economy.
McCain was blindsided and destroyed. But it was also his stupidity that did him in. What would have happened if he were president and a sudden emergency hit the country? I hate to think, although God knows it would be better than having Obama in the White House.
A political party in its prime seeks out converts.
A political party in decline seeks out heretics to kick out of the party, to join the people who are voluntarily heading for each exit at 100 mph.
... so the RINO thing makes perfect sense. Why be America’s minority party when we could have nothing at all, save for a few seats in the deep south.
Go GOP gatekeepers! Keep chipping away until the GOP is just you and that dog from the pound that didnt display any liberal tendencies! Oh, and Rush, a.k.a “our Obama, who art on the radio”
I am not sure I am grasping your point. Can you break it down? I am not sure where you are serious and where you are being sarcastic.
What?
First of all the Federal Open Market Committee controls the monetary policy and acts independently “within the government”.
Second of all the only Branch the Federal Reserve is answerable to is the Legislative not Executive.
Executive power only consist of appointing Board members (Which are staggered with terms surpassing 14 years and the Senate still has to consent the appointment) and the Secretary of the Treasury following what the Board decrees. In short some "independent" board controls monatary policy, not elected offcials, appointed ones (From as long as 14 years ago).
During the next two months, Chicago should be Ground Zero, for the GOP. Since Rahm Emanuel resigned from Congress, a special election will be held to replace him. The primary will be on Mar. 3, and the general election will be on Apr. 7. The conservative candidate is Rosanna Pulido, the founder and director of the Illinois Minuteman Project, and I’m her campaign manager. She’s pro-life and pro-gun rights. Please read her site, www.rosannapulido2009.com. If you know anyone who wants to help her, by volunteering or donating, please ask them to email me at philacollins@yahoo.com.
Who appointed Paulson? While I agree with most of what you say, I believe the voters will blame the GOP...unfair though it may be...the party in the White house when the recession begins is always blamed. We lost in 2008 because of this, I think. What we can hope for is that Pres. Bush is blamed...he’s gone. Thus if the GOP is effective in this situation, we can turn it around, but it’s going to be tough with every media outlet in the world blaming the GOP.
I agree...Reagan had his Reagan Democrats...he put together a coalition that stood until recently. I wish we had a few RINO’s right now to stop the Dems.
No, no, yes, no yes.
Its kinda funny to see all this “Self Reflection”...
“What did the republicans do wrong?”
“what did the conservatives do wrong?”
Heh...
All the concepts of error are based on the rules of the game they were playing and the false premise that they could actually ever win it. The only true answer to “What went wrong” is that you played the game in the first place.
The political and social “infrastructure” of modern America is owned by the socialists. The means to disseminate propaganda on a massive scale is owned by the socialists. From virtually every media outlet where pop culture is shaped to the schools we send our children to be taught about the world (kindergarten - college). EVERYWHERE you turn, everything you read, watch and listen to (with few exceptions) is tainted with the dogma of “leftism” and practically oozes with propaganda. This is the game thats played. These are the rules its played by.
Its time to get serious and stop playing games that we CANNOT win. Its time to cut our losses with this investment and invest in something new. and old.... Its time to reinvest in the principles that penned the Declaration of Independence, culminated in the Constitution and founded a union of states. The men who wrote those documents had the fortitude and the courage to follow through and devote themselves to their ideals. Its our time to pick up what was dropped and build it again, stronger, and better. We do no disservice to those who came before us by abandoning what has become corrupt, in fact they knew this day would come and wished us well.
How many among us are willing to devote ourselves entirely to our ideals? to “mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”? to build from the ashes of history that shining city on a hill?
Paulson is guilty of going into hyperbole mode with Martial Law if that (Irresponsible generation killer) stimulus last fall did not pass and a key figure in writing the “gift”. Bush is guilty, in some people's eyes but others think the $700+ Billions were necessary, of listening to Paulson/Bernanke (Who recommended the spending bill).
Greenspan played crazy with the IR, over heated the economy with all the fraud going on. Basically everything those who condemned Congress giving away their responsibility has come to fruition. 1913 was a miserable year for the United States (16th Amendment as well).
But the overriding single reason.....with all the talent, brains, experience, attitude, knowledge, voters, support, money, power, and skill...the absolute BESTslate the repubs were able to come up with to defeat the obammer machine was old man mcidiot and a then completely unknown lady from ALASKA???????????
THAT is what lost it for the repubs. It really is that simple
Yes you are correct about Bernanke...my mistake. I agree with what you say...most informed people would...I’m talking about the perception.
Hopefully and I think it will happen, people will examine Obama more closely now and definitely in 2012. I can understand the “novelty” of an articulate black candidate (Who is not Jesse Jackson) and a crashing economy effecting the vote but next Pres. election as well as 4 years of President the novelty of Obama will wear thin.
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