Posted on 02/22/2010 2:11:01 AM PST by Brugmansian
“He is hurting the GOP’s chances at victory because he is a lunkhead hell-bent on making sure everyone knows his name.”
You could not be more wrong here. I live in Oregon, where conservative candidates were abandoned in favor of “moderates” and it has led to the utter destruction of the Republican party here. They now have a super-minority and can’t even stop tax hikes anymore. The State party would support crappy incumbents over up and coming true-conservatives *all the time* and it has made the Republican voters in the state unmotivated to act. I worked for a true conservative candidate, and he won the primary against the incumbent (who had voted for dozens of tax and fee hikes) without any support from the state party. And after he won, they said “Uh, we’re with you all the way!” Ha ha. Nice to know a-holes.
Voter apathy is caused by moderates! Glenn Beck is not even close to a “sister souljah” type. The comparison is completely ludicrous.
The way you motivate a voter base is to be exciting. To be a newcomer. To be DIFFERENT. Do you think Scott Brown won by being a moderate? How much support did the national GOP give to him? It wasn’t much. They didn’t think he had a chance. If people like you had their way, you would’ve suggested that some Arlen Specter type run for that Mass. senate seat because he’s the only one who would have a chance. You would have failed.
The GOP insiders, the old-boys’ network WILL FAIL if they keep running establishment types who work hard to build their moderate bonafides. They will fail miserably. THEY will cause a third party to run. THEY will cause voters to feel apathetic towards Republicans. THEY will not be abl eto convince any Democrat to jump the aisle. Why should they if the Republican isn’t any different?
Glenn Beck is not the problem. THE GOP ESTABLISHMENT is the problem. They are acting like ridiculous arrogant politicians rather than Americans.
I am tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I am tired of having to vote for people like McCain who became addicted to being liked by the mainstream media even though when the going got tough, they completely screwed him in favor of Obama. Republicans NEVER learn! George W. Bush did a bunch of stuff because he thought it would make the media like him more, but it never works, even when you do the media’s bidding on an issue. That is the trap.
There is no reason to kowtow to the MSM any more. There is far too much alternative media now, and rather than play by their rules, the GOP just needs to step out of the game. Their industry is dying and Michael Steele and his ilk need to learn that they will never give Republicans the benefit of the doubt, ever, no matter how “moderate” they are.
So I say, that Glenn Beck is necessary. His speech was necessary. The GOP Establishment has become so addicted to MSM approval, and so thoroughly connected to the power, the lobbyists, and the corruption of the beltway, that they have lost their way. It started in the Bush years. They squandered their chances at real reform and tried to be like by spending craploads of money and it didn’t work. The 1994 revolution didn’t happen because Newt and company were trying to be liked by the MSM. It worked because they went right to the people and said “This is what we will do” and they did it. They moved Clinton to the right whether he wanted to go there or not.
Mid-term elections usually have about 40% voter turnout. The other 60% isn’t going to come back if you are running candidates who aren’t dynamically different from what’s in power now...and what is different are candidates who believe in the constitution!
He only relates what Beck says. Beck is the one with broad brush strokes.
Specifically, Beck blames Progressives within the demonrat and republican parties for America's woes.
He does but he refused to credit those who are not on that side with most anything. He lumps all Republicans in with the RINOS. He was doing it tonight too. Said well maybe the GOP is seeing the light, maybe it is going in the right direction, but maybe not too and while he doesn't want a third party, maybe that is the only thing.....
Its nonsense. We are in the midst of the greatest purging of a political party since the New Left took over the Democratic party in the early 1970s and Beck refuses to give but the most tepid credit to those Republicans who are doing it.
In that case, you would have to argue that the voters chose Scozzafava (sp?). After all, you state that the Republicans (voters and leadership) get it. Which leads to the Republican voters chosing Scozzafava. But that didn't happen, which means there is a disconnect between the Republican base and the Republican leadership.
This really would be a moot point if Christ, McCain, and the rest were dropped like a hot potato by the party leadership... just like they are being dropped by the party base. As they are not, Beck's point is valid.
Saw that and thought, "HUH??" I remember him under Bush Sr. and Clinton standing up to block every bill the Democrats introduced to censor speech. He was a stonewall on that issue. He hated McCain Feingold and his fierce opposition to it in large part led to the recent Supreme Court case overturning it. Why would any conservative attack him?
I am a conservative working within the republican party. What I am doing is what Beck should be telling people to do, not telling them there is no difference between the two parties, pushing a third party, and generally making Ron Paul nutjobs seem interesting to get behind.FOR CRYIN OUT LOUD—AND I’M NOT WRONG. Perhaps the reason your conservative candidates are abandoned is because you are not out there raising a fuss for conservatives.
But...he isn’t telling people there is “no difference” between the parties. Have you ever even watched Beck? The theme of his show is all about people working within the system to change it, either by leaking information to him so he can publicize it or whatever. The refounding of America initiative. He’s NOT pushing for a third party. He’s said that on many occasions.
He is saying that there are progressives in the Republican party now, just as there were in the early part of the 20th Century. McCain happens to be one of them. The Party Establishment are only interested in maintaining their own personal power. They *need* to be called out. They are like the Scottish lords who could be bought off with token tracts of land to abandon their fight for independence from the English. By not confronting the Ron-Paulians, and by not pushing true conservatism, the GOP old-boys network is only ENCOURAGING him. They need to remove the reasons that Ron Paul is gaining traction—because the GOP offers nothing even *close* to a conservative message at times. They are too busy wanting to be liked and trying to get all they can in handouts.
Uh, conservative candidates are “abandoned” because of the short-sightedness of the party elites. They are still lost in the old paradigm of having to get the MSM to like them, and it never works for Republicans. I worked my butt off for the conservative guy here in Oregon and he won. Now he’s the most talented Republican in the Oregon Senate, unfortunately, the party still can’t see the light and run the right kind of candidates.
We have a difference of opinion on this. I saw the program, but that's not my take on what you cited. Beck does go after anyone who isn't a conservative and the republican party elite, the GOP that I think Beck is referring to, is not conservative and is exactly the problem with the republican party.
I appreciate how sensitive republicans might be regarding Beck's criticisms, but Beck is telling you what you need to hear. There are many of us former Republicans who tell you with our membership and our donations or lack of either, but apparently the GOP isn't getting that message yet.
Stop whining and fighting with Beck over petty trivia and prove him wrong with conservative action. Do that and watch your membership and donations increase. Fail to do this and risk a third party. People are paying more attention to politics now thanks to Beck and others like him, so give those potential voters reason to pay attention to the GOP.
Republicans need to earn back the trust they lost just a few short years ago. Voters are mad at the demonrats right now, but we haven't forgotten about you big spending republicans who give lip service to fiscal responsibility and Constitutional restraint.
Remember Reagan's advice about getting more done when you don't care who gets the credit? Stop looking for credit, tepid or otherwise, for doing the right thing and instead work for results and you'll get all the credit you can handle.
All he has to do is say that. But he doesn't.
Stop whining and fighting with Beck over petty trivia and prove him wrong with conservative action
Why not drop the characterizes of others comments? It really isn't productive. This isn't trivial at all. Rush and Levin certainly see where what Beck is doing can lead.
Mentioned it before but I will again. I do voter registration. The most difficult objection to overcome is the very idea Beck promotes day after day: both parties are responsible.
This is poison not because there isn't some truth in it. There is.
It is poison because it ignores the differences and gives no credit to conservatives who have been fending off RINOS and socialists for decades.
Many of those I try to get involved accept a total moral and political equivalency. I can say "Look the GOP candidate has a 95% rating from the American Conservative Union. The Democrat has a 5% rating. There is a huge difference".
It is like trying to reason with a zombie. They don't see it. Or they don't want to see it. They want to be above everyone else. They want to be pure and virginal and untainted. They know if they accept Beck's characterization of both parties, no one will criticize them.
Again, you have missed the obvious. "Know the enemy"
The very idea Beck is promoting is that PROGRESSIVES of BOTH parties are responsible for the trouble we find ourselves in. That is the case that you should be making with your registration efforts, while pointing out that you and the people you're campaigning for AREN'T progressive and why, that you are fighting the damned progressives of both parties. And why!
If we dismiss the notion of a third party, then Conservatives, especially the tea partiers, have one real choice to save the country: first save the Republican party.
You're wasting your time fighting Beck. You'd be better off embracing much of what he is telling people along what the tea partiers are saying. Beck is merely reminding voters about the greatness of who we Americans are and what we believe and why, while pointing out who and what the progressives are. Reagan did the same thing.
We Reagan Republicans remember that Reagan won with two landslides, set America back on the right track and made the world a better place. Even zombies can reason about what Republicans used to be. May the rino purge continue!
Brug, you are right on the money with the comment: all he has to do is say that. But he doesn’t.
In a nutshell, that was the point of my article.
BTW: Beck responded to me today on his show. I think he proved my point. Look for follow up piece tomorrow at American Thinker. In responding to me, Beck disavows third parties, admits there are many good Republicans, and calls the Republicans his party. Uh oh. I might have been onto something after all.
I respond to Beck’s own words from his Monday show....it will be FUN!!!
Nice follow up article:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/glenn_beck_vs_c_edmund_wright.html
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