Posted on 12/28/2011 6:03:28 AM PST by SeekAndFind
I’ve made a disturbing discovery: I am a member of the conservative “establishment.” I feel like Michael Douglas at the end of Falling Down: “I’m the bad guy?”
Largely in response to the real and perceived excesses of the Bush years and the overreach of the Obama administration, the base has become more populist. In particular, the rank and file of the GOP and the conservative movement have become deeply disenchanted with what they see as the rubber-spined, foot-dragging quislings drinking from a trough of Chablis at some Georgetown party. The term “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) has become an epithet of ideological enforcement, spit out in much the same way Mao cursed “running dog capitalists.”
In 2010, the tea parties and the conservative base (not always synonymous terms) tried to cull as many RINOs from the herd as they could in the primaries. They were extremely successful, with only a few stumbles.
Things are messier this time around. And to some extent this is to be expected. Presidential primaries rely on much larger pools of voters than primaries in midterms. Moreover, rather than a single Tea Party candidate challenging a worn-out incumbent, the field has had lots of candidates seeking the Tea Party or “true conservative” mantle.
Each of them has tried to play the populist card, not just against the liberal media establishment but also against the so-called conservative establishment. “I believe it is a deliberate attempt to damage me because I am not, quote unquote, the establishment choice,” explained Herman Cain when asked about his troubles.
Though he never intended any of this, Mitt Romney is largely to blame for the anti-establishment tumult. Somehow, he has managed to become the Arlen Specter of the 2012 field. (Specter is conservative-speak for “demon RINO from hell.” You’re supposed to spit on the ground after you say “Arlen Specter.” Ptooey.)
In 2008, Romney was the conservative alternative to John McCain, earning endorsements not just from National Review but from many titans of right-wing talk radio — Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham. Now Limbaugh insists that support for Romney proves that “the Republican establishment does not want a conservative getting the nomination.” Erick Erickson, a CNN contributor and editor of the conservative site RedState, says that if Romney is the nominee, “Conservatism dies and Barack Obama wins.”
Recently, after National Review issued a stinging anti–Newt Gingrich editorial, many of the same voices insisted that the magazine (where I work, though I didn’t write the editorial) has, in the words of one right-wing blogger, lived long enough “to become the villain.” Fox News, Karl Rove, Charles Krauthammer, George Will, and even pro-Romney columnist Ann Coulter are routinely denounced as part of some RINO cabal.
It’s difficult to catalogue all of the oddities. Hugely successful, powerful, and rich conservatives are lambasting the establishment as if they are in no way part of it. Gingrich has gone from being too establishment to being too anti-establishment faster than you can say “Freddie Mac.” And you can only wonder how befuddled Romney is, given that he’s moved even further rightward since 2008.
Frankly, I can’t blame anyone for being underwhelmed by Romney, or begrudge anyone their frustration with the field. What’s harder to understand is how nobody has noticed that the conservative establishment, which includes many of my friends denouncing it, has become vastly more conservative over the last two decades. It’s more pro-life, more pro–Second Amendment, more opposed to tax increases.
The political corpses of RINOs litter the roadside of this great migration. Rockefeller Republicans went out with 8-track tapes, leisure suits, and Kevin Phillips. And yet people talk about the conservative establishment as if David Gergen is calling the shots.
The mere fact that there’s something one can meaningfully describe as a conservative establishment today is a victory, never mind that it is more conservative than it has ever been. But a conservative establishment is useless if it doesn’t bring the nation with it. The frustration on the right stems from the fact that none of the candidates seems up to that task.
— Jonah Goldberg is editor-at-large of National Review Online and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
They didn't call him Tricky Dicky for nothing.
“Hi Jonah!”
(outstanding article)
Thinking from the article, he’s clearly a FReeper.
Nicely written Sir.
“rubber-spined, foot-dragging quislings drinking from a trough of Chablis at some Georgetown party”
Target acquired—Launch ordnance.
And you can only wonder how befuddled Romney is, given that he’s moved even further rightward since 2008.
That’s the problem with Romney. He has to move, he has no foundation. What happens when he needs to move left???
Hilarious!
Wayta go, Jonah!
I differ with Goldberg on one major point: that Romney has moved right since 2008. I think the opposite is true and I think it’s one reason Romney is stuck on 25%.
Now Goldberg is right that Romney was considered a conservative alternative to McCain in 08 - more because McCain is more liberal than Mitt on issues of tax and regulations and because McCain is more likely to attack another Republican than Mitt is. But Mitt has moved left since 08.
Had he actually moved right, I think he would be much higher than 25% in the polls.
Other than that, interesting article.
Many of us had the privilege of meeting Jonah and hearing him speak at the FReeper pizza eating following the March For Justice on October 31, 1998. We gathered at the AIA building to tell tales of the days fantastic gathering and to hear speakers.
It was on that day that we actually became FReepers.
Money quote:
“’... if Romney is the nominee, “Conservatism dies and Barack Obama wins.’”
In a nutshell, Jonah.
McRomney is going to get whiplash from getting his head jerked back and forth, left and right depending on which crowd he is in front of!
Jonah, you don't get it or simply do not understand that there is a fundamental change coming to America and the game of passing off the (progressive) football to a liberal democrat one election year and then passing the same progressive football off to a liberal (RINO) Republican (because he or she can work across the isle), ending up with the same social programs, spending, taxes, redistribution of Americans hard earned money, and a never ending increase in the size of this out of control government!
McRomney is the poster child for big government liberal progressive (RINO) Republican being supported by and pushed by the elite “establishment.” The American people do not want this kind of political gamesmanship anymore!
I have noticed Jonah, you never denied the existence of the Republican “establishment.” You never denied McRomney is a (RINO) progressive who will compromise any conservative principles to promote his progressive agenda and ideology!
Put some ice on that McRomney, whiplash is a real pain in the neck!
PS
But for Sarah Palin, it would have died with mccain,
Great article.. What I believe is that Mitt is the least liked, but he is still a cconservative. The Massachusetts legistrature, painted him into a corner withit. If the libs got what they wanted, Romneycare would make Cuba’s health care look like free market.
[Richard Nixon said to win the nomination you run to the right, and to win the election you run to the left]
And Romney is the epitome of that philosophy! In fact, he has already started pandering to the Left, since he thinks he is going to win.
So why does the GOP establishment behave as if David Gergen is calling the shots?
It’s simple.
End deficit spending NOW!
Fence and guard the borders.
Deport, deport, deport.
Drill here, drill now.
Fight wars instead of trying to win hearts and minds!
NONE OF THE GOP CANDIDATES EMBRACE ALL OF THESE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES.
Wow! It’s pretty clear that he’s been on this forum reading what we have to say. Of course, he doesn’t have to be a signed-up freeper to read it.
Can somebody help me? Rush endorsed Romney??
Vichy Republican whines after NR stabs Newt in the back. No one likes me!
The decline at NR began the day Goldberg was hired.
Lov ya Jonah (and Lucianne too) but . . .
FTA=
“the conservative establishment, which includes many of my friends denouncing it, has become vastly more conservative over the last two decades. It’s more pro-life, more pro–Second Amendment, more opposed to tax increases.”
This is precisely the problem Jonah.
How can a group be “more pro-life” or “more pro-Second Amendment” or “more opposed to tax increases”?
You either is or you ain’t.
The people are awake and letting the RINO establishment, which is firmly entrenched in the Repub/Conservative/Libertarian party professional ranks, that we don’t want YOU!
We want our constitutional republic restored, and RINOS are the problem.
Conservatism is evolving, too. When a politician, or pundit, or a magazine cannot adapt, as well, they are destined for the scrap heap called "moderate".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.