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Waiting for the GOP’s Populist Turn (Victor Davis Hanson)
Defining Ideas ^ | November 21, 2012 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 11/23/2012 10:27:43 AM PST by neverdem

Edited on 11/23/2012 2:58:30 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

If there

(Excerpt) Read more at hoover.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: vdh
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To: ansel12; Don Corleone

Don Corleone is saying we need to “Organize ! Organize ! Organize !” He’s right.


21 posted on 11/23/2012 11:55:04 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Colonel_Flagg
“His name is Fred Thompson.”

I should have also mentioned that since Reagan's departure we have had several people show-up that I put into “The Light That Failed” category. Fred being one of them. When he first went to Washington, I really thought this is the guy that's going to do it. I guess he just got tired of all the BS, or maybe just lost interest in trying to straighten out the mess.

Another one I put into that category was a guy from Oklahoma named J.C. Watts. I heard him absolutely electrify an NRA convention. But the liberals were determined to make sure a conservative black Republican got nowhere and poured money into his opponents. He finally got tired of it all and left politics.

22 posted on 11/23/2012 12:11:53 PM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: GVnana

Indeed! Romney got trapped, voluntarily I might add, with Tax Breaks for the Rich and it was like a millstone around his neck.

Although he was right that over-taxing the people who start and run businesses will hurt jobs and the economy. The trouble is this requires the voter sheeple to THINK and to conclude this common sense. Can not require most voters to think, the message has to be simple and connecting. And yes, like the dems you sometimes have to run one way and govern another, otherwise you never get to govern.

You gotta look like you are looking out for the little guy. Nobama did even though its an absolute lie.

Finally, even with Hanson’s great analysis, “Mormon” may indeed have been the primary reason 3 or 4 million “conservatives” voted for 3rd party or not at all, giving it to nobama.


23 posted on 11/23/2012 12:30:15 PM PST by X-spurt (It is time for OFF YOUR FEET and on the gravy-train)
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To: I cannot think of a name
Reagan also made no apologies for being a conservative...in fact he sold conservatism during his campaign and presidential terms. Romney seemed to fail miserably in the educational aspect. He simply told the people that he could do better than Obama. That wasn't nearly good enough.

Now, I have my doubts whether Reagan could have won, but the fact remains Romney lost to a sitting president with a disastrous record. We'll never know what would have happened if he had told Americans why Obama was a disaster: he, Obama, was a leftist. All future Pubbie candidates cannot just slam their leftist opponent (as all future Dem candidates will assuredly be as extreme left as Obama), they must educate the public as to why conservatism is superior to liberalism.

24 posted on 11/23/2012 12:37:47 PM PST by driftless2
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To: I cannot think of a name

“I just kind of figured that with this much time passed since Reagan, one more would rise up.”

She has appeared and her name is Sarah Palin. Why else do you think the establishment Republicans and Democrats so viciously attack her - she connects with people and that scares the Hell out of ‘em.


25 posted on 11/23/2012 12:38:52 PM PST by SatinDoll (NATURAL BORN CITZEN: BORN IN THE USA OF CITIZEN PARENTS.)
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To: dfwgator

I believe many people voted for Reagan because he wasn’t going to take any more crap from the Iranians, after Carter kissed their ass for 400 days. Romney won that first debate, and realized that he might actually win. His second debate was nothing more than agreeing with all of Obama’s positions, and so he didn’t come across as someone who was going to be tough on defense. That is why he lost.


26 posted on 11/23/2012 12:42:49 PM PST by webheart (King of the Run-On Sentence)
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To: I cannot think of a name

In terms of raw communicative ability, Fred had it and still does. He’s the only one I could think of that could carry the Reagan message in the way that Reagan did, which in itself was key.

It is too bad Watts left politics. With proper support, he could have gone far. Obviously he was too conservative for today’s GOP.


27 posted on 11/23/2012 12:43:21 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("Don't be afraid to see what you see." -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: GVnana
Me thinks Mr. Hansen has hit the nail on the head.

Really? easier to market like Marco Rubio, Susan Martinez, or Condoleezza Rice.

28 posted on 11/23/2012 12:48:28 PM PST by itsahoot (Any enemy, that is allowed to have a King's X line, is undefeatable. (USS Taluga AO-62))
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To: neverdem

This video shows the way:
Bill Whittle on Believing in Our Conservative Philosophy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2962415/posts


29 posted on 11/23/2012 1:10:33 PM PST by donna (Pray for revival.)
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To: dfwgator

And his years in Hollywood - exposure to the communists gave him not just an understanding, but a very determined opposition to them and all they stood for.

Regan could convey in 3 sentences or less the conservative message on any question asked. And VDH makes lots of valid points about the lack of message from Romney’s campaign.

You need to do more than point out the other guy has failed under unusually dire circumstances, or failed to live up to his promises.

You have to stand for something, and give simple explanation how the conservitive approach would have worked better on any of the issues of concern to voters.


30 posted on 11/23/2012 1:43:32 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: SatinDoll
Sarah is the most effective communicator of conservatism in the country. She is loved more than hated and is profoundly brilliant, scurrilous contrarians notwithstanding.
31 posted on 11/23/2012 1:50:45 PM PST by Louis Foxwell (Better the devil we can destroy than the Judas we must tolerate.)
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To: neverdem

OH! I see... soooo it wasn’t because of massive voter fraud...
It was americans have been brain washed and socialized?..
according to Hanson..

HAnson is going out of his way to REJECT the obvious voter fraud..
In your face, obvious and eff you “if you don’t like it”.. VOTER FRAUD..

Must he is afraid of “THE ONLY” remedy..
REVOLT... bloody and harsh recriminations and response..

Because VOTING DIED on Nov. 6th.. IT DIED.......
The only ones to vote henceforth would be a MORON...
Victor is shaking in his boots to face that FACT...
Because the GOONS will not “just go away”... you MUST KILL THEM..

plus millions of lives in collateral damage.. Hanson is a coward.. and SILLY..
There seems to be NO(few) ADULTS LEFT in america..


32 posted on 11/23/2012 2:04:25 PM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: donna

Thanks for that link! It’s too bad it was posted in chat.


33 posted on 11/23/2012 2:12:31 PM PST by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: itsahoot

If you’re thinking that’s the emphasis of his article, we’re seeing two different things.


34 posted on 11/23/2012 2:17:36 PM PST by GVnana
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To: I cannot think of a name

I just kind of figured that with this much time passed since Reagan, one more would rise up.

**
Palin comes to mind....


35 posted on 11/23/2012 2:23:07 PM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: SatinDoll
“She has appeared and her name is Sarah Palin”

I must admit I love that woman - in every way possible for a man to love anybody. But I think her incredible and exciting good looks almost works against her. She is going to have to spend the next four years really working to improve her ‘gravitas’, even if means making herself a little less exciting to look at. I would strongly suggest she get every word written and every photograph and video tape of Margaret Thatcher in existence.

(And if I couldn't have my most desired fantasy form of government - Dick Cheney as benevolent dictator - my next would be a 45 year old Margaret Thatcher as President. Even a movie that was supposed to be a hatchet job on her couldn't hide the fact that she was simply INCREDIBLE!)

36 posted on 11/23/2012 2:25:17 PM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: Colonel_Flagg
“With proper support, he could have gone far.”

That is totally the fault and totally the failure of the RNC.

I will hand this to the democraps, they know enough to attack the future. They'll let McLame and the like win election forever. But when there is someone new and young appearing to rise up, they will attack unmercifully. They did that with Watts and with Rick Santorum. And the RNC did nothing to defend them, so we lost both of them in Congress.

Until the RNC is willing to toss some of the worthless old Rinos over the side and begin defending the young strong conservatives, I fear there's not much future for the Republican party.

37 posted on 11/23/2012 2:34:12 PM PST by I cannot think of a name
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To: X-spurt
You gotta look like you are looking out for the little guy.

Precisely! Let us not forget that George Bush actually WON his elections!

Davis is right. Romney had a miserable time. The primaries were long and bruising and gave the other side nearly all the ammo they would need. Romney had to sell himself as a business man. Tough sell in this environment, and for the reasons you cite.

Moreover, he had to sell himself as a decent and compassionate man. Tough balancing act with the issue of his Mormonism -- which, ironically -- would have provided ample evidence of his charity. Lefties would hate him whatever he did, so their opinion doesn't matter. It's the middle that must be won. Romney did capture most of the independent vote, but not by margins big enough to swing the country.

Obama is a fake, a stuffed shirt. But, give the democrats their due. They don't allow his image as the savior of the little guy to be tarnished, even if it means missing corpses.

38 posted on 11/23/2012 2:34:56 PM PST by GVnana
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To: I cannot think of a name

I like the cut of your jib. I agree on all counts.

If the GOP had any brains at all, they would have treated Watts as precious cargo to be defended. Instead they let the wolves get him. Reprehensible.


39 posted on 11/23/2012 2:44:39 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("Don't be afraid to see what you see." -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: X-spurt
“Mormon” may indeed have been the primary reason 3 or 4 million “conservatives” voted for 3rd party or not at all, giving it to nobama.

Let me preface this by saying that I have little knowledge of Mormonism and am largely indifferent to it and its practitioners. But I think it is a big mistake for Republicans to put up Mormon candidates, for the reason stated in the above post.

40 posted on 11/23/2012 2:55:16 PM PST by OldPossum
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