Posted on 12/12/2013 7:47:37 PM PST by neverdem
Even as their political prospects brighten for 2014, Republicans are at odds with each other.
Glen Bolger, one of the Republican party's leading pollsters, told the Washington Post today that the Republican party needs to stop being the "dysfunctional equivalent of the Washington Redskins."
If anything, Bolger was being too generous. The ongoing Republican soap opera between the so-called establishment and the emboldened conservative grassroots is even more chaotic than the latest drama between Mike Shanahan, Dan Snyder and RG3.
Consider: Paul Ryan, the leading voice of fiscal conservatism in Congress, is getting pilloried by his own colleagues for acquiescing to a budget compromise that avoids the prospect of a politically-suicidal government shutdown next year. House Speaker John Boehner sounded downright exasperated today in reacting to conservative opposition to the deal, calling it "ridiculous." But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, already under fire from conservative groups for his propensity for deal-making, is reportedly against the budget compromise. McConnell's been joined in opposition by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, two of the upper chamber's most high-profile Republicans.
The Republican party rarely misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Even conservative groups are fighting with each other. The Republican Study Committee Chairman fired its longtime executive director, out of concern he was leaking confidential conversations to conservative groups hostile to Republican interests. They're at odds with each other over political strategy, with the Club for Growth keeping its powder dry, while the Senate Conservatives Fund is eagerly looking for opportunities to challenge sitting Republican senators who are ideologically unkosher.
And that's not including today's disturbing allegation that Ryan Loskarn, the chief of staff to Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander was placed on leave amid allegations involving child pornography.
The Republican party rarely misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. With several new national polls showing the GOP ahead on the generic ballot for the first time in years and Democrats self-immolating over their troubled health care law, Republicans are in terrific position to capitalize. That was the political logic behind the Ryan budget compromise – delay a messy fiscal fight until after the 2014 midterms, which are shaping up to be favorable for Republicans. Retake the Senate, and suddenly the party holds a lot more leverage over future fiscal fights.
But for those who have followed the ongoing battles between Republican leadership and the conservative back-benchers, it's never easy. Ryan argued, at his press briefing with Patty Murray Wednesday, that Republicans can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. To conservatives, the compromise that was struck isn't even close to being good.
The dysfunction is here to stay, whether Republicans like it or not.
"[The Republican establishment] is not following through what they promised, and they don't realize how hostile they are to the grassroots," said Senate Conservative Fund executive director Matt Hoskins. "This is the type of stuff that sends a message to voters that their leaders in Washington don't like them, and they don't represent them."
Until now, Republicans have usually acquiesced to its confrontationally conservative wing on some of the big fights – shutting down the government over Obamacare funding, rejecting tactical maneuvers to gain leverage on fiscal cliff negotiations. But there are signs that the establishment is now eager to fight back. McConnell has declared war against his chief conservative nemesis, the Senate Conservatives Fund, blacklisting consultants and candidates doing business with the group. The Chamber of Commerce is now willing to involve itself in primaries, already spending six-figures in an Alabama Congressional runoff between an establishment Republican and a grassroots conservative. Even Boehner, who has been criticized for bowing to his right flank, hit back at them today, saying opponents of the budget deal were "using our members and… using the American people for their own goals."
Many Republicans believe counter-attacks by the establishment is exactly the formula for unifying the party. It's time for more sticks than carrots, the thinking goes. But that ignores the fact that conservative voters are driving the rise of outside groups, not the other way around. These are the voters who hated the bank bailouts, resent campaign committee involvement in Republican primaries, and think politicians are too quick to "go Washington" when elected, enjoying the perks of power over the principles of politics.
These tea party voters aren't going away, and are the driving force behind the conservative opposition. That's why seven of the 12 Republican senators on a ballot next year face primary challenges, even if most aren't all-that-credible.
That means the dysfunction is here to stay, whether Republicans like it or not. It means the party will continue to look like an unruly mess for the foreseeable future, mostly being held together by their shared opposition to President Obama.
Boehner is really demoralizing and attacking the american people ability to do with less government. Attacking the Tparty is like attacking the messenger and beating the air with a bat. He is heinous.
I went more “libertarian”” long ago. The only viable party to actually vote for is the GOP. The more conservative it is, the better. But, I understand why so many seem to have fled from trusting and supporting that national band of misfits and turncoats infesting DC and the Federal government.
53 posted on 12/13/2013 12:34:30 AM by staytrue: (Quoting Bigbob, ‘why isn’t the GOP preaching the gospel of capitalism’): “Because capitalism is not a god and there is no gospel. In fact, capitalism is a ruthless method of maximizing value. It has no soul, it has not pity for the losers, it has no compassion. And if you happen to be one of the losers, well BOO HOO AND TOO BAD FOR YOU. Capitalism is efficient but it is not the be all end all goal of human life.”
There's a lot of truth in what both of you are saying.
At least in America, most social conservatives understand that free enterprise is an indispensable part of a biblical worldview, and that economic freedom is essential to political freedom because political freedom can't continue in a context where government routinely takes control of private property.
That hasn't always been the case historically — Christian conservatives have sometimes allied themselves with various secular movements which weren't necessarily supporters of free enterprise — but it is the case in modern America.
But while capitalism is an important and effective means to an end, making money is not the end in and of itself.
Sodom and Gomorrah were well-watered cities on the plain and probably had a thriving economy.
The road to conservative success in our current context is not by exalting money — that leads to candidates like Mitt Romney — but rather by reminding people of the Judeo-Christian heritage of America.
That message can be, and should be, especially effective among immigrants who have Christian convictions and come from societies that still affirm the moral values our elites are attacking.
The Reagan Revolution succeeded in large measure because it convinced blue collar urban Catholics and rural Southerners — people who should have been voting their conservative moral convictions but were not — that their moral convictions should lead them out of the Democratic Party.
We can do similar things today.
If we do them, we will win, given changing demographics.
If we don't do them, our only hope of winning is that the Democratic Party's policies implode due to their inherent wrongness.
I'd rather take control of America out of the hands of Democrats while America is still in one piece than pick up the pieces of a broken America if the Democrats drop the ball and wreck it.
The stench of the lie and the smell of brimstone is strong in that article. DELUSION is a disease.
I just figured it out... THIS WRITER IS GAY AND HIS POLITICS EMANATE FROM HIS UNGIRDED LOANS!
Damned fine post brother.
Capitalism... NOT CRONY Capitalism... has done more to free humans and create security and Liberty and Freedom and raise mankind out of poverty than anything else in our History. Nothing is perfect but true Capitalism is the best system of economics that man has ever created. We will not need it in Heaven but we ain’t in Heaven... yet.
LLS
Really? I thoiught most people thought the Republican Party WAS the conservative party. Apparently not.
Now, what are these "Republican interests"? What they are actually talking about are the interests of elected Republican politicians. That those specific individuals retain their jobs, increase their power and make alot of money.
Why these "interests" should interest voters at all is a question left unasked.
The RINOs hate their voters and somehow that's a recipe for "electing more Republicans" to do what is never exactly mentioned, but just get more people with "R's" behind their names is good for us, somehow.
The Republican Party is doomed.
At the end of it he holds up the 2012 picture of Paul Ryan making that muscle and says
“I cant believe I hung this poster on the ceiling of my dream closet. Its time for a new 2016 fantasy candidate”
Then he takes the Paul Ryan picture and pasts Ted Cruz's picture over Ryan's face and says :”Oh Ted Cruz, Oh Ted Cruz, you will never betray me”
Is he spying on us ??? LOL
The original blogger (though he hates the word), modern Renaissance Man, writer, and true conservative Jerry Pournelle refers to him as “The Egregious Frum.” With good reason.
Wrong--Boner's performance throughout this budget "deal" fiasco has gone a long wat to ensure that conservatives either stay at home or vote third party in 2014. At least the DIMS are smart enough to know that you don't openly declare war on a key constituency if you want to stay in power.
Exhibit A: The 2012 Presidential contest
“...Is he spying on us ....”
Probably... there’s a lot of trolls lately.
I hope they are not giving you a hard time.
I have found it quite peaceful here lately, with a few minor exceptions(thats what makes it fun).
“...I hope they are not giving you a hard time...”
Nah, not at all. It’s expected on an open forum.
That is an understatement. This forum is riddled with trolls, judas goats, moles, and termites. Butt that is to be expected. The good thing is, given time, they always out themselves by their posts.
I love this place,
Although as we get closer to 2016 the *crazy* virus will spread another relapse again.
At some point in 2016 (or many points) we just have to keep our heads down to avoid flying missiles .
And maybe a joke or two,
Eh.. they’re like food.
Eat it up, sh*t it out...
Keeping it in that perspective makes them simple to digest.
Are they scary looking?
Do they eat little kids?
“...the *crazy* virus will spread...”
People are just hopeful, and scared, and want to believe in something or someone that won’t f*** them over. So they get defensive about who they believe will live up to that.
I guess I understand it. We ALL want to see the best come forward and try to halt and undo some of what this walking clusterf***, his party, and his RINO traitors did to us. So folks see someone who appears to have the potential, the right sounding words, and they get pulled aboard the train.
But you are correct - we need to be realistic about who we are dealing with and look at them from the lens of the brain, and not the heart; past voting records, what they do, versus what they say.
Truth is, we have been f***ed over so many times by our own side, it’s difficult to believe anybody anymore.
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.