Jonah Goldberg: Inherit the Wind. What if it takes a Democrat? (Maybe a Democrat should win)

National Review ^ | Feb. 16, 2007 | Jonah Goldberg

[FairOpinion]

This wisp of a notion is simply this: Maybe a Democrat should win in 2008.

Personally, I don’t believe in this poltergeist, at least not yet. But every now and then, I must confess, I do shiver from its touch.

The idea goes something like this: If you believe that the war on terror is real — really real — then you think it is inevitable that more and bloodier conflicts with radical Islam are on the way, regardless of who is in the White House. If the clash of civilizations is afoot, then the issues separating Democrats and Republicans are as pressing as whether the captain of the Titanic is going to have fish or chicken for dinner. There’s a showdown coming. Period. Full stop. My task isn’t to convince you that this view is correct (though I basically believe it is), but merely that it is honestly and firmly held by many on the right and by a comparative handful on the left.

[DugwayDuke]

Cetainly. Reagan v Carter was the first presidential election I paid much attention to.

[ekwd]

Reagan's big tent included social conservatives, libertarians, small government conservatives, big government conservatives, supply siders, and tax hikers. Although I should have known better, I listened to NR when then all but indorsed Carter over Ford and didn't vote. I have not listened to the "lets teach the Repubs a lesson" ever since. We are in the middle of a war that may last as long as the Cold War. I will not willingly cooperate in anything that puts the Dems in power to create more Killing Field's and Boat People. If I could appoint the next president it would be a Dick Armey or Larry Kudlow. As it is I will support just about any candidate who I believe will be a good war leader.

[NittanyLion]

If Rudolph Giuliani wins the nomination, doesn't matter what you and I may do or not do personally. Some minority percentage of the conservative vote will NEVER actually vote FOR a baby killer or FOR a known gun grabber. You may think this minority percentage will be insignificant, and you may never ever understand the reasoning, but it is real. And it is there. And the numbers will be enough to make the difference in the close states.

Well stated. I couldn't agree more.

And what's more, the presence of a "moderate" at the top of the GOP ticket will obliterate the rest of the ticket. It would set the GOP back at least a decade.

[gondramB]

>>No more Bushes!!

---

You have been bought lock stock and barrel. .<<

There is all the difference in the world between supporting the President of our country, particularly after the biggest terrorist attack in our history and then during two wars versus conservatives talking among themselves about who the best nominee is to represent conservative interests and who should not be nominated for various reasons.

If you think Jeb Bush should be the nominee, say so, but that doesn't mean that others shouldn't say they think he should not be the nominee if that's how they feel.

For myself, its a moot point - the country would never elect another member of the Bush family right now.

And given that the Democratic front runner has 47% negatives, if the Democrats are foolish enough to nominate her then the Republican nominee just needs to be electable. So conservatives should concentrate on seeing who can represent conservative interests but lacks anything that makes him unelectable.

[Iwo Jima]

I'll have to take your word that, as I do not listen to Micheal Savage and barely know who he is.

[doug from upland]

That Democrat would be Hillary. She will destroy this country.

[Iwo Jima]

Well, Boortz is a libertarian, not a conservative. I don't listen to Savage, so you have the advantage there. I have never, ever heard of Dreher.

The point is that the popular conservative talk show hosts have done nothing -- and the conservative base has done nothing -- even vaguely resembling what they have been blamed for. The conservatives did NOT cost the Republicans the last election. That's just a divisive tactic that the moderates who want to have the party all to themselves want you to believe.

Like MN Johnnie.

[ekwd]

Rod Dreher writes for National Review. I meant pundits, not just talk show host.

[DugwayDuke]

The unfortunate thing is that we have too many real, true, principled conservatives that do not like big tents. You either agree with them on their pet issues or your not a real conservative. Of course the democrats have a very similar issue.

[ekwd]

The Dem's have always been united at the core- they all want more government, for different reasons, but always more government.

[RabidBartender]

"Do we not have faith in our own principles, values and convictions?"

It is beginning to appear unlikely. Some folks may not want to admit that.

Mayor Giuliani's positions on abortion, gun control, McCain-Feingold, and immigration are enough for me to stay away from the "R" lever on election day.