Posted on 11/05/2009 10:34:17 AM PST by steve-b
This past weekend, a small brouhaha erupted over a Halloween display on Capitol Hill. The display, in essence, mocked the death of the Republican Party and the conservative movement...
Though distasteful, the display makes a point that has become increasingly common in American political discourse, that the Republican Party and American conservatism are dead...
Of course, this is oversimplification and hyperbole. Conservatism is not dead, just civil conservatism. You can still hear some semblance of conservatism in the streets when Tea Partiers march, still see it on the television when you watch Fox News. In ever more hysterical tones, conservatism lives sadly on in Rush Limbaugh and Joe Wilson, he of the "you lie" outburst on national TV.
The problem is not that Ronald Reagan's principles have faded into obscurity, it's that his style is no longer employed. The charm, the wit, and the intelligence that he exuded have given way to vitriol, anger and irrational outbursts.
Reagan's ideas maintain lasting import, but are parroted poorly by the Glenn Becks and Bill O'Reillys of American punditry...
It's no wonder that many independents, those who might once have listened if approached reasonably, are no longer interested in the party of Joe Wilson or a movement with birthers and 9/11 truthers. Who can blame them for being turned off by intolerance and parochialism?...
The Republican Party is just beginning its own stint in the desert, and the initial sense of hopelessness is giving rise to false gods. But perhaps, with a little flexibility, a spot of fresh thinking, and a respect for reasoned discourse, the conservative movement can emerge from its tomb faster than history might indicate...
(Excerpt) Read more at network.nationalpost.com ...
I for one am glad that civility is gone. Playing nice got us into this mess.
I had rather be bad winner than a good loser.
Yeah...we’re onto their ALINSKY rules.....and we’re playing by them too.....civility got us NOWHERE...at least the “civility” as the Libs describe it.
Oh, for... Who are these articles aimed at? Really? If you’re going to shoot, man, don’t use a water pistol.
Boy me too. Just like that movie 2012, they show a statue of Christ falling over, but allow Mecca to survive.
Give me a break!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
Awwwwwwwww!
Maybe it should go on OBAMACARE.
That is, until an appropriate death panel can be found!
This isn’t a high school debate, it is war.
Now Reagan is charming, witty, and intelligent. Before Tuesday he was the affable idiot. Wonder what happened?
In a country where the bearing of firearms is seen as a way to deter a totalitarian government, and is enshrined in the Second Amendment...
...the vigorous exercise of the Freedom of Speech provision in the First Amendment doesn’t seem too radical by comparison.
Civility loses elections.
Alinsky Rule # 4 Make opponents live up to their own book of rules.
Since the ‘Progressives’ have all branches, ask ‘Why are the little guys suffering?’
Redistribute the wealth? Why have wages gone down the past three quarters? (With a democratic controll of Congress since 2007?)
In other words, bend over, take it, and say “May I have another, please ?”
No thanks.
I wish that were true. Over the years I have been sickened by the lack of fire in the gut of most Republicans. It is far past the time. We should have yelling and screaming at these left wing liberal socialists and communists decades ago. The Dems have never been civil.
It’s funny how they mistake our resolve for incivility, and their own incivility for resolve.
LOL! Yea, maybe we should try acting more like those classy liberals...
This story was printed in the early afternoon of election day. Refuted within 12 hours.
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.