Where the Tea Partiers Should Go From Here (by Karl Rove in the WSJ)

Wall Street Journal ^ | Apr. 1, 2010 | Karl Rove

[SmartInsight]

Democrats are attacking the tea party movement because it is a new force that's bringing millions of here-to-fore unengaged Democrats, independents and Republicans into the political arena. If there's something a ruling party doesn't like, it's a new political player converting spectators into participants.

To maintain their influence, tea partiers will have to maintain their current energy and concern over health care and federal spending.

But tea partiers will have to do more than surf discontent with the Obama administration's policies. They will also have to coalesce around a positive agenda.

The unhinged quality of the White House and the DNC attacks show that they understand how much the tea party movement can affect this year's elections. Now is the time for the movement to ensure its energy - and influence - stay high.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Certainly, along with some commentary:

There's a lot of anger in some circles of conservatism, and unfortunately it's tending to eat its own, rather than be productive. Anger unfocused is anger that is destructive.

I wish more of the anti-everything-GOP people would listen to the wise, sage words of President Ronald W. Reagan on compromise:

"When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it.

"Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.

"I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'

"If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.

The GOP is not the enemy; the GOP should be kept in line, but the Democrats are the enemy. The Tea Parties are tending to split the conservatives between those with unfocused rage, and those who know the key to success is within a party. A party without a platform or leader is not a party, it's a mob, and that gets you no-where, politically.

Reagan was right - the person who's with us 75-80% of the time is an ally, not an enemy.

[EternalVigilance]

Reagan was right - the person who's with us 75-80% of the time is an ally, not an enemy.

Except that nowadays the 20% happens to consistently include the very things that should be non-negotiable for anyone who believes in America's founding principles. They're the things that make up the foundation of our republic and our liberty.

You may have 80% of your house intact, but it ain't gonna stay intact for long without a foundation.

[rdb3]

"If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it."

Reagan was on the money then, and his words are still so apt this very day!

[Oceander]

Let's go people!

[mkjessup]

Sometimes I wonder if Rove wasn’t a highly paid subversive, working for the DNC.

No, Rove was just an opportunist, his talents were always for sale to the highest bidder, he would have worked just as hard for Gore or Kerry had he been on their payroll in 2000 or 2004.

[mkjessup]

While you're selectively quoting Reagan, chew on these gems:

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.”

“Don’t give up your ideals, don’t compromise, don’t turn to expediency — and don’t, for heaven’s sake, having seen the inner workings of the watch — don’t get cynical.”

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Which fundamental belief is the GOP wrong on?

[mkjessup]

Here is one for your contemplation:

The continued expansion and ever increasing power of the federal government. The eight years of George W. Bush saw the most unprecedented expansion of federal control since LBJ, and it laid the foundations for the seizure of large segments of the U.S. economy and social structure by the current 0bamunist regime.

Republicans over the past decade have behaved no differently than ‘Rats in enlarging the federal presence at the expense of the individual States.

How’s that?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

So no specifics? Just a general “it got bigger” issue?

[rdb3]

While you're selectively quoting Reagan...

I wasn't "selectively" doing anything. And the quotes you gave does NOT negate what Reagan said with "If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it."

That's just common sense! Those "radical conservatives" are/were just simple-minded ideologues who couldn't see the forest for the trees. As such, they are/were worthless.

Would a starving man turn down 80% of a meal? Of course not! It's shameful to have to say that to adult men and women.

Take that 75-80% and build from it. What's so hard to understand about that?

If you're an all-or-nothing, my-way-or-the-highway type, just enjoy your incessant bickering. And that's just a plain pathetic way for an adult to be.

[Joe Boucher]

Yes I do believe they were much better than this marxist ass clown BUT neither G.W. nor his old man nor Carl Rove are conservatives.
They failed to push any Conservative agenda.
Now we have this insane “magic negro” who is pushing hard every liberal b.s. idea ever put forth by the crazies.
At least obammy has conviction in his very stupid ideas.

[Joe Boucher]

Ok pal,
Let’s take a look at things.
Did G.W. push for an abortion ban?
Did he allow spending to go into outer space? No vetos of ANY spending bills.
Did he push any of the conservative agenda? NO.
Did he take out the Iranian Nuke program?
G.W. was way ahead of obammy as pres BUT he was no conservative

[Joe Boucher]

Me thinks Rove, Like Carville or Estrich Morris or so many others would work for the devil if he paid them

[GlockThe Vote]

Yup. Bush and Rove never believed in conservative ideals in the first place and that is why 8 years were wasted with little to show for it.

[GlockThe Vote]

Harriet meyers, campaign finance, drug bill, reckless spending, dubai ports, illegal aliens, nclb, and on and on and on.

Bush destroyed the gop and the only way back is to purge the rinos and get back to small govt out of my bedroom out of my wallet conservatism.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Sure, just look at our House & Senate.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“No, Rove was just an opportunist, his talents were always for sale to the highest bidder, he would have worked just as hard for Gore or Kerry had he been on their payroll in 2000 or 2004. “

Somehow, that doesn’t endear me to Rove ;-)

[aruanan]

“No, Rove was just an opportunist, his talents were always for sale to the highest bidder, he would have worked just as hard for Gore or Kerry had he been on their payroll in 2000 or 2004. “

Somehow, that doesn’t endear me to Rove ;-)

As though the former statement were a statement of fact.

[Wpin]

There has never been a more pro life President than George W Bush. He stood alone on most issues...no one protested to help him stand up for life.

President Bush was busy with the most dangerous attack (until our democrats now) on America. He also pushed through tax cuts. Don’t forget Bush tried very hard to bring private ownership to Social Security...where were you when he was fighting alone for you on this issue?

President Bush has done many things that put him squarely in the conservative corner and it upsets me tremendously when the sheeple argue against it based upon distortion and limited thinking.

Iran? You have got to be kidding right? You watched and did nothing while the democrats and their media turned America against the liberation of the middle east.

Do you have any idea how much he changed (for the betterment of society) how we do national security, view and deal with despots? How we stand for life? Courage, freedom? I don’t know what koolaid you have been drinking pal, but I don’t want any of that.

Hmmm, he believed and fought for private ownership, low taxes, life, taking out the union stranglehold on education, limited government...but you are going to label him a liberal cause the Republican congress spent a bunch of money and the President did not take his eyes off the ball of the big picture enough to suit you?

Well, too bad pal...

[stephenjohnbanker]

“As though the former statement were a statement of fact. “

That was done “tongue-in-cheek, as you well know. Perhaps you can enlighten me as to Rove’s attributes? Leave loyalty out of it. I have seen enough faux loyalty to last me a lifetime.