1) Print out
2) Fold
3) Place in envelope
4) Place stamp on envelope
5) Address
GOP
310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
202-863-8500
And
American Crossroads
P.O. Box 34413
Washington, DC 20043
Posted on 02/06/2013 5:07:11 AM PST by Kaslin
During the 2012 election cycle, Tea Partiers were told by their supposed betters that their ignorance of everyday politics meant that they should take a back seat to the Republican Party establishment. Brandishing the so-called Buckley Rule with quasi-religious fervor -- the notion that Republicans should run the most conservative candidate who can win -- the establishment GOP proclaimed that the only presidential candidate who could win was Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. They suggested that four-term former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson was a shoe-in for the Senate. They explained that the Tea Party was responsible for failed Senate candidates like Todd Akin (false) and Richard Mourdock (true).
They knew best.
The only trouble was, they didn't.
As it turns out, the Buckley Rule relies on prophecy. No good political strategy relies on Carnac-style crystal ball reading; a better rule would have been to nominate conservatives who are articulate (Pat Toomey, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz), regardless of whether the wise men who loved John McCain and Mitt Romney think conservative positions make candidates unelectable.
But despite their 2012 losses, the establishment has decided that the problem in 2012 wasn't their own incompetence -- it was the dastardly Tea Party, which in its zealotry for conservatism, has ignored the need for victory.
And so the Karl Rove establishment leaked to the far-left New York Times that the "biggest donors in the Republican Party" were working with the leaders of Rove's American Crossroads super PAC to "recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who Republican leaders worry could complicate the party's effort to win control of the Senate."
Why didn't Rove and company tell the Times that they were interested in training conservative candidates in media fluency? Why didn't they approach the Tea Party instead, and offer their get-out-the-vote services and electoral strategies?
Because, at root, there is a clash at the heart of today's Republican Party. The Tea Party wants to change tactics. The establishment wants to discard principle.
The question is whether this will be the party of Ronald Reagan or the party of George W. Bush. The establishment opposed Ronald Reagan in 1980; they backed George H.W. Bush, convinced that Reagan was too extreme, not quick enough on his feet, no match for the more intellectual Jimmy Carter. Thank God they lost.
Today, though, the establishment is ascendant. While George W. Bush did a great many good things, including slashing taxes and protecting Americans in the aftermath of 9/11, the second term of George W. Bush looked like a replay of Herbert Hoover's government-growing presidency, replete with concessions on spending and socialistic stimulus programs. The "compassionate conservatism," which largely identified government spending with compassion, dovetailed into the rise of Barack Obama.
This divide doesn't have to continue. The establishment GOP could seek to rectify the breach with the Tea Party by embracing their enthusiasm for basic conservative principle and offering their expertise -- whatever expertise they have -- in helping them achieve victory. Instead, they're focusing on the next dollar and the next dinner party.
The GOP-e marginalized the conservatives in the Republican base and were then surprised and dismayed when their boy Romney lost due to low turn-out.
Learning nothing from that experience, they’re now escalating the attack on conservatives in the party. Would that they would go after DemocRAT opponents with the same fervor.
Unlike DC insiders, conservatives have principles and largely stick to them. I’ve held my nose and voted for the “best” candidate for the last time.
The death rattle of the GOP is audible.
Well....let me tell you about our County Republican Party meeting last night....
While the final results aren’t in yet, I will tell you that the “old guard” is finished.
The losers, who insist on promoting the next flexible candidate, were clearly overrun by those who decided that solid conservatism, and a strong plan were more important.
Don’t ask which county.
The GOP has left me.
Rove reminds me of that guy in Deliverance. We’ll make him Squeal like a pig before this is over.
“Don’t ask which county.”
Why not? You did good. It’s efforts like this that will take back the country from the fascist rats and RINO quislings. You should share your tactics and strategy so others can apply them.
There wasn’t low voter turn out, there was fraud.
That said, if Rove really has that attitude he’s dumb, out of touch. Our main problem is the collective world media is against us. The collective world media seems to disseminate white house talking points, and completely ignores issues that were turned into front page scandals when Bush was president.
We can’t afford to discard, or reject anybody. We have to come together, hopefully unite under our common faith in God, and have a strong consistent, loving message that no amount of propaganda can distort.
That is what Reagan had, a positive, hopeful, and God centered message that never excluded anyone.
I oppose Rove.
I am so opposed to Rove in fact, I may leave the GOP so as to oppose Rove.
Rove has greatly simplified life for me. If he continues involved in the GOP, I will start rooting for a separate Tea Party.
Now.
“Don’t ask which county.”
“Why not?”
Because we have many internal battles ahead and there’s no point at alerting the opposition.
We want to convert and enlist them, not alienate them.
Here is the link to the podcast: http://www.marklevinshow.com/rss/ilevin.xml
Agreed, Reagan was notoriously respectful of all faiths, and humanitarian. He passed amnesty laws, restored our economy, defeated communism (for a time), and inspired America.
The only thing he had no tolerance for was Godless Marxism, but he confroted it with a smile. He was amazing. Don’t let the DNC, turned Marxists, manipulate us into fighting and insulting each other. It is our country we are fighting for.
Regardless, of our personal beliefs, issues like amnesty, are non issues as Obama is destroying everything that made America work. Remember the big picture. prayers FRiends.
Rove is so wrong on this.
WHATEVER his politics… it’s not his place to censure political expression in this country.
Ditto !!
Ditto !!
Speaking about Reagan, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, great communicator!
Do you happen to know which day Levin spoke about this? There are several different files on the website you provided.
The Tea Party needs to disconnect Rove, by asking future candidates to officially distance themselves from him and his organization, or be tarred with the same brush.
“They may give you money, but they will cost you votes.”
Rove needs to do some damage control & fast.
He should have Romney do a PC & declare that Rove, like himself, is severely conservative.
1) Print out
2) Fold
3) Place in envelope
4) Place stamp on envelope
5) Address
GOP
310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
202-863-8500
And
American Crossroads
P.O. Box 34413
Washington, DC 20043
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.