The Morning Plum: Panic sets in among GOP elites

Wash Post ^ | 9/19/13 | Greg Sargent

[jimbo123]

Karl Rove is always worth reading for a glimpse of how GOP elites are thinking, and his latest Op ed suggest real panic setting in over the chaos and division spreading among Congressional Republicans over how to handle this fall’s fiscal fights. Rove confirms an argument that will be familiar to readers of this blog: Public disapproval of Obamacare does not translate into public support for GOP efforts to sabotage the law.

-snip-

The poll is obviously one commissioned to advance an argument against defunding, but the very fact that Crossroads GPS — whose mission is to win elections — commissioned it and is calling Republicans’ attention to it is itself noteworthy.

[nathanbedford]

which GOP elites themselves spent years duping the base into believing would bring about the inexorable collapse of the Obama presidency — is now threatening to do profound, untold damage to the Republican Party.

In this context I replied in a companion thread to a similar article making much the same arguments as follows:

Rather than get down into the weeds and rebut the essence of the article which is to undermine the effort to defund while appearing to be fair and balanced, let us just acknowledge that this is part of the oncoming fight.

This time, however, the conservative world is aroused, wary, informed and therefore in no weakened and ignorant state to be bamboozled by Republican leaders but set to react in fury if they sense betrayal. Their patience looks soon to be tested with several Rino Senators preparing to vote cloture. We shall see how the base reacts.

Before John Boehner's switch in time, I posted several times that the leadership of the party, including John Boehner, did not realize the depth of feeling animating the conservative movement and the danger to the Republican Party of a profound rupture which would very possibly give rise to a third-party which would doom the Republicans to the wilderness for years. I said it was important for conservatives to make Boehner and his henchmen more afraid of conservatives than they were of the media and K St. I think conservatives succeeded.

I think we have Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul and some other stalwarts to thank for precipitating this battle. I have come to the point, and I know many FReepers have got there before me, in which my patience with the Republican Party has come to an end. For example, this article cites many strong Republicans with unimpeachable conservative credentials having reservations about the effort to defund. Bunk! Most of these guys were around shoveling money down a hole for eight years under Bush. Most of them were kings of earmarks. Now they profess impotence in the face of tyranny and further call for prudence and realism when they mean abject surrender. Ted Cruz has one thing on his side, irrefutable logic, when he says that you lose 100% of every battle in which you surrender before you fight.

This is a time of tempering of the Republican Party. If it passes this upcoming test, which is if it holds together against a media shit storm a sample of which we are reading in this article, it will emerge stronger as a viable party ready to win in 2014. This will be so even if it fails to defund Obamacare but only if it tries.

But if the Republicans fail this test, if they fail to hold the line, if they continue this backstabbing, then conservatives will desert them en masse and they will face a lickin' in 2014 which will be disastrous but, at least, it will mark the birth of real, robust grassroots conservatism.

These Rinos who call out for prudence ought to really come clear about which course represents the prudent path.

[LibLieSlayer]

I hope that he blows a head gasket... it is already leaking.

[HiTech RedNeck]

it’s the devil, dude.

however God can kick that devil’s ass right back to hell post haste, and if we let God operate in our hearts for a change then the courage will be there to take our part in it.

maybe this is the time for a lesson in failure rather than a success, but i don’t want to prejudge the outcome. failure is not fatal. steadfastly refusing to take hints, as illuminated by our failures, for a better future approach IS fatal.

[gaijin]

I will IMMEDIATELY vote against ANYONE Rove endorses.

I won’t even think about it.

[Viennacon]

The majority of his donors are probably democrats

[Tula Git]

"Defund Karl Rove! "

LOL....YES!!!

[gov_bean_ counter]

I’d rather not take strategic advice from a guy who was zero for 2012 and turned what should have been two walk off presidential wins into an extra inning affair and a late inning comeback.

[freedomfiter2]

Rove is stupid but he’s still lying. You can add evil to the list as well.

[erod]

Crossroads GPS — whose mission is to win elections

Been doing a crap job of that for the last ten years Karl.

[Shady]

Karl, retire. Today.

[Shady]

And WHY does Hannity insist on listening to this fraud?

[popdonnelly]

The Republican leadership should lead, not cower in the bunker. Why do they not take their own ideas and run with them, instead of trying to get half a loaf from the Democrats?

[Truth2012]

Karl Rove has always been part of the problem. A pampered, puffy little fat man- who will lick the boots of anyone else, who has bullied their way to the top.

Any which way the wind blows- to make sure he is on the A list at the cocktail parties.

He has done nothing to earn my respect.

[chris37]

It’s like this.

1. FUADIAF Karl Rove.

2. GOP, you will represent us, or you will be abandoned then replaced.

[Blackirish]

Greg Sargent and his little cheerleading posters are the last loons left who think Obamacare will work. Even those who are working for the government trying to get this up are sending signals...this isn’t ready.

[GOPJ]

The guy who wrote this is a progressive who hates conservatives of all stripes. I don’t give a flip what he has to say... he should be writing about democrats...

[Nita Nupress]

<< I will IMMEDIATELY vote against ANYONE Rove endorses. I won’t even think about it. >>

DITTO! We need to just make a list of who he and other GOPe’s endorse, just to make it easy. Post it on every friggin conservative website there is.

[smoothsailing]

Anything written by Greg Sargent isn’t worth reading.

He’s nothing but a faggy Dem propagandist with his head so far up Obama’s butt he’s got flies following him around.

We don’t need his type telling us what to think of Karl Rove or any other Republican.

[GOPJ]

I have no idea why we’re giving Greg Sargent credence... who cares what he think? Not me - not about anything. He’s trying to stir up the food fight.