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The GOP Needs a Conservative in 2016
Politico Magazine ^ | January 7, 2014 | Keith Koffler

Posted on 01/08/2014 4:52:09 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

There are moments in American political history when dissatisfaction with the old order and suspicion—even fear—of its ways presents the opportunity for monumental change.

It happened in 1932 as the nation sank into Depression and voted out the “business of America is business” crowd, installing a leftist plutocrat in the White House instead.

It happened in 1980 when high taxes and inept leadership demanded a steady hand committed to unfettering American entrepreneurship.

And in 2016, it can happen again—as long as Republicans nominate an ideological conservative, ideally with a good dose of charisma—someone who can vividly explain conservative principles to a public that is ready to hear all about it. Ready, because with Obamacare, the left has finally gone too far, and exposed the unworkability and injustice of its program.

Liberals believe their ideology has been vindicated after having finally realized the dream of universal health care under President Barack Obama. But they are like Napoleon in Moscow, sitting atop imaginary spoils while enjoying the mirage of victory. If Republicans do the right thing, they can send their adversaries limping back to Paris, picking off remnants of the defeated battalions along the way.

Obamacare is not just going to be a failure. It will be a grotesque carcass fit for exhibition in a political museum of morbid curiosities, elucidating every single fault that lies with liberalism. It contains every hallmark of failed liberal programs.

Obamacare is an unaffordable government expenditure whose costs will run amok as time progresses; it’s a grand scheme concocted by our intellectual superiors who know what’s best for us but unfortunately can’t quite make the pieces of their intricate creation fit together; it’s a wealth redistribution scheme that reaches even into the pockets of the middle class; it replaces the efficiency of the market with the plodding redundancies of government; it puts determinations about our fates in the merciless hands of government bureaucrats; it coerces individuals to act against their interests and desires; it inflicts collateral damage on businesses large and small and reduces hiring; its regulations, fees and new taxes raise costs for most consumers; it ultimately will harm even those it was designed to help by increasing dependency and destroying the practice of medicine in this country.

As Americans recoil in horror over the next few years, they will simultaneously behold the untenable expansion of the nation’s debt, the looming peril of bankruptcy for Medicare and Social Security and the failure of the economy to expand robustly.

It will be, for Republicans, a most perfect storm.

********

Keith Koffler, who covered the White House as a reporter for CongressDaily and Roll Call, is editor of the website White House Dossier.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016; conservatives; democrats; gop; keithkoffler; obamacare; politico; presidency; republicans; whitehouse
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What do you think?
1 posted on 01/08/2014 4:52:10 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It needs a lot more than 1


2 posted on 01/08/2014 4:53:03 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: GeronL

3 posted on 01/08/2014 4:54:17 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (A courageous man finds a way, an ordinary man finds an excuse.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The chance of the GOPe doing the right thing is miniscule to the extreme, they have declare the TEA party to be their enemy


4 posted on 01/08/2014 4:54:53 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

That is a dream ticket right there. Anything else is probably not going to attract my vote.


5 posted on 01/08/2014 4:55:30 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The NATION needs a conservative .. the GOPe needs to ESAD
6 posted on 01/08/2014 4:56:02 PM PST by tomkat (you'll know when it's time)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Who? If we are very, very lucky, we'll get Scott Walker. Otherwise it's Christie, Rubio, Ryan, or last minute compromise savior Uncle Jeb.

Paul, Cruz, and Lee and their like will be torpedoed by the RINO establishment at every opportunity.

7 posted on 01/08/2014 4:56:34 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves (CTRL-GALT-DELETE)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

1. Rand Paul

2. Ted Cruz

3. Mike Pence

4. Ben Carson..


8 posted on 01/08/2014 4:56:36 PM PST by JSDude1 (Defeat Hagan, elect a Constutional Conservative: Dr. Greg Brannon!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Palin or Cruz, or I’m not even bothering to venture to the voting booth in 2016. I’m pretty much at the end of my rope, in regards to both the GOP and politics as a whole.


9 posted on 01/08/2014 4:57:52 PM PST by greene66
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
And in 2016, it can happen again—as long as Republicans nominate an ideological conservative, ideally with a good dose of charisma ...

Somebody who actually exists would be nice this time.

Not some imaginary candidate people say was so much better than the candidates who are actually in the race.

10 posted on 01/08/2014 5:00:12 PM PST by x
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think Ted Cruz is pretty darned conservative so the problem should be solved.


11 posted on 01/08/2014 5:01:56 PM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The GOP doesn’t want a conservative leader, they want to be buddies with their leftist friends across the aisle, solely to get their piece of the socialist pie.


12 posted on 01/08/2014 5:01:59 PM PST by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

You didn’t see the news today that pretty much took Krispy out of the race?


13 posted on 01/08/2014 5:03:45 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (A courageous man finds a way, an ordinary man finds an excuse.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’d like to think that Rick Snyder would make for a good VP...


14 posted on 01/08/2014 5:09:50 PM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m with CRUZ!


15 posted on 01/08/2014 5:12:30 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Mohammed was a pedophile and Islam is a Totalitarian Death Cult.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

FOX “News” is pushing Romney
and his chosen toadies, again.

SSDD. Watch for his and Rove’s
dirty tricks against every real conservative.


16 posted on 01/08/2014 5:13:23 PM PST by Diogenesis
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A moderate republican will never win the whitehouse!


17 posted on 01/08/2014 5:14:07 PM PST by plainshame
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
an ideological conservative"

No more ideological conservatives please. We need a traditional conservative a la Russell Kirk.

Ideological conservatives are either naifs who believe in some imaginary world that can never exist (e.g. completely free unfettered market) or they are liars and opportunists aiming for the votes of the naifs (e.g. Tom DeLay, Ralph Reed, etc.)

18 posted on 01/08/2014 5:14:17 PM PST by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Cruz or Paul would be a lot better than a moderate.


19 posted on 01/08/2014 5:16:30 PM PST by plainshame
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To: plainshame

I don’t trust Paul


20 posted on 01/08/2014 5:17:02 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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