Posted on 07/28/2015 3:01:13 AM PDT by markomalley
Remember that picture of Chris Matthews looking upset at the announcement of a Republican sweep in the midterm elections?
There he was — arms crossed, frowning intensly — looking at the results like a man who just lost a lot of money at a game of cards.
It was gleefully shared around by Republicans and conservatives rejoicing in the fact that Congress was now back in the hands of the GOP, with the hope that President Obama’s agenda would finally be put in reverse.
If only Matthews and those same Republicans could see what would happen in the GOP-controlled Senate on July 26.
The MSNBC host’s frown would’ve turned into an ear-to-ear grin. All those optimistic conservatives would’ve shed a few tears at the thought of the brutal disappointment that awaited them this congressional term.
On Sunday, Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders kneecapped conservative amendments to a highway bill proposed by conservatives including Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. This action protected funding for Planned Parenthood, killed legislation targeting sanctuary cities and resuscitated the Export-Import bank.
Planned Parenthood, sanctuary cities and the Export-Import bank are anathema to grassroots conservatives. Two of the measures — on Planned Parenthood and sanctuary stories — had outrageous national stories that provided the needed impetus for action.
Instead, the future of Planned Parenthood’s half-billion-a-year funding, sanctuary cities and the Ex-Im bank were all saved from the jaws of defeat by Republican leaders.
It would be easy to say this result was shocking. But it’s not. This latest incident is par the course from the Republican masters of Congress. But it was.
Up until to Election Day, these GOP chieftains promised to bring sweeping change to D.C. and duke it out with Obama.
They have done everything but what they promised to do.
On executive amnesty, they rolled over and played dead.
On Obamacare, they put half-a-fight before giving it more funding.
On abortion, they previously allowed a few moderate members to derail popular legislation on the eve of January’s March for Life.
The only thing Republican leaders have shown any muscle in trying to get through is Trade Promotion Authority — a measure requested by Obama to give him more power and less congressional oversight.
Naturally, Trade Promotion Authority is despised by the base and could hurt the GOP in the upcoming election season.
To call Republican leaders useless would imply that they are, in fact, doing nothing on behalf of their core constituency. It’s worse than that. Republican leaders seem to doing their most to fight against their own base.
And it’s not like powerful GOP figures don’t publicly air their contempt for the people who keep them in office. John McCain called all the people who showed up to hear Donald Trump speak in Arizona “crazies” — even though those same people narrowly saved him from an electoral upset in 2010 after the senator acted like a border warrior in the primary race.
It’s not much of a surprise, then, that rank-and-file Republican lawmakers now have a historically-low favorability rating among voters in their own party.
Anyone wondering why Donald Trump keeps surging in polls in spite of all the establishment hand-wringing can stop wondering.
Congressional Republican leaders have no one to blame but themselves for the unhappiness of conservative voters. What’s the point in voting Republican if the party is going to do nothing it promised when it attains power?
This question is rarely posed to Democrats, who always seem intent on pushing their agenda and working for their interest groups. It would be one thing if Republicans were alienating conservative voters to uphold principles, but thaT’s certainly not the case.
There’s a argument to make that the Republican Party simply exists to perpetuate the personal prestige and power of its leader rather than to promote the principles and interests of its followers.
That’s why nearly a third of Republican voters are choosing a reality-TV star with a treasure trove of insults over veteran politicians this election cycle.
A positive result of this tumult could be the party getting a clue and adopting a firmer posture and an agenda more in tune with its “Silent Majority.”
However, the GOP could very well double-down on its current path and pave the way for even more disappointments and failures in the future.
The rising level of alienation in the party is due to a majority of the base feeling that it is being taken for granted. The GOP expects conservatives to show up Election Day, no matter which policies or candidates are on the ballot — as long as they come with the elephant brand.
Republican lawmakers seem more interested in taking stances on issues like immigration, trade and corporate welfare which are very much out of line with their most reliable voters. At the same time, they expect the core constituency will still vote Red when it comes down to a choice between a Republican and a Democrat.
But the growing discontent and the embrace of Trump should send a clear signal to Republican upper echelons that this demographic is tired of its low priority and lack of respect.
They want their voices heard and their issues addressed.
I will never again vote for a RINO. We would have been better off if McConnell, and certainly Boehner, lost to Democrats. A RINO in public office not only helps Democrats, but he/she blocks a conservative from seizing that seat. Maybe a two pronged attack is the answer. Support conservatives on the GOP primary, and run independent conservative spoilers against RINOS when they get nominated to prevent them from winning.
-PJ
I will only vote for a conservative, if the GOP runs another socialist lapdog I will stay home.
I agree. No more blind party loyalty. If Cruz or Trump are not on the ticket I will set at home, The RINOs will be just as bad as Hillary and it will be over for America anyhow. I wont vote for these RINO’s, never again. Let them crash and burn.
>>You may be right but a new party would throw away all the gains made at the state level.
Why? Everyone assumes that existing conservative officeholders can’t switch to the new party on Day One.
It was only a few short months ago that the Republican elites were bragging among themselves and to the MSM that they had finally neutered the renegade conservative base and were rid of them.
I won’t stay home on Election Day. However, I am done voting for the GOPe darlings...no to the likes of McCain, Willard Romney, Kelly Ayotte, or another Bush. I will write in a candidate if I must.
Guess you have been away for some time then. McConnell and Bohner have been losers for some time and have done nothing to enhance a conservative agenda. Both were in jeopardy following the last elections and were damn near dumped by the republicans. Too bad it didn't happen.
Guess you have been away for some time then. McConnell and Bohner have been losers for some time and have done nothing to enhance a conservative agenda. Both were in jeopardy following the last elections and were damn near dumped by the republicans. Too bad it didn't happen.
>>It takes many, many years to get a 3rd party viable, and we don’t have that kind of time.
Remember when they told us that it would take 10 years to get oil out of ANWR so it wasn’t worth drilling there?
Well, that was 14 years ago and we would have been taking oil out of there for 4 years now if we had started then.
What we don’t have time for is waiting for the GOP to “reform”. The Party Leaders are waiting for US to reform so they can openly present THEIR progressive plan for America that is slightly different from the ones the Dems have for us, but still ends in slavery with benefits.
McConnell and Boehner and Preibus have proved that it is time to cut the GOP’s throat and to put it out of its misery.
Miotch and the oompah-loompah are both worthless. Mammaries on a bull.
“I know a 3rd party will ensure Democrats once again having control of all 3 branches of government. I guess the way things are going - they already do????”
+1
As the Hildabeast would say, “What difference does it make now?”
“If Cruz or Trump are not on the ticket I will set at home,”.......
I’m afraid you will have a lot of company. We have stopped any contributions to the rinos. When called by their solicitors, we advise them as to why we are no longer supporting them. Our thoughts and reasons must be falling on deaf ears s nothing is changing or has changed. A third party will all but insure a demodummie victory in 2016.
“I won’t stay home on Election Day. “
Even if the fish aren’t biting that day, there’s lots to do!
No I’ve been around. I first had a strong feeling of concern and disbelief, then dislike, the then annoying distain, This progressed for the past few years till the current loathing.
On the other hand I went to loathing of obama before he became the jr. senator from Illinois
“GOP Leaders Are Driving Their Base Into The Arms Of Donald Trump”
Let’s change that title to a more realistic one:
“GOP do nothing fat cats that turned their backs on the voters who put them into office are driving their base into the arms of Donald Trump.”
There...that’s more accurate.
A riot is an ugly thing. And it’s about time we had one.
> I despise these vermin. If the Conservatie base can’t take over the party as we did under Reagan, it’s time to DESTROY it and form a third party, banning all these establishment hacks from participation
I don’t think you really have to at this point. I think a 3rd silent party has already formed and the Tea Party is largely responsible for it; a party that doesn’t pay attention to partisanship and votes for the right man for the job regardless of the letter that follows his name. We need to focus on changing term limits and weeding out corruption which is so common in government and politics its considered the norm now.. No more lifetime appointments. Two consecutive terms only; maybe 4 max. They can be allowed to be re-elected after a at least 1 term off and the only reason for this is there are some good Senators and Representatives who do a good job but they are few and far between. I’m not crazy about the use of PACs either because they can be abused (badly). There is much more to do in the integrity of the electoral process as well.
“Why? Everyone assumes that existing conservative officeholders can’t switch to the new party on Day One.”
I don’t think you understand how the “political frat brothers” think and how they have their noses up the asses of anyone who may boost their political career while ignoring their real job of representing the voters who put them there.
THEY WON’T SWITCH PARTIES because come the next election, if things did not go right, they won’t be let back into the “frat house”.
Mark Levin had a pretty good idea.
Each cycle pick a GOPe Senator up for reelection and pull out all the stops to make sure he loses. That includes both a primary challenge and if necessary a general election challenge (either a third party one or organizing for voting for the Democrat).
It sends a message that we’re watching and will take action.
McCain needs to be the target this time around. I don’t know whether Arizona has a sore-loser law or not, but a primary challenge followed by a independent challenge in the general (even if by a different candidate) explicitly aimed at holding him responsible for his betrayals by getting him out of office would send a nice clear and loud message.
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