The Briefing Room
General Category => Editorial/Opinion/Blogs => Topic started by: happyg on October 05, 2013, 09:36:00 pm
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Country club Republicans seem to be clueless about Democrats. Although country-club Republicans are reluctant to criticize Democrats of any stripe, they don't mind attacking other Republicans, like Ted Cruz. Some Republicans provided Chris Wallace with opposition research against Cruz. As Sarah Palin noted, country club Republicans eat other Republicans.
John McCain's assault on Ted Cruz in the Senate after Cruz's filibuster against Obamacare shows just how far "moderate" Republicans will go to eat other Republicans.
Country clubbers' tendency to fold before Democrats is so frequent that it no longer occasions much comment. McCain's blast against Cruz, however, has made GOP country clubbers' proclivity for doing Democrats' bidding impossible to ignore.
We need to understand why GOP country clubbers are hostile to conservatives, and then recommend a reasonable course of action for conservatives to take. A successful strategy for conservatives (within the Republican Party) hinges on understanding why clubbers don't like Rightists.
There are two, probably related, reasons for country clubbers' hostility toward conservatives.
Rush Limbaugh has noted that country-club Republicans are embarrassed by conservatives. Conservatives' advocacy of social issues such as abortion, the Second Amendment, and defense of marriage seems especially galling to country clubbers. (For clubbers, Rightists stand guilty of being... conservative.) Moreover, clubbers equate conservatism with Goldwater's defeat. Even after Reagan won two landslide victories, GOP clubbers kept Reaganites at a long arm's length. Unhappily, by naming George H. W. Bush his vice presidential running mate, Reagan virtually guaranteed the clubbers would resume control of the GOP once "the Gipper" was no longer president.
Angelo Codevilla notes another reason in an op-ed piece in the February, 2013 issue of Forbes. Aspiring to be allied with America's Democrat "ruling class," country-club Republicans don't mind being junior partners in running the country.
How are the two explanations related? If country-club Republicans seek to ally with the Democrat ruling class, it is no wonder they dislike conservatives. Country clubbers accept Democrats' belief that the ruling class knows what's best for the country.
Consequently, millions of voters, especially conservatives, are orphaned. It's not surprising that, although most Democrats are satisfied their party represents them, only a quarter of Republicans believe the GOP reflects their views.
At first blush, an obvious course of action for conservatives who feel orphaned is formally to depart the GOP and form a new political party.
Opting for the "third" party route, however, would be a colossal mistake. It is unlikely that a new political party could successfully compete against the Democrat ruling class.
There have been "third" parties in America, of course, but only once -- when the newly-formed Republicans supplanted the Whigs in the late 1850s -- has a minor party achieved major party status. America has had a two-party system for most of its history.
What explains America' history of two-parties dominating our politics? One reason is the single-member legislative districts with the "first-past-the-post" principle determining the victor. Equally important is the Electoral College, which puts a premium on a party's ability to appeal to a wide range of voters in 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, state statutes governing ballot access generally benefit established parties and disadvantage "third" parties.
What might conservatives do? Barry Goldwater (and his backers) provides an excellent model. After losing the GOP's presidential nomination in 1960, Goldwater urged conservatives to "grow up," and work to take over the GOP's local, county, and state units.
By 1964, the Goldwaterites were in charge of the party's nominating machinery. They first took over local GOP entities, and then moved on to county and then to state organizations. The Goldwaterites' bottom-up strategy provides an excellent template for contemporary conservatives.
After LBJ and the mainstream media devastated Goldwater, country-club Republicans regained control of the GOP. Reaganites also had a long, hard slog between 1976 and 1980 to get the Gipper nominated. (Country-club Republicans' distaste for the Reaganites has already been noted.)
MORE AT LINK
http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/10/country_club_republicans_must_go.html#.UlBORq4SVBY.twitter (http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/10/country_club_republicans_must_go.html#.UlBORq4SVBY.twitter)
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So if Obama DOES usurp congressional power and raise the debt limit - who is McCain/Graham/Ayoette, etc., going to support?
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Divided the GOP loses.
Unified the GOP can win.
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Divided the GOP loses.
Unified the GOP can win.
That works both ways, truth. Why bank on the country club republicans, when there are people like Lee, Cruz, and Rand who feel like millions of us? I haven't changed my views in 45 years, but the republican party has. Truth be told, Cruz came in line with the rest of us. He isn't leading anyone, since we have already "been there".
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If you are in a state with one of these obstructionists you must work towards a primary candidate to defeat these country club elites.
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That works both ways, truth. Why bank on the country club republicans, when there are people like Lee, Cruz, and Rand who feel like millions of us? I haven't changed my views in 45 years, but the republican party has. Truth be told, Cruz came in line with the rest of us. He isn't leading anyone, since we have already "been there".
I take it that "Country Club Republicans" includes anyone who doesn't believe in driving the country over the default cliff or who thinks this defunding of Obamacare strategy is nonsense.
That happens to be the majority of Republicans.
Oh, and the author fails to mention the trashing the Cruz did of fellow Republicans in his 21 hour speech, and siccing his PAC on 25 Senators who dared vote against him.
What does Cruz hope to accomplish by alienating his fellow GOP Senators?
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That works both ways, truth. Why bank on the country club republicans, when there are people like Lee, Cruz, and Rand who feel like millions of us? I haven't changed my views in 45 years, but the republican party has. Truth be told, Cruz came in line with the rest of us. He isn't leading anyone, since we have already "been there".
The TP faction, or the Cruz followers, or the True Conservatives, or whatever you call them---don't have enough votes to elect a President, or control Congress. They need all the potential GOP voters, plus independents and even some democrats.
GOP members of all types ought to focus on more votes, and less fighting, namecalling. They ought to instruct their followers to do likewise.
The dems and the media like nothing better, than a divided GOP, so they stir the pot.
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The TP faction, or the Cruz followers, or the True Conservatives, or whatever you call them---don't have enough votes to elect a President, or control Congress. They need all the potential GOP voters, plus independents and even some democrats.
GOP members of all types ought to focus on more votes, and less fighting, namecalling. They ought to instruct their followers to do likewise.
The dems and the media like nothing better, than a divided GOP, so they stir the pot.
The TP has thrown overboard Reagan's "let's get 80% of what we want now, then come back and get the rest later." It's 100% or nothing, and we can see how that's working in this shutdown.
Division is what the TP wants, especially against Republican "elites." Palin opened her yap today to scream at Republicans who have money and fund the party. Talk about wanting to kill the golden goose!!!!
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The TP has thrown overboard Reagan's "let's get 80% of what we want now, then come back and get the rest later." It's 100% or nothing, and we can see how that's working in this shutdown.
Division is what the TP wants, especially against Republican "elites." Palin opened her yap today to scream at Republicans who have money and fund the party. Talk about wanting to kill the golden goose!!!!
The entertainers have too much influence. They should be using their power to urge unity, but that doesn't satisfy those who are itching for a fight--mostly sitting home on the internet.
Big noise doesn't equal big money, or even a lot of votes.
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The entertainers have too much influence. They should be using their power to urge unity, but that doesn't satisfy those who are itching for a fight--mostly sitting home on the internet.
Big noise doesn't equal big money, or even a lot of votes.
Sarah Palin is not about unity. She's about destroying the Republican Party and remaking it in her image.
Which is why she's fringe.
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Sarah Palin is not about unity. She's about destroying the Republican Party and remaking it in her image.
Which is why she's fringe.
You're so full of it.
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You're so full of it.
:silly: From most appearances people like us are the base. Always have been, but accepted the lesser of two evils. Now is our chance to get a good guy, such a novelty in today's government.
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:silly: From most appearances people like us are the base. Always have been, but accepted the lesser of two evils. Now is our chance to get a good guy, such a novelty in today's government.
Yep and the two country-clubbers here are freaked out about it.
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Yep and the two country-clubbers here are freaked out about it.
They are the fringe.
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You're so full of it.
Wow. The brilliance of that argument simply gobsmacks me.
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:silly: From most appearances people like us are the base. Always have been, but accepted the lesser of two evils. Now is our chance to get a good guy, such a novelty in today's government.
Tea Partiers are not the base. If they were, Rick Santorum would have been the nominee in 2012. Or Sarah Palin.
Oh, I forgot, she somehow couldn't summon the courage to actually RUN.
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Tea Partiers are not the base. If they were, Rick Santorum would have been the nominee in 2012. Or Sarah Palin.
Oh, I forgot, she somehow couldn't summon the courage to actually RUN.
Wow. The brilliance of that argument simply gobsmacks me.
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Divided the GOP loses.
Unified the GOP can win.
So how do we unify?
WE have a party platform that was entirely written by the grass roots of the party from every corner of the land and when someone comes along and actually tries to implement what is laid out therein he is dragged over the coals unmerciful for doing that.
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Wow. The brilliance of that argument simply gobsmacks me.
Hey, I notice you haven't weighed in on the veterans' support threads. I guess that wouldn't be very country club of you.
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So how do we unify?
WE have a party platform that was entirely written by the grass roots of the party from every corner of the land and when someone comes along and actually tries to implement what is laid out therein he is dragged over the coals unmerciful for doing that.
Remember, Sink never wanted Cruz in the first place and has never had a good thing to say about Lee or Palin.
In fact, Palin doesn't have to run for anything if she doesn't want to... something Sink just cannot seem to comprehend - or refuses to admit.
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Hey, I notice you haven't weighed in on the veterans' support threads. I guess that wouldn't be very country club of you.
Obama's revealing his mean streak in dealing with the veterans. You're doing a fantastic job of defending the vets.
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Remember, Sink never wanted Cruz in the first place and has never had a good thing to say about Lee or Palin.
In fact, Palin doesn't have to run for anything if she doesn't want to... something Sink just cannot seem to comprehend - or refuses to admit.
I don't disagree with their philosophy; I disagree with their tactics.
We're stuck in this shutdown because Cruz led a small group of the House GOP down this rathole, and now my neighbor (Who works for Lockheed Martin and is a lifelong Republican) is pissed at me because he's being furloughed next week from a private defense contractor because of the shutdown.
I told him to call Ted Cruz's office and bitch.
What, exactly, is Ted Cruz's strategy for resolving the shutdown? Just keep doing what we're doing?
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Divided the GOP loses.
Unified the GOP can win.
The problem is, the dividers here are the moderates, like McCain. You're preaching to the choir here; you should be preaching to the likes of McCain and Graham.
As seems too often forgot, the 11th Commandment was not intended to muzzle conservative firebrands in the GOP, it was intended to stop the continued self-immolation of the GOP by muzzling the moderates who were more adept at attacking the conservatives in the GOP as they were inept at attacking the democrats.
I am not saying that compromise on both sides must be the order of the day - it must - but it does mean that the moderates - who predominantly hold the higher positions of power in the GOP (largely through dint of seniority, not acumen or wisdom) - must start treating the current firebrands with respect and as adults who represent - who were popularly elected to represent - a certain not-insignificant segment of the American population. They must also stop their insidious, vituperative, venomous attacks on those firebrands because those attacks do nothing but dispirit the rank-and-file voters the GOP depends on and gives the democrats more than sufficient ammunition to shoot down all too many republican contenders.
Furthermore, in terms of attacks, attacks on moderates as being RINOs by certain conservatives do far, far less damage because those attacks are effectively saying that the target is too much like a democrat - an attack that provides little ammunition to the democrats because, after all, what are they going to do, attack the target with accusations that he's just like the democrats themselves? That provides precious little help in trying to distinguish themselves from the moderate who's being attacked as a RINO from the conservative side of the GOP.
Sorry, but it's the attacks and accusations from the moderates - from the McCains and Grahams - of the GOP that do the real damage when it comes to splitting the party when it comes to elections; the damage done by the attacks and accusations from the conservatives against the moderates pales into insignificance by comparison.
That is what the 11th Commandment was intended to stop, and it is high time the moderates in the GOP remembered that and stopped their senseless, pointless, suicidal attacks on the firebrands like Cruz.
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I don't disagree with their philosophy; I disagree with their tactics.
We're stuck in this shutdown because Cruz led a small group of the House GOP down this rathole, and now my neighbor (Who works for Lockheed Martin and is a lifelong Republican) is pissed at me because he's being furloughed next week from a private defense contractor because of the shutdown.
I told him to call Ted Cruz's office and bitch.
What, exactly, is Ted Cruz's strategy for resolving the shutdown? Just keep doing what we're doing?
Hmm, yeah. And it had nothing to do with the democrats in the Senate refusing to consider any sort of GOP appropriations continuing resolution to fund some part of the federal government; nothing to do with the democrats' refusal to consider anything but a blanket continuing resolution.
I don't think the HuffPO could have put the "spin" more eloquently than you have.
And this is a poster-child illustration of what the 11th Commandment was intended to stop - vituperative, emotional attacks by moderates on their more conservative brethren, attacks that do nothing more than split the GOP and hand the democrats more than enough ammunition to finish off what the moderates' self-inflicted political suicide attempts have not.
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I don't disagree with their philosophy; I disagree with their tactics.
We're stuck in this shutdown because Cruz led a small group of the House GOP down this rathole, and now my neighbor (Who works for Lockheed Martin and is a lifelong Republican) is pissed at me because he's being furloughed next week from a private defense contractor because of the shutdown.
I told him to call Ted Cruz's office and bitch.
What, exactly, is Ted Cruz's strategy for resolving the shutdown? Just keep doing what we're doing?
If your neighbor is a Republican why - exactly - would he be angry with you? I think you left something out of the story you related here.
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Obama's revealing his mean streak in dealing with the veterans. You're doing a fantastic job of defending the vets.
Was with a couple of potential clients over the last few days. One socializes with our House Rep, a very, very conservative one. Yet he does not claim membership in the TP.
Anyway these guys think the Vet thing is big. That Obama, and by extension the dems, risk a lot by messing with them.
Also agree with me, the GOP performance overall is very poor, TP included.
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One thing I have NEVER done is discuss politics with clients or potential clients, ever.
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One thing I have NEVER done is discuss politics with clients or potential clients, ever.
Why not?
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Why not?
Best way to lose a client. Politics, religion and business do not mix. I keep it professional.
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Hmm, yeah. And it had nothing to do with the democrats in the Senate refusing to consider any sort of GOP appropriations continuing resolution to fund some part of the federal government; nothing to do with the democrats' refusal to consider anything but a blanket continuing resolution.
I don't think the HuffPO could have put the "spin" more eloquently than you have.
And this is a poster-child illustration of what the 11th Commandment was intended to stop - vituperative, emotional attacks by moderates on their more conservative brethren, attacks that do nothing more than split the GOP and hand the democrats more than enough ammunition to finish off what the moderates' self-inflicted political suicide attempts have not.
The 11th Commandment applies to EVERYBODY in the GOP. Your interpretation is completely wrong.
Cruz's implication that those who disagree with him are equivalent to Nazi enablers is a perfect example of a violation of the 11th Commandment from the TP side.
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The 11th Commandment applies to EVERYBODY in the GOP. Your interpretation is completely wrong.
Cruz's implication that those who disagree with him are equivalent to Nazi enablers is a perfect example of a violation of the 11th Commandment from the TP side.
Peter King and John McCain, to name two republicans, started the name calling. They attacked Paul, Lee, and Cruz from day one. King and McCain disgust me.
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It works BOTH WAYS. I can't stand King or McCain or Graham. But Cruz isn't helping with his Nazi enabler stuff.
and you wonder why people have stopped even trying to treat you with respect of opinion when you continue to spew the lefts talking points (aka Palin quit, Nazi enabler, etc.) You have been given the facts ad nauseam and continue like the same broken incorrect record.
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And Cruz is siccing his PAC on the 25 Republican Senators who opposed him, which is why they ripped his ass on Wednesday in that private meeting.
It works BOTH WAYS. I can't stand King or McCain or Graham. But Cruz isn't helping with his Nazi enabler stuff.
They ripped his butt from day one, and Cruz is finally giving it back. And again, you misinterpreted the Nazi enabler stuff. You are too full of confirmation bias to be an effective debater.
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Best way to lose a client. Politics, religion and business do not mix. I keep it professional.
Same thing with patients. When ever they spout leftist drivel I generally nod my agreement and then steer the conversation away.
One day I noticed this patient wearing a black leather belt with "Obama" etched around it. I didn't think it would have been productive to engage him in political conversation.
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Peter King and John McCain, to name two republicans, started the name calling. They attacked Paul, Lee, and Cruz from day one. King and McCain disgust me.
I guess Sink has magically forgotten how McCain attacked Cruz and called him......... a "whacko bird"
McCain doesn't have 1/10th the brain power of a Cruz or Lee... what he has is he is as dirty (politically) as Harry Reid.
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One day I noticed this patient wearing a black leather belt with "Obama" etched around it. I didn't think it would have been productive to engage him in political conversation.
uhhhhhhhhhh nope........ :nometalk: :nometalk: :nometalk:
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They ripped his butt from day one, and Cruz is finally giving it back. And again, you misinterpreted the Nazi enabler stuff. You are too full of confirmation bias to be an effective debater.
No I did NOT misinterpret what Cruz said. He never disavowed it.
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No I did NOT misinterpret what Cruz said. He never disavowed it.
There was nothing to disavow, frankly I'm starting to think you are showing a lack of intellectual honesty here.
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There was nothing to disavow, frankly I'm starting to think you are showing a lack of intellectual honesty here.
Cruz said what he said. You fantasize it away any way you want.
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Cruz said what he said. You fantasize it away any way you want.
Like I said, you wrap yourself up in confirmation bias.
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Cruz said what he said. You fantasize it away any way you want.
You know what, smarter people than me have explained it to you until they are blue in the face, you are just so hell-bent on hating Cruz that you refuse to read what they presented to you. If you want to be taken seriously here, try actually debating with facts for a change instead of Democrat talking points.
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You know what, smarter people than me have explained it to you until they are blue in the face, you are just so hell-bent on hating Cruz that you refuse to read what they presented to you. If you want to be taken seriously here, try actually debating with facts for a change instead of Democrat talking points.
You advocate serious debate? Aren't you the one who told me to "stuff it"? Is that serious debate?
I can read. I know what Cruz said.
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You advocate serious debate? Aren't you the one who told me to "stuff it"? Is that serious debate?
I can read. I know what Cruz said.
Nope, you twisted what he said. You know it, we all know it.
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The reason Conservatives don't do well in primaries is so damn many of them believe they are the "true" Conservative and divide the vote among them. Then there is the "Devout" candidate who flim-flams the "True Believers" as far as he can, until only the Moderate remains.
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The reason Conservatives don't do well in primaries is so damn many of them believe they are the "true" Conservative and divide the vote among them. Then there is the "Devout" candidate who flim-flams the "True Believers" as far as he can, until only the Moderate remains.
The media helps to divide the votes. As soon as a conservative gets on the ballot, the media will start vilifying him/her. The media eliminates them one by one until all we have left standing are people like John McCain.
I'm disgusted with the "country club" section of the republican party. I changed my affiliation to independent and all conservatives should do the same. If might not matter in the overall scheme of things but it will make you feel better.
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Same thing with patients. When ever they spout leftist drivel I generally nod my agreement and then steer the conversation away.
One day I noticed this patient wearing a black leather belt with "Obama" etched around it. I didn't think it would have been productive to engage him in political conversation.
No....but you could have used the belt and choked them with it. :patriot:
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No....but you could have used the belt and choked them with it. :patriot:
:silly: :silly:
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I'll say this, it's hard giving care to someone whose political ideology you despise. But I do it, and without it affecting treatment one iota. :0001:
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I would change my party status right now, except in my state of Kentucky, you can only vote in the primary if you are a (R) or (D). Mitch McConnell is up for election next year and I want to vote against him, I'm done with him!
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I was an insurance agent for years before I retired and I never once during that time let any client know my political or religious affiliation and few ever discussed theirs with me. Our conversations were financial though because they had to be. Co workers did talk about that and I did talk a bit about it with them but was very careful what I said. When you have to work with someone it is best not to get to political with them. Almost all thought of me as a Christian but not because I told them but because of the way I acted out in the world.
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The reason Conservatives don't do well in primaries is so damn many of them believe they are the "true" Conservative and divide the vote among them. Then there is the "Devout" candidate who flim-flams the "True Believers" as far as he can, until only the Moderate remains.
That is not intelligent, or politically sophisticated.
I think some of them run, because "former potus candidate" is a career enhancing move, yielding six and seven figure income, almost for life. Buchanan, Gingrich, Palin come immediately to my mind.
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The media helps to divide the votes. As soon as a conservative gets on the ballot, the media will start vilifying him/her. The media eliminates them one by one until all we have left standing are people like John McCain.
I'm disgusted with the "country club" section of the republican party. I changed my affiliation to independent and all conservatives should do the same. If might not matter in the overall scheme of things but it will make you feel better.
You'd "feel better" if conservatives won more elections, right?
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That is not intelligent, or politically sophisticated.
I think some of them run, because "former potus candidate" is a career enhancing move, yielding six and seven figure income, almost for life. Buchanan, Gingrich, Palin come immediately to my mind.
Not intelligent or politically sophisticated? I can go back to 1988 and give the name for each category and if you were intellectually honest, you could too.
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Not intelligent or politically sophisticated? I can go back to 1988 and give the name for each category and if you were intellectually honest, you could too.
Please?
Not a challenge, just curiosity.
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Did I sleep through Palin's campaign for President? Must have since TS keeps insisting she ran.
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Please?
Not a challenge, just curiosity.
1988
George HW Bush VP
Pat Robertson
Bob Dole
1992
George HW Bush
Pat Buchanan
David Duke
1996
Bob Dole
Pat Buchanan
Steve Forbes
Lamar Alexander
Bob Dornan
Alan Keyes
Phil Gramm
2000
George W Bush
Allan Keyes
John McCain
Steve Forbes
Gary Bauer
Dan Quayle
Jack Kemp was either 1996 or 2000
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You'd "feel better" if conservatives won more elections, right?
Yes, I would feel better if conservatives won more elections, but I also feel better knowing I'm not a member of the republican party. I'm fed up with their caving to the democrats at every turn and acting like they're acting in my best interest. Ha!
Every move they make is for their own careers and the advancement of their positions.
I'm speaking of the Karl Rove elitist branch of the republican party who's about as predictable as Dick Morris.
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Yes, I would feel better if conservatives won more elections, but I also feel better knowing I'm not a member of the republican party. I'm fed up with their caving to the democrats at every turn and acting like they're acting in my best interest. Ha!
Every move they make is for their own careers and the advancement of their positions.
I'm speaking of the Karl Rove elitist branch of the republican party who's about as predictable as Dick Morris.
Which is why a growing number if us gave 're registered as independent.
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That works both ways, truth. Why bank on the country club republicans, when there are people like Lee, Cruz, and Rand who feel like millions of us? I haven't changed my views in 45 years, but the republican party has. Truth be told, Cruz came in line with the rest of us. He isn't leading anyone, since we have already "been there".
Wow. GREAT comment, happyg!
We haven't moved right. We've been there for decades.
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Wow. GREAT comment, happyg!
We haven't moved right. We've been there for decades.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: for happyg AND ML.
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That works both ways, truth. Why bank on the country club republicans, when there are people like Lee, Cruz, and Rand who feel like millions of us? I haven't changed my views in 45 years, but the republican party has. Truth be told, Cruz came in line with the rest of us. He isn't leading anyone, since we have already "been there".
Very well said Hap! And absolutely true! I've spend a good many years now working toward this day and can say that I was out here on the field when Texas turned bright red (not that we don't still have plenty of work to do in Texas) and hope to be there when the whole country follows suit!