Quote of the day
posted at 10:00 pm on February 6, 2009 by Allahpundit
“You’d think that after eight years of George W. Bush, conservatives would have discovered a new respect for the difficulty of successful governance. Yet just as Tanenhaus diagnosed: it is cultural hostility that still most excites our passions…
Cultural populism comes in many forms, and it’s not at all clear that Palin’s particular style of populism has much shelf life. The resentments of the future are much more likely to be expressed with a Latino accent.
In one respect, at least, I very much agree with [Yuval] Levin. The Palin story was always less about Palin, and more about the response to Palin. And the continuing inability of even our conservative best and brightest to elevate their concern for the responsibilities of government over their cultural animosities suggests that this story’s most painful chapters remain to be written.”










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Good grief, man. You’ve got to get out of the city. $10 is enough to buy me two pints of Newcastle draft at our local pub.
I’m not sure we need to agree on the fundamentals as much as we need to decide what ‘hills are worth dying on,’ so to speak. Conservatives are masters at majoring in the minors.
Slublog on February 6, 2009 at 11:30 PM
If you have to frequently say you’re a conservative…you may have some doubts…it is better live as one…and know you are.
jerrytbg on February 6, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Go back and read your post at 11:08 and tell me who looks silly. Go on, I’ll wait.
fiatboomer on February 6, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Psst It’s the internet my distinguished friend. No gives a *&*&
Bradky on February 6, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Where is your boy Poptech with the resume?
joey24007 on February 6, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Oh ho! Touche! Shall we fight to the death?
fiatboomer on February 6, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Lowanddumb,
can we get some numbers on your boy Matt Blunt, you know … the real conservative you used to tell us about.
Tell us about Matt Blunt Low, tell us
joey24007 on February 6, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Just like ramrocks has schooled you dozens of times on Palin’s vetoes and spending cuts. Your B.S. New York Times distortions don’t wash.
Jim62sch on February 6, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Interesting. let’s see who can fit in.
Divorced? Disqualified – don’t support family values
Knowingly fudged on taxes? Disqualified – no honesty/integrity
Had adult relations with more than one partner? Disqualified – moral terptitude and disrespect for the sanctity of marriage
Had/supported an abortion? Disqualified. Never ever gonna be a conservative
List of conservatives might get kind of short.
Bradky on February 6, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Maybe someday in second life or something similar – too little time at this point in life ;)
Bradky on February 6, 2009 at 11:37 PM
You have dropped your pants, friendo, and Bill McKinney is closing in for the kill.
fiatboomer on February 6, 2009 at 11:38 PM
The same definition Rush Limbaugh uses; that is, a loyalty to an ideal that no politician (including Palin) has the courage to actually live up to.
Besides all that, ‘conservative’ is a meaningless title nowadays, considering that there isn’t much of the original Republic left to maintain, and most ‘conservatives’ quietly collect their entitlements like a dutiful socialist.
TMK on February 6, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Liberals hate Sarah.
What more can you ask for?
franksalterego on February 6, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I don’t really care about a few million dollar pet project she vetoed I’m talking about the size, cost and role the government plays and not just when facing massive revenue loses.
lowandslow on February 6, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Then show us how she held the size and cost of Alaska’s government in check. Show me the numbers, something you like to accuse me of never doing. Show us.
lowandslow on February 6, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Tru dat. I so want to play in the political majors, for sure. It’s certainly not set in stone yet how we’ll accomplish that. Lots of work to be done.
Ahh, Newcastle…goes great with one of those big burgers with bacon, cheddar, and sauteed onions *drool* at a pub…
heh, time to fly.
JetBoy on February 6, 2009 at 11:44 PM
FWIIW, my definition of conservatism is to encourage the good, while discouraging the bad. The trick is in the pick.
OldEnglish on February 6, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Hey slow,
Wipe the spittle from the corner of your mouth…and take a deep breath…
jerrytbg on February 6, 2009 at 11:46 PM
I remember his love of Blunt. kcarpenter put the smackdown on that.
Let me quote it for you. It was truly wonder:
ramrocks on February 6, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Just don’t kick open the door to the pub and shout “Tannenbaum just re-signed Testaverde!!!!”
fiatboomer on February 6, 2009 at 11:48 PM
It’s worth more than you think.
jerrytbg on February 6, 2009 at 11:49 PM
franksalterego on February 6, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Yea, verily. Palin’s not only great in absolute terms, the fact that she drives the left absolutely insane for some reason makes me hope she takes a shot at the golden ring just for the theatrical value.
Blacksheep on February 6, 2009 at 11:52 PM
What? I’m always amazed people can imagine other people are thinking. I’m not the one throwing out insults, making ad hominum attacks, my post aren’t laced with profanity, yet you’re telling me to calm down.
lowandslow on February 6, 2009 at 11:54 PM
It’s so fun to watch…
jerrytbg on February 6, 2009 at 11:55 PM
tell me…when did you learn the meaning of ad hominum?
jerrytbg on February 6, 2009 at 11:57 PM
A couple thing, it was you and your friend that asked me to name one Governor that’s more of a fiscal conservative then Palin, I threw out Blunts name and that’s all I did. Secondly everything you argued about with me on that thread proved wrong for you. You want to tell me again how Palin held the upper hand with Exxon in regard to Point Thompson? You want to tell me how that pipeline is coming?
lowandslow on February 7, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Lowandslow
please respond to this
joey24007 on February 7, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Thanks for the numbers: it’s a relief to have someone actually say something while knowing something.
One thing I admire about Palin–and which makes her a ‘classic Republican’ regardless of the whole “is she a conservative?” argument–is that she Made Her Bones by taking on a political establishment that was ( according to who you read and believed ) was either overly content and based on nepotism and cronyism, or simply corrupt.
From its very first days, the Republican Party has attracted voters who where turned off by Democratic Party corruption.
There were several nationwide small parties in the 1840s and 50s which were essentially anti-corruption parties, and all were absorbed by the Republicans in the 1850s–and crucial to their success in 1860
Republicans who make an effective case against the inherent corruption of government will always attract ‘independents’ and energize the base.
Palin did this from her first day of Public Exposure last August ( McCain couldn’t ), and if she can keep doing it she will be a force in the Party.
The risk that ‘reformers’ run in a 24-hour leftist-rag media culture is that they are under a microscope, and the Usual Shrieking Hags and cynical dumb-asses will attack her and lie about her and go after her family, etc, etc
Look at this thread: one fat doofus keeps babbling about her toes and shoes. She brings out the Worst in the Worst, which I like………
Janos Hunyadi on February 7, 2009 at 12:02 AM
She wrote the President urging him to get his act together to get the pipeline going
Transcanada is ready for the 2010 open season
joey24007 on February 7, 2009 at 12:02 AM
I think a conservative may be somebody who establishes,
Ronald Reagan Day
joey24007 on February 7, 2009 at 12:03 AM
You want to tell me how that pipeline is coming?
lowandslow on February 7, 2009 at 12:01 AM
that hasn’t played out yet.
jerrytbg on February 7, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Right on FCOL! It isn’t brain surgery. It’s more courage and guts to face down the mob and say NO, we need to spend less and be responsible despite knowing you will get bad press.
Conservatism is the essence of PARENTS.
Liberalism is the essence of CHILDREN (spoiled ones at that).
Sarah is more like a loving mom, but can give you the tough love too if she has to.
Obama is more like the insecure child with no father. Insecure and indulged.
Sapwolf on February 7, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Agreed! I was hoping Ram would show up too!
Ramrocks…do you use voice rec or are you that fast on the keys?
jerrytbg on February 7, 2009 at 12:09 AM
For a reason. It’s not just any allegedly insignificant air-headed bimbo who draws that kind of fire.
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Hey Sapwolf…here’s where Low slides out the door…
wiping his mouth and muttering under his breath… lol!
good nite…
jerrytbg on February 7, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Funny this. I just not three hours ago bought the 2009 Sarah Palin calender. And sent one to my nephew. (who says americans aren’t spending right now?)
EZnSF on February 7, 2009 at 12:14 AM
She proposed an across the board cut of 7% from last year’s budget.
Yes, she proposed it.
Sapwolf on February 7, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Low is a typical smear artist
they thrive when nobody is willing to “stand up and fight”
those days are gone
joey24007 on February 7, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Enjoi your calendar. It’s a good one. I have it as well, along with my Reagan Ranch 2009 Calendar. It’s the perfect duo really.
hockey2k5 on February 7, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Who in the world cares what frum has to say?
davo on February 7, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Allah Pundit is an idiot.
revolution on February 6, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Go to another site then, you schmuck.
Tzetzes on February 6, 2009 at 10:34
_________________
Funny you should say that, asshole. I’ve decided to do that, starting at this moment…
fabrexe on February 7, 2009 at 12:25 AM
People can try to define Palin all they want over the next four years. Her supporters, of which I am one, thank you for keeping her name out there.
Metro on February 7, 2009 at 12:28 AM
It’s sad that people cannot just like Sarah for at least driving the left crazy.
Many Republicans just can’t jump on the bandwagon. Nobody is asking you to jump on Sarah’s wagon for 4 whole years. Heck, enjoy the moment while we can. If the wagon stops, then bounce off onto Jindal’s or Sanford’s or Perry’s, etc.
I happen to think Sarah is positioning for 2012 given Obama’s ineptness, but nobody is asking you to freekin marry her.
I’m one of those Republicans that can stop on a dime, pull a 180 and go a totally new direction and get back up to 100mph with another winning candidate in no time and be helping to slug it out with the Dems. You fight hard and adapt instantly to battlefield conditions.
Enjoy what short time you have on this Earth.
The woman hunts moose,
has 5 kids including an infant,
drives the Left crazy,
the video of Piper slickin Trig’s hair,
the photo of her praying before going out to speak,
her admitting it hurt her a lot when her family was attacked,
is middle-class and makes my kind of income,
is not afraid to push for budget cuts,
saved up the extra money from high oil prices like when Joseph counciled Pharoah,
is simply a really nice person.
This all has to be worth something.
And last, she is SO in O-man’s head.
Sapwolf on February 7, 2009 at 12:33 AM
So you want to end up with a democrat? Clinton has already been president.
Johan Klaus on February 7, 2009 at 12:36 AM
No, he isn’t. Let’s leave the tactic of calling someone’s mental faculties into question based on any perceived differences to the moonbats.
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Democrats also thank you people for keeping her name — and especially her words – out there.
benny shakar on February 7, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Compared to Obama, Biden and Pelosi, she’s Demosthenes reincarnated. And you know it. LOL
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Ho Hum, another Palin bashing Frum article designed to bring out the trolls to do AP bidding of bring in more traffic.
Nice. yawn
Kini on February 7, 2009 at 12:48 AM
But yeah, I know…our “unqualified success” edited the Harvard Law Review. Aren’t you…uh…uh…gettin’ tired of that kinda stuff?
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Say that after this trillion dollar crap sandwhich doesn’t improve the economy, but then it will still be President Bush’s fault. The American public is ill informed, and badly so, but the lie will become too big to hide and then realism will be front and center. I just hope Obama doesn’t jump into WWIII to get us out of it, which is the only time when Democrats aren’t oppossed ot fighting, to hide their own messes.
Hog Wild on February 7, 2009 at 12:51 AM
It’s fun……
……. don’tcha think?
Seven Percent Solution on February 7, 2009 at 12:54 AM
So, editing a college newspaper is a qualification to be president?
Johan Klaus on February 7, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Democrats also thank you people for keeping her name — and especially her words – out there.
benny shakar on February 7, 2009 at 12:41 AM
No IED’s for you to plant tonight, huh?
Bishop on February 7, 2009 at 12:58 AM
So, editing a college newspaper is a qualification to be president?
Johan Klaus on February 7, 2009 at 12:57 AM
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Criticizing Palin is not only legitimate but righteous if it comes from the right. And there is plenty of room to go at her from that angle. There is really nothing conservative about the woman. Like Obama, it is personality over substance. That is the angle AP is using. Woe be unto us as conservatives if we create a golden calf to worship.
keep the change on February 7, 2009 at 1:07 AM
The “personality over substance” charge can be leveled at ANY elected politician. And “there is nothing conservative about the woman” is about as meaningful as “she is stupid”. No specifics. Anyway, she’s conservative enough apparently to win the psychotic hatred of the left.
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 1:13 AM
So she isn’t the ultra divisive conservative the liberals claim she is? NO WAY
An Era of Hate on February 7, 2009 at 1:13 AM
Wait? Frum doesn’t like Palin?
This is totally new information!
It's Vintage, Duh on February 7, 2009 at 1:14 AM
The response of the left (and I would include Frum there) is more telling.
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Same old same old. Jealousy, misogyny by any other names would smell as bad.
Have you checked your shelf life lately?
Christine on February 7, 2009 at 1:18 AM
The fact that libs hate Palin shouldn’t be her main attribute. The libs hate anyone who doesn’t think like them. Double so for women, whom they think they own.
Speedwagon82 on February 7, 2009 at 1:23 AM
My oh my…how quickly we turn. Just 8 months ago, Hot Air was talking about how great it would be if Palin would be picked for VP. Now HA is linking more and more to anti-Palin rhetoric.
jediwebdude on February 7, 2009 at 1:23 AM
He expired 10 years ago.
ddrintn on February 7, 2009 at 1:23 AM
She wanted development on Pt. Thompson. She revoked Exxon’s leases because they weren’t moving on it. She wasn’t trying to “punish” Exxon; she wanted them to develop Pt. Thompson. She tentatively returned two of them with the agreement now firmly in place that Exxon must develop it or lose it for good. She got exactly what she wants from them. And she still holds more cards.
We’ll wait to see how the open season plays out, but I see no reason why she won’t be successful.
Every time we answer you definitely on one thing, you dance to the next. We show that Palin is a fiscal conservative and you bring up Pt. Thompson. What next? ACES, AGIA, Troopergate? Hmmm? What next, you useless worthless little fool? You’re a waste of bandwidth.
ramrocks on February 7, 2009 at 1:41 AM
I used to dig AP’s shtick, atheism, pessimism an all, now he is acting more and more like a jerk.
promachus on February 7, 2009 at 1:43 AM
Ramrocks, you stay up so late to battle with the trolls. I am impressed.
promachus on February 7, 2009 at 1:44 AM
Once upon a time….
McCain, Palin, Crist, Romney, Tancredo, hell, any of them don’t irk me half as much as conservatives wallowing over the what/who/how of 08. We have a year before the midterm circus starts and another year after that to spit on each other over the what/who/how of 2010. All our energy for the next twelve months should be used to watch and report on Barry and the Blowfish. Just make sure you keep an eye out for those blowfish testicles on your plate.
Limerick on February 7, 2009 at 1:46 AM
The response to Palin was so vicious because of fear, a primal fear. This year, the libs were in tank for Obama like never before and she was a genuine threat. Secondly, she wipes out the entire indentity politics industry. If the Dems lose women’s vote or even is she splits it up, they’ are finished. Done forever. So, if we are measure up Palin because of the response she generated, by all means let’s do it. It is that reponse that makes Palin a great and unique candidate.
promachus on February 7, 2009 at 1:47 AM
No she didn’t. The actual operating budget she proposed increased.
lowandslow on February 7, 2009 at 1:49 AM
I’m dancing around? You were the one that was wrong about Point Thompson in everything you wrote. You’re the one still under the delusion there’s going to be a pipeline. It’s over, it wasn’t economically feasible before the financial collapse, how do you think anyone is going to invest in it now? Where’s the money coming from?
lowandslow on February 7, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Does a record mean anything anymore? I can understand oppossing a politician on policies, but Palin’s policies and accomplishments are ignored.
Lowered the Mayor’s salary when first elected Mayor and directly lowered the tax burden on the taxpayers of that city. Name one politician who has done such a thing, just one.
Took on her own party due to their corruption, and won. Name one politician, just one.
Has REFUSED a pay raise granted by the state senate as Governor and directly lowered the tax burden on state taxpayers. Name just one Governor who has done the same.
OK, an easy one, 80% approval rating as Governor for Palin. Surely there is at least one out there that matches that. Name him/her.
What Sarah Palin has going for her, and it drives the left nuts, she’s not out to screw the American citizens if her actions in Alaska are to be any indicator. Yea she will write a book and get paid for it, Obama has written two. But Palin hasn’t granted earmarks to her spouse’s employer like Obama has.
Palin and Obama aren’t in the same class, and that’s due to Obama’s shortcomings.
Hog Wild on February 7, 2009 at 2:19 AM
Sink me, if you aren’t doing the right thing. For a change.
PercyB on February 7, 2009 at 2:22 AM
Politicians aren’t allowed to put their pants on one leg at a time. There is a GOP/MSM/BlueDog memo posted about that someplace.
Limerick on February 7, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Palin is attractive, but I have an aunt that sounds just like her, so that takes the edge off.
DFCtomm on February 7, 2009 at 2:43 AM
Very cryptic, so much so I’m not sure if you are poking fun or making a point.
But just in case it’s a point. I like Palin and what she stands for. Do I think she will solve all my problems? No, not even close. Do I agree with her on everything, again, no. But I agree with her more than I disagree, and she has the record to back up my beliefs. Fiscal conservative, and my own feelings she will put America’s interests first.
So if she can jump into a pair of slacks with both feet, I consider that a plus. Especially if she’s wearing those boots she seem’s to like so much.
Hog Wild on February 7, 2009 at 2:55 AM
Isn’t it amazing how often we hear about how fanatical Palin supporters are, but it always seems to be the Palin bashers who just can’t let go of the subject?
Frum has spent so much time criticizing Sarah Palin that you have to question his mental balance. It’s not the Palin supporters who are obsessed. The obsessed ones are the people constantly blithering about how obsessed the Palin supporters are.
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on February 7, 2009 at 3:06 AM
When was I ever wrong about Point Thompson, you delusional little worm?
ramrocks on February 7, 2009 at 3:07 AM
They don’t do it for nothing. She pulls in 20,000+ at rallies, revitalized McCain’s campaign, and she’s young enough to be around 4,8,12,16 years from now.
DFCtomm on February 7, 2009 at 3:16 AM
Well, there’s certainly room to criticize her. There was room to criticize Reagan. And there will always be those who put personality above substance.
But “There is really nothing conservative about the woman?” Why spew such obvious nonsense?
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on February 7, 2009 at 3:17 AM
Are the dates the same in both calendars? I have to rely on one calandar I got free at the bank. I often suspect they slipped in an extra day or maybe left a day out to see if anyone would notice. I never thought of redundant calendars… who else is giving away free calendars? I hope I can find one then I’ll know.They are going the way of the free roadmap.You can still get those at most state rest areas. Ah the good old days when every service station had maps for free. Thats socialism. Now we have gas stations and they charge for maps. That’s capitalism. It’s so confusing.
kanda on February 7, 2009 at 3:20 AM
That’s because Matanuska-Susitna Community College and Harvard Law School are 4,500 miles apart.
benny shakar on February 7, 2009 at 3:59 AM
I kept my 1984 calendar up until a few years ago when I finally conceded that time travel wasn’t possible.
I’m learning to love the present, though, mostly thanks to HDTV, Sarah Palin and microwavable bacon.
Mr. Wednesday Night on February 7, 2009 at 4:09 AM
AllahP is quoting Froomz?
Um.
K.
Thanks, A-Puff.
P.S. I hate to be so Algorenon-inspired melodramatic, but this begs for it. Hell, I rarely even comment on HotAir.
But Froomz? Really? Really?
jrl on February 7, 2009 at 4:11 AM
The betas win, indeed (copyrighted, I know, apologies).
jrl on February 7, 2009 at 4:12 AM
Frum’s desire to answer any article about Palin is beginning to get to the point of creepy.
I guess we can call him the official Palin crtic cause he can’t seem to help himself.
Dritanian on February 7, 2009 at 5:52 AM
What are the cultural animosities that’s being attributed to Palin or conservatives in general?
Palin conservatives are pro-life, anti gay marriage, pro-first and second amendment, want small government and a strong national defense, celebrate self-reliance, and unapologetically embrace America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.
And we hunt.
So, yeah, there’s animosity towards whatever culture here engages in wholesale abortions from conception to live birth, and there’s animosity towards the Somali enclaves here that refuse to assimilate and export suicide bombers…
And AP, you closet liberal, don’t just throw a quote out there without giving some analysis of your own. It’s cowardly and lazy.
CarolynM on February 7, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Right, Frum tries to load the terms of debate by inverting our cultural values into cultural ‘animosities’. Challenge the premise. Otherwise we fall for his shabby rhetorical trick.
petefrt on February 7, 2009 at 7:25 AM
What resentments are they going to be expressing? That the country they illegally invaded hasn’t handed them enough affirmative action entitlements to suit them? Or that they haven’t been able to turn this country into the same type of third-world cesspool they came from quick enough to suit them? Bite me.
AZCoyote on February 7, 2009 at 7:31 AM
Good point in the original post.
Palin has many visible flaws, the one that the base doesn’t get is that she is simply not a viable national candidate. She’s not the messiah, she’s a grasping polarizing pol of the first order.
Ares on February 7, 2009 at 7:32 AM
New to the neighborhood, dear? The quote of the day never, ever has commentary attached to it from Allah. You get to comment on the comment. Got it?
For someone who hunts and calls others “cowardly and lazy”, you sure are weak at picking a target. Why not take a specific point that Frum makes and dispute it on its merits instead of blindly firing rounds from a machine gun?
Buy Danish on February 7, 2009 at 7:36 AM
I’ll disagree with you on her being a viable national candidate, but I will concede that she does need to work on weak points and that she has to prove to skeptics such as yourself that she can be a strong and capable leader. I think that if she gets her state through this recession in reasonably good order and can be seen shoring up her weak areas in foreign affairs, handling the media, and can articulate a solid, well-reasoned platform, that will go a long way towards winning over those skeptics. Conservative skeptics tend to want to see deeds, not words. Moderates and independents will need a bit more to sway them because of the hostile media–this is what Palin has to be able to overcome–she must find a way to reach moderates and independents in spite of the media.
Palin does frighten the Beltway and coastal elites on both sides of the political divide who have far more in common with each other than they do with the rest of us. A political realignment is taking place in this country: Conservative versus liberal; Elite versus common; urban versus rural; free versus dependent; and collectivist versus individualist. In most cases there will be overlap in these divisions with one group consisting of liberal collectivist urban elites dominating a dependent class on one side of the divide and conservative, common, rural, free, individualists on the other. Palin and Bambi, as the two most charismatic figures to date, represent the poles in this divide with Palin aligned with the conservative pole and Bambi with the liberal.
Matt Helm on February 7, 2009 at 7:48 AM
Here is my problem with the critical article …
Anyone remember how America got to the moon? It started with a statement made by President Kennedy, and I certainly don’t remember him ‘offering any details or even any suggestion of how such a thing might be done’, but it got done nonetheless, and on top of that is all of the real research on doing exactly that.
So perhaps David Frum should STFU as his ignorance is showing.
DannoJyd on February 7, 2009 at 7:58 AM
And by “experts” in and out of government, reference SELF PROCLAIMED experts like Al Gore who never graduated from college but assumes expertise with his illogical defiance of historical records.
In order to conserve, where neo-liberal progression has erased the Constitution’s integrity to the point that rule of law no longer exists in daily life and in the courts, recognizing what went wrong focuses efforts for the rectification of the Constitution.
A basic differentiation between conservative (Constitution) vs. neo-liberal (not Classical Liberal) social conscience is tolerance. Conservatives tolerate liberals so far as the Constitution is not revised or obliterated by usurping Socialists. Whereas, neo-liberals do not tolerate conservatives under any circumstance. Therein, neo-liberals are NOT liberals, and have not been Liberals for a century. And the Socialist revision of textual definitions is a reprehensible means to demise civilization. “It depends on what the meaning of IS is.”
Tanenhaus is stuck on stupid.
As per incrimination of Palin, suck eggs. Her “fault” rests in association with the dud (not Dude) McCain. Her talents are exactly what the media WISH TO HIGH HEAVEN that Obama actually possesses. Since their dud Obama is such a loser, their best defense is to persist in offense. That rationale doesn’t legitimize their propaganda. On the contrary. To simply defile virtue “because you could” is all the more heinous.
Palin has plenty to learn, as does every person on earth. Unlike Obama, however, Palin learns. And Palin has the right instincts, so very unlike Obama. And Palin has executive experience. Meanwhile, Obama is exploiting the nation with his on the job training.
maverick muse on February 7, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Again, Frum puts it upside down. “Resentments’ and ‘animosities’ of the conservative movement are derivative, not primary forces. More effect than cause, they derive from the interest in conserving cultural values. What drives the conservative movement will be its prevailing cultural values, including the value we put as a people on classic ideals such as self-ownership, individual liberty, private property, equal opportunity and economic freedom.
Many, including Karl Rove I think, maintain that Latino values are far closer to our classic Western Judeo-Christian values than they are to today’s secular ‘progressive’ left. To the extent this holds, ‘resentments’ — though expressed with a Latino accent — will reinforce, rather than compete with our own.
petefrt on February 7, 2009 at 8:01 AM
I agree. If the GOP continues to pick which groups of voters it wants to pursue, like a sushi menu, the GOP is doomed. Michael Steele has to see that a message of classic ideals (such as self-ownership, individual liberty, private property, equal opportunity and economic freedom)can have broad appeal across geography, status, and race/ethnicity.
DrStock on February 7, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Here is where we see the weakness of Frum’s analysis and approach–he’s seeking a manager when the country needs a leader–these are two different kettle of fish. Frum insists on maintaining a corporate model of leadership when what is needed is something else. A leader inspires others to go on to accomplish what they otherwise wouldn’t even think of doing–such as JFK’s challenge to reach the moon. A leader doesn’t have to be a policy wonk–but must possess enough humility to listen to what the policy wonks have to say and the decisiveness to set a course of action and the charisma to sway others that this is the proper course of action and once again the wisdom to be sure that it is indeed the right course. Palin has the potential of being that sort of leader. Bambi has the charisma and energy, but not the needed humility, decisiveness, and wisdom that a good leader should possess.
Palin needs to polish her rough edges and there are no certainties as to whether she can or wants to do that–but as of now, she’s making all the right moves and is charting a good course.
Matt Helm on February 7, 2009 at 8:16 AM
To be blunt, I think Repubs are viewed as the party of whites. That obscures the values messages.
I agree with you. Steele should say that Repubs are the party of those who are Americans first, instead of hyphenated Americans, and all are welcome and wanted who share a set of common ideals. At the very least, such a message would highlight the liberal/conservative divide that exists in minority communities, as in all others.
Modern-day liberalism has nothing to do with minority status. It has to be disconnected in the minds of the voter.
JiangxiDad on February 7, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Right, or in a sense, we in the conservative movement would let the mission define the coalition, while the Leftists would have their coalition define their mission.
The makeup of the constituency of the conservative movement would be the result of its political philosophy, while the Leftists philosophy is defined by the competing special interests of its various identity groups.
From what I see of Steele, I’m optimistic.
petefrt on February 7, 2009 at 8:26 AM
To argue that given the current dire economy, the only correct legislative measure is to tax more in order to maintain big government ignores the alternative to cut government and delay projects until funds become available during an economic upswing.
Palin is not necessarily wrong to keep the tax burden low on Alaskans, particularly knowing that Obama and Congress hold the entire State of Alaska in the lowest regards with vindictive measures ahead, both in taxation and in depletion of business opportunities against Alaskans. Telling her state legislature to tighten the belt is the FIRST order of business for every responsible public servant.
See how Obama neglects the victims of the Bible Belt in dire storms now. Economy aside, Obama is physically abusive and cruel to the weak and the elderly, just as he was in Chicago. Obama consistently took tax money meant to provide clean living standards at public housing and every other project he “assisted” to enrich his own organized crime associates while leaving the wretched to worse ruin than before his criminal community organizing plague hit town. Obama kicks dead horses to make sure there’s nothing more to be had from the poor beast.
Palin would never execute such governance. She would personally direct the search to deliver life’s necessities to folks frozen in a storm.
maverick muse on February 7, 2009 at 8:27 AM
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