Quotes of the day
posted at 10:35 pm on February 26, 2009 by Allahpundit
“If you want to get a sense of how unserious and ungrounded most Americans think the Republican Party is, look no further than how conservatives elevate Joe the Plumber as a spokesman. The movement has become so gimmick-driven that Wurzelbacher will be a conservative hero long after people have forgotten what his legitimate policy beef with Obama was.
A movement self-confident in its place in American society would not have made Joe the Plumber a bigger story than he actually was. Since its very beginnings as a movement, conservatism has bought into liberalism’s dominant place in the American political process. They controlled all the major institutions: the media, academia, Hollywood, the Democratic Party, large segments of the Republican Party, and consequently, the government. Liberalism’s image of conservatives in the ’50s and ’60s as paranoid Birchers gave birth to a conservative movement self-conscious of its minority status. As in any tribe that is small in number and can’t fully trust its most natural allies (i.e. the business community or the Republican Party), the meta-debate of who is inside and outside the tribe is magnified exponentially.”
*
“Much as their blind loyalty discredited the Right, perhaps the worst effect of Limbaugh et al. has been their draining away of political energy from what might have been a much more worthwhile project: the fostering of a middlebrow conservatism. There is nothing wrong with lowbrow conservatism. It’s energizing and fun. What’s wrong is the impression fixed in the minds of too many Americans that conservatism is always lowbrow, an impression our enemies gleefully reinforce when the opportunity arises. Thus a liberal like E.J. Dionne can write, ‘The cause of Edmund Burke, Leo Strauss, Robert Nisbet and William F. Buckley Jr. is now in the hands of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity. … Reason has been overwhelmed by propaganda, ideas by slogans.’ Talk radio has contributed mightily to this development…
Conservatives have never had, and never should have, a problem with elitism. Why have we allowed carny barkers to run away with the Right?”
Blowback
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Joe the Plumber is a better spokesman than Cindy Sheehan.
jgapinoy on February 26, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I’d give this a big Who the F Cares, but I’m a little tired of JTP myself. Does he have a book deal yet? If not, he will.
fiatboomer on February 26, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Nobody but AP would have picked these particular excerpts…
fabrexe on February 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM
He has a book out and had a three hour signing in D.C. last night. He sold five books and left after 55 minutes.
SnarkVader on February 26, 2009 at 10:40 PM
So now we’re “carny barkers.” I am sick of this crap.
IrishEi on February 26, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Given that this guy can’t tell the difference between a pejorative (elitism) and a real quality (elite) I really don’t care what he has to say.
Darth Executor on February 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM
FIFY
psrch on February 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I’m reaching the “don’t care” point myself, maybe for different reasons. I’m a little tired of the endless scapegoating. We lost because of the religious kooks, the socons, the unwashed illiterates who listen to Limbaugh et al. “If we don’t become more like the Democrats, we’re DOOMED I tell you!!”
Have at it.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Welcome to the US Derb. We’re not perfect, but you had better do a better job defining what you mean by ‘elitism’. Americans have a visceral hatred of snobs…watch Caddyshack a few more times or read up on the American Revolution.
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM
They both make terrible spokespeople for actual policy. I mean…neither of them know anything about government or the way it operates. I think thats where alot of the criticism, like the articles above, centers. There is indeed a wide gap between a Joe the Plumber and a William F. Buckley. Conservatism would be better off having its internal debates centered around the mental exercise of the latter than the slogans of the former.
ernesto on February 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Bill Maher on CNN: The GOP looks to find the future and they find AM radio.
Can you get any more marginalized??
capitulus on February 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Another JTP thread.
Is the Democrat party capable of using propaganda and slogans to motivate the mindless masses to throw away an entire country? Yes We Can!!!
Guardian on February 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Darth Executor on February 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Here here!
catlady on February 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
PARTIAL LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT BARACK OBAMA REFUSES TO RELEASE -. OBAMA’S SECRECY AND “CLOSED RECORDS” POLICY
Indonesian Passport – Not released
Application for U.S. Citizenship (as former citizen of Indonesia) – Not released
Immigration Records – Not released
Original Vault Copy Birth Certificate – Not released
Certificate of Live Birth – Counterfeit Version on Obama Web Site
Obama / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro / Dunham Marriage License – Not released
Soetoro Adoption Records – Not Released
Fransiskus Assisi School Application – Not released
Punahou School Records – Not released
Selective Service Registration – Counterfeit version generated
Occidental College records – Not released
Columbia College Records – Not released
Columbia Thesis – Not released
Harvard College Records – Not released
Baptism Certificate – None
Medical Records – Not released
Illinois State Senate Records – Not released
Law Practice Client List – Not released
University of Chicago Scholarly Articles – None
searcher484 on February 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Talking about carney stuff, Jeff Goldstein can probably show a few carney hooks to Joe the Plumber if he comes to the clinic in Chicago. I am sure Roger Simon is welcome too.
Mr. Joe on February 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
IrishEi on February 26, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Left out the zinger that is getting quoted a lot: Happy Meal conservativism.
“In place of the permanent things, we get Happy Meal conservatism: cheap, childish, familiar.”
okonkolo on February 26, 2009 at 10:45 PM
So, why do the Democrats get their panties in a wad over AM radio if it’s so, uh, “marginal”? Eh?
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 10:46 PM
allah how many times does this guy have to spam this before you ban him
ernesto on February 26, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Maybe elites would have better relations with everyone else if so many of them didn’t like the cut of that Obama fellows jib so much.
Mark1971 on February 26, 2009 at 10:46 PM
“If you want to get a sense of how unserious and ungrounded most Americans think the Republican Party is, look no further than how conservatives elevate Joe the Plumber as a spokesman. The movement has become so gimmick-driven that Wurzelbacher will be a conservative hero long after people have forgotten what his legitimate policy beef with Obama was.
Please explain to Patrick Ruffini, and all of the other geniuses – in block letters – that JOE THE PLUMBER WOULD NOT HAVE TRIPLED THE FRIGGIN DEFICIT IN ONE FRIGGIN MONTH. SO WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF UNWASHED JOE WERE RUNNING THINGS RATHER THAN ELEGANT OBAMA AND IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS THEN STFU. YOU ARE NOT AS SMART AS YOU THINK YOU ARE.
So says double degreed me.
Basilsbest on February 26, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Silly Wurzelbacher thinks the emperor is naked. All the intelligent people can see the fine silks and ermine Obama is wearing because we are S.M.R.T. I mean S.M.A.R.T.!
Laura in Maryland on February 26, 2009 at 10:47 PM
He knows what buttons to push.
Greed on February 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Sure..Democrats look to the future and find 1932.
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Allah, you know there’s a reason why Obama set up his own website don’t you? This site is part of the problem…
ninjapirate on February 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
And that’s why he’s the man.
William F. Buckley must be rolling over in his grave as he sees what CPAC has become.
SnarkVader on February 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Cindy Sheehan was the first thing that came to my mind too.
Ampersand on February 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Heh, Allah is dead right. There are plenty of people who voted for Obama who aren’t enamored with him. The problem is that the alternative is a bunch of nutball zealots with bibles and nascar hats. One party rule – regardless of party isn’t good. Healthy opposition is. Even if you lose and aren’t in power you can shape the debate. As it stands, that isn’t happening.
Time to clean up the image. Think Eisenhower and Buckley – fools like Sarah Palin and Joe/Sam the ‘Plumber’ don’t cut it.
capitulus on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Corny barker, eh? There, in a nutshell is elitism, because we all are “corny barkers” at times.
Joe is calling things like he sees them, and quite a bit of it resonates with the rest of us, who are not too far removed from the life Joe was living before he Challenged the One.
Joe’s initial remark on taxes is even more timely now, given Barack’s announced intent to pay off both the outstanding charges AND the big new ones this month on his credit card, and is going to rob every rich person in town to pay the debts — with rich being anyone Barack says it is.
unclesmrgol on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I look to the future and see star trek. we need a DARPA funded warp drive project to stimulate the economy.
ernesto on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Ah so conservatives are gimmick-driven.
Not at all like the Democrats who nominated a president based on his skin color and ability to give a speech.
Forget the fact that he had no executive experience or legislative accomplishments. He was the real deal, and it is only the foolish, lost-in-the-woods conservatives who are driven by gimmicks.
Gimme a break.
jimmy the notable on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Heh, all those quotes sound like something they might have said about Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. What a bunch of hillbillies those colonials were!
joe_doufu on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
One can be considered educated and “smart” but still not be wise. We need wise leaders, not necessarily smart and educated ones.
catlady on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I’m watching “Taking Chance” tonight. If Obama was within earshot, I’d give that traitorous Chimpy bastard an earful.
csdeven on February 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Hah. Good one.
IrishEi on February 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM
The author clearly has no understanding of why JTP resonated with Conservatives. He resonated with us because he’s a regular guy who got a chance to ask The One a question we’d all like to have seen the professional media ask but which they wouldn’t since they’re all a bunch of Obama sychophants. Conservatives embraced JTP because he got a chance to “speak truth to power” and power didn’t quite know how to respond. JTP resonated with us because after he “spoke truth to power”, Power’s minions went after him with a vengance.
If the author of this article doesn’t understand that, maybe it’s because their head is misplaced in their bowel regions.
t.ferg on February 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Tell us how you really feel, Allah.
(yes, I know these are quotes…but the quotes do say something about the person choosing them.)
jimmy the notable on February 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I did think JTP was milked a bit too much, but I don’t think Ruffini puts his finger on the problem.
Sorry, Derb is not someone I listen to about conservatism.
INC on February 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Joe the Plumber seems more informed to me than most in Washington (Schumer, Obama, Frank, Dodd, Pelosi, RINOS etc.)
jencab on February 26, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Don’t let the door hit you on the A$$ on the way out..! And good riddance..!
Who gives a crap what that pos says anyway..geeezzz
Badbrucskie on February 26, 2009 at 10:54 PM
LOL…just ain’t worth it.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 10:57 PM
We need a new Bill F to run these loons from the GOP like he ran the Birchers in the ’60s.
Who will do it?
AprilOrit on February 26, 2009 at 10:57 PM
1. It was McCain who brought Joe the plumber on the campaign trail. McCain sucked, and he is gone. Obama mentioned him too, Conservatives didn’t “elevate” Joe the Plumber as a spokesman, he is an average guy who speaks for many average Americans. Is that a bad thing?
2. It was not the “movement” that made Joe a “bigger story”, the media ran with it and Joe struck a chord with many people. Heaven forbid average people should have a say in the process, I guess we should just listen to political nobodies like this Patrick Ruffini and Allahpundit who basically hide behind their keyboards.
3. John Derbyshire is an idiot, if we leave the movement in the hands of assholes like him, we will run another McCain and get our ass kicked. People are attracted to the strong horse, Rush is strong. Why water down our principals? It ain’t worked yet.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 10:57 PM
All the finger-pointing among conservatives must make Obama happy. Sorry people, these are the reasons Obama won the election:
1. The media softened up the public by pounding on Iraq and Bush for years. By the time the election came around, Bush’s approval ratings were so low that the GOP convention was embarrassed to have him.
2. McCain was a weak candidate and ran like Dole did in 1996. His only message to the voters was that he was a war hero and he hated earmarks.
3. The media became part of Obama’s campaign and did whatever they could to help “make history.”
4. Despite all this, McCain was about to make it even, but then the economy collapsed. McCain, who was on record as saying the economy was sound, looked panicky, and the media made Obama look cool and in control. From that time, Obama had won (as all the polls showed).
pearson on February 26, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Given that the founders were looking for citizen legislators, I think the person who has a problem here is the commenter, not the grassroots conservatives.
Given that the people who think like the commenter gave us McCain and the 2006 election debacle, I think the person who has a problem is the commenter, not grassroots conservatives.
Given that the commenter is taking as his cue premises set by people such as Bill Maher and other radical lefties who are not exactly bent on seeing the Republican party prosper, I think the person who has the problem is the commenter, not grassroots conservatives.
We have problems, but the commenter isn’t addressing them. Those problems include the willingess to take the premises of the left as a given and respond to them instead of ridiculing those premises and inserting the real issues (e.g. “bankers were greedy and gave out sub-prime mortgages to people they knew would never be able to pay them back because those greedy bankers thought they would make lots of money doing this” the right should have said, “what a stupid statement! The real problem was Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the CRA”). Also included is the problem of a mainstream media, watched by the majority of citizens that is so biased and in the tank for the statists that even moderately conservative ideas are viewed as extreme
AZfederalist on February 26, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Ha, so Derb makes Quote of the Day. Between this and your GNXP-linking, clearly materialist atheism is the Trojan Horse that will lure you inexorably to excommunication by Charles Johnson or whoever. It’s only a matter of time.
Alex K on February 26, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Absolutely…you just described Allahpundit perfectly! If there was ever a person who perfectly match the description of “nutball zealots with bibles and nascar hats”, it’s our Allahpundit.
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Give me a break! John Derbyshire is now the arbiter of proper conservative spokespeople?
Just for fun today, I listened to Rush Limbaugh’s entire show. It was DEVASTATING to Obama and the Democrats. Not because of what Rush said, but because of what his callers said. These people are not stupid yokels, they are very smart hardworking Americans who are PISSED. That’s why elitists like Derbyshire and Bill Maher hate talk radio, because it actually gives the hoi polloi a voice, and it allows people to hear those voices, unfiltered and unsanitized.
rockmom on February 26, 2009 at 10:59 PM
If the hatred you feel for Bible thumpers and NASCAR types and Palin and JTP is greater than your disdain for the policies of the Democratic party, it seems to me your choice is clear.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Please remind me again what the Great and Powerful Joe the Plumber has done, other than having the dumb luck to be in the right place at the right time?
SnarkVader on February 26, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Part of the problem is that the natural platform to develop such a “middlebrow” conservatism is the college campus, which is generally shut down to conservatives, for as much institutional as intellectual reasons. If you look at the stuff spouted by “middlebrow” liberals like E.J. Dionne, it’s all stuff they learn in college.
Then, when someone from the right does end up in a teaching position in a university, that person tends to be more libertarian than conservative. Take someone like Richard Posner, who is arguably one of the sharpest minds in the country and who is generally “on the right”, but who would not appeal to many conservatives because of his libertarian streak, even though individual liberty is a core conservative value. Same with a lot of the guys who came out of the University of Chicago, which I still consider the most impressive roster of political and economic thinkers in the country.
By default, radio comes in to fill that void, but radio isn’t a college campus (even if, as I recall, Rush likes to call himself a “professor”).
venividivici on February 26, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Derbs got a few ‘conservative’ cred problems as well. He supported immediate withdrawal of Iraq, for instance, back when things got a little difficult and Obama and the rest of the left was proposing the same…and thought Hillary might not be so bad as President.
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Many of the same people on the left that demonized Joe the Plumber are the same people who “say” they represent the working class.
Is his 15 minutes up,yea,I think so.
But liberals attacked him for the same reasons they attacked Palin. Because they actually connect with the working class instead of patronizing it the way Obama (hanging on to guns and religion) and many democrats do.
Don’t let the liberals fool you,they are not going to waste their time attacking people they don’t view as a threat.
That is why they may have called Palin stupid and inexperienced,but still can’t shut up about her.
Remember,Joe’s biggest “crime” was daring to criticize Obama’s policies,something the same press that demeans him still does not have the balls to do.
Baxter Greene on February 26, 2009 at 11:03 PM
OT: Is anybody going to the tea parties tomorrow?
jimmy the notable on February 26, 2009 at 11:04 PM
First of all, nobody said he was great and powerful. I said he was an average guy whose message resonated with many people. He asked Obama a question the media would not and Obama fumbled, good for him for bringing that to light.
Clearly we can have some Joe the Plumbers AND have a persuasive vision with Conservative ideas that will appeal to the masses at the national level with good candidates, it isn’t like Joe is standing in the way of that.
The whole article is basically a straw man argument. Remember Ruffini was the guy who said it would mean disaster for Obama if he declined to accept public financing for his campaign. We all know how that prediction turned out. The guy is a nobody and speaks for no one.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Who said Joe ever did anything? Other than, of course, asking Obama a question not very many media types would dare.]
I love all the “the religious wackos and social conservatives are dooming us to perpetual defeat!” junk. They’re OK as long as the Republicans win the presidency. When Republicans lose, it’s the fault of the “wackos”. Give me a break. The fatal thing is going to be all this pseudo-Buckley navel-gazing intellectualizing. That’s good for a magazine, not good for an effective political movement.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 11:07 PM
on your #3, actually Derb was a Ron Paul supporter. Not surprising one nut supporting another.
chasdal on February 26, 2009 at 11:07 PM
By the way Derb…I don’t really consider JTP the spokesman of the conservative party…in fact, a lot of times, he doesn’t really sound that conservative to me…more like a middle of the road ‘independent’. Roger Simon recruited him, but Roger isn’t exactly a raging conservative either..nothing wrong with either of them, but they are not the ‘conservative’ movement.
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 11:08 PM
actually Derb supported not going into Iraq at all, just a quick short invasion to run out the hussien’s and then pull out and let them deal w/ things themselves. w/ the caveat we would be back if they got out of line again.
just imagine the chaos and death that wouldve caused. yeah, that derb needs to stick w/ the math. only area where i think he has any real competence.
chasdal on February 26, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Yes, it is junk. People forget that in 2004, it was the “values voters” who shocked the pundits and pulled an already weakened Bush over the finish line. How did the Dems respond? They figured out they needed to start sounding religious. They talked about God whenever they could, they complained there were too many abortions, and said they opposed gay marriage. Their attempt to lure enough of “the the religious wackos” worked and some in the GOP now want to help them along.
pearson on February 26, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Point taken, he is even worse than I thought then. Paul didn’t have a chance in hell. We would be TOTAL FOOLS to kick Limbaugh to the curb! He is one of the few Conservatives that gets our message out to millions of people every day, without him, the MSM would rule the airwaves. Derbyshire should lay off the sauce. What he considers “lowbrow” is actually what most average folks by the millions believe. That is not to say Rush is perfect but he is sure as hell far more of an asset than a liability.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Yeah, we always seem to forget how far to the right Democrats have to sound in order to have a chance at winning nationally.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Just FYI I’m a grad student at a top school and am a red blooded Rush Limbaugh listener. The trick is going to be keeping it hidden from my co-workers until I become a tenured professor. Then, of course, I’ll still be massively outnumbered by Communists in whatever university I end up at…
joe_doufu on February 26, 2009 at 11:15 PM
As great as Buckley was, do you really think most average people related to him on any level? I would bet that many couldn’t even tell you much about him or even read any of his books. Buckley loved Limbaugh by the way and gave him enormous credit for breaking the liberal media monopoly.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:16 PM
They are trying to set the tone for 2012. They know Sarah will be in the running. Keep repeating the lie and people will start to believe it. By 2012 Sarah will be a stupid loose cannon in most peoples minds.
Greed on February 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM
More and more they are ending up on FM as well. This is definitely a good thing.
The Rushs and Hannitys are good for the movement. The problem is that the party lost its way in addition to Bush giving in too much. The GOP forgot THEY were supposed to be financially smart.
Jamson64 on February 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM
And Obama-Rama-Ding-Dong does??
MikePappas on February 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM
I am wondering why Republicans are still being referred to as the “religious wackos” when it was not us that sat in a church for 20 yrs. listening to “God Dam# America”,”America deserved 9/11″,”the CIA invented aids”,and so on…and so on.
I doubt even the hard core Baptist minister believes and says the crazy bullsh!t that Obama’s moral compass Rev. Wright spewed for years from the pulpit.
Baxter Greene on February 26, 2009 at 11:19 PM
I’ve taken my shots at Allahpundit before, granted, but I can’t help but wonder why a guy would stick with a job where he gets verbally abused and berated all day long.
I think I’ll be nicer to him – with the exception of whenever KP comes up.
Tacitus_SGL on February 26, 2009 at 11:19 PM
i certainly enjoy NRO but Rush has done much more for the conservative movement than by himself than the entire staff over there. Derb has his cutesy line “you’re not WFB” line from chris buckley in there but chris has no credibility after his leaving the party. his column explaining his support for obama was so full of holes it boils down to he is tired of his literary crowd making fun of him and his dad isnt around to take up for him anymore so he’ll become one of them to stop the teasing. “i didnt leave the party, the party left me” my ass!
chasdal on February 26, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Still kills me that she had far more experience than Obama….many Americans are truly ignorant. I wonder if Americans realize that the Dems now are into their 3rd year of controlling Congress. I doubt it.
Jamson64 on February 26, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Sounds like a badge of honor to me given CJ’s recent antics.
It’s not what JTP did, but what the so-called fair-minded Democrat party did TO JTP after he dared ask The One a question not on the list of Approved Questions for the Great One.
You’re not even a good troll.
AZfederalist on February 26, 2009 at 11:20 PM
They know the most important thing of all, which is that government is not the answer. And I don’t think they are writing the platform for the party.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:20 PM
God, I hate RINOs. I just gotta say it.
joe_doufu on February 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM
If we’re going to win again, it’s going to have to be from the bottom up. And that would include a lot of those allegedly “distasteful” religious kooks and other assorted social conservatives. Maybe our more enlightened and sophisticated brothers and sisters would like to try to win without them? Good luck with that.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Great post! If the Republican party had any sense they would surely get George Clooney or Sean Peen as their spokesman!
MB4 on February 26, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I agree, that is why I said Buckley is *not* the model of what will persuade the masses.
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:24 PM
I meant Joe the Plumber and Cindy Sheehan. But regardless, I find it disheartening that more voters on both sides have these sorts coming up with the messages that “resonate with x” Id rather the resonating messages come from the pages of foreign affairs or the american interest or the economist or somewhere where actual analysis of policy goes on.
i’ll say it again, there is indeed a wide gap between a Joe the Plumber and a William F. Buckley. Conservatism would be better off having its internal debates centered around the mental exercise of the latter than the slogans of the former.
ernesto on February 26, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Stop with the “hate” already.
AprilOrit on February 26, 2009 at 11:25 PM
About the same as George Clooney or Sean peen. Or some might even say as you-know-who.
MB4 on February 26, 2009 at 11:26 PM
You see Rush Limbaugh? All because you, like the rest of the Conservative Movement, have become “distracted” by the democrats. All according to plan: ( LINK )
Darvin Dowdy on February 26, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Straighten up boys! Mom is on deck!
MB4 on February 26, 2009 at 11:27 PM
I concur on all points. Very nicely stated.
TugboatPhil on February 26, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Uh, no. What I was responding to was this:
Heaven forbid average people should have a say in the process, I guess we should just listen to political nobodies like this Patrick Ruffini and Allahpundit who basically hide behind their keyboards.
I’d like to know what Joe the Plumber has done to earn the distinction of a “political somebody” over people like Ruffini and Allahpundit. The only thing he did was ask a question and was lucky enough to have someone taping it. That’s it. Pure dumb luck.
SnarkVader on February 26, 2009 at 11:27 PM
And who sir, would you suggest “clean up the image” right now?? A bunch of elitist snobs like yourself and this jerk who wrote the article? That’s getting us real far these days huh? I’m fairly religious and a Palin supporter. I make a decent living and appreciate those who provide average, hard working Americans jobs and a roof over their head. The above poster was right, on ALL the conservative shows today there were AVERAGE Americans calling in who are pissed and frustrated. And I dont think they were POS elitest SOBs like you. Take a hike…
davek70 on February 26, 2009 at 11:27 PM
From the late 50s through the 60s and 70s and even the 80s and part of the 90s liberals so dominated and so abused not just conservatives but the very America built with the blood of those conservatives that after finally coming into control they never did become any more than Self-immolationists paranoid of their own shadows, terrified of the media, insecure in front of even minority liberals.
Its truly amazing the speed at which some conservatives are willing to embrace the same poison that destroyed a potentially permanent conservative movement and has in turn has given us a radical President and a potentially permanent socialist liberal movement in its place now happily disassembling the last vestiges of American tradition, culture and any notion of independence or stoicism.
Welcome back to the future spacepeople.
Reagan was right, freedom is not inherited, every generation must earn the privilege to enjoy their own lack of tyranny.
The liberty bill is nigh due, again.
Better the conservative faithful to guide the nation than diluted fading shadows of principles with no chance of any more of a likelihood of success than the dismal outlook we have staring and laughing at us square in the face right now.
Time to kick ass, take names and ready the next generation for their self confident turn at the gauntlet.
Speakup on February 26, 2009 at 11:30 PM
What would Buckley have to say about Joe the Plumber? That he is just too intellectually unsophisticated to be taken seriously in any way? That anyone who finds his “story” to be “resonant” is somehow an ignorant dupe that the party needs to purge pronto in order to win?
You’re missing the essential message. It isn’t about eggheadism or balkanization.
ddrintn on February 26, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Distracted by Democrats? They just took over the entire government and are quickly running the country into the ground, should Conservatives just ignore that and refrain from commenting on it?
echosyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Only if we let the liberals control the message.
It was a big mistake by Bush not to attack the “Bush lied”,”Bush did 9/11″ crowd head on.
The 24/7 loop that this propaganda went on had a lot to do with bringing down the Republican party.
That was one thing about Bill Clinton that was effective.
Whether he was guilty or not,he would attack the accuser and force them to prove their accusation.
During the process,he could use his bully pulpit and associates to push their view 24/7 which would kill the accusation or at least dilute it.
Clinton’s scolding of the 9/11 truther during the primaries was very effective and something Bush should have done to the “Bush lied” crowd.
Palin is a fighter and will be much more experienced and prepared the next go around.Palin was a lot more effective when the McCain campaign quit trying to control her and allowed her be herself. I thought her VP debate was a good example considering Biden ended up making all the gaffes.
She controlled the tempo and did not let the moderator corner her.
I look forward to seeing Saracudda do her thing in 2012.
Baxter Greene on February 26, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Whatever. I’d taken Palin over the current clown as CIC any day. At least her values and common sense could be trusted. We can thank these whiny, lukewarm would-be intellects for The Messiah’s election.
obladioblada on February 26, 2009 at 11:34 PM
I daresay that more taxpayers know Joe the Plumber than they do Patrick Ruffini. Joe has a better grasp of the incentives of low taxation and the drive of the work ethic to assure success than does the idiot in the White House.
FWIW Derbyshire was a vocal champion of Ron Paul.
onlineanalyst on February 26, 2009 at 11:36 PM
I’m having a good laugh. AP is such a rabble-rouser.
By the way, has anyone yet mentioned in this thread the most devastating of all talking points, the fact that Joe isn’t JTP’s real name? Who does he think he is, simplifying a middle name? That bastard!
JimRich on February 26, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Ok on the slogans, the Yes We Can is straight from Bob the Builder: http://www.bobthebuilder.com/usa/index.asp?origref=
I kept wonder exactly HOW young was he targeting for votes. I fully expected him to come out with We Did It, We Did It when he took oath: http://music.yahoo.com/track/9054327
I mean, Dora and her cousin Diego rock, but ……
Anyone else notice that?
jusgottabeme on February 26, 2009 at 11:38 PM
You’d have to ask all the people who made him a public figure by publicly savaging him.
Jim Treacher on February 26, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Stop being so “judgemental”…consensus, consensus, conse..
AUINSC on February 26, 2009 at 11:39 PM
If conservatives in office had the slightest bit of backbone Rush Limbaugh would be out of business. The GOP’s lack of action makes Limbaugh all the more relevant. If the intelligent conservatives want Limbaugh to go away, grow a phucking pair. To quote NRO:
And the conservative intelligencia is a bunch of pu$$ies that can’t stare down a teachers union in a debate much less implement policy. The fecklesness of those at the wheels of power in the GOP is disgusting. Arnold effing Schwarzenegger. COME. ON.
Theworldisnotenough on February 26, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Just what “story” are you referring to? And how does said story get you a speaking role at a policy conference. Conservatives are letting their internal policy debates get blown around by guys like JTP just like liberals suffer from Cindy Sheehan’s idiocy passing as a legitimate foreign policy.
Even on the talk radio side of things, where for better or worse a lot of internal conservative thought bouncing goes on, there is a reliance on ultra simple, easy to digest soundbytes and allusions to the everyman when analyzing current events and even proposing policies.
ernesto on February 26, 2009 at 11:43 PM
I doubt it to.
4.5% unemployment and the stock market hovering around 14,000
until the “smart ones” took over Congress.
I ordered the Ziegler DVD yesterday that exposes just how ignorant the average Obama voter was.
It was hilarious and scary to watch these people act like they were so dam# smart while each word that came out of their mouths proved how incompetent they actually were.
Republicans are going to have to fight like dogs to keep the liberals and their friends in the press from controlling
the message again in 2010/2012.
Baxter Greene on February 26, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Here’s the point to be made
Sarah was born to give you fee-vah, be it fahrenheit or centigrade
She gives you fee-vah as you watch her at every turn
Fee-vah till you sizzle, oh what a lovely way to burn
MB4 on February 26, 2009 at 11:46 PM
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