Quotes of the day
posted at 9:30 pm on April 26, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Rank-and-file Republicans remain, by all indications, staunchly conservative, and they appear to have no desire to moderate their views. GOP activists and operatives say they hear intense anger at the White House and at the party’s own leaders on familiar issues – taxes, homosexuality, and immigration. Within the party, conservative groups have grown stronger absent the emergence of any organized moderate faction…
‘My e-mail overfloweth,’ said David Overholtzer, a longtime GOP activist in western Iowa’s Pottawattamie County. ‘Amnesty is still very much a hot-button and gay marriage especially is here in Iowa. The view is that we’ve got to hold our legislators’ and governors’ feet to the fire.’
‘I’ve never seen the grass-roots quite as motivated, concerned and angry,’ said Steve Scheffler, the head of the Iowa Christian Alliance and the state’s RNC committeeman…
Asked about how a presidential candidate urging the party toward the middle on cultural issues would fare, Scheffler said flatly: ‘They’re not gonna go anywhere.’”
***
“At a recent listening session that Ryan held in East Troy, a constituent told him she was so disturbed by Obama she could hardly open her eyes in the morning.
‘I think he wants to destroy private enterprise. I think he’s really out to destroy this country,’ she said.
Ryan let the comment go, one of several he fielded over the course of six listening sessions that day from conservatives angry and exasperated over Obama and Democrats in Congress.
‘It’s like you’re their psychiatrist but you don’t charge them. They just want to get this stuff off their chest to you so they can vent. So just let them do it,’ Ryan explained later, paraphrasing the advice his wife, Janna, once gave him about handling what Ryan called ‘comments in frustration.’”
Blowback
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“Asked about how a presidential candidate urging the party toward the middle on cultural issues would fare, Scheffler said flatly: ‘They’re not gonna go anywhere.’””
put that in the “DUH!” file …
Buckaroo on April 26, 2009 at 9:34 PM
It’s not going anywhere in this household, anyway.
Bob's Kid on April 26, 2009 at 9:36 PM
It is actually not that complex – even Meghan McCain should be able to figure it out: since the media is totally invested in Democrat success, whatever the media tells us is wrong with the Republican Party is exactly what is right with it.
Draw your own conclusions about those who say we need to get the media on our side. It ain’t gonna happen, and if they want it so bad, they should become Democrats and wallow it.
drunyan8315 on April 26, 2009 at 9:38 PM
AubieJon on April 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Disturbed is a good word for it. Dont listen to the kooks, GOP. Fiscal responsibility, enforce the borders, strong military, federalism, work within the Constitution. Not rocket science.
Dash on April 26, 2009 at 9:41 PM
That’s because this country is hanging on by a thread and is at serious risk of dissolving, or worse. Anyone who doesn’t understand this is too dumb for words. Anyone who ignores it is too despicable to be allowed the benefits of civilized society.
The barbarians have crashed the gate and the city is about to be burned to the ground.
progressoverpeace on April 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Frum/Parker/McCains/Buckley/Noonan are all crying tears of frustration.
SouthernGent on April 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Frustration……?
………. how about absolutely fricken pissed off and fighting mad!!!
Seven Percent Solution on April 26, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Frum/Parker/McCains/Buckley/Noonan are all crying tears of frustration.
SouthernGent on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
That’s because this country is hanging on by a thread and is at serious risk of dissolving, or worse. Anyone who doesn’t understand this is too dumb for words. Anyone who ignores it is too despicable to be allowed the benefits of civilized society.
The barbarians have crashed the gate and the city is about to be burned to the ground.
progressoverpeace on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
The angst and anger,by the Right is slowly picking
up steam,or as a scene from Trailer Park Boys,
the sh#t winds are starting to blow!!!
And soon,Liberals will be covered in it!!
canopfor on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
I know the feeling of frustration. Since Obama got into office (not saying it is his fault) it’s as though we’ve had to apologize for being the superpower. We don’t act like a superpower. We act like we are more offended by Americans than our enemies.
This said, I must thank lots of readers here who might be my clients. I appreciate the support that you give me. I know there are many, even several Jesuit causes that I appreciate. Whether you agree or disagree with me, rest assured that I will be honest with you and work as hard as I can to do as good a job as I can.
I don’t say ‘Thank You’ enough for this crowd. I call it like I see it, but I certainly don’t say thank you for my blessings nearly enough. Thank God for another glorious day. And thank God I’m American!
ThackerAgency on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
“AubieJon on April 26, 2009 at 9:39 PM”
can i get an AMEN?!
Buckaroo on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
i would much prefer it if the tea parties represented a swing toward conservative fundamentals, but it’s looking more like it’ll be more like the generic oppositional rage the left coalesced around against bush.
eh on April 26, 2009 at 9:43 PM
‘I think he wants to destroy private enterprise. I think he’s really out to destroy this country,’ she said.
Ryan let the comment go, one of several he fielded over the course of six listening sessions that day from conservatives angry and exasperated over Obama and Democrats in Congress.
Yah, just let it go, it’s not as if the signs are cropping up all over the place to justify such thoughts.
Bishop on April 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Do you have eyes but fail to see? Do you have ears but fail to hear? Don’t you remember?
–Mark 8:18
TheBigOldDog on April 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
The Politico article doesn’t even mention the murder of unborn children.
It’s as if there’s no one cares about them at all any more.
Some of us do.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 9:44 PM
My frustration generally comes from not being able to communicate. I use hyperbole a lot to ensure I’m communicating an idea or concept. I approach each issue looking for truth, and I thank those on here helping me find it through discussions.
ThackerAgency on April 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Everyone here has had a hand in achieving a substantial rise in Conservative activism.
Speakup on April 26, 2009 at 9:45 PM
We’ve tried letting the Left choose our candidates. Didn’t work out so well.
We tried letting the Left set our agenda. That too didn’t work out so well for us.
We tried to listen to the pundits tell us to reach across the aisle…and how many times did we end up with nothing but a bloody stump?
We’ve endured decades of the Left telling us we are all troglodytes and racist throw-backs…and we can’t even hold public assemblies without having the Left tell us that such assemblies are assinine?
We raise up a potential candidate, and the Left eviscerates each one in succession until one who is sufficiently Leftist is officially ordained for us by the Left?
Frankly, I am getting damn tired of having to appease the good massah…
A real Conservative has no Master…each man is his own Master…and government is merely a convenience permitted by the people to handle the ash and trash of what has been Constitutionally decided by the Founders.
More are moving back to the basics…because as each day passes more and more of us see the vacuity of the promises from the Messiah of the Promised Land who presently occupies the White House. Putting our faith in government, or in one person, even the Anointed One…just asking for problems, real problems.
Putting our faith in the noble words of the Founders?
You betcha.
Barrty Goldwater, the founder of the modern Conservative republican movement, real Western Conservatism, had it right the first time…
“Extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
I’ll stick to that…and those other “conservative” wannabe’s, well, they can catch up, if they wish.
Principles…not personalities. Seems the best route to take. At least there is integrity in that. Integrity, something the GOP has surrendered in the name of getting along for too long.
coldwarrior on April 26, 2009 at 9:48 PM
I was just posting this in a different thread as an OT, but I think it’s appropriate here.
One problem we have is that part of the conservative brain is malfunctioning or misfiring – to the point that the movement is wondering seriously whether it’s a tumor that needs to be removed, so that some other section of the brain can be taught to take over the necessary functions.
Instead of posing as the under-appreciated brain of conservatism, the plugged in media conservatives – “reform conservatives” like Brooks, Frum, Parker, Noonan, Douthat, et al – need to get used to being just part of the left brain of conservatism.
Otherwise, we’ll just keep hanging out with Mark Levin, Victor Davis Hanson, Mark Steyn, Rush and the rest – including our own little selves.
We’ll pick our Reagan ourselves.
As we work things out, instead of focusing on that individual’s and our flaws, his and our failure to treat the reform conservatives as the be-all and end-all of the conservative intellect, they can mediate a little – politely - while trying to bridge the gap between the base’s passions and intuitions and everyone else’s prejudices.
And we’ll thank them for it – though some of them better get started soon if they expect any of us to forgive and trust them by the time it matters.
Why haven’t they been doing that? It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that it’s because they’re social-climbing, fingers-in-the-wind, bed-feathering and -wetting opportunists.
There are a few others – from factions with slightly higher profiles than in the past – that also could learn some manners, and a little bit of math that’s a lot more fundamental than how many young-uns voted for the O or how many Latinos will be voting in 2024: that is, who the movement really is, and the absolutely nowhere Republicans would be without them.
CK MacLeod on April 26, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Exactly that. And only that.
califcon on April 26, 2009 at 9:49 PM
OT—
HOW ABOUT the Administration’s response to the Swine Flu-
http://www.foundingbloggers.com/wordpress/2009/04/if-you-were-outraged-by-the-governments-response-to-katrina/
Jamson64 on April 26, 2009 at 9:50 PM
These comments represent why I wish we had a realistic chance to create a new, truly conservative party, before the next election.
If the GOP puts up another “moderate” Republican it will absolutely kill the party. We don’t need a Democrat or Socialist “Lite” party.
In addition, I, along with many others, am becoming more and more convinced that we need term limits. Congress has become farce, a shameful farce. It is a “faux royalty”
Star20 on April 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Many of the founders would’ve strongly disagreed.
God is the source of our rights, &
God is our master.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I’ve always loved that story and oddly enough have heard it at least 3 times since January 20, 2009.
AubieJon on April 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Speakup on April 26, 2009 at 9:51 PM
No!
The Dems’ majority would be perpetual.
The GOP is our best hope.
Stay in it & purify it.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Frustration is the first sign of civil unrest.
Along with many people in the streets protesting who DO NOT normally protest.
Sound familiar?
Because more is coming.
HondaV65 on April 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Since the most pure of conservatives seem to be pundits…
Why not a pundit for President in 2012?
Buchanan had a good run a while back, & he was dragged down by his anti-Semite baggage.
Steyn 2012…?
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 9:55 PM
ryan is just another of boehner’s toadies. The republican leadership in congress aren’t conservatives, they are politicians. They do not care about anything other then their own personal advancement and fortune. The grass roots needs to move somehow to demanding a complete annoverhaul of the leadership or conservatives need to start our own party. it’s a load of crap that starting a new party will just give a permanent majority to the democrats. The republican party will dry up and blow away because they will represent no one.
peacenprosperity on April 26, 2009 at 9:55 PM
As a matter of fact many founders feared a totalitarian religious state and were more Deist than Christian.
Speakup on April 26, 2009 at 9:57 PM
The professional politicians have a death grip on the republican party. Cling to it and the whole country will go down with it.
peacenprosperity on April 26, 2009 at 9:57 PM
True, but that doesn’t negate my point at all.
They wrote that God is the source of our rights, not gov’t.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 9:58 PM
jgapinoy,
That’s why I said; “I wish.” The shame is that too many of our GOP elected officials have lost their soul and know that we don’t have the time to create a new party before the 2010 election.
Star20 on April 26, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Whoa… I like Ryan but that is so off the mark!
So he thinks the anger and tea parties and outrage is simply a little venting??? VENTING????
What is it about DC? WHAT??????????
katy on April 26, 2009 at 9:59 PM
I love Steyn, but is he even a US citizen? I don’t think he was born here at any rate.
ddrintn on April 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM
It’s a good thing Reagan didn’t say that during the disastrous Ford/Rockefeller campaign.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM
OK, obviously I didn’t give that a whole lot of thought.
: P
VDH 2012…?
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 10:01 PM
I think I’ll just run for president.
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I think Obama cleared that path on that one…
katy on April 26, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Good thinking there, Buddy. Just let legitimate concerns “go”. Are you trying to REALLY tick people off, or is this just some idiotic McCain reprise that some real morons are trying to pull?
progressoverpeace on April 26, 2009 at 10:04 PM
These are the reasons the GOP has lost so much ground with the electorate. You simply cannot win by excluding everyone who’s not 100% exactly like you in every way!
If the GOP has a snowball’s chance of regaining the upper hand, it will be by focusing like a laser on dialing our federal government back to the very limited role the founders laid out for it.
And, yes, term limits should be put in place in every state. No more of these “lifetime appointments,” whose only real goal is to perpetuate the recipient’s power at the expense of the people.
califcon on April 26, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Ryan is a joke. We’re not only pissed with liberals, we’re also pissed at republicans who don’t represent their constituents well. Instead of calling out Obama, they’re busy trying to be PC and not offend Obama. Our country is spinning out of control and these guys in Washington seem to not give a damn.
jencab on April 26, 2009 at 10:05 PM
The ideology, the morals yes, the method, the individual responsibility and ancient historic precedence no.
Speakup on April 26, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I think the problem is that they’re cowards.
progressoverpeace on April 26, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Rep. Ryan, a few more condescending remarks like that one, and we’ll find a bus to toss you under. Otherwise, your record/comments on the issues is pretty good…so far.
coldwarrior on April 26, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Who new it? Huh!? Iowa is gay. There are more gay voters than he can stand against.
ericdijon on April 26, 2009 at 10:09 PM
You might actually want to peruse the rest of the site and some other cable and internet outlets, pal. This isn’t 1976. The one area the US has always lagged in, political prisoners, is on the agenda of the democrat party. We may see the taliban take over pakistan any day which may result in a first strike by India to destroy their nuclear capability and the Israelis were all set to bomb the entire iranian air force the other day but the russians tipped off iran and they scattered their jets. We have a president who hates America and whose biggest reponsibility before he became president was grading students papers. The barbarians are at the gate and we’ve got cowards and incompetents calling the shots. ryan, boehner, mcconnell et al do nothing but blow smoke up our butts while the left is playing for keeps.
peacenprosperity on April 26, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I feel much better now that I’ve vented.
You can press on with destroying the country, now.
NOT.
Silly fool, that’s not a vent. That was a scream thinking I was having a nightmare, and then pinching myself and realizing I was awake.
Just getting started, joker.
Saltysam on April 26, 2009 at 10:10 PM
and in 2012 we will lose again. The demographics of this country are going against us and if we don’t change our message and worry about taxes, spending, and government run everything instead of who sleeps with who we are doomed. Why can’t these conservatives wake up and just smell the coffee. It is great to want the world to look a certain way, but the toothpaste is out of the tube.
Ricki on April 26, 2009 at 10:11 PM
We tried a moderate presidential candidate in 2008 and lost. Just like we did in 1996, 1992, 1976. Does anyone see a pattern?
Yes, Bush 43 was a moderate, but the press made him out to be somewhere between Ann Coulter and Mark Steyn. Amusingly the same thing happened with his father in 88.
18-1 on April 26, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Eh, I didn’t think it was that bad. Perhaps poorly worded, but he has a point. We do need to vent to our representatives. How they act is what we should judge them on…
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Dear Congressman Dumbass,
How about pulling the crap out of your ears and LISTENING to your consituents for a change? We are not fringe reactionaries to be coddled or patronized. We demand you RETURN to the values and ethics of the country before Liberalism made every sexual relationship into a game without consequences, before Liberalism made children in the womb expendable for an immoral person’s convenience, and before Liberalism made American soldiers into Americans’ enemies, instead of the dirty terrorist thugs who massacre women and children worldwide for their supposed immoral behavior (even when they are raped by others), and Liberalism made American soldiers sympathetic subjects only when they are opposed, captured, tortured (with drills, knives, castration and beatings), and then beheaded by “freedom fighters” who only want to “defend their country” by blowing up soccer balls in school yards, vehicles in open markets, and homicide bombs when first responders show up to render aid.
Quit telling us we don’t matter and start listening or you WILL be out of a job, one way or another. We are tired of being told that our opinions and feelings no longer matter to politicians and that we have to vote certain ways because that is the way the country is headed, and we need their votes to win.
Bullshit. You need to go back to where we came from and listen to us. WE built this country, not you or any Dhimmicrats in Congress. So listen to us or face humiliation and denigration.
Do your duty. We did ours. Listen to us.
Subsunk
Subsunk on April 26, 2009 at 10:14 PM
The political class — of all stripes — continue to console themselves with the notion that the dumb masses will return to docile obedience soon enough.
I think this time they are wrong.
I hope they are.
cruadin on April 26, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Well true, this actually is *not* the problem. Most Democrat politicians are just as cowardly as Republican ones and yet we consider to move left.
There are structural differences between the left and the right that favor the left and have for quite some time. A great Republican leader can overcome that inherent bias, at least on some issues, but we will never find enough Reagans to address it by fielding courageous conservative politicians alone.
18-1 on April 26, 2009 at 10:15 PM
This is the problem.
Saltysam on April 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Which is why sticking to the fundamentals works…
It is this letting one issue or two, or variance on issues become the banner, the masthead…and good people are driven away since they are not 100% with one particular issue, or don’t flock to one “exciting” personality.
The fundamentals…the basics…would have to be an idiot or a Leftist (gee, redundant, I know…) to not aspire to make those fundamentals of Conservatism a way of life.
What is so extremist about the rule of law, smaller government, strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, personal integrity, and accountability?
coldwarrior on April 26, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Ryan, I have warned you repeatedly about trying to use the techniques, that I have used on you, on others when you are out amongst the public. It’s better than your thinking that you are Napoleon like you do during our therapy sessions, but still….
Sigmund on April 26, 2009 at 10:19 PM
There, fixed it…
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:20 PM
That’s very true. The dems are the worst cowards. The difference is that the left have no principles to protect. All they have to do is pander to groups of misfits, morons and criminals. Conservatives have principles that they must defend, even if people call them names for doing so.
Very true. It takes more courage to remain conservative, to be able to tell people, “No”. That’s why, to my mind, we often see conservative justices go liberal. It’s just the easier path. Give people things, without any regard for the actual law. But they, and the media, love you for it. It takes a very strong person to hold tough as Scalia has done for all these years.
progressoverpeace on April 26, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Couldn’t agree more…it’s the same with our national enemies-when they scream and yammer about something you know the U.S. is doing something they don’t like and is therefore effective (like invading Iraq for instance; missile shield in Europe is another example; the SDI and cruise missile programs under Reagan, etc.)
The same is true with our homegrown Comrades and Jihadist sympathizers.
Dr. ZhivBlago on April 26, 2009 at 10:23 PM
This is the kind of unhinged paranoia that breeds real life Tim McVeighs…..
Grow Fins on April 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Precisely! Leave the rest to be decided on the state and local levels, the way the country was designed. It just makes me crazy to see so many people insisting on positions that are guaranteed to fracture the kind of consensus we need for a return to conservative government. If it’s not already too late . . .
califcon on April 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I really get a kick out of those who talk about us losing in 2012. You people are living in a dream or something. There may not be elections in 2010 let alone in 2012. The left is making a move to take over forever and the current world situation may have created the perfect storm for them to accomplish it. Hey people stop listening to cowards like bill bennett and hugh hewitt who are afraid to call it what it is. Everything barry is doing with the power of the government and his forced takeover of nearly every corner of our economy is fascism, plain and simple.
peacenprosperity on April 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
You want to know what you are, Ryan? Huh? Huh? You don’t, I do, everyone does… you’re the son of a thousand fathers, all limp wristed candy asses like you!
Tuco on April 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
…never fails
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
An attitude befitting of Chamberlain . . . Do not compromise your core values lest you become one of them. The fight might be prolonged but it can be won.
rplat on April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
If you are referring to Supreme Court Justices, I don’t know if I agree. The only pressure would come from what the public thinks about you… It’s not like you need to keep getting elected. Perhaps some of them weren’t so conservative from the start.
I struggle believing that a true conservative would go to the left… Unless anyone here believes Huffington was at one time a true conservative… /s
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Agweed
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Do your duty. We did ours. Listen to us.
Subsunk
Subsunk on April 26, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Very well put. I am 35, my mom is 61, my brother 38 and we went to DC for the Tea Party. We are not the protesting kind, but we are scared and angry now. We all have to stand up or just give up and ride the wave to a hellacious country that we will not recognize in a few years. I am already making my plans for the San Antonio party on the July 4th.
TXMomof3 on April 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Bush was a socialist who talked a lot about Jesus. Moderate? I wish that’s what he was.
angryed on April 26, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Ah, you’re back…
I suppose the Bush Derangement syndrome also breeds real life Tim McVeighs…
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:28 PM
He had socialist leanings (more statist leanings)
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:29 PM
And the same thing happened with Hoover.
And all three were replaced by leftists.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Bush was no socialist.
He spent way too much, but he cut our taxes a lot.
jgapinoy on April 26, 2009 at 10:32 PM
You are clearly the unhinged paranoid one. Why even an untrained professional could see that. Call my secretary first thing Monday morning. I will try to fit you into my busy schedule. Ten minutes of electroshock treatment on my new extra high voltage machine should be a good start but only a start as your paranoia clearly runs very deep.
Sigmund on April 26, 2009 at 10:33 PM
And it’s your brand of mindless naiveté that leads to the willing acceptance of tyrants and despots.
rplat on April 26, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Bush was a good caring man. I think he just followed bad advice on the economy there at the end. He was the governor of my state and is thoroughly loved here.
TXMomof3 on April 26, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Agreed. He had leanings…
If we classify him as anything, he may have been more of a statist, but even that is a long stretch.
I’m not even sure if he knew what he was. Sometimes I think he just wanted to solve things and protect the country… He wasn’t too worried about certain ideological movements.
Pragmatist?
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I’d hate for us to mimic the paralyzing fear that the left had for Bush. Surely we can keep our wits about us while standing up for what is right.
AbaddonsReign on April 26, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Bush may have been many things, but what will always define him for me was his integrity and his love of country. I’m not seeing any of that in the current administration.
califcon on April 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I miss Bush regardless compared to the Prince.
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Did you go to one?
Cindy Munford on April 26, 2009 at 10:40 PM
I have heard it said that liberalism is a disease. If you snoop around on Huffpo for a little bit it will make you wonder. I often wonder how the left cannot see that a lot of their beliefs are immoral. Well, I am raising my kids in a truly conservative way and hopefully they will not stray from our teaching.
TXMomof3 on April 26, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Some people look into the abyss and see darkness and hopelessness. Others see a victory to be had.
True Conservatives fall into the latter of the two categories and there something about that type of spirit that is indomitable. The Japanese call it Kokoro.
Those with this spirit don’t threaten to leave the country if their preferred candidate isn’t elected. The defeat of their candidate hardens their resolve and forces them to look inward and re-evaluate and reestablish why they believe what they believe.
McCain just never got that. He was defeated as a defeatist instead of an individual of principal. Because of this those in his party can never trust him again and his political career is over. At least Palin went down as who she really is and I give her credit for that.
The real challenge here is that the nature of a Conservative is to be productive. Rallies are not productive. Protests enrich no one. Marches create no new ideas. And so, Conservatives do not participate in these types of things. As such we attract no recruits aside from the occasional cerebral college student that questions the loads and loads of Liberal crap and somehow decides to think on their own. Our numbers are flat out shrinking and no one likes to enter a fight woefully outnumbered.
We need to become the new “counter culture” and sell this in ways that we have never thought of before. We do NOT need new ideas. Our ideas have always been right. We need a new sales pitch and aggressive new sales campaigns that target the young.
Who will lead this charge for us?
watson007 on April 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I’d say modern welfare liberalism is really an amalgamation of misery and greed.
Greed, that they are always looking to burgle wealth from those who have it to those who don’t (i.e. themselves), and misery, in that they are so unhappy with their own lives, so unhappy with their own situation, that they engage in the burgling that is mentioned above
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM
It’s a dangerous, nasty, brutish cycle
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Wits and calm can be fine and dandy
But without slash and burn they’ve never proved to be very handy.
Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
- George S. Patton
MB4 on April 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Heck, The Messiah is causing me to look back fondly on even Bill Clinton (at least the post-HillaryCare one who had to work with a Republican majority), and I had a bad case of Clinton Derangement Syndrome.
obladioblada on April 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM
If you work and live among hard core leftwingers, the pressure to conform to their views is strong. And this is exactly the type of situation that judges are placed in – and they don’t have the luxury of going through the motions to appease their neighbors.
Can a strong man take some level of social ostracization and incessant petty backstabbing? Sure. But if you aren’t that strong to begin with it becomes oh so easy to “moderate” your views.
Of course the other problem with judges is that we give them far more power then a man should have. Essentially, each SC judge currently has 1/9th of the power of saying with the Constitution says and forcing our nation to bow to his or her whims. Power corrupts and giving men this much power tends to corrupt them greatly.
18-1 on April 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
*slap slap slap…*
Wake the f^%$ up!
Saltysam on April 26, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Teh One makes me long for Clinton on any year.
At least we felt somewhat safe and he wasn’t trying to rewrite the Constitution completely.
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:45 PM
And this is our biggest problem with our “leaders”. They seek the approval of the insiders and basically tell us to go forth and multiply. They need to realize that that isn’t a winning strategy by losing.
Cindy Munford on April 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Agreed! That was my response, too. Like you, I think that Ryan is concerned about fiscal responsibility.
In an ideal world (and actually one established by our founders, who were not career politicians), members of Congress would have full time jobs at home and convene in Washington as necessity would dictate. Representatives and Senators would, thus, have a more realistic and complete sense of what their constituents want/don’t want from the government. They would be more responsible with the public purse if they didn’t have all of the government perks to cocoon them from economic realities. AND they would have less time to craft intrusive legislation.
onlineanalyst on April 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
blatantblue on April 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM
You know I have noticed that the women on the left when they attack Palin or Miss California always seem to be absolutely jealous. They cannot stand to see a conservative woman happy. My three kids are a little over three years apart and I had people make comments in public about “don’t you know what is causing that?”
TXMomof3 on April 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Yes, the pressure is strong, but I would hope one wouldn’t be the ONLY conservative justice. Again, their job is to simply interpret the Constitutional law of the land. They aren’t required to get along with Ginzburg…
I myself am in an environment where it is very hard to express your opinion for fear of being ostracized – or worse, but the people that I do care about are at least willing to hear me out – and I them.
Upstater85 on April 26, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Most leftists encase themselves in an echo chamber. They see/hear leftwing news, leftwing movies, leftwing sitcoms, leftwing music, leftwing literature, etc etc.
So they really have no idea that there is anything else. Of course the great irony is that though they follow leftist dogma rigidly, that dogma is very fluid. So, to take one Leftist example, now no person of good will could oppose gay marriage, but not many years ago gay marriage was a rightwing strawmen to oppose gay right initiatives.
I guess one of the advantages of the Left’s hold on the media for me as a conservative, is that I can’t block out the Left’s arguments and views even if I wanted to.
18-1 on April 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Poor guy.
Having to listen to a bunch of unhinged cons has to suck.
getalife on April 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Much more abominable than that, they are stupid!
Tav on April 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM
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