Quotes of the day

posted at 10:30 pm on April 28, 2009 by Allahpundit

“The Specter defection is too severe a catastrophe to qualify as a ‘wake-up call.’ His defection is the thing we needed the wake-up call to warn us against! For a long time, the loudest and most powerful voices in the conservative world have told us that people like Specter aren’t real Republicans – that they don’t belong in the party. Now he’s gone, and with him the last Republican leverage within any of the elected branches of government…

Let’s take this moment to nail some colors to the mast. I submit it is better for conservatives to have 60% sway within a majority party than to have 100% control of a minority party. And until and unless there is an honored place made in the Republican party for people who think like Arlen Specter, we will remain a minority party.”

***
“I would rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who really believe in principles of limited government, free markets, free people, than to have 60 that don’t have a set of beliefs.”

***
“But before Specter’s defection is automatically written up as a new chapter in Profiles in Courage, there is reason to question whether the braver, better course of action would have been to stick out another primary fight as a Republican. Specter had the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which understood that his primary victory was the GOP’s best hope of holding on to the seat. Independent voters appreciate Madison’s vision of checks and balances—that’s why they so often split their tickets, especially in states like Pennsylvania. But the aim of checks and balances—so vociferously defended by Democrats when Republicans tried to invoke the so-called ‘nuclear option’ over judicial confirmations in 2005, and salvaged by the centrist Gang of 14, including Specter—is now under threat from the left. Don’t expect many Democratic warnings of the same dangers. In Washington, where you stand is a matter of where you sit. Partisanship trumps principle.”

***
July 22, 2008:

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Defection or defecation?

mikeyboss on April 28, 2009 at 10:33 PM

LIKE MOST COWARDS AND KNAVES, SPECTER THINKS OF HIMSELF FIRST.

NOT A GOOD TRAIT IN PUBLIC SERVANTS.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

reliapundit on April 28, 2009 at 10:33 PM

Good Lord, David Frum is an unmitigated idiot.

Midas on April 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM

DeMint.

artist on April 28, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Defection? LOL! No, this is more like changing one pair of dirty underwear for another.

Fletch54 on April 28, 2009 at 10:35 PM

Hannity/Bush-style “conservatism” has been a disaster for the GOP and for America.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:36 PM

For a long time, the loudest and most powerful voices in the conservative world have told us that people like Specter aren’t real Republicans

…And low and behold, now he’s a Democrat—so clearly they were right.

FloatingRock on April 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Oh, I’m happy about it all. Go to hell the Democrats, Arlen. Your personal ship is sinking and it’s Arlen and Arlen in the lifeboat first.

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Hannity/Bush-style “conservatism” has been a disaster for the GOP and for America.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Hint..when a lefty gives advice like this…what does that mean?

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 10:38 PM

AUINSC

it means this “lefty” can’t see the GOP governing anything with 30% of the electorate.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Ah Frum, ya got it all wrong!

I’m down with having a big tent, but one pre-req. should be fiscal responsibility.

Hannibal Specter broke that.

So CYA!

Biatch!

blatantblue on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Hannity/Bush-style “conservatism” has been a disaster for the GOP and for America.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:36 PM

The inaccurate linkage betrays an ignorance as to what “conservatism” is. “Hannity conservatism” (or “Limbaugh conservatism”, for that matter) hasn’t really been tried.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Hannity/Bush-style “conservatism” has been a disaster for the GOP and for America.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Yes, nothing says all American like Arlen’s affinity for Scottish law.

KittyLowrey on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Defection? Amputation is more like it. It already feels better to be rid of that stinking, gangreneous, vestigial lump of flesh.

Too harsh? I didn’t think so either.

pugwriter on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Bush was not a conservative; I would be hard pressed to say he was a liberal.

eaglescout1998 on April 28, 2009 at 10:40 PM

I feel like I just had a massive tumor removed.

TheSitRep on April 28, 2009 at 10:40 PM

it means this “lefty” can’t see the GOP governing anything with 30% of the electorate.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Wrong…it means that lefty wants what all lefties want…more RINOs.

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 10:41 PM

Grow Fins

Examples? And if you say “loss of prestige overseas” I will digitally smack you.

Dr. Manhattan on April 28, 2009 at 10:41 PM

76% of democrats view Spector favorable. HE WAS THE ONLY EPUBLICAN WHO COULD WIN PA

nice343 on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Hannity McCain/Bush-style “conservatism” has been a disaster for the GOP and for America.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Fixed it for ya.

ThePrez on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

AUINSC
it means this “lefty” can’t see the GOP governing anything with 30% of the electorate.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

30%?? You really really think that Democrats have that much support in the country? Dream on.

The last time we had Democrat rule at every level, it wasn’t very pretty for them. This means that the mess will be their baby, and theirs alone.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

It’s the GOP’s funeral, if that’s what y’all want.

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Now he’s gone, and with him the last Republican leverage within any of the elected branches of government…

What leverage?

He sold us out on the stimulus.

He had the leverage, and he gave it to the Left.

Leverage?

Gimme a break.

Don’t let the doot hit you in the ass, Sphincter.

Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Arlen Specter is Arlen Specter. He is going to vote and act exactly the same way no matter what label (democrat or republican) he gives himself. It’s not so much a defection as a coming out of the closet. No big loss, it’s the same as if John McCain switched to the Democratic Party. Time to throw all the bums out.

Tommy_G on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

and the monkey flips the switch

EricPWJohnson on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Wrong…it means that lefty wants what all lefties want…more RINOs.

Nah. More unelectable conservatives like Toomey, please. Then we can rebrand the GOP the Southern party it’s becoming.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

I really do not like Specter and I think the party can survive his leaving..however, I hear Republicans talk a lot about free markets and capitalism. Well part of capitalism is selling a product. And Republicans need to learn to sell a product. When they lose they don’t to blame the customer. They should run customers off telling them that they do not serve their kind either, no, they need to learn how to reach people and make the Republican brand something the voters want.

Just spitting in their eye might not be the best way to do that.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

How quickly this guy went from The One Thing Standing in the Way of Obama’s Agenda to Hey, Obama, Nice Agenda!

Who else wants to join the fanclub I’m starting?

Arlen
Specter’s
Society to
Help
Obama
Lord over
Everything

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

It’s the GOP’s funeral, if that’s what y’all want.

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Rebirth.

Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

76% of democrats view Spector favorable. HE WAS THE ONLY EPUBLICAN WHO COULD WIN PA

nice343 on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Specter has never really been a Republican. No great loss.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

For a long time, the loudest and most powerful voices in the conservative world have told us that people like Specter aren’t real Republicans

…And low and behold, now he’s a Democrat—so clearly they were right.

FloatingRock on April 28, 2009 at 10:37 PM

ROFL – brilliant riposte.

Midas on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

***
“I would rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who really believe in principles of limited government, free markets, free people, than to have 60 that don’t have a set of beliefs.”

DeMint is right on the money! The American people are getting more and more fired up for cleaning house and getting Amercia back to what made it so great in the first place.

And the whole “party” thing is going by the wayside.
People are fed up with Washington and they’re blazing mad enough to finally shake things up like no one has seen in quite a while.

People are going to get behind the first candidate to take on the Washinton establishment!

In that sense, Obama was the best thing to happen to a complacent electorate that got a little too comfortable over the last 20 years.

katy on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

It’s the GOP’s funeral, if that’s what y’all want.

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Because you’re trying to help, right, sweetie?

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

They should run customers off telling them that they do not serve their kind either, no, they need to learn how to reach people and make the Republican brand something the voters want.

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic. It’s the party of strident media buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh and unrepentant torturers like Cheney. Ugh.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Grow Fins:

Bush won two terms in office. The Republicans took back the Senate in 2002 and held control of the House for more than a decade. That has not been eons ago. Not so long ago, the Democrats looked pretty shaky too. Things can and will change.

I have a feeling that it just might come about that Obama will not always be a big plus for Democrats.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM

“Now he’s gone, and with him the last Republican leverage within any of the elected branches of government…”

True………….

………… and when Hyper-Inflation kicks in within a few months, the Democrats will have no one else to blame but themselves.

And anyone associated with them, as in the Main Stream Media, will also be accountable………

Seven Percent Solution on April 28, 2009 at 10:47 PM

Wrong…it means that lefty wants what all lefties want…more RINOs.
Nah. More unelectable conservatives like Toomey, please. Then we can rebrand the GOP the Southern party it’s becoming.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

Careful there. Obama wouldn’t have won wihtout some of those Southern states. They can flip back to red, ya know. Many of them went for Clinton, both times. Then went for Bush. The Northeast/West Coast regional party can’t do it just on their own stomping grounds.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

Can idiots like Frum stop acting like Arlen Specter of all people was the one upon whom our party’s success rested? He was just an old liberal who was too chickenshit to defect when Republicans were in the majority.

Speedwagon82 on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

And now we’ll see how your team does.

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

76% of democrats view Spector favorable. HE WAS THE ONLY EPUBLICAN WHO COULD WIN PA

nice343 on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Maybe your theory is right…it’s why we have elections…and it’s also why he’s not (and never was) a Republican. Also, since you don’t follow things very closely, Republicans have won in PA before and will again one day.

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

And btw Grown Fins, with idiots like Moore and Olbermann and Rosie on your side, I really do not think you need to be getting all judgmental about loud mouths.

BTW, I hear that Republicans are closing the gap in the generic balloting and some of the party ID polls. You might should think about tempting fate, cowboy.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

The last time we had Democrat rule at every level, it wasn’t very pretty for them. This means that the mess will be their baby, and theirs alone.
ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Even with a long history of stupid people in their ranks, those past demorats had far more talent available to them than this current crop of fools, tidepool leftovers and plain old dimwits.

This reign of theirs will end very badly for all of us, I just hope there is something left to salvage when the dust settles.

Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

Things can and will change.

How. I’m not trying to be a snark. How? Any political party that hopes to be a majority governing party has to woo independents. The GOP brand is toxic among independents and most conservatives stridently assert this as a plus. “Principles” you see…..

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

I predict Specter will end up lonely.

blatantblue on April 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM

Now he’s gone, and with him the last Republican leverage within any of the elected branches of government…

That has been a myth since 08. Collins, Snowe and Specter, together or alone empowered the Dems. Every bill Pelosi, Reid and Obama conceive of any consequence has been and will be guaranteed passage. Never forget these three losers voted against every repub congressman and Senator to empower Obama’s enslavement of your children and grandchildren with debt.

They are human waste of the first order.

The quote “right wing” of Specter lament is Hillary’s “vast right wing conspiracy” in drag.

patrick neid on April 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JUDAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me thinks, is Spectre!

canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM

The product the GOP needs to sell is fiscal responsibility and to do that, it has to get rid of those that shows no desire to support it.

When the deficits start to crush the economy, conservatism will come back into fashion. And the ones to promote will NOT be the fair-weather ‘conservatives’ but the ones who stick it out during these dark times.

michaelo on April 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM

Thank you Allah for making nice tonight and not giving us another Meg QOTD.

Knucklehead on April 28, 2009 at 10:50 PM

The Magic Bullshit Theory-

Arlen Turncoat, a spectre of his former self, strikes again…

profitsbeard on April 28, 2009 at 10:50 PM

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic. It’s the party of strident media buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh and unrepentant torturers like Cheney. Ugh.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Good for you! Somebody has been reading their Axelrod talking points of the day.

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 10:50 PM

I really do not like Specter and I think the party can survive his leaving..however, I hear Republicans talk a lot about free markets and capitalism. Well part of capitalism is selling a product. And Republicans need to learn to sell a product. When they lose they don’t to blame the customer. They should run customers off telling them that they do not serve their kind either, no, they need to learn how to reach people and make the Republican brand something the voters want.

Just spitting in their eye might not be the best way to do that.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

This misses the whole point of a political party. The goal of a party is to promote a set of political principles. You are treating this as if each party was just a sports team with a different color jersey, and all you care about is your team (which ever it happens to be by chance) winning. This is the Meghan McCain perspective of political parties.

If your only goal is to win as fast as possible, just have the democratic party annex the republican party and you have have one party rule and everyone can win.

If it’s actually about principles, then that is not an option. If it’s about principles, you can’t just “change the product”, as you say.

ebrawer on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM

Well the thing is the stimulus bill. That was the problem. I am willing to give people like McCain and Graham credit for not voting for that, but Republicans have done a pretty good job of standing firm on this and the time might come when that will help them. I don’t think that bill is necessarily going to be that popular in the near future.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM

“Specter had the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee,…..”

By all means………..

………… follow him through the door. I want to flush the toilet and clean the skid marks off the bowl.

Seven Percent Solution on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic. It’s the party of strident media buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh and unrepentant torturers like Cheney. Ugh.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Polling data? From one of the most accurate polling organizations out there today:

For just the second time in more than five years of daily or weekly tracking, Republicans now lead Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 41% would vote for their district’s Republican candidate while 38% would choose the Democrat. Thirty-one percent (31%) of conservative Democrats said they would vote for their district’s Republican candidate.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM

AUINSC

Sadly it’s true, AUINSC.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 PM

It’s the GOP’s funeral, if that’s what y’all want.

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 10:42 PM

It’s actually the first first sign of a possible resurrection.

FloatingRock on April 28, 2009 at 10:52 PM

I have a feeling that it just might come about that Obama will not always be a big plus for Democrats.
Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM

The libs took the 2008 election as some sort of sign that the nation wanted every leftist dream available, very obviously ignoring just how many people DIDN’T vote for Oflyby in a year that was supposed to be a demorat tidal wave.

Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 10:52 PM

Liberal Party 1ST.,

Sadly,

America,2nd!

canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 10:52 PM

Frum, Brooks, Parker, Noonan … all of those elitist idiots will be washed away in this re-birth of the Republican Party. Why? Because the rebirth is about the grassroots baby … and those elitists look down on the grassroots.

You cannot survive credibly in a party when you are continuously spewing contempt for it’s voters.

Lindsey Graham … are you listening?

HondaV65 on April 28, 2009 at 10:53 PM

I have a “quote of the day” for Specter but it’s in sign language.

29Victor on April 28, 2009 at 10:53 PM

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

There is nothing worse than trying to sell a product that you cannot believe in.

Let go the worst employees, cut your losses, rebuild, make a great product, and then sell the brand.

Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 10:54 PM

re-birth of the Republican Party. Why? Because the rebirth is about the grassroots baby … and those elitists look down on the grassroots.

Rebirth of what. Check any poll’s party affiliation and age data. GOP voters are growing older, whiter, more regional. A regional, Southern partyis what the GOP is becoming. And you seem to see this as a good thing.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM

ebrawer:

No, I am not treating it like that. I am saying that you need to do a good enough job of promoting your ideas that you attract people,it is about attracting people and voters. If people do not support your ideas then they will not vote for you and if they do not vote for, you lose. And if you lose, then you are in the minority and it is more difficult to create policy and promote your principles.

That is the point.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM

Any political party that hopes to be a majority governing party has to woo independents. The GOP brand is toxic among independents and most conservatives stridently assert this as a plus. “Principles” you see…..

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

All that a principled party has to do is let the majority party crap in it’s mess kit and Independents swing back their way. The current was caused by the GOP abandoning it’s principles in the first place. That and Pravda style support for the DNC.

thomasaur on April 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic. It’s the party of strident media buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh and unrepentant torturers like Cheney. Ugh.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

April Ratings: FNC Beats CNN and MSNBC Combined
How’s this for cable news domination – Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in every hour from 6amET to MidnightET in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo for April 2009.

FNC had the top 11 cable news programs in Total Viewers and 12 of the top 15 in the demo. FNC is the #2 network in Total Viewers on all of cable.

From 9amET on, every program grew by more than 60% in the demo. The 5pmET hour, now occupied by Glenn Beck, is up 212% in the demo and up 128% in Total Viewers. Your World with Neil Cavuto is up 102% in the demo and up 60% in Total Viewers. On the Record with Greta Van Susteren is up 75% in demo and up 55% in Total Viewers. Also in demo: FOX Report is up 75%, Special Report 70%, The O’Reilly Factor 74% and Hannity 64%.

Fox & Friends has now been #1 for 90 consecutive months, Studio B with Shepard Smith for 80 consecutive months.

I think this speaks louder than your flimsy talking points.

katy on April 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM

Where the heck is Madison Conservative?

Cindy Munford on April 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM

I have a feeling that it just might come about that Obama will not always be a big plus for Democrats.

Terrye, I read they said that about FDR too back in the day. Now Obama is no FDR of course, but it does make one a bit shy about making such claims.

Oh, and never forget – the Whigs will rise again!

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM

How quickly this guy went from The One Thing Standing in the Way of Obama’s Agenda to Hey, Obama, Nice Agenda!

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

IMO, it is not about whether GOP has room for a broad range of opinions or that there is no room for moderates. Specter, the most selfish politician in history, had zero credibility as the one thing standing in the way of Obama’s agenda. He gave that up when he voted for stimulus. He crossed the line in the sand and now wants to blame a shift to the right in the GOP.

As a PA resident I will do whatever it takes to see he is defeated in 2010. I voted for him at Bush and Santorums urging last time. He will pay for betraying my vote.

msmveritas on April 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic.

Turn back the clock to circa 2003 or so and you will find people, including the left, saying the same thing about the demorat party.

I know I know, Oflyby’s election was a watershed moment when America finally decided to embrace fringe liberalism. Sadly for you and the rest of the fringy’s, America elected a guy who talked the middle but is leading from the far left, and the reality is turning out to be far different than the campaign rhetoric.

Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 10:57 PM

How. I’m not trying to be a snark. How? Any political party that hopes to be a majority governing party has to woo independents. The GOP brand is toxic among independents and most conservatives stridently assert this as a plus. “Principles” you see…..

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

“most conservatives”? My friend, a few commenters here do not represent “most conservatives”, myself included. As for the GOP brand being toxic:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 41% would vote for their district’s Republican candidate while 38% would choose the Democrat. Thirty-one percent (31%) of conservative Democrats said they would vote for their district’s Republican candidate.

And:

In the new National Public Radio poll conducted by the Democratic polling company Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and its Republican counterpart, Public Opinion Strategies, 42 percent of the 800 likely voters surveyed March 10 to 14 said that if the next congressional election were held today they would vote for the Republican candidate; an identical percentage of respondents said they would vote for the Democratic one. For several years, Democrats held a substantial lead on this question.

Democrats still outnumbered Republicans in terms of party identification in this poll by 6 points, 45 percent to 39 percent. Democrats also favored their own party’s congressional candidates 83 percent to 7 percent. But voters who call themselves independents gave GOP candidates the edge by 14 points, 38 percent to 24 percent. And self-identified Republicans supported their own party’s candidates 85 percent to 3 percent.

Toxicity changes.

amerpundit on April 28, 2009 at 10:57 PM

A regional, Southern partyis what the GOP is becoming. And you seem to see this as a good thing.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM

A regional, Northeast/West Coast party is what the Democrats ARE, and they can really usually only win by picking off a few of those Southern states, plus Ohio.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Get ready,as if it already hasn’t been going on,
that the New America is Left!

Just wait for CNN hit pieces,PBS Historical Revisionist
pieces that America has always been Left!

The LeftBlogSpheres angling their posts at everyhing
has,is,and will be Left!

And,the entire MSM,hopefully not FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UGH!GACK!and Le Hurl!!!!!!!!!!!!

canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

At this point I think one of the bigger issues we have is Democrats haven’t done enough bad things fast enough for the media to be unable to avoid infuriating the majority of the American public.

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Abraham Lincoln,

Conservative principles do not change no matter how much the public is lied too and no matter how much a political party may want destructive, nuanced politicians to fly the purple banner.

A big tent does not mean caving in, it means members inside the tent agree with Conservatism, it’s up to all of us to spread the good word, you know for the inevitable hallelujah revivals.

Speakup on April 28, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Grow Fins:

You act as if this all so static. A year is an eternity in politics. Young people tend to be more socialistic and so they often identify themselves more often as Democrats. But older more mature people are more likely to actually vote.

And those Tea Parties that you and your friends have been sneering at represent middle class people, small business owners, not code pinkers or ACORN employees. They might not seem like a big deal to you, but there are a lot more of them than you realize and a lot of them are Democrats who feel like their party has been taken over by lefties. You know that is true. Right here in my district is the blue dog Ellsworth trying to distance himself from all that money Obama is spending.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

An acronym we can all love.

Cindy Munford on April 28, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Any political party that hopes to be a majority governing party has to woo independents.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:48 PM

How did Reagan do it?

Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Wait until paychecks are smaller by 10-15% and your local taxes are skyrocketing. Gasoline is back over $4 and your electric bill is double.
Then claim the USA need more moderates

Beto Ochoa on April 28, 2009 at 11:00 PM

katy

Of course FOX is popular. It’s great TV. But the public doesn’t want a country run by Sean Hannity. Which is why FOX is terrible for the GOP.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Terrye, I read they said that about FDR too back in the day. Now Obama is no FDR of course, but it does make one a bit shy about making such claims.

Why go back that far? You could just as easily use Bush; once upon a time even demorats wanted to be seen shaking his hand.

There are two ways of looking at this:

1) It has only been 100 days.
2) It has only been 100 days?

Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

I remember hearing the same things in 1993. I was way too young to remember, but I’ll bet the same things were said in 1977. Lefties just can’t handle actually winning and running things.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Then we can rebrand the GOP the Southern party it’s becoming.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

As a southerner I’ll take that as a compliment. I’d rather have a party based on moral values and personal responsibility than one that advocates the murder of the unborn, the setting free of hardened criminals, and coddling those who would kill us or “reeducate” us because we do not believe as they do. You have a right to your opinion in this country. However, I have the right to think you’re a fool, and you do a fine job of confirming that every time you take to the keyboard.

Kowboy on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

And until and unless there is an honored place made in the Republican party for people traitors and whores who think like Arlen Specter, we will remain a minority party.”

How much more of an honored place do these RINO’s need?????
Was Bush a hard core conservative???? Was he pushing Democrats away???? Was he pushing conservative dogma on Democrats in congress???? On RINO’s????? My God! Spector was supported by both Bush and the right wing conservative Rick Santorum in his last election!! And where was the big tent and the place of honor for Rick Santorum???!!
This is just a bunch of crap!! Democrats can have their day! Their day is now!! But the crowds with the pitchforks are stirring!!! The townspeople are gathering below the Castle Frankenstein of the Democrat goon party!
The coward Spector is a freaking whore! Too harsh of words??
I don’t think so! Harsh words cannot equal the destruction RINOS and Democrats are wrecking on our nation! I am sick of being told by liars, traitors, thieves and Marxists that my values and principles are the problem! If only I would be more like them! If only I cared less about the truth, less about my faith, less about my principles then all would be good! If only I didn’t fuss so much while they tax the nation, open our borders and rewrite the foundations of our Republic! Well, they can go screw themselves!

JellyToast on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

amerpundit:

Thanks for that link.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Of course FOX is popular. It’s great TV. But the public doesn’t want a country run by Sean Hannity. Which is why FOX is terrible for the GOP.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Well, they certainly don’t want one run by Olbermann, either.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

And those Tea Parties that you and your friends have been sneering at represent middle class people, small business owners, not code pinkers or ACORN employees. They might not seem like a big deal to you, but there are a lot more of them than you realize and a lot of them are Democrats who feel like their party has been taken over by lefties.

Um, seriously, no. They’re not. Most are really your garden variety cranks, or crankettes. No matter how much press they may get.

starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

“I would rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who really believe in principles of limited government, free markets, free people, than to have 60 that don’t have a set of beliefs.”

I’m with Demint. Otherwise WTF is the point of believing in anything?

Star20 on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Jim Treacher

You tell me. Did he win by alienating independents? Reaganism was driven by Reagan. The public wouldn’t elect Hannity or Limbaugh dog catcher.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Partisanship trumps principle.

Everything trumps principle for too many politicians. That’s the root of the problem. They are in it for their own gain in both power and money at the expense of the people.

TheBigOldDog on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

I feel reborn.

Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

The public clearly doesn’t want the GOP brand anymore. It’s toxic. It’s the party of strident media buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh and unrepentant torturers like Cheney. Ugh.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 10:45 PM

That is a lie.

Speakup on April 28, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

That’s what we need. Political advice from our enemies. That’s why this country is in the position its in. Do you do windows too?

TheBigOldDog on April 28, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Jim Treacher

You tell me. Did he win by alienating independents? Reaganism was driven by Reagan. The public wouldn’t elect Hannity or Limbaugh dog catcher.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

You are obviously confused by the definition of the word ‘independent’…hint: it doesn’t mean what you think it means.

AUINSC on April 28, 2009 at 11:04 PM

You tell me. Did he win by alienating independents? Reaganism was driven by Reagan. The public wouldn’t elect Hannity or Limbaugh dog catcher.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

No, but he didn’t do it by becoming a moderate squish, either. As you’ll see in the polls I quoted above, Independents are far from avoiding the GOP:

But voters who call themselves independents gave GOP candidates the edge by 14 points, 38 percent to 24 percent.

amerpundit on April 28, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Saltysman:

Yes, you need to believe in it, I never said otherwise, but you still need to make people feel welcome in the party. You need to woo them.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 11:05 PM

Um, seriously, no. They’re not. Most are really your garden variety cranks, or crankettes. No matter how much press they may get.
starfleet_dude on April 28, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

Smell the fear.

Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 11:06 PM

That is a lie.

Speakup on April 28, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Ignore the astrotufer. It wasn’t long ago he and his kind were sucking the hind tit. They’ll be back there again as soon as they get a chance to pursue their agenda a while longer.

TheBigOldDog on April 28, 2009 at 11:06 PM

There are all sorts of Independents, many of them are conservative.

Terrye on April 28, 2009 at 11:06 PM

You tell me. Did he win by alienating independents? Reaganism was driven by Reagan. The public wouldn’t elect Hannity or Limbaugh dog catcher.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Carter alienated the independents, the way Obama and the Democrats are in the process of doing.

I’d bet Rush or Hannity would stand a better chance than Olbermann or Markos.

ddrintn on April 28, 2009 at 11:06 PM

I swear to God, HotAir provides half the traffic to New Majority. Lame.

It's Vintage, Duh on April 28, 2009 at 11:06 PM

Of course FOX is popular. It’s great TV. But the public doesn’t want a country run by Sean Hannity. Which is why FOX is terrible for the GOP.

Grow Fins on April 28, 2009 at 11:01 PM

My point was not TV audience share. It was that people are sick of the leftist spin and they are turning to a more well rounded analysis of what’s going down in this country. We …ARE… a center right country despite what the MSM trys to tell us. The pendulum is swinging back and the left have indeed over reached and they will pay dearly!

katy on April 28, 2009 at 11:07 PM

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