Quotes of the day
posted at 9:50 pm on May 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
“‘So our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant. I felt like there was a lot of nostalgia and the good old days in the [Republican] messaging. I mean, it’s great, but it doesn’t draw people toward your cause,’ Mr. Bush said.
‘From the conservative side, it’s time for us to listen first, to learn a little bit, to upgrade our message a little bit, to not be nostalgic about the past because, you know, things do ebb and flow.’”
***
“‘All you moderates out there, y’all come. I mean, that’s the message,’ Steele said at a news conference. ‘The message of this party is this is a big table for everyone to have a seat. I have a place setting with your name on the front.
‘Understand that when you come into someone’s house, you’re not looking to change it. You come in because that’s the place you want to be.’”
Blowback
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They come to bury Caesar’s memory, not to praise him.
Too bad the peasants disagree.
INC on May 4, 2009 at 1:15 AM
The thing is, it isn’t Reagan, it is his vision. Big Brother Barry wants to rule the world. Reagan wanted a better one.
Sven on May 4, 2009 at 1:19 AM
This peasant is ready to vote some old timers out of office who have overstayed their welcome and usefulness.
Punchenko on May 4, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Spector Republicans cannot see what is blatantly apparent to me. The Democrats are afraid of this truth too.
Inside a majority of Americans is the conservative ethic.
Once they find out, they’re going to be pissed.
Saltysam on May 4, 2009 at 1:31 AM
Sure do miss Reagan. That Man could never replace or be any thing like Reagan. That Man wants to bring us down to one level. He wants to take everything from us and make it miserable for anyone to dream of getting ahead. Hopefully the ones that are blinded will soon start to see the truth. Have they got their checks yet?
sheebe on May 4, 2009 at 1:52 AM
All I know is that Obama and his administration are very happy oppressing the peasants who say the peasants aren’t happy.
- “Channeling” Zorro the Gay Blade
MB4 on May 4, 2009 at 1:55 AM
.
By building 10,800,000 wind turbines that produce 2.5 megawatts each. Such as the THE LIBERTY 2.5 MW WIND TURBINE, built by Clipper Windpower.
.
In other words they are not all “little crappy ineffective wind turbines.”
.
I also like nuclear power.
.
.
The only way the GOP will be the big tent party is to be true to its core conservative beliefs.
darktood on May 4, 2009 at 1:55 AM
I don’t believe in a government that protects us from ourselves. Roanld Reagan
We will come out of the other side…..
Ladywolfnl on May 4, 2009 at 2:03 AM
10,800,000 wind turbines…like these?
Make all the United States look like a New Jersey dump/industrial park…that should go over well with the environmentalists…and the elites who want their sunset vistas encumbered by such pedestrian things. Maybe if we paint them in nice pleasing earth tones?
Had some greenies stop by the house last Election, trying to get me to sign a petition to expand our own local wind farm. I asked where the money would come from. The answer? The government will pay for them.
Didn’t sign it.
coldwarrior on May 4, 2009 at 2:06 AM
encumbered
drat!
unencumbered….it is past midnight here…
Oh, well, at least I tried. :-)
coldwarrior on May 4, 2009 at 2:10 AM
I guess they will not be happy until we all lok like this
http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/8562c_offshore_wind_turbine.jpg
Ladywolfnl on May 4, 2009 at 2:20 AM
One Hundred Twenty Four TRILLION Dollars.
Initial investment. (GE numbers, Clipper numbers aren’t available – but even 10% of that number would be a number rather like our entire GDP…)
Not including infrastructure improvements.
And then a still day comes along, and you have no power.
Not that anyone could spend that kind of money, of course.
I seriously need to get my plans for generator turbines for cars off the ground, people will, in fact, buy anything.
Merovign on May 4, 2009 at 2:35 AM
These folks aren’t interested in smaller government and more freedom, they are interested in being in charge of whatever big government there is. I want to hear from someone interested in the Constitution.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Now pay attention this really is quite simple.
heshtesh on May 4, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Not that anyone necessarily cares, but there are just too many really stupid messages coming from Republicans these days.
That guy who told his wife to withdraw money from ATM’s?
That’s just insane. Who withdraws their cash out in ATM’s, first of all. That’s like………paycheck thinkers.
Then to defend this as leadership thinking?
oy vey
AnninCA on May 4, 2009 at 2:56 AM
Precisely why I left the Republican party 18 years ago – Bush 41′s pandering to the squishy middle made me feel unwelcome. I nearly rejoined in ’96 when the party started to distinguish itself from the Dems again. But, in the end, I just couldn’t do it. I hate the junk mail too much.
Wingo on May 4, 2009 at 3:21 AM
Did Jeb mean my ideas have become irrelevant or just me personally? It’s hard to tell since he didn’t explain which ideas were bad. So tactful
And yet I am repelled by Mr. Bush’s cause
Steele needs to define moderates. Does that mean abortion or partial birth abortion, or is it simply calling an illegal alien an immigrant out of respect for the demise of our borders? They need the details so they can decorate the ballroom at the next convention
entagor on May 4, 2009 at 3:22 AM
Why is it that “Republican-so-called-leaders” can’t have a conversation with out sticking their foot in their mouths. Jeb do you understand how many republicans you just turned off by your inane remark about Reagan? I guess that is what we should emulate from Obama – throwing our own under the bus!
Bluehanky on May 4, 2009 at 3:31 AM
Just wow.
That Kool-Aid must be some stout shit, dude.
hillbillyjim on May 4, 2009 at 4:22 AM
10,800,000 wind turbines is for generating 27 terawatts which is a little over eight times the entire energy budget of the united states for 2005.
.
I never said wind power was the answer. But given the ever increasing fossil fuel costs, the improving “battery technology”, and power available industrial processes, wind power can be a cost affective power source for a significant percent of a nations energy budget.
.
Imagine trying to convince the crowds at the thirtieth running of the Kentucky Derby, (1904) that the airplane would become an important player in interstate commerce.
darktood on May 4, 2009 at 5:32 AM
Don’t know if this has been posted in headlines, but this is a good summary of just how bad Obama is on foreign policy:
The President Who Hates His Country
by Joan Swirsky, May 3, 2009
Canada Free Press
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 6:08 AM
This is one of the lamest analogies I’ve encountered in a long time. Just what the doctor ordered on a drizzly Monday morning.
RD on May 4, 2009 at 6:08 AM
Wind power isn’t the answer and it isn’t cost effective.
No one wants it–just ask T. Boone Pickens.
???
Inane comment.
The airplane was new technology then, that still hasn’t been surpassed by much.
Windmills have been around a long time–driven by any turn-of-the-last-century farms lately?
They all had windmills.
There’s nothing wrong with clean-coal plants and nuke plants, rather than windmills and solar panels which are both inefficient, expensive and undependable (one relies on wind blowing, the other relies on sun shining.)
Furthermore, I don’t think that battery technology is as far along as you think.
darktood on May 4, 2009 at 5:32 AM
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 6:10 AM
Jeb Bush must have early Alzheimer’s.
No one is forgetting Ronald Reagan any time soon.
He got some strange ideas being married to a Hispanic woman…
I’ll never forget him voting against off-shore drilling in the Gulf as Gov. of FL while the Chinese went about it merrily.
America got the best of the Bush sons to serve as President already–his brother.
Time to move on, while preserving Ronaldus Magnus’s legacy!
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 6:13 AM
Wind power is not economically viable. That is why every attempt by the private sector to get into it has failed without government support. This is why T. Boone Pickens is lobbying for a big government investment in it to bail his butt out. One of the biggest issues is startup cost and ROI. The return on investment numbers for wind power just don’t add up. By the time they finally start to pay for themselves these turbines require costly and time consuming overhauls which push the payback out further still.
Here is one pretty good source of info on the subject.
conservnut on May 4, 2009 at 6:34 AM
America needs to pursue three things:
1) Nuke energy
2) Shale oil (trillion barrels in our own country)
3) Methane Hydrate (google THAT SHIITE)
blatantblue on May 4, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Again people are way over thinking it. The GOP is putting on a face of “listening” and “adapting” because that’s what the people expect when you get pummeled at the polls.
The reality is the GOP had the power, power corrupted them. Just as it has and will again the Democrats. The root of it is spending. Even the most hardcore liberals paint themselves as fiscal conservatives, there is a reason for that. The only differences is what each party prioritizes for spending, be it healthcare or the military, global warming or missile defense shields.
We’ve reached a point now where politicians believe (correctly?) that they need to buy votes by throwing more and more money at education, health care and social programs. There is no fiscal constraint. Nobody to say no. Nobody to trim the fat and streamline our budget. Gay Marriage, Global Warming and everything else is mostly window dressing.
Dash on May 4, 2009 at 7:15 AM
Exactly. Given the ebb and flow having gone drastically progressive since daddy Bush who would NEVER have been elected in the first place had it not been his VP association with moderate Reagan, a little nostalgia puts the Bush’s into perspective, and Reagan, too.
The popular GOP mantra about Reagan pronounces him the quintessential conservative, when in reality, he was the quintessential moderate: big tent, compassionate socio-economic legislation legitimizing illegal immigrants limited to his day (but once a cork is released from a dike, the flood ensues given lopsided support from progressive liberality gone radical against citizen’s rights), enlarging bureaucracies within the federal government requiring big spending and bigger deficits, etc. That Reagan moderated both ends of the burning American candle was a feat in and of itself.
IDEOLOGICALLY, Reagan was absolutely anti-communist. Therein, Reagan was conservative. And though he endorsed big spending and bigger deficits, Reagan CUT TAXES and secured the American economy (for Americans to be able to afford conventional mortgages) that Carter had plummeted into hell [typical bleeding heart liberal refusing medical treatment to the terminally ill Shah of Iran, refusing him entry into the USA while importing terrorists].
Jeb Bush, whatever else, is a saboteur of the GOP transfiguration that is occurring without a Bush as well if not better than with one. For all they accomplished for our national security which deserves our gratitude, Pappa Bush being CIA Director was never one to put into the White House; and ‘W’ enacted more socialism than Republicans, moderates and conservatives, have yet admitted to themselves, let alone come to grips with. So Jeb Bush sticking his thumb in Reagan’s eye is really typical of Bushism; gotta be about THEM and enable THEIR blue-blood clique. At this point in particular, the Bushs have built their own castles and burn Reagan’s effigy in order to usurp whatever UNITY that REAGAN INSPIRES.
Reagan was a moderate conservative, and well beloved because he LOVED AMERICA, our Constitutional Government, our citizens, our DREAM enabled by our Constitution, and Reagan was NEVER skull and (cross) bones.
Jeb won’t play GOP unless there is no Reagan. So long, Jeb. We knew Reagan, and the lot of you Bushes are no Reagan.
Looking FORWARD to advancing Reagan’s Moderate Conservatism that was firmly planted on the US Constitution and absolutely fought Marxism with great success.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Reagan: Spreading happiness equally by raising all boats.
Obama: Spreading misery equally by sinking the fleet.
SKYFOX on May 4, 2009 at 7:23 AM
President Reagan sincerely believed America was the greatest country on the planet his message was contagious Americans were proud of their country proud and humble to born in the land of the free the home of the brave.
President Obama not so much.
.
philly_nj on May 4, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Yes.
Can it! That REALLY stinks.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:29 AM
because the green fascist feds won’t let Americans drill here, drill now…
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:31 AM
None of your post makes any sense.
First of all, the GOP wasn’t “corrupted by power.”
The GOP was critically damaged by decades of MSM hammering on them–this began with Watergate & Nixon, but went into high gear with Ronald Reagan and into overdrive during Bush’s 2 terms.
You can’t talk about “spending” and fiscal constraint when the public has chosen to put big-spending DemocRats in power for the last 2 elections.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:31 AM
Sorry, you’re probably right, but he’s gotten some bizzare ideas from somewhere…
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Touché!
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:32 AM
No DINOS?
NO RINOS!!!
ProudPalinFan on May 4, 2009 at 7:35 AM
Bizarre ideas are ideological, and the Bush family is in agreement. So if racially motivated, the bizarre ideas came from skull and bones white elitists, not Hispanic origin. Point being, it is NOT racially motivated; and in fact, racism drains the life blood from humanity.
Don’t half way apologize. Get over it for real.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:37 AM
I listen to the Republicans as much as I listen to the Democrats.
And it is a direct reflection of how much they listen to me.
Not At All.
bridgetown on May 4, 2009 at 7:39 AM
No, the Bush family wasn’t in agreement–President Bush was in favor of off-shore drilling, his brother wasn’t.
To attribute it to “white elitists” that belonged to a secret society at Yale is just as crazy and racist as blaming it on Hispanics.
Word.
I said “sorry.”
Who are you to say it’s half-way?
And I’ll get over it when you get over it.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:42 AM
1 issue?
So the black panthers aren’t at all racist? There’s a difference between being from a certain background from birth versus choosing to join an exclusive, eh, club.
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Furthermore, I think Jeb’s opposition to drilling was based on his Algore-like moonbat ideas about global warming.
(Guess what? Jeb Bush didn’t go to Yale or belong to Skull & Bones. He went to U.T. at Austin.)
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Reaffirm the GOP platform.
Get aboard.
Row in sync.
Offer those with offensive breath a mint or tums.
Keep together on target.
IMPACT against Socialism
Fulfill our Founder’s Constitution with Power.
It is precisely our Founder’s Constitution that blessed America and that has always drawn emigrants from around the world. Do NOT sell it out for trinkets that crush us.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:48 AM
I can’t believe the Bushes still wield any serious influence in the GOP. I mean, W left as the least popular president in modern American history, less popular even than Nixon.
It really is time to encourage ideological purity within our party on economic issues, while allowing more of a diverse tapestry on social issues. No more profligate spending and chaos. It’s our only chance. . .
Outlander on May 4, 2009 at 7:49 AM
The difference being that the Black Panthers, who are indeed racist, were formed specifically to be racist.
maverick was upbraiding me for being prejudiced against Hispanics while exhibiting his own prejudice against “white elitists who belonged Skull & Bones,” a racist/Marxist stereotype.
And I think President Bush and his brother differed on more than one issue, while both remain Republicans at their core.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:50 AM
not a surprising choice, knowing that institution
there is not a Bush who differs from pappa on ideology and the manipulative power of USING
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 7:52 AM
And he’s been looking better all the time since Ogabe took office.
Of course, President Bush should wield serious influence in the Party: he stood for all the right things and the country did very well for at least 6 years of his 2 terms.
The more we backed away from President Bush and his proven successes, at home and abroad, the worse the GOP did.
Did it help McCain to back off from Bush? Nope.
There can be no “ideological purity” by “allowing more of a diverse tapestry on social issues!”
The GOP believes in the power of the Individual and the sanctity of Life, the Family and traditional marriage.
While there are those in the party who are pro-choice and for same-sex marriage, the lion’s share of us are not.
We have enough diversity on social issues.
If folks want abortion on demand up until birth without parental consent and want to join the push for same sex marriage, they know where to find the Democrats.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Perhaps the S&B aren’t racists, but it would appear to be a very glorified elitists club. Can’t say I’d want to be a member. I don’t think the S&B is anything we should be going out of our way to defend.
Perhaps. Bush differed with Pa on a few issues, but I think their ideals are closer than most GOPers.
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Interesting,me thinks!
That for the past couple of weeks,the ever helpful
biased MSM have been on lefty talk’n points that
the Republican Party is RIP!
Obviously the Leftys are still engaged in destroying the right,by all means necessary,and this is a constant drum
beat that I hear on top of the news hour on radio,and the
left has the nerve to ask for the fairness doctrine,with
their slanted lies on the political health of the GOP!!
And,I’m sure the Lefty op-ed Reagan pieces aren’t to far behind,in the near future,if they aren’t already!!
canopfor on May 4, 2009 at 7:56 AM
What are you talking about?
President Bush was much more effective a President than his father!
He wasn’t afraid to make tough calls on the war and he steered the economy to some of the highest productivity this nation’s ever seen.
GWB was twice the leader his father was.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Lack of vetoes comes to mind.
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 7:58 AM
I’m not defending it–I was informing maverick muse that it’s not valid criticism of the way the Bushes think!
I don’t think anyone knows what goes in Skull & Bones–it is a secret society, but to allow people to paint it as the junior version of the Bilderberger government (“where élite white men plan the takeover and NWO of the world…) is just silly and worthy only of kooks like Alex Jones and Ron Paul.
Why would that be?
President Bush’s ideals were very close to mine in most respects and from what I can tell about the tea partiers, they remain consistent there, too.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:02 AM
In some ways I agree with Bush. During the primaries it was ridiculous how the candidates were all trying to prove who was most like Reagan. They repeated Reagan’s lines and kept referring to him. While it is important to keep his philosophy as a core for the republican party, in order to bring in the youth vote, who don’t know Reagan, there has to be a new, inviting message.
I also like what Steele had to say. Yes, you are welcome in my house because you were invited and wanted to be here, but you don’t come in thinking that you want to change it.
Kinda how we feel when immigrants come to our country. You are welcome, blend in, bloom where you are planted. But this is America, you need to learn the language and customs and adapt.
texasconserv on May 4, 2009 at 8:03 AM
Why veto things for vetoes’ sake?
“Lack of vetoes” still doesn’t negate the real positive results President Bush achieved both at home and abroad.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:03 AM
The republicans will Not win on being
“against” gay marriage, nor will they win on being against abortion.
Regardless of my own feelings on these topics…I want the Government OUT of personal affairs. Stop the social engineering. Stop telling me what is best for me. Stop trying to tell me what is best for my neighbor.
I don’t give a flip.
There are many issues that the government can’t get right. Start with the IRS and end up at the DMV.
We have enough freakin’ Laws on the books.
If people actually obeyed the law (see obama’s tax cheats, or illegal aliens, etc, etc)…and/or got prosecuted and not coddled when breaking the laws….
Why do I bother?
And does anybody find it freakin’ comical that the GOP is saying, “We need to ‘listen’ to the people” ???
Uhhhh….wouldn’t that be the point of getting into politics at all? Serving the people?? Derrrrrrrrr
Maybe I’m crazy.
bridgetown on May 4, 2009 at 8:06 AM
–Jenfidel, you have your own style.
Hey, don’t be so sloppy as to make up a quotation from your own fingers and attribute your own inflections and judgments as mine. Never put words in my mouth. Read what I wrote and get over it.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:06 AM
One minute you’re “jokingly” slamming the color of Jed’s wife’s skin and then next you are, eh, not defending Skulls and Bones – yeah… And what’s crazy about Ron Paul? Let me guess, he’s antisemitic…
So you go to Tea Parties and you WOULDN’T have vetoed the congressional pork barrels of the last few years?
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 8:07 AM
Uh, I sure would have liked him to veto the crap put through congress for more than the sake of uh the veto…
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Here’s what you said:
Now that I’ve re-read it, I agree and take your point.
(For whatever it’s worth-which isn’t much,I’ll grant you, my mention of Columba was an allusion to her Hispanic cultural influence, not her race.)
That being said, I share your opinion on us staying with Reagan Conservatism.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:11 AM
“What are you talking about?”
Jenfidel, your point does not alter mine. Perhaps you could pause before messaging your instant reactions to give yourself the opportunity to reach an agreement on point before rushing on with your own point. Take it easy.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:12 AM
In his second term, President Bush used the veto a lot more, particularly when Congress was trying to put withdrawal dates into defense/military spending bills or when they tried to pass SCHIP.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Ronald Reagan…The Bushes… BWAAAAA!
A giant against a bunch of pip squeaks! BWAAAAA! Who cares what the Bush’s say…
sabbott on May 4, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Jenfidel
Kyrie Eleison
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:14 AM
“a lot” might not be needed… “more” is accurate.
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 8:15 AM
My recollection of history is that Bush 41 was a progressive who rode Reagan’s coattails into office claiming to be conservative and squandered that legacy by caving to the Democrats. Bush 43 had more conservative principles on the war and taxes but was also a progressive who could not see the downside of spending or sharing his bedroll with a rattlesnake (Democrats). Jeb Bush may be entirely different but I don’t think we will ever know because conservatives will never trust another Bush.
Finally, I am not sanguine with this “listening tour” the Republicans are touting. It reminds me somewhat of Hillary’s “lets have a conversation” bullcrap. Listening should be a natural part of leadership that is not obvious but it’s effects are. You shouldn’t have to advertise that you’re doing it. Frankly, it looks like the opposite of leadership and it smells like pandering.
SKYFOX on May 4, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Try and evolve past blaming the “MSM” and “DemocRats” for everything and look to what the GOP has done wrong. The “MSM” hammering Nixon doesnt explain Reagans two terms now does it. nor does hammering Reagan explain Bush 41′s term or Bush 43′s two terms… now does it.
If the GOP was doing a good job they’d still be in office, they are not, there is a reason for that. Much of it is simply the public being tired of one party and shifting to the other. At the end of the day though. as bad as the Democrats are, they are still preferred to the GOP at this point. Blaming others wont change that.
Dash on May 4, 2009 at 8:18 AM
I wasn’t referring to the color of Columba’s skin–it was the possible influence of her Hispanic culture, which often tends Left.
As for Skull and Bones, I neither defending it or attacking it–I think it’s a glorified fraternity where all they do is drink, but it’s not a “Da Vinci Code” type assemblage of sacred knights who pledge to take over the world.
Yes, he is–Big Time.
And that’s only one aspect of his lunacy.
I’ve been writing my representatives for years to vote “No.”
Don’t know that they got really bad until TARP I, in Bush’s last weeks.
Most of the “congressional pork barrels” of the Bush years were for things the country really needed like funding the WOT.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:18 AM
sabbott on May 4, 2009 at 8:13 AM
But WE DO APPRECIATE GWB taking the fight to the jihadists!!!
We ARE GRATEFUL that ‘W’ fought the terrorists!
NEVER dismiss credit where credit is due.
Otherwise, NO ONE GOOD will show up for POTUS duty.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:20 AM
No, it explains Carter’s one term, which explains Reagan’s 2 terms.
It does explain Bush 41′s one term: he was a good man and a fairly good President.
He would have done much better with the country in a second term than Clinton did.
As for Bush’s 2 terms, President Bush won in spite of the media.
You know that well.
The GOP did do a good job!
Election results have very little to do with actual job performance.
(Look around you everywhere for proof.)
A good deal of the electorate is spoiled, forgetful and not very bright.
In addition, they are malleable by the MSM.
8 years of hammering on Bush and Republicans, while covering for and promoting Democrats took their toll.
Actually, the Dems aren’t preferred!
For the 2nd time in 5 years, Republicans now out-poll Democrats on the generic Congressional ballot, according to RasmussenReports.
I’m not blaming anyone–you are!
If there’s anyone to blame for this country’s problems, it’s the Liberals/Democrats/Left, straight up.
They are the source of every public policy problem we have right now.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Now what’s the difference about making a broad generalization about Hispanics versus Skull and Bones?
Why? Because the anti-Semites like him?
If they weren’t that bad, then why did we accumulate more debt under Bush?
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 8:28 AM
SKYFOX on May 4, 2009 at 8:17 AM
+1 sad but true, PR
These presentational “listening” moments would be necessary for politicians too insulated in daily life to know what the peasants think.
Closed doors meetings are around the corner.
I hope that the progressive Socialist elements (Jeb, McCain, etc.) DO NOT sabotage the conservatives again. The progressives keep whining that if only we’d all be purely progressive we’d represent ourselves so well and have such power and influence. GAG.
I maintain that Ronald Reagan is the influential charismatic representation with great mass appeal as a MODERATE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. Study Jack Kemp for case in point.
We don’t expect and are not asking for Reagan’s reincarnated impersonator. We are realistic in our expectations while holding to our mutual ideals:
LOW TAXES AND HONORING THE URTEXT OF OUR CONSTITUTION.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:31 AM
That was my point.
Well, yes. Anti-Semites like the entire membership of Storm Front and KKK leader David Duke, but Anti-Semitism by itself is deranged.
More debt than under who or what?
It’s certainly not more debt than what we’re amassing under NObama!
And Reagan racked up quite a bit of debt to fight the evil empire.
Bush was fighting a war, too, remember?
And those cost money.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:32 AM
So Jenfidel it is your considered opinion that the GOP does everything right and the Democrats do everything wrong but, darn it all the voters are too stupid to see it.
I would have to disagree, but let me give you this much at least: You are right that because of various things like the media, hollywood, pop culture… the GOP has to reach a higher standard. That is a far sight from saying the GOP did a great job. No Child Left behind, huge spending, massive debt, amnesty, no border enforcement, mistakes in the Iraq war, their fair share of scandals, pork spending.. the list goes on.
So when a charismatic young man comes along promising to give you free healthcare AND cut your taxes, yeah the “not thinking it through” class will be swayed along with media encouragement. That doesnt mean we get to whine and point fingers. The GOP needs to get it’s act together if it wants to win again.
Dash on May 4, 2009 at 8:40 AM
At least he/she has the decency to call himself “dimbulb”. Gives us an instant clue, no?
zeebeach on May 4, 2009 at 8:41 AM
I don’t see your point at all. Throwing hissy fits because someone posts a negative on S&B but at the same time assuming Hispanics are all culturally left…
Still don’t see how this makes Paul an anti-Semite. I think you stand a better chance with Buchanan …
My question would seem to imply that under the leadership of Bush, the US accumulated more debt than it had in the past. So our debt actually went down after Clinton? Even if Bush had “managed” to keep our debt the same as under Clinton, I wouldn’t be very proud of that accomplishment. Here’s a question. Did the size of government get larger under Bush’s oversight?
Upstater85 on May 4, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Basically, yes.
Although as with Carter in 1980, the Clinton impeachment and with the Tea Parties now in reaction to Barack’s policies, the voters eventually see the light.
“Huge spending…massive debt…pork spending…” Nothing can touch what Barry Ogabe proposes to do with the aid of his Democrat-controlled Congress: they want to pass deficits, debt and pork that exceed the amount spend by the entire federal budget of this country from its founding up until President Bush.
President Bush had succeeded in halving the deficit before the bottom fell out of the market on Sept. 15 and the passage of TARP #1 was made imperative.
The Treasury received record revenue under the Bush tax cuts.
American productivity hit record highs while the Dow Jones hit 14,000.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan liberated 50 million people while keeping us safe at home, while the costs of the war have not been exorbitant.
Many Americans liked NCLB and President Bush felt it was a more productive use of federal education funds.
Don’t stats prove him right?
As for “mistakes in the Iraq war,” I never concede this point because it implies there’s a “correct” way to run a war and I know that there isn’t.
What is a mistake is to announce that we’re withdrawing, as Barry has done and violence in Iraq is the worst it’s been in a year since then.
Regarding amnesty and border controls, there was no amnesty and President Bush did try to put reform in place so that we could close the borders.
Ogabe wouldn’t close the borders even with swine flu in Mexico, not to mention the drug wars.
S
Only a moronic non-tax paying majority would vote for both “free health care” and tax cuts without realizing you couldn’t do both.
Barry Hussein Ogabe was elected because he was the black guy who was “cool” and who offered amorphous “hope and change.”
The fact that McCain ran the sh!ttiest campaign in GOP history didn’t help.
We won’t make that mistake again, Jeb Bush and Meghan McCain notwithstanding.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Fraternal orders are not merely for drinking buddies. Who belongs, and who doesn’t ultimately, is the point. There is no “conspiracy” I imply beyond perpetuating the social castes that enables the disregard for those who do not matter according to their fraternal rules of consequence.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 8:54 AM
This can be said of the whole Ivy League establishment and not just Yale and Skull and Bones.
President Bush showed us that he could overcome his “elitist” background.
Ironically, the real Ivy League elitist now is NObama who is forgiven all because he was head of Harvard Law Review.
The way the GOP is heading is populist: think Gov. Palin, Joe the Plumber and the Tea Parties.
The government needs to be taken back from the elitists by we, the people again.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Yes, but that was not nearly the reason (singular vs. plural) Obama actually got the nomination and the election. Do not neglect to recognize the powers who CHOSE Obama for America before anyone knew his name.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Plus the majority of debt under Bush came in that last year.
LibTired on May 4, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Why this accountant’s dissection of past presidencies when Ogabe is presenting us with the largest increases of federal debt, deficits and spending of any President in our nation’s history?
And all for stuff we don’t want, need or can afford?
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 9:01 AM
…when the lib Congress got to go crazy.
LibTired on May 4, 2009 at 9:02 AM
All Leftist élites, but I don’t think George Soros went to Yale, much less was in Skull and Bones.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 8:58 AM
So it is. And you found my point on your own. Brava.
btw, I spoke of our POTUS Bushes as they were the ones elected nationally, hence THEIR fraternity as the example. /And don’t think for a minute that Jeb actually disagrees with Daddy on ideology.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 9:02 AM
You are making your point upon your own point upon your own point AS IF there’s a point we’re somehow missing from your own context.
maverick muse on May 4, 2009 at 9:05 AM
The Bush men may all be moderately conservative Republicans, but do I think they walk in lockstep ideologically? No.
Look at Iraq: President Bush 41 was perfectly happy to work with the U.N. and have the U.S. lead an international coalition to re-take Kuwait, but he wouldn’t let Schwartzkopf take Baghdad and throw Hussein out of power.
Nor would he support the Shi’ites or Kurds when they tried to stage an uprising (except with the no-fly zones).
He would not really act as Commander-of-Chief representing American military and defense issues alone.
His son, President Bush 43, was overly deferential to the U.N., but when it became clear that he wasn’t going to get U.N. approval to use military force to eliminate Saddam as the real problem, he led his “coalition of the willing” to do what his father should have done 12 years before.
In regards to Afghanistan, Bush 43 got NATO approval to use joint forces, but most of the other countries won’t provide anything but peacekeepers or non-combatant “soldiers.”
This didn’t stop Bush from launching our own military effort there, either, to throw out the Taliban and Al Queda.
Bush 43 wasn’t nearly the internationalist his father was–thank God!
Who knows about Jeb? He was immensely popular as Florida governor, but that being said, I doubt he’s meant for higher office, even though the family always thought he’d be the President and not George W.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Do not neglect to recognize the powers who CHOSE Obama for America before anyone knew his name.
maverick muse
I’m enjoying your interchange with Jenfidel. It is enlightening. You two are not that far apart on key issues. I have heard rumblings of who is the power behind Ogabe’s throne, but I don’t know for sure. Perhaps that’s one of his objectives…that we never know for sure.
SKYFOX on May 4, 2009 at 9:18 AM
About these wind farms… I’ve never seen it addressed exactly what impact all of these things might have on the weather. Understanding that energy and matter is constant, every unit of energy that we produce from a wind farm is a unit of energy (plus overhead) that we have removed from the atmosphere. No, I’m not being silly. I’m wondering about what the effect might be of billions of wind turbines each working tirelessly to put a brake on the wind.
The effect might be benign, or it might be imperceptible, or it might be catastrophic. I have no idea. Compared to the impact of CO2, this should be relatively simple to figure out though.
Immolate on May 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Steele needs to define moderates. Does that mean abortion or partial birth abortion…
oldleprechaun on May 4, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I think we should learn a lesson from the Tea Parties and from the McCain/Palen ticket. Conservative women can lead the Republican party into the future. Some of the best speakers I have heard espousing Conservative principles are women.
So let’s ditch the old white guys (which I am) and put some of these fantastic women up front. There have also been several African American’s prominent in the Tea Party movement. Put them up front too. And people in there 20′s and 30′s that live and breath Conservatism. In other words, let’s get people out there that the American people can identify with. In the last election we saw Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder have a big impact on the election (but nothing was going to drag McCain to a win).
Let’s get the next generation of Conservative leaders out there speaking for Conservative principles and put the old Republican politicians out to pasture.
huckleberryfriend on May 4, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I voted for Jeb Bush only because I’d rather vote for a Republican any day than a Democrat. But just like his brother George, Jeb was soft & squishy on illegal immigration during his 8 years in office as Florida’s governor.
When will the Republican leadership get thru its thick skull the fact that the reason we lost in 2006 and 2008 is because we strayed from our conservative roots from 2000 onwards and became much like Democrats – big spending, earmarks, soft on illegal immigration, pork, more “entitlement” programs. I really HATE that word “entitlement”. The only thing the Constitution says we are entitled to is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It is because of Jeb Bush, McCain, other Republican moderates and all the soft-on-illegals Democrats that states with heavy illegal immigrant infestation see lower average wages across the board. As much as 25% lower than states with low illegal immigrant infestation.
Here’s an example – say you have ABC Trim Installers (doors, crown molding, etc) who is willing to install on a new construction site for $0.50 a square foot under a/c. But XYZ Installer comes along who hires only illegals – he’s willing to install at $0.40 a square foot. XYZ has no overhead – he doesn’t have to pay benefits, no costs involved with managing the payroll for things like FICA, etc. But what XYZ is doing is illegal – he is hiring undocumented illegal aliens, a violation of federal law. Meanwhile ABC is doing everything legal – he’s incurring costs associated with managing a LEGAL workforce – payroll deductions, drug testing, deductions for child support, health benefits, and so on.
The owner of ABC isn’t going to live more frugally than the scumbag owner of XYZ, nor should he have to. He’s entitled to a fair profit. So where does that dime of difference come out of so he can be competitive? He pays his salesman and his employees less money than they really should get for the work that they do. If everyone’s salary is dragged down it has a snowballing effect where fewer goods & services are bought in the local economy. So everyone else’s salary is dragged down too. Hiring illegal aliens has a pernicious effect that is ripping out the guts of our country from within. And to all you bleeding-heart liberal trolls that are tolerated here on HA, PLEASE don’t hand me the BS that illegal immigrants are doing the work that no one else will do. That is a complete & utter liberal LIE and you damn well know it.
The only thing the Republican leadership needs to do is keep to our conservative Reaganesque roots and revamp & repackage it so that even the dumbasses who get their news watching Jon Stewart will be able to wrap their minds around the concept of minimal government intrusion into our lives, minimal taxes, strong foreign policy, deport every last one of the damned illegal immigrants.
That’s why I’m hoping that Bobby Jindal will run for Prez in 2012. His parents are LEGAL immigrants and he understands & embraces the conservative ideology, Plus, his immigrant roots give him the “street cred” to shut up the knee-jerk liberals, La Raza & the ACORN crowd.
CatchAll on May 4, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I’m sticking with Gov. Palin, thanks, whom I regard as Reagan in a skirt.
Jindal’s a good guy and I’d like to see him run as Sarah’s VP.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Jenfidel – My ideal ticket would be Jindal POTUS/Palin VPOTUS. We are thinking along the same lines, just taking different roads to get there.
Here’s why I prefer Jindal as POTUS over Sarah Palin. Being governor of a large territory/small electorate state, Palin wouldn’t bring along a lot of people with her, vote-wise. In contrast, Jindal would bring along much of the Gulf states voters – Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (okay, probably not SE Fla – which is infested with North Joizy/New Yawk liberal carpetbaggers). But once again, the kicker is that Jindal’s immigrant roots would totally deflect the lame-ass pro-illegal immigrant arguments that the liberals love to put forward.
CatchAll on May 4, 2009 at 11:01 AM
This whole deal is crazy. It is clear to me what the Republicans need to do. It is true that educated White males from the South are mostly Republicans,and that is a PR problem theese days.
We need to be the party of fiscal consevatism and National defence. The explosion of non-whites in the USA will happen, and being the party of Southerm white gentlemen is a tricky sell. But, being financially responsible and erring on the side of caution on defence is what is not only right, but best.
Get off the prayer, abortion, gay rights, porkupines, and get on solid ground. The public is increasing wanting to have a dependable daddy, and we should be that hard nosed diciplinarian with a steady hand on the wheel.
Non-whites want responsible daddys too, and also want to have a chance to start businesses. We need to stay focused on helping all Americans get into the game, like Jack Kemp always pushed for. We should also illuminate the cruelity of the welfare state and the mindless zombies it creates.
A new focus on New Business to replace welfare could be a hot ticket.
saiga on May 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Jeb Bush tied his marriage to a Hispanic woman in his statement that it was hurtful to speak against ‘immigrants’, which is what he calls illegal aliens, because his wife was in the same ethnic group
Jeb Bush has a lot of really bad ideas but going against those who criticize an alien invasion and massive lawbreaking, because the lawbreakers happen to be in the same ethnic group as his wife really stunk
At the point a politician wants special handling for those of his wife’s nationality, is where he deserves no quarter from the chumps being used by his ilk
entagor on May 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Liberals cry racism far too much, and conservatives rightly mock them for it. But there is racism and other forms of bigotry that do cause damage to people.
So, I don’t understand what led you to post this:
And when called on it and told to stop, I don’t understand what led you to post this:
It’s only probably right to stop focusing on the ethnic background of a person, instead of their actual words and deeds? It’s only probably right to stop attributing beliefs to a whole ethnic group?
Then this post:
What are you really sorry for your previous post, or only probably sorry?
So, now you finally agree to the point, But then you go on to rationalize your statement by saying it’s not a reference to her race, but Hispanic culture. And the difference here is what?
Do you post your concerns about white American culture? It does seem to have lurched quite far to the Left.
I suggest you consult your conscience about your own attitudes about groups of people, then do some weeding.
I also suggest you focus on people’s actual words and deeds, rather than their racial, ethnic or cultural origins. Then, you might not make posts that lend credence to the Left’s theme that conservatives are racist. I think you can make a much more effective presentation of your political views in such a way.
Other than this, I enjoy reading your political views.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 12:43 PM
So, my question is this. How do we start an actual conservative party that can win elections?
HiredGun on May 4, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Wow.
You certainly have combed over my posts with a fine-toothed comb there!
(Latin culture tends to skew to the Left: think Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Noriega, Castro and Chavez…)
Jeb Bush has some odd ideas, even for a Republican and a member of the Bush family.
My conscience is fine–Gov. Bush, as pointed out above regarding his opinions about amnesty, is influenced by his wife and whatever influence her (illegal?) Latina background brings to the conversation.
Jeb majored in Hispanic studies at UT and met her in Mexico doing charity work.
As for white American culture, it only seems to have skewed Left in the media–they have the megaphone.
60% of the American electorate self-identify as conservative year after year.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
We already have a Conservative party that’s won elections, hence the reference of the thread to Ronaldus Magnus.
If we stick to staunch Conservative Republicans like Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal, we’ll be fine.
After the debacle of 4 years of Comrade Urkel’s “leadership,” our candidates won’t have to do much to win over him and Democrats in Congress in a landslide!
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Like your focus on fiscal Conservatism, but we need to stick with Social Conservatism, too.
IOW, we need to stay pro-Life, pro-prayer and pro-Traditional Marriage.
Add our demand for a strong national defense, military and foreign policy and you have the complete 3-legged stool of Conservatism.
Jenfidel on May 4, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Yes, learning about conservativism from a Bush. The only thing wrong Reagan ever did was make Bush, Sr. his VP just to appease the moderates. Biggest mistake ever. That’s when his revolution was taken down from within.
Sultry Beauty on May 4, 2009 at 5:38 PM
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