Quotes of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on May 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Much as I admire President Obama, I believe with something approaching certainty that his spending will bring this country to its knees. ‘Sustainability’ is all the rage as a buzzword, but a $3.6 trillion budget is not ‘sustainable.’ Doubling the national debt is not ‘sustainable.’ Inaction in the face of $77 trillion in unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Medicare, entitlements) is not ‘sustainable.’ This is math, not ideology.
The Republican Party once could lay claim to the mantle of being the fiscally responsible, or ‘Daddy Party.’ That reputation was squandered some time ago, but it could be regained if the party would content itself with that all-important goal, and not instead fight doomed skirmishes over gay marriage, stem-cell research, abortion and creationism, Ten Commandments in the courtroom, and other such issues that the country has by and large already decided upon. The GOP once liked to call itself the party of ‘the Big Tent.’ But America itself is the bigger tent. ‘Much as I admire President Obama, I believe with something approaching certainty that his spending will bring this country to its knees.”
***
“It’s especially unsettling for a free speech girl like me. The First Amendment is important — but lately, it feels like my right of self-expression is being squashed.
One example: Obama’s comment to Jay Leno on ‘The Tonight Show,’ comparing his bowling abilities to someone in the Special Olympics.
Can you imagine the uproar had Bush said that? He’d be banished from bowling alleys for eternity. His bowling average and IQ would have immediately been compared in Twitter messages demanding his resignation.”
***
“Changing the tone in Washington is not something Obama or Congressional Republicans will do either. The entire political class, which has grown to include the press, the internet, Hollywood, the music industry and God knows who else, thrives on confrontation, the more vitriolic the better. Rachel Maddow sneers at Democrat Evan Bayh for taking seriously the concerns of fiscally conservative Hoosiers, and working with Republicans to restrain just a little government spending that will likely bankrupt the next generation of Americans. She calls him and other Democrats like him, ‘conservadems,’ much like conservative talk show hosts branded John McCain a RINO for objecting to torture or advocating campaign finance reform. Ed Shultz accuses Dick Cheney of hoping for another terrorist attack, and it hardly merits a furrowed brow by the press or any Democrat.
Politicians, pundits and even many beat reporters don’t want more civility in public debates. Because if it were ever to occur, it would leave many of them with nothing much to say, and only swing voters would be happy about that.”
Blowback
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We can hope that it that easy to kill.
darktood on May 5, 2009 at 2:14 AM
Your point is right on target……..
…….. but just like the problem of illegal aliens on our economy, schools, health care system, and political demographics, we have been screaming at the top of our lungs for years for help,
……….. never to come, even with President Bush and a Republican held Congress after 9/11.
It is going to take so much more, a total cleansing of not only the political class, but the bureaucrats, the media, the unions, what is taught in our schools, the ability to farm our own energy resources, putting to rest this total hoax of climate change, I mean the whole ball of wax…….
…… we can not wait any longer.
Seven Percent Solution on May 5, 2009 at 2:44 AM
So Christopher Buckley admires someone who he claims is going to bring the country to its knees. I must ask why? What is to admire??
Dollayo on May 5, 2009 at 2:51 AM
Does Buckley realize that he sounds exactly like David Burge’s parody of him?
apollyonbob on May 5, 2009 at 3:22 AM
He sounds like Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island with a terrible man crush.
Kini on May 5, 2009 at 3:25 AM
If we have to wait for all of that to happen, there will be little left of our country.
I suppose some will be around to pick up the pieces, but I have to be more hopeful than that. I have to have hope that enough Americans will wake up and see the threats, that they will be able to pull our country back from the edge before it falls. That will require clear thinking and vision, hard labor, a moral compass, team building and good humor.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
– Teddy Roosevelt
Charge!
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 3:26 AM
Nice revisionism. McCain was recognized as a RINO long before he objected to “torture”. He’s one of those Republicans that were ready with a “Republican version” of whatever idea the Democrats were trying to pass.
I’m reasonably sure that what is annoying about him giving aid to the liberals on the “torture” debate is that it is just yet another issue that he is willing to give aid to the liberals. Not that he has the views that he does, but that those views don’t differ at all from his general me-too Republicanism.
I’m beginning to see that moderates in this party are really close enough to liberals, as they argue about as badly. They warn Pat Buchanan about the way the door swings, John McCain says in 2000 that the party has to marginalize the evangelicals.
When Buchanan left, my only dismay was how explicitly he was told that he was unwelcome within the party. I never voted for the guy. But, that wasn’t conservatives calling him names that was overt and explicit invitations to leave the party. My comment back then was that the tent was apparently not big enough for Buchanan.
But now, after McCain fails to pick up any credit from the press that he has placated, and thus any recognition from the center that he so ardently pursues, when Arlen Specter voluntarily leaves–because he was probably going to lose in the primary anyway, you guys get to ask: where’s the big tent?
Give me a break.
Axeman on May 5, 2009 at 3:33 AM
Lol.
It’s the stimulus and bailout plan calling “Feed me!”, The Keynesian plan of Horrors.
the_nile on May 5, 2009 at 5:00 AM
More proof that buckley is a flat out liberal. He just makes up something and states it as fact. These issues are in no way decided but if he wants to play that game most public opinion goes to the conservative position on these issues. Buckley has been sending signals with his position on barry. We should start a pool to guess when this bullfruit comes all the way out of the closet.
peacenprosperity on May 5, 2009 at 5:54 AM
Thurston Howell would have been smart enough not to be fooled b Obama.
Speedwagon82 on May 5, 2009 at 6:16 AM
Buckley had me…until he reminded me that he is no clear thinker AT ALL to have voted for Obama PERIOD, thus shattering his own credibility.
Who is this man who says the country has decided already the issues of gay marriage and abortion and gives republicans advice when he didn’t even VOTE for the guy who should be all the things he claims to love? (MCCAIN) Sounds like more Palin embarrassment to me. Kind of funny how he has to continually evoke his dad’s name as if this lends him some sort of credibility. Stupid can afflict anyone, despite bloodline.
The fact is, the “country” has not had the CHANCE to “decide” these issues, save in Vermont!!!!! When have we had a vote on Abortion or Marriage except on a few measures scattered around the nation? No. These issues were DECIDED by the left in the courts. And, if these issues were “decided,” who DID decide them and why, then, do democrats ALWAYS have to swing center field to win votes??? Why does the country still, STILL remain largely pro life and anti redefinition of marriage?
I am a conservative, Mr. Buckley. I believe in personal responsibility, clear thinking, hard work, creativity, conservation of recourses and culture as NECESSARY GOODS for the future. I think the government should be small, states should decide things for themselves and balanced budgets aren’t “quaint” notions to titter over but a necessity to achieve. I also think that two men or two women playing house isn’t living in reality, despite how much they want to act like black slaves in our free nation, and christian and atheist alike can clearly see that this isn’t conducive to healthy population growth, anyway. And, while we are on that subject, no, it isn’t ok to scald, scrape and mutilate babies in the most sacred place they have for protection. It’s NOT OK and IT ISN’T DECIDED.
So, you and your special friends can chuckle over dinner over the state of the GOP when people still rehash these “decided,” trivial issues. Just don’t pride yourself too highly. Us simpletons know how to mix a mean dirty martini, too.
Mommypundit on May 5, 2009 at 6:28 AM
Here’s the info folks, I bet Hawkdriver enjoyed hearing from so many.
Cindy Munford on May 5, 2009 at 6:42 AM
“never to come, even with President Bush and a Republican held Congress after 9/11.”
Actually, all the more likely to come, precisely because it is what WE WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, SURVIVAL ON BOARD THE CONSTITUTION.
We acknowledge our past wrongs and have refined our platform to minimal government and maximum Constitution urtext.
WE have every right to our own rebirth. No naysayer is going to deprive us of our Rights because we weren’t perfect. We ARE holding our elected officials accountable now. THAT is why Specter fled. THAT is why the progressive Lefists in both parties are pointing their corrupt, intolerant and hypocritical fingers at us, blaming us for their own faults. We ARE the big tent moderate conservative Reagan Constitutional GOP; just listen to everyone having their say for proof.
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 7:08 AM
I think both these quotes are spot on.
Obama will wreck the country and people who love confrontation and thrive on it, do not want it to end.
But I do think that one reason we don’t see more people getting involved in politics and political discussions is because of that need to be confrontational. In fact one of the things that bothered Republicans about Bush was his refusal to roll around in that gutter. He just would not do it.
There are a lot of regular, normal people who want no part of all that.
Terrye on May 5, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Seven Percent:
My brother in law went to work for the Justice Dept right out of Grad school. He spent several places in lovely places like Columbia and Guatemala. He does not deserve to be purged. He has done his job, no matter who was in the White House and he has done it well.
Terrye on May 5, 2009 at 7:11 AM
From a guy who voted Democrat we should take advice?
It is going to blow up in their faces, but be quiet?
No. Let them know who is on the right side- constantly.
drjohn on May 5, 2009 at 7:12 AM
Is the time right for casting our two party tyranny into our historical dustbin?
Our current major parties are two sides of the same damn coin. A pox on both their houses. How they hell did they end up with a monopoly on political power?
Why not an Evangelical party that focuses on issues like gay marriage, abortion, evolution etc? Those who hold those issues as paramount have the right to have those views represented.
Add to that a new Liberty party (the current libertarian party seems to have been taken over by kooks) which fights for personal liberty issues like ending the failed war on drugs, allowing free people to make their own choices over who to marry, standing up against oppressive police actions etc etc etc
Toss into the mix a Conservative party which is intent on reducing the size and associated cost of big government.
Finally a Progressive party, I think we all know what that means.
Why bother with a big tent that tries to accommodate everybody? On specific issues where the goals of these parties overlap coalitions would be formed to get the legislation through.
crashland on May 5, 2009 at 7:13 AM
I don’t like Buckley and I am not in support of gay marriage or embryonic stem cell research and I don’t think that Republicans should just ignore that either…but he has a point when it comes to the notion of sustainability and I think Republicans will do better to concentrate on that for now.
That does not mean they should turn their back on everything else, but the message that the country can not support this kind of open ended spending is a good one. That is something all sorts of people can relate to.
Terrye on May 5, 2009 at 7:15 AM
Granted, political asshats abuse power just as Chris Buckley abused his father, because they could.
Andrew Ward, “Right now, the Republican Party is the party of Southern white males, and that is a shrinking group. You are never going to win elections if you cannot compete north of the Mason-Dixon line or west of the Rockies.”
That’s the enemy speaking. He’s giving us advice. Let’s listen.
Were I in charge of the Republican Party, I would send out a coded text message saying: REMAIN CALM. SHUT UP. THIS IS GOING TO BLOW UP IN THEIR FACES.
So, Christopher Buckley, admitted spoiled brat who bit the hand that’s fed you all along, STFU. Take your own medicine.
White Americans remained the silent majority, and look what that begat. After throwing up in OUR face, Chris wants us to get down on all fours, or Cinco de Quatro, and let Obama-Pelosi-Reid continue mounting and raping us. This bastard reminds me of the advice given to girls in the 1970′s from Democrat dads; if you’re being raped, relax and enjoy it.
Christopher smug-butt prejudiced antagonist just loves to hate Southern white men, selecting them for public ridicule because its the fashion, always has been in New England.
Given that the GOP is the big tent, we’re not making Southern whites second class citizens in order to placate New England that never fought the South in order to free slaves, but in order to enslave the whites as well as the blacks.
All those Republicans in fly-over America, we just don’t count enough to even be recognized, let alone abused by Christopher. So according to him, we should shut up and be glad that it’s the South being attacked, again.
Social Conservatives, you’ve had your turn in the front seat driving. Now put on your fiscal conservative uniform and dig in for united battle against Socialism.
entry not appearing…6:18 a.m. still waiting…
maverick muse on May 5, 2009 at 7:18 AM
crashland;
Without a big tent the Progressive Party you mentioned would run over everyone else. Because, being progressive is their religion, it is their political ideology, and it is their social status. It is all of those things to them…so while everyone else is going off in their diverse directions with their pet causes all they care about, the Progressive Party will run everything and everyone.
Unless there is a coalition on the other side. And that coalition would be a big tent party.
Terrye on May 5, 2009 at 7:20 AM
Terrye, I see your point, however, there are conservative Democrats that are Democrats for various reasons — their family history, the district they represent etc. Some of those could be pulled into a conservative party. I also believe that if we had truth in political labeling like we have on the food we buy, the progressive party wouldn’t have the level of support you might expect.
What we have today is a President who pandered to the left while lying to gain the moderates. This is one reason many Democrats participated in the TEA parties.
If we had parties that actually stood for something rather than trying to wiggle and squirm to accommodate the broadest number of voters, it would allow all of us to make better choices.
I’m a Republican, always have been but not necessarily forever, but no more money to the party. Not a dime to the party that supported Specter. As I’ve stated in another thread, I’ll give money to candidates but never again to one of the parties.
If you go into a fight without hope of victory, your death is assured.
crashland on May 5, 2009 at 7:28 AM
There are only ever two conclusions regardless of what the issue is from day to day. Either Obama is incompetent or he knows exactly what he is doing. Would either he or the Democrats mind if our nation were brought to its knees? This was the man that decided to wait 4 days before visiting the sick and dying woman that raised him.
It’s the unthinkable, but as long as Obama was in charge, and the nation were on it’s knees before him,, in his world all would then be right.
JellyToast on May 5, 2009 at 7:34 AM
As long as Obama was in charge, and the nation were on it’s knees before him, they (MSM, pols, Hollywood, etc.) would tell us it’s the necessary growing pain of their Utopia in the making, and be grateful for it.
petefrt on May 5, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Here’s the info folks,
Cindy Munford on May 5,2009 at 6:42AM.
Cindy MunFord: GoodMorning Cindy,I knew Hawkdriver was being
deployed,but,I couldn’t remember when!
Thank-You for posting it!:)
canopfor on May 5, 2009 at 7:50 AM
You mean they’re NOT the same?
bluelightbrigade on May 5, 2009 at 8:01 AM
You mean they’re NOT the same?
bluelightbrigade on May 5, 2009 at 8:04 AM
“Let’s chop the Republican Party into five little pieces, none of which could ever win a majority anywhere.”
That’s what you’re really saying, though you don’t mean to.
Akzed on May 5, 2009 at 8:57 AM
The report above seems to bemoan the shrillness and distorion in present political discussions.
From what little historical political discourse I know, there was always a good measure of vitriol — so I ignore the likes of MSNBC and I don’t watch. That handles my present revusion. But my conclusion is that it is inadequate to merely change the channel from a network with pathetic ratings. That network, and the entire biased media are symptoms.
Any serious observer can see that the groupthink of our universities and pop culture have landed a generation of opinion makers whose formative evaluations inclued axiomatic conclusions about the evil of white Christian civilization and the concomitant victimhood of anyone representing oppositional influences. This has been growing and developing for decades.
The only hope of the conservative movement at his bleak juncture is a transformational event involves the failure of the latest collection of liberal programs and a political climate where conservatives will have the opportunity to exploit it, much like the democrats exploited the great depression.
Does anyone here believe that meetings in pizza shops in Northern Virginia can stem the movement that is persistently supported by opinion makers and every growing demographic group in the country? The fromidible troika of class envy, categorizations of victimhood for ever growning numbers of groups and the demonization of American economic or military achievement is the future program of the left. The way to stop it is to move opinion to a respect for our historical success. And even if this is achieved, pulling the nation from the morass after assuming power will be no mean feat.
IlikedAUH2O on May 5, 2009 at 9:10 AM
What I want to know Mr. Hack, is why did YOU fail to content YOURself with that all important goal?
F’n cocktail elitist hypocrite.
This is a hack job on the reasons McCain is a RINO.
If you need to do this in order to support your argument, you haven’t one.
Saltysam on May 5, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Akzed,
No, that’s not what I’m saying. Why not a party that “Reagan” Dems could join? What about all those Dems who won “conservative” districts. Why not a selection of parties that many current independents would feel comfortable joining versus boycotting the current duopoly?
Fragmented third party efforts are doomed to fail BUT a consortium of folks from a selection of niche parties banding together to heavily fight the duopoly with TV ads, etc to let our countrymen know that they are fighting to provide true political choice and to do battle to break the rules and laws that were created for a single purpose — maintaining the status quo.
crashland on May 5, 2009 at 9:11 AM
JellyToast — You’ve got it.
The One pays lip service to grandma and white people generally while holding a man crush on America haters — even in other nations.
We value allies who stand with us. Look at the conclusions shown in the apology tour.
We value democracy. Look at Acorn. Is it any surprise that he has no problem glad handing dictators who have destroyed free elections?
We value our Constitution. Look at the next Justice.
IlikedAUH2O on May 5, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Which explains why Barney Frank is such a supporter…
right2bright on May 5, 2009 at 9:41 AM
I have been trying to make this point on countless threads throughout the Internet. Gay marriage, abortion, and the like are red herrings designed to deflect discussion of our real core values of limited government and fiscal responsibility. These are the same principles I have taught my children. Do I discuss the other stuff? Yes, but I don’t preach. However, my overriding lesson with them has been personal responsibility with whatever realm they are dealing. Once the hard lessons of responsibility take hold, the other stuff comes in due course. Conservatives have, for too long, tried to fight skirmishes at the expense of the war. The longing for President Reagan is for his principles, not the man himself. He focused on prosperity, realizing that you can’t legislate morals or culture. We need a visionary of that sort because prosperity resonates with everyone, liberal or conservative. There is an old saying that liberals are really conservatives when it comes to their own money. That is why Reagan carried 49 states in the 1984 election. He understood that prosperity crosses party lines and ideologies.
College Prof on May 5, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I agree with your assessment. This is akin to admiring a serial killer for his/her cleverness.
Badger40 on May 5, 2009 at 12:04 PM
You DO realize that laws attempt to legislate morality. You know… the whole do not murder, do not lie, do not steal type stuff.
Or maybe you don’t…
dominigan on May 5, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Perhaps you don’t realize it… but the Republican party is hemorrhaging members to Independents and losing donations BECAUSE it isn’t acting in the interests of the majority of its base, who are strongly conservative.
dominigan on May 5, 2009 at 1:14 PM
This article is spot on!
kens on May 5, 2009 at 1:55 PM
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