Quotes of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on December 1, 2009 by Allahpundit
“‘We’re becoming a church that would rather chase away heretics than welcome converts and that’s no way to become a majority party,’ complained former Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican who served as National Republican Congressional Committee chairman. ‘This makes no sense for those of us who are interested in winning elections.’…
“‘I don’t think national committeemen putting purity tests on the party is wise,’ said Reynolds, also a former NRCC chair. He called the move a recipe for ‘a perfect minority.’”
***
“Or maybe the party will simply head down the path to ever-more thorough bouts of inquisition and purging, resolutely depopulating its conservative pantheon. Consider the central article of the first point on the list—a commitment to ‘lower deficits.’ That would not only banish former President George W. Bush and many members of the late Republican Congress, since they infamously squandered the surplus and ballooned the deficit, but also former President Ronald Reagan, whom the authors of the 10-point program, in a long preamble to their test questions, hymn as the ne plus ultra of conservatism…
“Maybe this current crop of Republican incorruptibles will find, as Mr. Viguerie wrote in 1988, that ‘responsibility for the ultimate failure of the Reagan Revolution lies with Ronald Reagan himself.’ They will start to suspect that even those who approve of this test don’t meet its standards; that pure conservatism means very few conservatives.”
***
Via the Right Scoop.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3
Amen Rush.
rollthedice on December 2, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Rush is right, again.
Our battle with the GOP takes place in the primaries. After that we must all be on board for the big show.
conservnut on December 2, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Deja vu all over again…What I’ve been saying for months now. If the GOP can’t get…I’ll say it again…”cohesion and unity” as a party, it won’t matter how much Obama screws up. He’ll be re-elected.
JetBoy on December 2, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Meant to add: We really, really need to stop propping up political pundits like Rush as “party leaders” as well. I like Rush, but I’ll be damned if he’s going to set party policy.
JetBoy on December 2, 2009 at 7:10 AM
oh yeah with RINO friends like you and spector, who needs the dems?
right4life on December 2, 2009 at 7:39 AM
There’s a balance here. Political reality of building a winning coalition has to be part of the mix.
That being said, it seems to me that all the recent whining about the party veering too far to the right is coming from the rat bastard traitors that foisted McCain on the GOP in the name of electability. I suspect that all the so-called moderates (mostly fiscal conservatives that support the Dems on social issues like gay marriage, legalization of pot, full amnesty, healthcare, etc.) are running scared because they see their grip on the party eroding as the base is rising up to confront their happy little world. When real conservatives, not RINOs or GOP pretenders start complaining then there is an issue here. Right now it is all about cleaning house. There is no reason why whores like McCain and Snowe are kept around in the name of party unity.
highhopes on December 2, 2009 at 7:48 AM
We? When in the hell did you renounce your liberalism? Nice try but the GOP and conservatives have never proclaimed Rush Limbaugh as a party leader. That’s something the left does since it rings the Pavlovian bell for rabid liberals. Also effective is throwing out comments about GWB, Cheney and Rove.
highhopes on December 2, 2009 at 7:51 AM
purely anecdotal: I went door-to-door for McDonnell in Virginia & worked the precinct on election day for 12 straight hours. I’ve already maxed out money-wise for state SEn Robt Hurt (who will oppose Dem Tom Perriello in 5th CD VA), I’m participating in a big fundraiser for State SEn. Hurt as well.
meanwhile, I am pro-choice.
Tom Davis would keep me in the party. many of the purists would not.
kelley in virginia on December 2, 2009 at 7:53 AM
Agreed. I think Rush and Beck are both right. The leaders in the GOP have to realize that we want someone who will get back to basics.
Beck has said that the GOP won’t eliminate the problems in their own ranks if everyone blindly supports the “party”- he talks about making the electorate’s expectations clear.
Rush says that conservatives can’t win with a third party and that they need to fight it out in the primaries.
Why aren’t they both right?
JiyuLife on December 2, 2009 at 7:53 AM
This was a grrrreat monologue from Rush. Beck’s claims to the contrary, the two parties are not the same and I cringe every time I hear Beck make that crazy allegation. As El Rushbo says, there are no Marxists and Maoists in the Republican Party.
Buy Danish on December 2, 2009 at 7:53 AM
Dont bet on it sweetheart, I am one of those so called purists, and I am honored that you consider being in the party.
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 7:59 AM
so dorian, you would ban me from your vision of the Republican party?
kelley in virginia on December 2, 2009 at 8:00 AM
sorry, dorian. I re-read. you would keep me! thanks!
kelley in virginia on December 2, 2009 at 8:02 AM
The GOP elites are wimpering and pi$$ing all over themselves about “unity” and “purity tests”. What they are afraid of is conservatism taking back the party. They don’t want that because they are big-spending statists and it threatens what little power they have left. I am happy to have these mealy-mouthed RINO’s in the party, as long as they aren’t telling me what it means to be a Republican and what direction the party will go. Their direction is fascism. A slow, plodding, inexorable march to a nanny state that will grind us into serfdom as surely as the Democrats are attempting at warp speed. I refuse to go there. I agree with Rush, but only to a point. There has to be a limit and, if we aren’t there now, we are damned close.
SKYFOX on December 2, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Here, here. This two steps left, one step right kind of thinking has got to go.
JiyuLife on December 2, 2009 at 8:20 AM
As Saint Ronald Reagan said, you don’t have to be 10 for 10, 7 out of 10 is good enough. You my dear are a genuine patriot for whom I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration, you are an inspiration to many of us here…
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Ultimately true, but this might be a good time to put some 3P pressure on the country-clubbers in the RP. I’ve resisted the 3P urge all these years, but there is some point where I will vote ideology and let the chips fall where they may. In general I don’t think we’re there yet though.
paul1149 on December 2, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Preach it Rush!
ohiobabe on December 2, 2009 at 8:25 AM
wow, dorian. that compliment will keep me going all day. carry on!
kelley in virginia on December 2, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Oops…silly me, I forgot. If I dare criticize a fellow conservative, it makes me a “liberal RINO”.
It’s guys like you two who are just digging that hole you’re going to dump the GOP in and bury it.
JetBoy on December 2, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Rush=1
Beck=0
Lisa on December 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM
ROTFLMAO…. Don’t let them get to you Jetboy, your not an enemy, more like a Frienemy… lol…lol…lol…
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM
I’ve seen enough of your posts to be confident in saying that you are not a “fellow conservative.” As I posted above, there is a balance between the McCain wing and its Democrat-lite “go along to get along” mentality and the so-called purist movement. Personally I’m a social and fiscal conservative fed up with left-wingers like you pretending that you speak for the majority of the party. It’s all about tolerance and the McCain wing has none for the GOP base, especially Christian conservatives. It’s time you all shut up and get out of the way. Your brand of “Republicanism” has failed two election cycles. Time to let real conservatives run the show.
BTW, liberal RINO is redundant.
highhopes on December 2, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Measured deficit spending is a far cry from
wholesale “extortion and bribery”.
-
Handing out new money to groups who will use it to make
future campaign contributions is fiscal treason.
-
The real hockey stick will be the hyperinflation required
to fund future debt service costs when they cannot squeeze enough tax revenue out of the American economy.
-
esblowfeld on December 2, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Hey… Jetboy is not one of the bad guys, a little misguided, but he is one of the good guys.
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 8:47 AM
There are progressives in the Republican Party, and they populate the party elite.
Conservatives used to abstain from progressive “compassionate conservative” RINO direction, tolerating it with the same benevolence granted the “liberals” who swung radical over the course of the 20th Century. The Progressive Party usurped the Democrat Party during FDR terms. The Progressive Agenda usurped the Republican Party during Bush terms. But when “compassion” destroys liberty, who’s fooling whom? The Tea Party rebuke of the Democrat Congress-Obama agenda halted the progression of radical liberalism from usurping the GOP. But it was the CITIZEN CONSTITUENTS, NOT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, who demanded a halt to progressive progression, aka sugar coated radical liberalism ruling the Congressional Roost. Obama is completely tone deaf, absolutely disconnected from America. Who’s surprised? He always was, and always will be; that’s Obama, representing the non-American global political force.
The great American Spirit not only encompasses those religiously minded, but those SPIRITUALLY minded. It burns in every America-loving heart. And so far as agnostics and atheists leave room for the wonder of creation and the conscious experience, they participate metaphysically on their own terms that suit their own psyche relative to what many express as “spirit”. When the “Christian” or “Jewish” or “Muslim” or atheist or whatever American population deem themselves the ONLY enlightened people born under some covenant or ritual or blood line or chemistry, whenever any segment deems themselves uniquely MORE QUALIFIED because of their particular self-evaluation or elitism, they’ve lost touch with the CONSTITUTIONAL PLATFORM, flirting with authoritarianism.
Limbaugh’s talent is to relay the public sentiment, as well as logical common sense conclusions.
And it is significant for conservatives to know, to realize, that we must exert our views within the GOP, that our battle plan needs a clear and succinct goal. I’m with Fred Thompson and Sarah Palin: COMMON SENSE CONSERVATISM is based on clear adherence to the Constitution, the supreme law of America. The Constitution itself precedes subsequent legislation and judicial rulings that provide “precedence” for the rule of law’s dissolution. Ironically, PC must be purged in order for the Constitution to even suit the radical liberal “living breathing” existence; how can the Constitution live or breath if it is dead?
There’s nothing “wrong” about the Manhattan Declaration because it’s purpose is to unite like minds to protect a specific agenda, the sanctity of the traditional family.
Eschewing any particular faction from within the American Experience grates on the fair play idealism that both major parties profess. Repudiating any particular faction from participating is censorship, and a fascist tactic. The same goes for any faction claiming to be the ONLY divinely inspired, or the ONLY rational base of thought, or the most elitist and condescending, and therefore best qualified dogmatic platform upon which all others must conform or STFU: that’s fascism, too.
Palin’s experience with the GOP “headquarters” is a warning. It wasn’t simply McCain’s campaign; it was the RNC and all those movers and shakers who presume to OWN US.
Rush makes his accurate point, that any 3rd party, regardless of intention, benefits the radical liberal powers that be. He defines those as the Democrat Party. I recognize that the Democrats do NOT have the monopoly on the PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.
There is a purging needed within the Republican Party to refine our agenda. The Conservative agenda is to preserve the integrity of the US Constitution and the great USA Republic. Excommunicating progressives (deny party funding) who have usurped the GOP brand must occur via the electoral process IF conservatives are to achieve their agenda that is simply, specifically and universally based as the US Constitution.
Keep the platform simple. Stay on the Constitution platform. Target corruption and PC that claims that we aren’t all equal under the law. Refrain from sectarian divisive campaign rhetoric in the unification process. “Keep the faith” in America!
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Well said maverick, well said…
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
How can you say this:
And then say this:
What am I missing?
Thanks dg…I think… ;)
btw I’d love for highhopes to explain to me exactly what political or social issue I’m not conservative on…aside from my pro-gay marriage stance…
JetBoy on December 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
In order for Rush’s approach to work, we have to hold the Republicans nose to the grindstone. We can’t allow them to go off on Liberal tangents like Rush let Bush do.
.
If Rush comes back to criticizing the Rino leaning leaders of the Republicans and supports true Conservatives, then his approach has a chance.
FactsofLife on December 2, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Look at the Episcopal Church. The only heresy they recognize is what used to be considered the catholic faith. They are in process of drumming conservative traditionalists out of the church while they ordain and commune heretics — and they are shrinking.
Akzed on December 2, 2009 at 9:07 AM
But what will you do, maverick muse, if the progressives retain control of the party? How long will you keep the faith while conservatives are bad-mouthed and disenfranchised? My faith in God is eternal. My faith in the party has serious limits. I owe my country much. I owe the constitution my faithfulness and protection, as I vowed decades ago. I owe the Republican Party nothing if it turns it’s back on me.
SKYFOX on December 2, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Link to read Ted Belman @ American Thinker.
Frum’s analysis of branding technique “how to win” validates conservatism via Palin.
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 9:16 AM
JetBoy on December 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
THE agenda is integrity: the preservation of the US Constitution and our Constitutional Republic.
The Republican Party has a heritage to which I ascribe. If someone is stuck on a tangent that weakens that platform, or recasts it to dissolve the US Constitution, then I refrain from funding and voting to preserve such corruption that would claim someone else has more rights than I under the law.
Regardless of whoever pirated the GOP away from its Republican heritage (to preserve the national unity by holding firm to the US Constitution, and defeat slavery and the injustices that polygamy enables), purge subsequent inhibitions that prohibit the Constitution to function as the supreme law of the land that it IS.
Go figure.
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Love Rush, love Beck, but I find myself tipping toward Beck’s x-ray of the party politicking and transmogrification that has gone on in the last 75 or 80 years, and more particularly the last 20. The parties have become blankets and disguises to cover over a multitude of corruption, BS, and knee-jerk ideologies. We are ensconced into “base-attraction” politics, i.e. “What will so-and-so do to attract ____ into the party?” In other words, what will Puppet A change in his core beliefs to get a few more votes? Sorry, that’s what’s wrong with modern politics.
I agree with Rush that a third party entry into a major election RIGHT NOW means a vote for the Democrats, but the ideal world abolishes the party system altogether and allows room for what politicians REALLY stand for.
Nothin’ in the Constitution about Republicans and Democrats. I’ll stick with that.
somewhatconcerned on December 2, 2009 at 9:30 AM
SKYFOX on December 2, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Yes, that’s right. I said that Rush tunes into the frequency of popular opinion, and manages assumptions based upon logic and experience. I did not say to vote for a Republican, no matter what. I endorse the Fred Thompson “Common Sense” conservatism that Sarah Palin endorses as her own, that also represents the silent majority moving INDEPENDENT/conservative in protest to the progressive agenda that permeates both major party leadership right now.
Last month we all discussed the Conservative Party that supports conservative candidates regardless of party affiliation; and runs a conservative candidate when the major parties fail to do so.
Given that the GOP is permeated by progressives, firmly entrenched via Bush compassionate “reform” that handed our national treasury over to Goldman Sachs, conservatism is ironically the mutual factor shared by all Republicans, being the ROOT of the party platform. Pruning is in order, and the natural season for that is during this “dormant” fall/winter season that actually is meant to enable the party to PREPARE before our next growth come spring/summer.
Model with Hoffman. Whenever a progressive remains a GOP candidate, actively campaign against that candidate WITH a conservative. That means we must know our own local politicians well enough, and help our local districts to BE conservative. We certainly have our work cut out for us. I’ll do my part with letters to the editor in our local rags, praising or shredding decisions made by my local authorities.
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Ever heard of McCain?
fossten on December 2, 2009 at 9:46 AM
BINGO!
They are BOTH right. Now as a conservative get out their and take back your party!
Blacksmith8 on December 2, 2009 at 9:51 AM
err their should be there
Remember sports fans, preview is your friend ;-)
Blacksmith8 on December 2, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Well noted. Every major Christian sect has digressed completely from its original basis. Evolution of sophistry preempting simplicity as the “ideal” via man’s WILL need not continue against man’s WILL.
I don’t want the Constitution going the way permitting a special interest dogma to annihilate existence of thought.
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 9:53 AM
doriangrey on December 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Thanks, and regards.
maverick muse on December 2, 2009 at 9:55 AM
I truly resent the “church” analogies to conservatism. We welcome all heretics and sinners to our church, and we love them with the love of Christ. But we don’t give them the keys to the building, nor elect them to our Boards. Get over yourselves RINO’s. It’s not going to happen. Like the old saw says, Lead, follow, or get out of the way. Option 3 is my suggestion.
TimothyJ on December 2, 2009 at 9:59 AM
In a perfect constitutional country, you and Beck are, as Rush would say, “right on”. But look at the mess we are in.
Straightening this mess out is going to take skill and fortitude. The message has to be clear and the listener has to get it. All true conservatives believe in adherence to the U.S. constitution. Others will, if the explanation of why it’s so important, is delivered by the right messenger in the right way.
We are so far off the tracks now, that the message Of true constitutional government is going to sound like a foreign concept to many citizens. The real thorn here is that the press has been complicit in getting us to this place we are.
I could keep going but the crux is, we need a Reagan, we need an honest press, we need so much to get back to the constitution because we’ve strayed so far.
God help us!
donh525 on December 2, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I honestly believe that the Republican “elites” would rather see a Democrat win than a conservative. Just my perception but I trust my perceptions. Scozzafava Beans… Party elites supported her… she supported the Democrat. Party supported Specter… he changed parties. Party elites selected McCain… if rumors are true, he was discussing changing parties prior to the election.
How about “global warming”? Far too many Republicans are discussing changes to the Cap ‘n Tax bill or changes to the Health Care bill and what they should be discussing is how to KILL THOSE BILLS. The top of the party has truly lost their way. I do believe someone can have a different view but being able to claim “I’m not a Maoist” does not make someone a Republican.
CC
CapedConservative on December 2, 2009 at 10:00 AM
The GOP doesn’t need purges or “purity tests” or a third party or throwing anyone under the bus.
It needs to get back to its founding principles–low taxes, lower spending, free-market solutions, strong national defense, and add in a policy of promoting development of ALL of America’s DOMESTIC energy resources, and such a platform can attract a majority of voters, if it is explained clearly enough, as Reagan did.
Republicans lost the White House and Congress because they wandered away from their principles. They overspent and increased the deficits, and voters saw “K Street Projects” and Abramoff bribes as corrupt schemes to buy votes. The Bush Administration’s handling of Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war was seen as incompetent, and they didn’t communicate with the American people or rebut the relentless attacks from the liberal press, so that voters started to believe the press.
Now the Democrats have wildly overspent, much worse than the Republicans did in 2005-08, are trying to force massive boondoggles such as socialized medicine and energy rationing down the throats of an increasingly reluctant public, and Republicans are looking like a viable alternative, as a way of slamming on the brakes on a runaway train before it crashes.
But we need to stick to the principles that unite the party–low taxes, low deficits, free-market solutions, strong defense, domestic energy development, and EXPLAIN to the voters WHY such a platform will work for THEM, and let the independent voters come to us, without pandering on fringe issues such as gay marriage or discrimination, but a “school-choice” education voucher program could attract some black votes to the GOP.
Then, if the Republicans take over the House in 2010, they have to strictly apply the principles they campaigned on, as well as they can in a divided government (the Democrats will likely hold the Senate, even if Republicans regain filibuster power, and Obama will still be President).
Let’s NOT form a third party, whose only result will be to elect Democrats. Let’s do what Reagan did, explain conservative solutions as common-sense that a majority of voters can endorse, then do what we say when we get the majority. We may not get EVERYTHING we might want, but we should take what we can, whatever a majority can support.
Steve Z on December 2, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Agree with Rush HOWEVER….
if we don’t take this party back come 2012 with a strong conservative candidate, I will NOT vote for the R. Period.
PrincipledPilgrim on December 2, 2009 at 11:23 AM
You’re fooling yourself if you think the current, Global Warmist, Anti-Drilling, Big Government, Bribe-Taking, two-faced liars that hold the reins of the Party will allow the changes required.
I agree that historically the USA is a two party system but big changes usually only occur after a 3rd Party challenges the status quo. The real Hope ‘n Change is a States’ Rights movement that works to DEVOLVE Federal power. Standing pat leaves us under the Federal boot. Our say on almost every issue is ignored by Washington. Sorry, Rush is wrong. IMHO, we can’t get there from here as Republicans.
If the GOP changes to absorb the conservatives fleeing it’s incompetence, that would be fine with me. Bottomline, I’m not going to put my endorsement on their Party until, as Rush says, they all agree with me, or him.
rcl on December 2, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I am pro-life, but I for one would never desire a ban of someone like you from the party just because you are pro-choice. Yes, it is part of the party platform, but the issue of abortion is a single issue. I believe about a week ago Rush made a distinctive point in telling us that we must not be single issue voters, and he pointed to abortion. He said he is pro-life, but voting on a single issue such as abortion is destructive. I would love to have Rudy as POTUS right now rather than Obama!
The “purists” in the GOP to me are really three different types of folks. You have the deranged Huckabee purists who foamed at the mouth over Rudy, (or anyone who was not Huckabee), then there are the Ron Paul nuts, and you have those of us who would simply like the party to reflect what Maverick Muse said; it is the Constitution stupid. We can debate the issues of life until the cows come home, or until Christ comes back, but until either happens, could we just abide by the Constitution? It is just that simple to this purist who does not mind pro-choice folks in the party one bit as long as they understand life is part of our platform, and we do not plan on changing this foundation for the GOP.
If we can live in the nation together as pro-lifers and pro-choicers, then why can we not work together in the GOP to take back our nation? Quite frankly, right now the issue of life, while very important, is not as important as preserving the Union. Without an intact and strong United States of America, or the Constitution being adhered to, ALL life is endangered and that would most definitely include those out of the womb. Hello health care which kills off just about everyone! We all have targets painted on us, and we all are in danger of losing our lives unless this nation is taken back by We The People, and that We the People is all of the people who believe in a wide range of things.
By the way Kelley, thanks for your hard work and for being in the party!
freeus on December 2, 2009 at 11:48 AM
It’s a pretty straightforward lesson from history:
Nominate conservatives and win: Reagan, Bush I (read my lips), Bush II.
Nominate moderates and lose: Ford, Bush I (tax raiser), Dole, McCain.
Or as Ann says, “Given a choice between a liberal democrat and a liberal democrat, the people will always elect a liberal democrat.”
MassVictim on December 2, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Purists don’t run the party…everyone has a stance that offends someone else.
Some are extreme pro-gun, others feel their should be some restrictions…so we debate and argue our side. That is what makes us different from the liberals, follow the talking points are you are out, you can’t even be allowed to interview the president unless you are a tv station that follows their orders…
right2bright on December 2, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Let me get this straight. You’re a pagan in the democrap party and then you mysteriously ‘convert’ to the republican party but you continue all your sinful ways and ignore 90 percent of the tenets of the republican party. And then when real republicans complain, some dweeb RINO comes out and says you can’t criticize the pagans you should just be happy they are in the R column. That’s like a home owner saying I am sooo happy to have all these termites in my house because they appreciate my fine wood work that it took me so long to build. Sorry, but if these RINOs wish to convert then they should adhere to republican and not progressive/liberal/democrap ideas. We have enough with our Arlen Spectres who is now against the surge since he formally returned to his democrap roots and the Dedes of the world.
eaglewingz08 on December 2, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Amen. The GOP won when it was perceived as a conservative party. When they followed the moderate template, they lost to the most far left-wing candidate ever to lead a major political party.
holygoat on December 2, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3