“Witnessing a Reawakening of the American Spirit”
I first heard of Hillsdale College years ago from one of my aunts. Their monthly publication, Imprimis, has an extraordinarily impressive archive of authors and topics.
Saturday, Scott Johnson of Power Line shared some thoughts from Paul Rahe, professor of history at Hillsdale College and author of Soft Despotism, Democracy’s Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and the Modern Prospect, on this past week.
“In the early 1830s, when Alexis de Tocqueville visited Jacksonian America, he was taken aback by much of what he encountered. Nothing impressed him more, however, than the demonstrated capacity of the Americans to form private associations for public purposes.
This phenomenon – illegal in Tocqueville’s France and rare on the continent of Europe, even today – amazed him. He was particularly struck by the political consequences of the Americans’ confident practice of what he called “the art of association.” For, as he discovered, opposition had sprung up to the so-called Tariff of Abominations outside the existing political parties.
This opposition was especially emphatic in the South. But, in a fashion that seemed spontaneous, organizations had been independently formed in every district of the country, and then they had joined together in a great network to bring pressure upon Congress.
Tocqueville did not express an opinion regarding the justice or wisdom of this movement. What interested and excited him was simply its existence. For it proved that, in a great commercial democracy established in an extended territory, civic agency was a genuine possibility. It proved that the residents of the United States of America were citizens, not subjects, and it demonstrated that the condition that he called “soft despotism” was not the only possibility afforded by liberal democracy.
…We are today witnessing a reawakening of the American spirit that so strongly impressed him….
Now, as citizens flock to town meetings all over the country to confront their Senators and Congressmen, we can see the consequences. And the White House and the Democratic Party have responded to the spontaneous organization of opposition to their endeavors in a manner that is reminiscent of the governments in Tocqueville’s France…”
Rahe’s commentary is excellent. Don’t miss what he has to say about the word gift!
_________
H/T: Gadsden Flag: Gadsden.info, Power Line.
[1]
I want to make a shirt that has the Gadsden Flag on once side, and on the other this quote:
“…If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!”
[2]
You would have people asking where they could get one when they saw it!
[3]
To Allah, to Frum, to McCain, to Graham, to Crist et al: (and Chekote)
“We ask not your counsels, nor your arms.” Get busy licking the hand of the Dems, and we will forget we knew you.
[4]
great article, INC.
and rwy…I LOVE that quote! and yes, you could see a million of ‘em! Justmary was trying to hook up with someone on t-shirts I think. We should chat this Wednesday about it (I’ll be back on the Mainland)!
[5]
or, to the list rwy providedI would offer Samuel Adams’ choice implied when he says “IF…“. the choice is STAY, but stay only if you are willing to fight those “hands which feed you”, while all the while enslaving you.
Petty bullshit time is essentially up. It wasn’t even fun while it lasted.
our very own INC, I am sure, would love to return her avatar to the serene one she started with. An avatar that looked like gentle reverie on a Summer day. Now her avatar is Molly Pitcher…perfectly suited to the period ahead.
[6]
Well, Justrand, what’s that Tom Paine quote?
[7]
indeed, INC, indeed.
Godspeed to all BJG’ers!
gotta go pack…we’re off on the final leg of our vacation. Aloha!
[8]
Aloha!
I just realized it wasn’t clear which link to click on to read all of Paul Rahe’s words. I moved the link over and now you can click on his name at the top of the post.
[9]
I think it was IP who initiated a thread on Alexis de Tocqueville some time ago, if I’m not mistaken, and it was quite popular among the posters.
I heard an interview with Paul Rahe, when he was promoting his “Soft Despotism” book. He was very impressive!
When people get pushed against the wall, it often produces a reawakening of spirit, aided by the courage to speak out, act out and do something about what is trying to crush them.
I think you are right, INC, that such a phenomenon is going on at the present.
[10]
Tocqueville is one of IP’s favorite men to quote!
[11]
Imagine the media coverage had a bunch of Minutemen roughed up a black man the way the SEIU thugs roughed up the black conservative distributing “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. It would have been branded a “hate crime” with non-stop media coverage. But, since it was a black conservative beat up by left-wing thugs, so “there’s nothing to see.”
[12]
bc, you’re right.
Gateway Pundit now has a post up putting together the intimidation and violence from the last week:
Dems Continue “Listening Tour”– Fists, Boots, Bullhorns, Stomping Heads, Smashing Faces, Assaults Included
[13]
bc — the selective “black out” of news, as you described it on the above post, is appalling!
My respect for the media can go only into negative territory, as it is at a set-in-concrete “zero” after “Zero’s” biased election.
[14]
the choice is STAY, but stay only if you are willing to fight those “hands which feed you”, while all the while enslaving you.
IMO we’ve seen enough to know they’ll stab us in the back, that’s all they’ve been doing up until now, what will change. Cut bait, my 2c…
[15]
SEIU stands for….?
[16]
RWY, I only quoted a small portion of Rahe’s comment. One thing he said in regard to Obama’s braggadocio about his “gift”:
[17]
Service Employees International Union
They’ve worn those purple shirts you may have seen.
[18]
Service Employees International Union
[19]
Gift = Poison? That’s something to wrap your head around for a spell!
[20]
Thanks!
[21]
Yes, beware of “Greeks” bearing “Gifts”, indeed. “giftig” = “poisonous”….
[22]
RWY, do you know the derivation of the word?
[23]
RWY,
CafeExpress. Just upload the artwork, select the product and name your price.
[24]
INC,
I was somewhat aware of the Gadsden Flag, but I really didn’t know it’s history. I thought I would share what I found. I learned a lot.
Don’t Tread on Me
The history of the Gadsden flag and how the rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence
[25]
Dr. Dog, I’ve read you have to be careful to establish your own store at Cafe Press and have people go through that so that CP doesn’t eat all the profit. I don’t know the details-just saw it mentioned.
[26]
RWY,
Keeping with the theme of the shirt –
“We ask not your counsels, nor your arms.” Get busy licking the hand of Good King Barack the Hopeychanger, and we will forget we knew ye.”
[27]
Thanks, Tony. I left you a comment on RWY’s thread about Obama being in Montana on Friday.
[28]
RWY, do you know the derivation of the word?
No, except that it also applies to a personal nastiness, ie, a toxic personality…
[29]
INC,
That could be the case. Oh and its CafePress, my bad.
There are others however — Printfection, Zazzle, Spreadshirt.
RWY, if you are really serious, I’ll go talk to a silk screening place that is a couple of blocks away from home and inquire about pricing if you want.
[30]
RWY, how descriptive!
[31]
RWY, if you are really serious, I’ll go talk to a silk screening place that is a couple of blocks away from home and inquire about pricing if you want.
Hell yes Im serious. Iv’e got to run right now, I’ll be back in an hour….
Dog, you’ve got my email if you need it…
[32]
SEIU stands for….?
Shamless
Enumerators &
Ingrates of
Unionism
?
Where’s IP? He’d have a snappy one for this…
[33]
RWY,
I’ll find out tomorrow.
[34]
Thanks for fixing that link INC. I apologize for being lazy.
[35]
That’s OK. If I have time I don’t mind doing it.
[36]
From Hot Air:
Newsbusters has the YouTube video and transcript of Leah’s call:
C-SPAN Caller Blasts Media’s Coverage of Town Hall Protests
[37]
Leah can’t fool me. I bet she is well dressed.
Seriously, Leah is one of those Conservatives who who has self-identified as an independent. I know a Conservative when I hear one. They are my people.
[38]
Back to the theme of this post. The Statists better watch their backs. The town halls regardless of anything else are making individuals realize they are not the only ones with the knot in the gut. They stand there, citizen 334 in line to the hall. Hundreds in front, even more hundreds behind him/her. The only impression that one can leave is –
‘I am not alone.’
That in and of itself is a powerful connection. Its a reaffirmation that bouys the will to fight on.
[39]
This is semi-off topic…I hope you won’t mind the rantings of an emo-beej….
I am watching The Great Raid, the docu-drama of the 1944 raid on a Japanese POW camp in the Phillipines…to rescue 500 Americans and Allies.
Not an especially good time to watch a movie like this. It makes me realize that was the greatest generation, and why they were called such. Even our awesome service men and women today can’t know what those men and women went through to keep the world free from tyrants. We don’t know what sacrifices they made…with their lives, with their sanity, with…everything in them…to keep the world free. And the first greatest generation, the ones who took on the greatest army in the world– farmers and silversmiths and preachers and muskets…who bled the ground red here in Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and all these new colonies…My heart is breaking with grief and …. shame for what has happened to us ….the greatest country in the world…in such a short time…
Dear God, don’t let these men and women of our history to have fought and died in vain. Don’t let the country You blessed so tremendously go down in a whimper to tyranny, against which so much blood has been shed…As the men and women before us prayed, strengthen our arms for war, sharpen our wits, help us again gird our loins to fight for the freedom You alone can bestow…As we kneel, asking forgiveness for our arrogance and sin, please allow us once more to be that shining city on the hill of which Your servant spoke…Prepare us for War, but lead us to peace….
please forgive me for standing by the wayside….
[40]
Amen, beej, amen.
[41]
Somehow we have to turn the BS “phone-in town hall” meetings into a badge of shame. Make it an albatross these congress members necks in 2010 that they have “phone-in town hall” meetings instead getting in front of actual constituents.
[42]
Its a reaffirmation that bouys the will to fight on.
Dr. Dog, it also gives impetus and courage to those who might hold back.
[43]
mpt, that’s what the caller Leah did at C-Span.
[44]
Beej, in WWII there were only four ways you got out of the war
* You ‘bought it’ and a cross was offered in rememberence.
* You got the ‘golden wound’ and you were headed home.
* Your enlistment was up. Which for a practical matter meant you were probably already in the service when we entered the war and your enlistment ended.
* The war ended and you marched on home.
No points system back then.
[45]
That’s a beautiful movie beej
I saw it when it first came out and what I remember most is the squad leader who was the first one in telling everyone that he would be the last man out
Deeply moving…
[46]
DD
It also took some time after the war ended to get demobilized, people forget that
Many were in for the duration ‘41-’45 but weren’t demobilized until ‘46
So long away from home…
[47]
Funny email exchange between a blogger and Dave Mathews the musician. Yes, all us evil conservatives have trouble sleeping at night. We do, don’t we?
[48]
MFG, yep.
Ok, is there a lawyer in the audience?
Volkoh Conspiracy has sprung a nasty plan in the ole noggin’. Everyone remember the flag@whitehouse.gov something fishy meme? Well I want to apply Alinsky’s rule #4 –
I want to forward a FOIA as to whether I have been flagged. A poster at VC is asking the question there. I am asking it here. If I can get someone to send me the process, I will post it. I want millions of FOIA’s flooding the WH. Burn their budget, tie up their resources. As Paul Revere might say –
“I have not begun to Community Organize!”
[49]
mpt, that’s what the caller Leah did at C-Span.
Indeed. I wish I could reach out across the Internet and hug her.
[50]
Dr. Dog, why don’t you email Glen Reynolds? He’s not only a law prof, he’d enjoy that!
mpt, isn’t it interesting to see how people across the country persist in the belief that Congress is supposed to listen to and work for them!
[51]
Ooops, sorry that was John Paul Jones…
[52]
One major advantage the greatest generation men and women in the armed forces had
was a sense of purpose. They knew the U.S. was in the war to win, there was no political correctness. They knew the government placed their safety over that of civilians. That’s not the case today.
[53]
I’m a professional software engineer by trade, although I’ve been going John Galt for little while now. I think I’ve come up with an idea that would put my software skills to use to undermine Obama a bit.
I’ve been thinking of creating an iPhone application called “Fishy Flags for Obama” where one can snap a picture on their iPhone (do other BJGers have them) and it would automatically be forwarded to flag@whitehouse.gov. Overlaid on the picture would be time, GPS location and probably some snappy comment like “Saw something fishy. Please investigate.”
It would be a unique way of making fun of Obama’s bid to have Americans rat out other Americans. Could go viral too and make it hip to have this subversive domestic espionage application on your iPhone. See your friends doing something “fishy”, take their picture and tell them they have been reported to the White House.
I just wonder if it would get past the Apple App Store censors. Also, given the proliferation of iPhone apps I wouldn’t be surprised if it was already being done. I’ll have to look for it.
[54]
mpt, isn’t it interesting to see how people across the country persist in the belief that Congress is supposed to listen to and work for them! — INC
Isn’t even a worse that it is what Congressmen are supposed to do but don’t?!
[55]
Beej, in WWII there were only four ways you got out of the war
* You ‘bought it’ and a cross was offered in rememberence.
* You got the ‘golden wound’ and you were headed home.
In the Wehrmacht you had no way out but these two ways. A wound that was not enough to cripple you permanently, but enough to send you home, was very rare. Those were called a “heimatschuss”, or “go-home-shot”, because you went off the line, but your body was not shattered.
Very lucky to get one of those, because usually severe wounds were fatal, due to lack of penicillin as late as 1944, and light wounds returned you to the line.
[56]
MPT,
if iPhone store balks, then cross compile it for the Android HTC platform and the S60. But that is a great idea!
[57]
Byron York wrote this earlier this week:
Obama’s dissident database could be secret — and permanent
Senate Judiciary Committee lawyers say the WH is not covered by the Privacy Act or the FOIA. The Presidential Records Act “likely” covers the emails which means permanent storage.
Somewhere I’ve seen conflicting info on that. Regardless, the entire thing is an unconstitutional reach.
[58]
Dr. Dog, yes!
[59]
INC, now you know why I am posing the question about FOIA, as I really don’t know.
[60]
Hmm. the little things in war…..
Medicine and victory
[61]
mpt -
Don’t have an I-Phone, but I like your idea with this modification (rat on the mosr liberal in your neighborhood.
[62]
Hey MPT a slightly more subversive suggestion. If we can’t use FOIA lets flood the WH router. Set the program up so that you can send whatever pics you want. Every one you select to send, the program goes out and finds 10 more off flickr to send as well. Would need to random generate a name for the 10 pics.
[63]
heh, not bad.
[64]
fyi there was indeed a point system during WWII on the US side, didn’t really go into effect till after VE-day though.
[65]
What if Obama Threw an Astroturf Party and Nobody Came?
[66]
bc — the selective “black out” of news, as you described it on the above post, is appalling!
Not so much a black out of the story. They report it and report it wrong. NPR story said it even got violent in Florida. They didn’t mention it was the donk thugs that got violent. They leave the impression that it was RepublicansThey don’t mention that there are also Dems and Inds at these protests who are against 0bamascare. That was in a piece on NOR where the guy claimed the protests are fake and arranged by some group I’ve not heard of. His story was basically saying the Republicans are using the Alinsky playbook and explained who Alnsky was and what he was about.
Pure projection.
[67]
NOR=NPR
[68]
My point wouldn’t be to try and flood the WH router, bring down servers or anything nefarious like that. There are more efficient ways of doing so, but they would get the FBI on your ass faster than Obama can call cops stupid.
Rather, my point would be to try and use the very popular iPhone platform as means of political expression. By and large, iPhone users tend to be liberal “Apple is cool” type people and the stuff we talk about at this site isn’t even on their radar. At least where I live in the SF Bay Area. Creating a domestic spying application for the iPhone (and Android) that pokes fun at Obama’s flag@whitehouse.gov efforts might open up some eyes and minds. Also, the White House staff would have to put up with looking at a bunch of dumb photos people take of their pets, neighbors, rocks and stuff like that.
I’ll have to think about this a little more. The goal would be for the application to clever enough, yet so absurd, that people just laugh at the Obama Administration.
[69]
KH, didn’t that system only determine whether you rotated to pacific operations? Just curious.
And I did forget if you were in the USAAF there was a ‘points’ too if you count a mission as such. Crew members completed so many missions they rotated out of combat not necessarily out of the service as trainers and staff.
[70]
Nah via the ASR @ 85 points you could go home (or stay if you really wanted), I think > 75 or something they let you stay in Europe if you wanted to not rotate to Pacific. You can probably google it, I’m just going from what I remember from band of brothers.
Yeah on the AF side it was 25 missions to rotate stateside, at least for bomber crews.
[71]
MPT, understand your stance. Keep in mind, I don’t think the FBI can act. Obama himself provided the invitation. But even if one can’t bring down a router, the flood of emails with pics would raise the data mining effort so high they it would be useless. You know, like PoliPundit.
[72]
MPT you idea is a good one…. basically make fun of them while also making the system useless.
[73]
Polipundit? What’s this Polipundit of which you speak?
[74]
FBI couldn’t do chit to you really even if the app and it’s use by others did overload the system (which it wouldn’t).
[75]
Why are these union folks even at these events? Aren’t they to be exempt from this “reform”?
[76]
Oh, I don’t think an iPhone application would make the system useless. I’m 100% certain there is a bunch of cr*p flooding that email address as we speak. I feel sorry (just a little bit) for the poor person who has to sort through all of it.
[77]
Couple links passed to me from a friend in the medical field.
http://www.freeourhealthcarenow.com/
http://actionpack.ncpa.org/
http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/August_Town_Hall_Meetings.pdf
http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/Questions_for_Town_Hall_Meetings.pdf
http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/what-would-happen-to-senator-dodd-prostate-cancer-victim-under-obama-care/
[78]
“I’m 100% certain there is a bunch of cr*p flooding that email address as we speak.”
—
Exactly – which is what makes it nearly useless anyway.
[79]
Oh, the FBI couldn’t do anything about the app. I was more talking about if an earnest effort were made to bring down the WH routers by other means. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
[80]
what does a President whose only experience is as a community organizer, manufacturing outrage and threatening opponents with physical violence (and acting in accordance with the Chicago Way), do when all legal means at his fingertips of enacting his agenda fail?
Well now. Most on our side instinctively know the answer to that question, which is why there is a shortage of guns/ammo at local stores, and has been for the better part of a year, and a very acute one since January….
[81]
President whose only experience is as a community organizer, manufacturing outrage and threatening opponents with physical violence (and acting in accordance with the Chicago Way), do when all legal means at his fingertips of enacting his agenda fail?
History has demonstrated the answer to this over and over. Do we need another demonstration?
[82]
“I was more talking about if an earnest effort were made to bring down the WH routers by other means.”
—
Yeah if you own\control a botnet or something and purposefully launch a DDoS attack against the whitehouse yeah you can expect an unfriendly visit from the Gestapo. However if you email everyone in the world and ask them to all say send an email to that address on August 15th at noon and 50 million people do it… and crush services for a few hours your pretty much in the clear. No different then flooding the congressional switchboard or email system which isn’t all that hard to do.
[83]
“when all legal means at his fingertips of enacting his agenda fail?”
—
That’s when the real exciting times begin.
[84]
“Do we need another demonstration?”
—
Apparently enough voters thought we did.
[85]
MPT,
I could envision a whole series of games along these lines –
Dukes of the WH — You try and catch the stupidiest phrase Biden every said and email it to the flag site.
Eight is Enough — Catch 8 Czars with your net and their names are emailed to the flag site.
Yours, Mine & Ours — Maze Game. Help the 1040 catch up with Tim Geithner and send a copy of his dumbest House interview.
Congress RFD — Help Barney Frank load his one bullet in the gun so he can shoot his mouth off. Catch the phrase and a pic of Barney gets sent to the flag site.
To Catch a Thief — Maze game of looking thru Chris Dodd’s VIP loan documents. Figure out the discount rate and Dodd’s pic is sent to the flag site.
The Millionairess — Help Pelosi pick out the interiors of the new G550 jets. Get the decorating job to $10m per jet and the pics go to the flag site.
Just a few ideas….
[86]
Tsongas finds Even in liberal MA Healthcare scorn at townhall
I looked at her district map. It’s of towns to the west and northwest of Boston.
[87]
Damb Doc. your good.
[88]
Another CongressCritter ducks the electorate — http://www.tucsonteaparty.org/?p=272.
Don’t this people realize they are writing their future opponents own advert copy??
[89]
you’d think so, wouldn’t you? It’s kind of like the Miranda warning: Anything you say can and will be used against you.
[90]
Dr. Dog, maybe they’re in such shock at being challenged, they’re losing their heads and seeking the self-preservation of the moment.
[91]
Here’s the “You’re better off dead.” remark, straight from the horse’s mouth….
[92]
Yeah maybe your better off taking a pain killer instead of getting that pacemaker that will keep you alive. How exactly mr. president is that pain killer going to keep her mother alive… oh that’s right it will not, but look how compassionate his is… he will offer up some pain killers for her during her final months and days. How thoughtful.
[93]
mpthompson -
“Polipundit? What’s this Polipundit of which you speak?”
Oak Leaf unionized everyone, including Poli. They only post new threads a maximum of four days a week – no weekends and they take either Monday or Friday off too.
[94]
We should start a contest to get pictures of endangered congress critters out in the wild (with constituents).
We would probably have more luck getting pictures of Bigfoot or a Jackalope.
[95]
RWY, He is so detached and inhumane. I noticed his eye contact the second time through. Most of the time he is looking at what’s-his-name rather than the woman.
[96]
Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll:
Zero is -8 today; overall 50/50. Sorry for posting this late today.
[97]
We should start a contest to get pictures of endangered congress critters out in the wild (with constituents). — MPT
Or how about a whole ‘Where in the world is ____________?’ series. All for those that are not showing up?
[98]
There is this interesting piece for the Kalifornians —
California: You owe us taxes on those IOUs
[99]
wc posts more often on his blog.
speaking of it..
Big Pharma to air ObamaCare propaganda in exchange for backroom deal that protects drug profits
[100]
Oh, Mark Steyn has a new term. Obamait’s is no longer hip. We now call them Hopenstasi.
[101]
Hopenstasi.. I like that.
[102]
I would have preferred “Hopenstapo”….
[103]
CA is trying to get cash by demanding taxes on IOUs issued by them. ‘
HAHAHAHAHA, hey you #$%^)(*&(*&$%, when I get my cash from your worthless IOU, then you can have your bloody tax.
[104]
Any vendor of the state of CA at this point is a bit of a fool for accepting IOU’s as payment, Cash On Deliver mother….ers or no dice.
[105]
What sort of idiot must you be to remit tax on money you have a note for but have not collected?
Shall banks now pay tax on the full loan balance of their mortgage holders before they receive any payments?
Good Lord.
CA. It’s a giant lunatic asylum.
[106]
Drudge:
Pelosi/Hoyer op-ed in Monday USATODAY calls townhall protesters ‘un-American’… Developing…
[107]
Michael Ramirez was the political cartoonist I was trying to remember the other day. PL posted one of his latest today:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/assets_c/2009/08/toon081009.php
[108]
“Pelosi/Hoyer op-ed in Monday USATODAY calls townhall protesters ‘un-American’… Developing…”
—
That’s awesome…. let them keep digging themselves in deeper.
Lol what happen to speaking truth to power… and you know decent being the highest form of patriotism? hmmm.. I smell a before\after commercial in the making.
[109]
Hi Billy Mays here for Democrat Hypocrisy….
No offense meant to the late Pitchman, may he RIP.
[110]
Incredible they’re doing that–the polls have already turned against them and it’ll only make people madder.
[111]
“Pelosi/Hoyer op-ed in Monday USATODAY calls townhall protesters ‘un-American’… Developing…”
The class warfare intensifies. If the GOP doesn’t make this witch a major talking point in 2010, they are even dumber than I think they are … and that’s really dumb.
[112]
Especially since as those protesters are usually carrying flags or wearing red white & blue!
BTW, I like Ramirez.
[113]
“A few hours later, Lincoln issued the following statement: “Although I do believe that some of these protesters are disrespectful of other citizens in the audience who truly want to ask questions about health care, I shouldn’t have used the term ‘un-American.’ I support the right of every Arkansan to speak out and have their voices heard. I would just ask that we all continue to work in a constructive way to rebuild our economy and fine-tune out health care system so it works for all of us.””
–
These people can’t even agree between themselves if it’s “unamerican” at least Blanche Lincoln was smart enough to quickly back peddle from the statement… now Dingy Harry and Mrs. Piggy want it in USATODAY…. these people are suicidal. Especially Reid, he just picked up a challenger with decent name recognition in NV.
[114]
I’d forgotten about Lincoln backtracking.
The only thing better than Daschle losing will be when Reid is gone and Pelosi is no longer Speaker. I’d guess she’ll always win in San Fran, but I look forward to her no longer being able to run the show.
[115]
sorry I must correct something I thought that said Piggy\Reid not Hoyer.. my bad.
[116]
I want to “Dashchle” Harry Reid so bad I can taste it.
[117]
That must have been the reason behind your Freudian slip!
[118]
I only wish I’d thought to use this first. We need lyricman. He wouldn’t have missed it!
From a commenter at Hot Air:
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
We are the new radicals!
[119]
Its going to be fun watching Pelosi hand over the gavel–if the GOP can get its act together and take back the house. BIG IF.
Even if the GOP does win it back, its still going to be pretty close. With these idiots, sharing is always an option.
[120]
INC, wonderful. We are indeed the new radicals.
[121]
INC, how do you know the commenter at HA isn’t lyricman?
BTW, do you remember the doctor who showed up here a month a so ago? He was in the middle of his internship somewhere.
[122]
Put it on your facebook, mpt!
Tony, yes, I remember. Reininger?
[123]
Found him in the comments. His name is Reiniger and he is a surgical intern in Texas.
He made his first comment in:
Massachusetts in Suit Over Universal Healthcare
[124]
Reiniger–thanks. I would’ve liked to have more of his/her input regarding ObamaCare.
[125]
I also hope he comes back.
[126]
if the GOP can get its act together and take back the house. BIG IF.
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Big IF indeed.
[127]
Take a look at the pic of Pelosi on Drudge. That picture, my friends, has not been photoshopped–at least I don’t think it has been. . . .
[128]
Looks like Chavez is trying to start up more chit with Colombia…. gee I wonder how the administration will manage to fuk up what should be support for colombia.
[129]
I remember when McCain was doing outreach to Columbia during the campaign. He was very pro-Columbia and was fostering good relationships with them, including trade agreements. But, it looks as if Obama is going the other way…into the arms of dictators rather than leaders who are more democratically-inclined.
Go figure!
[130]
Yeah, too bad McCain was useless and unelectable. We could use him now, but he’s determined to keep his head up his ****…
I wonder if I’ll ever forgive the R party for nominating him. At least in 2000, they could say the only choice was Bush or McCain, so Bush was the clear choice, as sorry as that is..
But in 2008 there was Thompson. There’s no excuse for McCain getting it.
And of course, once he got it, he could have done the right thing and ran as a conservative, mended his fences and ran hard.
But no.
[131]
A story on Drudge set to the music of tongue-and-cheek satire about the N. Korean rescue.
Read the rest…. here
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But, rwy, reality is McCain did get the nomination. And, no matter what his conservative credentials lacked, had he won he would have been a darn sight better than what we have now, and we wouldn’t be circling the drain hole as fast as we are.
We also wouldn’t have an obamacare facing us, or a cap and trade bill as horrendous as the one we have. McCain has railed against the proposals Obama has made in both these areas. And…we would have Palin as VP, with a foot up to becoming POTUS the next time around. So, the only spilled milk to complain about is that the McCain/Palin team didn’t make it.
Also, if McCain hadn’t been nominated Palin most likely would have remained in obscurity. She only became well-known after she joined on as a VP candidate.
I think it’s time to stop making McCain the strawman of the Republican party. There is lots of room for improvement….
[133]
Take a look at the pic of Pelosi on Drudge. That picture, my friends, has not been photoshopped–at least I don’t think it has been. . . . — KH
“Its is I, Igor, Master. I am here to give you your power sander and botox treatment.” !@#$%@#$%@ “No Master, the peasants could not pay for the Novocaine. You will have to take the sanding raw, Master.”
[134]
Jan, McCain started off swallowing half the Dem’s agenda. He was already HATED by the conservative wing of the party.
I don’t buy the assertion that his cap and trade bill was any less malicious than the one that passed the house, and he’d have had to move left to get a bill to sign anyway.
The bottom line is, McCain’s defeat was his own fault, and the logical result of the course of his political career, which was distinguished ONLY by his penchant for splitting the R party in half.
His defeat give the R party a chance to separate itself from the “March to Socialism”.
Now if only they would actively oppose it.
[135]
“We ask not your counsels, nor your arms.” Get busy licking the hand of the Dems, and we will forget we knew you.
Nobody put you in charge of the GOP or any movement. So spare me your advice. I will join and vote whatever party a feel like. Want to know why? I am a free American.
[136]
Big Pharma to air ObamaCare propaganda in exchange for backroom deal that protects drug profits
Obama is buying everybody off, insurance companies, drug companies, AARP, and the AMA. Pathetic. Where is the media? What ever happened to investigative reporting?
[137]
Hey, those damn Rethuglicans are organizing to astroturf again.
Summer of Change
What’s that? Oh. Really? Nevermind.
[138]
What ever happened to investigative reporting?
Don’t look at me. I didn’t take it.
[139]
Pelosi/Hoyer op-ed in Monday USATODAY calls townhall protesters ‘un-American’… Developing…
You have got to be kidding me?! I mean the arrogance of this woman never ceases to amaze me.
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RWY, the Democrats are accusing the Republicans of organizing opposition against the health care bill. Sheesh, we could only be so lucky.
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Chekote -
“Where is the media? What ever happened to investigative reporting?”
“The protests appear to be orchestrated,” Charles Gibson.
To believe that “mobs” wearing different T-shirts and golf shirts and carrying homemade signs are “orchestrated” while “mobs” wearing blue SEIU T-shirts are not, Gibson must be totally delusional or a lying sack of sh!t who is shilling for Obama. My belief is that he is the latter.
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“You have got to be kidding me?! I mean the arrogance of this woman (Pelosi) never ceases to amaze me.”
When have you seen MSM (even FNC other than Beck) attack her?
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rwy
Some of what you say is spot on about McCain, the rest has a lot of liberal “largess” to the man that just wasn’t the case. I didn’t support McCain until the general election. Then, it was a case of who was the better of the two. When you threw in Palin, it was a no-brainer.
In the meantime, in the last 6 mos of Obama’s term in office McCain has vehemently opposed cap & trade, the current health bill, the stimulus, the budget, and the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor, unlike some of his republican cohorts. So, for me I don’t go around splashing tar and feathers on people who by their actions are at least towing the Conservatism line at such a crucial time in our nation’s history.
[144]
Jan
McCain is the past. I wish he would step aside and let new leaders emerge.
[145]
A lot of Obama’s health care plan endorsements are without merit.
For instance, at best, only 40% of AMA’s doctor membership are practicing physicians. The rest are retired, arm chair doctors. 65% of the American Assoc of Physicians and Surgeons have come out and said they would rather treat medicare and medicaid patients for free rather than have to go through govt. bureaucracy. These “working” phicians are opposed to Obamacare as are a number of State Physician Organizations.
[146]
Chek
Everything that isn’t happening today is in the proverbial “past.” McCain is at the end of his career, and I think will have a difficult time in his reelection bid.
However, there is something to be learned from the last election, in that had more Conservatives, who snubbed McCain because they disliked him so much, come out and voted against Obama, we would have less angst and govt takeover among us right now.
This will be especially true if we don’t kick butt in 2010, and regain the WH in 2012.
[147]
Jan,
The GOP lost because they lost the vote of the self-described moderates who make up 44% of the electorate. You have got to win the indies and moderate or you are toast.
[148]
McCain will vote for any sort of watered down cap/trade and health care reform, Jan, as well as any amnesty. That will establish the foundation for putting whatever poison is left out, right back in later.
You’re right that it is not the time to go to war over McCain right now. But I believe you’ll see down the line, he is no different than he ever was.
I do regret his defeat in one way, however, and that is on the issue of SCOTUS.
[149]
It’s pretty fair to say that if Althouse regrets her vote, most of the moderate morons do as well.
Of course, if they were STUPID enough to vote for Obama in the first place, they deserve what they bloody get.
Screw Brooks/Frum/Noonan/Parker…. Screw Althouse too. Screw Powell. Let them all pay their taxes and enjoy their socialized med.
[150]
McCain is a menace. He keeps on taking oxygen from other would be leaders. He had his shot at winning the presidency and screwed it up. Since he is such an adminer of British politics, he should follow their example and got to the back bench.
[151]
chekote -
“The GOP lost because they lost the vote of the self-described moderates who make up 44% of the electorate. You have got to win the indies and moderate or you are toast.”
And, Obama and the Democrats ran as moderates? There aren’t many more moderate Republicans than John (Reach across the Aisle) McCain.
I wish you could view politics based on mpre than one single issue, but we all realize that is IMPOSSIBLE.
[152]
“Screw Brooks/Frum/Noonan/Parker…. Screw Althouse too. Screw Powell. Let them all pay their taxes and enjoy their socialized med.”
Unlike the others, Althouse doesn’t pretend to be a conservative or a Republican. She is a liberal, but an honest one.
[153]
BC
Chek out the exit polls. 44% of the voter self-described as moderates. That’s a fact. Obama did portray himself as a center left candidate. It was a sleight of hand. (Am I spelling that right? I too lazy to look it up). What single issue are you talking about?
[154]
Chek, your last two posts refute each other…..but that is what you do and what you are paid to do. Nice try.
A lot of nice stuff on the last few threads everyone, where do you get the time? But I thank you for your efforts.
[155]
Chek, your last two posts refute each other
Why? McCain is a menace. 44% of the voters self-described as moderate. I wish I could get paid for posting.
[156]
“I wish I could get paid for posting.”
You wouldn’t make much.
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McCain is a menace. He keeps on taking oxygen from other would be leaders. Chek
McCain is an aging politician who, in the last 6 mos, has done far more good than ill for the conservative message. I don’t think he has positioned himself as the leader of the GOP — in fact, that is what everyone says…that we are currently a “leaderless” party. In fact if there is anyone in the wings of leadership it is Palin, not McCain.
Chek, I find your descriptions of people and things really alienating and so full of absolutism.
[158]
Jan
If McCain wanted to help the GOP he would step aside and let younger leaders make the Sunday Talk Show rounds. But he is an ego maniac who just can’t let go of the limelight. Sorry if you find it alienating. But that is a fact. An absolute fact.
[159]
You wouldn’t make much.
More than you.
[160]
“BC
Chek out the exit polls. 44% of the voter self-described as moderates.”
I don’t disagree. As I recall, the last Rasmussen Poll I saw was roughly 44 I/41 C and 23 L.
Moderate voters have little political philosophy (that’s why they are called moderates) and are easily led. They voted for Reagan, Bush 43 and Obama. They are looking for someone to tell them what to think and tend to vote based on personality.
Contratry to the theory you share with David Frum, there is not an army of moderates waiting to jump aboard if we just abandon our principles and stand for nothing.
[161]
chekote –
“You wouldn’t make much.
“More than you.”
Wrong again; just like 98% of the time.
[162]
there is not an army of moderates waiting to jump aboard if we just abandon our principles and stand for nothing.
Who is telling you to abandon your principles? What principles are you talking about? Less government. Ooops, Bush and the GOP Congress did that while in office.
[163]
Moderates don’t watch Sunday morning talk shows. Conservatives go to church, liberals watch Sunday morning talk shows, moderates sleep in or play golf.
[164]
“Who is telling you to abandon your principles? What principles are you talking about? Less government. Ooops, Bush and the GOP Congress did that while in office.”
No arguement from me. Had the GOP lived up to the Contract with America, it would be the dominant party and the country would not be all screwed up.
Remember, I got banned at FR for Bush-bashing before it came into vogue.
[165]
Something I wrote on another blog about the election of Obama last fall:
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From my perspective Obama’s presidency came from the confluence of four major factors: 1) Bush dragged a divided nation into a war in Iraq that really didn’t have to be fought. Fatigue set in with the voters over the war. 2) Bush, McCain and other GOP leadership succeeded in alienated much of their own party – primarily chasing amnesty, but through other misguided steps as well. 3) Obama running as a bright centrist who may not have had much experience, but promised he would unite the country and make good decisions. 4) An unprecedented financial crisis a month before the election that spooked the hell out of all voters so were voting more on emotion than anything else.
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Others here may disagree with point 1 regarding the war, but in retrospect I don’t think that what we gained in Iraq was worth the damage to the country caused by letting radical liberals gain the reins of power. Had I known what I know now my recommendation to Bush would have been to continue a policy of containment around Saddam rather than burdening the country with the war.
With respect to point 3, I think the moderate voters saw him as a centrist even though many of us saw through his charade. Many of those voters started having buyers remorse during the summer.
[166]
M PT
It is easy to look back and say that the Iraq War was a mistake. However, we need to remember how afraid everyone was about another attack after 9/11. Saddam was a troublemaker. And we feared that he might give WMDs to terrorists. The overwhelming majority of Americans supported going to war. The war resolution was approved by an overwhelming vote. The problem was the post-war execution. Bush let things drag out too much. We needed to do a surge earlier. We needed to break a few heads right away instead of the hearts and minds crap. Oh well……
[167]
Chekote, I understand what you are saying. Obviously I’m of two minds about the war. However, given how things did play out I simply don’t think it was worth it. In the end, it may not have mattered anyway. The financial crisis that sunk us was pretty much unrelated to the war and was set in motion with things that happened over a decade ago or more.
[168]
Hind sight is 20-20!
But ALL available intel at the time from round the world indicated there were WMDs there, and being transported out of Iraq. I think we erred on the side of caution.
The effort, imo, was worth it, in fact, we should have probably headed into Iraq during Gulf War 91, when Iraqi’s seemed to be begging for our interference. Some may decry the deaths in OIF, but what about the deaths up until 2003 by Sadaam’s own regime? At least Iraqi’s aren’t afraid of their own government now, no one is being gassed, etc. by the leaders of Iraq.
I don’t know if there is really a right or wrong way to go, but (mark this on your calendar, please—it might be a first) I agree with Chekote that after the shock and awe, we needed some more shock and awe…like in Fallujah. To me, that would have been common sense. And a surge before the surge. But, the powers that be didn’t consult me.