Are Birthers the Next Black Panthers?
Just when you think David Frum and Bruce Bartlett can’t get any nuttier, they sink to a new level.
Bartlett, like Ed Rollins and Peggy Noonan, hasn’t been relevant in more than 20 years. And, David Frum? Has he ever been relevant? Doubtful.
Bartlett is upset because he got canned from a high-paying job at a think tank for Bush-bashing. Heck, I got banned from Free Republic for Bush-bashing. What’s the big deal Bruce? Well, unlike you and me, Bartlett has seldom, if ever, had a real job. He has spent his entire career in the employ of politicians or at think tanks. If he’s seeking work, there’s always BK and Wal-Mart is usually looking for greeters. But, let’s have a little sympathy. It’s tough being Bartlett’s age and senile with no marketable skills.
Bruce is also upset because conservatives have not asked him to play a role in the GOP. Bruce, I’m a conservative and I’m formally asking you. I can think of many ways in which the GOP can use your skills: phone bank, stuffing envelopes, chauffeuring Sarah Palin when she visits DC.
Just remember, in the “minds” of Frum and Bartlett, the real enemies aren’t Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the Emanuel Brothers. They are Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Jim DeMint … and don’t forget … you and me. But, mostly Sarah Palin.
Think it’ll frost Frum when Palin’s book sells more copies in the first hour after it is issued than all his books have ever sold? You betcha!!!
Hat tips: hotair.com and New Minority.
[1]
This could be a fun thread, and a good one, bc.
It is curious how these liberal republicans so badly read the mood of the country, and the mindset of their own party. I guess it is just too much beltway and cocktail parties, and not enough state fairs and barbeque.
[2]
BALK NOT AT THE USE OF BALCK,
BULKY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
[3]
Good points mulletover -
The thing Frum and his liberal “ARepublican” allies ignore is that, according to recent Rasmussen and Gallup polls, over 40% of voters say they’re conservative.
Moderates, by definition, do not have very strong beliefs. They voted for Reagan in the 1980s and for Obama in 2008. They are looking for someone to tell them what to do.
All we need to do is pick up less than 10% of moderates and we have a majority. But, like you said, they are just interested in the Beltway and the northeast. Not flyover country, middle America and flyover country.
In their minds either we don’t exist or, if we do, we should just keep quite and follow their dictates. After all, how could people that graduated from schools like University of Dayton possibly have opinions that are worthwhile?
[4]
This is why I am no longer a Republican. When the party purges itself of all RINOs I’ll come back. And as long as the GOP keeps it PRO LIFE PLATFORM too. Way to many Specters, Snowes, Collins, Guilianis in the party. Hopefully the GOP learned its lesson from 2008 and will nominate a true conservative for 2012. If not Obama will win – and I’m sure most of the RINOS would be quite happy about that – seeing as how most of them voted for him in 2008.
[5]
EFFORT TO MAINPULATE SCIENCE, DISMISS WOMEN’S POST-ABORTION PROBLEMS CONTINUES
by Priscilla K. Coleman
In the most recent review, the authors’ primary conclusions that “the most well-controlled studies continue to demonstrate that there is no convincing evidence that induced abortion of an unwanted pregnancy is per se a significant risk factor for psychiatric illness” is entirely unfounded for serious scientifically-based reasons.
[6]
bc3b,
Great thread!!! I love the shout our for Palin. The pro-abort lurkers are going nuts.
[7]
“Moderates, by definition, do not have very strong beliefs. They are looking for someone to tell them what to do.”
I would disagree to some extent. Sometimes what is called a moderate or RINO may have strong beliefs in fiscal conservatism and personal responsibility as well as strong beliefs that there is no place for government in ones personal life.
What would you consider to be a moderate’s views as opposed to a conservative’s?
[8]
Now things are getting serious out there.
The most remarkable part is the line about how the man picked up his finger and calmly walked to the ER, after getting chomped by the rabid leftist.
I hope he got the HIV and Hepa screens while he was there.
[9]
8. wow
[10]
only queers bite.
[11]
Moderates generally do not take strong positions, and are always ready to compromise and seek bipartisanship. Compromise can have its place, but not in the current environment wherein the extreme left is running the House and the White House. The country is center right, and the shift to extreme left needs to be opposed with fervor.
If the leftists in the House put forth a health bill with 10 hard left things in it from their socialist wish list, and through bipartisanship, the bill is passed with four of those leftist initiatives in it, who wins the day?
This HC bill, as with all the rest of Obama’s policy initiatives, needs to be strongly opposed. They can be opposed on the basis of fiscal conservatism, or on moral grounds, or on constitutional grounds. Maybe moderates vote against for one reason or another, and their support is welcome. It is when they try to appease the other side, particularly this current crowd, that they become useless.
[12]
only queers bite
—and RINOs
[13]
Meeting Bartlett in a WalMart with a blue smock on? The mind reels at the very thought, but the smile comes readily.
[14]
Seriously, EPH
With your pro-life platform (and mine as well as many others here) why would you think courting RINOs INTO the party is best for your beliefs?
Everything about them tells us that they will sell out their souls in order to compromise.
[15]
11- If you are saying that a moderate is someone who would compromise on something related to fiscal conservatism, I would actually go a step further and say that they a left of center, not moderate at all. To me there are two litmus tests for being a conservative:
Fiscal Conservatism
Preservation of 2nd amendment rights
Someone who calls themselves moderate but is willing to compromise on either of those is lying. I suppose being a moderate is in the eye of the beholder.
[16]
I noticed that the radio coverage (CBS) of the finger biting incident just stressed “Violence at Town Hall”…not WHO got violent. I had to read the article linked above to find that out. CBS never mentioned it was a MoveOn thug supporting ObamaCare.
sameo sameo
[17]
PG- oh my gosh. These things will only get uglier.
[18]
PG, sometimes it just takes the right kind of ‘victim’ to make an altercation interesting.
[19]
16 and 17 – If you read the article it looks like their were no heroes in that incident, although biting seems to be a kind of unmannly way to fight.
[20]
15 – perhaps I wasn’t clear. I was thinking that a fiscally conservative moderate may be opposed to the leftist bill on monetary grounds while being willing to accept the bill otherwise. I would welcome his opposition, but still consider him untrustworthy on the whole.
[21]
The biter was a lefty so [insert glaringly obvious statement here]
[22]
19 – No you were clear, it looks like we agree.
[23]
Olympia Snowe is the “squish” flavor of the month.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0909/WH_luring_Snowe_with_trigger_on_public_option.html
[24]
“Never trust anybody who could just as easily be your enemy tomorrow.~~ConservativeTony
[25]
I never saw a reason to visit the New Majority web site before, but the link by bc3b was too tempting. After looking things over, I’m remind of Obi Wan saying “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
The web site looks to be put together by people who actually read and believe the advice NY Times columnist give regarding what “Conservatives” should do to save the Republican party. Unreal.
[26]
“2) Liberal elites kept a much greater distance from the radicals than conservative elites do. Can you imagine the Sulzberger or Graham family giving a platform to the left-wing equivalent of Glenn Beck, in the way that Rupert Murdoch has done?” — Frum
What planet is Frum from? The Sulzberbers and Grahams have been supplanted by the liberal radicals. They infest higher education in disciplines like Women, Minority studies. They represent a great percentage of board members in many of the larger 501(3)(c) non profits. They now even surround the White House in the guise of fellow travelers like Van Jones.
[27]
20 – It just reminded me of the scene from “Austin Powers”
That really hurt.
Who throws a shoe? What is this? You fight like a woman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5oKEVqQJg
[28]
Now things are getting serious out there.~~phineas
I guess the hippie wasn’t a vegan.
[29]
Well, he did spit it back out–so, thinking logically here, that would make him a spitter.
[30]
Good thing that biting incident wan’t in san fran.
[31]
Looks like the Cincinnati Tea Party might have a test case. If the CongressCritter doesn’t follow thru CTP should work to bring him down in 2010.
[32]
IP, if it was we wouldn’t be talking about his finger.
[33]
It could be too bad for the victim–San Fran has a lot of experiece with attaching digits.
[34]
DD –You beat me to it
[35]
Pete stark, stark raving insane
[36]
How does one characterize a moderate? Well I find moderates are generally people who
(1) go along to get along;
(2) are motivated most by their own pocketbook issues and as long as they feel secure and relatively comfortable with their own economic situation they don’t pay too much attention;
(3) do not associate liberalism with Democrats or conservative principles with Republicans but tend to believe that there isn’t any difference in politicians or political parties — until they are slapped in the face with the obvious policy they don’t life;
(4) do not spend considerable time on analyzing what they believe and characterizing it according established ideology; and
(5) want to be on the side that wins regardless of principles or their own beliefs.
You rarely find a moderate in a philosophy or debate classes.
Moderates are the friends that are too busy to help on moving day but have plenty of time to show up for your house warming party with empty hands (no gift) and an empty stomach.
[37]
“With your pro-life platform (and mine as well as many others here) why would you think courting RINOs INTO the party is best for your beliefs? ”
I DONT !!!
[38]
IP, I was just about to post a link to that video as well. I seriously can’t believe these morons are running our government.
This material has to see the light of day… Would Glenn Beck put this on his program?
[39]
22. Snowe is a prime example of why moderates should not be supported by the national GOP. And she happens to also be a huge pro-abort. I thought moderates were only liberal on social issues??? mkay.
[40]
(3) do not associate liberalism with Democrats or conservative principles with Republicans but tend to believe that there isn’t any difference in politicians or political parties — until they are slapped in the face with the obvious policy they don’t life
The rest would probably defined more as apathetic than moderate, although getting along to get along and having no principles to speak of might be a decent definition.
How does one define liberalism and conservatism? I gave my litmus tests of conservatism in 15.
[41]
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Author: Thomas Paine
[42]
Good summary about what goes on in the minds of moderates.
[43]
There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil.
Ayn Rand.
[44]
People like Bartlett know that if conservatives take control their chances of having a voice or gaining a position in the GOP are zero.
[45]
My dad was always fond of saying that having “balance” was the key to life. To him this meant not going to the extremes of anything involving one’s habits.
Having “balance,” to me is another way of saying practicing moderation in your life. Many so-called “moderates” I know live their lives and their politics through the filter of such moderation….and, I don’t really fault them for doing so.
I also don’t see these people as just “going along to get along, either.” Instead, their passions are shaded and varied when you go down the list of issues. And, with a reasonable and/or pragmatic conversation they are open to listen to diverse positions, on topics that they are less informed or committed to…oftentimes changing their thinking on the liberal/conservative continuum because of these objective considerations.
Living in California, most of the people surrounding me are either Moderates or leftists. Moderates I have learned the art of engagement — leftists are the lost cause.
[46]
What a botched townhall can to to a Pol.
[47]
Your basic middle of the road moderate
[48]
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Author: Thomas Paine
A good quote ip, except for the insertion of the word always. One should use the words always and never gingerly.
[49]
How does one “moderate” between a scoop of s**t in one hand, and a scoop of iceream in the other.???~~~~~sorry jan
[50]
Rhetorically you are right, ip. But, how many people do you know who would pick up shit in their hands — except for kids picking up cow pies!
[51]
Your basic middle of the road moderate
If we are lucky, some moderates may begin seeing themselves in this way as well.
[52]
Would the person who said this about Reagan be a liberal, moderate or RINO?
”Since he denies the right to abortion, he cannot be a defender of any rights,” she wrote. ”Since he has no program and no ideology to offer, his likeliest motive for entering the Presidential race is power lust.”
[53]
I DONT !!! –EPH
Well said.
BTW, I decided to check out Jesse Kelly–his ad has been on Drudge for the past month or so. He’s running for AZ 8 and held a town hall a few weeks ago after the Democrat cancelled it (good play) and it seemed to go pretty well for him. http://www.votejessekelly.com/
What is your knowledge of him?
[54]
I forget who it was last night … but one of the many talking heads on Fox (maybe Laura Ingraham sitting in for O’Reilly) … all the same the general comment was that voters give the Democrats a majority about every 12 to 18 years because they forget what happens when you put liberals in charge… then the voters wise up and you have another 12 to 18 year run of Republican majority.
[55]
… wondering how good time gravel voiced Charlie Rangel looks in orange….and remembering that the last Democrat who was head of House Ways and Means Committee also left office and proceeded directly to prison…
Rangel should be in prison for tax evasion… and his staff members should join him….
[56]
… wondering how good time gravel voiced Charlie Rangel looks in orange
judy
What is black and brown and would look good on charlie??/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a doberman.
[57]
David Riddick, over at C4P has posted an excellent article.
The first paragrpah is key because I see the same thing going on here, except Obama will have 4 years to do as much damage as possible, whereas Chamberlain only had one year after Britain declared war Germany.
[58]
Speaking of Frum, the typical thread on BJG attracts far more comments than one on Frum’s New Minority.
[59]
52. Tony,
I’m afraid that AZ CD-8 had gone so far left (U of A) that Kelly would need a miracle to win. If the GOP spread goes to R+10+ then he could be Giffords. Tucson is so liberal though so I think he wont make it.
[60]
Thanks EPH
At first I was put off by Kelly’s ad on Drudge–what he’s basically saying here is that he can’t pull in enough money from inside his district (and with your post above, I see this is probably the case) so he needs to pull in cash nationally.
[61]
58, wrong tactics by the Pol in a college town. “Beer Kegs all around!” Washington was not the biggest distiller in the Southern Colonies for the fun of it.