Posted on 08/26/2006 1:38:40 PM PDT by RWR8189
Seems in an abstract way he's acknowledging if Republicans want to win they are going to have to do better then produce an angry and indifferent base even if doesn't delve too deeply as to why we're in this mood lately, a mood that pretty much describes my mood these days when I concentrate on politics. Which is why I've been taking more time away these days, rather then live 24/7 in that mood.
Republicans have the most sophisticated turnout operation known to man. But it won't work if Republican voters, particularly conservatives, are angry at their leaders or indifferent.
Nice Fred has finally got that.
he's right that we should just fight and win in Iraq, be damned hearts and minds. Not that I don't share that agenda, still, but I'm at a point where I don't believe it can happen jointly. So, first break the agents of Iran and Syria, lay down the law, THEN we can go back to hearts and minds.
He's right that we should dump the diplomatic route for Iran we've tried this term. It's a failure.
He's right we sould return to judges because to this day it STILL rankles so many have been mistreated.
And, since I know the administration and the Mccain's of the world are unlikely to do right by the border at this time, at least resolve to be quiet. Stop attacking the House for standing for the borders. meanwhile the other candidates that have their heads on straight can campaign for border security without being undermined by the agents of amnesty.
bttt
Excellent article by Barnes and right on the money.
Iran is the key. Iran's government must be changed. Do that, and the tension in Iraq will go away. And we need not occupy Iran. We simply need to displace their government, destroy their nuclear capacity the old fashioned way (brick by brick), and then depart. Leave with the message that we'll be back again is they aggravate us again.
If Iran were not so involved in the Iraqi intrique, and if Iran were not for decades now the world's leading exporter of terrorism, then it might be different. But both of the above are true.
Take out Iran and ALL of the other pieces will fall in place.
More accurately, it's the big pile of steaming, stinking elephant DUNG in the room. The more they ignore it, the bigger the problem gets. All other problems America faces pale in comparison.
I can't believe it.
You wrote a whole post and didn't dis the President on border stuff.
Very interrresting.
Absolutely true. This may be the major Republican problem. Too many of them are following the polls, reading the NYT and WashPost, and then trying to "out Dem" the Dems.
It is not a deciding factor for much of anyone except the Pat Buchanan brigade. That amounted to about the same posting space here on FR in 2000 that you use today. It amounted to 1/3 of one percent on election day.
Take off those rose-colored glasses. Illegal immigration is a serious problem, it motivates the republican base, and you can bet a majority of Americans support a fence on the border and stoping illegal immigration.
KEY: earlier this week Carville and other Dem spinmeisters started to float the "vote fraud" in six states---an absolute sure sign they don't think they will win and need to have an issue when they lose.
See the post above for the comment Rush had from Carville about "vote fraud" in six states. They are already starting to prepare for the inevitable.
That was NOT my experience when I spent an hour with Bush in the Oval Office last month. Quite the contrary, he seeks out opinions and advice, and listened to everything.
Uhm, I think most of Nixons victory in 72 was due to the fact that his opponent was George McGovren.
This is the same error that has led to the status quo in Iraq.
Yes, there are some Westernized Persians who, if they were in power would be better for us.
But Amanutjob was popularly elected, his nuclearization policy is very popular, and the majority of young males of military age are fanatics, with more on the way in the 12-16 age range.
Shia Iran = Shinto Japan.
If we aren't prepared for conquest and occupation, we should pursue a policy of appeasement.
This is a reasonalby well-thought analysis.
Ronald Reagan says 'hi.'
The point I was making was that Republicans will not be successful by adopting Democrat policies, hoping to get the Left to love them. Reagan appealed to the best of our instincts. He was never loved by the Republican establishment, and was, of course, hated by the Left and the media. He was only loved by the average voter.
BTW, dare you to read this excerpt from his farewwell address without misting up.
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.And how stand the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that; after two hundred years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.
We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.
And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
"Take the gloves off"
I agree it is time to vigorously fight:
1. Cut n run Democrats.
2. Defeatist Democrats.
3. Defeatist media.
4. Pro illegal immigration Democrats.
5. Big spenders in Congress on BOTH sides.
6. Corruption in the UN and weakness in our "allies".
7. Nuclear ambitions of dictatorships in N Korea and Iran.
Why are they afraid to agressively confront the real issues of our time?
*Ronaldus Magnus Bump*
Why does Barnes think that "stern sanctions" against Iran is going to make people vote Republican? Sanctions may or may not be good policy, but either way I don't see the lack of sanctions as the reason Republicans are in trouble. People are upset about gas prices (wait - wouldn't sanction INCREASE gas prices?) and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. I just skimmed this article, but I don't think I saw anything about immigration in it. Does Barnes not think it's an issue? If he doesn't, he's not worth listening to as a "political expert."
Maybe so, but I don't see Iran as the key to getting more people to vote Republican. Show me a poll that says the reason the GOP's numbers are low is because we haven't slapped sanctions on Iran. I honestly think Iran is low on most voters' priority list - if you have a poll that says otherwise, I'd like to see it. The polls I've seen say that people are upset by 1) Iraq war; and 2) gasoline prices. Among the base, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is big. But Barnes doesn't even mention it, does he?
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