FIGHT! (National Review)

National Review The Corner ^ | November 5, 2008 | Peter Kirsanow

[greyfoxx39]

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Fight   [Peter Kirsanow]

Now back to the real world. It's traditional that a new president get a honeymoon of some indefinite length. It's also traditional for Republicans (and many conservatives) to act as Charlie Brown to Lucy with the football.

 

Obama will get the most lavish and extended honeymoon in history. Every time he walks to the podium without falling down will be trumpeted as the greatest accomplishment since MacArthur returned to the Philippines. It will be the natural tendency of Republicans to join in the praise, and worse, to try to be "bipartisan" when it comes to legislation that is manifestly bad for the country and abhorrent to conservative principles. This tendency will be magnified by the Republicans' fear that any opposition to Obama's policies will be portrayed as motivated by racism rather than principle.

 

Senator McCain is an American hero, a remarkable man. I can think of few I respect more. But he's likely to be the first to be leading the charge toward bipartisanship. This would be a mistake of galactic proportions. This must be resisted.

 

It's all well and good for Republicans to congratulate Obama today, and on Inauguration Day. The GOP shouldn't oppose merely for the sake of opposition. But if they were paying any attention to what Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Rangel, Schumer, etc, have been saying over the last year, they should realize that on the major issues of the day, liberals are determined to take the nation down a hard left path that will,  in the words of Obama, "fundamentally transform" America.

 

Republicans and conservatives will be taking a needed hard look at ourselves. Losers usually do. We must reassess, recalibrate and argue.

 

But in the meantime, we still have principles to defend and we must defend them vigorously. Particularly in the first 100 days when many of the most objectionable bills will likely be brought up.

 

For those inclined to make nice, which of the following Democratic agenda items are you prepared to sign on to so that you'll get invited to the right parties?

• Employee Free Choice Act
• Fairness Doctrine
• Freedom of Choice Act
• Nationalization of health care
• Estate tax increases
• "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" (driver's licenses for illegals)
• Capital gains tax increases
• Defense cuts
• Liberal judicial appointments
• Racial and ethnic preferences
• Income tax increases
• Bans on oil drilling
• Global poverty tax/Kyoto

These are but a few. Perhaps the most worrisome agenda items are those that will betray a fecklessness in foreign policy that could lead to a nuclear Iran, a vulnerable Israel, an imperial Russia, and an imploding Pakistan.

In many cases, the congressional math may preclude Republicans from little more than voicing principled opposition. But that's not nothing. It's imperative. Republican politicians for too long have been spectacularly inept in communicating their ideas, principles and positions. They've been unconscionably silent in defending their own. They shouldn't then be surprised when they get their hindquarters handed to them.

Last night was Obama's night. January 20th too. Watch for genuine opportunities to work together for the betterment of the country. But on every other occasion fight. Fight every attempt to entrench a new entitlement. Fight every attempt to redistribute wealth. Fight every attempt to radicalize the courts. Fight every attempt to weaken our defenses. Fight every attempt to restrict political speech. Fight every attempt to revise history. Fight for what's best about America.

11/05 10:33 AM

 

[annieokie]

BLACK TUESDAY: NOV 4TH, 2008, THE BLACKEST DAY IN MY MEMORY. Therefore my new dress color is BLACK as we are a nation in mourning.

[NohSpinZone]

I’ve always thought Republicans fared better as insurgents than incumbents. We will fight and we will win. Our cause is right making their positions, by converse, wrong. The fight for 2010 starts today.

[bolobaby]

It’s time to give democrats a taste of their own.

FILIBUSTER JUDGES. FILIBUSTER APPOINTMENTS. FILIBUSTER LEGISLATION.

[dmz]

I just wonder how Rush is feeling about the whole Operation Chaos thing now. Seems he was working to get the wrong candidate defeated.

[Texas Mulerider]

Yeah, well, I don’t need National Review to lecture me on how to fight. Maybe they should clean up their own backyard first.

[dynachrome]

The ‘pubs will fight back with what? obamalamadingdong has a veto proof Senate. There are at least 5 senatewhores that have a little “r” after their names that will vote marxist.

[conservative_guyz]

I agree with this article about McCain’s likely play here... he laid down the sword when he won the GOP nomination

[volslover]

Do you think that racial preferences by populaiton percentages will go foward in light of Obama’s win? South Africa engages in that and so did Rwanda before the genocide

[mockingbyrd]

Fight for what’s best about America
******************************************
Absolutely! I won’t surrender this country. My children deserve better.

[Uncle George]

Now is the time to look forward four years. The GOP and Sarah Palin should immediately start an “ACORN” type voting crusade and name it something like “PACDRM” or similar. We must start FIGHTING and not watching as our Country degrades into a Socialist sewer.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[Tarpon]

Hey, stick a grin on it. Socialism always fails, goes to far. As the Democrat socialists dive head first into the federal treasury, just remember the drubbing the socialists of Canada got in the last election when they went way to far with global warming taxes.

Chin up, take off the black, and prepare to pass the ammo.

If the current solar trends continue, it will soon be cold enough that even the dumbest amongst us will realize Al Gore is more than a little daft in the head.

[Republic of Texas]

“I just wonder how Rush is feeling about the whole Operation Chaos thing now. Seems he was working to get the wrong candidate defeated.”

So working towards Obama’s defeat was wrong? Thanks for paying attention.

[Clintonfatigued]

My condolences about what happened in New Mexico.

[Dilbert San Diego]

In spite of the nastiness and big money advantage of Obama, McCain still got 48% of the vote. It was a big electoral vote win but narrow in the popular vote. Many states tipped to Obama by narrow margins. The 48% is a big base of support to build on.

Obama will not always be as popular as he is now. Historically, the out party gains seats in mid-term elections. Republicans will probably make gains in 2010 as Obama and Democrats over reach on certain issues and create openings for the Republicans.

[sheik yerbouty]

Fight them on everything and on every level!

[Constitution Day]

I am wearing all black today.

[AppyPappy]

Traditionally, the Democrats have been resistant to doing anything when they have power. They much prefer sniping from the sidelines at a Republican president. If Obama does anything (and history shows he will not), the Dems might pay for it in 2010.

If they pass a tax increase, they will take a beating for it.
If they monkey with health care, they are touching the new 3rd rail of politics.
The Fairness Doctrine will be very difficult to implement without hurting their allies in the media.

If they just bring the troops home and cut military spending, they probably will not get the boot in 2010.

In the meantime, they have to pray that Russia, Iran, China and the terrorists keep quiet.

[Def Conservative]

Actually Peter Kirsanow—a black conservative—has been taking the GOP and NR to task for being so respectful to the Dems this entire election.

Kirsanow sees this nice treatment of Obama as a pathetic attempt to not be seen as racist.