Establishment Republicans Must Be Careful Not to Go Too Far

Townhall.com ^ | December 18, 2015 | David Limbaugh

[Kaslin]

I've long said that the differences between so-called establishment Republicans and grassroots conservatives are about more than tactics in budgetary battles with President Obama and congressional Democrats. The current Cruz-Rubio flap validates my position.

Establishment Republicans have been enormously frustrated with the grassroots for wanting to call Obama's bluff in these budget battles to the point of allowing the government to shut down. They have maintained this is a fool's errand that will only help Democrats because shutdowns will always be blamed on the GOP, supposedly the party of limited government.

The establishment has been particularly derisive of Ted Cruz -- one of the leading senators fighting to call Obama's bluff -- arguing he has pursued quixotic positions designed not to prevail legislatively but to grandstand and serve his own political ambitions.

I disagree with that assessment of Cruz, who I believe has acted on principle and to honor his campaign promises. The establishment tends to see these legislative battles as a zero-sum game, thinking that unless you can be almost assured of prevailing in your legislative goals, it is counterproductive to fight Obama to the point of a government shutdown because that will inevitably result in voters punishing the GOP in the next election -- no matter when that election is.

I reject that analysis. If establishment Republicans would ever unite with Cruz and the grassroots in opposing Obama publicly and vehemently instead of telegraphing their intention to surrender from the outset, the GOP might have a better chance of stopping Obama. If they didn't concede defeat in advance by saying it is impossible for the GOP to win a public relations battle with Obama over a government shutdown no matter how unreasonable Obama's position is, the GOP might -- just might -- be able to convince the public.

Why do establishment types automatically assume they will lose a PR war with Obama even when he is obviously the extremist in these budget battles, at a time when we are more than $18 trillion in debt, terrorists are at our doorstep and Obama is off globally evangelizing for the earth goddess Gaia? Doesn't it say something about these Republicans' lack of confidence in conservative ideas that they are never willing to entrust the voters to back them? Many of them demonstrate this same lack of confidence in selling conservative ideas when they repeatedly urge the party to tack to the middle in national elections to win moderate voters instead of passionately articulating Reagan conservatism and energizing (and expanding) the base.

I hear the same fecklessness from my establishment friends in the context of the Cruz-Rubio contest when they tell us that Cruz is too extreme and that of the two, only Rubio could defeat Hillary Clinton. Nonsense. Establishment types said the same thing about Ronald Reagan -- and overall, things are worse now than they were even under Jimmy Carter.

So yes, I believe that grassroots conservatives differ with establishment Republicans in their respective budgetary tactics but also in these further particulars, among others: The establishment believes that Reagan conservatives such as Cruz are a bit extreme; indeed, the establishment probably defines Reagan conservatism differently than the grassroots; the establishment doesn't attach the same degree of urgency as the grassroots to the monumental problems this nation faces, from immigration to the national debt; the establishment seems far less confident that conservative ideas will sell; and the establishment is far more risk-averse.

I agree that there is far too much animosity from both sides in these GOP intramural conflicts and that we should all more strongly resist the urge to impugn the other side or its motives. But we must recognize that we have serious, though not insurmountable, differences.

We do need each other in presidential elections, so we'd better be careful not to burn too many bridges. But from my perspective as a grassroots conservative, I must say that I don't believe the establishment has its ear to the ground; it is not hearing the American people, who are neither crazy nor extreme.

This is why establishment Republicans don't really understand Donald Trump's appeal. It's not because Trump supporters are politically unsophisticated. It's that they don't believe that seasoned Beltway politicians -- the ones with all this vaunted experience -- understand or care about the level of fear, angst, disgust, concern and outrage that ordinary Americans are feeling over the ongoing destruction of our nation. The establishment doesn't grasp the frustration of Americans who are sick of being told "no" and given all kinds of reasons -- from many Republicans, no less -- that we can't do anything to stop Obama. Establishment types don't understand why Trump supporters are not turned off by Trump for not being more refined and nuanced in his proposals rather than simply saying, "We need to kill the terrorists, and you guys keep telling us why we can't."

Establishment Republicans had better start listening because the more obtuse they are on Trump and demeaning to his supporters the more they are going to empower him. The more they conspire to take out Cruz based on his alleged lack of purity -- focusing on the specks in Cruz's eye while ignoring the logs in some of their candidates' eyes -- the more they are going to empower Cruz.

Grassroots Americans have had it, and they are fighting back. Nevertheless, I will support any establishment candidate if he ultimately wins the GOP nomination. Will the establishment support Cruz if he wins the nomination?

Let's vigorously fight for our respective candidates, but let's not destroy each other in the process, because we will need each other to defeat Clinton and save this nation.

[Fightin Whitey]

You ain't GOT feelings.

Now You Do

[libbylu]

Hmmm. Guess that means you are not a trumpee.

[TexasCajun]

Conservatives delivered the House, then the Senate.

Yet the GOPe prefers to work with the Democrat leadership for the votes they need for a bill that is Democrat's Dream, nothing for our side.

[topspinr]

How in hell does that skinny dick - McConnell - have such a stronghold in the Senate?
Doesn’t any of the other Senators have a f@@&^@@ backbone arrgh.

[Vince Ferrer]

I liked that post. The GOPe are just playing for time at this point.

[trebb]

I strongly disagree it is merely ‘tactics’ that are different between the grassroots conservative people and the elite GOP. We DO NOT think the same at all, and it is not just except for how to implement it.

The eGOP is Democrat-Lite. And when he starts with that assumption you have to wonder about his mindset for the rest of it.

Can't argue with any of that - there is a real difference in ideology but implementation is also a real issue that must be handled correctly so we don't totally alienate the "fence-sitters" before we get a chance to actually begin the implementation.

Nothing is cut and dried, especially in today's society where we engineered so many emotional cripples and social misfits to the points where many who claim to be Constitutional Conservatives also cringe at some of what has to occur in order to get things turned around - there will be pain and many would opt to "just wait and see if things can get better without them having to suffer the pains that must be endured as we wean so many off the government teat.

The government has insinuated itself so deeply into society that even the righteous will flag in their efforts and attitudes and a "clean sweep" will not be accepted as it should be as folks realize that many solid citizens weigh the sharp pangs vs. the slow frog-in the pot on the burner mode they have become accustomed to.

I don't envy the politicians like Cruz that have accepted the task but I do cheer them on and send my donations.

Being retired and hopefully in a place where my wife and I should be OK unless everything absolutely falls apart makes it easier for me than those who are still working on getting set up for their old age and I realize that they have reason to be afraid.

Human nature is against us and we need to try to instill an attitude of hope for not only our future but the future of our kids and grand kids - tough to do with the machine of the Left (including so many "Republicans") constantly telling us how bad we need government to continue on.

[USS Alaska]

Establishment Republicans have been enormously frustrated with the grassroots for wanting to call Obama's bluff in these budget battles to the point of allowing the government to shut down. They have maintained this is a fool's errand that will only help Democrats because shutdowns will always be blamed on the GOP, supposedly the party of limited government.

Bullshit! They don't want to turn off the money spigot and their K-Street pimps have them filled with booze, coke, party girls and paper bags full of cash.

Valarie jarret knows the weakness of all of the DC corrupt bastards, which ones like boys, young girls, dope, mens' bathhouses, everything that can apply pressure.

You better be squeaky clean to challenge this bunch of pimps and thugs.

[o_1_2_3__]

Sorry, but what does this have to do with the article?

I'm not sure. I think it's a funny story and there's hardly ever a chance to post any of it, ever.

A part of what I do is associative, and, as the connections aren't usually immediately obvious, encourage people to think in ways that aren't routine for them. It's a little like art.