Mitch Daniels
Posted on 05/07/2012 8:59:54 PM PDT by Bigtigermike
It should come as no surprise that the Republican National Committee has been “covertly” supporting Mitt Romney throughout the primaries, as POLITICO recently “revealed.” It was the worst-kept secret in Washington
Reagan, the über outsider, called for a “new Republican Party” back in 1977. Reagan wanted the GOP to shed its country club, corporate boardroom image and become a genuine conservative movement, focused on the individual.
Reagan’s words threatened the status quo of the scions and heiresses of the country club and corporate boardroom set. The former California governor and his conservative followers were never accepted by these insiders
[...]
The Republicans’ desire for power is usually stronger than any desire for restraint by conservatism. It always seems to leave conservatives disappointed.
Many conservatives have, in fact, decided that their beliefs have become permanently inconsistent with Republicanism. This may be more apparent in 2012 than ever before. No offense to Romney, but he is the perfect nominee for the Republican Party in 2012 because he — like the GOP — has adopted a variety of positions over the years in order to acquire power. The Etch A Sketch comment was stunningly accurate.
The “lesser of two evils” argument is now settling over the landscape. Perhaps. The “conservatives have no place else to go” storyline is being pushed. Maybe.
On the other hand, some conservatives now view this election as a clear Hobson’s Choice or possibly a Morton’s Fork. One choice is bad or nothing; the other between two bad options.
Conservatives should be clear-eyed, though. The job of the Republican Party is to deceive conservatives into handing over their support. This does not mean that conservatives can’t arrive at the conclusion that this choice is between the lesser of two evils.
But they should prepare to be disappointed.
(Excerpt) Read more at dyn.politico.com ...
If I could change one thing politically in my lifetime- Ronaldus Magnus would have picked Kemp as his VP. I think George Bush Sr. was a nice guy, but he was a pure New England RINO that never believed in Reaganism. He screwed the GOP with his domestic decisions and set the stage for Clinton. Reagan threw the GOPe a bone with Bush and the GOPe reversed the best thing to happen to them in modern times.
His son, another guy I liked as an individual, was another disaster for conservatives outside of tax policy. He campaigned as a conservative and presided over the biggest growth of government in my lifetime prior to Obamacare. The domestic response to 9/11 was big government in the extreme and he never let up for 8 years. His refusal to defend himself from critics or articulate a message so alienated Americans that they voted for a radical with a Muslim name and no real accomplishments.
The last real spark in the GOP for me was Newt’s 1994 Contract with America. It was crushed two years later when the GOP nominated Dole. That was when I registered as an independent although I have always voted for the lesser of two evils.
I am not surprised we ended up with Mr. Inevitable. I don’t like it, but are any of us really surprised? We are trapped. Lodge a protest and give Obama an unrestricted 4 years to go all in on the progressive agenda and stack SCOTUS or vote against him and suffer the slower dose of progressivism that will be defined, once again, as conservatism.
Perhaps we are not any different than France? What if we got our wish and elected a true conservative that would slash government? Would they be celebrated or would they be crushed by a nation that no longer believes in sacrifice for it’s children and is consumed with what’s in it for them?
What if the traditional Republicans have lost their appetite for the principles of Reagan? What if most of the GOP is just like the nominees they vote for? You know, they talk a good conservative game even while they don’t want to interrupt the big government gravy train.
I don’t have much faith that any politician(s) can fix our nation because that would require a strong majority of our citizens to change their mindset about government. The progressives have cemented almost half the popular vote. Like Justice Kennedy, the moderates decide the race and they constantly change directions like a school of minnows. The GOP needs a supermajority of the independents to win. The rats only need a few in key states.
We are in deep trouble as a nation and it will take many administrations to get our fiscal house in order. Does anyone think it’s possible to find that spark and keep it burning in the moderates for 3 administrations in the face of the ultimate propaganda machine (modern media and academics) as well as a motivated base (see Wisconsin unions)?
I don’t.
>”We have a good portion of the Republican electorate that believes and lives by what the liberal media says about our candidates to a greater or lesser extent”<
Alas, that may be true. I don’t think that would apply to the Democrat electorate or general electorate any less, though. After hearing Rush and other persons on the right attack McCain for years, I was really stunned last time that he managed to win the Republican nomination. If conservatives have a hard time winning among Republicans, I’d expect them to have an even harder time trying to win among the general electorate (which is influenced less by talk radio and by sites like this one than Republicans are).
What "establishment darling" did you see beside Romney?
I saw a few "teaser horses" to give Romney legitimacy, but as you said, nothing intended to gather any traction.
Honestly, who would have bet a hundred dollars Romney WOULDN'T be the candidate, a year ago?
Time to face it. Sarah is a quitter. She cannot/will not lead the conservative cause.
Politics comes from policy: not the tactics used to “game” the contest.
Mitch Daniels
everything you said makes sense except this:
“The harsh reality is nothing other than Conservatives failed to sell their message to the bulk of the Republican electorate.”
Freepers have been so busy bashing Romney that they have failed to actually listen to him and his campaign - he’s been running as a conservative. immigration, taxes, business regs, energy, prolife, etc.
His campaign now is about beleiving in America again, he’s trying to repeat the Reagan 1980 campaign.
The lesson is that the conservative message does sell. Even when the sellers arent conservatives.
Amen
So in reality third party is now the second party!
And Reagan was "just an actor" ...
Robozombie's nominees would be no better. Reach across the aisle to show what a swell guy Robozombie is??? He might name Hillary or Slick Willie or Eric Holder or Obozo himself. Maybe Bernardine Doehrn? Does NARAL have a candidate for Robozombie to name to SCOTUS? Or National Handgun Control? Or the Log Cabin "Republicans?" Puhleeze! You can click together the heels of your ruby red slippers as many times as you want but you are still living in Oz if you don't recognize Robozombie as being every bit the danger to the Republic that Obozo is.
I have now broken a 44 year habit of voting reflexively Republican for mostly elitist RINO stooge candidates for POTUS always on the same old BS about the SCOTUS. That is all you guys have got and I ain't buying it any more. If the GOP wants my vote, it da*n well better be prepared to EARN it from now on. If you suffer in the process, it will only be because you volunteered to suffer. Not my concern, man.
Even Ronaldus Maximus made two of those errors. Dubya was two for two once the base erupted over his crony Harriet Myers but Dubya listened to the base. NO ONE has EVER accused Robozombie (Governor Etch a Sketch) of EVER listening to the GOP base.
If the GOP is worth anything at all, it can muster 40 votes to prevent ANY consideration of ANY Obozo judicial appointments. They sure as hell are not going to fight Robozombie's nominees who would be just as bad.
As all three of you "fight to the bitter end," ask me if I care when you lose.
I am a Catholic. Romney persecuted the Catholic Church and its institutions (and every other pro-life and pro-family church) under Romneycare and then passed that brilliant idea to Obozo for Sebelius to include in Obozocare. There ain't a dime's worth of difference between Diocletian and Nero in this election. There is absolutely NOTHING either can do to get my vote now or ever. And that is also true on so many, many other important issues where they are just as bad as each other.
And that baloney about denial: I am a Catholic and have no use for Sigmund Freud or for any other psychiatrist. They have a profession based upon what they regard as some sort of self-evident truth that there is no God. Freud, to his great discomfort now knows that there is a God. Denial is just another useless psychobabble term of the liar's art. Need therapy? Find a good ordained confessor.
>”Fee, Fie, Fo Fum: I smell a planted axiom.”<
I’m not sure I know which statement you mean. If you mean, “That [being confrontational] doesn’t require letting a worse evil prevail just to spite a lesser one, though”, that’s been my attitude throughout my adult life. I’m naturally inclined to be critical.
I wasn’t enthusiastic about any of the primary candidates, and just settled on Gingrich toward the end. I’ve never completely approved of any politician (including Reagan). I’m continually supporting the lesser of what are evils in my eyes, so doing so in a general election is nothing new to me.
It’s not like you to raise an objection that’s already been dealt with (I.e. Daniels, Pawlenty, teaser horses).
What gives?
Would you really have bet against Romney a year ago?
Sure, Ozero’s stooges might pack SCOTUS for the next 20 years. Fact is, we’ve never been able to cast a direct vote in that regard and never will. So your point is a wasted and sorry, absurdly ignorant.
I don’t recognize America today! Did you just awake sometime in the last 3 years? The rotten smell has existed for nearly 100 years; its been painfully odiferous in the last 3!
Denial? Let us investigate that. Denial is thinking former Gov Romney can win. Attempting to be respectful, he hasn’t the metal, fortitude nor savvy to lead this great nation. Spineless jellyfish! Poistions so firm, its like nailing jello to the wall!
He will not get the backing of most conservatives, the religious right/religious left and he certainly won’t get my support. Don’t think for one second your vote cancels mine...its doesn’t! My mother, 93 yr old grand mother, my aunt, my two daughters and the 50 -100 co-workers/friends we share, all feel the same. Now multiple that with all the other non-RINO, conservative voters who will hold the line, no thanks to you...Now, who’s in denial?
peace...
Agree!
I really hate to say it, but I've come to believe this is the truth. This was her year, and she likely could have pulled it all off.Her decision to toy with people for so long, and then bail was fatal politically IMO.
I'd have given her a chance with my vote if for no other reason, than that the establishment was going apoplectic at the thought of her running.
ROFLMAO!
Absolutely brilliant!
You know the foolproof test for knowing when Mittwit lies: His lips move.
You know the foolproof test for knowing when Mittwit lies: His lips move.
Thank you! That was refreshing and absolutely on target. I don’t recognize America today either and I would wager that most here don’t recognize it either if they are honest with themselves.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.