Pretty much the definition of a classical conservative and yes, I see this as achievable. Just a few more years of the Tea Party marginalizing the current GOP should provide the impetus to swing that pendulum the other direction for a spell.
This morning's NYT has an article in which David Brooks says that the necessary reform of the Republican Party
should basically start a new 'party-within-a-party' that is made up of folks who don't like big government but recognize
the occasional usefulness of a central government that actually functions, but is not the far-right wing
extremists who seem to cons ute the Republican base today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/op...p.html?hp&_r=0
It seems to me that what he is describing is actually the moderate Independent, which is what a lot of us
who gave up on the Republican Party after years of watching it move increasingly rightward on
social issues have become.
I don't see any chance of what he is wanting becoming a reality anytime soon. Anyone else?
Pretty much the definition of a classical conservative and yes, I see this as achievable. Just a few more years of the Tea Party marginalizing the current GOP should provide the impetus to swing that pendulum the other direction for a spell.
David Brooks!![]()
how BIG is "big" government?
Brooks' fantasy will remain a fantasy
The only meaningful item is who sits in Congress.
Repugs have gerrymandered so viciously and anti-democratically that many Repugs have extremely safe seats that allow the reps to vote extremism and God, Guns, Gays, protect/enrich the 1%, screw their own 99%, obstruct everything else and still get elected reliably.
As a result of Repug gerrymandering, and now also by electoral vote rigging, blacks and browns in Repug states have "3/5 of a vote"
Repug "purity" and extremism now dominate the Repug party, and will for the forseeable future. Brooks is a flabby brained jerk.
Out of curiosity, what is "extreme" about the Republican base today?
I think their social views are now fairly extreme. They weren't extreme 70 years ago, but society continues it's march towards secular humanism. The GOP...not so much.
Basically every social issue the Republican party has a position on (abortion, gay marriage/rights, stem cell R&D, religion, prayer, etc).
You know, all the issues no one but themselves give a flying about.
I would probably add aversion to govern...
TB!
the Repugs have, since the early 1970s when the VRWC got organized, have cynically exploited social issues like God, gays, racism, xenophobia, unions, abortion, "Christian" fantasies, etc, etc, to sucker in people who vote for the social issues not matter how badly the Repugs up the suckers and misgovern the country. Repugs actually don't give a about governing, only about misgoverning to enrich themselves and the 1%.
"secular humanism"is that pejorative in your mouth?
Wiping out Medicare for younger generations but still making them pay for the Boomers to get theirs, since boomers vote red
Sucking Israel's and praying for war with Iran
Wiping the capital gains tax to zero to benefit Romney and his criminal friends on Wall Street
Republicans apologizing to BP after they trashed the Gulf
10Ms of people give a huge flying about those fabricated, demagogue'd social issues, and vote Repug on any one of those issues and always against their own best interest.
Gotta agree with bot here; Bush basically got reelected on defining marriage between a man and a woman.
Pretty sure TB's an atheist
GFY
Stop thinking about my mouth.
You're weird, dude.
And no, that is not a pejorative in my books, stupid ing bot.
Nope - this right here is the defining moment of Bush's reelection:
"Reporting for Duty!"
I consider the positions extreme on climate control, on abortion, on contraception, on teaching creationism in schools, on the whole separation of church and state issue (essentially that we become an 'Evangelical Nation'), on immigration reform, on same-sex marriage, etc. etc. etc.
And largely on intolerance of anyone who disagrees with them on any of the above issues.
Kerry was weak candidate, but TX Bob Perry and his Swift Boat slanderers, liars sealed the deal
I think that is one of the points that Brooks makes, IIRC. He says something to the effect that it will at least be easier to effect the kind of change he's talking about after one or two more electoral losses like they have made recently.
Brooks often points out that the Republican party has lost the popular vote in 5 out of the last 6 presidential elections, and that they will continue to lose that vote if they don't stop doing what they are doing.
Well, they vote against their economic interest when they do that, for sure.
Well, that and the Fear of Al Quaeda card. I remember Cheney running around telling everyone who would listen that there would be another terrorist attack on our shores if he and W. didn't get reelected.
Obama was for marriage between a man and a woman.
It is interesting to see what some people think of as extreme.
Thanks Brooks for doing what you always do.
I personally don't see anything wrong with having a tea party caucus, libertarian caucus, and rhinos. There is so much they can all agree on.
I have no problem with the tea party or Republicans going local and just trying to get more house seats and a few senate seats. there is no reason why as Republicans they should become dem-lite and expect different results. The "extremists" are the ones who if given a true candidate will show up to vote. If not, The Hillary will have to deal with them in the House and Senate.
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