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A Growing Hostility in the Ranks
- Filed under: National Landscape 2008, Republicans '08
- Date: May 16,2008
John McCain is obviously going with the strategy of getting himself into office with no coattails, all other elected Republicans out there for themselves. Yes, GOP candidates all across this land are facing tough conditions. You may have guessed that. What are Republicans this fall supposed to run on? Certainly not their nominee for president; he is proving that he will be running on his own brand. Just running against the other candidate really isn't all that inspirational to people like me. It is lost on most Washington Republicans how destructive it is for them to not stand for anything. Three times in the last four days I have gotten mail from either the RNC or McCain. Zero times of the three have I been compelled to open the letter. This is a drastic change from 2003-2004 when I couldn't wait to get my mass mailed "personalized" letters from Bush/Cheney 2004. I am still donating, but as of now it is to individual candidates in certain races. I see nothing right now that makes me say, "Yes, I am going to go to the trouble to go get and send a money order (I dont do checks) to the RNC or John McCain." I want it to be different. I really do. I want to send my small sums of money to them.
The conservative moment is more or less dead. But it is dead from only a leadership aspect. People like me are waiting for someone to step up and take the mantle. The problem is that in 1980 Reagan was waiting to do just that; there is no one on the horizon right now for us that is filling that role. John McCain, though I am certainly voting for him (provided his running mate is not Mike Huckabee), does not qualify. George W. Bush was not a movement leader.
In the long run an Obama win would be a good thing for Republicans. In the short term, a loss in November would be a bad thing, and put Republicans out of power in the House, Senate, and the White House. That is a recipe for disaster; the "Rubber Stamp" in Congress times 100. At the same time, you can only shake your head at some of decisions by Republicans even though they are in the minority in Congress right now. McCain probably wouldn't help matters, though on some things like spending he would be a welcome change (not to be confused with Obama style change). Do you sacrifice the present (in this case November) for future gains? I am in the school that says win now and worry later. I think that Jimmy Carter 2.0 would be comparably far worse than any conservative damage McCain would do.
If we lose to Obama, then the whole party will have to rebuilt, because we are total failures. There is no way he should win, but he may. If the most radical of leftist is preferable to the Republican brand then there are very serious problems. Some would argue we need to do the rebuilding now. A total party shake up. New House leadership, new Senate leadership, new people in all leadership roles. After what I have seen the last few weeks, it might not be a bad idea. Show people that the status quo is not good enough. There is a growing hostility born of utter frustration in the ranks. The Dems that are winning are posing as conservatives. They are acting more conservative than the Republicans in Washington!!! Yet Washington Republicans keep fumbling along, with voting for the bloated farm bill as the latest example. People are frustrated. I read it and hear it each and every day. I know McCain is going to try and win with the center, but he still needs the right. If he actually has conservative ideals he wants to accomplish as president, it will be tough working with a 55 seat deficit in the House and a close to filibuster proof Senate. That seems to be where we are headed unless the decision makers in Washington wake up. Do they have such short memories that they forgot about 2006?
The decision to not vote or cast a protest vote in November does not occur in make believe land. If McCain does not win, that means his opponent did. And his opponent will probably have a lot less to like policy wise than McCain could have offered. McCain is counting on that as his victory strategy; people like me sucking it up and voting for him. It is risky. The Dems have a reservoir of grand plans they are waiting to shove down our throats given the chance. It would be much easier, however, to be excited about voting if the rank and file conservatives were given something.
(Yes, I know I promised you Obama wouldn't win in the fall. I am just a worrier by nature.)
20 Responses for "A Growing Hostility in the Ranks"
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
Ben:
I'm beginning to wonder if there is any Republican backbone in Washington. There is very little in Columbus. If these guys can't buck up and put up a good fight, then to hell with them. I'm resigned to running and managing my own races and starting from square one.
All others can chop their own wood.
Right on. We need a reason to turn out, politicans cant just assume it anymore.
I appreciate Ben's honesty here. At least he's not trying to avoid reality. That is commendable, especially from an avocate of a political party that has been so faith and wishful thinking-based in recent hisory.
"There is no way he (Obama) should win, but he may. If the most radical of leftist is preferable to the Republican brand then there are very serious problems."
Th problem here Ben is your failure to recognize that Obama's "leftist" views are really the views of the majority of Americans. Americans want health care, economic fairness, a return to fidelity to the law and the Constitution, and our troops out of Iraq.
The GOP, for some reason, refuses to acknowledge this reality.
The general election has yet to kick off and ALREADY, Obama leads McCain by 7-8%.
The GOP brand is bankrupt. I'm with Ben…..dissolve the current GOP….it truly is a total failure.
Obama is not going to expand the electoral map too drastically from what Kerry / Gore were able to put into play.
Ben:
Do you think Obama will be able to put certain Republican leaning states like New Mexico, Missouri, and Kansas in play this fall to offset the loss of states like Ohio and Pennsylvania that will more than likely go to McCain? It seems like Obama may be able to re-draw some of the battle lines. Also, by putting new states in play could he make up for the loss of electoral college votes form Ohio and Pennsylvania?
I learned 2 things from Ben today:
1) His only attack on Obama is to use words like "radical" and "leftist" to define him, all the while failing to actually cite any of how any of his proposals are "radical" to the general public.
2) He knows in his heart Obama is going to win.
by the way, speaking of rhetoric with NO specifics, did anyone see that McCain speech yesterday?????
that was a total joke. it was like a long wet dream….we will win in iraq….the economy will be great….bin laden will be captured….schools with be fixed….health care will be better than ever….all in 4 years!
and throughout, no specifics. dare i say, just platitudes.
The winning GOP congressional/presidential coalition was razor thin to begin with. Rove is a genious in terms of his early understanding of the various slices of the electorate AND how to bait them effectively. Built on fear, hate and ignorance - it always was morally/ethically bankrupt - now everybody just sees; THE KING NEVER HAD ANY CLOTHES.
Add in a little dose of that nasty little Tom Delay and Jack Abramoff K-Street crap and you have your classic case of hubris and the ugliest use of power we've seen since the early 1970's.
I'm a conservative who was truly inspired by the 1999-2000 straight talk express…fired up! Never liked, or trusted W. I understand what McCain has done and why - but I cannot abide the selling of his political soul - even for what he thinks he might get.
The Iraq war is a TERRIBLE mistake…It has NOTHING to do with conservative priciples…
3Trillion and counting…highest gas prices ever…
I thought I was finally home 8 years ago…I'm as lost as ever.
Jimmy V those states are always in play. Missouri, Iowa, Nex Mexico. Nevada was close last time. New Hampshire. Colorado probably in play this time.
Kansas, no. If Democrats are competing hard in Kansas then its over. But I dont see him bringing some state that has been unreachable for the Democrats into the blue column.
But say if Obama wins those you mention, that gets him a win with or without Ohio, provided he wins PA still.
By the way, we are working on state by state maps we can put on the site to keep track of the Electoral College.
Appreciate your thoughtful and honest analysis of the current GOP status. It is fairly courageous, given your devoted Rep leaning.
Some of issues cited by the Rev are indeed appealing to a majority of Americans, but the way to accomplish them differs sometimes significantly according to the particular candidate. And the way to define the accomplishment of those issues as well.
Still McCain has a shot at beating Obama.
I think that both sides are fooling themselves to thiking they can bring more states into the game. Some swing states may change but solid states of one side are't going to switch unless it is a 1984 style election.
I believe Jim is right.
This election is a 55/45 chance for Obama win based on events that have nothing to do with him.
I think conservatives are kidding themselves about McCain winning either Pennsylvania or Ohio this go around.
Both states have Democratic governor's.
It would be a total mistake to accept the media frame about Obama not being able to win those states because he lost to Hillary. Total mistake.
Here's the easy-open key: 81% of Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track.
McCain wants us to stay on it.
Reverend is right, no pun intended. Right track wrong track is going to be tough for McCain to overcome, but I would not agree with the theory o just because a states governor is of one party that they will vote the same way. Look at a state like Connecticut or Wyoming that have governors of the party they will not vote for in November.
I agree people feel the nation is on the wrong track. Look at the rating of the Pres. and Congress. Many Americans believe Wash. is out of touch with the people and are serving their interests not the constituents. There is no reason for people to turn to the Rep. party. There only appeal is that they are not Democrats. The Dems. are riding the fatigue of 8 years of a Pres. with little if any vision. Yes free health care etc.sounds good but dont fool yourself that the number of conservatives has become insignificant or the voters that Hillary has recently tapped into will follow the progressive agenda for long.
I disagree with those who say Senator Obama is mainstream.
Just for example, Senator Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ, a small theologically liberal denomination that supports gay marriage. In fact, the UCC filed an amicus brief asking the California Supreme Court to recognize a constitutional right to gay marriage. Here are three links: the UCC's website, the UCC's own article describng UCC support for gay marriage, and an article by the UCC head describing Obama's relationship to the UCC. Don't take my word, read for yourself.
http://www.ucc.org/ http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14765
http://www.ucc.org/news/californias-top-court-paves.html
I could live with a statute recognizing civil unions, but a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to gay marriage created by the courts? This is a huge step and there's no way to call this mainstream.
Interesting that a large portion of both parties are unhappy with their nominee. This has been a very interesting political season thus far.
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