From WI To DC, A Feckless Moderate GOP Refuses To Lead
Here we go. Maybe they have themselves a mini-McCain, looking to organize a Gang of 14, or actually a lesser number in the Wisconsin Senate. We saw the same thing last week in the US House, as a new GOP majority couldn't muster the spine to cut another 20-some billion from the budget, despite a deficit of well over a trillion dollars.
With Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker maintaining a hard line on his budget bill and Democratic senators refusing to return to Madison to vote, attention is turning to a group of moderate Republican senators to negotiate a compromise to the stalemate that has drawn thousands of protesters to the state capital for a sixth straight day.
When we're not in a specific battle, we're told what swell people these moderate Republicans are. The media loves them, always giving them publicity on the television news shows. They're the reasonable ones, or so we're told.
But what they really represent is a part of the professional governing class that spans both parties in America. It's the very same crowd that would bankrupt this country, more concerned with calculating the easiest way to re-election, than showing the spine to genuinely lead on anything.
Every time we get into what might be a decisive battle in hopes of beginning to get government in check, to empower individuals and the private sector, it's these same so called moderates who stab us in the back, opting for an unprincipled, politically expedient course out of self-interest.
Make no mistake, it's these same worthless moderates who are in control of the GOP and have been for years. If serious conservatives don't take over the GOP in the next 2 – 4 years in hopes of breaking the bi-partisan stranglehold our two parties have on America at present, the GOP will no longer be worthy of conservative support. We'll be forced to go our own way for the longer term, no matter how damaging that would be in the short run.
If the GOP is incapable of standing up to Democrats, conservatives will need to come together in another effort based on principles and begin the long, hard work of building a genuine center-Right American majority to get the country back on track for future generations. We've compromised too much for too long to continue propping up a professional political class that continues to let America down.
Twenty-twelve may prove to be a pivotal year for the GOP. And if they can't begin to seriously deliver by 2014, it will be time for conservatives to begin abandoning the Republican Party.
Whatever. I had high hopes for the Tea Party, but you guys are just Hans Blix to Soros’ Kim Jong Il….
In 2018, when the GOP is still the party of “5% less Democrat than the Democrats,” you guys will be telling them that if they don’t clean up their act by 2024 then you’ll… get together and do something. Maybe write them a letter and tell them how angry you are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TEvacFETvM (link is NSFW)
Except for Noem, most tea partiers supported the budget cuts.
Walker sounds like he is having none of the kum-by-ya talk…
“Bringing up hot-button legislation while the Democrats are gone is another arrow in Walker’s quiver. Though the Wisconsin constitution requires three-fifths of the senate to be present to pass fiscal legislation, a simple majority of 17 members constitutes a quorum for other bills in the 33-seat state senate. So the 19 GOP senators who remain in Madison can pass any number of bills while their Democratic colleagues are on the lam, and Republicans are a majority in the assembly, too. “They can hold off, but there is a whole legislative agenda that Republicans in the senate and assembly can start acting on that only requires simple majorities,” Walker warns.“If they want to do their jobs, and have a say, they better show up.”
Excellent…!!!
Pat the guys on the head that are doing right. Kick the others in the ass. Let them KNOW that moderation in an existential fight is NOT acceptable.
In politics, you make compromises to move your agenda. The militarization of our politics makes it impossible to even have a discussion in WI. Walker will lose this fight. Unions will endure, and given how the banks and insurance cos have behaved, you will be seeing more unions, not less.
Not according to the metrics, James. You have it backwards.
Start a recall petition on the squishy Republicans. That might give them a little spine.
Remind me, again, who has posted death threats on twitter and protest signs,
bishop…AND shut down the democratic process for fear of violence…
http://hindenblog1.blogspot.com/2011/02/burn-wisconsins-quiet-riot.html
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2011/48_back_gop_governor_in_wisconsin_spat_38_side_with_unions
Metrics.
Thank God for Dan Riehl and Mark Levin. No one else has picked up on this and it cuts right to the problem with what is wrong with the Assistant Democratic party. Why promise $100B in cuts, propose only $60B and then block your own members from adding another $22B? Why is total victory something that needs to be “compromised” away?
When it comes to the establishment, you have to think in terms of “Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon” in connecting what they say to what they do. They make bold promises when it is all theoretical during election campaigns but when they fight to limit delivering only half of what they promised, WE are the ones who are unreasonable.
It never fails, every time the GOP is poised to prevail on its stated platform (har-har-har, as if), we are sold out by corrupt party leaders. Nothing has changed and if we go into 2012 with these “gangs” in charge, it may be the last national election for the GOP.
Hey, peps, Michelle Malkin has her comment registration open today.
Perhaps you’re right, Red, but we’re out here smacking RINO teeth hard.
Very good post, Dan.
BTW, conservatives have been abandoning the GOP since 2004 when party registration peaked at around 40%. It is now somewhere around 28-29% and falling despite the steep drop of Dem registrations. I re-registered to unaffiliated independent in November 2006 after 27 years of being a Republican over the McCain-Kennedy-Bush amnesty bill. Nothing that has happened since has made me reconsider.
It isn’t 2012 that is the make-or-break year for the GOP but 2011. If they again shoe-horn another Assistant Democrat, I’m again going to vote 2nd party.
“In politics, you make compromises to move your agenda.”
What compromise did we make with King George?
At certain times, you must simply DEFEAT the enemy. If you can’t do that, fine, GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Dan, 2014 is too late.
Xiao…revolution is not really “politics”.
But this is a time when the people of America…NOT their political animals…HAVE to call the tune here.
This is about US being responsible…not THEM. We can predict their conduct, as it is according to well-established and understood laws governing power and people.
WE have to move them OUT of their happy ruts.
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/02/21/heavily-democratic-states-cut-in-half-since-2008-gallup/
More metrics…
Newly elected state Sen. Leah Vukey, a Tea Party favorite, told The Daily Caller the Senate could separate the removal of collective bargaining rights for state and local employees from the spending bill if the Democrats refuse to return. Vukey said she’s not yet sure if Wisconsin’s Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald will so so, but said it’s a possibility.
“All the collective bargaining stuff could be done as a separate bill,” Vukey said in a phone interview. “I’m not certain if we’re going to do that at this point.”
I LIKE THAT…!!!!
Americans who oppose Union membership are simply jealous for the progress those Union members have made in the past. The fact that the GOP is always the victim here – probably due to their home schooling and devotion to the spirit in the sky – makes it impossible for the GOP to empathize with anyone else. The GOP folks realize they – themselves – are the underachievers, making way too many babies to display their virility (remember Bush on the aircraft carrier?). History will look back on the GOP and wonder why they were even allowed to drive a car, let along vote.
The ‘my way or the highway’ approach will only lead to the political wilderness. The American people want their leaders to find solutions through compromise not dictating rigid ideology.
Yes, Jimbo, I am more manly than you.
Now run along, child.
“Americans who oppose Union membership are simply jealous for the progress those Union members have made in the past.”
I favor freedom of association…but the Princes of Labor do not.
Unions…as associations of free individuals…would be fine, if they were subject to the same laws and rules governing all other such associations. But they are NOT.
Unions have a LONNNGGGGG, sordid history of being very exclusive…especially over race.
The unions in question in Wisconsin are COMPULSORY in nature. That is un-American.
Ted, you were referring to the Flee party, who prevented the legislative process from moving forward, and issued DEMANDS that would have to be met before they OBEY THE LAW.
Right…???
I already abandoned the Republican party. In the instances where they have a conservative with backbone, I will support. In cases where the person is unreliable, I will not. I will not send money to Republican institutions either to be spent on non-conservatives. It used to be I was a republican, now I am conservative, and only where Republican interests meet mine will I support them.
The Republican Party won’t — can’t — fix itself. If it is to be fixed (*) then we have to fix it, and THIS:
http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/
is the way to do it.
“ONLY elected precinct committeemen get to vote for the leadership of the Party. Do I yet have your attention? Ponder the fact that ONLY elected precinct committeemen get to elect the Party leadership. Don’t you want to have a vote in those elections?”
If you’re tired of the RNC doing stupid things like supporting Crist over Rubio in the FL SEN primary, or other similar RINO idiocy…then then GOP needs better — more conservative — leadership. Only PC’s have a say in those elections. Take over — it’s easy:
“About half of the Republican Party precinct committeeman slots, nationwide, are unfilled!”
…and while rules differ, usually filling one of those slots requires nothing more than (a) being a registered Republican, and (b) showing up at a meeting once a month, and (c) volunteering for the position. That’s it. There are about 400,000 GOP PC slots nationwide: 200,000 are unfilled, and one of those has your name on it. Go claim it.
(*) I submit that fixing the GOP is a better course for the nation than waiting for the implosion, watching the destruction, and then trying to build a new 2nd party from the ashes.
A+, Bob. The day may come for another party, but the costs would be IMMENSE. They may have to be paid, but we have to use the tools we have short of that before that could be justified.
My, my, my…what you lefties best remember is that Walker campigned for more than a year on doing just this. It seems like he got elected and the state legislature turned Republican majority, too.
Now, how does that add up to him losing this fight?
Oh, and I don’t remember any Repub senators leaving the state when the Dems rammed through their legislation.
That is because Deemocrats HATE democracy when the people chose “wrong”.
The Collective has to do what’s “right”…and damn the need to lie, cheat, and intimidate.
http://hindenblog1.blogspot.com/2011/02/burn-wisconsins-quiet-riot.html
Here is great Gallup poll that encapsulates the GOP problem:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/146234/Number-Solidly-Democratic-States-Cut-Half.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=plaintextlink&utm_term=Politics
Since 2008, the number of states rated as “solid Democrat” has shrunk from 30 to 14. But wait, hold on. The number of states rated “solid Republican” grew from 4 to 5.
Okay, now let’s spin it RNC and RINO style. While “solid Democrat” states cut by more than half, “solid Republican” states surge by 25%.
The problem is that Republicans buy the spin. The reality is that most voters hate both parties which most of us now consider to be one party. I wonder why?
“…which most of us now consider to be one party. I wonder why?”
Because SOME of us have really bad wiring…???
Seriously, Philly…you cannot discern on party from the other????
Palin, Rubio, Rand Paul, Hermann Cain…NONE of them seems to have your vision problem.
Raggie, I know you had serious problems reading the host blogger’s postings before commenting at Michelle Malkin and you seem to have the same problem here. Aren’t there any blogs hosted by bloggers you agree with? Do you know what a troll is? Do you own a mirror?
Hmmm…seems I posed too difficult a question for Philly.
Oh, and as to the Malkin site…you are a liar, Philly.
You know what happened. And you know you’ve run crying to Dan here, too.
Hmmmm.
2012. After that I won’t ever bother with the GOP ever again.
I have read all the posts and i found very unique information on this blog good work by your side thanks for your views these are very helpful for those who don’t know as much whenever i wanna share or discuss something i surely come back and discuss on this blog.