Republicans are such great losers, it appears some of them are willing to admit defeat before they even play the game. I'm referring to this Op Ed by E. J. Dionne, Jr., in which he addresses how certain high-profile Republicans are changing their brand.
Sen. Rick Santorum wanted to talk.
His purpose, he said over breakfast earlier this week in the Senate dining room, was to "tell the other side of the story" about his record, which his foes use to cast him as -- these are his words -- "a mean-spirited, hard-right country club Republican."
The piece goes on to mention Hastert and some others, as well. But this below is the key to the entire issue.
The current reaction is not simply to President Bush's low poll numbers. It's also a response to the failure of conservative policies and to the declining appeal of conservative rhetoric. Conservatives are trying to save themselves by offering progressive-sounding criticisms of the status quo, much as liberals offered ersatz conservative critiques two decades ago.
I find the above to be absolutely silly. What conservative policies is it that are failing so badly? Obviously, economic policy is giving us an incredibly strong economy. But between simply failing to act on many conservative ideas, to obstruction by, or too much co-operation with the Dems, it's ridiculous to say that Republicans must abandon conservative ideas and rhetoric to help themselves. That's the media spin.
The problem is that for complex reasons, including divisions within the GOP itself, Republicans haven't been successful, or serious enough about enacting conservative principles in government. One look at the budget affirms that. They mostly abandoned those ideals a long time ago, which has a lot to do with the trouble they are in now. All their really doing now is aligning their rhetoric with their actions, which will ultimately only weaken them more in the eyes of voters, including their base.
Conservatism didn't fail, Republicans have. Maybe it's time more Conservatives thought about changing their rhetoric to exclude the GOP.
If Republicans really want to stay in control of the House and Senate, they'd be smart to embrace and start to actually act on conservative ideas, not run away from them.
Santorum has got to be one of the most unqualified inappropriate politicians in our country. He's hopefuly gone soon. When they make fun of you on the Sopranos, you know you're crap!!
Posted by: medicinegirl | Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 08:24 AM
Speaking of crap. Joe Biden got an eyelid lift. Now he really looks like he has a stick up his arse.
Posted by: Phoenix | Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 11:25 PM
Womens is vicious. oooh..... ha ha ha
Posted by: Phoenix | Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 11:26 PM