Ross Douthat is staging quite a premature celebration over the reformation of the GOP. What Douthat seems to ignore is widespread disinterest and disenchantment across the base with a Party many view as more a part of the problem in DC, than a cure. Voter participation in GOP primaries has been disastrous as compared to the Dems, fund raising is significantly down, and the GOP put forward a weak slate of candidates few ever became really excited about.
I suppose you could call that a reformation. Others might describe it as a party in at least temporary decline that, if all trends hold, is doomed to take a beating at the polls in November. If there's to be any revolution in the GOP, it'll likely begin when voting in November ends. Or perhaps this reformation will simply result in some number of years out wondering in the cold. Viva Le revolution. Don't let the voting booth curtain hit you in the butt on the way out.
HAVING spent the better part of three months attacking Mike Huckabee and John McCain as crypto-liberals who would destroy the Reagan coalition, the pundits, talk-radio stars and professional activists who make up the establishment of the conservative movement had to grit their teeth this week as their preferred candidate, Mitt Romney, bowed to the inevitable and abandoned the field. Mr. Huckabee and Mr. McCain are now the last men standing in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Now why would a NY Times guy be celebrating Bill Kristol's "Neo-Conservative" victory which is McCain. I mean since 9/11/2001 the Left has done quite a job labeling Neo-conservatives as those 'Evil Nazi Zionists ruling the White House" but now it's 'mean old evil right-winger talk-radio Rush Limbaugh' whose ruining America.
Where have I heard "it's all Rush's fault for ruining America" before?
Oh I remember, I used to say the same thing before I was mugged by reality on 9/11/2001.
You'd really have to have live on the other side to get what I'm saying; it is too funny to hear all these people going after Rush, too fooking funny.
Posted by: syn | Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Yes, 9/11. When the Iraqis flew planes into the WTC. The Decider then took revenge by destroying their country. The Iraqis will NEVER attack America again. Mission Accomplished!
Posted by: BobInStamford | Monday, February 11, 2008 at 08:16 AM
*yawn*.
The BDS-afflicted Bobbus Idioticus is a primary example of a yahoo who cannot help but repeat the same old incorrect talking points... over and over and overandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandoverandover.....
Posted by: seekeronos | Monday, February 11, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Nobody has attacked us since 9/11, Boob. Why not, you ask? Because Bush took the war to the enemy in the Middle East and did a good job with homeland security. Misfire accomplished, earring-wearing chuckle head.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Monday, February 11, 2008 at 09:46 AM
...andoverandover the rainbow Boob's heart lies, holding onto a nightmare dreamt as the years have gone by.
When the song ends, and Bush returns home what will become of him?
Loves to you BobinStamford from Iraq.
Posted by: syn | Monday, February 11, 2008 at 10:35 AM
The GOP actually IS being reformed -- but the "small gov't" BIG EARMARKS supporting pundits are the ones the GOP voters are rejecting. Just like me, pundits and journalists talk too much about the President, and not enough about the hundreds of Congressmen who actually vote on the Big Gov't, Big Corruption bills.
While I support Huck, because the USA needs more proud, modern, Human Rights supporting Christians in politics, he shares with McCain an anti-elitist outlook.
(But I really do like your blog, and have since the very old Bloggers news network.)
I consider the re-invigoration of positive Christianity more important than a dogmatic tax cuts for the rich -- while fully understanding that the rich do far more investment and thus create far more good jobs with tax cuts than do the higher percentage consuming non-rich.
No amount of Hugh or Rush supporting Mitt was going to make him a candidate that Evangelicals and Catholics could get enthusiastic about. Not because he was a Mormon (tho it unfortunately is a small one), but because to get elected in Mass. he had to support leftist causes. Just like pro-choice Arnie in CA.
Fiscal cons who expect pro-life folk to always support pro-abortion Reps, while they can diss Christians, deserve to have the pro-life GOP voters abandon them. If the pundits stay home, they won't be nearly as missed as if the pro-life folk stayed home.
Posted by: Tom Grey | Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Do you honestly think "the pundits, talk-radio stars and professional activists make up the establishment"?
Wow.
You're the guys who've called this election wrong since the beginning. Funny things always happen to you. They're called VOTERS.
Who's the establishment now?
Posted by: sunrise | Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 04:36 PM