Geez, James

I think Joe's probably a good guy even though I've disagreed with some of the recent choices being made in that regard. But comparing him to sitting Republican Governor Palin like this? Who seems intent on alienating whom, James? Why not toss Reagan into the mix, as well? Alaska doesn't have a "serious leader," I guess. Get back to us after you've run for something and won.

Of course, they didn’t appoint Wurzelbacher as VP as they did with Sarah Palin. The two are of a piece: A faux populism that comes at the cost of alienating the intellectuals and serious leaders of the movement.

Comments

[Jim Durbin]

Over the last few years, James has really started to sink into the Beltway mentality. The idea that the intellectuals and serious leaders of the Republicans are interested in anything other than their own careers has taken quite a beating since 2006.

If our betters are meant to rule us, than why exactly do they have such a problem getting elected?

Joe the Plumber might not be an intellectual titan, but he has a lot more common sense than the lawyers, bureaucrats, and serious leaders we have now. The "intellectuals" only talk - they lack the ability to connect. It's not a matter of intelligence - it's a matter of training and self-interest.

Which is why no one listens to them.

[JG]

"The "intellectuals" only talk - they lack the ability to connect. It's not a matter of intelligence - it's a matter of training and self-interest."

WFB was an intellectual, did he "lack the ability" to connect as well?

I don't agree with Joyner's view on Sarah Palin--I think she has the potential to become an important part of the conservative movement. But in all seriousness, this Joe The Plumber episode has to stop. Enough is enough. Politically speaking, he will be forever tied to the 2008 campaign in most people's eyes. Sure he might hold conservative beliefs, but hey, so do I, can I be the spokesperson of the party and go to CPAC too, and get a book deal, etc.

Its insanity. The only reason Joe the Plumber made it this far is because the inept McCain campaign had no coherent message and latched onto JTP and bled the fiasco dry because it was the one thing (outside of Palin's introduction) that gained any momentum.

The GOP needs to rid itself of all things 2008---including Joe The Plumber.

[13yankeebravo]

No what the Republican party has to do is get back to its roots of fiscal conservitiom, Democrats run and win as more fiscaly conservitive than their opponents and win at the state level, then they do revert but they win.