The Next Split On The Right

Along with the current Republican Party creating trouble with the base by making a shift toward Big Government, both before and after Bush, there's also a significant wedge on foreign affairs.

See both here

Grover Norquist is a conservative activist and the president of Americans for Tax Reform. He is also well-known in Washington D.C. circles as a friend of Islam. Since the 1990s he has held weekly “Wednesday meetings” in which he briefs fellow conservatives and helps plot strategy for the Republican party. But yesterday it was Mr. Norquist’s turn to be briefed.

and also here.

There is a non-story making the rounds that the Russian military might base bombers in Venezuela and Cuba, provided that the Kremlin wanted to do this.

With (ugh, I hate this word) neo-conservatives falling out of favor, it opens up room for a debate the Right is going to have to have. Many on the Right might be surprised to find out that a number of traditional conservatives have more in common with Obama on certain issues, Muslim engagement for one, than you might think.

Some of these arguments will seem old. But I suspect they are about to be revived in a big way.

Comments

[man_in_tx]

Mr Riehl: So where exactly do you stand on the issue of "rapprochement" (via appeasement and accommodation) with the followers of the "Religion of Peace"(sic)?

Perhaps you have stated it clearly above, but it went past me if you did.

It is worth noting that Norquist is married to a Palestinian woman.

Of course, the elephant in the room is Israel: Rapprochement with the Muslims will by definition require that the US throw Israel under the bus.

I do agree with you that old line "conservatives" will have more in common with Obama on this issue than some might suspect. I also agree that the debate must be held.

Warning for all: If we abandon Israel, I (for Scriptural reasons) believe sincerely that there will be (Divinely ordained) negative consequences for the US -- if not immediately, then sometime sooner, rather than later.

[a giant slor]

"If we abandon Israel, I (for Scriptural reasons) believe sincerely that there will be (Divinely ordained) negative consequences for the US"

Pat Robertson? Is that you?

[Dymphna]

Pat Robertson moved to Texas? I'll be...

Maybe it was because his people are going over to Sweden to do first-hand investigations of the bloody street riots because the govt let in some Jewish tennis players??

Come on back to Virginia, Mr. Robertson. The jihadi compounds are still here, but they have other fish to fry...you'll be safe. Ummm...make that "with a kevlar vest you'll be saf(er).

[Mark Turner]

Both the Democrats and the GOP have different factions within their parties, some with significantly different perspectives and priorities. This is nothing new -- I wouldn't worry about a split in the GOP as such. Each faction has its own place in their respective parties, especially when targeting seats at congressional level -- for example, RINOs can win seats where it would be difficult for true conservatives to do so. At presidential level, it is a different story. The candidate needs to fire up the core of his/her own base nationwide; most of the factions of the party will rally around, but still need coaxing to get out and vote. The GOP will lose with a RINO presidential candidate as easily as the Dems will lose with a Blue Dog, if their respective opposition embraces their party's core. Likewise with liberal/conservative extremes. Obama won this time as a hard-left candidate because McCain did not have broad enough support within his own party.

[Dennis D]

I tend to agree with some moderation toward the Muslim World. I am as conservative as it gets but I cannot see ignoring and pissing off 1.25 Billion Muslims for the sake of 6 million in Israel. Not all Muslims are extremist nuts. In fact 2 muslim nations elected female presidents . One Benazir who wore Jewels and Makeup. And I must admit the 75% American Jewish vote for Democrats and Obama has soured me on Israel some as well.

[seekeronos]

I believe that American national security and the well being of Israel are linked, both in the diplomatic and military realms as well as the spiritual realm.

That being said, I do not think that we should involve ourselves as a nation with so much global military adventurism, nor fighting the Muzzies in *their* homelands, much less trying to teach them "democracy" (which is as much of a farce as using "democracy" to describe our own system of government).

We *should* withdraw or drastically scale down our commitment from the UN, and NATO as well, and look entirely to our own matters for the first time in the past 110 years.

Not a policy of "appeasement" or "containment", but that of "non-engagement" and "rational response" should our security interests on American soil be threatened.

And those jihadist camps (there is one just 100 mi. outside NYC in upstate NY) should be investigated as an internal security threat.