The S Word

When I first heard about this rebranding the Dems as Socialists resolution, I emailed an RNC group and said it was the dumbest waste of their time I could imagine. I haven't changed my mind. It isn't that I don't think it fits in some cases, I just don't think it matters to the type of voters the GOP needs to attract, especially younger ones. So, we have this silliness from the conservative side of the RNC; meanwhile the apparently moderate NRSC is backing Crist over Rubio in a non-incumbent race, drawing a much deserved protest from conservatives.

My conclusion is that neither wing of the Republican party looks to be worth a damn right now. 

A member of the Republican National Committee told me Tuesday that when the RNC meets in an extraordinary special session next week, it will approve a resolution rebranding Democrats as the “Democrat Socialist Party.”

When I asked if such a resolution would force RNC Chairman Michael Steele to use that label when talking about Democrats in all his speeches and press releases, the RNC member replied: “Who cares?”

Which pretty much sums up the attitude some members of the RNC have toward their chairman these days.

Steele wrote a memo last month opposing the resolution. Steele said that while he believes Democrats “are indeed marching America toward European-style socialism,” he also said in a (rare) flash of insight that officially referring to them as the Democrat Socialist Party “will accomplish little than to give the media and our opponents the opportunity to mischaracterize Republicans.”

Comments

[thirteen28]

At the same time, we shouldn't be afraid to call a spade a spade. A majority of the Democrats ARE socialists, regardless of how many on the right would like to engage in some Christopher Buckley-like self comforting that "they would surely not go that far." There is too much evidence too the contrary.

As for the resolution by the RNC, I could give a flying fornication either way, since it's not the party establishment that will lead us back, but rather the grassroots conservatives.

[Jimbo]

Oh.My.Lord. You are NOT being serious, are you? Really? Wealthy, overweight white bigots are calling the Democrats names? That is your plan out of the political wilderness? Really? Name calling? Playground stuff? WoW, just WoW.

You folks are sooooo screwed up. It embarassing to watch you self destruct under the leadership of Limbaugh. Well, I guess Rush knows best.

[thirteen28]

Jimbo's reaction to the prospect of Democrats being referred to as socialists is quite illustrative, is it not?

[Sifty]

Wow. Jimbo fit many, many Democrat talking points into a single ejaculation of liberal stupidity. I guess it now gets to ride on the float next to Perez Hilton.

[Bob]

Doesn't this pretty much just confirm that Republicans have no actual ideas other than juvenile taunts and insults? For them, it's not enough to simply have principled disagreements over policies or priorities. No, they have to first prove their maturity and their seriousness by intentionally mis-using the name of the Democratic Party. Then, they have to go on and demonstrate that they prefer to intentionally mis-use a concept like socialism to score another petty point. Wow: that's two petty insults in one three-word phrase. Nobody can say that there's not SOMETHING that Republicans are good at. If the Republicans as a party, or we as a nation, ever happen to be in a circumstance where petty insults are the magic solution to any problem, we'll certainly know who to turn to.

[SpaceCat75]

As a Democrat I am PLEADING with you guys to start calling us the Democrat Socialist Party. Y'all really are hell-bent on erasing the GOP's viability as a major party, aren't you?
This is straight out of the Onion. "GOP to now refer to Democrats as socialists" Hardee har har!

[Amy Alkon's Right Nut]

Why not DemonCrap Boogerheads? How is this the slightest bit different from this latest temper-tantrum?

Few things have given me more pleasure in life than watching the slow-motion self-destruction of the Republican Party. If they could only manage to have done it without harming America so grievously in the process, my satisfaction would be total.

[SacTownMan]

I prefer to simply call them trolls!!

I really do like those cute aluminum hats they wear when they meet to discuss the controlled demolition of Tower 7!!

Keep up the Astroturfing there moonbats, if it wasn't for your daily visits here we wouldn't get our Soro's/Xerxes/SEIU daily talking points.

Oh yea before I forget, Bush, Bush, Bush, blah, blah, blah, Bush, Bush, Bush. Or how about "tax cuts for 95% of Americans". There that ought to just about cover it for Uncle Georgie's minions!

Happy Cinco de Quatro bro's!! See you in one of those 57 states!!

[katablog.com]

I have to agree with Jimbo's reaction. Name calling does absolutely nothing. "A Rose by any other name........."

The current party in power are indeed socialists. We all see that. We know that. But how does "rebranding" or even speaking the obvious change the situation?

The GOP should be providing ideas, solutions and a very strong opposition to the unAmerican things taking place in this country. Instead, they are fighting amongst themselves.

I can instantly save the GOP literally thousands of dollars. Forget the "listening tour". Read what we've been writing for over 1 year on the Internet you idiots! Pick up and phone and actually listen to the calls to your offices, begging, pleading for you all to grow some balls. Read your emails!

And yes, for once the liberals writing comments are spot on - this whole "plan" sounds like a bunch of kids on the play ground. It's ineffectual and stupid.

[Jimbo]

Wow.Just.Wow. More thugishness from the right side. Color me surprised as you normally are kind, diplomatic and measured in your responses - NOT! Your previous president set the planet on fire, destroyed our financial system, tore up the constitution and bill of rights, allowed the GOP to take over OUR government and all you STILL can do is call names? Folks, this is simple stuff. Either you are suporting the country or you are not. If your side continually avoids making decisions based on limbaughs directions, what is to come of you? Limbaugh is not elected and he speaks to his last gasp 20% audience. Please folks, do try and support the nation for once. It needs you now more than ever. Facts are facts. Lets not get bogged down in us vs. them. A re-branding effort? Ya know they are spending YOUR money to do this right? Your money. Do you have enough money to bankroll this nonsense?

[IslamoLlama]

"-- My conclusion is that neither wing of the Republican party looks to be worth a damn right now. --"

A bit late to the bus there, Dan. But at least you found the station.

[templar knight]

Hahaha, the liberal hypocrites are on parade. There's jimbo, Lameo, SpaceCat and others getting upset with name-calling. Let me see, I've seen you fellows use Rethugnican, wingnut, fat, pasty and I could go on and on and on and on.

You people are the biggest hypocrites who ever lived. And the time will come when you apes will be dealt with, most likely by the jerks you empower. I savor...and I mean savor...the judgment that is to come. Ah, revenge is a dish best served cold. And I shall partake of it with pleasure.

[SacTownMan]

Jimbo you are a hoot!!

George Soros owns the Democratic party, bought and paid for just ask him;

http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=10256

Our how about manipulating the markets to rape countries including our own for his "one world" vision;

http://defenseoftherepublic.com/1282.html/

Despite your great Xerxes being bought and paid for by Soros and the SEIU types in this country you continue to repeat ad nasium the moonbat talking point of Rush being the "leader" of the Republican party. Straight from the Rahmbo, Carville inspired campaign;

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19596.html

That kind of brainless drivel may play over at Daily Koz and Huffington for anyone willing to look through the troll smoke screen and not trip over the strings Soros uses to control your great "do nothing" leader!

[Pete]

templar knight:

Let's play spot the difference...

"There's ***jimbo, Lameo, SpaceCat*** and others getting upset with name-calling. Let me see, I've seen you fellows use Rethugnican, wingnut, fat, pasty and I could go on and on and on and on."

vs

"A ***member of the Republican National Committee*** told me Tuesday that when the RNC meets in an extraordinary special session next week, it will approve a resolution rebranding Democrats as the “Democrat Socialist Party.”"

[Peg C.]

When the moonbat trolls come out, you've struck a nerve.

Palin Palin Palin

Let's see if this gets the rest of the braindead swampdwellers to throw a hissy.

[templar knight]

Here one for you, Pete, straight from your President: He laughs as some jerk makes fun of 9/11 and calls for the death of Rush Limbaugh, and makes ridiculous remarks about Cheney and some made-up book.

So, yeah, let's spot the difference. Your President is acting like a moron. Far worse than anything the RNC is doing. Even the British see how stupid your president is acting. Jesus, you people are not only hypocrites, you're just plain dumb hypocrites. Do you jerks even follow the news?

[LOL]

i wouldn't consider what happens at a correspondents' dinner to be "news". But then again, I don't watch the guy from Hard Copy every night either.

[Dave]

Oh yeah? Well we here at the DNC are going to re-name the GOP "Big Old Meany Poopy-Head Party"!

Hah! Take that!

What's next? Exchanging 'your mother' jokes? Bring it on, RNC!

[Cousin Pete]

This sounds like some "brilliant" scheme cooked up by 9th graders.

[Rick Caird]

When the left says some approach is "stupid" and begs the Republicans to do whatever they are calling stupid, you can be sure they are afraid of that approach.

Rick

[seekeronos]

Fact: Most Democrats leans towards socialist policies, such as universal healthcare, massive taxation, forced obedience to global treaties that abrogate American sovereignty, gun confiscation, and official state atheism.

Though the resolution of renaming the Democrats as Democratic Socialists would seem spot on (for most "centre-left" parties in Europe tend to have names like "Social Democratic Party"), and the Obama wing of the Democrat Party has much in common with the red-rose-bearing socialist-democrat parties of Europe than even the far-left politics of FDR's brand of Democrat.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Palin Palin Palin

Let's see if this gets the rest of the braindead swampdwellers to throw a hissy. --"

Bachman Bachman Bachman!

Palin / Bachman 2012, baby! 4 more years! 4 more years!
Please Peggy C, no more. We liberals will never be able to withstand such an onslaught.

"-- Though the resolution of renaming the Democrats as Democratic Socialists would seem spot on (for most "centre-left" parties in Europe tend to have names like "Social Democratic Party"), and the Obama wing of the Democrat Party has much in common with the red-rose-bearing socialist-democrat parties of Europe than even the far-left politics of FDR's brand of Democrat. --"

And that's how the GOP plans to confront the recession, the deficit, two land wars in Asia, gun crime, foreign policy, and citizen health.

Dems:
Public Option Health Care
Withdrawal from Iraq and refocus on Afghanistan / Pakistan
PAYGO spending rules
Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State

'Pubs:
Call the other party socialists

How did you guys lose a single election in 2008?

[SacTownMan]

Lame-O you are priceless!!

"Public Option Health Care", i.e. socialized healthcare!!

Sorry but no thanks! I choose not to participate!

"Withdrawal from Iraq.."
What you mean to say is withdrawl from Iraq in victory and with honor instead of leaving the country to be overun by terrorists like your Xerxes/Reid/Pelosi pals wanted to do. A strategy that has been proven to be the right one.

"and refocus on Afghanistan / Pakistan"

Not enough extra troops to make a real difference and no NATO support. Define how this will work and what the goal is again!

"PAYGO spending rules"

You mean "pay" back your friends like Soros, SEIU and ACORN and "Go" deeper into debt and print as much money as you want while you quadruple the national debt in less than a year.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/05/gevernment-is-broke-but-keeps-on.html

"Hillary..."

Wow I guess you really showed us up on that one eh!

Hillary now there is one of the great statesmen of our time!!

The old talking points just don't work so well when they are as mind numbingly stupid as these!

You left out the benefits of "Cap and trade" and "tax cuts for 95% of Americans"

[IslamoLlama]

"-- "Public Option Health Care", i.e. socialized healthcare!!

Sorry but no thanks! I choose not to participate! --"

See, that's the beauty of the public option. If you want to stick with HCA or Blue Cross or Aetna, you'll have every right to do so. Enjoy.

"-- What you mean to say is withdrawl from Iraq in victory and with honor instead of leaving the country to be overun by terrorists like your Xerxes/Reid/Pelosi pals wanted to do. A strategy that has been proven to be the right one. --"

Um... no. I mean leave, depart, go home, gtfo, stop occupying the space you are currently occupying. Fuck "victory". America has had enough of Bush League "Mission Accomplished" victories for the last eight years. Hillary ran on the "victory in Iraq" platform in the primary and handed the nomination to Obama. McCain ran on the "victory in Iraq" platform and lost such deep blue states as Indiana and North Carolina. Even the GOP has abandoned "Stay the Course" as it's banner slogan, and that was back in '05.

"-- You mean "pay" back your friends like Soros, SEIU and ACORN and "Go" deeper into debt and print as much money as you want while you quadruple the national debt in less than a year. --"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAYGO
No, I mean:
"The PAYGO or pay-as-you-go rule compels new spending or tax changes to not add to the federal deficit. New proposals must either be "budget neutral" or offset with savings derived from existing funds. [1] The goal of this is to require those in control of the budget to engage in the diligence of prioritizing expenses and exercising fiscal restraint."

These rules were first implemented under the 1990 Budget Enforcement Act. Sadly, they did not survive the Bush Administration.

"In 1998, in response to the first federal budget surplus since 1969, Congress started increasing discretionary spending above the statutory limit using creative means such as advance appropriations, delays in making obligations and payments, emergency designations, and specific directives. [4] While staying within the technical definition of the law, this allowed "emergency" spending that otherwise would not be allowed. The result was emergency spending of $34 billion in 1999 and $44 billion in 2000. In 2001 that amount jumped to $700 billion, most of which came from the 2001 tax cut (Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001). [4] In 2001 Congress began removing discretionary spending by statute from the PAYGO scorecard. Those amounts were $90 billion in 2001, $65 billion in 2002, $127 billion in 2003, $150 billion in 2004, $142 billion in 2005, and $444 billion in 2006. [4]"

"-- Hillary now there is one of the great statesmen of our time!! --"

See, we do agree on something.

"-- You left out the benefits of "Cap and trade" and "tax cuts for 95% of Americans" --"

You're right. Who needs cap and trade or tax cuts when conservatives can rename the Democrats "The DemoCRAP Party" and titter to themselves behind the bleachers during gym class.

[seekeronos]

"--- See, that's the beauty of the public option. If you want to stick with HCA or Blue Cross or Aetna, you'll have every right to do so. Enjoy. ---"

It's all good into private insurers are forced out of the game by hyper-active regulatory and oversight controls that drive the costs of doing business up so high, that premiums become unaffordable to all but the wealthiest Americans (who will be medical tourists elsewhere by that point) that Socialized Medicine finally wins.

And then the fun bits begin with forced sterilization/abortions and euthanizing people over 60 ala "Logan's Run" to remove the "useless eaters" from the population - thus also solving that pesky problem with the depletion of Social Security. The less old codgers to clog up the system, the more the Feds can dip into that clever little Ponzi scam to fund ACORN and other subversive groups meant to keep the far left in power, and the peons in check.

"--- Um... no. I mean leave, depart, go home, gtfo, stop occupying the space you are currently occupying. ---"

And don't just stop there... why not recall all the troops home from Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the other 130+ nations we are occupying... and set them up on the Mexican border to keep out the foreigners invading our nation?

We could create jobs by building up our nuclear arsenal as well - to make sure we have every square inch of inhabited land targeted, since the above actions will likely result in every other nation with a nuclear ax to grind having the bomb inside of five years!

"--- PAYGO ---"

Just. Stop. Spending. Money. No more porkulus spending to keep your union buddies in the Big Three stuffed to the gills with payola... no more corporate socialism: businesses that cannot viably stay competitive ... are allowed to fail.

[Another Luke]

Tit for tat: Republicans start calling Dems "Democrat-Socialists," and Dems start calling Republicans "National Socialists."

[IslamoLlama]

"-- It's all good into private insurers are forced out of the game by hyper-active regulatory and oversight controls that drive the costs of doing business up so high, that premiums become unaffordable to all but the wealthiest Americans (who will be medical tourists elsewhere by that point) that Socialized Medicine finally wins. --"

See, that's not actually public option insurance. US Health Insurance wouldn't be any more regulatory than a US Postal Service. The only oversight you would see is in the consumer base, as people weighed the options of public versus private coverage.

And this wouldn't even necessarily be a bad thing for private firms. Insurance businesses run best when they can collect high premiums from low-risk clients. But the government option is meant to cater the higher-risk individuals that can't afford the higher private premiums. So public funding would focus on the people the private firms least want to cover.

Private firms may become what FedEx and UPS are to the USPS. Or they may remain what Metro and the Big 3 are to Amtrak. But they aren't going to just go away.

"-- Just. Stop. Spending. Money. No more porkulus spending to keep your union buddies in the Big Three stuffed to the gills with payola... no more corporate socialism: businesses that cannot viably stay competitive ... are allowed to fail. --"

Which works in imaginary make-believe world. In the real world, when the power company goes bankrupt a new power company doesn't magically sprout up and take its place. When a bank collapses, businesses and home owners can't just borrow or save money in the ether while another bank fills the void. Should a car company collapses, it doesn't land softly on its own and it can takes a whole lot of good, healthy supporting enterprises with it.

Chevy will be shrunk down and sold off. GM will diminish considerably from its SUV heyday. But had they both suddenly and violently collapsed, you'd see a lot more debt and economic destruction in their wake. There's a difference between 30,000 people getting laid off every month and 3 million workers hitting the street inside a week. And it's the government's job to shore up that difference when necessary.

[xerocky]

You know what's funny? On a thread like this one Islamolameass and Jimbo and Bob show up with oh so much to say, but on the subject where Obama seez that we have to control spending or else were dumping a load of debt on our children ect., we get silence.

So, to note, as long as it's trivial we can count on Democrat loser trolls to show up and flick buggers around. But on anything of substance, I guess then they don't have much to say. Unless of course it's crying about torture.

[xerocky]

"Tit for tat: Republicans start calling Dems "Democrat-Socialists," and Dems start calling Republicans "National Socialists." "

Tit for tat? Please, lefties have been crying Nazi for a long long time now. The first example that I can think of would the Dead Kennedys in the song California Uber allies. That was 1978, and the Hitler of choice at that time? Jerry Brown.

Democrats call Nazi when they don't get the slice of birthday cake they had in mind.