To the Woodshed, RINOs!
- Posted by Beth on January 23rd, 2008 filed in 2008 election, Candidates, Fred Thompson, General, Politics Republicans
Excuse me while I join the Anchoress in escorting Reaganites In Name Only (oops! I mean angry conservatives! or did I?) to the woodshed. I’ll be the one holding a whip, just itching to use it.
It seems the standard GOP voter - and apparently Rush Limbaugh - wants to disinter Ronald Reagan from his noble tomb and hoist him onto the campaign trail because he is their saint and savior, and if they can’t vote for someone exactly like him “Ronaldus Magnus” well, they’re going to sit out this all-important election.
Excuse me, but Ronald Reagan would have had no patience for the likes of you.
Attention, fellow former Fredheads–you who say you’re a Reagan conservative, but refuse to learn the art of politics and teamwork in the pursuit of achieving big-picture common goals: If you plan on sitting out the elections, or, God forbid, voting Democrat to “teach a lesson” or whatever, you are not a Reagan conservative. You are not a real Fredhead, either. Neither of these men would do such a thing.
Don’t believe me? Don’t just take my word for it, although I know this to be an absolute truth–here’s another thing the Anchoress mentions:
Ronald Reagan above all was a pragmatist and a realist. He understood something that some voters seem to have forgotten:
“When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn’t like it. “Compromise” was a dirty word to them and they wouldn’t face the fact that we couldn’t get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don’t get it all, some said, don’t take anything. I’d learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: ‘I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.’ If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that’s what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.“
– Ronald Reagan, An American Life
Oh, how soon those dragging around Reagan’s corpse forget.
I find it literally jaw-dropping when I read someone invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, while in the same sentence (!) petulantly announcing that none of the candidates are conservative enough and that voting this year is simply not an option. Or even more amusingly, announcing that Candidate X has “betrayed” conservatives or “stabbed us in the back,” while betraying conservatism themselves. Huh??? Epic FAIL.
I’ll allow the Anchoress to finish. (Read the comments, too.) God bless her for saving me from a head explosion.
And thank you, Wuzzadem, for making me laugh as you always do. After the last couple of days, I needed it. :)
CarpetGuy says:
I can remember when Reagan ran for president, barely, but he had an advantage, Jimmy Carter! Carter was such a peanuthead anybody could have beat him.
Now, I am not knocking him, he was a great president, but think about it, back then democrats were considered old, and stupid……… The good ole days!
Vinnie says:
Rush would kick her ass in a cage match.
Beth says:
Pssshhht. He wouldn’t stand a chance!
Beth says:
Good point, CarpetGuy. (I still think Democrats are stupid, though. LOL)
Beth says:
Oh, good grief. Rush is drowning in half-truths here. I’m no fan of David Brooks, but that’s laughable.
Sorry. I know you can see it, too, though.
Stix says:
I agree with you totally. That is why I posted a similar post on blog yesterday.
And the Andhress would twist Rush into knots. She is probably the smartest and best blogger out there. She always has good posts and she thinks through whatever she posts.
MitchM says:
Thanks Beth. Once again you’ve managed to say something calmly and with a clear head which I can only seem to say with much vitriol and threats. Also when my head spins 360 degrees and I projectile vomit pea soup it seems to distract from my point. ;)
MitchM says:
Hey! How’d I get stuck with RP as an Avatar. Ewww!
PaulW says:
There’s a rumor the GOP leadership wants to clone Reagan so he can run again, but unfortunately they’re opposed to stem cell research so that’s out of the question…
I am sick of these guys constantly harping back to Reagan This and Reagan That. Like as though the Republicans didn’t have excellent examples before 1980. Examples of leadership from Eisenhower and Teddy R. and this other guy, wassisname from the 19th century with the whiskers, oh yeah Chester A. Arthur! Why doesn’t Romney invoke Arthur, huh?
Anonymous,Somewhere,MI says:
See, the issue for me is a very different one. As a moderate, one who was sold at numerous times on the notion that the GOP is a “big tent party,” I see a party increasingly hostile to me. Several of these candidates are fine by my standards. However I get to sit back and watch as a certain more vocal wing of my party balls them up and tosses them away is this eternal quest for a “true conservative.” I get to watch the Dobson’s of the world threaten with third parties if ever someone even approaching the political center survives the nomination process. I see establishment stalwarts flip out and threaten to bolt if McCain is the nod. Mike Huckabee is marginalized for daring to say that globalization has hurt a lot more Americans than the free-trade or die cons would have had us believe. Now the only acceptable choice to them is some two-faced plastic machine politician who doesn’t even have the common decency to allow a man to give a paragraph’s worth of concession speech.
Increasingly I see the disappearence of fellow pro-choice Republicans, progressive tax proponants, budget hawks, and even the Goldwater civil libertarians who want the government out of matters of the home and bedroom. At the same time the Democrats seem to be moving frightfully closer to me by the day. They’ve got pro-gun Democrats, Dems who want to pay down the national debt, and most importantly a major candidate for president who stresses bipartisanship and unity. It seems increasingly the case that I’m being pushed out of a party I busted my butt for over the past 12 years and like it’s the opposition is opening its arms to me. What am I supposed to do? If the nominee is Romney because a candidate who thought we might want to balance the budget before cutting taxes and doesn’t think someone ought to be force marched at gunpoint across the Rio Grande for not haveing been born here, that someone like that is a “RINO,” I’ve got a real dilemma on my hands as too how much loyalty I still owe the party. Reagan won independants and Democrats, and you know what, Reagan declared an amnesty too.
Lord Bitememan says:
Incidently, I’ve decided Anonymous no longer really suits me as a name.
Beth says:
BRAVO, Lord Bitememan! (Not just for the name, the comment!)
See, I’m a conservative through and through, but I understand everything you said COMPLETELY, and totally agree. I’m nowhere near close to moving to the Dems, but you know what? I’m sick and f’ing tired of my ideological allies wanting to push people like you out for not being sufficiently “conservative”–and the definition of conservative? Hell if I know, when people like McCain are called “liberal,” and Dobson is considered a standard-bearer. It’s bizarro world. I’m *so* sick of demagoguery. All it’s gotten us is less of what we want and more of what we don’t want, because for some damn reason everyone seems to think they’re owed everything, all at once. For all my fellow conservatives complain about the “culture of entitlement,” it seems a whole lot of them have quite a sense of entitlement themselves. It is to laugh.
And you’re damn right about Reagan winning Democrats and Independents, and did that “destroy conservatism?” Did it destroy the GOP? Hell no!
Who drugged the damn drinking water in the last few years and made everyone lose all common sense? Just a few years ago I was called “to the right of Attila the Hun,” but now I’m called a RINO (by ignorant demagogues) because I’m not a spoiled child. People act as though I’m asking them to change their personal beliefs! WTF are they smoking?
PaulW, I have no idea about whom you speak. Don’t you know that nothing of value ever existed prior to January 1981?
I have heard something about some Teddy R. tree-hugger guy, though. I heard he was all into wild animals and stuff, too. Probably a damn PETA hippie.
;)
Beth says:
There’s a rumor the GOP leadership wants to clone Reagan so he can run again, but unfortunately they’re opposed to stem cell research so that’s out of the question
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Beth says:
Mitch, not to worry–there’s an X through the RP picture. ;-)
Normally, I’d ignore the kook, but I had a flood of Paultards hanging around here shitting in the comments for a while, so I figured an anti-Paul avatar was appropriate. Heeeee.
Vinnie says:
The Anchoress is overrated.
And I’d kick your ass in a cage match, bratty sister.
Wild Thing says:
LMAO just too funny. I just love how people like the Anchoress bash Rush Limbaugh. How often does she listen to his show anyway. LOL I doubt it is often. It seems she is one of those that actually think people like me listen to his show to get my marching papers. It is hilariuos how people that seldom listen to Rush are so ready to jump on attacking him. OH I am so impressed, NOT. I listen to Rush because most of the time he agrees with me. I listen to Hugh Hewitt for example because imo he is a rino and I disagree with him a lot of the time. But what the hey it is fun to hear what he thinks is the right thing to say. LOL Do I use Hugh the rino and bash him that he does not lead me in the right direction. LOL hell no, I think for myself as Anchoress should learn to do. LOL
I already voted and it was for Fred when he still wanted to be President when he grew up. haaha So I am not in this fight any longer.At least not till Nov. I do think people should vote, pick the one that is closest to what you would want and go for it. All of them except for the Democrats and imo Huckabee and Ron Paul, have some redeeming qualities that a person should be able to find they agree with. Huckabee just gives me the creeps too much to even care if he can quote the Bible. And Ron Paul should be sitting on a sprawling lawn reading an Art Bell book as the nurses bring him his lunch.
If I hadn’t voted early and with Hunter and Thompson out of the running, I would vote for Mitt Romney.
People that say they are not going to vote are forgetting one thing that imo is important. No one is going to be perfect, no one. And no one ever has been the perfect candidate. For me our troops don’t want to serve under the Clinton’s again, no way. I would never forgive myself if that happened because I did not vote. And the same with if Obama won too. All the talk of supporting the troops is BS if a person wants to so easily hand them a democrat that loaths the military like the left does. Just because they cannot find one candidate that has at least a few things they agree with.
And back to the Anchoress, yes I agree with Vinnie, Rush would and could kiss her ass and she would deserve it. I am not fan of Rush bashers, let them eat cake. Rush has done more for conservatives, and our troops in his life then some blogger named Anchoress.
My guess is this Anchoress person probably hated Rush back when he laid into George Bush for calling himself a compassionate conservative. Rush was right on about his rants about that, it ticked me off the second Bush called himself that. I was grateful that Rush made a point of pointing it out. But the weak kneed Republcians like Anchoress probably couldn’t handle his or MY freedom to say Bush was wrong to call himself that.
The Anchoress said she was a “headline-believing Democrat when Reagan was in office”. That tells me all I need to know. Former democrats not always but a lot of them time bring their democrat beliefs in my party. She points out that Reagan said not to not criticize other Republicans. She does not realize that perhaps that is one of the things conservatives did not agree with. We not criticized Nixon when he was wrong, we don’t put our heads in the sand like democrats or former democrats do and keep saying a person can do no wrong. Please not how the Clinton mind numb jerks in the dem party would never criticize Bill and Hillary for their many ‘ gate ‘ crimes. True Republicans are not sheep, we say when we do not agree with someone or if a politician in our own party is wrong. Perhaps The Anchoress would prefer to listen to Michael Medved who has been bashing conservatives for using the term rino when it applies. Michael Medved also a former democrat.
Now please everyone VOTE unless you want a democrat to win and then hell will be an after thought in comparison to how it will be to live in America and serve under military loathers.
LindaSoG says:
Bah! Not only are there not any conservatives in the race this year, there ain’t any republicans either.
Whoever said: The message of the Republican party to its voters this year seems to be: “Vote for us because our democrats are better than their democrats” was right.
The only difference between what is supposed to be the republican party and the democrats is the position on the war. They are one and the same on pretty much everything else, and that means that they are for pretty much for everything I am against. Oh well. Too bad for me.
And, I don’t trust any of them to hold true to their position on the war once they take the white house.
If that merits a trip to the woodshed, then go ahead and drag my ass in there.
But its a long way to November and you would do better to find a way to convince me, and people like me, why I should vote for a democrat with an (R) behind his name.
This “activist” is not going to be very active this election, I’m just going to watch, listen, and wait. I’ll pay attention, and I’ll make up my mind when the time comes.
Beth says:
Y’all, please don’t attack the Anchoress, not here. She is a good friend of mine, and I’ll always defend her. You’d love her too if you knew her.
Now stop it, you’re my family and you HAVE to be nice to my friends. :P
Beth says:
Wild Thing, that’s what it’s all about, in the end. I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure one of those defeatists doesn’t become President/Commander in Chief. That is absolutely unacceptable.
raz0r says:
What truly sucks is now I have to find (for the third time) a new candidate to root for. I think I’m just going to throw darts at pictures to pick the next one.
raz0r says:
Just read this.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/23/hunter-endorses-huckabee/
What???
Wake me in four years. Hopefully the US will still be around.
Nice Deb says:
Beth, I totally agree with you.
My blood pressure goes up every time I hear a conservative say there’s no difference between the parties, or they’re going to sit this one out…bla bla bla.
I’m as disappointed in the Republicans as anyone, but I’m sane enough to know that leaving the country in the hands of the Democrats at any time, but especially now is the worst thing that can ever happen. Even our biggest RINO is better than those three on the Dim side.
burnitup says:
No shit dude.
I’ll take an Abe Lincoln, Calvin Coolidge, or Teddy Roosevelt anytime.
William Teach says:
I’ll take a RINO over one of the leftards any day of the week. At least we would get some of what we want with a RINO, vs getting everything we hate with a Leftard.
The same people who say they are going to “sit it out” will be the same ones whining the loudest when their taxes get jacked up, everything is socialized, we retreat in the war on terror, etc and so on. You know the hit parade.
I’d love to keep a list of all the bloggers who do not vote. Then call them on it when they start complaining. Like at a bunch are now, and they sat it out in 2006.
Politics is not perfect. Rarely will we get the perfect candidate. It is more often the case of picking the lesser of two idiots. The lefties are not happy with their electaCritters, either.
Lord Bitememan says:
“bring their democrat beliefs in my party.”
YOUR party! I thought the Republican party was supposed to be EVERYONE’S party, not just a crop of establishment stalwarts who get to jam their king-made choice down the throats of the rest of the nation. First and foremost the Republican party is supposed to be AMERICA’S party. George W. Bush got that when he ran. He didn’t always execute it to the fullest of his ability while in office, but even he said he wanted to be the president of the whole country, not just those who voted for him. This “my party” attitude is exactly what I was talking about. It’s the same sort of attitude that is squeezing out the center and the moderates. I’ve got some hard facts for you too. “Conservatives” only make up 30% of the electorate. You need moderates and centrists to win. Continue with this possessive and exclusionary attitude and you will indeed have “your” party, and the opposition will have two houses of congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court before their generation of dominance ends.
Wild Thing says:
Lord Bitememan, lol well let me help you out ok? When a person is asked what party they belong to the answer would be ” My party if the democrat party or the Republican party.” Meaning that is the party of their choice.
It would be awesome if the Republcian party was everyone’s party. But it would also not be good, we need two political parties which we have and it is awesome that we have it like that.
My goodness you certainly get upset at how a person refers to their political party. The wording my is also used in referring to ones State where they live. Or their favorite sports team, ie. my farovite team is ……
Hope this helps you understand better how one refers to things.
Here is a little information for you that conservatives like myself are concerned with about OUR party the Republican party.
Have anice day Lord B.
George Washington warned in his farewell address about political parties. The following is a quote from that speech.
“All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
Anonymous,Somewhere,MI says:
“When a person is asked what party they belong to the answer would be ” My party if the democrat party or the Republican party.” Meaning that is the party of their choice.”
Your statemement, however, wasn’t phrased as an identifying one, such as it is “my party is the Republican party,” your statement was clearly territorial and possessive in the context with which it is used “THEIR beliefs in MY party.” The former would be used to describe where you stand, the latter is used to draw a line by which you declare all that to one side as yours, and all those who cross as interlopers. Your statement was NOT innocuous and underscores a growing problem with the party and tolerence of moderates.
“It would be awesome if the Republcian party was everyone’s party.”
Now by that do you mean it would be good if the party broadened its scope to encompass everyone, or do you more mean it would be great if everyone agreed with the increasingly narrow margin of positions which the party of today inhabits? The former is not the one that runs the risk of turning us into a single party state as you so feared, it is the latter which is the domain of single party states.
“we need two political parties which we have and it is awesome that we have it like that.”
The problem is we do not have a system in place that easily accomodates more than two parties. However it seems the Republicans are content to cede the center ground to third parties with regularity now. We got done with the Perot phenomenon, and now people are opening the door to a Bloomberg run. Make no mistake about it, if Romney and Clinton are the nominees, Bloomberg will run. One of the big things Bloomberg will snatch up is that moderate Republican vote that is getting marginalized in this nominations process. At best he delivers the contest to the Dems. At worst we enter a phase of our nation where the presidency will be decided in the House of Representatives. That won’t be a healthy time for this country.
“The wording my is also used in referring to ones State where they live.”
The problem is my is used as a possessive too, not just an affiliatory, and you used it in a very possessive sense. BY God! What’s wrong with Democrats bringing some of their ideas to the party? It used to be that anything short of undoing programs like Social Security got you labeled as a “New Dealer,” now the furthest we’re willing to go is tinkering with how the program is funded. Obviously some Democratic ideas weren’t that bad. Shutting them out, declaring their ideas verboten just narrows the scope of the party and leaves many in the center further from finding a home in either party.
“George Washington warned in his farewell address about political parties.”
I’m well aware. Here’s another piece of history you might not be aware of, George Washington was one of the biggest patrons of the Federalist party in government at the time, made the founder of the party his Secretary of Treasury, and was even the main Federalist candidate in the 1792 elections. Washington did a lot of great things, practicing what he preached wasn’t one of them.