Money Pit.
Republican pros are moving to reorganize the House and the Senate before the money stops altogether from the disgusted, disdainful party members. The GOP is a money pit for the stale, elderly, flaccid preppie crowd, and it is no longer a rational return on investment for
the swollen middle-aged swingers who dot the South and the West, staring at their 401ks as if they were deportation papers. The party's deathless graybeards, such as pickle-faced Richard Viguerie and bloodless Grover Norquist, horde their swags and demand change before they will hold smokers for candidates again. This may strike you as a cynical joke of a threat. However the most impeccably conservative members are dashing to the cameras to provide crusading promises, as did Jim DeMint (right) of South Carolina, one of the right-wing bulls in the white-haired Senate:
"We have got to clean up, reform and rebuild the Republican Party before we can ask Americans to trust us again. This must begin with either a change of command at the highest levels or our current leaders must embrace a bold new direction," Sen. Jim DeMint said in a statement moments after Obama won Tuesday evening. "Our party must start today to admit our mistakes, fight for our convictions and encourage new conservatives to run for office."
Two days later, a nonchalant "change of command" emerges, if not "a bold new direction." None of these changes are inspiring, and it may be why you do not let the passengers choose a new crew after the collision with the iceberg. John Boehner (left) is running for leader again in the House, and it is late in the day for a challenger to emerge, such as the cheerful Jeb Hensarling. Mike Pence, who could challenge and could win the leader's chair, has decided to back Mr. Boehner and to accept the chair of the Conference. Why? A good guess is because Richard Lugar of Indiana will be 78 years old in 2010 when his seat comes up for re-election, and Mr. Pence looks to want the job. The failed, disgraced Tom Delay leftover Roy Blunt has quit as Whip, and the ambitious, unaccomplished, untrusted, bailout-approving Eric Cantor has decided to claim the job. My colleague Thaddeus McCotter will stand again for Republic Policy Committee chair, and he is being challenged by the unloved man he chose as vice-chair, the north Dallas burger, Michael Burgess. The results look to be in place for an uneventful transition to a GOP House of drift, defeatism and marginality. The hourglass on Mr. Boehner runs out in 2010.
The Senate is Worse.
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will return to his job unopposed and unloved. I am told compared to the ludicrous outplayed Bill Frist of Tennesse, Mr. McConnell acts like a gazelle. Jim DeMint, the most conservative rated senator by far, will not challenge Mr. McConnell, a great disappointment to the graybeards. The chief struggle in the Senate will be the stalking and destruction of the handful or moderates, called RINO (Republicans in Name Only). The general opinion is that if this is to be a minority, it will be a cadre with principle. Marked for rejection are the Maine duo, Olympia Snowe and Susan
Collins, the frail Arlen Specter, who the party means to abandon in 201o, and the bizarre and incoherent George Voinovich of Ohio. The number one RINO target is John McCain, who will be hounded from office, and perhaps even before his term expires in 201o. The plan is to open the seat with Mr. McCain's resignation, which will oblige the popular Democrat Janet Napolitano to appoint an interim (not herself), which will mean a weak opponent for Jeff Flake to run against and defeat. Sounds devious and Firenzean? Yes, and also illustrative of a fact that the GOP in the Senate is pleased to play for pay and companionship, none of that war of ideas for these gentlemen. Will the spectacularly driven new chief-of-staff tyro Rahm Emanuel (right, on the streets of Chicago) have to make phone calls past five in a Washington afternoon in order to make the GOP Senate rollover?
The re-organization within the Republican party is nothing more than the vultures absconding with scraps - a most unpleasant sight. The party has become irrelevent. This is because it has abandoned its priciples and become Democrat-lite. Republicans have had two good recent chances to claim their nation - both times they blew it. The first was when they held majorities in the House and Senate; the second was when they chose their presidential carcass (candidate). Strike three is their less-than dignified stumble off the stage.
The scramble for what´s left of the money further indicates that the scramblers have seen the writing on the wall; that a new party will emerge to embrace conservatism and take up the reigns of leadership.
A masterpiece, thank you.
If there ever was a case of taxation without representation, it's the conservative voter of today.
I would love to hear the name Ron Paul mentioned more often though. He lost because he wasn't mentioned. Time to reconsider what he was saying.
Paul,
Thanks! I've been saying Ron Paul, Ron Paul over and over like a hoot owl and you're the first person to second the motion.
I'm not necessarily saying Ron Paul is the answer for 2012, but I think he's the best starting point at the moment. Let's look at what Ron Paul stands for and ask whether he could win in 2012 under any reasonable circumstances. If the answer is NO, then the next step would be to ask what we could take from Ron Paul as a starting point, and what planks might have to be dropped and/or added to lure some moderates into the mix. Also, personality's a big issue. Ronald Reagans only come along once every few decades (although we are almost due for another one!)
Rep. DeMint shows a great deal of intelligence by not aspiring to a chair at the moment. Why would he want to waste his energy and youth and intellect leading a bunch of jellyfish to the slaughter? Wait for some good men and women to come along first, who are worth leading.
Peter,
Well put. I can't agree with you that the GOP is over, nor that a new party is about to replace it - but all of this "purge" talk just strikes me as disingenuous.
When GOP cronies scream "purge!" I just see opportunists trying to muscle in on a bigger piece of the (smaller) pie at the losers expense.
Just because the GOP is disgraced and out of power does not mean it isn't still a way to make a buck. The GOP is nothing more than a paycheck to too many within the machinery (commentators, bloggers, etc. are still getting paid). It stopped being about ideas a LONG time ago...
John,
Who is behind the current sliming of the Gov. of Alaska? The election was over on Tueday.
I see it as 2 prong attack by (1) the media to destroy her chances now at 2012 and (2) another former Governor of say, Mass.? or at lest his aides.
What do you think?
No information re abuse of Palin in media. May be left over momentum. We are years from getting enough of SP. Rock star with a rep. The reports I get are about the operation to get McCain. Aim is to force him from the Senate before his term is done in 2010, and then game Janet Napolitano for an interim (not herself) who Jeff Flake can beat. Sarah Palin has some games to play soon. Ted Stevens is dead man walking. Harry Reid may fight, but more likely Mitch McConnell will remind everyone that the appeal process is not endless and that Stevens will go when (if) the appeal is rejected. This will open a fresh seat. Mrs. P can appoint her Lieutenant Governor happily, and then the special election will give her a choice. Trade places with her Lt Gov and go to DC to parade her credentials as an energy mom governor, or stay in her Fairbanks office and tour the world? Fun.
let the parade begin folks... all the cronies and the permanent back benchers ... marching up the post to sing all the same old tunes... we need to re-tool we need to get back to basics we need to reevaluate our core principles...etc etc etc.
Right here is where WE need to stand up fight ladies & gentlemen The first target ought to be the double yeah votes for that abomination of a bill the Emergency Financial Rescue bill then next the Nays who swung to yeahs after they were provided some incitements.
The name Republican means little more than Whig or Tory it matters not the name it matters the heart and mettle of our souls
Re: Palin let's take a breathe everyone she is not the second coming of Reagan. ( i don't Reagan got it right the first half dozen times)There positves no doubt but she like all of us will have her own skeletons in the closet.
Hotair by Michelle Malkin has a snippet up that suggests that Romney people may also be behind the attacks.
If it is the McCain camp it's despicable. They pluck her from Alaska, put her into the national spotlight just to rope in the hick vote and throw her under the bus when things go bad. I hope they put McCain and the whole lot out to pasture. (although I would like to believe that McCain had more honor than to encourage the abuse of Palin, it would be too sad an ending to his story. The POW stuff is compelling)
Sarah Palin touring the world would be fun. She is as compelling a story of America as Obama is. She has a great look and she totes a gun and where else do you find such a woman but in America.
Not so fast on Ted Stevens. Looks like the absentee vote yet to be counted will put the Dem Begich over the top. See Nate Silver for a regression analysis of the latest twist:
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/uncounted-votes-may-push-begich-past.html
Also, Obama takes Omaha cd. Omaha! Think about that people.
Actually the combination is to: avoid cameras, at all costs, instead of gravitatng to them; deny requests for comments on or off the record (please, make an appointment); spend more quality time at home and learn where it is you come from; keeping the mouth shut would seem to go a mighty long way, too; ask a friend if they might want to be Senator for a Day (having a lot of friends come and represent you could possibly be a really positive influence); go fishing and teach your kids to fish, too, and be sure to eat
what you catch... don't just catch and release!! spend 21 days in the wilderness questioning every thought and dream while feeling the sun and staring at the stars and asking "Where am I?"
Develop a good and studious brow; throw away the cell phone and be damn sure you don't let anyone, ANYONE take a picture or a video of you with a cell phone; again, keep the mouth shut or defer to the leadership.
Don't be a lawyer type, even if you are, because no one is impressed anymore; definitely do not believe everything you see and hear; get a script for medi marijuana and stop buying decaffeinated coffee... the best ideas will come to you in the early AM; say no to attending parties where airheads, who like the sound of their own voices, go on and on and on...
Delete every email before it is read and never comment in a blog!!
IMO the post-election discrediting of Palin is the work of the northeast/Rockefeller Republicans who were horrified at her selection. I dealt with a couple of them on my own website - they think she represents the great unwashed, uncouth, and untutored fundamentalists who have seized the party.
JB said:Trade places with her Lt Gov and go to DC to parade her credentials as an energy mom governor, or stay in her Fairbanks office and tour the world?
The kind of shortcomings she exhibited in the campaign would be more effectively dealt with by staying in Alaska as governor and getting smart on the issues she was weakest on. The Dems will try to knock her out in 2010 but I'm sure Alaskans will re-elect her if she wants the job, and with 6 years as a governor, and 4 years to study up on world affairs et al., she will be ready for 2012. I think a Palin/Jindal ticket would be simply awesome.
Now both McCain and Romney aides are out denying their role in the rumors.