Apr 07 2009
Will The Right Learn Their Lesson? – Updated
Update: I have always been a conservative independent. I came close under President Bush to finally joining a party again (was a democrat growing up). But the far right and their backstabbing of Bush reminded me of their backstabbing of Reagan – which reminded me too much of the far left ,which caused me to  I parted company with and political parties in general. I know the last two years of the purity wars caused a lot of conservatives to leave the GOP and go independent – The Anchoress being a prime example of the best and brightest leaving the sinking ship.
The far right is now turning off some heavy hitting conservative voices with the wild conspiracy theories and unwillingness to point the finger of failure at themselves where it belongs. Case in point, Charles Johnson, the man who broke RaThergate:
This turn toward the extreme right on the part of Fox News is troubling, and will achieve nothing in the long run except further marginalization of the GOP—unless people start behaving like adults instead of angry kids throwing tantrums and ranting about conspiracies and revolution.
Seems conservatism has a lot farther to go until it hits rock bottom. Â – end update
For all those on the far right still hoping America will suffer greatly under our new President America has a message for you:
The latest New York Times poll is loaded with good news for the Obama administration and news that would be devastating for the GOP if it were ever able to penetrate the conservative-media echo chamber.Â
…
But it’s the political numbers that are truly striking. Obama has a 66 percent approval rating, which is the highest this poll has recorded, while the GOP’s favorability is at 31 percent, the lowest the poll has recorded in 25 years of asking the question. Arguably more remarkable still is that, asked whether Obama or the GOP Congress would be more likely to make “the right decisions about the nation’s economy,” respondents broke for Obama 63 percent to 20 percent. That means that even within the 31 percent rump that holds a positive view of the GOP, at least a third trust Obama’s instincts on the economy equally or more.
63-20. Also known as 3 to 1 against. The future political viability of the far right is hanging on whether they pay attention to what America is telling them. And that is they are the least popular political option at the current time – and heading downward. 20% never won anything in politics, except the all time loser awards. Will they ever stop digging?
Conman, those on the radio do not speak for the Republican party, they speak about the Republican party and issues that they want to talk about. Hannity, and the others on TV are commentators, just like Oberman and Matthews, they do not lead anything, they may advocate, and talk and talk. You wouldn’t say Oberman speaks for the Democrats, but of the Democrats. The Republicans have put forth an alternative budget……think why you might not have heard about it. It suits the Democrats to say the Republicans are the party of NO and it suits MSM as well. MSM has a lot invested in Obama and they will not let him fail. They will cover, distort, and lie if it protects him.
We all know that Obama is an historic President. No body wants to criticize him, they want to let him get his feet wet, feel out the job, and minimize any negatives. I think it is a crummy approach, because it isn’t MSM’s job to give him a chance, it is their job to to hold his feet to the fire, helping him be a more thoughtful President. The decisions that this historic President makes have a profound effect on everyone in this country. He wants to turn it upside down and inside out. He wants to make a big splash. I have the right and the power to speak out and I will. Obama is not America, he is a mortal being with a vision, I don’t like some of his vision, and if I can help stop it I will. Obama is just passing through, my hope is that the damage will be minimal.
It was always clear to me that he and I have a very different perception of this Country’s history, appreciation for it’s greatness, what it stands for, what it has been and where it might go. I believe that people were born in America for a reason, it is not an accident, and we as Americans have a special responsibility in the world. We are not just a country somewhere between Albania and Zimbabwe.
Any conspiracy’s put forward are nothing new in political discourse. We have spent eight years reading and listening to all the Bush conspiracy tripe, I’m surprised you are so touchy about it. I guess it hurts more when it’s your guy.
I don’t like name calling, I don’t think calling a person a socialist is particularly helpful. People are scared, they have lost a lot and don’t know how they are going to manage. Obama could have seen that with the financial circumstances, taking a breath might be in order, rather then continuing programs that he began campaigning on almost three years ago. Perhaps he is really taking to heart the idea that a crisis should never go to waste. Frankly I find that thinking bazar.
I’m actually pretty proud of the Republican Party right now. So, someone will have to cite me an example of a Republican politician or GOP spokesman “calling names” or “spreading conspiracy theories”.
Kathie,
As I’ve said before, you and I disagree on a lot of policy issues but I respect you because you generally articulate rationale and thoughtful arguments. My comment was not directed at you. But I have to take issue with some of the points you raise.
While no one person or group represents the GOP right now, Rush, Hannity, Beck, etc. have a huge influence on the party and conservative movement right now. Just look at their ratings. Rush was the keynote speaker at CPAC. The RNC Chair and other GOP leaders who dared criticize Rush for minor stuff have had to grovel for forgiveness time and time again due to the outcry of Republican voters. They may not officially speak for the GOP or for you, but they have had a huge influence on the GOP and its response to Obama since he was elected. Who else has more influence – name one person? Plus, most of the moderate Republicans either retired or were defeated by moderate Democrats this last election, so the party has moved to the right.
This idea that the MSM is invested in Obama and in the tank for the Democrats is bogus. Fox is part of the MSM and has the highest ratings among the major networks. O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck have huge ratings and a large following. Rupert Murdoch has a massive media empire and is hardly liberal or in the tank for Obama. Conservatives dominate radio. While there are certainly left-leaning media outlets, the same is true on the right. You can’t blame it all on the media. I find it comical that I read the same thing on the liberal blogs – the media is owned by corporate America and is in the tank for big business and the right. The MSM has become a convenient excuse for every ideology or political party that is out of vogue. The problem with the MSM is that it is now all about money, doesn’t cover anything in depth and excepts everything at face value with out any investigation, not that it is slanted left or right.
The idea that the MSM has given Obama a complete pass isn’t true either. All presidents get somewhat of a honeymoon phase initially from the press and public, so Obama is no different. Nonetheles, he has been criticized by the MSM. Geithner has been hammered in the news. Obama got raked over the coals for AIG, as he should have. His nominees tax issues have been all over the news. The budget and projected deficiet have been all over the news. Just because the MSM has not been as harsh as you think it should be does not mean it is in the tank for him.
I agree that the personal attacks on Bush were equally inappropriate. I criticized his policies and the results of his presidency, and never accused him of being evil, facist, etc. like those on the far left. I believe it was Bush’s failed policies that led to his loss of public support and the Democrats focus on those policies is what swung the country in their favor, not personal attacks against him. So until the GOP and conservative right start focusing on Obama’s policies and the results, which will play out over time, they will be ignored as a bunch of loons by the majority of Americans.
Frogg,
“So, someone will have to cite me an example of a Republican politician or GOP spokesman “calling names†or “spreading conspiracy theoriesâ€.
I don’t have all day to list all of the examples, so here is just one recent example. Michelle Bachmann, Republican congresswoman from Minnesota, recently expressed her concern that White House was trying to put in place “re-education camps for young people, where young people have to go and get trained in a philosophy that the government puts forward.” Furthering the Obama-as-autocrat theme, Bachmann said the youngsters would “then they have to go to work in some of these politically correct forums.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/bachmann-obama-wants-re-e_n_183552.html
Polls and endless steams of numbers is nothing but confusing. Remains me of two economic professors one a Keynesian and the other an Adam Smith man, both looking at the same numbers and coming to totally different conclusions. Math use to be an exact science, but now??? Personally, I think conservatives have taken to much of a easy going position during the past few years and it has caught up with them. Its time to take strong and decisive stands on the issues and not play to the middle. The middle is weak and stands for little and the masses want strong and decisive leadership not the flip-flopping center. There is right and wrong in this world and conservatives need to realize this and take firm stands regardless of the so-called polls.
Conman, I listened to the Bachman interview and I don’t have a problem with it. She is voicing concerns and they are based on real events (Rahm Emmanual is a supporter of “forced service” by our youth and said so in his book, “The Plan: Big Ideas for America”. She says the original bill did call for it to be “mandatory”…..and, a Dem collegue introduced a bill to try to make it “mandatory”. In fact, I think Obama’s original plan called for “mandatory service” also. And, you have to admit Obama has made some strange stamtements in the past about having a “national civilian security force” which was more funded and more powerful than our military, etc.
As far as her concerns about “indoctrination”…that may be over the top as you indicate. I don’t know where she is getting that from–and, she didn’t explain it in that interview. I suspect it may be related to the GIVE Act (where others cited similar concern):
“the bill creates a “Congressional Commission on Civic Service.â€
The bipartisan commission will be tasked with exploring a number of topics, including “whether a workable, fair and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the nation.â€
Who decides that “manner that strengthens the social fabric of the nation”? The Government? Any political agenda’s there?
If someone told me a few months ago that the President and his Administration would be hiring and firing CEO’s and mandating what type of cars auto industry’s have to build to fit a “green agenda” I might have considered that a “conspiracy theory” also. But, here we are.
So, I don’t know if Bachman is a looney or not. But, I can listen to her express her concerns and not rush to judgement yet. She is also a “global warming denier” like AJ. Is that just a conspiracy theory? And, she also confronted Geithner about a commitment on keeping the dollar as our currency to the point where she sponsored legislation. Geithner did in the past, afterall, say he was open to global currency idea. Does that make her a conspiracy nut?
I find Bachman’s statement about “concerns” of “forced service” and “indoctrination” far less looney than half the things Pelosi says. So, I don’t have any problems with Bachman voicing concerns. Could she tone down some of the rhetoric? Sure. But, not a crime in my book.
PS. Conman, CAGW has an article from a couple years ago that cite some of the paid “volunteer” work done through the Americorp program. There is a lot in there to make some think “political indoctrination”:
excerpt:
Indeed, thousands of taxpayer-financed AmeriCorps recruits were assigned to work for political advocacy organizations that either were heavily dependent upon federal funding or had missions to agitate for increased federal spending:
The Los Angeles Times reported that, in 1994, AmeriCorps funded a project that used the program’s recruits to protest legislation designed to put violent criminals in prison for life after a third violent crime.8
In 1995, AmeriCorps gave a large grant to an advocacy group called ACORN (Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now). AmeriCorps recruits were assigned to lobby for legislation, collect dues, register voters, and participate in political demonstrations. After its activities came under scrutiny by AmeriCorps’ own Inspector General, the ACORN Housing Corporation was forced to return a $1.1 million grant.9
Although federal agencies can no longer receive AmeriCorps grants, local subgrantees of federal agencies can still qualify as AmeriCorps sites. In the past, AmeriCorps recruits have been tasked to the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Legal Services Corporation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. AmeriCorps placed nearly 3,000 of its first 20,000 recruits in such federal agencies.10
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_americorps
Conman…….
Rush and others appear to speak for the party because the party out of power has a little, tiny voice. Just like Matthews and Oberman seemed to speak for the Democrats. More truthfully Oberman and Matthews, MSMBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, NBC, and MSM echoed democratic talking points ad nausium. You are correct, FOX news is bearable for those on the right because they echo many of our thoughts. FOX has great ratings because it is the only place for us to go. The Republican talk shows are popular, so are the blogs because we are unused to hearing thoughts echoed in a public forum and seldomly see our thoughts in print. I have thoughts, I’m drawn to those who support those thoughts. This is a subtle difference, please understand it is very important…….first come my personal thoughts, then I listen to someone who is like minded. Rush, Hannity, or the others did not put the thoughts in my head and I listen so they can put more thoughts in my head.
Conman, if you can watch the alphabet of news casters on TV and read the New York Times with out breaking something, then you know they are in the tank for the Dems and Obama in particular.
I consider Michael Steele to be the voice of the Republican Party right now. I also think John McCain is a strong voice for the Republican Party due to his stature of being the latest GOP Pres candidate. Several Senators and Congressmen seem to be rising to the surface as GOP leaders (the ones you see on tv the most). Sarah Palin is a pretty strong voice (she gets a lot of attention). I view Rush, Hannity, Beck, etc are voices of support groups within the Republican Party. There isn’t one strong unified commanding voice. I suppose that goes along with being the party out of power.
I think the Republicans greatest problem is that they have been following opinion polls and not principals for the last eight years. Results have show that this is not good behavior to continue. I fear following those that would put pursuit of power above doing the right thing and saying the truth. They might get my vote over another choice, but not my support.
Bush was at his best on the War on terror, because he didn’t care what opinion was popular he lead. He was bad every where else because he did care. Republican congress was just bad every where.