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Bill Kristol knocks out a halfhearted effort to explain why Arlen Specter defecting is great news for the GOP, using Jim Jeffords’ switch as an example.
On May 24, 2001, I wrote an op-ed for The Post in the wake of Vermont Sen. James Jeffords’s party switch. I argued that the switch, which cost Republicans control of the Senate, could well turn out to be good for President Bush.
Not entirely for the reasons I speculated on in the op-ed, I turned out to be right. Bush was still able to get enough cooperation to govern over the next year and a half, and he was also able to run successfully against the Democratic Senate in the fall of 2002. The GOP regained control that November.
5/24 was supposed to be The Day That Changed Everything. However, it utterly failed to be a day that hijacked our democracy and drove it straight into prominent American—Jesus how could this idiot skip over 9/11? I suppose it does show an evolution in the GOP: they used to cynically manipulate 3,000 dead people to justify everything they did, now they cynically ignore 3,000 dead people to justify the continued viability of the shambling corpse that is their party.
Oh, and Newt Gingrich also thinks that this puts the GOP exactly where it needs to be. He also announced his new job as motivational coach to the San Antonio Spurs.
As a bit of political advice borne out of the part of me that hates seeing people get punched in the face repeatedly as a part of their master plan: it is time for the GOP to start lying. We all know that the conservative movement believes that purifying itself of heretics will eventually take it back to the days of Reaganesque nirvana, but it also means that the GOP will be a quarter of the size it was when it actually won presidential elections. Guys, just pretend you understand. Do and say things, even if you don’t actually believe them, that send a message of contrition and desire to see this pattern reverse itself. Yes, it will be disingenuous and yes, you’ll hate yourselves for it. But right now, the GOP is tied to the tracks, the train bearing down on them, insisting to all who will listen that the incompetent unionized conductor is about to go off the rails and forever discredit rail in our proud nation.
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Posted by
Jesse Taylor on 06:08 AM •
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They’ll figure it out eventually--they did after 1964 and they did in 1980 and in 1994, which means they’ll get it again sometime between 2020 and 2024 most likely. Until then, just enjoy the ride.
Jesus how could this idiot skip over 9/11?
Hey! He said “Not entirely for the reasons I speculated on in the op-ed, I turned out to be right. “ THAT was 9/11. He didn’t speculate on that at all.
Since 9/11 changed the world and enabled the never-ending GOP majority, and this is an article about GOP treason defection, he couldn’t figure out how to mention it.
And I don’t want them lying (more than they do). I want the Republican brand to mean evil, petty theorcratic warmongers. Racists and misogynists, too. It’s nice having the scum of America all grouped together.
The Blue Dogs can splinter into a New Democratic Party and the Progressives can splinter into a Truly Left of Center Party. Those two will actually incorporate most Americans’ beliefs and be a decent two party system.
Anyone sane who looks around the GOP will jump to Blue Dogs and the <20% of horrible horrible people will be marginalized, but represented.
As a bit of political advice borne out of the part of me that hates seeing people get punched in the face repeatedly as a part of their master plan: it is time for the GOP to start lying.
Now, now. “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."- Napoleon
Jeffers switched administrative control. Specter makes the Senate (almost) filibuster proof. Much bigger deal. The Rethugs never ever had a majority as big as the Dems do now. The bell is tolling.
When, over the last 45-years or so, has the GOP stopped lying?
I guess if you want to claim that false statements made while in a delusional state are not really lies, I guess I’d buy that...sort of.
I’m talking about things like “We’re for smaller government!”, and “We believe in fiscal responsibility!”, “We want Freedom, and Democracy, and The Rule of Law!”, all of which have been amply proven to be just so much marketing bullshit.
The way I see it, Conservatives/Republicans started embracing lies right about the time of Brown v. Board of Education and it’s pretty much been downhill since…
(...and before some idiot tries to refute this by stating, technically correct at the time, that the majority of the people upset by Civil Rights marches, war protests, etc., were conservative “Democrats”, ask ask you: What party are they in now?...)
The GOP sounds like a group of middle-schoolers. Basically, this one guy says he doesn’t want to be part of their club, and they stick out their tongue and say that they don’t want him in their super-exclusive club anyway. The sad thing is, it might actually work. People just love to be part of an exclusive group that doesn’t want them.
Time for them to start lying?! Jesse, it’s been the case for decades that whenever a GOP member’s mouth moves, it’s a certainty that lies are falling out!
Rumblelizard got there first. But you almost made me spit out my way too expensive coffee with that line about “time for them to start lying”. How about time for them to STOP lying? Then they might have a chance to get off the ropes.
“Well I’m gonna to go then. And I don’t need any of this. I don’t need this stuff, and I don’t need you. I don’t need anything except this. [picks up an ashtray]
And that’s it and that’s the only thing I need, is this. I don’t need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that’s all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that’s all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that’s all I need. And that’s all I need too. I don’t need one other thing, not one - I need this. The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches, for sure. And this. And that’s all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair. “
I can’t believe it’s actually called “Good News for Republicans!” Do they have Atrios secretly writing the headlines at the Post’s website now?
I’m with Caren, I want the Republican Party to completely die out like the Whigs and Federalists did, and in about ten years there will be another two party system--Eisenhower Republicans and Blue Dogs on one side, liberals and progressives on the other. Kooks, racists, cranks, greedheads, and Glenn Beck (well, I guess I’m just repeating now) will be whats left of the former Republican Party and be about as relevant as the Greens and Libertarians are now.
BadKitty wins the Internet for today.
GREAT movie.
I can’t believe it’s actually called “Good News for Republicans!”
Comrade Kristol is right. The goal is to purge the Party of Trotskyites. If they leave on their own, so much the better.
If a Republican shouts “Good News!” in the forest and nobody hears, it is still good news?
With MSM newspapers handing out welfare assignments to sniggering nincompoops like Kristol, it’s no wonder that they’re in trouble.
Comrade Kristol is right. The goal is to purge the Party of Trotskyites. If they leave on their own, so much the better.
I see you know something of the neoCon Kristol Family’s (sic) political heritage.
But you don’t understand.
Arlen Specter’s defection is obviously terrific news for Senator McCain.
They’ve got us right where they want us.
Not entirely for the reasons I speculated on in the op-ed
Bullshit Bill isn’t even trying any more. That’s up there with Hirohito’s “The war has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage.”
Pseudonymous--
I think that’s being generous. Its more along the lines of “There are no Americans in Baghdad!” As an M-1 rolls by him in the background.
Badkitty FTW! I thought I was the only one who remembered that movie.
I’m with Caren. Let the sociopaths commit political suicide, while the Democratic party’s tent gets a little too full and a progressive/moderate split gives our country sane debates.
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They’ll figure it out eventually--they did after 1964 and they did in 1980 and in 1994, which means they’ll get it again sometime between 2020 and 2024 most likely. Until then, just enjoy the ride.