Peter Wallsten writes for the Los Angeles Times, “Some fear GOP is being carried to the extreme“:
Some are pressuring the Republican National Committee and other mainstream GOP groups to cut ties with WorldNetDaily.com, which reports some of the allegations. Its articles are cited by websites and pundits on the right. More than any other group, critics say, WorldNetDaily sets the conservative fringe agenda.
And this:
In one symbolic development, organizers of next year’s Conservative Political Action Conference — the country’s biggest annual meeting of activists on the right — said last week that they had rejected a request to schedule a panel on whether Obama was a native-born U.S. citizen.
“It would fill a room,” said event director Lisa De Pasquale. “But so would a two-headed monkey. There really are so many more important issues, and it’s only a three-day conference.”
On the other hand, other “Somes” do not fear being painted as the party of whackjobs.
Michael Goldfarb, a spokesman for John McCain’s GOP presidential candidacy last year, likened the conservative fringe to liberal activists during the Bush years. The antiwar group Code Pink drew headlines, for example, when a protester with fake blood on her hands accosted then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — but Democrats still won elections later.
“Do we look crackpot? Yes,” Goldfarb said. “But that’s how the left looked to me in 2004, and in 2006 they took back Congress. Then they started marginalizing the lunatics.”
However, there are some differences in the way the Dems related to progressive activists during most of the Bush years and the way the GOP is relating to its, um, activists. Democratic politicians always stayed at more than arms’ length –more like football-field length — of Code Pink and other of the more flamboyant elements of the anti-Bush leftie pushback. Indeed, Code Pink targeted Nancy Pelosi for a time, you might remember. The Republican Party, however, is both cultivating and catering to the crazies.
Some are predicting the GOP could gain House seats next year:
Insiders’ criticisms have been dismissed by some conservative leaders, who argue that the party needs an energized base — even if it’s extreme — to gain in future elections. Some analysts think that conservatives’ summer revolt against Obama’s healthcare agenda helped erode public approval of Democratic leadership enough that the GOP could pick up as many as 30 House seats next year.
The 30 House seats may be rightie wishful thinking, but I suspect that once there is a bill, the sky does not fall and jack-booted storm troopers do not appear in the streets, all but the hard-core whackjob fringe will calm down about it all. In particular, once people figure out that the reforms will put an end to the “pre-existing condition” scam, the mushy middle will look upon reform more favorably.
However, the message to Dems in Congress needs to be — don’t let the GOP drag this out. Getting a health care reform bill passed asap is more important to you, politically, than continuing to dawdle in the hopes of getting one or two Republican votes.
“However, the message to Dems in Congress needs to be — don’t let the GOP drag this out. Getting a health care reform bill passed asap is more important to you, politically, than continuing to dawdle in the hopes of getting one or two Republican votes.â€
You got that right. This whole “lets slow this thing down to make sure we get it rightâ€, is a thinly veiled attempt at a stall, they don’t want it passed and if it does get passed they want to make sure nobody feels any positive impact of the reform before the 2010 elections. Ahh those publicans always looking out for the country’s best interests.
Sort of unrelated but oh so humorous, Little Lulu is linking to this as a reference to substantiate her claim of 1.2 million dimwitted teabaggers or 9-12 zombies as estimated by the park service no less. Of course the numbers didn’t come from the park service they came from a dimwitted teabagger tweet (or do say twat?), but if they had doesn’t the Park Service work for the Afro-socialist, facist despot Obama? Why would they believe anything they had to say?
You’ve simply got to love the Democrats. Their search for a Moderate or Centrist Republican is like going out trying to find Dodo birds.
Like the Dodo, that species of Republican is extinct. Or it has EVOVED from a Dodo bird Republican into a Blue Dog Democrat- a Centrist or Conservative one.
Stop trying to find fertile ground in a fallow field.
What makes me want to cry is that the vote will come down to only one thing: Democrats. Whether it’s a crappy bill, or a great one, only one side will vote for it. Yet the Democrats continue to negotiate with themselves – only because there’s no one else in DC to negotiate with. And in doing so, they’re giving away those things which would be the most popular and save the most money. First, they negotiated away single payer before negotiations had even begun. Now, they’re going to give away a public option. And what will these geniouses settle on? Make EVERYONE pay for crappy insurance. That’ s a plan that’s practically guaranteed to hand the House to Republicans.
So, go with the best. Live or die with it. People like politicians who stand for something – those with balls. That’s not exactly a description that anyone would use for todays Democratic Party. GO FOR IT!!! Is this that difficult to understand?
I’d be surprised if the GOP doesn’t win a few Blue Dog seats. but who cares if we replace a DINO with a Republican that isn’t distinguishable in how they vote and “lead”. I also think some blue dog districts are ripe for more progressive Democratic party candidates, but the decks need to be cleared before that happens – incumbency is too strong an advantage in a partisan primary most of the time. Dump the DINOs, put up with 2 years of much the same voting partterns, then put in true progressives.
In 2010 we should concentrate on State level legislative contests, because there is a lot of potential to redistrict in ways that will be advantageous for the following decade.
That species might even have “EVOLVED,” rather than “EVOVED.” 🙂
“Do we look crackpot? Yes,†Goldfarb said. “But that’s how the left looked to me in 2004, and in 2006 they took back Congress. Then they started marginalizing the lunatics.â€
But the left sort of won, didn’t it? I mean we left Vietnam, all for the better. Despite leaving meaning that a lucid review of our goals, aims and their costs occurred that did not stop these types from assuming some collective national shame that only they felt.
Sure the anti-war movement had a vew crackpots but not so nearly as claimed by right-wing nationalists. They thought anyone opposing the war and anyone with long hair was a crackpot.
If Obama can’t go for it then we will have had healthcare examples of over-reaching and now of under-reaching during a window when success was within reach.
What is it about governing that backs down from a fight with 51-60% which would surely swell once spine was shown? …that risks everything by trying to appease everyone. Once the wolves see that risk adversity they’re emboldened and start to circle. Since when does losing the bi-partisan way constitute a bigger win than going for something substantial and falling short but rallying your side?
Post-failure I suppose Obama could sharpen his skills at planting the flag of victory in the jaws of defeat. That’s just politics but it hardly does anyone any good except maybe perception of him and his poll numbers.
My concern is that the fiercely self-referential, self-justifying crazies on the right will just use the fact that nothing bad happens as proof that what they are doing works. Like this rhinocerous repellent medallion I carry as I walk the streets of Seattle – it works great! I sure haven’t seen any rhinos. (Or RINOs, for that matter. Hmm, perhaps I need a dinosaur repellent instead.)
When it turns out there are no FEMA camps, socialized medicine or black helicopters coming to take their guns away, they will believe they stopped it.
Ah yes, the ‘plight’ of the politician is, in the end, the plight of the prostitute – to please and do another’s will. But the money’s good.
Today is September 14, 2009, president Obama has kept up safe from the evil-doers for 238 days since his inauguration. That’s 3 days longer then Bu$hco could manage. O.K. pack it in lets go home we win!
Darn sorry I forgot it’s not president Obama, it’s the Afro-socialist, facist despot Obama.
Who cares if we replace a DINO with a Republican that isn’t distinguishable in how they vote and “leadâ€.
I volunteer Ben Nelson for the DINO death panel, even though I know he’ll be replaced by a complete Rightie idiot, which is to say, virtually no difference.
God, I miss Bob Kerrey.
If you got some spare time this is priceless!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUPMjC9mq5Y
Priceless, indeed, uncledad!
I could really get behind “Hannity/Palin” next time around, kinda like dumb and dumber without the comedy.
Actually, on the way home, I was thinking Eric Cantor and Palin might team up, but the battle over diva status would ber something to behod.
Two headed monkeys, for sure, Maha, with the Fiji Mermaid thrown in for good measure…………..
Uncledad – I couldn’t get through more than 2-3 minutes of the youtube video. It reminded me a great deal of Monty Python’s priceless Spot the Looney.
I’m more ambivalent about things will settle out when health care reform is passed. I’m sure the nutters will go crazy (as well as many others perhaps) when everyone is required to buy insurance.
Incredible video! OMG sums it up perfectly. All the interviews were so bizarre I couldn’t find one that stood out to exemplify the utter stupidity of those people. Although I thought it ironic to see a sign in the crowd saying ” STOP THE INSANITY”. I was also baffled to see a sign that was saying something about Mary Jo Kopechne… I couldn’t see the relevance to health care or taxes, or even reality.
I guess my favorite would be the bible scholar with the veteran logo ball cap who ripped the mask off of Obama and exposed him as the Anti-Christ by deciphering the Aramaic version of the book of Hebrews. What brilliance! Clearly the anointing of God was upon him. He was the only normal one in the crowd.
I don’t know about seeing a two headed monkey, but I’m sure guys like Sen. Larry Craig and Rep. Mark Foley wouldn’t mind seeing a one eyed trouser mouse.