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SUBJECT: Your buddy Eugene has got your back this morning Bucket.
Submitted by
Wackoman from Mexico on
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110504335.html?wpisrc=newsletter
I'm pulling for you two guys to kick the Mudfish's azz.
Attack of the Palinites
By Eugene Robinson
Friday, November 6, 2009
Democrats have some thinking to do after Tuesday's elections, but Republicans don't have time to think. They're too busy trying to survive the party's internal purge and avoid being shipped off to political Siberia.
Will loyal members inform on others for harboring suspiciously moderate views? Will anyone judged guilty have to wear a sign saying "Republican In Name Only" as penance? Will there be re-education camps? Will deviationists face the Enhanced Interrogation Technique of being forced to listen to the wit and wisdom of Glenn Beck, at ear-splitting volume, for days on end?
Or worse: When Sarah Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue," hits bookstores later this month, will the ideologically impure be required to read -- and commit to memory -- every golden word? Her publisher might consider culling the highlights into a pocket edition. That way, any Republican caught without a copy of "Quotations From Chairman Sarah" could be summarily expelled from the party.
The big story from Tuesday's vote ought to be that independents, who gave Democrats their sweeping victory last November, went with the Republicans this time in New Jersey and Virginia. Indeed, Democrats are trying to figure out what this means. Given President Obama's continuing personal popularity, has his cool, nonconfrontational, consensus-building style been the right strategy all along? Or, as some on the left believe, did a lack of fight and fervor leave independents cold? Or was it all about the unemployment numbers?
But the Democrats' soul-searching is far less compelling than the Republicans' civil war. The "tea party" conservatives -- led by Palin, Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Armey and others fed up with the GOP "establishment" -- managed to get Democrat Bill Owens elected in a solidly Republican Upstate New York congressional district. They accomplished this feat by driving the Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, from the race because of her apostasy on abortion and gay rights.
The Palinites -- because of her star power, she's the de facto leader of the movement at this point, so it's fair to name it after her -- backed a third-party conservative named Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava pulled out and threw what support she had to Owens, who won by four points.
The net result is minus-one for the Republicans and plus-one for the Democrats in the House. That arithmetic seems to have escaped Erick Erickson, editor in chief of the Web site RedState.com, which is almost as influential in the tea party world as Palin's Facebook page. He wrote: "This is a huge win for conservatives. . . . We did exactly what we set out to do -- crush the establishment-backed GOP candidate."
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele crowed about winning the two governorships. "Assume the Heisman position. Yeah, baby. That's my moment," he said Wednesday on MSNBC. But even Steele couldn't find joy in the New York debacle. "I don't see a victory in losing seats," he said, quite logically.
The tea party people have made clear, however, that logic doesn't count -- and that this is just the beginning. The next target, now that they've made the world safe from Scozzafava, seems to be Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the Senate. Crist committed the unforgivable sin of supporting Obama's stimulus bill and must face a conservative former state legislator, Marco Rubio, in the primary.
Erickson wrote that "if Crist wants to own the mantle of 'GOP Establishment Candidate,' let's tie it around his waist and throw him in one of Florida's many lagoons."
I guess Florida lagoons are a substitute for Siberian tundra.
The good news for the Republican Party is that its far-right conservative base is energized. The bad news is that the far-right conservative base isn't big enough to elect national or even statewide candidates without help from moderate Republicans and independents. The two new Republican governors-elect, Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey, understood that. If the party is going to insist on ideological purity from every candidate in every state, it will cede the political center to the Democrats.
Sensible Republicans get it. But any GOP officeholder up for reelection has to worry about a possible primary challenge from the right, with tea party fanatics yelling about revolution, Palin posting attacks on social networking sites and Beck shouting treason. I don't expect to see many profiles in courage.
Republicans, hide any old copies of The Nation you might have lying around. Keep all televisions tuned to Fox News at all times. The Palinite Putsch might be coming for you.
eugenerobinson@washpost.com
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MikeF from FLORIDA says does either party get it
Most of us aren't on the far right or the far left. Most Americans are center-right and we aren't being represented.
As for palin, she's just a symbol of the struggles going on both inter-party and intra-party. She probably doesn't have the experience that should be necessary for the job but after looking at who's there now it's kind of odd to see people on the left bring that up.
As for Crist; he's just jumping from one bandwagon to the next. I'm not sure what he stands for or even if he knows that himself.
The one person in our party that is qualified and does have character and backbone can't run because over half the people in this country hate his brother.
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says Who is this Eugene dude?
And do ya think he'll cut me a check for stealing my material. If I see him posting a Monty Python dialogue from the witch/newt scene I'll be contacting my attorney.
I'm sure the Palinites will label him a RINO that just doesn't get it.
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hvacstar from NORTH CAROLINA says You really should hone your knowledge
of political commentators Bucket. If you would actually read sometimes instead of just listening, you would know that having this race baiter (Robinson) on your side is worse than having Larry on your leg. This is SOP for the 0bama media. They give good advice to repugs because they are concerned for and want to help them? Sure they do. Eugene probably was reprinting the e-mail from Rahm verbatim. Eugene WORKS for 0bama. They are AFRAID of Sarah.
What was that term that Lenin used? Useful......now, what was it? I have to look that up.
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says Hone my knowledge, hvac?
If I don't have time for the far right screech-monkeys then I certainly don't have time for the lefties. Any opinions from Bucket are the exclusive intellectual property of Bucket formulated from personal experience and observation.
"The good news for the Republican Party is that its far-right conservative base is energized. The bad news is that the far-right conservative base isn't big enough to elect national or even statewide candidates without help from moderate Republicans and independents. The two new Republican governors-elect, Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey, understood that. If the party is going to insist on ideological purity from every candidate in every state, it will cede the political center to the Democrats."
"Sensible Republicans get it. But any GOP officeholder up for reelection has to worry about a possible primary challenge from the right, with tea party fanatics yelling about revolution, Palin posting attacks on social networking sites and Beck shouting treason. I don't expect to see many profiles in courage."
Argue with that logic, if you will. The victories in Va and NJ were not a result of the far right groundswell, they were a result of dissatisfaction with the far left and the independents and moderates swinging our way. Alienate them at your peril. I'd say that "Palinite Putsch is a rather apt term for what some are trying to do to my party currently.
By the way....I'm considered far right in most circles. I just happen to have a brain and I try to use it.
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hvacstar from NORTH CAROLINA says Good Morning Bucket!
I just wanted to throw a few rocks at you before hitting the lake for the first time in about a month. Had my boat in the shop for a couple of weeks for a tune up and a new water pump. It's a glorious day here in The Old North State. The leaves are turning and the sky is blue and the air is crisp. I'm going fishing. Have a nice day.
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says Get up shallow and throw a rattle bait around some weeds
Ya bastage!
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Rip #10422 from TEXAS says Fishing With The Enemy
I went fishing yesterday with a true, died-in-the wool Republican. His boat, his gas, and he even bought me lunch and dinner. We also caught a bunch of crappie, which he cleaned and bagged up and I brought home to the boss lady. Gonna fry some up for her tonight. Rip made hushpuppies, fried zuchinni, potatoes for her, good ol sliced onion and tomatoes, and cold ice tea. Bucket, if you can make it down here from OKC by 6pm tonight, I'll throw some extra in the frying pan for you. Dine with me, and the neocons will really get on your azz.
There are some good Republicans in the country.
Hvac, why don't you take a Dem fishing today. Or do you know any? Take him out on the water, as you said, a beautiful clear day like we had yesterday. Catch him some fish, clean them for him, and you will have made a Dem feel much better about Repubbys.
And who knows, you just might enjoy it also !!!!
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says Ain't that predictable, Ripster
Good eats on your table from the sweat of a hard working Republican.
It would be a pleasure to dine with you and your boss lady some day. I'm afraid I ain't crossing the border today though. I'll take a rain check on it.
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GITTHENET from NORTH CAROLINA says Even this liberal nincompoop
fails to see the light... IMO - it was primarily about the economy and the dems lack of attention or, the type of attention the dems have been giving. SPENDING, SPENDING, SPENDING.....with no real results.
In addition, to make it about BO
1st - as he indicates "the independents left for has his cool, nonconfrontational, consensus-building style"? WTF? Nonconfrontational, consensus-bulding style? Who the heck is he fooling? Drafting the health care bill behind closed doors not including the repubs?
2nd - "Or, as some on the left believe, did a lack of fight and fervor leave independents cold"? How about his aggressive PROGRESSIVE surge to the left, EXCESSIVE SPENDING AND GOVERNMENT GROWTH, and inclusion of Communists and Marxist in his administration? Maybe the secret is now out, huh?
3rd - he gives far too much credit to Palin, Beck, Limbaugh and Army for the election results. One word here , outatouch
4th - a win is a win, yes, and the dems did pick up a seat. But what's the message beneath the surface here? A virtual unknown TRUE CONSERVATIVE (not a rino) in the race for just a month, almost beat the dem known candidate. And, almost did so even after the TRUE LIBERAL endorsed the dem. A true republican representative would have taken this hands down...
5TH AND MOST IMPORTANT, this energy is not extreme right wing, it's not the Christian, go get your bible, white KKK, or whatever extreme title he can find. It's about CONSERVATISM and reining in the spend crazy RINOs and DEMS. Face it, GW was not physcally responsibile and now we can spot those traits in the RINOS! IMO of course.....
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says Wow, another RINO expert
I'm really growing tired of that term. Would you feel better if they all just voted for the democrats, GTN?
I think his point about Palin, Beck, Limbaugh, etc was that they were NOT the driving force behind the victories in NJ and Va. Perhaps we can agree that the reasons for the GOP gains were a result of dissatisfaction with Barry's excessive spending and big government approach that has done nothing to improve the economy. Right now it's all about the economy.
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GITTHENET from NORTH CAROLINA says I'd take a
phscyally responsible dem over a RINO, a liberal pretending to be a conservative, any day, Buck... Let's face it, the lack of pyscal responsibility is why we are where we are today!
You are correct, I misread, and yes I would agree they contributed. But in this case, given there was not a primary and the RNC chose the candidate, there is a clear message from the repubs and independents; conservatives (inclusive of repubs and independents) are demanding conservative candidates... NOT RINOS!
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Bucket from OKLAHOMA says I'd say the American people
Are demanding candidates that have our best interests at heart. There are degrees of conservatism and liberalism. Who is to decide where the line is drawn. I don't need Beck or Palin or Chris Matthews of Keith Olberman to tell me who I should support.
The far right will not get anybody elected on their own. The powers that be in NY 23 screwed the pooch by anointing Dede as their candidate. This district is historically conservative and you are correct, the proper GOP candidate would have easily won if it was handled properly from the beginning.
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Rip #10422 from TEXAS says Bucket
I built this Republican's boat dock, along with his attached fish cleaning station, and his fishing tackle storage shed and just finished him a spinning rod and reel. So this relationship is how it should be with Dems and Repubs sharing their sweat, to the mutual benefit of both. Not enough of this today. In fact, Dems don't even share with Dems, and Repubs don't even share with Repubs, much to the disadvantage of both.
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Bro (76.2.37.5) from FLORIDA says Ripped.. most my daily acquaintances are Dems..
and I must say it gets tiresome explaining issues to these morons.. most things are way too thinky for Dems so I'm forced to use simple analogies..
take health care for example.. let's say I'm in my well equipped garage shinning my Ranger bassboat and I see the right corner of my house on fire.. flames shooting out the roof soffit.. so I yell in the house telling the wife "hey, the house is on fire".. and she runs to the phone and calls the local Lexus dealership to order herself a new car..
now does that make any damn sense to you Ripped..
sure I'd like the wife to have a new car.. but would it be too much to ask for her to call the fire department and put the fukking fire out first..
that's what Obama and your precious Dems are doing Ripped.. claiming we are in the worst economic crisis in 100 years and voting for another trillion dollar health care reform bill this weekend..
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