I was reading in Politico about what is going on in the ranks of the GOP, in an article written by Jeff Vandehei and Mike Allen:
Many top Republicans are growing worried that the party’s chances for reversing its electoral routs of 2006 and 2008 are being wounded by the flamboyant rhetoric and angry tone of conservative activists and media personalities, according to interviews with GOP officials and operatives.
Congressional leaders talk in private of being boxed in by commentators such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh — figures who are wildly popular with the conservative base but wildly controversial among other parts of the electorate, and who have proven records of making life miserable for senators and House members critical of their views or influence.
Some of the leading 2012 candidates are described by operatives as grappling with the same tension. The challenge is to tap into the richest source of energy in the party — the disgust of grass-roots conservative activists with President Barack Obama and their hunger for a full-throated attack on his agenda — without coming off to the broader public as cranky and extreme.
I would like to say that this is a good occurrence that the “real” conservatives are worried about their future in politics…I said I would like to…but that is not the way I see it…..people like the Mitt-ster has done a good job of lying low during the craziness…but that may hurt him in the long run in 2012…it will depend on if the party implodes…..and then there is the chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele….he is suppose to be the front man for the GOP and yet he is echoing the accusations, lies and misinformation that is flying around the conservative talk radio ….that does not bid well for “real” conservatives…..
Then we have Rep, Bachmann from Minnesota who are calling Repubs like Dole and Frist agents of Obama and are non-pro-freedom (her term not mine)…is this what will continue to happen? The GOP eating their own? I guess if you think that the people of the US need health care then you are anti-freedom (my term not hers).
I think that the off year elections could be the most telling indicator…..if the GOP cannot capitalize on the rift that the Right wing activists created, then they, the GOP, will be doomed in the 2012 election….unless they can find someone that appears to be more centered in reality than any of the mouths they have now.
Of course!
I know nothing is ever as simple as it seems from the outside, but the GOP really does need to distance itself from the right wingnuts and cut them out of the party. If they feel that strongly, let them go form another party of their own (like our BNP). Then the GOP can set about re-inventing themselves as acceptable conservatism.
They (the GOP) don’t need to attack Obama too stridently, but rather put forward quiet, strong, reasoned argument that emphasises their point of view. Obama will, I fear, fall on his face anyway – I just don’t think he’s experienced enough – maybe he’s even just too nice to be that tough.
We’ll see, but what’s going on at present is polarising America and the far right wing clearly won’t win because they simply don’t have the support, and they are making the Repubs unelectable – but then they could damage the GOP’s support by fractionalising it if they split.
So, it’s something of a catch 22 situation, since two halves might technically make a whole, but neither of them will beat Obama and yet his support will be strengthened if the more moderate (more normal???) Republicans don’t lose the far right from their ranks – and quickly!
Consequently, it’s probably a lose-lose situation for the Repubs unless they get off their asses and start taking back their party from the dipsticks and lunatics of the far right, right now, this very minute! In fact, it may already be too late!
Exactly! But even the Repubs that I feel are true conservs seem to be letting the wingnuts rule the date……that is disturbing to me….and then we have the elected officials, I refuse to call them statesmen, are echoing everything the wingnuts have to say on the issues…..I have no problem with true conservs but they are a dying breed as it is today…..