March 5, 2009
Quote of the Day
In reaction, Republicans, true to form, set sail for a deserted island to ponder a dispute between Rush Limbaugh and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. At issue: Who's captain of the GOP Titanic. -- Dan Henninger, in a great column "Has Obama Buried Reagan?"
Well worth a read in full.
Politics
Posted by John Kranz at March 5, 2009 11:13 AM
I agree with Henninger - Rush is on the right track. Republicans tried the GOP version of the "third way" with McCain and only succeeded in garnering the support of Republicans and other conservative types who viewed him as the lesser of two evils. Now that we have the greater evil in the White House it will be even easier for an unapologetic "prosperity conservative" to compete in '12. (And in congress in '10.)
Henninger points to another important dragon to be slain before then - the "saving" of the planet:
There isn't much in his [Obama's] plan to stir the national soul. It's about "sacrifice" now so that we can live for a future of small electric cars and windmills. This may move the Democratic Party's faith communities, but it cannot revive a great nation."
To answer Henninger's title, they haven't buried Reagan yet but they're shoveling dirt as fast as they can because they know his "shining city on the hill" is the greatest enemy of their "carbonless" future.
They stragegized to make Limbaugh the "face" of the GOP for the same reason they paint a vibrant industrial economy as "blast furnaces and factory chimneys" and the Global Warming movement as "save the [cute, cuddly] polar bears:" image-conscious political fashion.
Personally I think giving Limbaugh such prominence will backfire on them - to the extent that Rush hammers the Reagan ideas into the mushy heads of future GOP candidates. (Preferrably cute and cuddly ones. Sarah, are you listening?)
I tell despondent family members to listen to Rush every day. Not because they need to learn the ideas, but for the sense of hope he inspires.
"Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness." - George Santayana
I agree with Henninger - Rush is on the right track. Republicans tried the GOP version of the "third way" with McCain and only succeeded in garnering the support of Republicans and other conservative types who viewed him as the lesser of two evils. Now that we have the greater evil in the White House it will be even easier for an unapologetic "prosperity conservative" to compete in '12. (And in congress in '10.)
Henninger points to another important dragon to be slain before then - the "saving" of the planet:
To answer Henninger's title, they haven't buried Reagan yet but they're shoveling dirt as fast as they can because they know his "shining city on the hill" is the greatest enemy of their "carbonless" future.
They stragegized to make Limbaugh the "face" of the GOP for the same reason they paint a vibrant industrial economy as "blast furnaces and factory chimneys" and the Global Warming movement as "save the [cute, cuddly] polar bears:" image-conscious political fashion.
Personally I think giving Limbaugh such prominence will backfire on them - to the extent that Rush hammers the Reagan ideas into the mushy heads of future GOP candidates. (Preferrably cute and cuddly ones. Sarah, are you listening?)
I tell despondent family members to listen to Rush every day. Not because they need to learn the ideas, but for the sense of hope he inspires.
"Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness." - George Santayana
Posted by: johngalt at March 5, 2009 12:55 PMThe Refugee agrees with JG on this one. Rush is a thought leader in the Republican party generally and the conservative movement specifically. Rush is never on the ballot and is unlikely to ever negatively sway any race.
It's true that the Republicans do not currently have a personification. But just four months removed from the last election, it doesn't matter. Important issues will emerge as Obama/Polosi/Reid socialize the country. As issues crystalize, personalities will emerge. If anything, the Dems are shooting all their ammunition while the enemy is still out of range. Attacking Rush really does nothing to further their current agenda. They have all the votes they need under any circumstances. The result of those votes will be up for referendum in two years.
Posted by: Boulder Refugee at March 5, 2009 4:45 PM | What do you think? [2]