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The Conservative Comeback
Readers eye 2010 comeback, World War I, Inspector General scandal, life under the Sun, and much more -- including barbs from Barb. And limp-wristed Obama's opening pitch.
THINK 2010, NOT 2012
Re: Peter Ferrara's 2010:
I find very little to quibble with and all of it heartens this gloomy conservative. Especially since, and although I'm thought of as something of a sage in my circles, I called the last two election cycles drastically wrong and, having broken my decades long winning streak, am now a discredited odds-maker of the blood sport. I sit quietly in my favorite cigar hangout while the guys argue politics nowadays not so much in approbation but in shattered self-confidence. My errors then were founded on an empty hope and faith in the basic American character and that the electorate could not possibly fail to see through the Democratic charlatans' lies and threadbare rhetoric. I sincerely thought, as I put it then, "Americans tend to get the big issues right," meaning war and national security. I see now my predictions were unrealistically based on the average Joe's ability to parse political language, ideology and party politics in this modern age of atomized communication, political and historical illiteracy and apathy whereas Mr. Ferrara's is founded on the real consequences that will have, or begun to have, manifested themselves next year as a direct result of the old hippies' policies. These consequences will bring home the truth of liberalism in a way political rhetoric alone could never do. And so, thanking Mr. Ferrara, hope springs eternal.
I believe of all the items mentioned in Mr. Ferrara's list of particulars none will hit every home as hard as the so-called "cap and trade" disaster. The messiah himself calmly predicted it could easily double electricity costs and possibly wipe out the coal industry. He made no mention of what it might do to fuel oil costs come winter time but no American will be spared this drastic taxation on everything he or she touches or eats. It will also mean millions will no longer have a living and it may even directly cost lives. We can live without A/C in Florida if we must but people simply cannot live without heat way up north in the winter. Add a VAT to that and we have the makings of both a real depression and a real tea-party. Add the economy and job killing effects of the latest socialized healthcare proposals and it's goodnight America as we become not only fatally overtaxed but wards of the state. As of today, the hippies propose to do all three within months without a single Republican vote if need be and for American's sake it needs to be without a single Republican vote. Thus, if we cannot stop it then the sooner they get on with it the better for it could very well be the long awaited death of contemporary liberalism.
I do have a couple of suggestions that I think Mr. Ferrara would appreciate. We must reinvigorate our language and Ronald Reagan is the stellar example for our cause. First, we must stop using the word "capitalism" solely in our discourse and replace it with "free enterprise" or at the least couple the two. I'm not sure when the transition occurred but I remember Reagan using free enterprise much more. Amongst younger people, schooled in the fever swamps of leftist campuses, capitalism carries a lot of negative connotations whereas free enterprise is a positive, self-contained expression of all that we believe. To have to explain capitalism is to argue technicalities but to say free enterprise is to state a self-evident principle thus free enterprise explains itself: Liberty, initiative, individual effort and reward, all qualities that even reactionary campus lefties expect in their own affairs. It points the way that we want to go rather than sitting as a stumbling block to be overcome. Free to make of oneself what he will is what every American believes so let them argue against it.
Next, we miss the larger opportunity of the mid-term elections if
we simply paint this as "Obamanomics." Hanging this strictly on
Obama falls into the personality cult trap that has so clouded
our electoral politics, warped our Presidential elections and
allowed this demagogue to rise to power. I was astonished last
November at how many educated, affluent, smart people bought into
the hopeychangey shtick of the Obama personality but seemingly
had no clue he adhered to a larger ideology and party and where
that would actually lead his policies, his soothing words
notwithstanding. All one had to do to know what Obama and the
Dems would do this year would have been to review what liberals
have said and done for the last 40 years and yet the vast
majority of people simply didn't seem to get that any more. No,
in 2010 we must replicate what Reagan did in '80 and Newt
Gingrich did in 1994 and hang the mess around the necks of
Congress, Democrats in general and especially Liberalism. Again,
we must harness language. The looming crisis should not be called
"Obamanomics" but "Liberal Economics" or some such foisted on us
by the "Axis of Liberalism," Obama, Reid and Pelosi. They are
working as a team and to defeat one is to weaken the whole. We
must follow Reagan's example and discredit liberalism's root and
branch not just its individuals. And like Reagan and Gingrich we
must hammer home that these policies are the core beliefs of
liberalism and make it stick so Americans get it once and for
all...or for at least a generation. That way, when the next
Wizard of Oz comes along, Americans will know to check out the
man behind the curtain.
-- Mark Shepler
Jupiter, Florida
If Republicans and conservatives would only stop worrying about "who's going to lead the Republican Party in 2012," and stop listening to the media -- on both sides -- worming away endlessly about that question and get down to the 2010 elections for the Senate and the House, we might just break through.
The Republican Party must put every ounce of energy and every dime of money into those two elections.
What in heathen's name will it do to have fretted about the presidential election in 2012 if we have not taken back the House and at least weakened the Democrats' majority in the Senate?
Get on it, GOP!
-- A. C. Santore
I loved your column today about the Democrat rout in 2010 -- devoutly to be wished...
The fly in the ointment: The vote gets Black Panthered or Acorned.
How does that get stopped?
-- Peter Sour
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
There are two problems with Mr. Ferrara's rosy scenario for an
"earthquake" in 2010. First, the same ignorant, uninformed,
brain-dead electorate that voted for a KNOWN MARXIST in 2008 is
going to be marching to the polls in 2010. Is someone going to
give them an injection of wisdom between now and
then? Second, in order to vote out the scoundrels, a viable
alternative must be offered. I see none on the horizon. All that
is being offered by the Republicans in most places is Liberal
Light.
Chances of an "earthquake" in 2010? Zero.
-- Keith Kunzler
You're all a bunch of right wing nut jobs. Your party screwed up this country so bad over the last 28 years, it's time for you to sit down, shut up and enjoy the ride. What you think means nothing. Your pieces are strictly opinion and you are no better than Howard Stern & Limbaugh...shock jocks. If you supported the right wing conspiracy at any time in the past your opinion now is moot. It will take more than 6 months for a person to bring back this country from the brink; which Republicans and their cowboy ways have rought on us all
I sit back and laugh as I watch you all squirm. I'm lovin' it!! I
wish you could, too. Your party is a thing of the past and a
joke. Your party single handedly screwed over our image abroad.
Stop your whining and crying and support this president just like
you wanted us to support the joke I like to refer to as good ol'
boy GW. Who gives a flying*&^% what any of you think. Go out
and try to make the world a better place instead of clogging up
the system with useless opinions and stories.
-- Barb Rogers
Letter to the Editor View all comments (31) | Leave a comment
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Rocco| 7.16.09 @ 7:32AM
Mr. Zierak, well said. I have long recognized over the years that if someone brings a gun, I bring a bazooka.... and use it. I really don't know what goes through the minds of these Repubs in Congress. Everytime I hear this BS about Republicans taking "the high road," I feel like puking. It's the high road to oblivion. It reminds me of the BS I used to hear from an old girlfriend who didn't like me giving her younger brother boxing lessons to defend himself from bullies at school - "he's too mature to fight." My answer was, then he'll go through life getting the crap knocked out of him. Where in the hell do these idiots come from?!?
We need another Lee Atwater to recruit a crop of street-fighting conservatives to rout these cowards once and for all.
Mike Dooley| 7.16.09 @ 9:07AM
Dear Barb:
1.) There are times I wish there actually was something like a "right wing conspiracy". Unlike the left wing fantasy that conservatives had been trained in Argentina by former members of the Nazi S.S., Conservatives are much like herding cats.
2.) We are long accustomed to having what we say mean nothing to you.
3.) On the other hand, apparently it is you who gives a flying*&^% what any of us think.
4.) Conservatives happen to like cowboys. As with most heroes, we wish we were more like them. As the story goes, an English royal was visiting America and asked a mounted cowboy where his master was. The cowboy replied that the SOB ain't been born yet.
5.) Being free and self-governing men and women has nothing to do with shutting up and enjoying the ride.
6.) In case it passed you by, Conservatives find there was a whole bunch of things Bush did that were absolutely deplorable. Last fall's "first stimulus" package was about as anti-conservative as you can get.
7.) As Obama is slowly learning, getting the rest of the world to like us is a fool's errand. The only times Europe "likes" us is when we do the heavy lifting for them or when we save them from their foreign policy mistakes.
8.) Unlike “you” during the Reagan and Bush years, we do not take these “Obama years” as a personal insult. Doesn’t it strike you as a little bit odd that you now have the Congress and the Presidency and are pretty much getting your way—and yet you are still so angry?
Geoff| 7.16.09 @ 10:17AM
Bravo (as usual) Mr. Kessel. You too, Rocco.
But, Mike, your "poetry" will never match Mimi's.
We're in a World'o'Hurt, gang.....
Big J| 7.16.09 @ 10:20AM
"I sit back and laugh as I watch you all squirm. I'm lovin' it!! I wish you could, too."
Wasn't Nero fiddling, even as Rome burned?
"Your party screwed up this country so bad over the last 28 years, it's time for you to sit down, shut up and enjoy the ride"
Is that also your recommendation to a rape victim? "It's your fault for looking so pretty, so just sit back, relax and try to enjoy it."
I ask, because rape is exactly what is occurring at the moment. The destruction of the pursuit of happiness, liberty and American Exceptional ism. All at an extremely alarming rate.
You and your ilk disgust me. You will not be happy until the rest of the world is just as miserable and self-loathing as you. No, not even then. Because after you have dragged the rest of us down to the level of your miserable existence, you will find that you don't feel any better. You are not one bit more successful than you were before. The only difference will be that you won't have the backs of others to carry your burdens anymore.
"Go out and try to make the world a better place instead of clogging up the system with useless opinions and stories."
That is precisely what we are trying to do, no thanks to people like you who foolishly fall for the "Hope and Change" scam.
My advice to you, Barb: Get a life.
Who knows, you might find happiness one day.
IMKessel| 7.16.09 @ 11:03AM
Rocco ,
I like your steel. Atwater is certainly missed.
Mr. Dooley, well said.
Respectly,
IMK
Daddy| 7.16.09 @ 11:03AM
Barb needs blood pressure meds....or a cold beer.
JerseyJ| 7.16.09 @ 11:17AM
Mr. Shepler ... extremely well said Sir.
Mr. Sour asks (regarding the largely duped public) ... "Is someone going to give them an injection of wisdom between now and then? "
That job is up to all of us Mr. Sour. I can tell you from the first-hand perspective of someone who was formerly attentive yet inactive in the political debate, that there are many, many people getting quickly "up to speed" on the issues. Those who until recently trusted in their Representative Republic and did not feel the need to become active. There are many more out there who are suffering buyer's remorse and are being educated by those of us who understand the slide into Marxism and the perils inherent in the trashing of our Constitution.
People are starting to get it, of that I can assure you. I just hope it's enough.
Barb ... your incoherent and factually devoid post does a fine job illustrating the failings of the party of "I won". You would be well served to investigate Lenin's definition of "useful idiot". Thanks for dropping by though.
IMKessel| 7.16.09 @ 11:18AM
Ms. Rogers,
You painted with rather large brush strokes. Please, can you eludicate on just three policies you found deficient during the time the GOP ruled over all the Congress and held the White House? Please be specific and include how a liberal policy would have been preferable.
Thank you.
IMKessel| 7.16.09 @ 11:37AM
Mr. Welli,
Well written piece, but, not to play "gotcha, I respectfully point out you are mistaken when you write, "In the Middle East...and the idea of a Jewish state, Israel, was conceived."
Israel was concieved by God over 5,000 years ago. It was founded with blood, sweat and tears, much like our proud nations. If fact, our nation was deliberately designed to reflect the ethos and majesty of Israel.
From a historical perspective, the Zionist movement predates WWI as well. The term "Zionism" was coined 1891 and can be traced to the Austrian publicist Nathan Birnbaum. From humble roots of a displaced people yearning to return to their sacred land came Israel, the return of Israel, the fruition of a people's hope and dream.
Mattled| 7.16.09 @ 1:42PM
Picture Barb as Janeane Garafolo---without the looks. [[[[shudder]]]]]
Michael L. Hauschild| 7.16.09 @ 3:01PM
I marvel at the lead lined vacuum chamber someone like Barb lives in. I am not a soothsayer but indulge me when I say that her sales tax, grocery bill, and vehicular fuel cost will not be any different than my own.
Patriot| 7.16.09 @ 6:29PM
The last 28 years? Geez, Barbie, I thought Clinton was one of your perverts.
DaveS| 7.16.09 @ 7:12PM
That was by far the most effeminate first pitch of all time. No teleprompter help?
Conservative Chick| 7.16.09 @ 7:48PM
I tell my young son to steer very clear of angry liberal women like Barb: 'Barbs' are usually afflicted with PMS 24/7 and sleep around a lot. Trouble!
Tootsie| 7.16.09 @ 10:14PM
The pitch was bad but the 'mom' jeans were the real laugher. What a geek.
jordan 6 rings| 7.17.09 @ 4:45AM
We need another Lee Atwater to recruit a crop of street-fighting conservatives to rout these cowards once and for all.
E-Bikes| 7.17.09 @ 4:47AM
I like your steel. Atwater is certainly missed.
Mr. Dooley, well said.
Respectly,
IMK
Ben Frusher| 7.18.09 @ 3:17PM
We the Republicans have screwed the country the last twenty years, come on. Actually it has been Us Republicans that have keep you liberals in check. The problem is Republicans have been washintonized and they end up spènding more like you Democtats the more they stay in Washinton. We as the American people just need to vote out the entire Congress, and elect a completly new congress with term limits.
And quite frankly We as the American people should demand that the Politicians quite limiting the voice of the people and churches. Churches should not be able to comment on the moral rot in this country, give me a break. And and the Bible says, in Proverbes, a nation with moral decay falls easily. And you are so blinded to what is going on you can´t see it, quite a pitty.