The American Spectator : Dunkirk Conservatism

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Dunkirk Conservatism

By Quin Hillyer on 5.27.10 @ 6:09AM

On the 70th anniversary of the greatest evacuation of World War II, American conservatives should understand they've won nothing yet.

The greatest rescue operation in history began in full 70 years ago today. In nine days beginning May 27, 1940, the British Navy and hundreds upon hundreds of private vessels rescued an astonishing 338,266 men from the harbor and beaches of Dunkirk, France, all while under constant bombardment from German air and land forces that killed 68,111 Brits and captured as many as another 80,000. Instead of Great Britain being left at the mercy of the German death machine, the island nation had saved an army big enough to repel a Nazi invasion.

As Winston Churchill rightly noted: "We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations."

American conservatives right now do not seem to realize that we are in the immediate post-Dunkirk phase of a desired political recovery.

All around the country, I hear conservatives talking giddily about how many seats Republicans will pick up in this fall's congressional elections, and about how many of those Republicans will be true conservatives.

Newt Gingrich, for instance, is out there playing his usual game of speaking extravagantly about a coming victory. On May 18, he forecast up to a 70-seat gain in Republican House seats. On May 20, on the basis of one special election, he downgraded his prediction to "the 30-to-50-seat range" -- which still would be mighty impressive, by historical standards. This sort of volatility is nothing new: This is the same Gingrich who promised a 30-seat Republican House pickup in 1998, only to see an actual loss of five seats instead.

Maybe we should learn something from 1998. Or from 1980, where polls six days before Election Day had Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter in a dead heat, only to see Reagan win 489 out of 538 electoral votes. Conventional wisdom says that "six months is an eternity in politics." Actually, six days is an eternity in politics. Six months might as well be "infinity and beyond."

WHICH LEADS US BACK to Dunkirk. On the same day the evacuation began, the British War Cabinet came close to an ignominious deal with Italy's Mussolini that would amount to agreeing to permanent Nazi/Fascist domination of the European continent -- so close that only Churchill's dogged willpower stood between the deal and a continued battle for civilization. Yet six days after coming so close to what amounted to surrender, a quarter-million soldiers already had been evacuated, and it was clear that the Brits would indeed live to fight another day. Six days from apparent defeat to survival.

Yes, six days is an eternity.

That's why the current conservative giddiness is misplaced. Yes, the more conservative candidates won general elections in New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, and conservatives have won primaries in Utah, West Virginia, and Idaho, while conservatives have surged or even forced more liberal candidates out of races in Florida, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and elsewhere. Good. But all that means is that conservatives can now again wage a real fight. It means we have avoided the rout that the Obama-Pelosi-ACORN-SEIU brigades had planned for us. We have been evacuated. But our political D-Day, and V-E Day, and V-J Day, remain a long, long way off, and the outcome is by no means assured.

Some indicators, meanwhile, are not good at all. The Republican National Committee has just about $12 million cash on hand, compared to $40 million at this point in the most recent comparable cycle. All three of the main national party committees are reeling from embarrassments, and poorly led. Thousands of dollars for strip clubs and softball equipment. Chairman's feet continually in mouth. Blown endorsements and elections in New York-23, Florida Senate, Utah Senate, Kentucky Senate, Pennsylvania-12. Ham-handed interference in primary battles across the nation rather than letting locals choose their own candidates while the committees save their money and prestige and keep their powder dry until it's time to beat Democrats rather than fellow Republicans.

And, lest anybody forget, conservatives continue to lose legislatively. Health care has been nationalized. Student loans have been nationalized. The financial industry has been turned on its head. Spending continues to go through the roof. The auto industry has been partly nationalized. Half of the 1996 reforms of welfare have been gutted. The Justice Department is run by corrupt, leftist ideologues. The census has been politicized. AmeriCorps has been expanded ten-fold and altered into the first makings of a political army, while its inspector general has been illegally hounded from office -- and thus the internal controls against rank politicization have been torn asunder. Civil rights are now protected only for minorities, but not for whites or Asians. In a North Carolina case, civil rights were even adjudged to be nonexistent unless Democrats are virtually guaranteed electoral victory. The Supreme Court now features its most radical member ever, a truly dangerous Latina who is anything but wise -- and she seems likely to be joined by another leftist, this one bright and personable enough to have a chance to sway Justice Anthony Kennedy in her direction.

And on and on the disasters have gone. While conservatives pick up popular support and occasional off-year electoral victories, the Left has gobbled up vast amounts of the political continent -- and much of that land will be exceedingly difficult to re-take. Anzio, anyone? Guadalcanal? The Somme in World War I? Korea above the 38th parallel? Can anybody doubt that possession of territory, along with the levers of power within it, does anything other than confer huge advantages?

Friends, the fight to retake what already has been lost will be a long, long, hard, hard slog. Giddiness is out of place.

Yes, it is true that confidence, tempered by grim realism, is certainly not out of line, considering the poll numbers, the grassroots enthusiasm, the Tea Parties, and the incompetence and clueless of much of the leftist opposition. But confidence must be backed not just by hard work but also by smart work. Conservatives must not fall prey to mere attitudinal action based on an unfocused anti-establishmentarianism. Some people already in office are not "bums" who merit being thrown out. And some maverick outsiders aren't really competent or wise. Conservatives must learn to discern which are which.

Sobered by the task ahead, but justifiably confident that victory can indeed be attained, conservatives can indeed learn not just from Churchill's warning that evacuations are not victories, but also from the determination to earn real victories even against tough odds. At the risk of repeating what has become so familiar as to almost be trite, let us remember what else Churchill said immediately after the deliverance of Dunkirk. Remember his words, but read them and savor them as if they are new:

We shall go on to the end. We shall fight… in the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air; we shall defend our [land], whatever the cost may be. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

It should hearten us that Barack Obama banished the bust of Churchill from the White House. Obama doesn't understand. Pray Lord that we conservatives do understand. And never surrender.

About the Author

Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (69) | Leave a comment

drudge ette obama| 5.27.10 @ 6:20AM

Excellent comparison. Churchill set the course and inspired people who may have given up except that they were shown others had the same fears. Churchill led, teaching these people that they indeed had it in them to persevere.

In the end, the SEIU crowd isn't accomplished enough, rich enough, educated enough to really take over. There's an attempt to make a stab at it...we all just need a Churchillian event to remind us that we really have all the power. At least for now.

Alan Brooks| 5.27.10 @ 8:27PM

Politics is merely a game, albeit a serious one.
For instance education will never be reformed; if the quality of student performance improves somewhat (and not a whole lot), then teachers and administrators will want higer salaries and benefits.

Everyone in govt wants to move up the food chain. So political/social progress is illusory. it makes you feel better to write articles concerning evacuated conservative troops living to fight another day, but D-Day will never come-- only a Quixote tilting at windmills.

You have only one choice left: spend as much time in religious activities as possible; as soon as you leave the house of worship you are in a world of depravity.

Tim*| 5.27.10 @ 7:21AM

" Fuhrer , Shut Up & Take Your Valium ".

Deborah D| 5.27.10 @ 7:36AM

How about a truly American fighter's spirit to add to Churchill's, John Paul Jones: "I have not yet begun to fight."

martin j smith| 5.27.10 @ 7:37AM

If your point is don't get complacent I agree and that goes for any Republicans as well. The enemy--the Democrat Party is the party of political guerrilla warfare. They say or do anything to win or minimize loses. Which is why I say this the most important things to do are the following: find as much common ground with those who oppose Obama as possible. Minimize disagreements whenever possible. Have your primaries and debates but do not politically murder your primary opponents. When someone running for office out there messes up reach them to get the message that they were wrong--but don't publicly crucify them If there is a candidate who something really bad, get them out of the way diplomatically and in the least destructive way possible. The key to winning is the following: Unity,coalitions,agressively attack the Democvrat Party for they have many weaknesses--too numerous to mention . I think "reaching across the aisle is an error because this Democrat Party is extremely Left ideologically driven and there will be no meaningful quid pro quos or even meaningless ones for that matter. But with regard to voters who are disaffected Democrats or moderates, try very hard to focus on common ground of opposition to the Left agenda--debates can be had later after there is victory.

Bob K.| 5.27.10 @ 7:44AM

A common sense appraisal from an historical perspective! Excellent!

If one doesn't trust the Republican National Committee to do the right thing then contribute directly to the candidate running for Congress in your district or for the candidate running for Senate! That is what I am doing.

WM| 5.27.10 @ 4:22PM

That is the way to go. The RNC is only backing establishment-mentality candidates like Dino Rossi who will actively fight against the Tea Party. We need to focus on regime change of the GOP.

Tim*| 5.27.10 @ 7:47AM

How 'bout We , Men Of Animal House !

Otter : " We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part."
Bluto: " We're just the guys to do it."
D-Day: " Let's do it."
Bluto: " *Let’s do it*! "

TennesseeVolunteer| 5.27.10 @ 8:01AM

Quin, good counsel. the GOP also needs to understand that many of us out here who intend to work like hell before Nov. 2, 2010, our Independence day are NOT REPUBLICANS!
We are Conservatives who will vote Republican if that is our best choice. We know that a third party is a tool of the Democrats but if Newt or any other republican think we are buying their line of BS, instead of the Dems, they will be sorry, and I mean really sorry in 2012.
They will have their chance in 2010 but we will be watching before we vote in 2012!

Louis Jenkins| 5.27.10 @ 8:11AM

Agreed with Tenn Vol. Newt Who? Forget it Newt, there's no need to throw your hat into the ring as it will be eaten by the Democrats. 30-50 seats? Forget it. We don't deserve one seat if we don't work for it, Democrat, Republican, nor Independent.

MACON| 5.27.10 @ 9:00AM

Excellent article. The battle will be long and hard.
Churchill and Whittake Chambers knew what was ahead for the West. Conservatives and the Republicans need to work on mending fences with
the religious and family oriented Hispanics and African Americans. We have a majority but we need to stay focused!

crookedwren| 5.27.10 @ 9:45AM

MACON -- God Bless you for adding Whittaker Chambers. Those who don't know Chambers' story do not realize how deep THIS ocean of corruption and Marxism really is.

We've got to have more than political will and determination. We have a spiritual battle to fight as well -- for Marxists believe in their god of the collective and are willing to sacrifice their own lives for a future "victory."

We have to believe as passionately in Truth, in Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We have to believe just as passionately that our rights to these are inalienable, given to us by a Creator who granted us free will. We have to be willing to act and to pray. We have to be willing to pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

Otherwise, as Chambers said, the battle is already lost.

I'm discouraged. I know many others are as well. But we must never give up.

Bill| 5.27.10 @ 9:15AM

Without a SERIOUS change among big-government Republicans, and the development of Republicans with some charisma, Republicans can't expect to do well in November.

Right now, the dissatisfaction of voters seems to aimed at incumbents. Incumbents include Republicans. If the incumbents who get voted out are going to be replaced with conservatives, there had better be some charismatic Republicans on tap for the various campaigns to come. Otherwise there is no guarantee that there will be a Republican resurgence in November.

martin j smith| 5.27.10 @ 9:39AM

The anger out there is against big government and the deficit --and no jobs. This the responsibility of those running our government in washington--the Democrat Left for 95% od this. Tru--there are some Republicans we can do without but lets be real--it is anti-Obama,anti-left.

ncatty| 5.27.10 @ 9:39AM

We don't need the "Republican National Committee."

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 9:40AM

Quin,
Thanks.

Guys,
Nice feedback. As the Primaries play out, I hope The Spectator gang can help us decide which particular candidates can use our support on a nationalized basis.
As for me, this go around in November is a straight R ballot.
I can tell you from personal knowledge that the national business community, (other than the cronies) is frozen...FROZEN...until November.

If we can't take back the House, I am pretty well convinced that the "freeze" will almost instantly turn into a house fire from coast to coast.

Let me define, "house fire" at least partially. Strip centers will become ghost towns. Office buildings will have lot of vacant space and may not even be able to make their mortgages. Filling stations will close by the tens of thousands. Car dealerships will acquire a coat of undisturbed dust. Thousands of doctors will retire or take a long sabbatical.

Bottom line, our entire economy could contract thirty percent....in one year as individuals hunker down and stretch every dollar, and personal bankruptcy-protection cases will swamp the courts.

THAT is how important November is. If we can't finish this "Dunkirk" evacuation...there WILL be no "Army" to help us ...

"......... go on to the end. We shall fight… in the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air; we shall defend our [land], whatever the cost may be. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. ""

...But, man! the costs are going to be SKY high, and then.......... we will have to rebuild the rubble.

Each of us needs to update our e-mail contacts list, and begin working on our best "plea" for updated voter registrations AND a straight R vote from everyone we know.

Stormy| 5.27.10 @ 9:47AM

Guadalcanal? More like Pelieu or Iwo Jima, where we lost many thousands of Marines in brutal hand-to-hand combat, digging the enemy out of their spider holes and bunkers, who preferred to die than surrender.

Christopher Holland| 5.27.10 @ 9:23PM

I would pay good money to watch a Marine shoot a flamethrower into Obama's holdout and then throw in a satchel bomb. Especially if Hilary Clinton is in the same cave.

But I very much doubt that Obama prefers to die rather than surrender. He is as gutless as they come, he would throw his mother under a bus to save his own skin.

JP| 5.27.10 @ 10:16AM

Taking the Dunkirk analogy further. Dunkirk came about because of an unforced strategic error committed by both Hitler and von Rundstedt. The infamous Halt Order left Guderian's and Kleist's panzers marking time just 20 miles from the last embarkation point remaining for the Allies. For over a week the German mechanized troops watched helplessly as over 300,000 British and French troops evacuated. Without that Halt Order it is difficult to imagine the UK surviving the war.

While one cannot build a political agenda around the hopes for one's opponent's to commit grave error's, Churchill's example showed how one does proceed when one is given a gift from the God's. He exploited it ruthlessly. The Battle of Britain bled the German Luftwaffe white; Churchill also demanded victories from his commanders (He would have to wait 2 years until he found Montgomery). But most of all, Churchill took the long view by ensuring short term success both politically and militarily. Patience is a virture as long as it yields success.

I certainly do not think the GOP is well poised to make the kind political progress people are expecting - not in the short term. The RNC is riddled with incompetence, and at times petty corruption. The GOP's congressional conferences whose job it is to recruit viable local candidates continues to recruit the kind of lawmakers who will ensure the status quo ante. But the status quo is quickly becoming obsolete. This nation will very soon expirience crisis in both entitlements, tax revenues, as well as its currency. The old FDR-Keynsian model of increased taxes will no longer work, as our demographics will not allow it.

The GOP will not retake either Houses of Congress. But it will make significant inroads. And only those politicians (from either party) who suggest bold new ideas that both work and have broad appeal will attract voters.

President Obama and the Dems will make plenty of errors these next several months as they only have one solution for any given problem -spend and tax. The GOP after November needs to clean house in the RNC. That is thier first task. The GOP Senate Caucus is also in dire need of new leadership. The old salts like Lugar, McCain, Hatch, and Collins are not up to the task. But most of all the GOP needs new blood. This can only be done at the state and local levels. We have plenty of good ideas, but very few people who can deliver results.

sinanju| 5.27.10 @ 1:26PM

Personally, I'm not quite as worried about the Republican committees pratfalls as I might earlier have been. They have clearly been outgrown, thanks to the New Media of the the internet and talk radio, individual primary candidates can make themselves heard and we can donate directly to them. I for one would not give a dime to the RNC, RNCC, RNSCC but rather donate my hard-earned money directly to the candidate of my choice and I respectfully advise fellow conservatives to do likewise.

Let Michael Steele and his crew of pretties play on with whatever money they can cadge, they have been superseded.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 10:44AM

JP,
Erudite......................but stupid.

Sir, we simply have two choices. See my post above.

Are you going to keep sitting on your arse, picking at our scabs, or...are you going to get off your arse and help us re-take our liberty?

Man up, guy.

JP| 5.27.10 @ 11:49AM

Ken,
I'm not sure if I should take offence of your remarks or not. Please tell me how my comments were "stupid". And I'm not sure by what you mean by "getting of my arse". You don't know me from Adam; so, I will take that remark with a grain of salt.

I don't think you appreciated what I said because I injected what I think is a grain of realism. Political cheerleading aside, it is rare that radical changes to our society occur in rapid paces. President Obama and his party took a once in a lifetime oppurtunity and ran with it. But this is not the first time something like this occured. A very similar situation occured circa 1912-1920 and we got through it.

And looking at the situation from a point of view of realism it isn't very difficult to surmise that the GOP will not retake either House this election cycle. The RNC has been totally mismanaged, and the GOP conferences that recruit candidates have made one mistake after another. But despite these problems, the GOP should win back 30 seats in the House and perhaps 6 in the Senate if the stars are all aligned. I do not see that as being defeatist, but realistic. And it is a damn better situation than Jan of 2009. Pelosi will have her back to the wall, Reid will probably be gone and the GOP will have a 47 seat minority status - that is, they will be able to block Obama's tranformative agenda.

The voters do not respond well to calls of disaster. Prophets of Doom may elicit many followers, but they rarely win political elections. If FDR ran on fear and fear alone in 1932, he and his party would not have won thier landslide victories. The GOP is better off forumlating solid ideas and solutions and recruiting candidates who can implement them. But that takes time. Prominent GOP celebrities were way out of line promising landslide victories this time around. It was totally irresponsible. You may be reminded that the GOP picked up modest gains in the 1978 mid term elections. On those victories were a clear shot across Jimmy Carter and Tips O'Niel's bow. This election cycle will be similar to 1978, but more dramatic. It turned out the 1980 elections were a landslide.

BTW, in the end all that matters is the vote you cast. All of the tea party events, public cheerleading and blogger are nullified if you cast the wrong vote or fail to vote. And I would like to say that I have 7 children who in less than a generation will probably be 7 future conservative/libertarian votes. I think I am doing my part.

PS. Look to 2012 being the the turning point. Twenty five Democratic Senators will have to defend thier seats, and Obama will have to defend his 4 years of tranformative politics (ie he will not be able to blame Bush, Cheney, or Haliburton). And I believe 2012 the GOP will have an excellent chance to bury the liberals for a generation. But first, it must get its own house in order.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 1:38PM

JP,
Here is where you were stupid:

""The GOP will not retake either Houses of Congress. But it will make significant inroads. And only those politicians (from either party) who suggest bold new ideas that both work and have broad appeal will attract voters. ""

JP, I don't know where you live of course, or what you do for a living...BUT...

You obviously deid not read my post above before you added your "erudite" procrastination until 2012.
You are a sneaky bastard...I will give you that.

Here is my post ...repeated for your edification:

Quin,
Thanks.

If we can't take back the House, this November, I am pretty well convinced that the "freeze" will almost instantly turn into a house fire from coast to coast.

Bottom line, our entire economy could contract thirty percent....in one year as individuals hunker down and stretch every dollar, and personal bankruptcy-protection cases will swamp the courts.

THAT is how important November is. If we can't finish this "Dunkirk" evacuation...there WILL be no "Army" to help us ...

...But, man! the costs are going to be SKY high, and then.......... we will have to rebuild on the rubble.

Each of us needs to update our e-mail contacts list, and begin working on our best "plea" for updated voter registrations AND a straight R vote from everyone we know. ""

JP,
I am the CFO of a national company. I was CEO of two fortune sized international companies...until I turned them around and "retired" to authoring books.

If you want to learn...instead of spout off ignorantly, then go to http://judgeroy.;wordpress.com

This November is our last chance, sir.
Your "seven children" will not have a vote after that in my best judgement.
We certainly cannot reverse this disaster in one election...but if we cannot take back the House...your "seven" children are serfs.
Enjoy.

JP| 5.27.10 @ 1:53PM

Ken,
And despite your proclaimed level of achiements you are blissfully unaware of the fact that taking back the House means little if you cannot win the control of the Senate. How on earth will winning the House save us from your predicted "Doom" ? The answer is nothing. The GOP can just as effectively block an Obama/Pelosi agenda from the minority position. Winning the House would certainly be nice, but it is not enough. Your hyperventilating about "this is our last" chance ingores the reality that pick ups in the Senate will effectively stop Obama cold in his tracks. Picking up 5 to 6 seats in the Senate is as good as taking control of the House in this context as it will ensure a political deadlock -which is as good as it gets with Obama in the WH. It is certainly more realistic than winning back the House, as many of the GOP pols running for House seats will not unseat those Blue Dog incumbents.

I clicked your hyper link and unsurprisingly it was a dead link. And the only insight into the posts that you made was a cryptic insuation that you had insider knowledge of a financial collapse. Of course you failed to enlighten us with any specifics.

Deborah D| 5.27.10 @ 2:06PM

JP -- take the ";" (semicolon) out of the web address and you'll get there. Ken had a typo.

ncatty| 5.27.10 @ 2:55PM

Based on the length of your posts and the number of them throughout the day, I would say that you, Ken, are the one sitting on your "arse" (your words to JP).

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 5:50PM

ncatty,
http://judgeroy.wordpress.com

Fortunately, I type 70 words per minute , and think much faster.
Sorry for the delayed response. I had to tend to business.
JP
You forget that each funding/appropriations bill must originate in the House.
OOPS!

Tim*| 5.27.10 @ 6:14PM

Ken says ,
" Each of us needs to update our e-mail contacts list, and begin working on our best "plea" for updated voter registrations AND a straight R vote from everyone we know. "

We ,Tea Party Rebels ain't votin' for CINO -RINO 's.

This is the same " Lesser Evil " crap that led to The Serial Traitor To Conservatism , John McCain being The Republican Party Presidential Candidate.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

5 Months To November 2nd.

Cabermon| 5.27.10 @ 10:52AM

The Dunkirk analogy is spot on. Remember that Churchill's "End of the beginning" declaration was in a later speech AFTER victory in the Battle of Britain, not before.
The enemy here is populated by the likes of Rahm Emanual and David Axelrod: Competent and ruthless like Rommel and Yamamoto.
We must nominate electable candidates, not just charismatic but inexperienced nutcases whose electoral chances will disappear in disclosures of whackjobbery.

Blackwatch| 5.27.10 @ 2:31PM

Well said. Remeber who the op-force is in this election. Socialists. They play for keeps.

no conservative whackos please. If we can't get a decent person who is conservative then by all means elect the damn rino until Barry Sotero is no longer POTUS.

Some bright spark once said "Perfection is the Enemy of Good" (paraphrasing) Get 80% of what you want this round.

DatsunMark| 5.27.10 @ 10:58AM

Quin,
You couldn't have summed it up better. Newt and crew are counting wins in districts they know nothing about. Out here in Oregon, there is voter dissatifaction, but no name recognition conservatives running for office. The libs will still run the Peoples Republic of Oregon this fall, so don't count on Oregon to contribute to conservative victory. (At least not yet...operation *Eat Me* is about to start)

Big Tony| 5.27.10 @ 11:08AM

I believe the situation is far worse that the writer indicates. Between the selfishness of many on the left who vote for any politician who promises more free goodies. The ignorance of people that are more interested in watching America Idol, Dancing with the Stars and reading People magazine instead of informing themselves to the nature of what's happening to the country. People that get their news and information from 30 second political advertisments and the half truths and outright lies told by the vast majority of media and use that misinformation to determine for whom they will vote. Couple that with country club republicans such as G.W. and G.H.W. Bush plus the seeming unwillingness of republicans to put true conservatives on the bench or stand up for the constitution. Add to that also, that once the republicans gain power they will revert to form and it will only be a temporary set back for the democrats before the electorate boots the sorry so and so's back out again. I am much more fearful for the country's future than I am hopeful. Most politicans in either political party simply cannot be trusted. Most of the citizens of this country got the government the want and deserve. Which is unfortunate for the rest of us. Now most people believe we are a democracy rather than a Constitutional Republic and we are being governed as a democracy. Democracies rarely last more than a few centuries at which point the citizens bankrupt the national treasury and a dictator takes control. Remember Hitler and Hugo Chavas were both voted into office. The ballot box is no defence against ignorance, stupidity, avarice and a political class has rendered the consitution virtually null and void for their own personal gain and aggrandizement.

Al Adab| 5.27.10 @ 11:40AM

Great analogy. We have only now begun to see the error of our ways. The election of a firm, Faith based Leftist and the blame America myrmidons has only caused us to consider options.

It does not matter how many gains, if any, the Republicans make this fall. What matters, and our very future depends on it, is what gains Constitutionalist/Conservatives within the GOP make. There simply are none in the DEM party.

Unless we see that the parties are clear philosophical opposites, we will continue to debate as though the two world views they represent are viable alternatives to one another. They simply are not. The Faith of the Left, now in control of the once great DEM party, is the road to failure and the loss of Liberty. Likewise, too much of the GOP remains in the accomodationist camp. Until and unless the Conservatives manage to regain a majority position within the GOP that lamp of freedom is feeble.

What do we mean to Conserve you ask? It is Liberty and that alone. Future generations will either curse us for our failure or they will remember that when in mattered, when the future happiness of mankind hung in the balance we were not found wanting. The cost to us may be high, but the cost to our posterity could be even higher. There is no substitute for Victory.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 1:44PM

Adab,
Well said!

Ted R.| 5.27.10 @ 12:03PM

Republicans overconfident? Was ol' Winston overconfident? No sir! Don't forget your Republican mantra for this fall: Cut spending to finance new tax cuts for the "rich"! Repeal universal health insurance! No to any regulations on the bankers! And yes, "Drill Baby DRILL!"

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.27.10 @ 1:41PM

Hi Ted.

Heh, get out of mommie's basement more.
Cut my taxes and I will hire lots of fine folks.

Ted R.| 5.27.10 @ 3:37PM

Nope. We're gonna raise your taxes, friend. It's the only realistic way to cut the deficit. As for job creation, if tax-cut voodoo EVER worked, then there wouldn't have been ZERO net job creation during the tax-cut happy Bush years. Your ideology has failed. November is your last stand. Make it count. Fail to re-capture the House, and we're on the way to being a center-left country.

emo| 5.30.10 @ 4:24PM

Ted:

The deficit is the result of spending, not lack of taxation. As for Bush's tax cuts, anyone with knowledge of tax cuts would know Bush's cuts were not supply side . Mostly they were tax credits and rebates. His rate cuts were pathetic. Reagan's tax cuts lead to 20m new jobs, Even Clinton had supply side tax cuts in 1997.

But youre right. Thanks to an ever increasing number of ignoramuses like yourself, the USA is a center left country.

emo| 5.30.10 @ 4:26PM

Obama has increased federal spending as a % of GFP from 22% to 28%. Historically regardless of the top income tax rate, federal taxation has fluctuated between 18-22% of GDP.

So even if we had a Bill Clinton rip roaring economy circa 1999-2000, the budget deficit would still be 6% of GDP or roughly $700-800b

emo| 5.30.10 @ 4:28PM

It is Drill Here Drill Now. Not Drill Baby Drill, dont know where you got that. But either way, it is a winning issue. Because the American people, unlike you Teddy Boy, understand the need for more domestic oil production

dw| 5.27.10 @ 1:38PM

tr -you are an inslult to morons. Many of which occupy the white house right now.

Ted R.| 5.27.10 @ 3:32PM

Spelling, dw. If you're going to INSULT me, get that much right.

David| 5.27.10 @ 3:58PM

Very good Quinn. I cringe and pitch a fit whenever I see or talk to other repubs who are "giddy" about our prospects in November. The chances may look good, and we may even get both chambers of congress back in repub hands, but if those repubs don't govern via conservative principles, and literally begin to "roll-back" the liberal gains that have been made in the past few decades, it will mean nothing good for our country or my children and grandchildren (all future "actual taxpayers" I hope).

The country cannot afford, and repubs cannot allow, the leftists to go for the whole ball of wax on issue after issue, and when they are held to only 10% of what they wanted, the repubs celebrate in victory, with that giddiness again. That is flippin' nonsense. The country just lost 10% to the leftist cause. Ten percent here, 5% there, another 15% five years down the road is exactly what has brought us to a near socialist nation that is morally bankrupt.

Think Reagan. He and his admin wanted to abolish the federal dept of education and they tried, but he had only a repub Senate for 2 years and never had the House. Bill Clinton comes along for 8 years, then George (one-worlder) Bush, with control of both chambers of congress, and the very first thing he does is crawl in bed with Ted Kennedy and increase the dept's budget by 50%. That kind of crap makes no sense. Bush could not have done that if the repub congress had stopped him in his tracks. Like conservatives did when he tried to shove Harriet Meirs as a supreme court pick down our throats. We need principled conservatives in all branches of gov't.

The repubs should make the biggest fight they can over Elena Kagan's nomination to the court. They should have fought the "wise Latina's" nomination, too. They p'd me off so bad for letting that "wise" woman (who had to read children's books while in college or law school (?) to improve her understanding of English). That moron who lives and rules by every empathetic bone in her body should have been publicly slaughtered so that all Americans could understand that her judicial philosophy is completely foreign to American thought and our constitutional system.

Republicans, if fortunate enough to get both chambers back, need to begin rolling back virtually everything Bam Bam and the dems have passed. Push it and push it so that when a repub gets to the White House, the reversals can be immediate. When the boy (not racial, just inexperienced and naiive and moronic) took office, 40% of workers paid zero income taxes, and now I believe 47% will not be paying income taxes. They need to roll back that, and roll back the expansion of the welfare rolls that Bam Bam has allowed.

Republicans, even if it means embarrassing our president, need to make clear to Great Britian, Israel, the Czecks, the Poles, and all of our friends, that we are on THEIR side and will do everything we can to stop Bam Bam from doing anything to hurt them. The dems have never hesitated to embarras repub presidents, and by his actions and words against our country and our friends, he has legitimately and willingly forfeited any good will he had.

Don't screw up this time repubs. You had better govern like conservatives and begin the "roll back" of the leftist advances that have been made.

dw| 5.27.10 @ 4:13PM

tr-I left that on purpose so you could have a witty responce without having to tax whatever brain you have left.

Simon Templar| 5.27.10 @ 5:04PM

The RNC and many still do not get it....and I am not sure they want to or ever will. It is not solely about winning elections and raising money. It is about the hearts and minds of a free people. Its about taking back the institutions that shape a nation from the university to the media to the schools. The Left got this a long time ago. Unless, we reestablish the true history, values, and the means by which these values are enculturated, we will loose. A few conservative politicians and a few web sites will not cut it. Do you trully understand what I am trying to say?

WRJonas | 5.27.10 @ 5:56PM

There were a couple of interesting sidelights from the Dunkirk evacuation which were not disclosed or omitted by the author. They have gained some consideration as auras of Divine intervention ,
One was the weather which was a prolonged spell of low ceilings and poor to limited visibility . The Luftwaffe was hesitant to risk too many aircraft in marginal weather lest they encountered a sudden loss of operational conditions far from home bases.
Second was the seas across the channel were very flat with minimal tidal fluctuations which allowed very small craft to make multiple crossings . The calm seas lasted for over a fortnight( I threw that in. I have no idea what a fortnight is ) but I've read about a week and a half. ?
The co incidental merging of all of these factors led historians to infer a title of The Miracle of Dunkirk on an unbelievable salvage from defeat.
I don"t think conservatives are in this much peril . Rather it is Democrats who 'd better be looking for small boats , rafts and anything that floats.

J.C.Eaton| 5.27.10 @ 6:06PM

Quin, a provocative piece....not sure if the Dunkirk analogy holds up as well as, say: Antietam. After all, Lee{Obama} drops his plans right in front of McClellan[Repubs] and still nobody knows what to do with their good fortune. But you do make at least three very valid points. First, keep Newt Gingrich in a cage someplace, the little wussy brahmin is insufferable and tediously so, Second, recognize clearly that we ARE in a war . Third, always assume you are twenty points behind and run appropriately. Finally, and for good measure: Never, never, never give in. Best,

dw| 5.27.10 @ 6:30PM

The problem with politicians is they are politicians. We want and expect a united front led by conservative republicans in full battle mindset against an enemy which is threatening the very existence of this country as we knew it.
What we have are political animals that just a few years ago sat at the table with Teddy Kennedy to compromise on a bill that would have further sold our founding principles down the river. (along with a whole littany of other such sell outs) Many of them still do not understand that we must destroy the democratic party as it is now constituted before it destroys us.

J.C.Eaton| 5.27.10 @ 6:52PM

Yep....or at least mangle 'em up pretty good.

Ran / Si Vis Pacem| 5.27.10 @ 10:05PM

Mr Hillyer,
Many thanks. Beautiful - and bloody sobering.

John II| 5.27.10 @ 11:14PM

Quin: Nice piece. But no analogy is perfect, and in your wind-up quote of Churchill's stirring Dunkirk speech, you left out the part which comes in the next few sentences. I mean, the part about holding on until the New World in all its might comes to the rescue of the Old. That was eighteen months before Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese helped answer Churchill's prayers by waking the "Sleeping Giant."

So: In the present context, as conservatives battle in the streets and the hills, where or what is the equivalent of the USA coming from without to the rescue of the fighting Brits? Waffling "centrists" fed up with the Obamanation? Waves of illegal immigrants who suddenly discover that they're all being played for political patsies? Corrupt hordes of liberal Democrats who suddenly experience a metanoia?

Just wondering.

Ohiolad| 5.28.10 @ 8:02AM

Like a lot of people I will not be sanguine about a Republican victory until Tea Party conservatism has taken over the GOP establishment at the local, state, and national levels. Obviously that process has only just started and has a long way to go with no assurance that it can be accomplished. For this to happen many well-known, established GOP political figures will need to either step aside, switch parties, or be defeated in the primaries. But so long as the moderate/RINO wing of the GOP is still in charge it will not be a victory worth celebrating, because they will not have what it takes to do what is needed – which is dismantling much of the federal bureaucracy. The progressives are confident that even if they are temporarily thrown out of power the gigantic federal bureaucracy that they have created will be eternal and will only continue to grow ever larger. Somehow they need to be proven wrong.

Emo| 5.30.10 @ 4:20PM

The day after the 2010 election the big story will be the utter failure of the Tea Party.

Sharron Angle will lose to Reid by 20 points, Toomey will lose by 10 and Rand Paul is at best a toss up.

In CO if the Tea Party gives Scott McInnis the boot, advantage Hickenlooper.

Bob Belvedere| 5.28.10 @ 9:47AM

1) Quin: Dead Solid Perfect.

2) As Churchill also said: Nil Desperandum [Never Despair].

Oldefarte| 5.28.10 @ 2:23PM

Wait, wasn't the same theme presented recently by an Ann Coulter article??????????

gene hauber| 5.28.10 @ 4:01PM

i wont give a dime to the RNC until there are no more RINO types in the building.

Steele and his ilk must go to build up the coffers there and for us to win BIGTIME in nov. he, Steele, dosen't get conservatives and that should be a fatal wound to his tenure at RNC.

you're right 6 days is a lifetime, so we have multiple lifetimes to dump Steele.

Gary Garrison| 5.28.10 @ 10:29PM

What a crock of BS!

emo| 5.30.10 @ 4:17PM

I think conservatives are far too optimistic about the Nov elections. It is true that Obama/Pelosi/Reid are to the left of the American electorate. But the American Electorate of 2010 is to the left of the American Electorate of 1994.

The last few special elections have shown about a 5% swing top the GOP. That isnt enough to win the House. Enough for maybe 190-200 seats in the House.

In the Senate I can still see the GOP losing seats.
The GOP will pick up for certain DE, IN and ND. AR is likely for +4

The Dems have real possibilities in NC, FL, KY, OH, MO and AZ. They will certainly win at least 3/6 of these races.

GOP will be bitterly disappointed in PA, CO, CA, IL, WA, WI and NV as Reid wins easily.

This will leave the Senate at best +1-2 GOP and possibly -2 GOP

GOP will lose Gov races in OH and CA.

I am sick of hearing Rush Limabugh Sean Hannity saying ad nauseum that America is a center right country. It isnt. It is a center left country. Obama's approval rating is unlikely ever to fall below 45%. Obama is a complete disaster and yet his approval rating in the RCP is roughly 48%.

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