The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
The Campaign Spectator
Print Email
Text Size

The Campaign Spectator

Nice Guise Finished at Last

By on 11.9.12 @ 6:08AM

No more tip-toeing around the obvious — the Republican ticket, and Karl Rove especially, ran a woeful, passive campaign.

The Emperor’s latest suit of new clothes fits about as well as the previous ones. Now we all have to mouth platitudes about what a terrific campaign Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan ran. Well, guess what, they ran a pathetic embarrassment of a campaign, and when the R/R met Conductor Karl Rove’s caboose at the American Crossroads, the result was a disastrous train wreck. The Emperor not only has no clothes, he is covered in unsightly warts.

I say this fully acknowledging that Romney almost won with a fine debate performance and that I for one was gulled into predicting he would win. But that would have been a fluke, losing the campaign and winning the debate.

Without doing a laundry list of complaints, I can prove my case with a simple question: did anyone here see an ad, one single solitary ad, laying out exactly what was going to happen to you after Obamacare is implemented? Anyone mention the “fine” you will pay if you do not honor the mandate to buy health insurance? Anyone mention one by one, slowly, each new tax that will kick in automatically on January 1, 2013?

I saw a million polls on Rasmussen and Real Clear Politics about the Presidential and the Congressional and immigration and exfoliation and peregrination and miscegenation and who knows what all, but not one single poll asked people if they know the amount they will pay extra in 2013. Not one asked if they are aware of the amount of the health insurance penalty. So it falls to me to give you the results of my informal poll. The answer is zero. Zero! Nobody knows because it was out of sight, out of mind and no one called it to people’s attention.

I went around asking my wealthier friends if they were aware that if they die on December 31 and leave an estate of 5 million dollars, their children will receive five million dollars (well, not in New York, with an estate tax as high as 16 percent), but if they hang in until January 1, their children will receive 2.8 million and Uncle Sam will take delivery of the other $2,200,000.00. No, they were not aware, for the most part. And those are the more fiscally knowledgeable people in the society.

Personally, I would have preferred direct attacks on the Democrats and on the President, but even in the Gentleman Jim model, it made sense to EDUCATE people about the dollars-and-cents consequences of their vote beyond repeating like a mantra umpteen zillion times that there are 23 million Americans looking for work.

Even that issue was not framed to pack a punch. It would have resonated much more to repeat how many people had jobs when Obama took office and how many have them now. Then point out this is the first time in our lifetimes the country has fewer total jobs at the end of four years.

But if Romney was dumb Rove was dumber. He collected upwards of one hundred million dollars and all but one of the candidates he backed lost. The reason for his monumental ineffectiveness was simple: his ads sounded like campaign ads from the Campaign.

The whole point of surrogate advertising groups is to get their hands dirty. If the man on the ticket wants to be Mr. Nice Guy, then it’s up to his backers to play rough. (The Talmud says a scholar should not fight back against his detractors but his students and followers should instead.)

The Swift Boat guys defeated John Kerry by telling uncomfortable truths that George W. Bush did not think were fodder for Presidential conversation. Where was the equivalent material about Obama in the ads run by Rove and his pals?

We did not even hear substantive material from his Presidency that was hard-hitting. No ad mentioned his telling Medvedev to tell Putin he would be flexible after the election. No ad mentioned he agreed with Sarkozy that Netanyahu is a liar. No ad mentioned he told the San Francisco Chronicle he would bankrupt the coal industry.

But we certainly did not hear personal things on the level of the ads against Romney for being a vulture capitalist. We did not hear that he was a community organizer for years without a single testimonial from anyone who benefited from his help. We did not hear that he lets his brother live in a hovel in Kenya.

Nor do the Republicans get credit for playing nice. The press frames it as a mutually negative campaign. I see the downside of this strategy, but where is the upside? Whose respect did they gain?

Yeah, I know I made the same point here eight years ago, but those who do not repeat it are doomed to learn from history.

About the Author

Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (167) |

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.9.12 @ 6:15AM

Yes, the Karl Rove "Get Obama-Lite" tactic failed and failed miserably.

There was no strength of attack on Obama's failures and because of that Obama got to define Romney as a rich out of touch Cayman Islands vacationer.

The Republicans still do not appear to realize what happened. They act like back benchers and lost like back benchers.

Von Mises Jr| 11.9.12 @ 7:49AM

Just like the lazy liberals whom voted for goodies from the Treasury, the GOP Establishment never embraced the plight of their conservative base. They are living marvelously in DC. Why rock the boat with a real battle for the country when you can go along and get along?
Remember that Rove comes from the Bush regime that has Papa Bush as an Agenda21 elitist. Bush Jr. increased the size of government and never fought for conservative principles. They had Christie whom was the keynote speaker who is about to pass Agenda21 in NJ by Executive Order.
The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend.

Kwan| 11.9.12 @ 11:48AM

When food stamps start coming in billion dollar quantities, then the sucker bet on Obama, Prince of Kenya, Indonesia and Chicago, may start looking bad. But suckers never realize when a bet is going bad. They double down and begin yammering some more about raising taxes...Daniel Greenfield. It looks like the leftist morons are now trying to encourage us to join the ranks of the walking brain-dead. Greenfield's "Carney Nation" makes it clear why it's a Universal Law, that any house of cards built on a foundation of lies, flim-flamery, and leftist hokum will ultimately crumble.
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/d.....ny-nation/

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 9:56AM

Agreed and now Rove is pushing Jeb and will step up his efforts to destroy grass roots conservatives. Rove is a progressive and a coward. All he had to do was run ads with Obama's own words and those of his staff, there were so many key soundbites to choose from POTUS, Energy, Treasury, HHS, DHS, EPA, etc. Look for the Law of the Sea Treaty to resurface and sadly I think it will be ratified due to the loss of the 2 Senate seats (of course Lugar supports any treaty so his seat doesn't impact treaties)

On a personal note, I hope you are well and got through Sandy without damage, great to see you posting again. I have not posted much because all of my "free" time was devoted to local campaigns / poll observing. One observation from observing confirms how poorly educated our electorate is on basic civics, economics, etc...but we knew that didn't we. Free stuff won, Freedom lost.

sane person| 11.10.12 @ 11:24AM

"Dear Red States

We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've decided we're leaving.

We in California intend to form our own country and we're taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren't aware that includes New York, Hawaii, Oregon,
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the Northeast.

We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially
to the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America

(E.S.A).

To sum up briefly:

You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states.

We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren. You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get those ignorant fools at Ole' Miss.

We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs.

You get Alabama .

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the
Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch
of single moms.

sane person| 11.10.12 @ 11:24AM

With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of 80% of the
country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%
of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines (you can
serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of
the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living
redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese
Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US
mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99%
of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush
Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed
by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death
penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that
Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you
are people with higher morals then we lefties.

We're taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in Mexico.

Sincerely,

A Citizen of the Enlightened States of America"

Occam's Tool| 11.30.12 @ 5:59PM

Attended UCLA, taught at U of Alabama school of Medicine. UCSF has best AIDS research program in the USA. Who is number 2? Harvard, Mayo, Hopkins, UCLA, Pittsburgh or someone else? Answer:

Someone else. Dang, it's UAB in Birmingham, Alabama. Texas A&M is an academic powerhouse. So is UT Austin. So is Emory. Who has more medical school slots, the State of Texas or Illinois & Minnesota & Wisconsin combined?

Oh, and where is the majority of the best wheat for breadmaking made? Redstate (ND). Oil resources? Red State.

Please take California and her unsustainable debt with you. Speaking of enlightenment, what State educates the largest number of Native American MDs in any single Medical School? Red State. (ND) What Law School has to get a fake Indian to meet a diversity requirement? Harvard.

Occam's Tool| 11.30.12 @ 6:06PM

Oh, and where is the largest insane asylum in the USA located? (LA, LA County Jail)

Who has an appalling lack of inpatient beds per Capita for the Mentally ill, Alabama or California (NB: I TRAINED AT UTMB & UCLA, and PRACTICED IN AL, KY,NZ, NM, MN). California.

Which state has the worst care for its mentally ill: Kentucky, AL, or CA? Answer: CA.

Which hospital system had better data information retrieval systems for its state/county referral medical hospitals: UTMB in the 1980s, or UCLA in the 1990s? (UTMB---as a matter of fact, with regards to laboratory data retrieval systems, I have not yet worked in a hospital in the 2000s that matched UTMB in the 1980s)

This dismissal or Red States as places of backwardness and ignorance is moronic. The Rocket scientists, folks, do not only live in Pasadena. They also live in HUNTSVILLE, AL.

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 11:34AM

Stay in CA and be happy, just don't expect the other states to bail you out. Honestly, I don't understand your tirade to my post, good grief give it a rest. We are Americans, the dollar is crashing and will be further devalued with current Fed policies...everyone of us are impacted at the gas pump, food prices, etc. Please be happy with your life and by all means stay in CA.

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 12:08PM

"Police nabbed the suspect yesterday in the rape of a mentally disabled woman on a Los Angeles County bus. It was the third rape this year on a LA bus."
http://www.thegatewaypundit.co.....bus-video/

Since you call out states like TX, OK, AL and attack other Southern States, I can tell you what would happen if someone in those states attacked any woman like that on a bus, they would not sit by in silence and allow this to happen.

It is 2012, the slavery you refer to is long gone, (you must have never learned who the abolitionists were, to you shock they included people in the South along with many of our Founders) but we are now all debt slaves, one day you just may figure it out, until then...go ahead and get your Obama phone on my dime before the dimes run out.

Rhoetus| 11.10.12 @ 8:34PM

sane person [sic]:
Good riddance, we don't want to bail out the State of California or any debtor state in the union, Good luck and God's speed.

Canada Cares| 11.9.12 @ 8:19AM

And what about educating the electorate about the fact that the "financial meltdown" of '08 can be laid much more legitimately at the foot of the Democrats than George Bush. Observing from up here in Canada I was struck throughout the campaign and really since '08 that the Republican party has meekly accepted the responsibility.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 9:13AM

How again?

Lehman, Stearns, Morgan Stanley and Merrill were all "misted" by Fannie and Freddie?

Canada continues to separate investment banks from retail banks - to the horror of your misdirected Harper regime. CMHC (Canada's Fannie) had a minimum 5%, now 10%. NO SUBPRIMES.
Harper even woke up and increased regulation on REITs and has taken a protectionist stance on resources: remember Potash Corp and now Nexen?

Was Ditech and Countrywide "misted" by Fannie/Freddie too?

Was the Randian fetishist Greenspan "misted" as well?

Realize how good you have it, and begin to suggest for one nanosecond the US should adopt Canada's monetary and fiscal controls. You will be laughed out of here. You'd be right, but the flat-earthers on here would be objecting.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 11:17AM

Get rid of government implicit and explicit guarantees via Freddie and Fannie, and watch the banks regain financial responsibility rather than foisting their risk on the American people.

Tom Kyba| 11.9.12 @ 11:32AM

The problem with low-lifes like you is there never has been, nor ever will be, any event or circumstance where the Dems are guilty and the Republicans are not blameworthy. This is intellectual bankruptcy. And poultroons like you sneer at conservatives for being mindless robots. Talk about irony.

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 10:05AM

Bingo, your comment is spot on. I have raised that point over and over again with GOP reps, senators, local conservative radio hosts. Rove, Ryan, Romney, etc never discuss the cause of the financial collapse - both parties contributed, Peter Ferrara's piece this week called out the GOP for not speaking out on this.

Reps and Senators in my state do not hold townhalls, they fail to use these forums to listen to voters nor educate them on the awful healtcare law, EPA impact on private property, etc.

Cobalt| 11.9.12 @ 9:00AM

"The voting public today comprises the tattooed, the pierced, the gay, the promiscuous, the unchurched, stoners, those who bear 40% of the nation's offspring out of wedlock, and those who have had some 40 million-plus abortions since 1973."

Election 2012: The Final victory of the Counter-Culture

By Michael Filozof

http://www.americanthinker.com.....lture.html

Seek| 11.9.12 @ 6:55PM

Who says these people necessarily vote? Michael Filozof rely on a crudely-drawn caricature of the counterculture as a misfit collection. As if hippie-hating rednecks are somehow the salt of the earth.

As for those who bear out-of-wedlock kids, many are black -- there's your main problem. Hippies? Not nearly so much.

Dai Alanye | 11.9.12 @ 9:19AM

I fail to see why anyone who backed Romney in the primaries should have any sense of surprise. This is the man you chose, and he ran the type of campaign you should have expected. Don't blame Karl Rove, blame the people who chose Romney in the first place.

That having been said, there's little value in recrimination. As I see it, the election was lost when Republicans and conservatives allowed the economic debacle to be blamed on Dubya Bush, and even helped to do so. This is the major issue that allowed Obama and company to set the narrative that drove his voters to the polls.

It has taken sixty years to start setting the record straight on the Great Depression--that it was extended and worsened by the policies of FDR. Let's not take that long to pin the Great Recession on Obama and his gang. It won't help now, but a re-education campaign on this issue could set the narrative for the next election.

C. Vernon Crisler | 11.9.12 @ 10:15AM

Dittos....

pogybait| 11.9.12 @ 10:55AM

The ruling class Republicans continues to stress structure over motivation, rather than placing the emphasis on affecting the attitudes of their counterparts. These leaders in the party continue to resist any formal criteria; the issues are not how they would be kept but how they are to be defined. While Democrats are less interested in fine drafting points and good will they work to build voter confidence; Republican leaders continue to monopolize the accumulation of partial successes. Current Republicans leadership consistently fails to communicate conservative alternatives; they view the world through their own spheres mimicking their oppositions choices to find their answers and in the end are doomed by not comprehending exactly what they are seeing. No doubt, the Democrat leaders are aware of the nightmare they are about to be caught in, this time they will be unable to run away from the encounter. This debate will come full circle and Republicans need a bottom up change which will never be achieved by posturing or rhetoric.

Alan Brooks | 11.10.12 @ 1:22AM

You don't want to be a white guy in the ghetto when Food Stamps aren't accepted anymore!

Rhoetus| 11.10.12 @ 8:31PM

Karl Rove loves the status quo of Leviathan so why would he have an idea that Bush43 or any of the non-small government conservatives were in error either in governing or their views of the individual in society? I just heard Lindsey Graham (R - SC) promote bio-metric devices for every US Resident.

I am not a dog, I am a Man. I was born into freedom because of God’s gift and the US Constitution; I owe no debt to any politician, bureaucrat or to my peers. To advocate the use of bio-metric devices to register, track and obviously control all Americans is so repugnant to me and it should be to every American. Wake up America, not only your life but your individuality is at risk.

Appleby| 11.9.12 @ 6:29AM

Romney, the second or third choice of almost everybody who voted not for him but against Obama, was campaigning as if it was 1952; and he never once acted as if he really wanted the job. If someone had come to interview with me for a job and showed such a lackluster desire to work for me, I would not have hired him. He is supposed to be this great businessman. Why didn't we ever see him working? What in the heck does he do all day?

TLP| 11.9.12 @ 8:10AM

I agree that Karl Rove is a MORON, and that this Bullsh*t of Running a Campaign out of The Ladies Home Journal, while you're Lying POS Scumbag Opponent is Running a Campaign out of Hustler Magazine with the Preface written by Joseph Goebbels is Insane. I get it.

What I don't get is - "If only we had a Better Candidate." "If only he had been More Conservative." "If only we did this and that."

The Muslim ran the Most Far Left Campaign this Country has EVER seen, and he got 2 MILLION more Votes than Our Guy. TWO MILLION.

More Welfare. Higher Taxes. Free Abortions. Free Condoms. More Regulations. Punish the Rich.

He ran a Campaign on 4 More Years of Higher Food Prices. Higher Energy Prices. More Bankruptcies. More Foreclosures. More Homelessness and Hopelessness. More people on Food Stamps. More people living at the Poverty Line, and BELOW IT. More people working Part Time Jobs, at Minimum Wage. More Companies getting the Hell Outta Dodge on the next Boat for China

Less Personal Income. Less Value on your Homes. Less opportunities to get a Good Paying Job. Less Military Readiness. Less Influence around the World. And, less adherence to the Constitution's Seperation of Power, our Laws on the Books, and any Modicum of Civility, and Decorum.

FCK the Catholic Church, and Freedom of Religion!

FCK the Jews, in Israel!

FCK the Rich!

FCK Whitey!

FCK all a Ya'all, who refuse to Bow to my Glory!

We coulda run JESUS CHRIST in this Election, and it wouldn't have made a difference.

TLP| 11.9.12 @ 8:17AM

There is no Plan against 58 Million People that would Stand in Line for Hours, to buy that kinda Sh*t Sandwich.

None.

We should stop Beating this Dead Horse.

It's Boring.

Where's Kaminsky, with one of his Ben Stein-esque Horrible Vacation Stories, when you need him?

Does anyone know where Ross Kaminsy is?

Albert Constantine Jr.| 11.9.12 @ 8:55AM

Perhaps Kaminsky is trying to avoid the parade of obnoxious lefty trolls. They account for 1/3 of the posts thus far on this thread in this conservative site. I guess this is their outreach program.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 9:01AM

He's in the Caymans listening to W give a speech on money laundering.

Check how much land the Bushes have purchased in Paraguay. Cheney moved Halliburton to Dubai as well.

The realists in the GOP have already parked their money elsewhere. You should be concerned that the rats have jumped ship.

irish19| 11.9.12 @ 10:11AM

What concerns me more are the proggies who are drilling holes in the hull to let the water out.

fmm| 11.9.12 @ 1:23PM

That should be the realists know the shp is doomed and do not want to go down with the rats and the unfortunate.

Occam's Tool| 11.9.12 @ 1:52PM

Tim:

you are wrong. The correct approach would have been to cock-punch. Find out his bathhouse membership, and go public with it. Steal his academic records and go public with it. Ditto breaking into the LA times and getting the Khalidi tape.

Next time we play, play DIRRRRRRRTTTTTTYYYY. Libtards are vermin who need to be defeated in the filthiest way possible. But we went clean.

Occam's Tool| 11.9.12 @ 1:55PM

And, by the way, I supported the "Philthy Phil" approach during the campaign.

I would have hit him with everything---terrorist lover, traitor (with documentation)---go Nuclear Negative.

The next Democrat that gets nominated, we need to go as filthy and despicable as we can. The electorate consists of filth eating maggots with no brains whatsoever. We need to consider that in our approach. Every campaign needs to be as foul as possible from now on.

Simon Templar| 11.9.12 @ 2:41PM

OT,

It is about the willingness to tell the truth, it is not about being negative and it must be done with a vengeance as Breitbart did.
It is about getting that information, evidence, and fact out to the average joe, not to the choir. It is about counteracting the lies, manipulation, and propaganda of the MSM. It is about motivating those on the center and right to get off their asses, stop the infighting, and resist the voter suppression and sit outs waiting for the perfect candidate.
They win because they are capable of doing the above and we are not at this point. We were 3 million votes down by those that sat on their asses and prefer to just whine about everything.

Trinacria| 11.9.12 @ 2:43PM

On behalf of my fellow Sicilians, welcome to the party!

KennesawJack| 11.9.12 @ 3:12PM

Anybody remember seeing any posters or billboards with Obmarx bent over getting ready to kiss the Saudi King's c*ck? NO! NOWHERE! Anybody remember seeing any posters of billboards with Obamarx scraping and bowing before the Japanese President No! NOWHERE!
Anybody remember any posters or billboards showing the OWS guy taking a sh*t on a cop car? NO! NOWHERE! Anybody see any posters or billboards showing the face of the Border Patrol agent killed by Eric Holder? NO! NOWHERE!
Does anyone know if Lee Atwater had any kids? If so, they should be old enough to get into politics by now. Maybe some of their Daddy's balls rubbed off on 'em. This is a party that simply does not know how to get down in the mud with the mudslingers and kick ass. The only Republican with any balls is Sarah Palin (and I mean that as the utmost compliment). She needs to run the next Presidential campaign for whomever the nominee is - with a little help from Mark Levin.

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 5:09PM

Telling the truth about Obama is not negative. It may be negative to him, but the truth is the truth.

chuck| 11.9.12 @ 10:54PM

I'm with you KJ! Pull out all the fucking stops!

Its time for someone in the GOP to grow some fucking balls! What are these pussies afraid of? LOSING? ITS WHAT THEY FUCKING SPECIALIZE IN!

TLP| 11.9.12 @ 8:16PM

I have it on good authority that you pulled up stakes, and headed for the Hills.

Hello?

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 2:18PM

Welcome back, Occam!

Simon Templar| 11.9.12 @ 2:44PM

Welcome back? Who the fuck do you think you are. Your an uninvited, deviant, and obnoxious intruder here. Nothing but a basement troll, who by a naive and simple minded web magazine author, ALLOWS you to spout your socialist drivel and horse manure.

Warrior| 11.9.12 @ 3:12PM

I like this side of you. I would have wished a blight on his crops and a hemmorhoid the size Obama's ear up his ass which would put his cheek or neck in very close proximity to its location.

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 4:36PM

I wasn't aware that invitations were issued for public discussion, or that anyone appointed you to anthing. Your growing mental instability is showing, Simon. Calm down, man.

TLP| 11.9.12 @ 5:42PM

They are, for you.

Now, go crawl back to whatever hole you just crawled out of.

Nobody wants you here.

Hell, I can't believe that anyone wants you anywhere.

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 6:39PM

Sorry, TLP, but I'm around to stay. You, on the other hand, could find another site to run your juvenile little "contests" so the rest of commentators could actually have a discussion about the issues.

TLP| 11.9.12 @ 8:20PM

Yeah, because nobody ever discusses the issues on this site.

My Contest is the best thing on this site.

Maybe, if you weren't such a PUNKASS, you would come join us.

But then, there's that whole PUNKASS THING with you, isn't there?

chuck| 11.10.12 @ 8:27AM

TLP,

The only contest these c#cksucking trolls partake in , is the one where they see how large an item they can shove up their asses.

RCV| 11.10.12 @ 3:47PM

No, our favorite contest is Presidential elections, Chuck. While you guys were thinking up your favorite movie lines, we were getting out votes for Obama. I'll bet few of you verbose right-wingers spent more than minimal time on election organizing. You were just counting on Rove to get out your votes with massive TV advertising. It doesn't work.

KevinSB| 11.9.12 @ 7:10AM

You are correct that Karl Rove's ads were not hard-hitting enough, though he did one about "flexibility" with Russia.

I would have liked him to have done one ad about Obama's birth certificate: http://www.moncktononline.com/

Paul H.| 11.9.12 @ 7:10AM

As someone else succintly put it, "the Democarats play for keeps". Winining for them is everything and no holds barred.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:17AM

Since when? More revisionist crap. Swiftboating is a Rove/Atwater incarnation, with LBJ's only-once-run ad against Goldwater as a larval simile. W scraped in in 2000 against a lousy candidate , a clever Florida Gov bro, and a disgraced Willie.
He won in '04 on a complete character assassination of Kerry and fear-mongering on terrorists and queers at the altar. Inspiring.
His "political capital" he whimsically declared would be used ended in a spectacular thud in the 06 election. Privatizing SS was a real winner, remember?

The GOP is on a slow decline to obscurity, infested with moral absolutists and nostalgia buffs clinging to an era that never existed for the majority of Americans. At the same time being mugged by corporatist thugs.

As we have seen, however, things change, and the GOP can change, for the better.

Dai Alanye | 11.9.12 @ 9:30AM

Among the many, many things canuckistani is wrong on, the idea that swift-boating was character assassination is the most ridiculous. What the swift-boaters accomplished was to REVEAL Kerry's character, depicting him for what he was rather than letting his self-designed myth succeed.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:02AM

And W's draft dodging and prediliction to send 100'000's to a faux war based on a daddy complex were not?

I was dead on about the election, the general feeling of the electorate this time and the country's ability to divine blame for the cratered economy.

Even Bibi has committed to getting in line behind BHO today. I was dead on about that one too.

What were you right about?

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 5:11PM

Hey Purpie,
The Congress voted and approved the Afghan and Iraq Wars. Your side trotted out the lying draft dodging stories (remember Dan Rather) and lost.

johnnytentpeg| 11.9.12 @ 9:33AM

Amen Brother!

2014.

33 senate seats up for reelection.

18 are dem seats.

Let's "go long" and take'em!

You know the dems would if the coin was flipped.

Imagine it's Jan. 2015, and the House has just overode a Prez veto to repeal Obamacare passed by a repub senate!

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:08AM

Some chance, but unlikely. Might be a net 2.
Collins, Chambliss and McConnell are vulnerable, about 5 dem vulnerable. Rest are locks even Franken.

The dems have adapted. The GOP will continue to send in the clowns to each primary, and McConnell will miscalcualte and swing further right.

KennesawJack| 11.9.12 @ 3:18PM

The only thing Chambliss is vulnerable to is a truly conservative Republican. Maine is so f**cked up it really doesn't matter whether Collins wins. Unlike Democrats, Republicans typically don't unseat Senate Majority Leaders.

Gary B| 11.9.12 @ 7:12AM

Rove (aka the establishment) ran such a bad campaign one wonders if it was intentional. Is the GOP establishment a running an continuous false flag operation? The results seem to indicate it It explains why it hates the Tea Party so much. The Tea Party wins elections.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:20AM

Where the bagger win an election in other than gerrymandered districts?

Check your figures to see which baggers in purple districts were re-elected.

The mistress-abortionist and the dead sea skinny dipper both were re-elected in deep redneck districts. So much for moral fiber, hatred of the exotic apparently trumps all.

Gary B| 11.9.12 @ 12:58PM

"...hatred of the exotic apparently trumps all." It does't trump your hatred of the Tea Party or "rednecks." Who are they, after all? Basically, they're the ones who are getting shaken down to pay for all of your exotic friends, 'cause they can't or won't pay their own way. The joke of the century is "liberal tolerance."

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 10:25AM

Ted Cruz, Deb Fisher were backed by grassroots organizations. Cruz battled hard against the establishment pick. So your point about winning only gerrymandered districts is false.

Brunner and Steelman were the preferred grassroots picks in MO, sadly they split the vote leaving Akin to squeak out a win and the rest is history.

WI senate seat was a lost opportunity but it was the establishment pick, old Tommy Thompson.

There have been good and bad candidates but it all comes down to local voters in each state, primaries matter and watch out for independents on the ballot who peel off votes, aka OH sentate race...Independent 5%, Josh Mandel 45%, Brown won with 50%...math matters.

bubbaland| 11.9.12 @ 7:19AM

Great column. It is about time that someone said these things. It is time to ditch Rove and the rest of the GOP hacks and get some new blood. Otherwise it is the Tea Party for me.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:23AM

Then you will continue to be disappointed.

Women, browns, blacks and moral "others" are growing. Moral absolutists and whitey is declining.

Either get your women to push them out at twice the rate, or being to develop new policy platforms that resonate with the emergent groups.

C. Vernon Crisler | 11.9.12 @ 10:18AM

Swagger away caf-ckistani; you and yours now own this disastrous economy and moral decline.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:09AM

No, freedom reigns and the correction is just beginning. We've been in recession for over a decade.
More must be done.

C. Vernon Crisler | 11.9.12 @ 11:20AM

The Great Recession started December 2007, a year after Democrats took control of Congress. With Democrats still in control of two-thirds of the government as well as the media, the danger now is that it will turn into a Great Depression. And again, you own it.

Occam's Tool| 11.30.12 @ 6:11PM

Thanks to people like you and jack london, our economy will get worse and worse. In 2028 you will still be blaming Bush. Gold Safe arrived today.

Jack London| 11.9.12 @ 7:44AM

"I went around asking my wealthier friends if they were aware that if they die on December 31 and leave an estate of 5 million dollars, their children will receive five million dollars (well, not in New York, with an estate tax as high as 16 percent), but if they hang in until January 1, their children will receive 2.8 million and Uncle Sam will take delivery of the other $2,200,000.00."

Yup - you really missed a trick there to persuade the 99.9% of the rest of us to move heaven and earth to let the rich continue to stuff their gullets.

"The Swift Boat guys defeated John Kerry by telling uncomfortable truths"

No - they told lies. This time, all the many lies told by the Romney campaign didn't work enough and that's the way it will be from now on.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:27AM

You're right.

McCain - of the Keating five - was correct to suggest the Bush tax cuts were folly. He was also correct in his initial support of the W/Kennedy immigration reform plan that would have resonated not just with the browns, but with independent whites, and posed no moral hazard to this nation of immigrants.

He was stymied by the moral absolutists in the bagger fringe.

Hannity, laughingly, has proposed amnesty. Let the rush to the left begin, as even he has calculated the bagger era has ended.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 11:14AM

I actually think we would have had amnesty (or some sort of immigration reform) during the Bush years had the dems not stonewalled early on. Whoever got credit for "fixing" immigration would get the Hispanic vote, and neither party has been willing to give way. I DO think there is room for reasonable compromise here.

taibeh| 11.10.12 @ 5:55AM

Thank you Jack London for offering truths in this otherwise cesspool of article and commentary.

JimH| 11.9.12 @ 7:51AM

Yes the Romney campaign should have done a better job of bringing the incompetence and constitutional outrages of the BO administration to light. But it is almost understandable why they did not. The behavior of the administration is so gross and criminal that when presented by the opposing campaign many Americans would find it hard to credit, especially as virtually all of it is ignored by the MSM.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:31AM

The problem being is that BHO's administration, by most reasoned observers, has been effective, productive and nearly scandal-free.

Until you wake up and realize the sky is blue and not dog-shit dark with black helicopters coming to take your women and guns, you will be disappointed for a long time.

Hannity has broken for amnesty. Tax increases will be a GOP policy by next Wednesday, by this clock.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 11:12AM

Scandal-free in the sense of ignorance by the media, who actively protects the administration. I'm not even talking about the crazy stuff, I'm talking about Fast and Furious, Benghazi, Rezko, etc - items with somewhat decent documentation that simply have not risen to the top.

Louis Jenkins| 11.9.12 @ 11:48AM

Fast and Furious and Benghazi come to mind real fast. But when you're a liberal socialist, like you know who, that's just dust in the wind. He has plans for millions of people, and some of it is not good. But when you mention those two incidents you're really not talking about all of the window dressing that goes with each event. Why was Stevens allowed to hang, spin, be raped, and die? Was it Obama's indecision, or was there a greater task at hand? Like supplying arms to the Syrian rebels? How much and how many arms? Cananda will say I'm speculating, and maybe so, but it bears a long pause for thought.

Gary B| 11.9.12 @ 1:05PM

"The problem being is that BHO's administration, by most reasoned observers, has been effective, productive and nearly scandal-free."

"Most reasoned observers?" Really? Let's ask the ambassador's family if BHO is without scandal? How 'bout the dead border patrol agent? His entire administration is shot through with law-breaking liars.

On second thought... perhaps you're right. Nothing is a scandal if the press covers it up. Move on. Nothing to see here, folks.

KennesawJack| 11.9.12 @ 3:24PM

Scandal covered up is not the same as scandal free. Mitt Romney's entire life is scandal free. We don't know enough about Obamarx to make the same statement.

Gary B| 11.10.12 @ 2:46AM

It's amazing. Obama, probably an illegal alien, somehow unseals court records of his opponents and plasters the results all over town, yet the public can't gain access to a single piece of evidence to discover anything about this usurper.

Von Mises Jr| 11.9.12 @ 8:00AM

I posted over and over again the taxes that will take effect on January 1st. Now we also find out that the projection is 700K more lost jobs in a few months. The GOP Establishment never advanced this message apparently because they are also statist.
So now we find out what Obama and the GOP Establishment think is rich. If you file jointly and pay taxes on $70K AGI, your Federal Taxes go up $4,269. Social Security increases by 2% so that equates to another $1K if your Gross is $100K. If you do not have approved ObamaCare coverage, in 2014 you pay a fine of $1K and in 2016 it escalates to $2,500. Where does the average family get $440 to $650 more per month to pay these increased taxes?

Rhoetus| 11.11.12 @ 11:54AM

It doesn't, $20. per hour is 800/ week. How many families make more than $1600 per week? The money comes out of necessities. No beer, no vacation for you!

Purp| 11.9.12 @ 8:04AM

The lesson you take is that you weren't nuts enough? You weren't nasty enough? You didn't lie enough?
Yes, please ... Go all the way to the right, so far right you can't even see the center. Nominate Jim DeMint and Marco Rubio for 2016 ... yes, please.
I'll be happy to have Democratic Administrations as far as the eye can see. We'll get the country working again, incomes will rise, the budget will be balanced. And the rich won't hog all the increase in wealth in this country (and I don't mean by redistribution, just fairer tax policies).

The Republican and Conservative Brands are broken, they were smashed in the election with the overwhelming landslide by Barack Hussein Obama over Willard Mitt Romney. You lost on all levels, not just President. Including Florida and Texas' State Legislatures ... That's a resounding crush of conservative and Republican values, now isn't it. Gay marriage is approved BY THE PEOPLE in 4 more States. Even Pot Smoking won ... who'd a thunk it?
The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion - would you like to be included in the winning party of the future?

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 8:38AM

What is unfair about a low tax rate with no/few loopholes?

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:41AM

Nothing, but it is a fantasy that you need to wake up from.
Earmarks and pork flow like sh!t down the trough in deep red states more than any others.

That's the inconvenient truth people are only now realizing.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 11:10AM

I wouldn't say as much. It actually got passed somewhat in 1986, but took MASSIVE amounts of political will.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:39AM

Purp, the brands are not broken. The same was said about the dems after 41 won in '88.

They will evolve. Hannity has broken for amnesty. Boehner has broken for taxes. All within 48 hours.

My sense is that non-sectarian money interests will emerge as a force in the near term and put all things cultural on the back burner.

The evangelicals stayed home this time, and the charlatan Graham removing Mormonism from the list of cults was a clear signal that they had ceded their perceived high ground to cynicism. It was an amusing development.

BHO is an enigma that stymied the GOP smear machine. The next man or woman will not be so lucky.

Be mindful things change, and rapidly.

Seek| 11.9.12 @ 7:00PM

The nonsense about millions of "missing" conservatives is just Rush Limbaugh's way of living in denial. Face it. The Religious Right just isn't that popular. And with good reason. What we need to do is explicitly focus on building white interests. I could care less whether we consist of Christians, agnostics or tree worshippers. We need a pro-white coalition.

Nancy in NC| 11.9.12 @ 8:51AM

No thanks.

If there were justice you would be one of those on the receiving end of the misery obama has to offer.

Gary B| 11.10.12 @ 3:00AM

Nancy, a whole lot of Obama voters are experiencing poetic justice right now. Massive layoffs are occurring now with many, many more to follow. These are the poor, dumb ass, low-information voters everyone has been talking about. It's tempting to take pleasure in their misery but this will send the economy into a steeper tailspin, as they all line up for the free stuff Obama is handing out. This is Obama's brass ring. Ruin the middle class then ruin everyone else and send the government in to rescue the population with their special "help." The slippery slope is getting very steep.

They've just begun. Obama has big, big plans for us. That some posting here find all of this amusing reveals much about their character and what they value.

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 10:57AM

Purpie the Village Idiot p0sted the following yesterday:

"THurricane Sandy and Chris Christie was the Lord's way of pressing his thumb on the scale to tilt in the direction of President Obama. It was His punishment of Republicans for their lying and trying to cheat (Voter Suppression) their way to political victory, while espousing faith, freedom and constitutional credentials."

So pupie believes and approves that God killed over 100 people, destroyed homes, and injured many so that Obama could win.

Last month purpie wrote that Ambassador Stevens is responsible for his own death.

This is the message of the loony left: Purpie and his band of followers. They do not deserve any response other that ridicule and mocking.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:26AM

and according to the absolutists on here, God killed Bin Laden, 5,000 US troops fighting a faux war and women deserve their rapes.

Checking to see if the charlatan Graham has relisted Mormonism as a cult....not yet. Just wait, the collection plate is pretty empty, so we'll need some ole' time chest beatin' pretty soon.

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 1:40PM

Are you purpie? who is Graham? Name the absolutists on this site who said what you allege.

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 2:09PM

canuckSTANI

copy the quotes that you allege about "women who deserve their rapes."

As a "..STANI" you guys do not believe that women can be raped and require three or four male witnesses, right Stani? Cute name, fits you.

Seapuss| 11.9.12 @ 8:08AM

Not only did Romney and Rove "play nice" and ignore many issues, they left the airwaves entirely to Obama during the whole summer. This allowed Obama to negatively define Romney, from which Romney never quite recovered.

I considered giving money to Romney's campaign back in June, but didn't. I was afraid (justifiably) that he wouldn't spend it!

Nancy in NC| 11.9.12 @ 8:25AM

Regardless what the trolls and libtards post here, Jay is exactly right. Over the last year I have talked to people all over the country, and people are not into the Dims or the GOP. They want to work and live their lives without government interfering. They want to be able to buy a 32 oz. drink if they want, and they don't want someone telling them what to put in their child's school lunch.

The difference is Obama attacked Mitt's character through Bain attacks, his money, etc. Mitt half heartedly attacked zero's policies. No talk of Fast & Furious, the dismissal of the Black Panthers voter intimidation, no talk of Medvedev & being more flexible, scant talk of Benghazi, no discussion of ruling through executive orders (but Mitt mentioned passing his own), the Constitution barely being mentioned, avoidance of obamacare (but what can you expect when Mitt had his own version in Mass) and all the misery it will being, etctera. obama has a miserable record and Mitt failed to expound on it.

Purp| 11.9.12 @ 10:09AM

So you will continue to be a Conservadum? Is that it? In denial, nasty to the other side, you're right and everyone else is wrong? You can't possibly imagine YOU could be wrong, is that it?

That's what you teach your children? If you lose, it's the other side's fault? Okay, go with that... Hahaha.

As far as the President, he obviously ran a great campaign, is a transformational President, and most Americans agree with HIM!
Karl Rove and buddies wasted a ton of money, threw it right into Mitt Romney's toilet and flushed it away!

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:21AM

Don't bother.

The brains of the right are already acquiescing. Hannity has broken for amnesty, Boehner on taxes and the irrelevance of the baggers, and Bibi, today, has confirmed he will let the US lead on Iran.

Morning in America, finally.

Louis Jenkins| 11.9.12 @ 11:54AM

Well boys, you need to check the reports, on Drudge for instance, that says Boehner stated "no" to new taxes. You libs have jumped the gun again, first placing your own spin on what this Republican or that Republican said.

Louis Jenkins| 11.9.12 @ 11:56AM

Oh yeah, Holder and Hillary are about to opt out too! Maybe their conscience has caught up with them. Naw, not likely. They'll be looking for another gig, like president and vice-presidental candidates in 2016.

RCV| 11.10.12 @ 3:51PM

He said "no" to higher marginal rates, but is willing to compromise on "new revenues", i.e. he's willing to raise your taxes while pretending he didn't. As long as it's just not the wealthiest taxpayers paying more, Boehner's fine with it.

KennesawJack| 11.9.12 @ 3:25PM

And nightfall in Israel.

RCV| 11.10.12 @ 3:52PM

It's nightfall in Israel every evening, Jack. And the Israelis are as resolute as they were Monday, and we will always have their back. Always.

Occam's Tool| 11.30.12 @ 6:14PM

RCV: YOU have the Israelis' back. The guys you voted for who booed adding Jerusalem to the Platform, I don't think so. Recall the great line about "Inconceivable" from The Princess Bride.

Do let me know who the "Scoop Jackson" currently in the Senate is other than Leiberman.

Indy| 11.10.12 @ 10:38AM

The pain to come will be party neutral, addicts don't all hit the same rock bottom point before awakening...some never do, they die. There is no avoiding the financial crisis to come, there is no courage in DC to take the needed steps. The middle class will be crushed.

The campaign missed so many opportunities as you pointed out, there was so much more (GSA, energy prices will skyrocket, GM openly speaking in China how excited he is to bring more jobs to China, Freddie / Fannie permanent bailout) but they feared the media. When the MSM and the Administration are fused as one, it is difficult to overcome, without courage to play to win v. play not to lose...you lose.

Mike in N.C.| 11.9.12 @ 8:29AM

Mr. Homnick,

You would have preferred direct attacks and the Democrats and the President. What the hell do you think Fox, right wing radio led by Limbaugh, TAS and the right wing propaganda emails have been doing for the last four years. Face it, Sunshine, you guys just didn't have anymore shit to throw.

Trinacria| 11.9.12 @ 2:49PM

Howdy NASCAR,

Thank ye kindly for stoppin' by. Be sure and say hay to Goober and Floyd fer us, won't ye?

I'm thinkin' Ricky Rudd will take 'er this weekend, less ole Jimmy Johnson gets a hankerin' to be onery and wrecks 'im. Whachu think?

Mike in N.C.| 11.9.12 @ 4:25PM

That you have no response to the fact that all of the right wing BS was baked into the cake long before election day and very few people were paying attention to the ads. They had heard it all before and they either believed it or recognized it for what it was: BS.

CJW| 11.9.12 @ 5:16PM

T
This clown is not from North Carolina unless he is in jail there. He used the word "arse" in a comment, which sounds like a liberal sissy.

Russel| 11.9.12 @ 8:29AM

Spilt milk aside , the GOPhers work at an election while the socialists work at getting voters , whether frightening them or buying them . Whatever works . I know 2nd and 3rd generation Mexican decendants who all own their own bussiness' , vote R and disdain their Mexican bretheran who have slipped into our ' system ' only for its goodies and not the opportunities our country offers . Like many recent immigrants from all foreign lands , they intend to bring their country with them instead of wishing to be an American citizen . Illegal or recent , Hispanic voters have fallen for the socialists' ruse because our welfare system is so damn easy !. No work and no worries ! . No wonder they bot what was sold by Obummer .

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 8:40AM

I think one of the big problems to throw in here as well is that we need someone to vote FOR, not someone to vote AGAINST. If any election proves it, it was this one.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 8:40AM

I think one of the big problems to throw in here as well is that we need someone to vote FOR, not someone to vote AGAINST. If any election proves it, it was this one.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 8:54AM

You also need a platform to vote for.

W was onto something with immigration reform that was condemned by the redneck fringe. That lost the decade.

With their laser focus on the economy, the last congress put abortion funding as 3rd to the table, killing Obamacare second, and getting cash to simply run the government as first. Jobs and economy came after those.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 11:08AM

I think that there was something that was poorly enunciated, and Paul Ryan ALMOST hit on it in his debate - it's the problem that many people think the government has to have a plan to fix the economy. They focused that Romney had no "plan."

Romney poorly enunciated the message. Let the American people plan, and let the government get rid of its "plan" to interfere and fix the economy. It's what Reagan hit his homerun economically with - government doesn't fix problems, big government IS the problem.

canuckistani| 11.9.12 @ 11:18AM

Saint Ron lowered government spending as a percent of GDP by 1+ points, and exploded the deficit, had historically high interest rates and inflation, crashed the dow and bailed out the S&L's.

Get real.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 1:00PM

WAAAAAY wrong about inflation and interest rates.
http://inflationdata.com/infla.....ation.aspx -
1979 had inflation over 11%, over 13% in 1980. It got to under 2% in 1986.

Interest rates had a similar trend.

http://money.msn.com/saving-mo.....c72f4fc91f

Where are you getting your data? Because the two articles I posted DIRECTLY contradict your claim.

Nancy in NC| 11.9.12 @ 8:42AM

Just like McCain, Mitt mentioned what a nice guy obama is. What kind of nice guy would vote against medical care to the product of a botched late term abortion? In fact, what kind of nice guy would even support late term abortion except under the most dire circumstances?

But what kind of nice guy would attend a church that was openly anti-Semitic and hated their own country? The GOP wrongly assumes people know about that...they would be wrong. Some people are working 14 hour days, come home and drop into bed to go out and do it again the next day. They give the election scant attention until two weeks before the day.

No one mentioned some of the things the stimulus money was spent upon. Oh, sure Solandryl got a nod, but what about the other dozen "green" companies that took money and went belly up?

No one played the video showing Eric Holder saying what he felt about the 2nd amendment. Nor did they show him saying he is the black attorney general.

Other than the Hollywood types most black people really don't agree with obama's policies regarding abortion, gay marriage, or even all the welfare. Most are decent people and have drank the kool-aid that they should vote for Dims because that's the party that saved them. Forget the truth. But who reminds them? No one.

I could go on and on, but AS readers know them. (And the trolls won't acknowledge the truth, so I sure won't waste my time trying to convince the kool-aid drinkers.)

Mike in N.C.| 11.10.12 @ 12:25AM

Virginia Foxx, is that you?

johnnytentpeg| 11.9.12 @ 9:27AM

Where have you gone Lee Atwater?

Need a RNC who will engage in BLOODSPORT.

Remember how the Willie Horton ads worked?

It'd be nice to have dems crying "foul" over campaign ads again.

Coincidental that it was the last time a moderate repub won in a landslide (Bush 1st v. Dukaksis).

Anthony| 11.9.12 @ 9:30AM

Both McCain and Romney were deathly afraid of really hitting Obozo hard due to white guilt that still overwhelms this country. This was a major factor that helped this pathetic lightweight disaster of a president win a second term.
Do not underestimate how the media and even Obozo played on him being black and deserving a 2nd chance soley based upon his skin color.
ANY criticism of Obozo in this campaign was immediately branded by the MSM and Obozo as RACIST.
Fast & Furious: RACIST
Behngazi: RACIST
The economy: RACIST
Add to this the fact that the Takers now overwhelm the Makers and what we have is the end of our Constitutional Republic.
Nothing left to do now but to wait for the crash to come, and like the folks in NY and NJ, still waiting for Obozo to save them, it ain't gonnna happen.

Louis Jenkins| 11.9.12 @ 12:01PM

Yes I feel sorry for those people in NY and NJ. They'd be blaming Bush by now, but since they just helped re-elect Obama, I guess they'll still be blaming Bush. Dam- Bush, why doesn't he send relief now!!

Martin kzovich| 11.9.12 @ 10:17AM

If any of the following are nominated by the Republican Party I will NOT BOTHER TO VOTE.
instead i will support a third party;

Any Bush,Chris Christie,Rob Portman , or any other of that ilk.

Houdini| 11.9.12 @ 10:33AM

OK, it's time to stop eating our young and get to work on 2014 and 2016. We lost (or rather the establishment lost again), next time we'll be facing an old hag or your drunken uncle....instead of crying over what could have been, it's time to get involved in ensuring a conservative victory with rising stars like Rubio and Martinez (not the only ones) and play hardball. It is all well and good to go after Obama's this and that but he is OVER...won't be on the ballot in '16 and can't be impeached no matter what he does. Jeez, does anyone (other than the trolls) have something constructive to say that will help turn this thing around?

Anti-Statist| 11.9.12 @ 10:48AM

I wanted to run a TV ad that would have been like those powerful ASPCA spots showing all those terrified, mistreated animals.

I would have a shivering cute little dog who would tear at the coldest heart, with a woman's voiceover of "This little dog looks exactly like the one Obama ate, and he's terrified that he'll be next. Please vote for Romney so Obama won't be able to serve this dog at his next White House party. This dog's life depends on it."

That would have hit home with every animal lover, which is about 90% of the country. And the Democrats ridiculing it could then be accused of approving the consuming of dogs.

ansonheath| 11.9.12 @ 11:07AM

Message to Karl Rove: Take your chalkboard and shove it, eh!

Gary B| 11.9.12 @ 1:07PM

I second that.

delta zelda| 11.9.12 @ 11:29AM

Where were the 70% of voters who said they were against Obamacare? Guess they were hiding in the 7 states Obama invented during his 2008 campaign.

Gary B| 11.9.12 @ 1:10PM

Do you think Dick Morris' early prediction of a Romney landslide lead to complacency among Republican voters? I think it contributed to the lower turnout.

Like the two dumb ass Republican senators, Dick Morris doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

Jim Sweeney| 11.9.12 @ 11:40AM

The truths are that we lost to politicians and their advisors who are smarter and tougher than ours. That means we change our politicians and/or advisors or we will continue to lose.
We lose also because certain classes of people vote as a block against us. "Outreach!" say our advisors! Do you really want to be joined with the least intelligent, most lawless and most government-dependent classes of people? Are they the future of conservative principles? I think it unlikely that people of that description will ever join us. Don't you? Why outreach to them? We need to make sure we get all the other people.

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 11:54AM

We appreciate the millions in stimulus money from the wealthiest Americans that Karl Rove pumped into the economy.

Ryan| 11.9.12 @ 1:01PM

And it came from private hands! Who needs government stimulus...

Simon Templar| 11.9.12 @ 1:05PM

We appreciate your economic illiteracy which will be your downfall as it has been for over a century with failed socialist experiments. We appreciate your delusion that you think that somehow you American useful idiots will get it right unlike your counterparts in Europe.
Win or lose elections, whatever. Win them with no real mandate and by a razors edge. None of it matters. Economics will have the last say. The tyranny you are ushering in will burn you as it has done with all useful idiots and mindless foot soldiers.
But it really is not about outcomes or reality is it? It is about good intentions.
Even you, asshole, will not be able to escape it. And it is that which gives me a satisfaction that you will never understand.

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 2:19PM

I feel your pain, Simon....

Simon Templar| 11.9.12 @ 2:30PM

Feel is all you know how to do.
It will be a hoot watching your dismissive arrogant attitude when the shit hits the fan, my hope is you will be one of the first layed off. Hundreds of companies have already announced layoffs. Now, the consequences begin. Silly little useful idiot, you are in for a real bad and painful wake up. Go smoke a joint and put your genitals somewhere where they do not belong.

RCV| 11.9.12 @ 4:39PM

I don't work for someone else, Simon, so I can't be "laid off" but thanks for your good wishes anyway. You've really degenerated lately and become a foul-mouthed little whiner.

Frank Drackman| 11.9.12 @ 3:13PM

Its painfully obvious,
for the RepubicKKKlowns to win they need to do 2 things
1: Send all Black Peoples back to Africa
make that 1 thing

Frank

Warrior| 11.9.12 @ 8:16PM

That was Lincoln's plan but a bad night at a play ended that.

Martin kzovich| 11.9.12 @ 3:40PM

The above post by "Frank Drackman" cannot be from a normal human being or possibly not even abnormal one. Whatever you might be real or computer generated it is a very sad commentary on Obama himself and those who claim to support him. At any even you represent the very
apex of stupidity our nation has to offer. Congratulations "Frank"!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stkman| 11.9.12 @ 4:05PM

NEXT TIME, I wonder howmany times I read "NEXT TIME" in all the comments above. So you guys really beleive there will be a next time? Just how damn blind do you need to be to realize what the hell is going on? We're done, we're over. We no longer have a democracy, in fact we lost it right after 9-11. Wake up! It's both parties. There is no conservative party. There are two parties with different names and bothof them are whores.
When my fifty plus church going Christ loving wife tells me she wants to get her concealed license and a hand gun and tell me I can go but that AK47 and be sure to buy plenty of ammunitgion for all my weapons it just makes me wonder why my sweet dear wife gets it and some of you so called men here don't?

Stkman| 11.9.12 @ 4:07PM

Wake the FK up and get ready to do what our forefathers would have done the first time GHW Bush said "New World Order", code for everyman for himself and the rich move to the front of the line. The problem isn't people getting in line for foodstamps. The problem is a corrupt government telling them how, where and why they should get on them.

Stkman| 11.9.12 @ 4:11PM

Eiter we are going to have this revolution or civl war or we are need to just shut the hell up. I'm tired of all this talk. It's cheao and whorish in nature. I'm ashamed of what we have become and I REFUSE to live with it this way. I will be dead before my children and grandchildren grow up in a socialist/communist/dictatorship country.
Live FKN free or die getting FKD! I'm gonne live free and my kids are going to live free and we're going to do it right here in America. I don't know the how or when yet, but when that first shot gets fired, and it will, I will walk, run, drive or fly just as fast as I can to render aid to that patriot. Won't you?

Dobbs| 11.9.12 @ 8:23PM

I noticed the same thing about exit polling. There were questions about Hurricane Sandy and NONE on Benghazi. Unbelievable.

Dobbs| 11.9.12 @ 8:27PM

Another thing I noticed about the Romney campaignL Even though he had some very good videos, they always ended with a very soft-voiced, "I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve this message." It sounded like a tired Grampa telling the kids he was turning in for the evening.

Mike W| 11.9.12 @ 9:41PM

Now we hear the insane talking heads, Barnes, Krauthammer, Fund etc. say that we must pass an amnesty. During this time of chronically high unemployment we most import millions more low skilled people who also happen to be Democrats at heart.

It's the only thing that would make me give up on this country.

WaffenSS| 11.10.12 @ 12:35AM

Roveis a Felon from the last bunch swine.

obadiah| 11.10.12 @ 10:56AM

republicans are just too nice. they need a hard, strong leader. one like arnold played in the movies.

GINO| 11.10.12 @ 12:02PM

The sooner we have heard the last of Karl Rove and the Bushes; the better things will be!!!!

Politics Debunked | 11.10.12 @ 3:04PM

A major reason Obama won: People didn't realize how much he lied. Many liberal newspapers reported his claim he will "pay down our debt".. and never printed anything questioning it. He constantly repeated the lie, contradicted by his own budget document. The anti-Obama media likely didn't bother pointing out his lie because they thought it was obvious.. but it wasn't to many people it appears.

Obama claimed at the Democratic National Convention on Sept. 6th, 2012: "I'll use the money we're no longer spending on war to pay down our debt".

Yet the White House site contains his 2013 budget proposal with a table showing his planned national debt at the end of each year through 2022. It adds at least $900 billion to the debt every year, $9.6 trillion over a decade.

If a CEO lied about his company's finances to get people to buy stock, the public would cry "fraud! send him to jail!". Should we trust someone to run our government that we wouldn't trust to run a company? This isn't a one time gaffe, he has repeated it from the State of the Union in January, through dozens of speeches into October and a campaign commercial.

For details about this, or to see the issue described in an amusing cartoon&video; mashup of Obama's own words, see the new site: http://PoliticsDebunked.com

Marc Jeric| 11.10.12 @ 3:46PM

Another RINO bites the dust. Mitt Romney never mentioned President Obama's friends and mentors - the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis, his Marxist father, his Muslim faith, his bringing to power the jihadist governments in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt (with more to come in Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, “Palestine”…); his "social justice" program of confiscation of private wealth and properties, his plan for gigantic nationalizations of private enterprises in oil $ gas, coal, electricity, transportation, health care, insurance, the mortgage industries; and the Benghazi murder cover-up; the Fast & Furious murder cover-up.
Another decent Republican bites the dust, defeated by the criminal Chicago machine. Decency in the fight against deadly communism, especially when married to jihadism, is no virtue.

Marc Jeric| 11.10.12 @ 3:48PM

November 6, 2012 – marks the end of the American unique 226-year long republican experiment. Our “liberals”, environmentalists, socialists, and communists have put the end to that noble endeavor. Our Marxist Muslim President has now won his second term, thanks to his community organizations and the union goons leading the masses to the voting precincts.

RCV| 11.10.12 @ 3:54PM

So sick of your whining run down of Americans, Jeric. If you don't like us, head back to the Balkans.

Purp| 11.11.12 @ 1:21PM

On the contrary, the Founders are happy this week! Freedom, Liberty and America won this election.
The forces of darkness, greed, oppression, and coercion were turned back in favor of the Shining City on the Hill and the better Angels of America prevailed!
Complain, snort, deceive all you want - You lost, You lost BIG and America won! Now we can get back to work.

Stan Redmond| 11.10.12 @ 6:45PM

AMEN. Republicans need to throw out these losers. I have been demonized as a woman hater, a racist, an evil capitalist 1%er, neanderthal, etc etc etc. What were Romney's people thinking? They couldn't beat this petulant punk ass? "[Cops] acted stupidly," Benghazi, Rev. Wright, Cass Sunstein. WTF.

Purp| 11.11.12 @ 1:22PM

YOUR attitude is why you lose. You are blind and cannot see. Buh-bye Conservadums.

Rhoetus| 11.10.12 @ 8:38PM

RCV: Don't cry for me Argentina. ;-)

Ned Ferguson| 11.10.12 @ 9:19PM

I have a theory on why Republicans/Romney did not go all out attacking ObamaCare -- they never really intended to repeal it. They only meant to give enough lipservice to fool the base into believing they where serious, and they could not even accomplish that much. I think the Republicans are secretly glad they lost, since it is equivalent to absolution over ObamaCare and the rest of his policies. At least, they think so. I, for one, do not grant it. I will forever hold this sorry lot responsible for our sufferings.

Purp| 11.11.12 @ 1:30PM

Exactly, maybe next time a true conservative will be nominated.

Commander Kelly | 11.11.12 @ 6:24AM

Why did Romney lose? See my post "Full Reverse" for my answer. Also "A More Dangerous World" and "Rumble in America" only here...http://americanconservativeinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/

Gary B| 11.11.12 @ 9:33AM

Social engineering is a luxury. It has been financed with excess resources throughout the entire post-war period of economic expansion. As those resources expanded, it accelerated into the realm of fantasy. The exhaustion of other peoples' money ushers reality back in.

This election was the Mardi Gras of expanding expectations, celebrated by the duped masses. The game is over and that realization will spread quickly. The repercussions will be unpredictable and most likely ugly and frightening. Forced austerity and widespread social unrest will be common, as the masses wake up to the cruel joke that has been their way of life. Personal responsibility will be a new experience for most of them.

Discretionary spending will continue shrinking, as the basic necessities of life become the focus of most of us. Being prepared for this sea change seems like a good idea. How? I'm not sure, but I know one thing... government will not be the answer any more.

I take perverse pleasure knowing this whole thing will land in Obama's lap. He is emotionally incapable of managing it. He may very well not serve out his term in office. Romney will view his loss as one huge blessing in disguise.

BackToBasics| 11.11.12 @ 12:08PM

Rove had a soft-on-illegal-immigration push with Bush II and he didn't exonerate himself in the Republican primaries and campaign either. Why does anyone listen to this so-called genius anymore? He may as well be cinsidered a democrat operative the way his political advice plays out for Republicans.

BackToBasics| 11.11.12 @ 12:08PM

miskey - cosidered

BackToBasics| 11.11.12 @ 12:10PM

considered

Gary B| 11.11.12 @ 12:25PM

"He may as well be considered a democrat operative the way his political advice plays out for Republicans."

I'm convinced the GOP is most comfortable in the minority role. They play their part by feigning outrage, as their brothers in crime, the Democrats, do the dirty work of striping America bare. Rove's job is to manage elections to bring this about. As I've mentioned previously, this is one huge false-flag operation and it's been going on for a long time. And, to add insult to injury, America-loving conservatives have been tricked into financing it.

Gary B| 11.11.12 @ 12:27PM

I stopped contributing to those sons of bitches a long time ago. It's been Lucy and the football for decades.

Purp| 11.11.12 @ 1:19PM

So finally you see that the Democratic Party is the best to govern this country.
You're wrong about stripping the country bare, of course, but there you have it.
Republicans can't win an election, so they should just bend over and take it.

Gary B| 11.11.12 @ 2:45PM

How 'bout we use Detroit as the Democrat model of governance? But, wait! We can't. I think the city is in ruins because of something rich Republicans did. Give me time. I'll come up with something. In the meantime let's go with, "It must have been George Bush's fault."

Rhoetus| 11.11.12 @ 12:39PM

Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com

immoderate| 11.11.12 @ 7:40PM

I live in Ohio and I waited all campaign for a single ad fighting the barrage of crap that was dumped from the Obama campaign. When Mittens was restricted by the law Rove wasn't and he and his fellow geniuses let Romney get beaten to a pulp for 4 months and then failed to attack or explain.

We had a fact free campaign, fact free candidate and fact free supporters who failed to even mention the deficit, the debt or the consequences.

I should have made my vote count and voted for Chavez or Putin. Republicans are idiots.

Bemused| 11.11.12 @ 9:37PM

I believe the expression is 'hindsight is a wonderful thing'.

Where was your input during the campaign?

Gary B| 11.11.12 @ 10:13PM

He said he waiting the entire campaign for real action. That's not hindsight. Other than screaming at the TV, what the hell do you expect him to do? I don't think Rove was taking calls from us geniuses out here, do you? Wait a minute. You're merely bemused. Forget it. You're above it all.

More Articles by Jay D. Homnick

More Articles From The Campaign Spectator

Nice Losers

November 13, 2012 | Thomas Sowell

Pro-Choice? I Don’t Think So

November 6, 2012 | Jeremy Lott

Romney-Ryan Galluping to November

October 19, 2012 | G. Tracy Mehan, III

RINO Survival Guide

October 19, 2012 | Shawn Macomber

Can Republicans Talk?

September 18, 2012 | Thomas Sowell

http://spectator.org/archives/2012/11/09/nice-guise-finished-at-last

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Headlines

Green Flags, Yellow Flags, and Black Flags

John Tabin|22 comments

Barack’s Brave New World Blarney

George Neumayr|12 comments

There’s Something About Cambridge

Daniel J. Flynn|17 comments

Obama’s Unaffordable Act

Peter Ferrara|26 comments

Celebrating Our Lady of Paris

Joseph A. Harriss|4 comments

Charter Schooling? Why Not Charter Housing?

Wayne Woodman|9 comments

Cash for Organs?

Eric Boehm|7 comments

Back in the Fray

Kyle Peterson|102 comments

The Spectacle Blog

Elbert Guillory: “Why I Am a Republican”

Patrick Ryan | 10:13AM

The One Party State

F.H. Buckley | 9:47AM

Cummings Accused of Subverting IRS Investigation

Jeffrey Lord | 6:20AM

Let Pitchers Throw Complete Games

Aaron Goldstein | 12:10AM

Thoughts on New U.S.-Taliban Peace Talks

Aaron Goldstein | 6.18.13

Thank You, Bobby Jindal

Matt Purple | 6.18.13

Buzzfeed Faces $3.6 Million Lawsuit for Copyright Infringement

Kaylin Bugos | 6.18.13

Democrat Dan Maffei Blames Budget Cuts for Girl’s Rape, Mother’s Murder

Robert Stacy McCain | 6.18.13

SPONSORED LINKS

FLASHBACK TO: 1995

Clip of the Day

Most Popular Articles

The IRS Immigration Fraud Scandal

Jeffrey Lord | 6.18.13

Foreign Policy as Farce

Jed Babbin | 6.17.13

The Biggest Fool of All

Doug Bandow | 6.17.13

Can Liturgical Music Be Saved?

Patrick O'Hannigan | 6.17.13

Revenge of the Fruitcakes

Peter Hitchens | 6.17.13

Obama's Climate of Intimidation

Matthew Sheffield | 6.18.13

Whither Suburbia?

Steven Greenhut | 6.18.13

The Mole in Don Draper

James Bowman | 6.17.13

ADVERTISEMENT

Home |About |Contributors |Advertise |Donate |Privacy Policy |Contact

The American Spectator Foundation is the 501(c)(3) organization responsible for publishing The American Spectator magazine and training aspiring journalists who espouse traditional American values. Your contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Each donor receives a year-end summary of their giving for tax purposes.

Copyright 2013, The American Spectator. All rights reserved.