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The Right Prescription
The Five Stages of a Conservative’s Grief
A painful adjustment to last Tuesday’s election.
Last Tuesday evening I went to bed in denial, thinking that there must be some mistake. I declined to believe that a majority of the voters were stupid enough to re-elect a President whose incompetence makes Jimmy Carter seem Washingtonian by comparison, whose mendacity far surpasses that of a pathological liar like Bill Clinton, and whose administration is so corrupt that it actually evokes nostalgia for the Nixon era. I was sure that, when all the actual votes had been counted, they would reveal that the voters of Florida, Virginia, Ohio and Colorado had been sensible enough to send this cheap grifter back to Chicago.
On Wednesday, forced to face the grim reality of the election results, I became angry. My seething thoughts turned first to the “news” media, whose behavior during this election cycle would have brought a blush to the cheek of the most cynical Pravda propaganda merchant. Then I thought of domesticated conservatives like Ann Coulter, who wrote that the media were pushing alternatives to Romney “because they are terrified of running against him.” In reality, the delusions of Coulter and the GOP establishment notwithstanding, Romney was the man the media and the White House desperately wanted to run against.
It was obvious to the Obama reelection team, its media toad eaters, and anyone else with a grain of sense, that Romney could easily be portrayed to the voters as an out-of-touch plutocrat whose only memorable “accomplishment” as the Governor of Massachusetts was the enactment of a health “reform” law that rendered him unable to credibly denounce Obamacare. During the presidential primaries, however, all serious challenges by Romney’s competitors for the nomination were met by vicious and often personal attacks from super-PACs funded by GOP establishment types who believed Romney was “electable.”
By Friday, I had reached the bargaining stage. I told myself that the House of Representatives was still controlled by the GOP and that this would ameliorate the damage that Obama could inflict on the nation during his second term. Moreover, I thought, Republican control of the House might also mean that Darrell Issa, the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, might actually get to the bottom of the Benghazi blunder and the Obama administration’s clumsily executed cover-up. If the facts are as damning as many suspect, they might even provide grounds for Obama’s impeachment.
I also reminded myself that Obamacare was still under siege in the courts. The Obama administration is defending more than two dozen lawsuits filed by Catholic organizations pursuant to the HHS contraception mandate. And the state of Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit challenging an IRS rule signaling its intent to issue tax credits through federally-created insurance exchanges. Obamacare stipulates that all such assistance must be dispensed via state-run exchanges and its employer mandates can only be triggered by assistance that originates from those state exchanges. The IRS has decided to ignore the law.
These cold comforts fended off the depression stage until Saturday, when I inevitably slid into a slough of despond. I found myself agreeing with all the columns, blogs, and Facebook posts that claim the “takers” now outnumber and therefore rule the “makers.” More than half the electorate had morphed into a collective vampire determined to suck the lifeblood out of the shrinking and besieged cadre of producers. It was at that point when I discovered the following quote from Edward Gibbon: “In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all — security, comfort, and freedom.”
Then it occurred to me that the Gibbon quote was about Athens rather than Rome. And, like many of his conclusions concerning the latter, his conjecture about the loss of Athenian liberty was historically inaccurate. The birthplace of democracy actually lost its freedom by constantly starting wars with rival city states, a bad habit that finally resulted in a resounding defeat. Remembering this, I re-examined my view on why Romney lost and realized that it didn’t happen because the country is going to Hell in a hand basket, but because he ran a lackluster campaign against a wily incumbent willing to tell any lie that would get him re-elected.
Romney would have made a far better President than Obama, but he was a weak candidate. His loss was entirely predictable. Indeed, I did predict it last January. However, like many early skeptics, I learned during the campaign that Romney is an honest man who — unlike the incumbent — understands how the free market economy actually works. Thus, I hoped against hope that the voters would confound my prediction, a thing they have frequently done in the past. Sadly, this time, the electorate vindicated my original estimation of Romney’s chances. In the end, the more intelligent among them will regret it, but that won’t undo their error.
But it won’t do to blame the customer for last Tuesday’s debacle. As Mitt Romney would no doubt tell us, if the product didn’t sell, that tells us that that merchandise itself had some defect or that it was not marketed properly. The good news is that our system of government, like our economy, gives us second (as well as third, fourth and fifth) chances. So, I think I’ll ignore the advice offered by a recent commenter on my blog, “Well, Catron, YOU LOSE … Time to shut down this web site. Good fight.” I guess that means I have now reached the acceptance phase. We got our butts kicked. That stinks. It is also a fact. Time to get back in the fight.
About the Author
David Catron is a health care revenue cycle expert who has spent more than twenty years working for and consulting with hospitals and medical practices. He has an MBA from the University of Georgia and blogs at Health Care BS.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (137) | Leave a comment
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Aristocat| 11.12.12 @ 6:19AM
Now the House Republicans need to grow a spine and get rid of Boehner and stand up and fight Obama and the Democrats...
How about Darrell Issa as Speaker? He seems to be the only one with enough courage to fight.
I remember when Democrats controlled the House and a Republican President wouldn't give them certain info, they said, OK, we're going to cut off funding for the Justice Dept. until we get what we want...Believe me, that worked...
The House is our only protection against tyranny.. NO MORE CR's...
Jacob McCandles| 11.12.12 @ 8:46AM
Yep, the House could really start brawling over the pending fiscal cliff. There could be weeks of bickering, blaming, etc. The administration and the media will have the Average American believing the Republicans are Evil, Angry, and damaging to our forward progress.
OR, Boehner could hold a news conference this week pointing out how big the divide is between the 2 parties, and how damaging the president's policies are to this nation. But, you all voted him back in office. The republicans got shellacked in the senate races. We are basically going to give the democrats what they want, but temporarily. Just like the dems in congress did to the Bush tax cuts. I'm so pissed at our voters, I think they deserve the results. Let them have the pain for a while. Words, facts, and history obviously do not matter to these imbeciles. They are going to have to FEEL the pain.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:11AM
I agree. Boehner is the incarnation of Romney in the House and needs to go.
BTW, David forgot to mention that it wasn't just Ann Coulter and the GOP Establishment who supported Romney against a conservative candidate. It was also the Conservative Establishment -- RET, National Review, et al.
My way of handling the grief was to compile all that I had written on this site warning about choosing Romney as a presidential candidate:
http://vernerable.wordpress.com/
It was very cathartic, but right now I'm in survival mode -- hunkering down to survive four more years of Obama, and my only consolation was the words of Jefferson that the reign of witches will soon be over. I hope so.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 12:27PM
I should note that Ann Coulter is even now blaming the election loss on "purists." Coulter is just as delusional as the Karl Roves and Dick Morrises of the world.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 12:48PM
Ann Coulter is being timid in saying that the loss is due partly to the storm and the mid-term incumbency advantage and she's right, but I still think it's timid.
Anyways, her point about the "purists" is regarding the radical pro-life stance of outlawing abortion even in cases of rape and incest (apparently, they are not mutually exclusive! :-) Railing on about the issue wasn't going to help win votes nor is a practical political position.
But sure, try to win elections protecting the unborn due to rape at all costs...
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 12:49PM
Additional philosophical observation. It's a cynical one, but quite frankly the unborn due to rape are probably not going to vote Republican. The left, to their credit, think about ways to gain power and win elections. Praying to the Holy Constitution and opposing Gay Marriage at all costs is all great and nice, but you need something more if you're not going to see the conservative ideology wind up on the dustbin of history like the shaker religion.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 7:24PM
Strange to hear Coulter criticizing some conservatives for be too purist!
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 11:00PM
Her position is that the pro-life stance in all cases, even rape and incest, is simply not politically sellable and, pardon the awful pun, losing elections that will get most abortions outlawed because of a refusal to compromise in getting 100% of abortions outlawed is, er, (I know, terrible), throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Ok, so it's not just leftists that have a sick sense of humor!
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 9:53PM
No more CR's & cut spending in actuality every year 5 to 10 percent.
Numerian| 11.12.12 @ 6:25AM
Hmmm...I don't think so. We are IN FACT doomed beyond all hope of redemption, and all the happy talk in the world is not going to change that. The question is; what now? If the country is doomed, then what do we individuals do? My ancestors escaped the European aristocrats by coming here; but where can I and my children go to escape the Ruling Class and the scum who support them? The plain fact is, we're stuck, and we have no hope for a future.
Otis, my man!| 11.12.12 @ 6:51AM
Yes, the world keeps circling the drain, faster and faster.
Only God can rescue us now.
SUBVET| 11.12.12 @ 11:57AM
Numerian....the reason you have no hope for the future is your FAITH.
Santiago| 11.12.12 @ 4:16PM
I suggest doing like your ancestors and escaping to somewhere else. Do it before FATCA (look it up) limits that option.
aware| 11.12.12 @ 6:37AM
Not to throw you back into the depression stage, but it is particularly galling that Obama hardly even expended much energy getting re-elected. Like he knew he wouldn't have to break a sweat.
Arguably the worst president coasted to victory. And those of us who tried to say it was coming only got derision for our trouble. The 1st impediment to victory for "conservatives" is, and always has been, the Republican Party.
You've tried for 50 years to make it a conservative party. Now the "imperfect" vehicle has broken down completely.
Joellen| 11.12.12 @ 7:18AM
Aware - so wrong in so many ways. Obama didnt have to break a sweat - then why did he spend more money than any other election and why all the campaign stops?
As to "we've tried for 50 years to make it a "conservative party", that is not true - we have a battle within our party - Republican lite vs. Constitutional Conservatives. Tell me Aware - why would I vote for a party that is just a duplicate of the other party. Why would I elect in my party someone who promotes death, big government, the breakdown of the family and fiscal irresponsibility? I want and demand the Perfect Conservative Party. I want a PRO LIFE, PRO FAMILY, FISCAL RESPONSIbLE, SMALL GOVERNMENT PARTY WHO ADHERES TO THE CONSTITUTION and who is NOT ASHAMED TO DO SO.
To capitulate to the other side will not make us stronger it will destroy us. When the Republican Party can finally grasp that, they will generate good and decent warriors, like Allen West, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, etc. who are really out there fighting the good fight. Remember aware, our LORD demands that we inspire for perfection, we wont get it here on earth, but we still inspire to it.
CrackerHound| 11.12.12 @ 11:32AM
Joellen...I agree with you totally.
My question though; How do you get past the entrenched media and educational establishment who serve as a brainwashing, propaganda machine?
When you have the public's attention 24/7 , a TeaParty Rally or a conservative website is like using an eyedropper to fill the ocean.
No, I agree with the posters above you unfortunately. Call me a pesimist if you must but I prefer to be known as a realist.
I believe the solution lies in other things not mentioned here.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 11:56AM
The "other things not mentioned here" may not be necessary yet. I strongly believe that we are not yet outnumbered. We have to turn out the vote, though. To do that we must have Constitutionally Conservative candidates that are able to defend their beliefs and are well versed in economics, have actually read John Locke's "Second Treatise" and have read the Federalist and AntiFederalist Papers at some point in their life.
If we don't find them then we will be down to the last two remedies afforded by the Constitution: Secession or Civil War, neither of which has a good track record.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 12:53PM
And let's set up an altar to The Constitution and sacrifice various farm animals on it. You might as well. That's about as realistic as your plan.
The left wins elections because they promise racist and sexist entitlements and the Republicans say nothing about it. This is like (bad analogy I know) Abraham Lincoln trying to win the civil war by reading the Bible while the Southern Democrats take potshots at him. Be realistic. Until you defend the civil rights of your electorate, the opposition will send the panzers in and take over the radio stations and newspapers.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 1:17PM
Thus the last two remedies. I am not afraid to fight, I just want to be sure we have exhausted all other options before we start. If you don't feel the same way you didn't spend any time in Bosnia circa 1995 or in any other place that has taken the path of civil war. What will happen here has the makings of something even worse than we've seen elsewhere. The passions are the same but the access to the implements of war is much, much greater. It is not that I cringe away from the possibility, it is just that I understand exactly what it means and I have young female children.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 2:45PM
One of the redeeming, remaining things about American conservatism is that conservatives take their daughters out to the firing range and teach them about lethal force instead of becoming welfare wives of the Democrat welfare state. On the other hand, the left is out to destroy masculinity because it's a threat to their power and doubles down their control of their traditional non-white base (unwed non-white welfare mothers) and lesbians.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 4:30PM
I agree completely. My 13 y/o daughter shoots a Glock 23 and an M4 clone better than most men. Especially now that I have modified the frame of the Glock to fit her hand better. In fact, I take her with me when I am teaching a class because the adult students get a lot more serious about what they are doing when they are out-shot by a 13 y/o girl. My 16 y/o son has worked in a gun store here in Colorado for the last three years and for the last year as a subject expert on tactical
guns and equipment and has grown knowledgeable enough to get the respect of guys that have even been there and done that. My twin 3 y/o daughters are already learning and will tell you all about it if you point a gun in an unsafe direction. :-) We are a gun family.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 5:19PM
I don't perceive my masculinity threatened by a 13 year old girl outshooting me (at least in terms of accuracy). The important thing I learned in concealed carry class was the importance of NOT taking a shot and then the seriousness of being responsible to take the right shot. That's why I think that gun families are perfect limited government, responsible citizens. They understand what lethal force means.
A non-gun owning liberal is kind of like those kids playing doom and being desensitized to violence except at the government level. If you give them a gun, they're a wimp and can't touch it. But they're more than happy to order a dozen policemen to go around busting down doors with glocks to enforce their breaking-eggs-to-omelette agenda. So it's really about being RESPONSIBLE for pointing it at someone. Leftists probably point a gun at people, figuratively, about as often as the average man supposedly thinks of sex. They sterilize mass murder like most people get their beef from plastic covered containers at costco.
aware| 11.12.12 @ 11:55AM
So easy to forget the Bush years, ain't it? How much "small government" did he give you? Or "fiscal responsibility"? Just because Obama is twice as bad doesn't mean bad stuff wasn't happening with the last Republican. Come to think of it, enlighten me as to one instance when Republicans, or even conservatives, actually did reduce government.
Allen West? Scott Walker? NDAA supporters.
Romney? Well if there is a "battle within our party" you lost. Quite some time ago. The Statists won.
Good luck. Your effort is worthy of a better cause. The Lord demands no such thing as perfection of man through politics or the State. If such perfection was attainable we wouldn't need Him, would we?
I don't blame you for your confusion, in politics it is easier to identify your enemies than your friends.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 9:13PM
Oh you're a LEGEND IN YOUR OWN MIND apparently. All knowing "aware" is so full of excrement it is flowing out of his earlobes. It's all the Republicans fault, right? Them there RINOS. If they would have just nominated that old coot from LJ riding the range in his jock strap, right? You newletter chewing dumbarses know all right? Stay at home and refule to vote except for your Mohammed, right? My way or the highway right? Heres a though for you genius......1/1/13. Know what that is? Of course you don't. Well it'll be the """""fiscal cliff"""" and when it hit, kablumie!!!! There goes your job, your investments, your cost of living will skyrocket and there will probably be rioting in your neighborhood. Why? Because you and the other DAs of America voted for ya boy's re-election or stayed at home in protest of that RINO from Massachusetts as the Republican choice on the ballot. Either way you [and all of us] lose big time beginning 1/1/13. Be prepared dumbars!!!!!!!
aware| 11.13.12 @ 6:07AM
That you can't teach old dingleberries new tricks is a given. But fortunately olddingleberries die off, making room for those who can adapt. And who know how to fight instead of rant and rave.
Appleby| 11.12.12 @ 6:45AM
Stand back and let it crash. Give them their heads and let them run the country over the cliff, and turn it into Greece, and then turn to TheKids and say "OK, you got all the answers, YOU fix it."
Make them learn that actions have consequences in the only way they can possibly learn it -- by standing there nekkid in the breeze with nobody to bail them out.
Numerian| 11.12.12 @ 7:52AM
Excuse me, but you seem to think the disastrous consequences will only happen to the Leftist New Majority. They will not; EVERYONE will suffer, and the Left will simply demand that the folks pulling the cart (the private sector) surrender still more of their income to the aristocrats of the government.
Jacob McCandles| 11.12.12 @ 1:32PM
I'm convinced now that the only way for conservatives to regain power is to sit back for a while. Get out of the way, stop SAVING these stupid sonsabit----. Things will deteriorate, IMO. Maybe then the white voters will come out in numbers great enough to win the next one. Minorities are a lost cause, as illustrated by their voting in the last 2 elections.
Nancy in NC| 11.12.12 @ 9:30AM
We should pull a John Galt??
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:13AM
That would be nice Appleby but we have a left-wing media in this country, and they will contrive to blame the hope-for crash on CONSERVATIVES.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 12:06PM
In the USSR the term for us would be "Spoilers". We would not be doing "our part". You must understand that we are now slaves, if the takers are truly now in the majority. Slavery is slavery, whether it is slavery to an owner or slavery to a majority through a government. I have given considerable thought to the "John Galt" path. The difficulty with this path is that those forlks were all rich. They could provide for their families while not working. This is not something I can do, personally. I make a lot but it goes right back out of the account to pay for the expenses incurred by a 6 person family. I have a small savings but I will need that in retirement. I am destined to become a slave due to the fact that I must continue working to take care of my family. I have to work even harder and make more money if they start taking away an even larger chunk.
Desperation is a dangerous condition. The left would do well to remember that.
Von Mises Jr| 11.12.12 @ 7:25AM
If you combine the moochers who voted for Santa Clause with the ignoramuses that do not have a clue about many details of the scandals and the result of their dilemma, there is a majority of factions with congruent moral depravity.
You also have a corrupt MSM and regime that has deceived these willing dupes.
On Thursday, November 8th we finally heard about the second attack on our nation in the last two months with the Iranians firing on our drone. And magically the fiscal cliff and taxmeggedon are being reported.
But now the dupes have created a Mexican standoff. If the House caves and taxes the crap out of high earners, small businesses will be crushed and unemployment rise across the board. If they hold and do not ravage the high earners, everyone paying taxes (50%) will see their taxes go up by 50% on the Federal level and 2% of income for Social Security plus ObamaCare taxes and fines.
Buckle up, bucko.
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 8:40AM
Conservatives Jr. need not be ashamed. The candidate was not one of their own. In fact, over the last thirty-five years, it is only when Conservatives preponderate as in 1980 and 1994, that The GOP enjoys success. Local and State Conservative candidates did well throughout the country.
Not of course that any of this now matters. Voters who want Obamacare repealed still voted for its father. The bidding war for freebies between the Left and the GOP will always be won by The Left.
The litany of new taxes this January, includes the 2% bank transaction "fee" as well. Every deposit and every withdrawl; every check and every debit transaction will now cost 2% of total.
James Baker| 11.12.12 @ 9:53AM
2% bank transactionfee
Wow, where did that come from, first I heard of that.
If what you are saying is true, when my paycheck gets deposited, I get charged 2%, then when I use the money to pay bills I get charged 2% again?????
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 11:07AM
That is correct James. It is one of the automatic taxes set to take effect in Jan. Check out the increases in dividend and capital gain taxes as well. Those rates go up on autopilot also.
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 11:49AM
Oh and BTW, specifically exempted from the "fee" are those credit unions where membership is limited to Union members. Just as many favored groups are exempted from the health care requirement other favored groups are free from this burden as well.
Butch| 11.12.12 @ 3:48PM
Isn't there an ole piece of paper somewhere--which was supposed to be important once upon a time--that said something about "equal protection of the laws?"
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 11:47AM
The reason you haven't heard of it is that it's not true. That provision was in a bill that did not pass. Check out the truth on Truth vs Fiction or the other fact checking websites. Al Adab, don't perpetuate untruths that just scare people.
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 11:50AM
All of which explains why Steve Moore and Steve Forbes were discussing it the other day of course.
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 3:44PM
I should be more civil RCV:
You are talking about HR 4646 which was introduced in the 111th Congress and died in committee. The litany of automatic increases in January and the plethora of newly proposed regulations resurrect this idea.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 8:30PM
Not so. Not so.
CrackerHound| 11.12.12 @ 11:43AM
I guess our hope that we could get representatives elected who would do the right thing and NOT worry about re-election was for naught.
We should not be raising the debt ceiling one red cent or allowing more taxes to a corrupt goverment that brings us trillion dollar debt with no return.
WE THE PEOPLE ARE BEING TAXED TO DEATH WITH NO REPRESENTATION!!!
What are we getting for all of this debt? Yea, I know unions, crony coporations, banks, and wall street are people too (sarc), but the American people are being screwed worse than the colonialists and founding fathers ever were..
aware| 11.12.12 @ 5:38PM
It's like the middle class was to be ground to powder "between the millstones of inflation and taxation".
Bail outs and 1st stop inflationary "cash" "infusions" to run up stocks and buy T bills(thus benefiting both the Cronies and the State) for the banking and financial elite. But it will be "austerity" for the rest.
This has already been decided. The "right" people are firmly in place to implement. Many are on both sides of the "political divide".
You are right, we are screwed. The most massive theft in history is going on right in front of your face. Fascism, that is what "developed nations" have and are, is approaching its supreme crisis.
When the Debt Bomb goes off.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 9:18PM
Dumbars, you have no idea how bad this will be in two years. But you will discover, just as did the residents of Nagasaki that looked up in the sky just as the B-52 were unloading their payloads. You and the rest of your dumbars friends could have stopped it but didn't. Why? Ask Forrest Gump who described people like you!!!!
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 9:19PM
Correction: B-29s [but you get the idea]!!!!
aware| 11.13.12 @ 6:02AM
That you would have Forrest Gump as your philosophical teacher is understandable. Compared to you he is a genius. Short sentences with simple words are a necessity with "pupils" like you.
My state went for Romney, so how do you figure I could "have stopped" anything? And I have been preparing for 5 years now, while you haven't done diddly but hope the Republicans would "save" you. Now you are in a panic and will be trampled under foot at the exit.
How much food do you have? Ammunition? Place away form the cities? Any silver? Medical supplies? Seeds? Water source? Know how to grow food? Rid yourself of debt? I doubt you even know how to use a shovel and are out of shape for physical work. Have you first made yourself right with God? You will need Him.
You are way, WAY behind the curve. Good luck if you haven't allied with like minded and self sufficient individuals because time is fast running out.
itsy_bitsy| 11.12.12 @ 7:50AM
Sorry! I can't believe that! Obama was just too bad as a candidate! What we saw was mass corruption in the voting process, "electronic" thievery that could easily take place and just as easily be covered up with a few key strokes! This country will never see another uncorrupted election! I predict that democrats will "always" win every election! They are getting away with the greatest robbery in history and everyone excepts it meekly like Lemmings being driven off the cliff!
Numerian| 11.12.12 @ 7:54AM
I doubt that the election was stolen (though I wouldn't rule it out). It seems more likely to me that we now simply have a Leftist New Majority that is essentially neo-Marxist, racist (against whites), and self-interested rather than patriotic.
Ryan| 11.12.12 @ 8:28AM
Nah, I don't think that was the case at all. There may have been corruption, but not enough to throw the election.
Sjccoach| 11.12.12 @ 8:42AM
You CINOs at American Spectator pushed Romney. Nomimate a squish and you get a squish campaign. You love moderate losers. I'm sure you'll start pushing Jeb Bush on us in the next few weeks.
GobBluthe| 11.12.12 @ 9:11AM
And who, who ran was better than Romney? The purists on the right couldnt settle on a candidate.
Perry-To weak on immigration
Gingrich-Old retread with marriage problems
Cain-Not a serious candidate
Santorum-Too sanctimonious
Bachman-Attacked everyone but Romney
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:16AM
If the GobBluthes of the world get their way again:,Republican Party will fade away just as the old Federalist Party did. Good riddance.
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 9:57PM
Another Bush and I'm gonna become a pimp on Hollywood Blvd. and vote Democratic.
ElGordo| 11.12.12 @ 8:55AM
Speaker Boehner should not agree to any tax conferences until Obama releases all the information on the tragedy in Libya and Fast and Furious
clayusmcret| 11.12.12 @ 9:02AM
He won't. And he also won't stand firm against massive immigration reform, wrongly believing that he can buy back the latino vote. We need to hit the wall, suffer sequestration and taxamoggedon and like a phoenix rebuild America from the ashes....but we won't. Boehner will allow obama to do much more long term damage in the name of compromise.
MarkS| 11.12.12 @ 9:28AM
You mean like all those Kubuki acts about looming debt ceilings and other so-called crises? Or how about this?- "
Mr. President, this is your moment. We’re ready to be led, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans. We want you to lead — not as a liberal or a conservative, but as the president of the United States of America. We want you to succeed. Let’s challenge ourselves to find the common ground that has eluded us" - Rep. John Boehner 11/7/12
In the days and years ahead the Reps will prove superfluous to the Total Welfare State and are on their way to Whig-dom.
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 9:57PM
And all his personal records too.
clayusmcret| 11.12.12 @ 8:58AM
The missing 3 million purposely absent voters allowed the church of obama to set its foundation in concrete and set in motion the dominoes to demolish our Constitutional Republic. The ones too conservative to vote for Romney or the ones unwilling to vote for a Mormon are no less a pox on America than the shortsighted idiots who voted for obama to get their free stuff and continue his dismantlement of our constitution.
Since the election I read "The Great Handout Society" and it reminded me that Ken Hamblin pointed out in the 90's that no major world power, e.g. Roman, British, etc, once it peaked and started down the other side had ever regained its footing. In fact, once they crossed the point of growing and started down the other side, their demise was normally swift and absolute. For example, without obama's assistance who would have thought Egypt, Mali, Tunisia, etc. would have changed their forms of government overnight, yet they have.
Bottom line: In 1775, British subjects chose to become citizens and started the greatest experiment of all time. On 6 Nov, 2012, American subjects chose to discontinue that experiment. I say American subjects because NO citizen would ever vote away his/her freedoms of their own accord. The "I'll earn my own thank you very much" folks have been outvoted by the "Give me mine dammit!" Sadly, the weak minded have learned that envy IS now an American value. The combination of the two...... is now unbeatable.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 12:17PM
In re you first paragraph..... Actually, I'd say the same about the folks that got Romney nominated, They are a pox on this nation. The lack of a strong, well-spoken, Conservative candidate lost this election. The progressives in the Republican party are just as at fault as the ones who refused to vote for him. The establishment Republicans really take the most blame due to thier unbridled attacks on every single Conservative that ran. We need to hang these folks from the trees and clean up the Republican Party or just walk away and form another. Follow the money in the super-PACs that attacked the Conservative candidates and you will find the hidden domestic enemy.
GobBluthe| 11.12.12 @ 9:08AM
The author is wrong and misses the point completely.
First Romney wasnt a bad candidate and didnt run a bad campaign. It wasnt perfect and Romney himself wasnt perfect. But if we need perfect to beat someone like Obama, then the country truly is lost. The author is still in a state of denial about the American voter and where present day Americans stand on the ideological spectrum.
I have noticed that US conservatives are taking the line that the campaign or candidate wasnt good enough. But over at NRO, the British/Canadian conservatives get it. Theyve all been there in their countries. Steyn, Cooke and OSullivan correctly point out that Romney isnt and wasnt the problem, He was surely competent enough in his campaigning and as a candidate. It is the electorate.
I think for US conservatives, this is too frightening to accept. That the nation that one elected the GOP to 5/6 elections between 1968-88, 4 of which were landslides, no longer exists. That there really is nothing exceptional about the USA anymore and that a slim majority of Americans reject Americanism.
Numerian| 11.12.12 @ 9:31AM
You are absolutely correct; the problem is the electorate. The New Majority are essentially a coalition of neo-Marxists, anti-white racists, and people with their hands out. The Left has successfully carried out a two-generation long campaign of race-baiting, vote-buying, and the illegal importation of the voter class they want; i.e., socialist anti-American Mexicans.
Let's face it; the future is bleak, and totally hopeless.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 9:48AM
Not TOTALLY helpless. Let's try this analogy: We can't say that the conservatives' chances are hopeless until we've actually seen them try to play the game.
The next year or so should be a reflection for the right. Their issues aren't winning or at best they win only when the left puts up exceptionally weak candidates: Carter, Dukakis, Gore, Kerry. My cat could beat 'em. As time has gone by, the left has packed the voting booth with racist and gender spoils candidates while the right rails against abortion and gay marriage. It's NOT working!
There is nothing wrong with the right REPRESENTING the CIVIL RIGHTS of their primary electorate: white males. I could go over to a leftist blog and say that there's something they missed about black civil rights and they'd be on it in a heartbeat. But Romney was busy with "binders full of women" (not a gaffe) and tax breaks for the wealthy. In the meantime, he let slide H1B's, outsourcing, reverse discrimination, VAWA act, IMBRA and a whole list of anti-white male and anti-male initiatives. More black men are in jail since the civil rights act was passed. Someone should address that!
The Republicans are sitting on a powerkeg of fantastic issues that they haven't used. Oh, wait, let's talk more about denying abortion for victims of rape and incest. That'll work and perhaps 40 years from now, if the stars line up, they'll get that passed.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:30AM
It's both: an ignorant electorate and a moderate Republican running against a media-favored incumbent. The one thing Romney didn't provide was leadership. He tried to coast his way after the first two debates and ran as a moderate, avoiding conservative issues. The Karl Roves of the world managed to convince us that this was a winning strategy for Romney. Now we know it wasn't.
The idea that Republicans should run as conservatives during the primaries and as moderates during the general -- in order to appeal to undecided morons -- has now been shown to be an Establishment pipedream meant to keep conservative candidates in their place.
I thought it might work, too. After the debates, the undecideds were interviewed on e.g., Fox, and came out in favor of Romney. But the mistake hear is in thinking these TV undecideds are representative of their fellow morons.
In fact, TV undecideds are perhaps for the first time actually required to THINK about political issues, and once that happens, Obama is the loser. However, the vast majority of undecideds are not like this; they DON'T think seriously about issues, and go to the polls being as ignorant as they've always been.
It's time for the Republican Party to become either a moderate or a conservative party. As Lincoln said, a house divided cannot stand; it will become all one or all the other. If it should choose the former, it needs to disband, as we already have that in the Democrat Party.
Butch| 11.12.12 @ 3:57PM
Republicans actually won the undecided/moderate vote, by a considerable margin, about eight points, if I remember correctly. It just turned out not to be all about them.
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 10:00PM
Actually I think that Romney is more of a man then either Bush and/or McCain. Republicans need to stop pissing on each other and hire someone like David Horowitz to run the campaign.
MarkS| 11.12.12 @ 9:14AM
The problem with "five this" or "10 that" themes is one tends to parse their thinking to fit them. Last Tuesday I went to bed knowing that Romney had lost and that no amount of wishful thinking would reverse events by morning. I’ve been at peace since not because it was my desired outcome but because I accepted the unfolding reality my 40 years of watching the political scene taught me to recognize long ago. A reality I predicted many times in these very comment and Letters sections these last two years because it was plain to see the Reps had reverted to form by elevating a man who thought it perfectly “conservative” up to the end for the state to "mandate" its citizens purchase health insurance and who the bluest voters in America found suitable as governor. Liberalism Lite has always been the GOPs temptation when confronted with the real article but, speaking of marketing, they never seem to learn that aping it both validates it and teaches voters to refuse imitations.
MarkS| 11.12.12 @ 9:14AM
Indeed, given the vintage of all of Obama’s Big Ideas I even predicted an iteration of Obama’s campaign slogan way back on 6/19/08 in “Who Needs Retirement?” (http://spectator.org/archives/2008/06/19/defenses-down/print). Of course, I’ve secretly kept hope alive that Americans still “get the Big Things right” and Obama and his graying old radicals would be trounced. I’ve had no faith in either party since the first George W admin when the Reps had it all and did NOTHING to reverse Leviathan’s growth but I thought we’d at least prefer the guy who sees the approaching cliff over the one racing towards it. Alas, therein lies my disappointment and the “sixth stage” of political coping Mr. Catron. We are no longer the country or people we used to be and, ala western Europe, have blissfully chosen real decline so long as it means the “freebies” keep coming in the near term. There is no going back now and all the Let’s Go Team bravado cannot save us from ourselves.
Bill8472| 11.12.12 @ 9:51AM
The Benghazi incident will fade out and never be resolved.
Obamacare will survive mostly intact, and will become the foundation law for National Health. Who knows, maybe we'll actually work out a good government health plan that we can afford. Don't laugh too loud.
And Obama will serve his four years and leave the nation in an economic shambles, and be remembered primarily as America's First Black President. And that's how he'll go down in history.
Fessendon Newport| 11.12.12 @ 9:52AM
Winning Florida was just icing on the cake for our President re-elect .. for what can only be described as a resounding victory for all that is good about America. A resounding defeat for the arsonistic GOP ..and for the notion that you can buy, steal or lie or scorch-earth your way to a presidential election victory. The GOP has quite a streak going, having lost 5 of the last 6 popular votes.
Meanwhile, ConWorld's dissembling goes on .. and on. And for the party of "Individual Responsibility".. the excuses keep piling up ... blaming main street media .. the immorality of non-white america .. Chris Christie .. the Polls .. "fear of change" .. "THE TAKERS" .. even Karl Rove for their loss. Of course any consideration of the root causes is met with fingers in the ears, eyes wide-shut, and the monotonic la-la-la-la-la utterance.
In truth, four years of explicit opposition to the President at every turn while failing to offer a coherent alternative .. the fact that GOP still hasn’t come to terms with or drawn any lessons from the immense economic failures of the Bush years .. the fact that it spent the better part of the winter and spring of 2010 alienating women .. the fact that its candidate slimed almost half the country with its pet slur about "parasites living off gubmint" .. the fact that it remains straight-jacketed to demonstrably failed supply-side dictums ... are why the GOP lost.
So they continue to deny the existence of the sun .. as they go blind staring at it
Bill8472| 11.12.12 @ 10:02AM
Some of what you say is true, regardless of HOW you've said it.
However, I think when you used the metaphor about staring into the sun, that was a bit much. I wouldn't be using the sun as a metaphor for the current moment of ascendancy of collectivism.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:35AM
Economic failures of the Bush years? You Democrats were in control of Congress a year before the Great Recession started. Yes Romney got it wrong when he said 47 percent of the electorate were parasites. In fact, we now know that figure is 51 percent.
Fessendon Newport| 11.12.12 @ 12:09PM
Well done Crisler .. your ConWorld bonafides are well displayed .. and so too is your loser's lament. I guess you didn't know that after 8 years of Republicanomics under Bush .. a period dominated by GOP policies and governance .. yielded a net LOSS of 646,000 private sector jobs .. January 2001 - January 2009. This is what America's taxpayers got for the Bush tax cuts at an 8 year budgetary cost of $1.8 trillion .. a cost of $2,786,378 per LOST private sector job .. the worst record over an 8 year period of any President in the post-war era. The only net job growth after 8 years was "gubmint" jobs, every .. single .. one.
The ruinous Bush years also ran-up our nation's U-6 un/under employment level by 11,612,000 persons to 22,204,000 persons in January 2009 .. a 110% increase, accounting for almost the entire 11 year U-6 growth January 2001 to date. Taken as a whole, a very, very small fraction of the glut of joblessness has been accumulated under the Obama tenure to date .. while 22,204,000 .. preceded his tenure.
And that's just for starters ...
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 12:38PM
2001 to 2009? Uh, the Democrats took over Congress in 2006 and Obama become president in 2008, and the Democrats had a fillibuster proof majority starting in 2008.
I agree Bush ran up the debt with government spending, while at the same time liberals accused him of starving poor people. However, Obama's debt makes Bush look fiscally conservative. The unemployment rate under Bush was around 4.4 percent in 2007 and began to rise when the full impact of a Democrat Congress began to be felt. Under most of Obama's reign, it's been 8 percent or more. Do you ever look at facts or do you just like repeating Democrat talking points?
Al Adab| 11.12.12 @ 3:34PM
Overlooked of course is the fact that many Movement Conservatives opposed Bush spending and attempted to reign in the budget. Unlike our friends of The Left who seem to worship their elected leaders, Conservatives do not think every GOP President walks on water and is inerrant. Our purpose is to maintain the faith in limited government, free markets and self-reliance as the only path to Liberty which we hold more dear than simple material well being.
Fessendon Newport| 11.12.12 @ 3:46PM
Crisler is welcome to refute any of the data presented .. that is, if he can. Good luck with that.
In the meantime, here's some more of Coworld's voodoo outcomes. After 45 months in office under Obama (thru Sept 2012) .. despite Bush Recession #2 and the GOP's scorched earth tactics .. the private sector workforce added a net 514,000 jobs. In marked contrast, under Bush Voodoo, at the same 45 month juncture of the Bush Plague (Sept 2004), the economy had LOST a net 1,495,000 private sector jobs (see BLS series ID CES0500000001). So much for the magic of ConWorld's beloved “supply-side” nostrum.
BTW .. the Dems weren't seated until early 2007, and they had just one budget, FY2008. Do we really need to lay out all the dismal outcomes over 8 years dominated by GOP policies and governance. GDP is a real doozy ...
You see, in ConWorld, philosophical dominionism matters more than economic outcomes. In ConWorld's netherworld of fallacy, the aforementioned net LOSS of 1,495,000 private sector jobs after 45 months of the Bush tenure .. is called success.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 7:30PM
For true facts and figures, see:
http://www.commentarymagazine......ore-795664
http://www.commentarymagazine......president/
CrackerHound| 11.12.12 @ 3:31PM
Actually, Obama and the democrats changed the conversation from the real issue, the economy, to this strawman "war on women".
It ALL came out of the blue when in the middle of a republican debate, George Stephanopolis asked Romney a question about birth control (the media and Dems are one). Not related to anything, leaving Romney acting incredulous.
The rest of the media quickly caught on and ran whole segments on basically rehashing the women's rights movement and pointing at Romney as a villian. Wholly concocted and played on the short attention span and shallowness of the American public.
Sandra Fluke was dug up and put on display and then the DNC was ready with "The Life of Julia". Of course when this is the topic of conversation, all we needed was a couple of Republican politicians acting stupidly and wala...game over. Obama gets the women voters.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 9:52AM
"In reality, the delusions of Coulter and the GOP establishment notwithstanding, Romney was the man the media and the White House desperately wanted to run against."
I think Romney did have a good chance. If the yen did this and the dollar did that as Garfield in OPM put it... Romney could have won if a hurricane hadn't struck and two foolish Republican candidates hadn't theorized about "legitimate rape". It would have been by the skin of his teeth, but he would have won. The question moving forward is: Do we want those kinds of odds for the next election?
However, Newt Gingrich would have been the McCain of 2012. Loved by the Dems in the primaries and abandoned by them in the general election and then Newt would have bashed the tea partiers for not showing up for him. Ron Paul perhaps could have done it if only because I think we have lost the amnesty for illegals issue long term but other than that, he has a lot going for him but the Israeli lobby would have most likely torpedoed him.
Alej| 11.12.12 @ 9:55AM
The problem IS the electorate. The electorate of the entire country, combined. Education will not change anything in the minds of parasites in the blue states.
The problem is not the electorate of the red states.
Ergo, secession.
Bill8472| 11.12.12 @ 9:58AM
If conservatism is to have any effect on the political future of our country, Republicans and Libertarians are going to have to figure out some way to become a force that is relevant and important to peoples' interests. And they better accomplish that pretty quickly.
Alej| 11.12.12 @ 10:27AM
Relevant and important to peoples' interest.
Give more and better tasting bread and more extravagant circuses.
The majority (if the announced vote count is to be believed) do not have the same values we do, and the disparity is only going to become more pronounced.
C. Vernon Crisler | 11.12.12 @ 11:37AM
Umm, why are you blaming conservatism? Romney ran as a moderate.
Bill8472| 11.12.12 @ 12:14PM
Do you think the conservatives stayed home, or voted for Obama because they thought Romney was too moderate? Come on.
billwitten| 11.12.12 @ 1:46PM
Wake up, Bill. Some folks voted for Gary Johnson. Some stayed home. There were a lot of folks that were POed about the treatment of the Paul supporters and the other conservative candidates and their supporters. The absolutely corrupt methods used on the conservative field were worthy of the Chicago crowd. In fact, I'd say there are some of us who are looking for a chance to take revenge on the responsible for the various shenanigans.
Bill8472| 11.13.12 @ 8:58AM
So the solution was to allow the re-election of Barack Obama?
The scenario you outline doesn't sound like the conduct of people who have the well-being of the United States at heart, but instead ideologues to whom the party platform is more important than the party or the nation.
billwitten| 11.13.12 @ 3:12PM
Bill, your flaccid arguments are trying my patience. Go over to the Demonicrats and take your "Shades of Gray" with you. You, as a RINO, refuse to accept any responsibility for what has happened. That is a liberal's standard operating proceedure. You're a liberal, Bill. Go away.
The well-being of the Constitution is actually all I care about. The avoidance of conflict is all you are worried about, Bill. Again: Go Away and take your liberal sensibilities with you.
rightasrain| 11.12.12 @ 10:21AM
I'm stuck in the second stage--anger. It remains to be seen what the exact numbers are but apparently some voters decided to stay home. I thought Republicans would crawl over broken glass to get rid of Obama. I was wrong. I have spoken to at least two people who didn't vote out of some ludicrous notion to protest Romney's not being conservative enough. one actually said there was no difference between Obama and Romney. Romney wasn't even my third choice as nominee but I warmed to him after the convention and came to believe that a problem-solving, money-manager type who had extraordinary human decency was just what we needed. Romney couldn't be a thug like Obama for all the (decaf) tea in China. But until every Republican decides to vote for the nominee, we are destined to lose. Any Republican is better than any Democrat. It's as simple as that.
PolishKnight| 11.12.12 @ 10:27AM
To Obama's credit, 80% or more of his electorate turned up because he was Santa Claus and reverse Jim Crow Clause. He gives them monetary goodies AND racist and gender entitlements. And Romney? He panders to Obama's base (unsuccessfully) and offers a few good economic ideas, but overall he really is the elitist that the left bashed with H1B visas and outsourcing.
Republicans don't take care of their base. It's as simple as that.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.12.12 @ 4:18PM
It's time to shut down GOP.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.12.12 @ 10:24AM
Mr. Catron,
I for one am not content to watch our country fall over the next four years while we are busy grooming and picking a candidate. and running against another a corrupt communist campaign.
No, Mr. Catron we are well past that as the election just demonstrated...unless Santa claus runs out of (borrowed and stolen) money.
Oh, Santa claus has aso co-opted under duress some of the largest companies in America for his cause.
No,
we are way beyondthe ballot box for remediation.
I mentioned a friend who on Wednesday asked with a chuckle..."OK, Ken, who do I shoot first?"
I chuckled in return, and told him I had not decided yet though it seems a knee-shot is in order for every corrupt journalist....and their chain of command.
Also, the un-elected communist Czars deserve some attention.
No sir.....
We are well past ratrional discourse.
Ken
Alej| 11.12.12 @ 11:07AM
Right with you Ken, from a Texican probably older that you !
As said, we, taken in the general population of Northeast, Great lake states, and the West Coast crap, are now in the pemanent minority.
But in spite of urban Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas went 57 % 41 % for the good and decent man.
I think there's a whole lot of Samuel Whittemore in a whole lot of us, with Jefferson Davis thrown in.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 11:50AM
More bluster from the tinfoil hat Texas Rangers!
Butch| 11.12.12 @ 7:12PM
After our peaceful separation, you won't have to put up with it anymore. No threats, now.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 8:32PM
You are quickly separating from reality, Butch. That's about it.
Bill8472| 11.13.12 @ 9:03AM
Peaceful separation? Don't expect anything like that. A secession would result in a bloodbath. It would be horrible.
Even if the initial secession was accomplished without violence, there eventually would be civil war for one or more of several reasons: (1) secession would make the continent more likely to be subject to outside invasion; (2) secession in what had been the United States would open it to invasion from other nations on the continent; (3) one side or the other would find itself without some needed resource, there would be friction over making that resource available, followed by attempted conquest. There are probably other possible violent scenarios, but those three are the ones that come most readily to mind.
Alej| 11.12.12 @ 9:34PM
Face it, queer, you follow me around because you fantasize about me.
Bill8472| 11.13.12 @ 9:04AM
It's because you have your mother's eyes.
Petronius| 11.12.12 @ 10:28AM
We got what the RNC and the rest of the Establishment wants us to have; serfdom.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 8:33PM
Serfs never had it so good.
Tom Kyba| 11.12.12 @ 11:11AM
You want to know why cadaver Boehner and the Rinos won't do a thing to fight with principles? Just read "Throw Them All Out' by Peter Schweizer.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.12.12 @ 11:17AM
Petronius;
Two things make up a "serf".....a mind-set and a blunt weapon. I can reach out and say "hello" at four hundred yards....to just about anyone in office or not.
In the words of my friend...who do we shoot FIRST?
Petronius| 11.12.12 @ 12:28PM
Those who deserve execution the most are those nobody can get at. They do not deserve a bullet in any case as that is a soldier's death. Traitors must be hanged drawn and quartered publicly for all to see.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 8:34PM
Agreed. We just disagree on who the traitors are.
RCV| 11.12.12 @ 10:47PM
Secessionists are traitors to our country, the United States of America.
Bill8472| 11.13.12 @ 9:07AM
How about cutting their heads off on TV?
Bill8472| 11.13.12 @ 9:06AM
I guess you don't watch the videos of how they take out those types of folks at long distance from helicopters using infrared sensors from thousands of yards.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 11:22AM
Some [possibly all] of you have partial valid points. I too am pissed off and equally despondent over this election. The ultimate reason as to WHY is not because of Romney's faults, messaging, weaknesses, etc; but instead [as Rush brilliantly stated].....YOU CAN'T BEAT SANTA CLAUS. Or to put into my perspcetive, IT'S THE DEMOCRATS, STUPIDS! This nation is as this author indicates, DOA [or at least within the next two years]. Some say we can re-group.....WRONG! We will become Mexico or Cuba within two years max. Why? Simple, because of the STUPIDITY of this nation, and because of LABOR UNIONS. Again, each/every policeman, fireman, school teacher, street/sewer worker, etc in this country belongs to a LABOR UNION, and the word went out prior to 11/6/12 that Romney/Ryan's intent upon become elected would have been to drastically/seriously downsize the Federal government [which would have snowballed to state and local governments as well]. As unionized members, the STUPIDS voted to PYA or to get/keep their FREE STUFF if you will [the Santa effect]. I'd counsel all interested to immediately begin moving your personal assets etc to as safe havens as possible, because THE EXCREMENT IS ABOUT READY TO HIT THE ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL FAN!!!!!
aware| 11.12.12 @ 7:07PM
You must be at stage 6: delusional and incoherent. Take a deep breath.
In fact it was exactly "Romney's faults, messaging, weaknesses, etc". Which I attempted to tell you more than once when I called him a glue factory nag that would need more than you and your band of Merry Men to be carried across the finish line.
Nobody can say Limbaugh didn't more than carry his share of the Republican water in this game though. Along with the backbenchers and wanna-be's. Led the charge on the "polls are biased" rationalization for the obvious failing of Lead Balloon Romney to soar like an eagle.
The earth has shifted under his, and your, feet. Somehow that escaped your attention. But I wish you well because, though misguided, I know you love the promise of what America was and should be.
But dark days are coming.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 9:00PM
No but you are obviously at the age of STUPID, like your compadres who voted for your Black Jesus. Have no fear, you won. As is said TO THE VICTOR BELONGS THE SPOILS. You and yours will see your results fairly quickly now, dumbars. The fiscal cliff will bring economic/financial disaster. Hopefully your job and income if any [doubtful] will be effected negatively. "Dark days"? You have no idea of how DARK [much darker than your domestic terrorists candidates that for sure]. No twerp, Santa Claus could not have beat ya boy. It was the labor unions and their STUPIDS [probably you're one of them] that caved to the agenda of the domestic terrorists. Enjoy watching your country destruct, moron, because you stayed home out of protest. Enjoy seeing interest rate hit 20%, unemplyment 30%, illegals taking your job, homosexuals indoctrinating your children, stocks/house values crashing. You're a GD fool, as are the other like you. Have a smile on your face when you and LOUISE go over the cliff in your T-Bird okay???????
aware| 11.13.12 @ 5:44AM
You are easily the stupidest neocon posting here. And that's saying a lot. You still haven't figured out that I am way to your right, have you? You keep trying to label me an Obama supporter. How freaking stupid can you be?
If you check, dumbass, you will see that I have been warning about calamity on these pages for 5 years. Long before you even had a clue, which you still don't have.
For example,(pay attention you stupid clueless neocon and learn something) for the last 3 years entitlements and interest on the debt exceeded tax receipts for the first time ever. Can that pea sized brain of yours understand what this means? Yeah, and those Republicans you think are the answer have been voting for the spending and destruction of liberty right along like good little Germans.
Like many "conservatives" you just rant and rave but don't really know what the details are. You are an economic and political dunce, as your "vote for all Republicans" clearly shows. It's those like you, stupid and pig-headed, that assures that the Statists will win. In fact you are a Statist, too. Trotskyite dumbass.
All you know is to keep doing what you always have. Learn to like defeat, it is all you can expect. Your blind guides like Limbaugh have now put you in a ditch, blind man. You have no solutions just blind rage.
Stick| 11.12.12 @ 11:29AM
From here on out, when we nominate a Presidential candidate, lets make sure he/she can carry their home state. I liked Romney, thought he was a solid choice, but always thought his not being able to carry his home state (Mich or MA) was a problem similar to Al Gore.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 1:35PM
You're right and wrong. Massachusetts is a radically liberalized state of wackoism, and Romney was running against one of their own [African-American, Kennedy supported etc]. Michigan is destructively labor unionized, so that explains that. Romney is essense has no home state because of his moderate Republicanism. The far greater crime is that of Wisconsin pissing on Paul Ryan, after Scott Walker's previous courageous stand against the labor unions. Wisconsinites will GTH for their traitorisms!!!!
Dajake| 11.12.12 @ 4:09PM
Here in Marxachusetts we could not elect a decent pro-life, gay republican (endorsed by the Boston Globe) over a incompetent and corrupt Democrat. Charles Manson if he had a "D"after his name would of had a better chance.
Who Knows?| 11.12.12 @ 12:00PM
You neglected to take your “stages of grief” seriously.
The whole enchilada is supposed to apply to a cancer patient, say, who finds out they are about to die, and there’s no question about it.
What Obama’s “victory” SHOULD mean, IMHO, is the acceptance that the death of a free American has ALREADY occurred. If Benjamin Franklin were alive now, surely he’d peruse the American political landscape from at least 1960, and answer his own question about whether we could keep the republic in a resounding—NO!
Just say NO!
Look, here’s a simple way of understanding the devastation that is our political history of the last fifty plus years---JFK and LBJ STOLE the 1960 election. Do you think that DOESN’T matter, or that the Democratic Party didn’t learn from that successful hostile takeover of America, and continue to fine- tune their strategies, ever since?
And, apply them, with pith and alacrity?
Anyway, as I will continue to say, the MSM are our rulers.
Remember how they hid FDR’S crippled legs, JFK’S extramarital affairs, indeed, the stolen 1960 election, for heaven’s sake!
Yes, the MSM has merely continued to grow it’s good old boy network, over all the years, via “journalism” schools, and otherwise infiltrating academia and the entertainment industry.
Who Knows?| 11.12.12 @ 12:01PM
All that’s happened over the last fifty years is that they have solidified their hold on the mind bending institutions, and Obama’s “election” is merely the latest result of all their hard work. Read Faster Please, Michael Ledeen’s latest blog---he wonders if the Obama team, knowing about stuxnet, didn’t manage to foul up ORCA, the Romney computer system.
Here’s the deal---there is ALREADY a permanent government. Forget about the putatively “elected” humans, from president on down to cat catcher!
Prime “suspects” are the people who are on the government payroll, the myriad bureaucrats---from the federal to the local level. Then there are the teachers, and the vast majority of people in the entertainment industry, led by Ivy league colleges and Hollywood, respectively.
At the base of this “government” are those people who support it, by getting support FROM it---the babies on the take.
What to do?
Go on strike! Copy the actions of the labor movement, when its rulers became too oppressive.
The makers should accept REAL reality, at last, and simply not play the rigged game.
Yes, Obama WON! Let him, and his ilk, who’ve brought the Golden Goose to her knees, loose.
Take on, McObama!
Buy gold, and guns, and reduce debt—own your own life, as much as possible, and let the bankruptcy of America logically play itself out.
Oldefarte| 11.12.12 @ 1:39PM
I absolutely agree except that the MSM are permanently in charge. Everyone here and elsewhere should immediately pick up their telephones, call their local newspaper's administrative office and CANCEL THEIR NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS. If that won't send a signal to them nothing will!!!!!
djn1313| 11.12.12 @ 2:43PM
The only option for Conservative states and its productive people is to secede from this crumbling socialist empire obama is building. There is no legitmate reason to be shackled to the socialist corpse obama is trying to hang around our necks. The unproductive fools that re-elected obama and chanted four more years deserve to fail together. The rest of us don't need to pay for their stupidity with our hard work and sacrifice. Lets build a new republic free of these leeches.
The USA born 7/4/1776 died 11/6/2012
Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.12.12 @ 4:15PM
It's time to shut down GOP.
Anthony| 11.12.12 @ 3:38PM
I hate to wake you up from lala land Mr. Catron, but blaming the customer works every time for leftists and Democrats. It doen't work for Rs.
When Ds lose elections, it's always because of those "stupid flyover Americans". As Peter Jennings once mused over a D landslide loss, "America had a temper tantrum".
When the elite leftist media hemorrhages readers and viewers, they shug and say it's always the fault of those unsophisticatedated rubes.
Our culture is under the total control of the left. Until we take over the media, academia and the entertianment industries, conservatism will never sell.
Grzmlyk| 11.12.12 @ 3:39PM
I think you're still in the denial stage.
Back in the fight? You remind me of the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Shorn of both arms and legs in a broadsword fight with King Arthur, he refuses to accept his plight, and so, as Arthur trots past him on the bridge he was guarding, the now-quadruple amputee implores the king to come back so he can bite his legs.
I suppose we can always bleed on the liberals.
That'll show 'em.
Yeah, next time, Democrats, we'll kick your butts with strongly worded letters and an Establishment candidate who'll pulverize you with withering politeness.
IT IS OVER.
Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.12.12 @ 4:14PM
It's time to shut down GOP.
Grzmlyk| 11.12.12 @ 4:56PM
Well, we could listen to the pundits; here's all we have to do:
Start supporting 100% of Democrat policies - because I guess supporting 60% didn't quite do it.
Illegal immigation? What illegal immigration? You're in America, you can vote - as many times as you want!
Free health care for EVERYBODY! We'll just force health care providers to donate their services!
We're all Keynesians now! You'll never go broke if you have a printing press!
Eat the Rich! Yeah, baby! Making everybody who makes more than $250k a year pay their "fair share" will take care of our $16 trillion debt in, what, 3,000 years? Woo hoo! Hey, as Obama said, tax policy is not about revenue, it's about fairness!
Nationalize U.S. business - because everybody knows bureaucrats with no knowledge or accountability make MUCH more prudent and intelligent decisions than executives whose salaries are determined by their expertise and performance.
Green Energy! Yeah, baby - because paying $10 for $5 worth of fuel is not only good for the planet, it's good for Obama's supporters!
Screw our allies! Hey, we don't want to hang out with nations who have the poor judgment to hang out with us!
The American Califate! Let's allow Sharia Law to flourish in the US! After all, the only reason they hate us is because we deserve it!
Hey, I think I'm getting hang of this "neo-Republican" thing!
NOW I can see a path to victory.
And won't THAT be meaningful.
Bob Grant| 11.12.12 @ 7:30PM
And more Muslim outreach programs. The NASA Muslim outreach program was just the beginning.
We.simply.need.more!
Not enough muslims in the NFL? Simply propose to relocate a team to Michigan and call them the Dearborn Dirty Bombers.
Yep. There's no shortage of ways republicans can get back in the good graces of the American Electorate.
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 10:02PM
Are you a f'ing parrot?
Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.12.12 @ 4:13PM
It's time to shut down GOP.
Joe D.| 11.12.12 @ 6:38PM
Don't forget Voter Fraud/suppression!!!!!!!!!!!
joemack| 11.12.12 @ 7:04PM
or maybe exile in Australia?
feel like a bit of a criminal in the US for not loving our dear Leader.
if most of the people want to be given a nice warm blanket by the government, why are they worth saving?
John Navratil| 11.12.12 @ 8:34PM
joemack,
We tend to think of Australia from the Outback commercials "no rules, just right." My experience in my, albeit limited, visit was it was "no rights, just rules."
These guys are Europe with a broad accent and when minerals tank, so will they.
PM Stanton| 11.12.12 @ 7:39PM
Ah, Spectator, you remain more humorous than before the election to read. Where an author with no related experience or education can libel the President of the United States. One who bemoan Obama's liberalism, while established expert moderate republicans point out that the bulk of his actions as President have been to the right of Nixon, GHW Bush, and Romney as Governor.
Bob Grant| 11.12.12 @ 8:09PM
Ah, PMS, a liberal troll who's a good little obama soldier. His mission is to present himself on conservative websites as a moderate defender of the "oh so" moderate barack obama.
Tell me PMS, how does one moderately "fundamentally transform" a country?
John Navratil| 11.12.12 @ 8:35PM
Have you tried "late night?"
Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 10:04PM
Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com
SilkyWiley| 11.13.12 @ 12:00PM
You go ahead and keep fighting the battle. I left everything on the field like Mitt, a stellar man and leader. If he was rejected by the country is not the fault of the man, it is rotten country. I am no longer interested in spending money, brain cells, and emotion on a lost cause. Now must think about how to help my grandchildren cope in the new landscape. Some of the family left the country five years ago, they prosper. Even in northern european socialist countries, there is more order than in this poliglot balkanized country. We shall see if that is the best option. I won't be going, too old to start over. When the currency collapse comes, my well cared for health will sustain me and perhaps we elderly will all become wandering sadhu seekers, focused on God. In the end all is ashes blowing on the wind. The USA has proved to be no better than any other golden country. Brought down by profligacy, immorality, stupidity and hubris.
shoenews| 11.13.12 @ 12:29PM
I'm still at the "electorate morphing into collective vampires" stage.
Commander Kelly | 11.13.12 @ 5:02PM
See my posts "Full Reverse", "A More Dangerous World" and "Rumble in America" only here...http://americanconservativeinlondon.blogspot.co.uk/
gatorbait51| 11.14.12 @ 6:44PM
Like Vinegar Joe Stilwell in Burma...
da monk| 12.4.12 @ 5:42PM
what if the indidual with AIDS is a hetrosexsual and developed AIDS from another source other than sex?