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A Further Perspective

Abandoned and Betrayed

By on 1.3.13 @ 6:10AM

Republican ship, dead in the water, needs a mutiny.

After the McConnell sell-out and the Boehner betrayal, after the disgraceful abandonment of principles and conservative values by the Washington Republican establishment, what is the proper response from outraged conservative believers in limited government and fiscal responsibility?

I have been sitting here on the morning after the New Years’s Day capitulation by Capitol Hill Republicans, trying to answer that question for myself.

Start with feelings. I feel abandoned by the establishment Republican Party of Washington, D.C. I feel depressed that I cannot see a single conservative leader in sight who could grab the Republican Party, slap it across the face, and tell it where it can go if it does not shape up. I feel angry that Republican “leaders” in Washington put a higher value on their own survival in office than the principles they claim to stand for.

As I see it, the Republican Party is a rudderless ship that has lost its compass, dead in the water, with no captain and no destination. What this ship needs is a mutiny.

I have already begun my own little mutiny. About 10 days ago, I received a phone call from the Republican National Committee. The guy on the phone asked if I would renew my membership for 2013, for a mere $150 contribution. “No, I won’t do that,” I responded. Well, the fellow said, we understand times are tough for lots of people these days, so how about renewing for, say, $75?

“You don’t get it,” I responded. “I am not renewing for $75 nor for five bucks nor for a dime. I am done with contributions to the RNC. I donated several times in 2012, and donated to the Republican senatorial committee, and you blew an election we should have won. I am no longer going to support the army of consultants, pollsters, media advisors, and other experts who live off the RNC and who botched the election of 2012. I am done with the RNC.”

The conversation went downhill from there, but it left me with a feeling of liberation. It was my declaration of independence from the Republican establishment. I told the RNC guy that from now on, I will pick my own list of true conservative candidates and donate directly to them, not to the party.

I now consider myself a citizen without a party. Everything that Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have done in the past month has reinforced my belief that only a grass-roots revolt — a true conservative mutiny — can save the Republican Party. The party is not worth saving unless it returns to conservative values — limited government, adherence to the Constitution, fiscal responsibility, and a dedication to individual liberty.

I have no hope that the leaders of the party in Washington have the vision or guts to adopt and adhere to such an agenda. They will pay it lip service, of course, but they will also go on making deals with the Democrats and President Obama to sell out those principles when it is expedient for their re-election hopes.

Only if millions of conservatives across the country withhold their money and their support for the collaborators in the capital, the nervous Neville Chamberlains of the Establishment, will there be any chance of real change in the GOP. So bring on the mutiny. There is something worse than being a person without a party. And that is being a member of a party without a soul. 

About the Author

James P. Gannon is a retired former Wall Street Journal reporter and newspaper editor. He lives in Virginia. 

Letter to the Editor View all comments (224) |

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.3.13 @ 6:29AM

I agree with you that the Republican Party is run by idiots.

However, I don't agree that the tax deal was a sell out.

The Bush Tax cuts are now permanent for 99% of the public. The AMT is gone as a tax weapon held over the public's head.

Considering the ground they lost in the last election and that there's an election two years away they didn't do that bad.

In fact, those Bush Tax cuts the liberals have complained about for 10 years are now permanent while liberals are giddy about it.

Overall, people should stop clobbering them for what they won in the tax debate and continue to clobber them for how poorly they've run their last campaigns for President.

spike59| 1.3.13 @ 6:37AM

and prepare to clobber them for their almost guaranteed failure to force any kinds of meaningful spending cuts or entitlement reform...Reagan tried the 'tax hikes now, spending cuts later' compromise, and he found that the spending cuts never came-the GOP has forgotten that lesson, and is becoming increasingly irrelevant; time for a Conservative Party, and let the RINO's endulge their secret fantasies of becoming Democrats

Jack in Wi| 1.3.13 @ 8:13AM

It is impossible for the Republicans to return this country to fiscal sanity as long as they continue to back wars and overseas entanglements that make no sense. If we brought our troops home and did only national defense this country could be defended for 50% less if not more. We have wasted a mountain of blood and treasure in the Middle East proping up corrupt criminals. Before one penny is cut from Americans in need lets get rid of foreign wars and foreign aid. The Republicans are also great believers in crony capitalism. We need a real opposition party and the Republicans are not it.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.3.13 @ 8:19AM

You're right. We should pull out and immediately. Those people hate our guts and always will.

Rhoetus| 1.3.13 @ 10:32PM

LBJ should have pulled out of Lady Bird.

spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:07AM

BHO, Sr, should have pulled out of Stanley

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 8:39AM

Man, you're a broken record.

"Before one penny is cut from Americans in need lets get rid of foreign wars..."

How does one "get rid of " foreign wars? By sprinkling Pixie Dust of Peace out of the Space Shuttle doors next time it hovers the Earth?

Oh, scratch that idea. Obama has decimated NASA so we don't have a replacement for the Space Shuttle.

I hope you have a plan B or we're screwed.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 8:53AM

"By sprinkling Pixie Dust of Peace out of the Space Shuttle doors next time it hovers the Earth?"

To be fair, the current POTUS did want the primary mission of NASA to be Muslim Outreach.

Maybe that is his strategy, except he substituted Predator drones for the defunct shuttle, and Hellfire missiles replaced the pixie dust.

Mr. Grant, perhaps you have decoded the Rosetta Stone of Obama foreign policy.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:16AM

I see that nothing has changed, here.

Ben Stein is still writing the Literary Equivilent of wearing Wet Underpants. The Canadian broad is still alive, and still complaining about Wet Underpant's Money. Jack still has his "Jew Problem". And Aristocat, Quartermaster, Anton whatever, Gary B, and Our boy - Tightass Crisler - still think that they're God's Gift to the Written Word, when all they really accomplish is to put anyone who's Half Asleep, the rest of the way to Sleep.

And, of course, my Shadow: Doctor Right.

Being called a Blowhard by this idiot, is like having Biden call ya Stupid. Or Obama call you a Liar. Or Ben Stein call you Boring, and Pretentious. I'd laugh, but he's not funny, either.

Seriously...........

What DID you do without me?

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 11:31AM

Finally, all's right with the World. WB TPL!

C. Vernon Crisler | 1.3.13 @ 12:08PM

It was nice when TLP was banned. I thought somebody at AmSpec was actually enforcing its own policy, as follows:

N.B. We encourage readers to share and discuss their thoughtful and relevant comments about this Spectator article. Comments are routinely monitored and will be deleted if profane, bigoted, or grossly impolite. Please be respectful. (And don't feed the trolls!) Thank you.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 12:28PM

Yes, it was nice. Apparently, AmSpec is a lot like the GOP... They don't really mean it. Maybe their fingers were crossed. Silly us. Perhaps we should dust off that phrase used to describe LBJ's problem. He had a "credibility gap." Remember that?

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:05PM

Yeah, let's BAN people whom we disagree with.

SIEG HEIL!

Maybe they just realized that CENSORSHIP is not an American Ideal.

Of the Nazis can March in Skokie every year?

Why shouldn't someone like me, be allowed to express his opinions, no matter what they are? Or, didn't that cross your minds?

They came for TLP, and I said nothing.

How about you two go and Get a Room?

You sound like you belong together.

Tom Kyba| 1.3.13 @ 1:32PM

Yeah that's right. Let's ban TLP. He's so E-ville. As my dad use to say "quit yer bellyachin'.

Controse| 1.3.13 @ 1:35PM

Gee TLP don't you have anything to contribute? My advice is don't read these guys you are trying to trash. Of course the down side of that for you would be coming up with a thought provoking observation, an insightful analysis or new way to prepare porridge. You know, something someone other than yourself would benefit from reading.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 1:58PM

Controse, looks like Obama isn't the only narcissist. Perhaps TLP hyperventilates if he's not the center of attention. Some neurosis keeps getting the better of him and it's a shame because he's got a creative sense of humor and is capable of posting good, insightful stuff.

Bob James| 1.3.13 @ 2:12PM

"Finally, all's right with the World."

Indeed. Great to see you back, TLP.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:41PM

Welcome back, Papillon.

Jack in Wi| 1.3.13 @ 3:46PM

TLP: Just another broken record. He is all noise and nonsense. I don't believe in banning anyone. But in your case can't you make at least a little attempt to make a relevant point. Oh and by the way as long as the Republicans are considered warmongers, the people will never put them back in charge. To re-elect Boehner, Cantor and Ryan is just telling us that we can all go to hell. We will be sucked dry by waste, wars, and welfare until this country looks like Haiti.

chuck| 1.3.13 @ 4:50PM

Welcome back TLP!

Wasn't the same without you.

chuck, my brother chuck, and my other brother chuck

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 8:53PM

My Man, My Man, My Man, My Man....TLP RETURNETH! "Good to have you back, Mr. Bond. I do hope there will be some gratuitous Sex and Violence!"

My boy Cravaack got un-elected. That means ALL of my elected Representatives Nationally are Dhimmicrats. Barf!

The problem with the Cheesehead is that he doesn't realize that surrender doesn't end wars when the enemy is evil. Of course, being a Packer fan, his intelligence is quite limited.

I missed you when you was gone. (sniff)

loulou| 1.3.13 @ 1:18PM

Jacksh*t in Wi is actually a computer. All the repetitive posts from him are computer-generated.

Jack in Wi| 1.3.13 @ 3:49PM

A very intelligent comment Lou Lou baby, one of your more coherent ones. You and TLP must be dating each other.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 5:03PM

I wish.

JmsA| 1.3.13 @ 7:27PM

Welcome back, TLP.

loulou| 1.3.13 @ 8:12PM

Me too.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 8:55PM

Much happiness to you both. I'm just giggling with joy, here. Cheesehead Jack is just upset because the Packers LOST last week, preface to them losing THIS WEEK!

Rhoetus| 1.3.13 @ 10:30PM

JACK: AMEN!

Aristocat| 1.3.13 @ 6:37AM

Not a single Republican in the House has the courage to come out and challenge Boehner...They are all afraid of losing committee assignments, while the ship of state is foundering.

pogybait| 1.3.13 @ 9:35AM

Well, if Boehner and McConnel won't at least follow the Democrat Party by-laws and speak of spending cuts only in the high-pitched whine of a liberal consumed with disgust for such thoughts and ideas which personifies everything we admire about that political party, then there is absolutely no reason to believe that they can ever expect support from the shining adoration from the unbiased press. I shutter to think what is next!

Bob K| 1.3.13 @ 9:55AM

Maybe if Journalists and Idiots (but I repeat myself) like Mr. Gannon here stop referring to the House of Representatives ELECTING a new Speaker of the House as a MUTINY it could be accomplished!

One wonders if even conservative members of the press want this change? Controversy puts money into their pockets, does it not?

holmegm| 1.3.13 @ 11:09AM

Justin Amash?

C. Vernon Crisler | 1.3.13 @ 8:29AM

Here here James. That's what many of us have been saying ever since the nomination of Mitt Romney. The problem is that we have a Conservative Establishment, too, one that prefers supporting hollow men rather than real conservatives.

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 10:10AM

The "solution" has been part of the Conservative mantra since the beginning. Too many divergent groups within Conservatism strain against one another and forget just who the actual enemy is. We have fiscal cons, social cons, neo-cons, movement cons, paleo cons, etc. What we need is what Buckley and Goldwater created, a fusion of groups toward a common end of principle over individual core issues.

The "solution" was given us in 1960, "Lets grow up Conservatives, if we want this party back...lets get to work."

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 11:37AM

Nailed it Al, One thing we can learn from the left is how to present a united front. Conservatives have yet to learn that lesson.

loulou| 1.3.13 @ 1:20PM

But I don't want to be united with a Lindsay Grahamnesty or a John McCain, etc. There's nothing conservative about that type. They're Republicans not conservatives.

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 2:01PM

I didn't say a united front of Repubicans. I said a united front of conservatives. We do not even have that. Make a comment about Ron Paul's foreign policies and watch the response to prove my point.

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 2:11PM

D/S:
You and Lou are correct. I used the word Conservative, not republican, puposely.

Trinacria| 1.3.13 @ 11:43AM

With respect, the AMT is not gone; the bill merely adds an adjustment for inflation to the threshold used to determine who is subject to the AMT. Since the MENSA members in DC measure inflation without considering the cost of food and gas (the 2 types of commodities most susceptible to inflation), the effect will be negligible.

Net/net: a loss and a failure of historic proportions. Bend over and get ready for a similar capitulation on the debt limit...

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:40PM

T
Buon Anno

Big Bob| 1.3.13 @ 3:12PM

You will see in coming days just how wrong you are. This was a massive sell out by our elite and will haunt us not for months but for years.

Rhoetus| 1.3.13 @ 10:26PM

Gee Bill, I agree even though I think the Republicans are idiots and cowards. Time will tell if they have the balls it actually reduce spending.

Appleby| 1.3.13 @ 6:37AM

I will not support the Republican Party until and unless they nominate someone I can support. I am finished with unelectable Gucci Gulch "moderates" no matter how many hysterical cries that he's the new Obiwan Kenobe and is "Our Only Hope" echo around the empty land. In fact, maybe next time I will urge these ninnies that THEY should kill themselves. (Well, no, I won't. There are limits.)

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:20AM

Well. Will ya look at that. They should Kill Themsleves. Talk about your Old Bag calling the Pot Black.

Hypocrite, thy name is Applesauce.

HOCKEY SUCKS!

Now, go read that Book I sent ya.

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 12:55PM

Is it in BRAILLE...........

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:08PM

No.

It's written in Canadian.

What's up SUBVET?

Tina B| 1.3.13 @ 8:27PM

Cool Hand Luke is back. Timmy it's good to see those three letters back here. . . TLP and his bitinghumormobile are on the road again. Missed you, Sir.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 8:57PM

Canadian? What's that aboot?

Martin kzovich| 1.3.13 @ 7:19AM

I do agree that the current leadership and the total collective of Establishment Republicans are in fact failures. So a great deal of pressure should be put on them now so they know full well how they will be greeted if they surrender again on spending side and the debt ceiling issues.

OP4| 1.3.13 @ 7:41AM

I dropped my RNC membership a decade ago. The Frist / Hastert were an insult to this old Reagan conservative.

Now they are completely suicidal. What is their platform? Slightly less growth in the size of government and the national debt? Slightly smaller increases in taxes?

Why would any conservative give them money or votes?

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 8:05AM

I, too, dropped my membership years ago. I became exhausted voting for the lesser of evils. As I've stated before, conservatives are the most betrayed group in the country's history. The betrayal rate is close to 100%. Shipping money to them is worse than tossing it into the wind.

I've also stated my conclusion that the GOP establishment is a false flag operation, funded by its hapless victims. Its public opposition to progressive policies is fake. After all, its members are part of the ruling establishment. Why would they vote against their own interests?

If you feel relief washing your hands of the GOP, why would the establishment of a third party be unwise? It's certainly worth a much closer look.

P.S. Thank you to the staff of TAS for hosing out the comment section. It's refreshing to read comments actually related to the article, instead of the section being hijacked by off-subject, profanity-laced infighting and private contests. Now, we conservatives should hose out the Republican party. There's trash and debris everywhere.

R Martin| 1.3.13 @ 8:39AM

Why you pompous git. Mr. B, I suspect if you were southbound and someone stuck a lump of coal up your northern end, it would be a diamond in about two weeks. Lighten up. Virtually every right-minded poster on this site takes quite seriously and tries to resolve the problems you cite in your first three paragraphs. That we sometimes resort to levity or use language heard every day in the halls of Congress simply shows that we are multidimensional. If I had a pail of water in my hands it would be coming your way right now.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 8:42AM

Ditto, R.
Free TLP

Zeppo| 1.3.13 @ 10:46AM

I prefer POST American.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 1:02PM

POST wasn't banned, it was the YOO-Jen-IKS that did him in (along with the Red Chinese TREASON OP).

Zeppo| 1.3.13 @ 1:21PM

You're sure it wasn' t the Tavistocks? Anyway, he was a unique voice...

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 1:36PM

It might have been Tavistock. All I know is, when we made the jump to registration at the end of May, POST went off the grid.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 2:07PM

Perhaps his mission on Earth was complete and he hopped a shuttle back to Planet Zircon or Planet Orvis?

chuck| 1.3.13 @ 4:45PM

So did Clint! Do you think there's a connection? Personally I think Clint was that gay-pron star cannibal from Canada who ate his boyfriend, and not in a "happy" way, then fled to Europe, where that is perfectly normal.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 8:53PM

I did notice that Clint apparently couldn't clear the registration hurdle, either, Chuck.

I hadn't previously considered the cannibalism issue, but if there's something to it, can we be sure that he was not the one consumed?

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 10:17PM

It is hard to believe that Clint, who posted 24/7, just disappeared because he would not register his real name. He was not banned before registration so why would registration of his name be a problem. I always thought he used multiple names before registration, changing the style of writing. Is he still here?

spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:14AM

Widdle Cwint shut his piehole a while back; i'm guessing he committed seppuku on the grave of the Oval Office dreams of the Tinfoil Hat Tinhorn, DrRonPaul

Pecos Pete| 1.3.13 @ 8:54AM

RM: Ditto! And I'd add that virtually any current movie contains much worse visuals and sounds than anything in the TAS comment section.

BBT!

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 9:01AM

My last three attempts to post were denied.

BBT!

KennesawJack| 1.3.13 @ 9:21AM

If Tim's not back by tomorrow, I'm gone from TAS and will make my opinions known on Weasel Zippers until he's re-instated. Methinks the problem TAS has with Tim is not so much his language but his ability to slice and dice so many of the commentators. And by the way, Gary, the contests were never "private" but open to all. Not Tim's fault if you weren't able to compete. As for hosing something out, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the Captital need it a hell of lot more than this site. Jerk.

Von Mises Jr| 1.3.13 @ 9:38AM

TAS is free to ban TLP. But we are also free to use another site. I recommend American Thinker. Not only do they have terrific writers, but they also control the trolls. Perp wouldn't last a day.

You cannot post links and they do monitor very rude discussion, but they are fine with bold ideas. I agree with CJW, Albert, Pecos Pete and KennesawJack. If TAS does not want TLP, I do not want TAS.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 9:58AM

I recommend American Thinker, too. It's a good site. As Churchill said to Stalin at Yalta, "Go ye forth and multiply," but not in so many words.

Pecos Pete| 1.3.13 @ 10:08AM

Von: Agreed. American Thinker and Weasel Zippers. Tim, see you there if BBT is not done soon.

The only downside from moving is the loss of humor from TAS's preferred Village Idiots. TAS can live on as the progressive Republican site with folks who don't shoot guns, curse or sin from time to time.

BBT!

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 10:43AM

Gary B...........Tim just called and said GFYS and the horse you rode in on.

Tom Kyba| 1.3.13 @ 1:35PM

Hey, what did the horse ever do?

mike 3/505| 1.3.13 @ 1:55PM

and the Colonel who sent you

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 2:08PM

Cute... some rare insight here.

And, by the way, thank you for your service. America relies on guys like you. I couldn't do what you did. I was a ground pounder and that was a long time ago.

mike 3/505| 1.3.13 @ 2:47PM

Me too...11A5s. Know what the "n" in Infantry stands for?

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 10:19AM

I shall look into it, but will continue here. AmSpec has always seemed more Libertarian than Conservative, although I realize the two overlap, but it seems a common Conservative reaction to abandon that which sometimes disappoints rather than to "take arms against the sea of troubles and by opposing, end them."

Anthony| 1.3.13 @ 10:50AM

Von my friend, don't be so quick to condemn TAS for AT. While I still read AT and think it has great, provocative, and timely articles,Thomas Lifson is no champion of free expression.
Lifson cuts people off from commenting without any explaination or reason. I have found myself cut off, and despite attempts to ascertain why, have not been given the decency of an answer.
I believe our own Grzmlyk has experienced this as well, as we once had this discussion here at TAS some time ago. In fact, your name is one of the few that I recognize from TAS in the AT comment section. I suspect Lifson doesn't wants the same comment base that appears at TAS.
I confess to mixed feelings about TLP, however, I respect enormously the opinions of you, OT, and others who champion TLP.
I would miss terribly not being able to respond to your insightful comments. Don't leave TAS, it's one of the few sane havens left.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:00PM

Hey, Anthony, I'm here, and I'm thrilled. The Big Man is back, and I'm not talking about the dead guy who blew the horn for The Far-Lib Boss.

Tommy Frisco| 1.3.13 @ 12:08PM

Don't forget Standing Wolf, FeralCat, and of course Von Mises Jr himself. I often get more information and insight from reading the comments at AT than I get from the bloggers.

Von Mises Jr| 1.3.13 @ 12:38PM

Thanks Tommy. There are great people at both sites and I enjoy both. But let's also have a New Years shout out for CJW, Anthony, c.j., Albert, Pecos Pete, Subvet, Joellen and others that each have a unique set of interests and perspective. And thanks to TAS for releasing our TLP from Obama-like prolonged detention.
Now if the administration guys would get rid of the POS Perp???

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 2:20PM

Went to Thinker and signed in, but every time I try to post the box just says please wait and does nothing. Sorry Von, is there some secret I should know?

Annoying as Purp is, it is a good reminder of how delusional the enemy is.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:45PM

Von

Keep posting, your comments, especially the economic analysis, is great.

purpie serves a useful purpose to post the daily lefty drivel which is then easily rebutted. And he is so dense he does not recognize he is being mocked and ridiculed with his own words.

mike 3/505| 1.3.13 @ 2:49PM

Leave Purp alone. Banning him/her/it would bring us down to their level.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:24AM

I'm with you KJ.

If I'm not back on this Site by Tomorrow, there's gonna be trouble like you can't believe!

BBM! (Bring Back Me!)

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:01PM

Purp is useful as a punching bag. Improves the timing.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 2:14PM

Three times your were denied?

KennesawJack| 1.3.13 @ 3:32PM

That's a bridge too far, Bob. (But not by much!)

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 8:19PM

Ken,

Blame Al for serving it up.

Appleby| 1.3.13 @ 9:18AM

My Mama taught me that "everybody else does!" is not a defence. Just because the world is full of profanity and blasphemy disguised as entertainment, doesn't mean OUR world has to be filled with it too. Therre is a difference between liberty and license.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 9:48AM

Hear, hear, Appleby. No need in aiding and abetting progressives in dragging our culture further down the drain. I suspect the use of profanity in a place such as this is frustration with the inability to express strong opinions any other way. There are ways to disagree with the authors and posters here other than cussing them out.

Regarding TLP... I agree with his loyal followers that he's a pretty smart guy with valid points of view. Perhaps he should start his own blog. I'm serious. There is a segment of the greater audience out there who would flock to it. Perhaps he could even sell advertising. That would make winter days spent in his basement much more productive. He's mentioned his dutiful Asian wife. She could bring him tea to distract him just long enough for her to escape to a women's shelter.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 10:29AM

Gary B;
I think that you label others as “Followers” of TLP is an indication of what you misunderstand about the fellowship that I and quite a few others here enjoy about Tim. Like I presume about almost everyone else here, TLP speaks for himself. Like everyone else, individuals are free to agree with some, all or none of what he says, as well as express themselves and their own opinions. While his style differs significantly from mine, I enjoy his insight, and (to the extent that it might be necessary to do so) have been able to forgive his excesses.

What Tim has been successful at here is mobilizing others here with a variety of backgrounds and a range of opinions, and making the exchange fun as well as insightful.

TAS and AMSPEC blog are free to set the rules on this privately owned site that we are solicited to contribute to in order to maintain it. We each are free to come here, and if we abide by those rules, participate. We are free to move on elsewhere, and free to petition those who have maintained this site with our contributions to allow more freedom in expressing our thoughts, and disagree with their selective application.

You, of course, are free to advocate someone’s removal because you find them objectionable. The next time you speak of freedom, though, I would recommend that you exercise a little self-reflection and self-censorship.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 10:44AM

Yup, I agree. Freedom is good.

spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:21AM

"She could bring him tea to distract him just long enough for her to escape to a women's shelter."
------------------------------------------------------
I have no personal feelings toward TLP one way or the other, but GAWD, that made me snort...

seriously, tho, 'banning' people is precisely what canservatives should be dead-set against...if you don't like a post, ignore it or refute it...grow up, people!

Welcome back, TLP...let 'er rip!

R Martin| 1.3.13 @ 10:07AM

There is something indefinable about you, Appleby, that I like, but you also try my patience with your schoolmarm moralizing. No poster on this site has used a “everybody does it” defense and no one has ever used blasphemy. Quite the opposite; there is often a strong moral thread running through our comments. Strong language is sometimes used, because the poster believes it is useful to convey appropriate emotion, but “our world”, as you say, is certainly not “filled” with it. You have license to comment here, but you may not take liberties with the truth.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 10:29AM

Mr. Martin, Appleby has not taken liberties with the truth. Using strong language to emphasize emotions regarding the article is one thing. Mounting name-calling personal attacks on fellow posters is another. It's like shouting down someone at a community meeting. It's disruptive and counter productive.

For example, I feel like cussing out Obama every minute of every day, but blasting you with an off-the-chart, knee jerk barrage of hate for expressing an opinion in a comment section is inappropriate.

These are trying times and we're all very emotional about what's happening to America. It's best to keep our eye on the ball and save our energy and best efforts to fight the real enemy - DC-sponsored, creeping Marxism.

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 11:00AM

Gary...........look-up the word "passion" it can be applied in many ways.

I would put Tim in the very passionate column.....like I said before you don't like the comments just like the TV.....change the channel.

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 11:09AM

OH !........Gary in that very passionate column you will find many Veterns that served and can't stand to see this country loose it's freedoms that we all served for.

Maybe you can't see that.........and one more thing us vets we all kind of stick together, so even though my brother TIM is banned from this site his song will go on.

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 11:51AM

Amen Subvet.

And Gary, if you can't see past the salty language to the message being deliverd, just how shallow is your viewpoint? You do know what that little wheel on your mouse is for don't you?

Salty language may not always be called for but sometimes it is neccessary.

Mark Twain put it better than I.

I sent down...and hired an artist by the week to sit up nights and curse that stranger, and give me a lift occasionally in the daytime when I came to a hard place.
- "A Mysterious Visit"

The idea that no gentleman ever swears is all wrong. He can swear and still be a gentleman if he does it in a nice and benevolent and affectionate way.
- Private and Public Morals speech, 1906

When angry count four; when very angry, swear.
- Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

There ought to be a room in every house to swear in. It's dangerous to have to repress an emotion like that.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 2:20PM

Who is slandering veterans? Did I do that?

By the way, thank you for your service. I couldn't do what you did. I was a ground pounder. When you get a chance, and only if you feel like it, you can thank me for my service.

mike 3/505| 1.3.13 @ 2:50PM

Thank You for your service.

Regards,

Mike

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:02PM

Thank you for your service, Gary.

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 10:51AM

Appleby........so where does putting down the mormon religion fall into. "I can't vote for a mormon".......some say that's blasphemy of one's religion.

So when are you going to apologize to TIM..... you being the great christian you say you are.

WHEN...........

Appleby| 1.3.13 @ 11:17AM

You can't blaspheme a religion which you do not espouse. For example, it is not blasphemy for a Christian to cast nasturtiums at Zeus. I merely state for the record that I cannot support the Mormon religion, having belonged to it for three years and having compared their beliefs with Christianity and found a serious disconnect therein. In fact, one could make a serious argument that to espouse Mormonism as "Christian" would be blasphemy, since there is nowhere in either the Old Testament or the New where man is promised that after death he will be promoted to Godhood, given the opportunity to create his own planet and populate it (with the help of his harem of wives) with children who will then worship him. If you know anywhere in the Bible that this can be found, do point it out.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:32AM

She's a Crochety old broad. She bemoans that I told her to Drop Dead (which I didn't. I just told her that I was sending her a Copy of the Book - FINAL EXIT, and that she might wanna read it)

Was that wrong?

Now, if you look above, she says she's thinking of telling the next GOP Candidate that Runs for President in OUR COUNTRY where WE LIVE to "Kill Themselves".

Hypocrite.

So............................................

What's up with you guys?

R Martin| 1.3.13 @ 11:54AM

Us? What's up with you? I thought you were down with Pecos practicing.

C. Vernon Crisler | 1.3.13 @ 12:18PM

Appleby, don't let the harridans on this site get you down. You provide thoughtful comments, without all the snideness that is so characteristic of some of the posters here. It's easy to swear and tell people to f-ck off in the Boehner way; but it's a lot harder to engage in intelligent discussion.

Kyle said he was going to do something soon about all the obnoxious posters here. I thought he had already started with TLP, but I guess they're still working on it.

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 12:43PM

Been whining to the TAS editors have you?

Goldwater Girl| 1.4.13 @ 2:25PM

speaking of obnoxious, has anyone been on Vernon's website? And he wonders why we find enjoyment in the TAS comments!

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:48PM

Vern
Does obnoxious refer to the opinions or to the language?

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 3:08PM

Appleby:
Did not Satan promise in the garden, "You shall be as gods"? Perhaps that is the source theology.

SUBVET| 1.4.13 @ 1:04PM

"You can't blaspneme a religion which you do not espouse"..........next time your on your knees ask HIM that question.

JmsA| 1.3.13 @ 1:41PM

Eloquently put. Thank you, RM.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 9:22AM

Gary B,

Perhaps you should lighten up. We're NOT setting policy here. It's a friggin' comment section. It's all about the free flow of thought.

Do you really want this place to be an echo chamber filled with drone-like comments?

I don't and for that alone:

BBT!!

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 10:38AM

Bob,

Of course I don't want to spend time in an echo chamber. There are a lot of smart, well-educated people posting here. Many of them disagree with the author and other posters. I learn from them.

But, asking me to lighten up for criticizing emotional, bullhorn personal attacks from other posters is a bit ironic, don't you think? Have you ever suggested that TLP and his band of merry men lighten up?

Pardon my ignorance, but what does BBT mean? Is it some sort of battle cry?

R Martin| 1.3.13 @ 11:34AM

You bet it is.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 11:39AM

Look, I want TLP for my own amusement, AND, his take on certain issues is spot-on.

But mostly, it's for the amusement.

I mean, imagine Goodfellas without Joe Pesci? I shutter to think...

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:42AM

Imagine Joe Pesci in Goodfellas - I'm funny? I amuse you? What, like some kinda Clown? What do mean: I'm funny?

How was that, and where's my Gun?

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 11:45AM

In your Shine Box (Grant gives out an Andrew Dice Clay - OH!!)

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 1:08PM

If the shoe fits...

Riff Raff| 1.3.13 @ 11:55AM

That should be "shudder." Not "shutter."

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 12:10PM

Raff,

I appreciate the correction. You're right and I'm...wrong.

I'm not making excuses but I am a victim of public education.

And BTW: In the future, I hope your contributions will be more than highlighting others' grammatical shortcomings.

Riff Raff| 1.3.13 @ 12:56PM

Sorry about that, Chief. Sometimes I get carried away. And I have made contributions to this site many times over several years (and formerly under several pseudonyms). Substantive contributions, not merely grammatical nit-picking. (There are some of the left-ish persuasion here who hate me, for example.)

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:39AM

It means that you're Boring, and that maybe you might do better at an AARP Approved Site.

You're way of doing things Ain't gettin it done, as evidenced by the last two Elections. The days of Marques of Queensbury Rules is OVER!

My Way, is the Only Way.

How's that?

Light enough for ya?

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:10PM

Gary, dear man, think.

B B T
R A I
I C M
N K
G

Capisce? Tim is not some repetitive piss pot like Cheesehead Jack or the late, unlamented Clint, but a passionate and delightfully twisted soul whose anguish over the deaths of Black Children (for example) due to Liberal stupidity is very powerfully felt. He is a good and decent man with a wonderfully profane and amusing way of expressing himself. And it is has been lovely to observe his increasing proficiency as a writer.

So, BBT is a battle cry. Times are grim, and a brutal, mocking sarcasm is useful and somewhat required. And that our hero provides. We do not "lighten up" because the agony is intense, and humor, especially bitter humor, is a mature psychological defense.

"His purpose be all sublime, to let the punishment fit the crime." His words may be funny, but his aims are deadly serious.

Tina B| 1.3.13 @ 8:30PM

Ooh, very catty. Hosing out? Hijacking? Taking ourselves a little too seriously are we? I find you offensive now, Gary B. How do I get you banned? Anywhere. I just want to ban you.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 8:57PM

Tina,

If offensive is the criteria, then that puts ME in danger. I don't wanna be in danger.

How about a good shunning instead?

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 10:38PM

Tina, where were you when TLP cussed me up one side and down the other in an uncalled for, full-on rage? That didn't offend you but my comments did? Now, you want to hound me to the ends of the earth. Interesting set of values there, Tina. What should be your nickname? How 'bout One-Sided Tina? Or, maybe Timmy's Tina. Yea, I like that one. Hey, everyone.... don't defend yourself against TLP's broadsides, else Timmy's Tina will be offended and want revenge. How about a contest? Let's call it Name Ten Ways to Offend Tina. What do you think, Tina. Are we having fun yet? This is me lighting things up, 'cause before I was taking myself too seriously. I'm trying to mend my ways and get with the program. Is there a secret handshake? Please don't ban me. I want so much to be accepted.

Rhoetus| 1.3.13 @ 10:34PM

I don't know, why would any conservative subscribe to National Review or the Weekly Standard?

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 8:02AM

During the Reagan era, his administration was often attacked from the right for not being conservative enough. As was pointed out on this site last year, some of these attacks were led by Newt Gingrich. Half a dozen years after the Reagan era ended, in the depths of where we were headed under Clinton following what had been the biggest tax increase in history, Gingrich himself became the Speaker of the House. Shortly thereafter, he was whispering that J.C. Watts went over the top when he called Jesse Jackson a “Poverty Pimp”.

We need to hold our political leadership accountable, and keep their feet to the fire to uphold the conservative principles we elected them to implement. Still, we should not be disappointed when we learn as individuals that they fall prey to the pressures to moderate or sell out, or otherwise lose their way; this is the temptation that all human beings are heir to, and it is one area where politicians are truly in the lead.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 8:22AM

Boehner reminds me of a union leader who has to negotiate with an employer when the employer knows the union members will not strike. I have seen and been involved in such scenarios, and Boehner does not have much leverage. This is the consequence of electing Obama and Dem senators, caused partly by "our" voters who chose to stay home or vote third party, who are now probably the loudest critics.

One criticism is that he does not use the media well. He does not speak out as Tip O'Neill did. Boehner and the House Reps cannot now compromise on the debt ceiling and cannot support more spending.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 9:05AM

One of the reasons that Reagan remains so beloved is that he went over the head of a hostile media and spoke directly to the people in a way that they understood. There really haven't been many (if any) Republicans who have learned to do this since then, and because we have alternative media now that we didn't have when RWR was emerging as a politician, it will be difficult to cultivate this skill in future leaders.

Von Mises Jr| 1.3.13 @ 9:50AM

Boehner and Ryan offered the Ryan Budget, Plan A and Plan B without ever getting a serious counter-offer. This is insanity.
As a sales representative, the first thing you must learn is NEVER, EVER give away your commission without getting something in return. If you are challenged to match or beat a price, you are worthless unless your next question is not will you commit to a minimum dollar volume of sales per year, or at a minimum demand that "if I match or beat that price today, will you sign today?"
But Boner gave away the store without even demanding a token concession by Obama and the Democrats. Believe me that if a customer agrees to buy volume and does not meet that commitment, the vendor does NOT come back and demand they pay more for a deal that went down months prior. They just know not to believe the customer next time he tells you he will commit to future purchases for a sweet deal today.

The politicians in DC are the ultimate sales scammers. So one cannot assume that this was a tactical mistake. Boner was glad to give up other people's money for his and the Establishment's benefit. Remember that he was the same guy that was using insider information along with Pelosi, Kerry and a few others whom doubled the stack market returns of Hedge Fund Managers. It is probably pretty easy picking winners when you know who is going to win due to your legislation.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:59PM

Bohenr is not much of a negotiator. But negotiating with Obama is a waste of time. He is not interested in negotiating in good faith.

This present deal was negotiated by McConnell and Biden. In Woodward's "Price of Politics" the final 2011 deal was also negotiated by McConnell and Biden. Boehner gave up trying to negotiate with Obama, I don't know why he even tried this time. In Woodward's book, Obama comes across as lazy, arrogant, uninformed, and untrustworthy. Even Pelosi and Reid showed little respect for him.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 10:46AM

"One criticism is that he does not use the media well..."

Perhaps Boehner and other republicans could seek advice from old leaders of dissident political parties from the Soviet Union on how they got their message out? Oh, that's right: they DIDN'T get their message out!! Pravda (Truth) and Izvestia (News) were not interested in competing viewpoints.

Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, Current TV sells to Al Jazeera. What are the chances Al Jazeera will be more open to John Boehner's message than say NBC, ABC, and others?

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 2:55PM

Bob
Algore will make 100 million on the sale to a radical muslim network. A real patriotic act for the former VP and failed presidential candidate.

Will Algore pay the 15% capital gains since it seems he timed the sale before Dec 31, or will he pay the 20% cap gain rate, or will he pay his fair share and pay the 39.9% rate on those earning over $450,000?

I bet Algore will take the 15% rate signed into law by the evil Bush. Imagine, Bush beat Gore, Bush signs the 15% rate, and Gore sells a cable channel to a radical muslim outfit and pays the 15% rate.

Only in America.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 8:23PM

And he could also donate that 15% or 39% to his favorite muslim charity organization.

Like you said: Only in America!

BackToBasics| 1.3.13 @ 12:40PM

AC Jr., I agree and note that one of the best antidotes to "moderate" from conservative principles is to follow written guides the of which best we have in America are the Constitution and the Bible. Neither is ever followed perfectly by anyone but neglect of agreeing with the principles of the Bible results in further neglect of following the Constitution. I would place them in that order of importance for cause and effect. What we have now with the R Establishment and Democrats is the fruit of neglect of these 2 texts and the embrace of relativism. The full fruit of this is yet to be felt but the best outcome of this, and I wish it was easier than this, will not just be a rebirth through a third party but first ashes and then some type of rebirth, hopefully for the better.

Maxwell| 1.3.13 @ 8:04AM

Mr. Gannon, thank you for asking the question I have been asking in my mind for quite some time. I was also hoping that maybe a name that represented some hope would be mentioned. No such luck.

Anyone seen Paul? Someone is missing!

Pecos Pete| 1.3.13 @ 8:49AM

Mr. Gannon: Me too. Only I stopped contributing to the RNC in 1998. The Republican Party is, and has been, a part of the spending disaster. We couldn't get to where we are today only from the past 4 years. The Republican Party decided long ago to join the Ruling Class.

It is time for either a true conservative to stand up and take the lead; or, it is time for a Conservative Party.

BBT!

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:43AM

BBMe!

Riff Raff| 1.3.13 @ 11:58AM

I agree!! Bring back TLP!!! When will this ever happen? Will TAS ever relent? Will we ever see TLP's sharp wit again? Where is TLP?!!!

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:12PM

I'm right above you!

And, now I'm right below you.

And, thanks.

Kwan| 1.3.13 @ 8:52AM

Once again we have the Republicans being rope-a-doped by Democrat Party saboteurs. Will even one dime of the increased taxes that will now be funneled to D.C. be used to reduce the debt? Don't count on it, that money is already earmarked for Social Justice spending (Which is Leftist Newspeak for slavery reparations.), union worker construction projects, teacher union payoffs (The left believes there should be 5 teachers for each student. The more teachers the more union dues collected.), and something called R & D, in other words billions of more dollars wasted on "green energy" scams like Solyndra. The debt will surely soar pass 20 trillion dollars in the next 4 years and the country will remain a passenger on the bullet-train express to hell that Obama and the Democrat Party fifth-columnists believe will bring about the collapse of our free enterprise/capitalism based economy, to be replaced by a central government command and control economy. What's that going to be like? What the left considers to be a "Shining City of Light Upon the Hill": Cuba.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 5:11PM

Contest, tomorrow at Mr. Bowman's House.

Figure it out.

Kwan| 1.3.13 @ 9:16PM

That rumor that you were no longer posting comments was due to you being taken out on a lonely country road by a White House "Track-Em-and-Whack-em Sniper Drone" was apparently bogus. Welcome back from the dead.

"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"....Mark Twain

Hardcard| 1.3.13 @ 8:58AM

Thanks Mr. Gannon I agree 100%.

Russel| 1.3.13 @ 8:58AM

Excellent , author , and thank you for putting all of our feelings and thots down on paper . The HMS (gop ) SELLOUT has run its course and is on the rocks . Time to swim to shore and build a new vessel .

Stkman| 1.3.13 @ 9:02AM

Conservatives have been trying to get the Republican party to be more conservative for years and it isn't working. Wouldn't it be better to legitimize the Tea Party as a third party so conservatives have total control of a party, rather than hope for any control in a Republican party run by liars like Boehnor and McConnell? I say legitimize the Tea Party now so we can start vetting and electing true main street conservatives.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 11:46AM

Thank You Stkman.

I really appreciate all of your kind words.

(there might be a contest, tomorrow, at Bowman's empty parking lot of a column) (i'm whispering)

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 12:20PM

(Ceiling fan whirring overhead in a third rate Southeast Asian hotel room, as geckos dart along the walls. The Doors selection "The End" plays in the background)

Captain Willard: Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted to Bring Back Tim, and for my sins they gave me him...

(Cut away to Willard in his jockey shorts doing bizarre yoga and martial arts moves in the hotel room, culminating in his ramming his fist through the monitor of his ancient desktop computer, slicing open his hand).

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:15PM

I don't get it.

Contest, tomorrow?

Thanks, Albert.

Contest, tomorrow at Bowman's vacant lot of a column.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:13PM

Tim: Heart of Darkness, made into "Apocalypse Now."

Remember the super hot USO Dancing Cowgirl from that movie? Friend of Mine.

R Martin| 1.3.13 @ 1:15PM

Should there be a contest tomorrow, I would like the judges to know that rumor has it Mr. C, Jr. above is having his stuff ghost written by assistant professors from the Womyn's Department at the University of Delaware. I'm just sayin.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 1:43PM

Those Gyno-American Professors at The U of D are some fine writers, who proudly turn out such fine citizens as Joe Biden, Chris Christie and me (and a more awesome assemblage has not been grouped together since the police line-up in "The Usual Suspects", featuring Biden in the Kevin Spacey originated dual role of Verbal Kent/Kaiser Sosay).

Goldwater Girl| 1.3.13 @ 1:59PM

AC is polishing his analogy skills for extra credit!

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 3:01PM

Film, TV, college Syllabus; I am polishing it all (unfortunately, the abrasive grit is grinding it all down instead of shining it, but I suppose there's a metaphor or analogy in there somewhere).

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 3:27PM

I had a "Polish the Knob" joke, but I love ya too much to use it.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:15PM

Biden as Keyser Soze? I think not. Verbal Kent? Sure.

JimH| 1.3.13 @ 3:38PM

The horror.

Anthony| 1.3.13 @ 9:16AM

You are far more polite than me Mr. Gannon. When the RNC called me after the election, I immediately said into the phone, w/o knowing to whom I was talking to, " you have got to be kidding me, you folks can go to hell". CLICK, by me.
The so called fiscal cliff was always a joke, a bill filled with pork, and $1 in spending cuts for $41 in spending increases.This from our best and brightest.
And on Friday, Boehner intends to take up Hurricane Sandy relief, more$ billions spent. WHAT FISCAL CLIFF!!!
If we Americans don't take control of our government soon, it will indeed be all over for us.
The RNC should think about getting armed guards, like the NY newspaper that printed the names of gun permit owners.
We are at war with our government and its institutions.

Wildking20| 1.3.13 @ 9:23AM

I'm rather new to the TAS. I came upon this via Rush's mentioning of this on his show. Since then, I've been reading this site daily for the past four months. I've noticed the re-occuring theme of our leadership is not conservative enough (which I agree with), but all this hollowing isn't accomplishing anything. Several here seem more conservative then the establishment, so run for office. We need more conservative candidates running and booting out these RINOs and re-take the GOP. We're not going to get that with the current make-up of the GOP leadership. I'd run but in Michigan I live in a very blue district (Ann Arbor)

Albertus Magnus| 1.3.13 @ 9:33AM

It is about time you quit the Party, Mr. Gannon. I quit the Republican Party (AKA "The Stupid Party," for good reason) 15 years ago. I have seen nothing yet to make me want to go back. I donate no money to these cretins, despite having done so in the past. I quit because these ball-less wonders could not remove Bill Clinton from office, and indeed never impeached him for his most serious crimes and treasons. Watching that oaf from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, defend criminal acts by the sitting President was too much. So I quit. I was outraged by the GOP's spend-a -thon during the Bush Jr. years, and shocked by the passage of the "Patriot Act" and the creation of an entirely new and unneeded bureaucracy, the Department of Homeland Security. Every time I fly I am reminded of the inherent stupidity of bureaucrats and the lunacy of giving them power. As far as I can tell, the only two things Bush did right was nominate Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the Supreme Court. And since O-Bozo-Kare, now I question Roberts as a choice.

The time has come to abandon the Republican Party. Let it starve for money and slowly fade into obscurity. Every Republican member of Congress who refused to sign on to this monstrous budget deal should publicly quit the Party and form a new one. If the re-election of the stupidest man in America politics to the Presidency is not rock bottom, I don't know what is.

JmsA| 1.3.13 @ 7:38PM

Bush had many faults, but he also had a hand in keeping Al Gore and Jean Francois Kerry out of the White House.

Doctor Right| 1.3.13 @ 9:33AM

The Republican Party treats Conservatives the same way that the Democrat Party treats African-Americans:

"Don't like it? Oh, we'll...who else ya' gonna' vote for?"

Sorry; not playing anymore. I quit the GOP and registered as an Independent. Those gutless morons could screw-up a wet dream.

How many more times must we watch them snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? I say NO MORE.

Conservatives would do well to form a 3rd Party that caucuses with the GOP until such time as this new Party has enough power to go it alone. This would force the remaining GOP to play ball or lose to the Dems at each and every election cycle.

The GOP is on oxygen, and needs to be transferred to a rest home to live out its final days. It's just a political party, it's not a religion; it doesn't have to last forever.

For over 150, the GOP had a purpose; now it doesn't. The rules have changed. The opponent is power-hungry, ruthless, and puts Party over country. They must be met and defeated on their own terms, by people who have the will and the stomach for the fight.

The current crop of GOP "leaders" has to go.

PolishKnight| 1.3.13 @ 10:11AM

There is a difference between white males and the GOP and blacks and the left. At least the left keeps the EEOC staffed full of blacks and the justice department defining "race crimes" as occurring only when it's white on black.

It's no wonder that a lot of white males stayed home this election cycle. When Romney was asked about more goodies for well-to-do white women, he said he wanted "binders" full of women to hire. In the meantime, guys in PA and OH living in a trailer park are told "tough luck" when their jobs are outsourced and all the government jobs advertise "women and minorities encouraged to apply".

The Republican party only won presidential elections because there were still a lot of white guys around. They could afford to piss away between 1/3 to 1/2 of the vote including letting a lot of the men stay at home. No longer.

Hopefully, the Dems will not let these guys get re-elected. GHB cut a deal with the Dems for a tax increase and they gave him nothing for it. Bob Dole, notorious for being a friendly bi-partisan guy was treated like dirt by the media. And look at John McCain who the press loved in the primaries and bashed in the general election.

Al Adab| 1.3.13 @ 10:14AM

The GOP always betrays Conservatives, yet it is only when Conservatives preponderate that the GOP enjoys success. A lesson in there somewhere if only some would listen... which they will not.

Doctor Right| 1.3.13 @ 11:17AM

They won't; that's because the elites in the GOP - generally northeastern, Ivy-League types - have more in common with the elites in the Democrat Party - generally northeastern, Ivy-League types - than they do with Conservatives.

Maybe we should jettison the word "Conservative" and start saying "Real Americans," instead? It's a better description...and it would REALLY piss off the left.

Cato the Younger| 1.3.13 @ 9:35AM

You are following the same path I took.

First, I was a Republican. But then I realized that identifying with a party means sticking to it even when it goes off the rails.

Then I was a conservative. I adhered to principles and ideas founded in the constitution. But then I realized that conservatives were essentially powerless to stop the encroachments of Leviathan government: just look at the last century as a trend-line.

I next embraced the label "reactionary". The wish to not merely slow the rate of change, but to aggressively turn the clock back to basic principles, right back to the 18th century. Then I realized that was a political dead-end.

So finally I have arrived in the same place I think you are, and my current label is "rejectionist". To hell with politicians. "No" to everything they propose. Our best chance is to disempower all of them.

Nancy in NC| 1.3.13 @ 9:41AM

I'm beginning to think our ONLY chance is to disembowel all of of them.

SUBVET| 1.3.13 @ 11:16AM

Term limits..........Nancy

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 12:50PM

Right... term limits, no special health program and no retirement program.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:18PM

I'm with you, Nancy.

Disembowelment.

I'd really like to see them Castrated, but that happened a long time ago.

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 4:52PM

Cato
You are now an anarchist. Reject all government.

cicero| 1.3.13 @ 9:37AM

Calling for more conservatives to run for office is not really the answer. As we have seen over the past few cycles, the RNC doesn't back anyone not of the establishment. In fact, anyone not in their loop is actually demonized, if not mocked. What is becoming more and more apparent with every cycle is that there is a need for the current Rep. party to go the way of the Whigs. However, that will take the convening of a convention, and the putting forth of a slate of candidates in 2014. The bi-election would be tha perfect time, as we would not have the hoopla of a presidential contest. If the new Constitution Party could make a creditable showing in the congressional election, and some state contests, there would be a chance for conservatives to retake this counttry. If not, get ready for a savior to put himself forward as our leader to hold office for as long as it takes to correct things. Something like Julius Ceasar did to bring the Roman Republic to a close.) It seems that Hugo Chavez has remained quite popular with the majority of the Venezualans. All he had to do is appropriate the wealth of the minority and promise it to the majority. So it always goes.

Nancy in NC| 1.3.13 @ 9:40AM

Can anyone think of a worse job that being a huckster for the RNC? I'm positive that Mr. Gannon is just one of thousands (?) who give the caller from the RNC an earful. I look forward to their calls so I can do just that. When they are foolish enough to send me mail, I send it back in their prepaid envelope with a letter informing them that no money will ever be forthcoming as long as they continue to screw the American people.

However, I am active in my local GOP party. The only way we can change it is from the ground up, and here in NC we are giving it a mighty go. Will we succeed? The jury is still out on that.

No More Rinos!| 1.3.13 @ 10:07AM

Sadly, Mr. Gannon and virtually all of those commenting have accurately characterized the partial list of GOP sell-outs, from Specter, to Snowe, Collins, Graham, McConnell, Cornyn, Lugar, McCain, Boehner, Christie, Crist, Bloomberg, Pawlenty, Coleman, Romney, and yes, Jorge W. Bush!

As painful as it will surely be to rebuild, it has to be done!

fmm| 1.3.13 @ 10:16AM

Every RNC communication I receive is put in the trash can without being opened. I gave my money to the Senate Conseervatives Fund which has helped elect vetted constitutionalists in the last two cycles. The same thing needs to be done in the house.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 10:16AM

Imagine a serious effort to form a third party based on conservative principles. It would immediately be assaulted by Democrats, the GOP and the ever-faithful press - the ruling elite. But, the roar of a supporting, grassroots crowd would be heard from coast to coast and its leaders would be instant national heroes. That would frighten the living daylights out of the inhabitants of the DC cesspool. I'd have an ear-to-ear smile.

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 12:47PM

On that at least we can agree.

BackToBasics| 1.3.13 @ 10:24AM

Republican Establishment betrayal has been a long road and really has only been masked by Reagan's victory and the resultant boom economy he helped usher in. Yet even there, the Republican Establishment never liked Reagan. They were hoping that he would fail and kill the conservative wing of the party forever.

They wanted George H W Bush as the nominee and forced him on Reagan during the Republican convention in 1980. A lot of people have forgotten how the Establishment spread talk of Gerald Ford as VP in a co-presidency DURING the 1980 Republican Convention when Reagan was balking at accepting Bush as VP. The Etablishment's scope sites have been set on conservatives for a very long time now.

Guimo| 1.3.13 @ 10:28AM

Libertarianism is the only answer, but it must be exercised within the Republican Party, not outside it as a third party.

OP4| 1.3.13 @ 10:42AM

Why? The RNC leadership went out of their way to tell Ron Paul delegates that they were not welcome at the convention. Those establishment people aren't going away - the conservatives & libertarians are leaving in droves.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 12:53PM

Exactly. How many times does the GOP have to demonstrate their contempt for conservatives before they get the message? If the Tea Party was formalized, the GOP would say, "Wait! Wait! Come back! Trust us just one more time."

Jim Sweeney| 1.3.13 @ 11:05AM

All one need do is to look at the wimpy face of McConnell to know he has no cojones (Hispanic outreach language) A bully sure but an hombre (more outreach) Never. Jeb Bush is the same. Useless white trash who has already sold us out to the Mexican baron friends of his father/family. I'm not sure about where to go now but it's surely not in concert with any of them. If I'm going to lose, I want to lose on my terms. They are disgusting as are most of the GOP senators who voted for the Senate's cliff bill.

pogybait| 1.3.13 @ 11:10AM

Well the next fight will be the debt limit increase , here they need to grow a pair as they have a chance to get some spending cuts.....but we are talking about Repubtards who come from dumbfuckistanc aren't we.....

Louis Jenkins| 1.3.13 @ 11:11AM

It is sad to see the Grand Old Party begin it's own suicide. Alas, the creature is beginning to seize and choke. The last letter I received from the party must have experienced a momentary loss of breath as the letter I returned was not complementary. Not allowing the Ron Paul delegates to at least have their say, whether or not you agreed, was the knife in the back. We talk of the big tent issue, as long as it includes the more center politicians, but when it comes to libertarians and ultra conservatives the scales seem unbalanced. Who else are you going to vote for? How about the dog catcher, the trash collector, or the sewer worker. Maybe they have more principles than McConnel and Boehner. I'd rather go to a sausage factory.

OP4| 1.3.13 @ 12:51PM

Begin? This is the end.

The beginning was the undoing of the Reagan Revolution by the Bushes.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 3:39PM

Exactly. And the icing on the Bush cake was the misnamed Patriot Act.

Anthony| 1.3.13 @ 12:07PM

I think the folks at TAS are entitled to an apology. You see, TLP wasn't banned after all, look's like Timmy just took a holiday.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 1:21PM

No. He was Banned.

Trust me.

I just happen to have friends with white faces.

Anthony| 1.3.13 @ 2:19PM

Please give us the gory details TLP of how you were freed and why you were banned.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 3:29PM

I have Friends with White Faces.

fmm| 1.3.13 @ 4:05PM

Go away again please.

TLP| 1.3.13 @ 5:13PM

Sorry.

Occam's Tool| 1.3.13 @ 9:22PM

Whoa. I like that.

Well, I donated to Romney, who apparently "didn't want to be POTUS" and to Cravaack. Chip lost, but at least he was a Tea Partier. Romney was a complete waste of effort.

Pence didn't run, West didn't GO FOR IT (losing a couple of times is OK, Alan---Reagan did) and My Belle Michele got sideswiped.

I'd like someone with fire in his/her belly next time. Other than Newt, no one had it this time, and Newt is too slippery, and could be outfoxed.

Next time we run for Potus, CONFIRM THE BATHHOUSE STORY AND STEAL THE TERRORIST DINNER TAPE, DAMMIT! I want running for POTUS as a Dhimmicrat to be a career destroying experience.

spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:37AM

'Romney was a complete waste of effort.'
------------------------------------------------
Well, Romney was the worst candidate the GOP had to offer...except for everyone else who ran in the primaries; had Newtie, or the Tinfoil Hat Tinhorn, or Michelle MaBelle, or Self-Righteous Ricky, or Brain-fart Perry, or any of the other also sorta-rans, been nominated, the electoral picture would have made Reagan v. Mondale look like a nail-biter

Tina B| 1.4.13 @ 7:37AM

Here, here.

wombat1| 1.3.13 @ 12:24PM

Mutiny? Aarh, matey,
just show me where to sign!

TeaPartyNow| 1.3.13 @ 12:39PM

Were you "on board" with Romney? Did you yourself support a liberal republican for president in 2012? Obama, Boehner & yourself Mr. Gannon are a result of our nations deeply marxist cultural belief system.

Invariably the right will either lash out at others, or surrender to marxism. The right, the whole of the right has lost the ability to be the solution.

America is a communist nation, all of our sociabilities are constantly being strengthened by communist practices. Take political correctness, they have eliminated our ability to strengthen ourselves, completely removed it.

The right needs an all out civil rebellion by conservatives. We are a communist nation. We need to wholly remove marxism from our medias, schools, industries, lives, habits. We must recreate freedom in America because today we have none. I think you & everyone else expect that someone else will do the work.

Until the American People realize how far gone this nation is & we put ourselves to the massive rebuilding of liberty, decline in perpetual.

& I mutinied at romneys nomination.

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 1:01PM

Perhaps we all should have. Didn't Romney's son just reveal Romney's heart really wasn't in it? If so, he wasted a hell of a lot of money and everyone's time. Incredible...

howiem| 1.3.13 @ 12:55PM

I can only wonder how many of the enemy will offer the likes of McConnell and Boehner money to support them....or have they been paying them off already and for how long? Even Paul Ryan showed that he really has no principles, only talk. Will the voters keep voting for them?
On the other side of the coin, if the house had voted principles, would that have been the excuse Obama is looking for to override Congress, and use an executive order to impose his will?
The bottom line, Mr. Gannon, is that the fault is not necessarily that of the GOP establishment, but it is the fault of the voters, who have now twice proven beyond any reasonable doubt that they are too stupid to know what they are voting for...on both sides of the aisle.

loulou| 1.3.13 @ 1:34PM

If Ryan has any 2016 Presidential aspirations, he better kiss them good-bye. He's dead to me.

Joe D.| 1.3.13 @ 1:44PM

Mr. Gannon, I did this about a year ago. It felt great. Even though some of the Senate candidates I supported did not win, I felt great that my money was not waited on candidates, I could not support.

Bill8472| 1.3.13 @ 1:47PM

There is one value coming out of Obama's win in November and the shameful abdication of responsibility.

Yesterday, on the talk radio show of Hugh Hewitt, Paul Ryan (who voted for the legislation that raises taxes and puts off spending cuts for two months) claimed that the Democrat Party and President Obama are now in a corner and can't raise taxing the rich as a diverting issue any more. I bet they can, and I further bet that the Republican Party will talk itself out of insisting on spending cuts in the next round of legislation.

But there is one thing that's true coming from what Paul Ryan said: the Republicans have now painted themselves in a corner where in order to redeem themselves from selling their souls in the "fiscal cliff" brouhaha, they have to stick to basic Constitutional and conservative principles. They no longer have anything to lose from standing by conservative principles.

But they'll blow it, just watch.

Joe D.| 1.3.13 @ 1:47PM

And I agree, no more bushes (RINOs). Forget about it Jeb.

Bill8472| 1.3.13 @ 1:52PM

My favorite fantasy: old white men and their friends do a Million (White) Man March to Washington, D.C., fully armed, and surround the houses of Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court, take the lawmakers, the executive, and the judiciary out of their comfortable digs, and take them outside and pen them up for a couple of months or as long as it takes to scare the stuffing out of them.

Once they're sufficiently intimidated by the people's uprising, we can either allow them back, or just send them home and replace them.

While we're waiting for people to get disgusted enough to do that (remember the Wisconsin teachers' unions and the Wisconsin legislative building occupation - people are already pretty worked up), we can just stop paying our taxes and stop paying these fools until they start doing their job.

Bill8472| 1.3.13 @ 2:02PM

I also find it funny that now that the legislation is on its way to Obama for signing, we now have been told by the TV news that taxes are going up for people making $30,000 or less per year.

I laughed and laughed, remembering how important it was that Obama tells us how we middle-class types were not going to see our taxes go up if we did what he wanted. How important it was to keep the taxes from going up on those who made under $200,000, or $250,000, or $400,000, or $1,000,000, or whatever the figures were

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 3:44PM

Look at the photograph accompanying the article. What is McConnell measuring with his fingers?

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 3:58PM

His conservative principles?

Drunken Sailor| 1.3.13 @ 3:59PM

His spine?

Gary B| 1.3.13 @ 4:14PM

Boehner's testicles?

CJW| 1.3.13 @ 5:35PM

Obama's respect in Congress.

Obama's margin of victory in the battleground states.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.3.13 @ 8:59PM

As Maxwell Smart used to say: "Missed it by that much".

spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:25AM

what he does to pelosi under her sweater to make her squeal

Bill8472| 1.3.13 @ 5:28PM

His IQ.

Bob Grant| 1.3.13 @ 8:06PM

He's showing the press his Death Claw maneuver.

Kathryn| 1.3.13 @ 7:59PM

Here, here.

JohnTee| 1.3.13 @ 11:26PM

It IS disgraceful, but also pathetic. The talk of a Boehner targeted mutiny was just that, In the end political expediency and disgraced survival triumphed. There must be a psychological term describing the moral vacancy and utter lack of courage that exists THROUGHOUT the party. It looks gutted and ready for burial. The Tea Party is the last hope.

Mnestheus| 1.4.13 @ 12:30AM

Sounds familiar :
http://vvattsupwiththat.blogsp.....phant.html

air max en france | 1.4.13 @ 1:22AM

As I see it, the Republican Party is a rudderless ship that has lost its compass, dead in the water, with no captain and no destination. What this ship needs is a mutiny.

JCS| 1.4.13 @ 1:51PM

I'm confused. If Repubs. do/did nothing, then the tax cuts expire and everyone pays. If they did what they did, 98% of the Bush tax cuts are made permanent.
I have no doubt that Mr. G. is angry. What I would like is his roadmap of what should be/have been done.

Dilbert| 1.5.13 @ 3:28PM

The Republican Party left me a long time ago. I now sit on the sidelines waiting for the Party to die like its predecessor the Whigg Party.
I live in California, so I have to vote because of all the propositions on every ballot. I leave blank most of the candidates because in California there is little difference between a Republican and Democrat. It now seems to be at the national level too.
I will wait for a Conservative Party that actually has standards for its candidates.

DokDream| 1.5.13 @ 10:47PM

What area are you in, Dilbert? There are things to do and we need all the Conservatives there are to make a difference.

DokDream| 1.5.13 @ 10:44PM

Your words echo that of most of the grass roots conservative activists who I know here in Southern California. We are disgusted with the California GOP leadership as well as National. We do more than talk: we are members of the central committees for two ADs. We also have a new chairman of RPLAC. Look for us to take our -- and from the tone of your blog, yours as well -- case to the people, directly. The Dems and the RINOs have wrecked things badly. We need to clear away the debris and build anew.

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