The American Spectator

Captain America| 11.17.08 @ 11:27PM

I'd be pleased if Huckster had a working knowledge of Ronald Reagan and his legacy. I'd pony up a few bucks towards his membership in Heritage.

Now that he owns the Fox News airwaves, one gets the impression he is Dr. Phil.

bluecollarbytes| 11.17.08 @ 11:42PM

The Huckster has a new paying gig, on FoxNews. It's a little corn mixed in with PopCulture pontification. His last show showcased Oliver Stone. Huskster gushed that "W", contrary to expectations, actually made Bush look good. I got the feeling he was simply parroting what he'd read that others wrote about the film.

Folks like Huckster and Gingrich have roles to play if they want them, but not the roles they're hoping for. The Republican Party needs to take advantage of the new blood. Let the showmen keep to their books, idea factories, and botox.

Kingfish| 11.18.08 @ 1:41AM

My favorite is when they say "the values of Ronald Reagan" when they have no clue what those values are. For example, conservatives fall into the trap of trying to outbid Democrats on tax cuts, completely forgetting to explain how taxes are a form of control and how Democrats use taxes to limit freedom and liberty, something that would appeal to more of the younger and more libertarian mind set.

J David| 11.18.08 @ 8:42AM

Huck's mixed-up *conservatism* aside, Libertarianism has already reached its peak numbers, which fell off even before the election. There is a number of reasons why I, as a *conservative* will never, ever vote Libertarian. They are important in that the people who are really *conservative* are so for reasons beyond money. The law is a "teacher", the law is a protector that is effective when administered fairly. One's associates are part of one's identity. *Conservatism* is an ideology, but among conservatives Libertarianism is seen as a vacuum void of ideology...libertine anarchy, and the group calling themselves "Libertarian" includes, especially, estranged factions from mainstream society like dopers, prostitutes, smut peddlers, racists, baby-killers. These associates will never find common ground with ideological Christian/ evangelicals, or Mormons, Pro-lifers, or other groups of traditional special interest. Only a complete disavowal of the whack-job fellow travelers presently welcome in Libertarianism will spark interest among conservative Republicans looking for a new home, and presently looking at Constitution Party options.

Ann Coulter tells in one of her books of an attempt to harness the Connecticut Libertarian Party to oust Shays years ago, but while working with them discovered that throwing out drug laws, and etc. had them preoccupied to the near-complete exclusion of everything else. My uncle, a preacher, looked at membership for awhile and left for the exact same reason. I have a brother that only votes straight Libertarian, and he is a Michael Moore lovin' Truther, and a complete political whack-job so totally over the top one can't allow any political work to be spoken in his presence lest violence break out.

Such a party can not ever have a broad appeal except among pointy-headed "intellectuals" ensconced in MENSA, and among those most threatened by useful laws that actually protect the public, and the young impressionable innocent.

Bob| 11.18.08 @ 8:42AM

RSM -- I usually disagree with your constant complaining, but you are on target with this rant. Real conservatism does not contain elements of social conservatism which actually proposes to increase the role of government rather than look to limited government and free markets.

Eric Dondero| 11.18.08 @ 10:23AM

Hey J. David, and what of us Libertarian Republicans? Do you want to drum us out of the Party too? We've been some of the most passionate and loyal Republicans around.

You make a fundamental error in assuming that all Libertarians are Libertarian Party.

BTW, there's one very popular Governor who also happens to be a Libertarian Republican. Wonder if you want to kick her out of the Party too.

You might have heard her name a couple times before:

Sarah Heath Palin