The American Spectator

Siegfried X| 4.6.09 @ 2:13PM

It's a general principle: given the choice between a Democrat and a Democrat-lite, voters will choose the real Democrat.

The way for Republicans to win is to run as conservatives.

ruth| 4.6.09 @ 2:17PM

Siegfried X--Right on!

tonypal| 4.6.09 @ 2:23PM

I think we can all expect jharp to pull up his pants and post a message regarding the racism on this board.

Angel| 4.6.09 @ 2:29PM

I can't believe JHarp and Interloper aren't freaking out on the Chia Obama post yet.

Lucius Vorenus| 4.6.09 @ 2:42PM

Siegfried X: It's a general principle: given the choice between a Democrat and a Democrat-lite, voters will choose the real Democrat. The way for Republicans to win is to run as conservatives.

Blacks will NEVER vote Republican.

Aboriginal Hispanics will NEVER vote Republican.

Jews will NEVER vote Republican [even at the height of Dubya's "War on Terror", we could barely muster 85% of the Jewish vote].

Folks, in one-man/one-vote demos kratia, demography isn't the most important thing: DEMOGRAPHY IS THE ONLY THING.

And the demographics we're looking at now spell doom for the idea of a constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

Lucius Vorenus| 4.6.09 @ 2:44PM

Me: we could barely muster 85% of the Jewish vote

Meant to say that we could barely muster 15% of the Jewish vote - i.e. the DEMs were still garnering 85+% of the Jewish vote in 2004.

Connie| 4.6.09 @ 2:51PM

Bet the smokers and others that see their taxes go up will vote Repub next time$$$

ruth| 4.6.09 @ 3:11PM

Strong Conservative leadership is vital, and without it, we have struggled for a long time. I believe a principled, eloquent leader will bring many to our side. We've got the message--we just need the right messenger!

hmm_contrib| 4.6.09 @ 3:36PM

Connie:
"and others that see their taxes go up"
You mean those making over $250,000? Sure, you can have them. The Ds will happily take the votes of the rest of the country, to whom Obama is giving a tax cut. Already has, if you count the tax cut in the stimulus package (the one the GOP voted against).

Basil Plumley| 4.6.09 @ 4:22PM

@ Angel

You said-I can't believe JHarp and Interloper aren't freaking out on the Chia Obama post yet.

Why? They probably own several between them. Besides, if you really thought Interloper was sincere in his rants on racism, I have some slightly damp land to sell you in FL.

jr| 4.6.09 @ 6:13PM

Lucius Vorenus has posted it correctly about blacks, jews, and hispanics but add college students, and young women. Aboriginal hispanics -- what's that -- and no matter, --- just hispanics now that they have found Obama-free-everything. McCain is McShame - he''ll vote for anything Kennedy and Feingold want. Gimme a microphone and -- is the camera running?

ruth| 4.6.09 @ 6:32PM

hmm, I don't know what you're smokin', or perhaps it's the liberal kool-aid you've been drinkin', but you're brain-dead if you think 95% of the country is going to get a tax cut. It's not nice to be envious of others. Get a job.

george b.| 4.6.09 @ 9:02PM

your all going to hell 'have a nice trip.

MT| 4.6.09 @ 9:08PM

Well, George--'your' going there with us. Publik Skool Educasion on display.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 12:07AM

To hmm_contrib:

Just out of curiosity, when gas prices rise as a result of cap and trade, a democrat/Obama concoction, will those making under $250,000 per year be exempt?

When Obama raises taxes on corporations, will those corporations take the hit against their bottom lines, or will they pass the cost of those higher taxes on to consumers, who are overwhelmingly in that sub $250,000 category?

Considering that well over half the country owns stocks, meaning that a great many people who earn under $250,000 are in the investor class, when Obama raises long term cap gains tax rates from 15% to 20%, will there be some magical formulation that will permit those earning less than $250,000 per year to not be affected?

When Obama's tax hike on those making over $250,000 per year goes into effect, hitting small business owners whose income/revenues may exceed $250,000, will those families be exempted? Will they eat those tax hikes or as with corporations, will they pass those costs onto the consumer?

Have you given any of these questions even a moment of thought? What are your answers to these questions? I'm very curious to know if you have a basic understanding of these matters.

shanecomeback| 4.7.09 @ 6:21AM

hello hmm_? Haven't you heard that tax hike has already been lowered to people making 104,000 dollars? Thats per family-combined income. Now you think the Zero is so great?
As for McCain,he still put the needs of Mexico over the rights of his own countrymen,so I don't care how he is treated by his compadres.

Big J| 4.7.09 @ 8:36AM

McCain is a RINO. I hate to state the obvious. He is the epitome of what has destroyed the Republican party. "People choose Dem over Dem-lite". Very true.

Hmm_: I hope you don't think that extra $13 per week you're seeing in your paycheck is a tax cut. As an employer, let me enlighten you if that's the case: this is simply a reduction in tax witheld. Your rate has not been cut, nor has anyone's. Next April, I think there are going to be a lot of unhappy people.

By the way, the increase is going to hit pretty much every employer in the united states. Economics 101, Lesson 1: raise taxes on companies=increased cost for goods and services=raised taxes on the individual (yes, even the ones that make less than $250k or $104k or whatever it is now). This universal rule also applies to the ridiculous "cap and trade" provision in the proposed budget. TAX INCREASE FOR EVERYONE!

Snake oil, smoke and mirrors, whatever. Our government has become a joke - I'm just waitin' for the punch-line.

Big J| 4.7.09 @ 8:37AM

Oops - Tonypal beat me to it!:)

Bob| 4.7.09 @ 9:57AM

So, was George Bush a RINO? Was Dick Cheney a RINO? Was Tom DeLay a RINO? The truth is that far right social conservatives have run the Republican party into the ground. The party routinely discriminates against young people, Hispanics, and blacks. The party fights more about religion than it does about debt. There are few minorities in the Republican party and virtually no outreach.

I am a dedicated RINO. I will no longer vote for a far right social conservative as I believe they are hurting this country and have no ideas except to say no. Romney would have been a good candidate but Mormons are not acceptable to the highly discriminatory social conservatives who only seem to like "Christians".

There was a reason McCain became the choice of the Republican party. He was strongly supported in "blue" America. For anyone of you that has a brain, you'd know that states like New York, California, and Florida will never vote for a hard right Republican. But then again, you use belief over reason.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 10:20AM

Bob:

Again, we stand in the monumental shadow of your God-like intellect. Woe to thee who fails to heed words of warning from the RINO from Mount Olympus. Please remind us, oh great savior of the republican party, how the presidential campaign of John McCain concluded. Tell us of his glory in states like New York, California and Florida. Let us glory in tales of how he came to smite the evil social conservatives on his way to triumph.

Oh, that's right. He lost and it was all Sarah Palin's fault.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 10:22AM

Bob:

One last thing my friend. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.

Bob| 4.7.09 @ 10:36AM

tonypal -- objectivity is the key to victory. If you don't have a realistic view of the electorate based upon data and facts, you just can't win. Here's an analysis be Reuters that is unbiased and on target:

http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN05201854

Get used to it, my friend... I am the swing vote in elections. YOU will always vote for the Republican because you lack the ability to reason and see the truth. Politicians will assume your vote and go after mine. This will not change no matter how hard you pray.

Angel| 4.7.09 @ 11:17AM

You don't get it, Bob. We Conservatives are principled, we aren't the mushy middle. Your puny attacks won't change us, and you're just wasting your time. You should moveon.org, (hint hint). As tonypal so eloquently stated, "Don't let the door........"

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 12:14PM

Bob:

Thank you oh master. All these years I've worshipped a Judeo-Christian God who promised me an afterlife if I behaved well during my short stay on terra firma. But now I've seen the light and its name is Bob.

By the way Bob, please explain what happened to super-mega-RINO John McCain during the last election. As usual, all you really did was condescend, give us a quick link in lieu of an argument that I'm quite confident you are incapable of making on your own and engage in your typical ad hominem attack. Bob, in your own words, without a link, tell us all how the ultimate RINO could fail.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 12:22PM

Bob:

I know you need constant affirmation of your intellect, so I will stipulate that you are clearly the smartest person around. Hope that made your day.

Now, as to your assertion that "YOU will always vote for the Republican because you lack the ability to reason and see the truth. Politicians will assume your vote and go after mine. This will not change no matter how hard you pray."

Quite the contrary, oh wise one. I come from New Jersey, original home of the RINO. I have twice supported and voted for Murray Sabrin, libertarian candidate for Governor. That's because RINO's are a waste of my time. If I want someone to moisten their finger and stick it in the air to see which way the wind blows, I'll do it myself.

I also voted for RINO McCain, but only out of abject fear of Obama. So while you are truly brilliant, and I mean that sincerely, you are not a seer or a mind reader. I'm sorry if that hurt your feelings. Just remember, you're very smart and no one can take that from you.

Bob| 4.7.09 @ 12:34PM

Angel -- it would be nice if you would use your mind. I'm most likely more of a fiscal conservative than you. I was against the bailouts, I'm for closing down several federal departments, I'm for reducing the cost of health care significantly, I want a flat tax, etc. That is NOT squishy. Furthermore, I am not "squishy" about my social beliefs. I think you guys need to stay out of my bedroom, abortion is a personal decision and OK, and if gays want to marry, that's their business. So what is "squishy" about those views? You don't know what you're talking about.

Tonypal -- you voted for McCain -- you proved my point. Thank you. Your vote was assumed. I voted for Ron Paul in the primaries because Romney had dropped out by then. Again, you have no clue what you're talking about.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 1:01PM

Bob:

Sorry pal, but your point is not made. As I said, I voted for him out of fear that Obama would become president. In 1992, I sat out the election because Pres. Bush lied to us about cutting taxes. I also did not have the same fears about Slick Willie that I had about Obama.

By the way, I'm still waiting for you to explain how the RINO John McCain lost. You can keep telling me I don't know what I'm talking about, but for some bizarre reason you refuse to explain how the ideal RINO candidate could possibly have lost.

Still awaiting your answer.

tonypal| 4.7.09 @ 1:09PM

Bob:

Did you not read the part about how I voted libertarian in the NJ governor's race twice when Christie Whitman was on the ballot? You are very confident in the correctness of your assertions, but that's simply because you have a difficult time reading entire paragraphs.

Maybe you lack the ability to concentrate for more than 5 consecutive seconds, so here's an idea: read one sentence at a time (unless its a real long one, say more than 10 words), take a few deep breaths, then read the next. Do this for the entire post, then go back and read the entire thing in one shot. When responding, refer back frequently to the post in question. It might also help to take notes.

If this proves too difficult, ask someone for help. Its no shame to ask for help when you're having a tough time completing a challenging task, such as reading an entire paragraph in one shot. In fact, if you have young children, maybe they can give you a hand. You can teach them free market economics by paying them for each post they help you through.

Bob| 4.7.09 @ 1:41PM

tonypal -- why you voted for McCain is irrelevant. The fact is that you did. McCain lost for several reasons. First, the Republicans slaughtered the last 8 years, secondly, Republicans have shown minorities they are not welcome in the party, and thirdly, he chose Palin who was loved by the based and hated by independents/moderates (i.e., RINO's). If McCain would have been smart and cool, he would have come closer. Remember, that Reagan would not have won either given the demographic changes between 1980 and 2008. Reagan only received 50.7% of the vote in 1980 and that would have been reduced to about 46% today just because of demography. 46% is what McCain received in the election. If you would learn how to count, then you might understand the data.

Christie Whitman won in NJ because she was a RINO. If she were a right wing hack like you, she would have lost the state. There were more than enough moderates and independents to vote for her to override yours. The only thing NJ proves is that it takes a RINO to win the state.

Besides, McCain was not the "ideal" RINO candidate. He didn't have the temperament to be president and was another academically weak candidate. Palin was a huge drag on the ticket as the polling numbers proved after the Gibson and Couric interviews.

Perhaps you can get someone to teach you how to count. Keep it under 10 at the beginning so you can use your fingers.

Angel| 4.7.09 @ 4:33PM

Bob, you're squishy/mushy. Not a Conservative, not a liberal (doubtful). You're in no-man's land. Pick a side, man--otherwise, stay out in the wilderness. Either way, your rants won't change me.

Bob| 4.7.09 @ 4:47PM

Angel, I am where I want to be. I'm not a lemming who must "pick a side". Gee, I thought we were all Americans -- that's my side....

If you can think for yourself, you shouldn't have to pick a side nor depend on that side for your talking points. Stand up, Angel -- think for yourself -- and be a man...

Jerseyman| 4.7.09 @ 6:14PM

All this tripe about minorities not being welcome in the Republican party boils down to a plain racial spoils system. Blacks don't vote for Democrats, they vote for welfare, food stamps, affirmative action, set asides and government cheese. Latinos vote for all of the above plus open borders. Jews still think they're voting for FDR and Wallace.
Demographics are desitny. The white male that designed and built the system is in demographic decline, and the democrats have cleverly peeled off his females by taking posession of the plumbing issues: abortion rights, gay rights and health care.
Our republic, like Rome's, is dependant on the virtue of the citizens. Absent that virtue we can only expect the end of the Republic and the introduction of an era of mob rule and demagoguery.
Obama may not be a white man but for many he is the man on the white horse.
Expect the next turn of the wheel to bring us a continued ethnic sorting by region and a domestic cold war between the makers and the takers.

Angel| 4.7.09 @ 9:04PM

Something you obviously know very little about, Blobbo.

Basil Plumley| 4.7.09 @ 9:22PM

Forgive me folks, I am getting a good laugh from this reparté with Bob. One thing about liars like Bob; when you tell one lie, you have to tell 15 lies to cover for the original lie. Then you have to tell 15 lies to cover for each of the 15 lies told for the first lie. It mushrooms from there.

I gave up counting the lies, damned lies, half-truths, and statistics that Bob throws out in his posts.
Bob is a seminar poster; no solutions, more angst. Notice where/when he posts and where/when he does not. Bob is no RINO, he is a certified jackass/donkey.

ruth| 4.7.09 @ 11:27PM

Bob said that Hitler was a Christian because Hitler said so. Okay, Bob, take Hitler at his word: Just as I take you at your word that you are a RINO and a fiscal conservative. You're both about as trustworthy.

Bob| 4.8.09 @ 10:06AM

Didn't Basil say he was going to ignore my posts. What a liar! I've never told a lie on this board. Most of the charts are from conservative web sites. I guess Basil lacks the intelligence, and perhaps education, to understand.

Ruth, it is a fact that Hitler said he was a Christian -- I posted the quotes. Are you the supernatural being that can decide who is Christian and who is not? I was just correcting a blogger who claimed he was an atheist. Your problem is your intolerance -- and increasingly, that is the problem of the ultra right wing lemmings like you and Basil.

ruth| 4.8.09 @ 10:11AM

Hitler was into the occult--hardly a Christian. You're such a fool, you probably don't know the difference.

Bob| 4.8.09 @ 11:09AM

...and a lot of evangelical leaders engaged in homosexuality or prostitution. They must not be Christians. Ruthie, you make no sense. Hitler strongly claimed to be a Christian just like you. Perhaps we should create the "Office of Ruthie" formed to determine who is a Christian and who is not.

ruth| 4.8.09 @ 5:03PM

Just because Hitler said he was a Christian--didn't make it so: Just because you claim to be a RINO/Fiscal Conservative, Bob--most certainly doesn't make it so. You're the intolerant meat-head here--not I.

Lucius Vorenus| 4.9.09 @ 1:25AM

Jerseyman: Expect the next turn of the wheel to bring us a continued ethnic sorting by region and a domestic cold war between the makers and the takers.

We've been living that cold war for decades now.

Wake up, dude: The next turn of the wheel moves us to a hot war.

Curmudgeon| 4.9.09 @ 2:53PM

Bob is a dupe. If you want to know why Bush's (and McCain's) approval ratings went into the toilet, it was immigration. Not the war, not entitlements. Immigration. This is what alienated the former Reagan Democrats / Former Ross Peronistas / Angry White Men and ther families. In other words, the very swing voter people who always provided the Right with reliable political victories.

And for what? To Hispander to voters who aren't voting, and when they are, continually vote 2 to 1 against us?

So McLame finally wised up. No actually, he didn't. He is just hurt and pouting. Why doe he NOT GET THIS?

I have three ideas:

1. Romantic visions of all immigration. Well intentioned, but not rooted in reality.

2. The open borders / "make money, not war" / "Capitalists of the world unite" mentality. Call it The Delusional Multiculturalism Of The Right.

3. Cynical justifications for cheap gardeners, maids, fruit pickers, contractors, or other labor. Never mind that the externality costs are picked up by the taxpayers. This is free market capitalism? I don't think so.