The American Spectator

jim Spence| 4.9.09 @ 11:26AM

What kind of a result would you expect under current conditions? The media pounds the public with tales of the "evil CEO" on an hourly basis, and most citizens could not tell you the difference between capitalism or socialism.

Matthew Vadum| 4.9.09 @ 12:56PM

You have to wonder what percentage of the population actually has a firm grasp of what "capitalism" and "socialism" are. It's not like Americans receive much in the way of civics in high school anymore.

Bob| 4.9.09 @ 1:22PM

The real problem is the way Republicans abuse the definition of "socialism". All you hear from the Republican leadership (Rush, Hannity, et. al.), is that Obama is a "socialist". The majority of people like Obama and think he's doing a great job. The Republicans say that they are "capitalists" and George Bush was an MBA. Our problems stem from capitalism and Wall Street, right?

It's like the boy who cried "Wolf" once to often. The more the discredited Republicans call Obama a socialist, the more the majority of people will think that is just fine.

That's the problem with the type of blogging you find here at AmSpec and why I rail against people like Vadum hyperventilating so much.

Isn't there any coherent leadership on the Republican side that wants to win this battle?

Angel| 4.9.09 @ 2:59PM

The REAL problem is that we don't have a strong Conservative leader who speaks forcefully about the superiority of Capitalism and the exceptionalism of our American way of life. Instead we have this marxist fool traipsing around the world bad mouthing our country and bootlicking the Saudi King. No wonder Americans don't understand our incredibly good fortune to be citizens of this wonderful country.

MT| 4.9.09 @ 3:00PM

The 'FISCAL CONSERVATIVE' strikes again. Moron.

Daphne| 4.9.09 @ 3:13PM

It's a dearth of Conservative leadership and lack of vision. I really do miss Reagan: His vision and good natured, but forceful leadership made me feel proud to be part of the American dream. Despair and cynicism have replaced his joyful attitude toward America. We are in such a world of hurt right now; I don't know if we have it within us to recover our optimism. I felt this way during Carter's presidency--that 'malaise' thing. Loser liberals have struck again.

Tim| 4.9.09 @ 3:18PM

"The real problem is the way Republicans abuse the definition of "socialism". ..

"I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her. "
-Rodney Dangerfield

Heather| 4.9.09 @ 3:20PM

The real problem is when liberal trolls pretend to be republicans.

Andrew| 4.9.09 @ 3:33PM

1) Nope, the real real problem is defining everyone who doesn't agree with you about absolutely everything as a "troll."

2) The other real problem is defining your own party so narrowly that you lose something like 12% of Republicans to the independents.

3) I'm not a Republican, nor do I pretend to be one. But jeez, I see Bob get insulted here all the time, sometimes by the Spectator writers themselves. If you don't want to hear from someone who mildly disagrees with you, then close off the comment board and ban people who you don't want. Otherwise, suck it up and deal.

Jeremiah| 4.9.09 @ 3:45PM

Bob is a liar and won't admit he's a troll. You wouldn't like it either on Huff/Post, Andrew. You can take your stupid advice and put it where the sun don't shine. We didn't ask for it--so buzz off, loser.

Andrew| 4.9.09 @ 4:01PM

Hey, feel free to circle your wagons, insult people, and marginalize yourselves further. Don't let me interfere with the master plan.*

*And hey, I'm on the record on this blog as disapproving of liberal websites who are rude to conservatives as well. But hey, not a problem. You don't want me to leave any more comments, so I won't.

Hottie| 4.9.09 @ 4:06PM

Thanks mucho!! Bye.

Doug| 4.9.09 @ 4:13PM

The only hope for liberty in these United States is for Republicans to stop advocating it.

Bob| 4.9.09 @ 4:15PM

Andrew, I tend to bring out the real bigotry and lack of intelligence in my party. There is a huge divide between social conservatives and fiscal conservative/social libertarian wings of the party. Interestingly enough, while I disagree on fiscal policy dramatically from those on the left, you can engage in discussion. When you don't agree with the right wing whackos here they call you trolls and liars.

I'm retired now, and am sick of where the Republican party has gone. I will not become an independent because I won't be able to vote in the primaries here. I won't become a Democrat because we have some real differences on the role of government in our society and for me, fiscal policy is far more important than social policy.

The right wing whackos here cannot fathom the truth. What they want is an intelligence free zone like Limbaugh and Hannity and their new hero, Beck. There are some good people like Romney and Jindal in the party, but they are afraid to show their intelligence because it is seen as a negative. Listen to both of them in small discussions versus giving speeches -- there is a huge difference.

The Republican party has become the political arm of evangelical Christians rather than the party of limited government, equality, personal responsibility, and meritocracy. It's too bad -- that's a great combination and one I believe in strongly.

Besides, other than thin skinned Quin, I make this blog a lot more interesting for AmSpec. I've become the hate object on which the lemmings can all universally dislike given that Frum, Brooks, and Parker don't post here -- and for good reason. Psychologically, this is a typical mob action where intelligence and logic are thrown out of the window.

Pattie| 4.9.09 @ 4:22PM

Poor Bobby. Sniff, sniff. The nasty bigot has his feelings hurt. If Bobby would just admit that he's a liberal who belongs at Huff/Post there'd be no problem. People tire of liars after a while--just like America will soon tire of our liar in chief, Obumbler. Liberals just can't help themselves--you know they're lying when their lips move.

Interloper| 4.9.09 @ 4:28PM

"Thin skinned Quin." Ha ha, Bobby whines just because Quin banned Bobby from commenting on his site. Poor Bobby--misunderstood. Quin's ban is proof that Bobby lies. Bobby is an arrogant troll.

Bob| 4.9.09 @ 4:43PM

Pattie, I would have left this site ages ago if I has as thin a skin as all of you. You want me to be a liberal and can't fathom Republicans like me. You are fake fiscal conservatives or you wouldn't be so negative.

Fake "Interloper" -- the fact that you use the handle of someone else shows your true nature. Quin ASKED me not to post on his blog because he cannot take criticism. That is the height of being thin skinned. I could have said no or used another handle, but integrity means something to me.

Calling someone a liar and a troll is something I've come to expect from narrow minded anti-intellectual social conservatives. I am just hoping that Palin runs in 2012 and loses by a huge margin so we can prove, once and for all, that the party needs to broaden its perspective.

Ta-ta...

Jeremiah| 4.9.09 @ 4:49PM

No one likes you, Bob. You should leave, phony baloney troll.

Pkane| 4.9.09 @ 5:04PM

Cynic that I am, I find the results more encouraging then I'd expect. Most people who even think they have an idea of what socialism is were either exposed to it in college by gushing leftist professors or associate it with European countries where you get lots of free sh*t. Meanwhile, schools and popular culture have done all they can to make "capitalism" a dirty word - associating it with sweatshops, evil exploiters, greed, starving children, etc.

In that case, it's a good thing that a majority don't recoil at the term.

Also, that 40% of Democrats state an outright preference for capitalism is somewhat encouraging. It indicates that all we need are Republicans who can communicate the choices we have. Whatever Obama's actual agenda, remember that he's well aware that it depends on his sounding like a moderate.

Jeremiah| 4.9.09 @ 5:11PM

Moderate, my azz. His government take-over of our economy kinda' wrecks that for me.

JayMagoo| 4.9.09 @ 7:27PM

It looks like Socialism is gaining ground, and it's no surprise. In the last 30 years (since Reagan) the conservatives and capitalists had their own way, and look what it got us. A huge amount of the national wealth has been shifted to the very richest families in the US, while the rest of us not only earned less, but now are in danger of losing our jobs. The healthcare system has been taken over by the conservatives and capitalists, and now the insurance companies insure only those with no chance of ever having a problem, and a huge segment of Americans can no longer afford health insurance, or health care. The conservatives and capitalists ran wild with a lack of financial regulation and now the financial system is not working and people are losing their homes. Yet the conservatives and capitalists still insist that capitalism and conservatism are the only ways to go. Americans are not blind and stupid. For years the Republicans convinces Americans to vote against their best interests, but not it looks like it took a crisis, the natural and predictable collapse of capitalism, to show us. Like I said, Socialism is gaining ground, and it's not surprise.

Jeremiah| 4.9.09 @ 7:49PM

JayMagoo, you are as blind as the bumbling idiot, Mr. Magoo. Socialism is a failure wherever and whenever it is tried. Socialism rewards the lazy, the envious and those who don't give a damn: It ensures mediocrity for all. Socialism is for losers--liberals.

JayMagoo| 4.9.09 @ 7:54PM

Jeremiah, you answer not with examples or facts, but with slogans and generalities. Even with my less than 20-20 vision, I can see you are not a thinker to be taken seriously.

J| 4.9.09 @ 7:58PM

Blind as a bat, you mean. And stupid to boot!

J| 4.9.09 @ 8:00PM

Would you bend over and kiss the Saudi King's azz like your hero, Obumbler? At least you're blind, Obumbler is just a dumb azz-kisser. What a fool.

Stan Redmond| 4.9.09 @ 8:26PM

This shows just how succesful the liberal regime has infected education and media. Conservative capitalists run as fast and far as possible from public office and jobs like teachers. Capitalists are busy running companies, providing jobs, and making money. The libs who could NEVER make it in a capitalist system infect the education media and government and get the position to brainwash children. And they have a very powerful organization to shape society. Scary stuff.

And YES. OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST. Even worse a racist statist socialist who hates his own country. And that ain't cryin' wolf.

Tom| 4.9.09 @ 8:30PM

Wow--I came here from a link at the Economist. As a more independent voter, I find it impressive to see how wackos like Pattie, Hottie, Jeremiah, and Heather seem to think that rudeness is somehow persuasive or useful. With the passing of high-IQ conservatives like Buckley, it seems the average IQ of those remaining is dropping fast. If posts here are the best the Republicans can do, Obama's going to run roughshod across the national agenda, and America won't get a decent loyal opposition until a third party kicks the Republicans out of the second-best seat and into well-deserved oblivion.

Jeremiah| 4.9.09 @ 9:41PM

Thanks for your kind words, Tom. Anything else positive to add? Didn't think so.

Heather| 4.9.09 @ 9:54PM

"As a little bit more of an independent voter, " meaning--I'm a flaming liberal. lol

Lewis| 7.6.09 @ 5:48AM

HURR I CONSERVATIVE DEBATING POLITICKALS LOLOLOL!11one

"As a little bit more of an independent voter, " meaning--I'm a flaming liberal. lol

Richard C. Mongler| 7.6.09 @ 5:52AM

This shows just how succesful the liberal regime has infected education and media. Conservative capitalists run as fast and far as possible from public office and jobs like teachers. Capitalists are busy running companies, providing jobs, and making money. The libs who could NEVER make it in a capitalist system infect the education media and government and get the position to brainwash children. And they have a very powerful organization to shape society. Scary stuff.

And YES. OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST. Even worse a racist statist socialist who hates his own country. And that ain't cryin' wolf.

^ I lol'd. You don't know the first thing about socialism: if you did, you wouldn't call Obama a socialist. And you would be a socialist yourself. I could educate you here but I'm tired of debating against your fallacy-filled arguments. Also I'm not a liberal or a conservative, commie all the way. Seriously, go educate yourselves. All of you.

Lewis| 7.6.09 @ 5:56AM

Also Jeremiah socialism doesn't benefit the lazy, seeing as you have to work under socialism. Under capitalism, if you're high up in the social heirarchy you get to make profits by selling the products of the workers yourself without actually doing any work. So either you become one of those people or you work for ages and ages and get jack all for it. That's your 'great world of choice' under capitalism for you. You have no idea at all, do you?

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Roger| 8.9.09 @ 11:23PM

Capitalism hasn't been practiced in the United States since the 1970's. What we're experiencing is a sort of corporatism, where large corporations dictate how we dress, speak, treat each other, what we watch on television, listen to on the radio, what we eat and drink; heck, they even have stronghold on our government. Capitalism cannot be truly practiced with the sort of corporate-person-hood that we have in this country. Additionally, most modern, developed countries have an mixed capitalistic/socialistic economic structure. No modern nation is ABSOLUTELY capitalistic nor socialistic.

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