Friday, February 16, 2007
|
|
The White Flag Republicans
|
|
Posted by:
Hugh Hewitt at
9:17 AM
|
|
Today’s vote in the House will be significant only for the light it will cast on the Republicans. We know the Democrats are committed to defeat in Iraq, and Congressman Murtha is the gift of clarity that keeps giving.
But we will also get the outlines of the extent of the White Flag Republicans, and while not all of them will draw the same level of ire as term-limit pledge breaking “Lawnboy” Ric “It Runs Like A Deere” Keller, the WFRs will not escape that designation even if the war goes well and Iraq stabilizes. At a crucial moment, they bolted.
They are leaving behind a House GOP badly scarred. I doubt very much if the message isn’t getting through or the NRC or the NRCC. The latter will have to radically restructure if it is to get grassroots appeal back. I won’t be giving to the NRCC because it will be supporting WFRs.
The best NRCC Chairman Tom Cole could do now is get busy identifying the 2008 challengers to defeatist Democrats. The lassitude displayed thus far is very troubling. There is great passion among the victory voters, but they cannot put it to any use because the GOP has not given them anything to fight for. The sudden growth of the Victory Caucus hints at this desire to engage, and all that energy could be turned towards electing serious candidates, preferably experienced veterans familiar with the stakes and especially with Iraq and Afghanistan and the enemy, but the House GOP leadership seems indifferent to the base, and glued to a political calendar that was used in the era before new media or the war arrived. Many have observed that the left is far ahead in the organizational understanding of politics on the web, and rarely has that been as obvious as the past three weeks. Obvious, but unacted on.
I had assumed that after the November elections the GOP on the Hill would hear what everyone was saying to them. But it turns out they got the slogans down, but internalized nothing of the need to engage in a completely different approach to the debates ahead. They are almost completely powerless in the House, and thus are only a rhetorical force. They have nothing but arguments to make to the public, but they are getting rolled in debate after debate because there is no party position that hasn’t been undercut by backbenchers, and there is not anything approaching a communications strategy.
“Hapless” is the word that comes to mind. The congressional representatives of the Party of Lincoln and the Party of Reagan have never been collectively less committed to victory and less able to communicate than today.
|
|
thanks to the Green, White, and Red flag Republicans.
|
|
During his 2007 State of the Union address President Bush graciously mentioned Speaker Pelosi’s father, a deceased Congressman, no doubt as an attempt to ingratiate himself with the head of the “new majority.” The President quite naively still believes that his “New Tone,” which has consistently failed to charm the vipers in our Congress and the media, would work this time. Now, less than two months after the President’s gesture Ms. Pelosi and her faithful bootlicker, Jack Murtha, engineered one of the most despicable betrayals of the American Fighting men and women since another Democrat Congress, with the aid of a number of Republicans and a liberal media, renounced our soldier’s sacrifice’s and abandoned the Vietnamese people to their cruel fate. Like Judas this Congress made their kiss of peace with a hollow preamble supporting our troops and then turned them over to their tormentors by disavowing the mission in Iraq. President Bush’s response to this act of betrayal has been tepid at best. I would expect that the man who sent those brave men and women in harm’s way would have reacted strongly by loudly denouncing this Congress’ behavior and cogently explaining why the mission in Iraq is vital to the US. However, instead of fighting tooth and nail for our military the President is shrugging off this contemptible act of Congress as meaning nothing more than an election for prep school class president. “W” and the sunshine patriots in Congress dispatched these soldiers, who are someone’s husbands and wives, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, into harm’s way. They then asked them to endure IED’s, snipers, ambushes, and the risk of being captured, tortured and beheaded. Yet they are unwilling to make minimal sacrifices necessary to allow our troops to be victorious. Instead our elected quislings use this war to make petty political points rather than working for the defeat of world terrorism. We have been attacked consistently since the militants took over our embassy in Iran during the Carter administration. That President’s inept, feeble response only served to embolden the terrorists and so the attacks continued up to 9/11.
Time and a hostile media have eroded our national resolve and a lack of leadership has allowed us to grow weary of this crucial fight. During WW II Churchill said “Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” In that brief, eloquent statement he informed the world of his plan and the reason for it. We on the other hand are subjected to an occasional bromide from our befuddled inarticulate President and are stabbed in the back by our elected aristocracy. Their incompetence doesn’t make the mission any less important. Our troops understand this and fight on. Isn’t it time for us to rise up and loudly inform our insulated, overpaid underperforming representatives that we want victory at all costs now!
|
|
|
Who specifically are these 17 turncoats. We need all their names and e-mail addresses to paint them daily as the cowards they are. They have warmed their hands by the fire of the enemy and I am loath to think of them as Republicans or my countrymen. The slime of decomposing dead American soldiers and Marines drips from every finger on both their hands. My contempt for any man who would abandon his countrymen knows no limit. |
|
|
I think winning in Iraq and the rest of the GWOT is the paramount issue we face. That said, you're dead wrong about making this election cycle about the war. It's a non-winner. Making this election about the war will mean even greater electoral defeats. It's time to make this one very small plank of the election cycle: keep a firm footing on the war, but return to discussing tax cuts, balancing the budget, lawsuit reform, increasing individual responsibility, etc. Keep the commitment to the war--just don't over-emphasize it. The American people want out. The debate is over for most Americans. They have decided to stick their heads in the sand. Don't play to a losing issue. |
|
twink: »the gop has showed me nothing in the last 6 years«
Of course they haven't. You didn't expect them to do so. You precluded any objective thinking about it by your hate for George Bush. |
|
I am disgusted by these so called Republicans. They got themselves elected as Reps. but then when they get elected or when the heat rises these phoneys showed their true colors: yellow.
17 Republicans disgraced their party and disgraced their countries. These 17 Reublicans owe this country along with all their Comrads in the Demo party a serious apology. They need to explain to our men and women in combat why they sold them out. These brave men and women serving over in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve better then what they are recieving from the Congressional Majority right now. God save us all. |
|
|
As an independent I have ripped the spineless Democrats in the past, but get over it man, the gop has showed me nothing in the last 6 years. Start spreading some of the blame around, both parties have stunk on occasion. |
|
Republicans have sold themselves out to big government liberalism and globalism.
As a conservative I'm looking for a party that puts Constitutional Rule of Law, American Sovereignty, and Individual Liberty before all, at the front of everything.
If that requires a new party so be it. I hope and pray Repubs will comeback to our founding fathers principles in godspeed.
|
|
»If these gutless Republicans and whiney Democrats can pass a "non-binding" resolution and consider that to be leadership, then why can't I file a "non-binding" tax return? ;^)«
Cuz this ain't about you, not about me.
It be about winning the next election by appealing to rabid anger, tapping into tantrum against George Bush for winning the 2000 election. It be about gettin' back at him in any way possible, preferably by way of humiliating defeat.
Libs are about getting back, not going forward.
It's "Libs Gone Wild!" |
|
If these gutless Republicans and whiney Democrats can pass a "non-binding" resolution and consider that to be leadership, then why can't I file a "non-binding" tax return? ;^)
Big Mo
http://thepresidentsatbigmo.blogspot.com/ |
|
»...it appears the American people (through their elected officials) have decided to throw in the towel for the second time.«
Elected officials certainly are there to do as they believe their constituents would do, if the constituents were there; but the constituents are not there, and they are not privy to the info the representatives have.
So, representing constituents does not preclude doing what is right and correct. That means, sometimes, not listening to consituents cuz constituents tend to be stupid.
For instance, constituents are not in the chain of command, and, so, they cannot order the Commander in Chief, "Move the Army!" They don't have the intel.
They are not in a position to insist that the president sign into law a bill designed to raise taxes when all the evidence shows him that there is more revenue when the tax base is spread out with lower rates. |
|
Four times in my lifetime this country has commited troops to a war without the commitment to win. With the vote today, it appears the American people (through their elected officials) have decided to throw in the towel for the second time. The second time we have sold out our military and our allies because we do not have the stomach to stay the course. It looks like bin Laden was right after all.
I weap for my formally proud country. |
|
Keemo writes: »The system is broken...«
The system is not broken. People are broken.
|
|
...Won't Let You Have Peace, You Won't Have Peace, No Matter How Much You Want It!" [paraphrase]: Schiller
Left Nut writes: »All we are saying…is give war a chance!«
That's the chant of the nineteen hijackers on 911. Thanks for reminding us.
|
|
|
I just received an E mail from the NRCC informing me that I was nominated and accepted for membership in the House Republican Trust. Obviously a ploy to get money from individuals who have had their heads in the sand for the last four years. My response was simple: NOT A DIME UNTIL THE REPUBLICAN'S SHOW SOME SPINE! I have labels which contain the same message and I return them each time I am solicited for money from the GOP, GUTLESS OLD PARTY.If enough of us do this Mr. Cole et al may get the message that the base really isn't happy with their antics and lack of performance. |
|
I'm sorry I ever mentioned 3rd paries. I'm just really feedup with with 90% of the Republicans right now! Some more so than others.
|
|
I totally agree with you on the way things are now - and that's the problem. The system is broken and we are in a position where politics keeps us from defending ourselves. Nothing can happen and nobody can do anything.
I am not calling for a 3rd party in the normal sense. A 3rd party in the current climate only further empowers the Democrats to destroy the country. Hugh says this all the time and he is correct.
I am stating that:
1: The current disconnect between politics and reality has made us unwilling to defend ourselves.
2: The above situation will eventually lead to a catastrophic attack on the US which will kill tens or hundreds or more thousands of Americans and will cripple the economy. After it happens, all sorts of things will come to light that will show just how criminally negligent our leaders have been. The whole lot of them will be totally discredited.
3: Said attack will reset the political landscape by sweeping away today's "politics". It will result in the consensus you mention and then, if its not too late, we will take the needed actions.
4: The new landscape will demand solutions, not talk. It will involve at least one new major party which will replace the current ones which will have too much blood on their hands from years of mistakes and mismanagement of the country's security.
5: The party that will fall is the Republicans because it is the party of people who have had the power but who have failed to act and failed to protect us. There will always be a section of the population who are hand wringing cowards and traitors and the Democrats will continue to serve these people. But the Republicans KNOW better or should. For them to screw up like they have is unforgivable and they will not survive as a party. As I said, they will go into irrelevance the way the Whigs did.
|
|
Congressman Don Young gave one of the best speeches yesterday in part quoting Lincoln: "Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"
Wish we could. It appears there is a growing backlash against the Dems and few misguided Reps and the best way to get even is at the polls on voting day. The saboteurs are quite smug about telephone poll results and wildly spinning the results of the last election. None of the saboteurs has yet explained how Joe Lieberman won. Be sure each of you takes the time to down load the remarks of any of the saboteurs in your district from congress.gov , their words should make good ammunition for their next re-election bid unless of course they are exiled or hanged in the meantime |
|
|
|
We need to make sure every White Flag Republican faces a primary challenger. Every.Single.One.
None of them deserve to make it out of the 2008 primary. |
|
Tom writes: Friday, February, 16, 2007 11:37 AM
Failed Republicans are Just Like Whigs
Politics is a complicated business; a very delicate balancing "tight rope" act indeed. I won't bore you with my input (history & backup) on this; only wanted to say that running a successful campaign in today's political climate is indeed complicated by the local picture vs. the national picture. With the internet, these folks can't hide from a single statement made. The costs of running a campaign has increased at alarming rates; therefore the need to bring in those dreaded "contributors", whom sway the politicians choice of language in many ways.
I'm not excusing these folks, just pointing out the complications and difficulties of actually winning an election. It would be WONDERFUL if our politicians were forced to campaign on solutions and principles rather than personal assassination of the opponent; but that will only come if we have consensus among the masses and demand this. We would have to have Democrats make the same demands; which is why the MSM invented BDS to fill their masses with hatred, thus preventing logical demands for reform. We don't need a NEW 3rd party; waste of time; we need to mold and shape the party we have. This has always been the case, and will remain as is through my lifetime, of that I'm sure... I might add, Democrats should mold & shape party for the exact same reasons. |
|
As Mark Steyn observed yesterday on the HH show,
"And secondly, I think he doesn’t truly take into consideration the consequences of losing the war to America, or in other words, withdrawing from the war, because I think it would send a message to the world that the worst thing you can be on this planet is America’s friend, because in the end, the Kurds are America’s best friend in that part of the world, and we would be abandoning them. And that would very much confirm, I think, Bernard Lewis’ view that America, as he sees it, you know, America is harmless as an enemy, and treacherous as a friend."
If this White Flag Surrender measure passes, I think we can look for many of our traditional allies to rethink their relationships with us for future war measures. When that occurs, the terrorists will have one, and America will truly become "America Alone" to quote Mark Steyn's book, but the meaning will certainly take on a whole new meaning. |
|
Hugh,
Your moniker for "Briggs & Stratton" Keller is dead on. He reminds me of my lawn mower. No matter how much money I throw at it, no matter how much time I yell at it, I still can't get it to WORK!!
I'm getting very discouraged with our republican leadership and our chances for 2008. Romney looks good in just about every category but I am afraid when Hillary's attack machine starts in on Mit and the Church of LDS there will be nothing left to vote for. I believe, if Mit gets the nod, there will be a split in the party and many will elect to sit out for the 2008 election.
As much as the MSM and the Left hates Newt, I think he is our only hope for uniting the GOP and bringing us victory. |
|
I'd take Hewitt's complaints (though not his sloganeering and name-calling) a lot more seriously if he would ever admit that Iraq is a mess, and it got to be a mess largely because of policies he wholeheartedly supported.
(For the record, I was extremely skeptical about Bush's millenialist democracy nonsense, but I'm willing to take my share of the blame for supporting the administration's policies [though my actual influence on the national debate is considerably less than Hewitt's].)
Not that the other side is any better. If they truly believe that the war is unwinnable, or that the price of victory is unacceptably high, then they should be introducing resolution after resolution to cut off all funding except for immediate withdrawal. "Non-binding resolutions" have no place in our system of government. And this "slow bleed" garbage is just plain evil.
Wha this nation needs is a serious debate about what to do about the debacle in Iraq, and how best to minimize the damage to our national security and prestige. What this nation's going to get is something else entirely. |
|
The Republicans will go the way of the Whigs. They are a failed party and fast becoming irrelevant.
The next attack on the US in the US, if it is large and deadly enough, will totally change the landscape and the Republican Party will be the first and proper victim of the change. The Republicans and the Bush administration have totally mismanaged the political side of the war by giving a damn about what the US hating world thinks and by trying to make the Demo-cowards and Media-traitors like them. They are also absolutely committed to the folly of Open Borders no matter how many terrorists are thereby allowed to walk into the country.
After the well deserved demise of the failed and worthless Republicans, a new party will spring up that will take our security seriously and do what is necessary: 1. Destroy the enemy anywhere they are, no matter what it takes and no matter what anyone thinks. 2. Secure the borders of this country so that we are safe at home.
Its just too bad that many many thousands of Americans will need to die before that can happen.
|
|
|
The 3rd Party failures should obliterate those fantasies. Remember the Greenbacks, the Libertarians,The Constitution Parties? Losers all. So the plan should be for Pledge and Victory people in the GOP is to support as many conserv pols in every primary in all 435 districts and the 1/3 Senate seats up in 2008. Then make sure that the GOP picks a guy that can actually win not only a primary in the Pres. primaries but in the general election. If we lose, we lose but it would mean that the national committees would even get the message or fold up. If they do that, it would force the Party back to the drawing board. Still, if that happens , remember when the lefty socialist pacifist Dems win every election for a generation, the dice were tossed. |
|
We need to use the term "White Flag Democrats" if for no other reason than the Republicans don't need to take all the blame for this cowardice.
What to do?
http://gatheringofeagles.org/
Above is step one - show up in DC on 3/17/2007 - the anti-war crowd is planning a major demon on the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam anti-war protests. The Gathering of Eagles organization is organizing a counter protest. We need everyone there.
Get active in your caucuses and start pushing for stronger Republicans. Though a 3rd party would be nice, it won't happen and even if so, too much damage in the meantime. What I don't understand is politicians who will sell their souls and their kids for some pie-in-the-sky rhetoric today. I wish I were wrong but I'm afraid not. |
|
I can not vote for these folks who only care about power & money.
And there isn't a Republican party anymore - it only a bunch of Moderate Democrats with few exceptions. And there's no one going for 08 yet that I would even think about voting for.
You have to give it to the Democrats - they stick together. |
|
The problem with third parties is that they do not put people with your views in power. The last time a third party was successful was the Republicans emerging from the disintegration of the Whigs in the middle of the 19th century.
The only way a third party would do that now is if about 2/3's of the 'Pubbies, 1/2 of 'independents' and 1/3 of the Democrats came together on a national level in a 'victory coalition' that could elect candidates (regardless of nominal party) who would agree to caucus together to elect leadership in Congress based on a commitment to Victory in the War rather than party.
If people thought we were truly in an existential war, such coalition would probably emerge. England did it in WWI and WWII. It is important to note, from a precedential standpoint, that the grand coalition in WWI presided over the death of the Liberal (Whig-descended) party in England and the emergence of Labour as the 2nd major party in their place. I think that if such a coalition were assembled here, it would result in the break-up of the Republican Party and the Democrats moving further left, so we would have a dominant Center-Right Party, a primary opposition in a frankly left-wing Democratic Party, and a Republican rump. |
|
The House is going where the Senate has been for a long time - all talk & nothing but negative action /inaction.
Both parties have become a total joke. I can't believe I ever supported either one.
It's all about power & money!!!!
I'm 3rd party from now on! |
|
So (pace Lenin) What is to be done? Where do those of us who want victory in the war go? Not to the Democrats, that's for sure. And not to White Flag Republicans or those who lie with them.
Is it time for new party - assertively for victory in foreign policy, moderately socially conservative but understanding that some issues are so divisive in society that compromises neither side can accept intellectually are the only politically practical results, and strongly committed to economic liberty and free trade?
Too bad that won't sell.... |
|
I fully agree that the Republican party is in dire straits, with no unified message and few effective communicators. But I lay more of the blame on a White House that has provided a role model for Congressional Republicans on how not to communicate effectively.
I have often wondered how the only MBA President missed all of his marketing classes and seems to have no idea that public relations professionals exist. You think its bad now, wait till the White House adopts the Democrats' position on the immigration debate.
|
|
|
|