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A first(?) thread on 2008: McCain,Giuliani & the Republicans

 
 
blatham
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 11:08 am
okie wrote:
Rush/Hannity doesn't convince alot of people, if that was true, McCain would have lost a long time ago. I make up my own mind, thank you very much, dys. My opinion, as most people's opinions, have formed over a long period of time, and this applies to John McCain.

Funny little thing here about all of this, I decided Romney was the most logical sounding one of the whole stable of Republicans long before Hannity and Rush seem to have come to the same conclusion. They were supporting others, Giuliani by Hannity, which I never agreed with, and Rush never supported anyone, but leaned toward Thompson until he saw he had no chance. In my opinion, Thompson was okay, but I figured he was out of it for a number of reasons. Neither one of them officially supported anyone, but this is what I gathered by reading between the lines, and I think other people would agree.


I think you might want to consider the possibility that the Republican Party, belatedly in relation to the rest of the american population, is moving away from the extremist positions which have dominated it for the last two decades. "True conservatism" is being redefined towards the more moderate meanings which the term used to refer to. sorry.
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Cycloptichorn
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 11:12 am
By the way, George, Al Franken does represent Democrats - at least he's trying to in his run for Senator.

And there's a poll out showing him beating Norm Coleman by three points.

Cycloptichorn
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Cycloptichorn
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 11:34 am
I think it's also quite disingenuous for folks to say that Coulter isn't a major voice and speaks for much of the Republican party:

She was dis-invited this year from CPAC, the biggest Conservative conference of the year. This was due to her calling John Edwards a Faggot last year, which wasn't very cool. Even they realized it was a little over the line.

So what happens?

Quote:


http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/01/coulter-cpac-2008/

This is what I mean when I say that there is a disconnect in the minds of many about her role.

Cycloptichorn
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okie
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 11:42 am
blatham wrote:
I think you might want to consider the possibility that the Republican Party, belatedly in relation to the rest of the american population, is moving away from the extremist positions which have dominated it for the last two decades. "True conservatism" is being redefined towards the more moderate meanings which the term used to refer to. sorry.

Funny you mention "extremist positions." Perhaps you would be so kind as to describe what extremist positions the Republicans have advocated.
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blatham
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 12:29 pm
okie wrote:
blatham wrote:
I think you might want to consider the possibility that the Republican Party, belatedly in relation to the rest of the american population, is moving away from the extremist positions which have dominated it for the last two decades. "True conservatism" is being redefined towards the more moderate meanings which the term used to refer to. sorry.

Funny you mention "extremist positions." Perhaps you would be so kind as to describe what extremist positions the Republicans have advocated.


You won't see or define such positions as "extreme" because the sources of information and opinion you attend to are themselves extremist, whether they are aware of it or not. It is the water you have all been swimming in for two decades plus.

Again, consider this letter from Ike to his brother from 1952 and how different are these ideas from what the modern conservative movement holds:
Quote:
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are HL Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
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Foxfyre
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 12:52 pm
The only ones advocating eliminating social security, unemployment insurance, farm programs, labor laws, etc. are the Libertarians. They do not identify with the so-called 'conservative movement'.

Ike, however, would have been horrified at what the liberal Democrats did with all those programs since Ike's day.

Conservatives do have interest in these things and do look at ways to make them more effective and less damaging or inefficient. The liberals tend to interpret that as 'extremism'. But they cannot honestly explain what is 'extremist' about it.
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blatham
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 01:20 pm
I'm afraid you are another one, foxfyre. There is likely no argument nor any species of evidence that I might advance which would alter your (or okie's) mindset on this question. That's clearly established over a few years of talking with you.

There's no real solution here other than just watching as the american electorate themselves continue to reject the extremism that marks your movement. You've lost the youth vote, you've lost the latino vote, and you are once again losing the independents and moderates. It will likely be another 30 years before americans' memory of this horrid period that has just passed will dim enough such that some new version of right wing extremism again looks appealing.
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blatham
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 01:25 pm
from goldfarb at the weekly standard (intenal links at site)
Quote:
NRO: John McCain=Benedict Arnold?

Our friends over at National Review clearly prefer Romney, but as Romney's prospects fade that support has begun to mutate in to what some are calling McCain Derangement Syndrome. Yesterday at the Corner, this post questioned McCain's competence based on the fact that he'd lost five aircraft during his time as an aviator. (You can see a description of each incident here, hosted by the ridiculous Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.) Today, Thomas Sowell takes a turn:


Quote:
When confronted with any of his misdeeds, Senator McCain tends to fall back on his record as a war hero in Vietnam.

Let's talk sense. Benedict Arnold was a war hero but that did not exempt him from condemnation for his later betrayal.



The passage speaks for itself, but the point to make here is that if McCain's critics want to have a debate over who would make the best commander in chief, what the candidates did at age 30 is largely irrelevant--and to the extent that it is relevant, it's not a debate that they can win. Still, every time they question his patriotism--which this passage most certainly does--they not only discredit their own arguments, but they play to McCain's strength. And it's just plain creepy.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp#4374
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Foxfyre
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 02:56 pm
blatham wrote:
I'm afraid you are another one, foxfyre. There is likely no argument nor any species of evidence that I might advance which would alter your (or okie's) mindset on this question. That's clearly established over a few years of talking with you.

There's no real solution here other than just watching as the american electorate themselves continue to reject the extremism that marks your movement. You've lost the youth vote, you've lost the latino vote, and you are once again losing the independents and moderates. It will likely be another 30 years before americans' memory of this horrid period that has just passed will dim enough such that some new version of right wing extremism again looks appealing.


You say this when you can't give a specific example of how I am extreme? Or what makes other conservatives extreme? Can you illustrate specifically that the conservatives have lost votes' or is it possible that the conversatives have been unable to get a comprehensive message out?

It is difficult to get a message out when the opposition, aided by a like minded mainstream media, drowns out the message with platitudes and meaningless rhetoric without saying anything specific.

So I ask you again. What is extreme about any proposal coming out of modern conservatism? Is there anything pertinent that is more substantive than calling somebody 'horrid'?

While you're pondering that, assuming that you might do that, I just took one of those online 'position quizzes to choose your candidate' that showed that I am most sympatico with John McCain. I was quite shocked.

If anybody else wants to try it, here it is:

CHECK YOUR VIEWS AGAINST THOSE OF THE CANDIDATES
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OCCOM BILL
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:25 pm
Thanks for the test, Foxy.
Barack Obama
Score: 53
Hillary Clinton
Score: 48
Rudy Giuliani
Score: 43
Mike Gravel
Score: 41
Mitt Romney
Score: 36
John McCain
Score: 25
Mike Huckabee
Score: 22
Ron Paul
Score: 3

Btw: Extremist positions that drive independents away are the far Right's desires to:
Make abortion illegal.
Deport over 10 million people.
Prevent stem cell research.
Outlaw Gay marriage and even civil unions.

Ron Paul FTW! Laughing
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Cycloptichorn
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:30 pm
You forgot peace through war and tax cuts for the richest.

Cycloptichorn
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Ticomaya
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:31 pm
Giuliani 46
McCain 38
Romney 35
Huckabee 29
Obama 19
Clinton 14
Paul 11
Gravel 9
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ehBeth
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:40 pm
Interesting quiz.
Very different results for me than others I've taken.

Hillary Clinton
Score: 59

Barack Obama
Score: 54

Mike Gravel
Score: 47

Rudy Giuliani
Score: 20

Ron Paul
Score: 19


Mitt Romney
Score: 8


John McCain
Score: 5
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OCCOM BILL
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:40 pm
Cycloptichorn wrote:
You forgot peace through war and tax cuts for the richest.

Cycloptichorn
I suppose you have a point about war being extreme... but the tax cuts, no. Those are merely a strategic difference (moronic, but not extreme).
0 Replies
 
Foxfyre
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 03:52 pm
OCCOM BILL wrote:

Btw: Extremist positions that drive independents away are the far Right's desires to:
Make abortion illegal.
Deport over 10 million people.
Prevent stem cell research.
Outlaw Gay marriage and even civil unions.


Do you think Eisenhower would have approved abortion? I don't know any conservatives who consider that a conservative plank in the 'doctrine' however. There is a large difference between being pro life, which conservatives may or may not be, and making abortion illegal.

Do you think Eisenhower would have approved open borders or making just about everybody a citizen who managed to get through border security? I can't imagine he would have taken that position. Conservatives do not see deportation of 10+ million illegals as the only option. Most are willing to make our immigration laws more friendly, but are opposed to any form of amnesty.

Do you think Eisenhower would have approved federal funding for stem cell research> (I rather doubt he would have.) There is a huge difference between choosing what it is and is not appropriate for the feds to fund and outlawing stemcell research. I see nothing in the conservative 'doctrine' that suggests that stemcell research should be outlawed.

As there was absolutely no suggestion to change the defintiion of marriage in Eisenhower's day, it is difficult to say exactly how the debate would have gone in the 1950's but I'm pretty sure gays would have had a far more difficult time with it then than they are having with it now. Conservatives are opposed to changing the defintion of marriage. Gay activist, however, would have almost certainly be labeled extreme should have have pushed that in Eisenhower's day. I think the conservative position now is to make some kind of provision to help everybody, straight, gay, or in between, who for whatever reason do not wish to marry or can't marry receive some of the benefits inherent in the marriage contract.

Sorry, but I just can't see how that is extreme. Probably would be considered extreme in Eisenhower's day, however.
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OCCOM BILL
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 04:02 pm
I don't much care what Eisenhower would or wouldn't have thought about anyting today. I'm answering as an independent looking at the Extreme positions of some Republicans. They can't have my vote.
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nappyheadedhohoho
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 04:16 pm
I didn't know Obama was for the death penalty.
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Foxfyre
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 04:22 pm
OCCOM BILL wrote:
I don't much care what Eisenhower would or wouldn't have thought about anyting today. I'm answering as an independent looking at the Extreme positions of some Republicans. They can't have my vote.


I don't equate either fundamentalists or RINOs with modern conservatism however, and this line of dicussion was how 'extremist' conservatives are when compared to Eisenhower courtesy of Blatham.
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ican711nm
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 05:03 pm
It's difficult to forecast whether these scores would likely match the decisions of any of the candidates if elected.

John McCain: 59
Mitt Romney: 38
Mike Huckabee: 36
Rudy Giuliani: 35
Ron Paul: 31
Hillary Clinton: 24
Barack Obama: 24
Mike Gravel: 17
0 Replies
 
ican711nm
 
  1  
Reply Fri 1 Feb, 2008 05:41 pm
All conservatives are no more all alike than all liberals are all alike.

My conservatism is mainly expressed in the following:

Quote:
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America:
...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That
to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
...

Quote:
The Constitution of the United States of America:
...
Article VI
...
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States,
shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states,
shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
...


In addition, my conservatism is expressed in my signature:

All humans are endowed by God with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Humans forfeit those rights that they deny others.
Collectivists rely on others to think for them.
Individualists think for themselves.
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