Disaffected Republicans?
 

Kevin Phillips hammers the Bush family in his new book. I run into the occasional conservative who is upset by the Bush presidency citing fiscal irresponsibility, protectionism, or war mongering. His numbers are still holding up but Is there any kind of a groundswell of discontent in the party?

Its interesting that Phillips used to defend the GOP on NPR but has been replaced by the neo-con nutball, Canadian speech writer David Frumm. I wonder who makes the call on that?

I think this is the case. Yesterday for example, Andrew Sullivan made this entry:

But it appears to be balanced by converts the other direction, aka Dennis Miller:

Its not like the disaffected have anywhere to go. It could suppress turn out a little but Republicans are pretty regimented on that civic duty stuff.

Well all this happens as many people feel it's the end of the swing voter era, and turning out the faithful is the right strategy for the future.

I guess the Dems may really be dead meat then. There seems to be no core constituency or belief system. The interests they repesented are too disparate. Hmmmmm... I wonder if a bunch of libertarians could get a foothold the donkey party by running against dopes like Sherwood, who the Dems don't even challenge anymore?

The problem with mobilizing the core constituents is you don't have any flexibility (at least, no one has displayed much so far) once you gain office. For example, here in MN Pawlenty sided with the Minnesota Taxpayer's League (if that's wrong, Warch will you let me know?) who are fundamentally opposed to any tax increase. We had a multi-million dollar deficit. The Democrats proposed modest cuts and modest tax increases at the state level. The Republicans, as a result of the MTpL, wouldn't budge, so a bunch of social services (which MN is known for) got cut. The end result: increased taxes on homeowners in the areas most affected by the services cuts (i.e., NOT the Republicans districts). I'm afraid we are headed down the wrong path friends. Maybe we should start a third party that is solely committed to balancing out the lunatics on either side.

I liked Dennis Miller when he was still somewhat witty and funny. Sadly that was years ago. Now he seems like an idiot. Only an idiot would suggest killing people or even arresting people before they have committed a crime. Perhaps he has a crystal ball?

I for one am all for punishing those who have committed crimes (A crime has not been committed unless the person. rights, or property of another have been violated which excludes suicide, drug use or sales, prostitution, gambling, etc.), but I would never support a nightmare of punishing people who MIGHT commit crimes in the future. Anyone who has seen the movie "Minority Report" knows what I'm talking about.

What's next? Crimes against what people think about? Oops, I forgot we already have those. They're called "hate crimes legislation".

The Democrats have ALWAYS used the strategy of "turning out the faithful". Who are their faithful? For these purposes, mostly poor black inner-city voters, and union members (any color, usually urban). They have other core constituencies, but they aren't the subject of the "get out the vote" stuff.

Their core is everyone who isn't a white male. Only 20% of white males are Democrats.

Bush's immigration/work plan has rattled some old white cages.
But it courts the Hispanic vote and small business.

His space announcement, although alarming those who fear the bills, teases those who know the value of scientific investment. And for Bush this is scientific investment that doesnt have messy alarms like genomic research.

Bush is courting some of those votes while Mars is the story. Lots of University money going to Dean. Bush is diversifying his campaign portfolio.

Seriously, small business is gettin done by both parties right now. The Dems make it difficult for anyone without a pocketful of lawyers to do business and the Reps make it difficult for anyone without a pocketful of lawyers to do business. Did I tell you guys the story about the Griffcousin who got used by his accountant yet? Its a beautiful thing when you need to hire somebody to handle your money cuz the gummint makes it impossible to hire help. Bush is no friend of the small businessman even if he didn't screw the Mexicans,.. this time.

Rho and I have talked about this before...

It seems like people (as a whole) are incredibly complacent right now. Maybe it's like the Democrats of the 90s, who moved more towards the center with Clinton. "Well, things are going okay right now, so why not?"

On topic, generally righty Day by Day has this today.

http://cellar.org/2004/01-19-2004.gif

Re: Disaffected Republicans?
 

We once had another unethical president. Newspaper articles like this one would appear regularly. And yet 49 states voted for that president in a landslide. Maybe in part because we were in a war just like today. No matter the war was directly traceable to that president and a government that repeatedly denied the facts - even from their own people in the field. The point is that Nixon was that corrupt. Newspaper articles like this one appeared regularly and yet still many denied the president could be a crook. History can repeat itself. Nixon tried same thing using CIA, IRS, "Enemies List", etc:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4838889-110863,00.html

Dead link, TW.:(

Copy and paste the link into your browser, Bruce...it works for me.

Link was good. Just not entered properly. Sorry.
us stars hail iraq war whistleblower/

Andrew Sullivan continues his disaffection in his look at yesterday's SOTU in The New Republic online. His final paragraph:

They're cranking up the government pre-marriage counselling hoo hah even as we speak. His belief in the power of government is breath taking.

Geez, I hope the dems come up with a decent candidate.

Any of them is more decent than Bush. Let's hope the country comes up with a decent electorate.

Griff's original question was exactly on time, like he's suddenly clairvoyant. Over the last two weeks, Bush's status seems to have eroded mightily. Kay's WMD soundbites, interest in the D race, a weak SOTU speech, R carping about the spending, a projection that Medicare will be more expensive than they thought. (DUH !!)

By yesterday his approval ratings lost around 10 points in one poll.

Next week they release the budget and this will not stop the bleeding.

Don't forget the economic numbers from earlier this week...they weren't as good as some had hoped.

I'm glad that the Dems are finally making a comeback, but where the FUCK have they been the last 2 years?

And from what I've been seeing and hearing, Clinton is going to play a huge role this time around, unlike 2000.

You can have $130 million in your war chest all you want, but can you beat Bill Clinton?

I'd like to ...

You would be in the minority...the ladies love Clinton...in a non-sexual way as well.

Bill put the final nail in the donkey-shaped coffin of my disillisionment with the democratic party ... I am owed.

Besides, I never found him attractive.

How so?

Violation of trust, my boy, myself and the whole of the American people.

That wasn't the only thing, of course. Actually had a lot more to do with years of noticing increases in taxation without increases in service, nonsense like the AWB, support and increase of social welfare programs to the point where the country is about ready to snap, and finally figuring out why so many communist/socialist countries have the word "democratic" in their name and so did the party ...

And yet, you're still registered as a Democrat...

I can fuck with them better that way ...

Surplus???:confused:

Well, as long as she doesn't try to claim she's a Republican...

Carnac the Magnificent is running for president too?

He might get my vote.

I like the way he can really blow into an envelope. (the female electorate reveals many diverse attractions)