Hey. Arlan

[Space Patroller]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Now if the GOP could just shed Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, it would go a long way to gaining integrity.

[KendallJ]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Now if the GOP could just shed Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, it would go a long way to gaining integrity.

And losing it's filibuster. You think Snow and Collins are what's holding the GOP back, do you? Hardly.

[Zip]

Cheering on one thief because he's not quite as bad as the other? Sounds like a loosing proposition to me.

[khaight]

Cheering on one thief because he's not quite as bad as the other? Sounds like a loosing proposition to me.

Specter is a mixed case. His positions on tax and spending issues are pretty bad. On the other hand, he did good work supporting abortion rights and things like stem-cell research against religiously-inspired opposition. He's a statist, but virtually all politicians at his level are these days.

I view his conversion as a good thing, simply from the perspective that it makes the GOP less of a mixed case and clarity tends to benefit rational principles over the long haul. I'm not that concerned about the 'loss of filibuster' because I don't think the GOP actually had the solid votes to enforce such a thing in cases where it counted anyhow. Now the Democrats own the government outright, and it'll be that much easier to stick them with the consequences of their actions.

[Zip]

Specter is a mixed case. His positions on tax and spending issues are pretty bad. On the other hand, he did good work supporting abortion rights and things like stem-cell research against religiously-inspired opposition. He's a statist, but virtually all politicians at his level are these days.

I view his conversion as a good thing, simply from the perspective that it makes the GOP less of a mixed case and clarity tends to benefit rational principles over the long haul. I'm not that concerned about the 'loss of filibuster' because I don't think the GOP actually had the solid votes to enforce such a thing in cases where it counted anyhow. Now the Democrats own the government outright, and it'll be that much easier to stick them with the consequences of their actions.

Sorry if I was misunderstood... I'm speaking of parties, not individuals. From where I sit (north of the border) I honestly don't see any benefit to the Republican Politics of God over Democrat Politics of Socialism.*

*Please note, I am not implying my choices here are any better.

[Space Patroller]

And losing it's filibuster. You think Snow and Collins are what's holding the GOP back, do you? Hardly.

If we must depend on that triumvirate to support the filibuster, I think I'd prefer a quick death than the painful agony that they would inflict on us.

Sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and buy the future at the price of the present. At any rate, if it is to have credibility as a pro-liberty, pro-capitalist entity, the GOP has to get off the dime.

Besides if the Dems have it all their way, when it goes belly up then how can they blame the Republican'ts? Unless you believe that the economy won't head towards the equator, in which case, it doesn't matter. Also if one is tempted to say that this time is too crucial then we are not just circling the drain, we're halfway down and there is nothing to be done, in which case it doesn't matter, but put your hands behind your head, put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbey.

[softwareNerd]

... if it is to have credibility as a pro-liberty, pro-capitalist entity, the GOP has to get off the dime.

It isn't three outliers who are keeping the GOP socialist; it is part of the the party's DNA.

As someone said, at least Spectre was not a religious socialist, but a secular one.

Edited April 28, 2009 by softwareNerd

[gags]

Hello national healthcare. The Dems now have the holy grail within their grasp.

[Space Patroller]

Hello national healthcare. The Dems now have the holy grail within their grasp.

Do you really think the Three Stooges would have voted for that filibuster? You'd be lucky if you could scrape up 35 Republican'ts for that: On a good day and with Ike for a tailwind. Hell if you look at one of my other posts, you've got Newt Gingrich playing kissy-face with Nancy Pelosi (now there's a thought I don't have the stomach to picture in my mind's eye) on Goebels Warming.

The Dems always had the holy grail for that, It's called CBS/NBC/ABC/CNN. It's just a matter of when, not if, They'd push so hard for that, it would be wall-to-wall hit pieces on anyone who even thought about supporting that filibuster. I can assure that those are in the works. Say about July 28, 2010?

What it would take to beat that would be mega-Tea Parties once a month for 5 months straight to let the rookie Dems know that if they vote for it. their ass is grass. But that won't happen anytime soon. Care to guess why? "Umh...I can't take a day off from work [even if it is to save a month's pay]". We live in the age of the credit card.

[Space Patroller]

Sorry if I was misunderstood... I'm speaking of parties, not individuals. From where I sit (north of the border) I honestly don't see any benefit to the Republican Politics of God over Democrat Politics of Socialism.*

*Please note, I am not implying my choices here are any better.

You needn't worry about God v Socialism or the Welfare State of which Socialism is one form. In 2000 Rush Limbaugh read a piece about the Democrats "Taking Back God". Besides which, if you look at the nineteenth century roots of the American Left, you find religion deeply involved. Most of the mainline religions are Left save for some on abortion. Look at the states with the highest Catholic percentage in their populations and see what they are like.

Beyond that it is part of the left's identity to worship assiduously at the Green Cathedral.

Who do you think brought about the rebirth of Astrology, which in 1965 was relegated to the backward, and the religion of Wicca, which I neaver heard of until the late '70's and I've been usually up on those things since the late 1950's?

Someday, they'll get it "right" as far as the brew is concerned. Come that day...

What if they start telling folks that John Galt is an atheist?

Some 5 years ago liberal comentator Jay Diamond, commentiong on the Right's economic system said it is "...a product of a devout Russian atheist". He tirelessly does yeoman's duty advocationg liberalism on religious grounds.

The year I graduated from Providence College, one of my pinball club members said he could convert me to scoialism. I said "Give it your best shot, If I thought it was any good, I'd have stayed with it" His first question was "Are you Christian?" "No" "What are you" "atheist". "Aw, I can't even talk to you [meaning begin the process]". That ended it.

In the 1984 timeframe HUMAN EVENTS did a review of a biography of Marx by a minister of some kind saying "Marx was not an atheist but an enemy of God in whom he believed".

You may have a choice of religious Right vs the secular AND religious Left. At least one will buy us time. Inn fact, as I point out in Daja [sic; explanation given there] Vu All Over again. there was an alliance between the Objectivists and conservatives from the mid '70's to the mid '80's. In that same post, read the part about Dr Edell's report (the resut of which did not surprise me although for some strange reason he was shocked).

Just remember "Give us this day our daily bread" and you know where it falls.

You need to worry about God AND Socialism. They're a match made in Heaven.

[Space Patroller]

Robert Burnes (?)

The best laid plans of mice and men oft gang aglee

Arnold Toynbee

Things are in the saddle and riding Mankind

This may be a case of reality having its own way with the Republican'ts. Nature does not tolerate a contradiction. specifically A thing cannot be A and non-A in the same respect at the same time. Before someone tries the wave-particle trick on me. they are not a contradiction in the same respect. each comes from a different respect of propagation. One is the respect of energy, the other is the respect of matter. the "opposition" is complementary, not contradictory.

As time goes on. the "moderate Republicans" as they are forced by the Law of Identity to course to port or starboard, by their nature will veer left and toworads the Democrates which is the seat of power of the left.

This leaves the Republican Party with a choice that will become clearer and more urgent: Becume Domocrat Lite or carve out its own identity and become more of what it is and stronger in what it is to start with.

So this may be a thing over which men argue pointlessly as logic takes its own course (or coarse), in its own way and by its own time. Men will have a choice of riding the current and controlling the boat or be dashed upon the rocks of meaninglessness.

[TheEgoist]

From one horrendous party to the next.

95% of Republicans would have to leave the party in order for it to be a viable choice again.

[MichaelH]

This leaves the Republican Party with a choice that will become clearer and more urgent: Becume Domocrat Lite or carve out its own identity and become more of what it is and stronger in what it is to start with.

I can't imagine the Republican party being any more of itself than under George W Bush and a republican congress: pushing theocracy overtly instead of covertly, rampant cronyism, massive spending, and pandering to the bigot vote. The Republican party DID express itself clearly. That's why they're disappearing.

(For the record, Obama continues many of the same policies and pushes us in bad new directions of his own.)

I am not the first to say this, but we now have our choice of two parties saying basically the same thing. Edit: The fact that politicans can move from one to the other just by changing their label and not their behavior says a lot.

It is time for a new party. A pro-capitalist party based on individual freedoms would be great. The Republicans are not that party.

Edited April 29, 2009 by MichaelH

[fountainhead777]

I agree both parties are very poor but I would still prefer Obama to not have full rampant power of state which he probably will soon.

[MichaelH]

Democrats: GOP should be more like their party

House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio. "House Republicans will continue to show the American people that we are the party of better solutions."

"We are the party of better solutions." WTF is that? "We say the same things, just 'better'."?

[skap35]

...and nothing of value was lost. (or gained by the dems)

I actually find this to be funny. I six term senator was doomed to end his career by losing a primary by 20+ points. I'm sorry but that is just pathetic. This was a desperate attempt for his own survival. Lets hope it doesn't work...

[Space Patroller]

If one is to reject the Republican'ts out of fear of theocracy then one ought do two things to avoid jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Evaluate Environmentalism and you will find that not only is it a religion in every bad sense of the word but a cult religion. call it Jonestown green.

Look at the EPA website and see how they use the terms green and eco.

You ought be scared shitless of the Democrats' long term plans. For they will tax you on religious grounds. talk of Green jobs and Green energy. The only green they don't mention is long green. And they pass the collection basket around with armed enforcers.

Actually, you should be annoyed with the Repubs and fighting made at the Dems.

At least the religion of the Republican'ts has some philosphical value (RM). They might respons to some support in the right direction and biteback if the go in the wrong direction, and aren't a quarter as bad as the active alternative. Also don't forget, for some 35 years, we have been a de facto part of the Right.

[KendallJ]

Actually, you should be annoyed with the Repubs and fighting made at the Dems.

At least the religion of the Republican'ts has some philosphical value (RM). They might respons to some support in the right direction and biteback if the go in the wrong direction, and aren't a quarter as bad as the active alternative. Also don't forget, for some 35 years, we have been a de facto part of the Right.

You're the only one who has been a de facto part of the right. Honestly this is more of the same nonsense from Space Patroller.

I am annoyed at Republicans and mad at the Democrats. So why on earth would I celebrate that a right wing fringe group in Spectre's state chose now to go on a quest of [questionable] ideological purity in the name of making the party politically irrelevant?

Honestly, SP, you are the farthest thing from an Objectivist, and more a complete right wing nutball. Go back to your NeoTech troll hole.

If the Republicans are not so bad, then now they are completely irrelevant. Why would anyone be happy about that.

...and nothing of value was lost. (or gained by the dems)

That's right, while the Democrats burn and pillage, the Republicans still get to keep.... card check.

[Space Patroller]

You're the only one who has been a de facto part of the right. Honestly this is more of the same nonsense from Space Patroller.

I am annoyed at Republicans and mad at the Democrats. So why on earth would I celebrate that a right wing fringe group in Spectre's state chose now to go on a quest of [questionable] ideological purity in the name of making the party politically irrelevant?

Honestly, SP, you are the farthest thing from an Objectivist, and more a complete right wing nutball. Go back to your NeoTech troll hole.

I'll give that the answer it merits.

[gags]

Unfortunately the idiot Republicans can't even keep their own house in order, let alone offer a respectable alternative to our Leftist El Presidente.

The embattled Republican National Committee chairman angrily returned fire in his fight with current and former officers over control of the GOP's purse strings.

Under attack from conservatives since taking office on Jan. 30, Michael S. Steele on Wednesday blasted a group of members pushing for new checks and balances on the chairman's spending powers, accusing them of a power grab "scheme."

"I have just returned from an overseas trip to learn that the five of you have developed a scheme to transfer the RNC chairman's authority to the treasurer and the executive committee," Mr. Steele wrote in an e-mail he sent to Randy Pullen, the RNC's elected treasurer, and Blake Hall, the committee's general counsel, as well as to three former RNC officers.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/a...nst-rnc-scheme/

Wow, what a bunch of Maroons! They bicker amongst themselves while we get socialism rammed up our rear ends. Not good.....

[KendallJ]

I'll give that the answer it merits.

When one starts talking about merit, it would be advisable to make sure one's own work is up to snuff, and that they aren't in fact earning what they get themselves.

Are you sure you aren't just avoiding the salient point that was made? Your whole line of reasoning misses the whole distinction between intellectual and political activism. Politically, no rational individual would, in the name of ideologicla purity, oust a member of a party, if in doing so, they made their political party irrelevant.

Spectre is a moderate republican because, surprise of surprises, he is from a swing state. A little cabal of right wing nuts can't oust him and he knows it. He simply switch parties to prevent a stupid blunder. If you want to change the ideological nature of the senator, you have to change the ideological nature of his state. You don't do that in the primaries. All you do there is put someone in for your party who is unelectable.

All I can say is that my inbox is filling up with notes from regular board members thanking me for calling you out. Really, go home.

[ers]

Edit: The fact that politicans can move from one to the other just by changing their label and not their behavior says a lot.

I like this quote. Peter Schiff had some insightful things to say on the subject last night during his radio broadcast.