The Republican word of the day is 'disarray'
The NYT’s Adam Nagourney captures the current state of the Republican landscape pretty well today.
On the most tangible level, the vote [in Tuesday] on Tuesday was proof from the ballot box of what polls have shown: this is a party that is adrift, deeply divided and uninspired when it comes to its presidential candidates and unsure of how to counter an energized Democratic Party.
One need not look too hard to find similar descriptions elsewhere. I’ve seen some describe the state of the Republican race as “chaos.” Others call it a “free-for-all.” Others still are talking about unprecedented “disarray.”
Oddly enough, it might get worse.
[H]ere is what Rush Limbaugh said about McCain and Huckabee on his program today: “I’m here to tell you, if either of these two guys get the nomination, it’s going to destroy the Republican Party, it’s going to change it forever, be the end of it.” This week, Rush and his radio mimics have been on the rampage on the party’s modernizers, from Newt Gingrich on over.
This thing will only get uglier.
So who does Rush like then? Romney? Hardly. 9u11iani?
Fat Limpnuts!
thank Karl Rove and reap the whirlwind
"It will destroy...." Too late....maybe oxycontin should be prescribed to all right wingnuts
No, no, no! It's the democrats that are eating their own. I heard it on teevee!
Disarray? More like a bunch of nuts has escaped the asylum.
A Flock Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest sort of thing. And, when a flock flies over they leave a mess on the landscape.
It couldn't happen to a more unsavory lot of puds, whiners and malcontents.
-GSD
the poor repugs just can't find anyone as corrupt and fucked up as bush/cheney...
they should run billo. he and bush drink the same kool aid.
Can't get ugly enough for me.As Fred told Aunt Ester: I could put your face in some dough and make me some gorilla cookies.
Rush will change his tune if the get nominated.
I've got the popcorn and Margarita Machine on high alert. This is one show I don't want to miss.
The Republican word of the day is ‘disarray’”
that isn't the word i would use...
Rush Limpballs and his minions are to blame for the collapse of the Republican Party. By bullying and intimidating they alienated themselves to a base of fringe right-wingers. Moderate Republicans as well as Independents are fleeing the party. Do you honestly think young people believe half the garbage Rush and Billo spew? I hope they are more enlightened.
Limbaugh full steam ahead against Muckabee and Mc-Cane!!
ROTFLMAO!!
*
Rush probably is for Romney, like most of the GOP establishment. With Guliani a train wreck and Thompson too busy taking his nap, Romney's pretty much the establishment's last chance to deny McCain or Huckabee the nomination.
Halle-Fuckin'-lujah!!!!!!
There is an odd sense of satisfaction as the chickens the Rush and the Republican party have courted for so very long... namely the Religious Right... are coming home to roost.
C'mon Rush, did you really think that you could invite a religious "girl" to the dance, get her drunk and use her and then her not want to be married to you in the morning? You brought her to the dance... the polite thing to do is see her home now.
on another note--- Huckabee is courting the evangelicals so very strongly...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/18/huckabee-embraces-confede_n_821...
I'm crossing parties in the MA primaries to vote for McCain. I say Senator McCain vs Senator Democrat is the Dems best chance. I recommend everyone else do it, too.
Then we don't have to hear Tim Russert ask "Senator Democrat, can you explain why you missed so many days in the Senate while running for President" or "You vote for illegal immigration before you were against it" or "why didn't you resign from the senate before running", etc.
Remember: "conservatism" cannot fail, it can only be failed.
Wheeeeee!!!!!
It's fun to watch the Republican party go Jerry Springer, but millions of fools voted for Pres. Caligula so I will never overestimate the intelligence of average Americans. This the worst group of candidates any party has ever put together.
They have been f**king and sucking their own for years and now they are eating their own. Well, I never thought it could get this good.
The repubs want to vote for the baby jesus and ronald reagan. Sadly, neither of them are running so they don't know what in the hell to do.
I'll pop the popcorn, you guys bring the adult beverages. :)
Note to all:
Cast doubt into the hearts of all Republicans about these two candidates by quoting Limbaugh.
I love the smell of ReThugs eating one another. You can't make this shyt up.
Serves them right for the damage they've done to this country for the last 14 years.
Need I remind people on this board that Newt Gingrich wrote that Contract With America bullshyt that led this country on its' downward spiral, with assists from Bill Clinton, and a foundation laid by Ronald Reagan and Poppy Bush (CIA Chief Spook)?
Jay Severin Has a Small Pen1s @ 18:
No way in hell I am going to do that. My vote is too valuable to me to play with it. I'm in florida so my vote even being counted is doubtful. But damn it, it's going to a dem. :)
Well if they are going to descend into cannibalism........well, let me be the first to pass them some ketchup.
The Political Junkie @ 25:
The parts of that contract I liked best, were followed by the Republicans least. Had they followed their own contract, we'd be facing more manageable crisis now.
patricia,
I'm in Florida, too. Sucks about the primary, but I'm going to the polls anyway and voting for Edwards.
And yeah, I love watching the Republicans implode.
Huckster is further right than herr dubyah; reich-wingers do not want this? What am I missing?
We can only hope to watch the continued self destruction of the Repulicans
Dr. Matt @ 30:
May be this is what you are missing.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/263.html
good.
mouth-breather on mouth-breather crime always in fashion
For a party that prided itself to being inherently ingrained and proponents of Free Market policy, I find it odd, that the loudest member of the party are adamantly opposed to responding to market data.
Market data tells you that Economy #1 issue, whereas Iraq/Terrorism #5 or below. So why are they always trying to buck the trend to make Iraq/Terrorism #1 issue?
The Thief in Chief hasn't endorsed a repub yet. That's their problem. ;)
Dr. Matt @ 30:
the GOP is made of 2 distinct sections
a huge sampling of the rank and file rethugs, the christian fundies, DO want huckster. they have been led to believe that the GOP is the "social conservative" party--however misused that description is. what they failed to realize is that they have been used for decades. the real power in the GOP--the neolibs, neocons, corporatocracy, uber rich, market fundamentalists, etc.--have successfully played the "social conservatives" like fools. and now when one of the christo-fascists is actually gaining traction the neocons/neolibs/wall street whores are freaking.
pissed off patricia @ 36:
LOL! Who wants to be annoited by Poop-Finger?
Maybe McCain?
Rush Limbaugh... a talking piece of crap on drugs!
OK. So if McCain or Huckabee get the nomination, will Limbaugh quit "carrying water" for the Republican party? Or maybe he will just shut the hell up?
Yeah, Limbaugh likes Romney, and he makes fun of Edwards for his haircut. Limbaugh wants to sniff Mitt's holy garments.
The "disarray" is going to really hit the fan when Ron Paul takes Nevada. (Note: Paulettes, I don't give a crap for Paul, I just think he' going to win.)
konchster @ 3:
If you sow ice, you gonna harvest wind.
Samson- @ 37:
Didn't the same thing happen in Pakistan? Or was it Egypt? Saudi Arabia?
Its too bad Condi Rice cut her teeth on Soviet policy...
wild_idea @ 35:
fear
they need people to be afraid, and thus more pliable to their form of authoritarianism, willing to accept domestic spying, willing to accept perpetual war, war as policy, etc.
oh yeah...
the GOP thugs that profess to be "free" marketeers are anything but. they do NOT want an even playing field. they throw out the, falsely named, "free" market rhetoric like they throw out claims of freedom and rights--when they believe in neither.
I don't see how the failure for four very different states, whose combined populations still are less than New York alone, to rally around one candidate is considered "chaos." Look how hard it is for most families to pick a place to go for dinner. This failure to find a front-runner so early is a GOOD thing, it's how it's supposed to be done. This way each candidate gets scrutinized and thoughtfully analyzed, rather than pushed to the front (like Obama) while glossing over inner-party dissent.
The last time I listened to Rush (pre-airamerica days) he said: "I look forward to the day the Democrat Party is on the trash heap of history."
Wrong Party, Rush.
In truth, even if the Republican Party were to disappear today there are hundreds of Bush-appointed rightwing judges throughout the land ready, willing and able to subvert the constitution. This is the true legacy of the last 7 years.
Things are getting so bad in the Republican Party that they're starting to stab each other in the front.
According to Tweety, the GOP are like Iraqis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEcUTYbuDvY
Bush WAR PLAN = failure
BUSH katrina plan = failure
BUSH economic plan...........failure
BUSH spent like a crack hoe in a crank house
NO JOBS......
Unfortunately, the cycle continues; Republicans loot the treasury, drive us into debt, then the
Democrats have to clean it up. But they, the Democrats will be accused of raising taxes (to
pay off the mess) and the Repugs return (and they will) to do it to us again ..
Sadly, they kill 100's of thousands, screw w/our constitution, burn our goodwill in the world,
suck 100's of billions out of the middle class, and destroy our environment
with their plan.
Well, I guess that Republican "permanent majority" didn't last too long....didn't even make it as long as its obvious poitical model, the "Thousand Year" Third Reich. But just as Germany still has to be vigilant less the weeds sprout again, so do we each and every election.
One need not look too hard to find similar descriptions elsewhere. I’ve seen some describe the state of the Republican race as “chaos.” Others call it a “free-for-all.” Others still are talking about unprecedented “disarray.”
I did not realize that the "elect" of God were fallible. Time to fry up some squirrel in my popcorn maker.
Weaseldog @ 10:
Martin @ 1:
The Repugs will rally around whoever is chosen, including Rush. The favored candidate of the right wing inow s clearly Romney. Not because he's a social conservative, but rather because he's the CORPORATE guy. He's willing to peddle the classic neon-con platform. I was disgusted to see him lie to people in Michigan telling them that the US auto industry is failing because of regulations and taxation. Funny, GM and Ford have paid zero net taxes for years. Never mind the fact that bad product was the overwhelming reason. Then he tells them he will bring those jobs back. As a person in the auto industry, I can assure you those jobs are gone.
Without the ignorant and the gullable, would the right wing have any power?
So, it seems that not only is Mitt Flip-Flop-of-the-Apocalypse Romney the choice of Bush and corporate America, but also the choice of media shills like Rush I-Would-Have-Loved-To-Have-Gone-To-Vietnam-But-I-Had-A-Boil-On-My-Fat-Ass Limbaugh!
I think it's pretty apparent which Republican we as Dems or progressives should do our best to knock out of this race! McCain or Huckabee isn't the threat, it's Ken Doll from Massachusetts...or Detroit, depending on whose vote his trying to get.
Hillarious. Obviously Rush is back on his meds.
The Republican party destroyed itself in 2000, only it was too arrogant to see it.
If Rush thinks either Giuliani or Romney have a chance, then he has not been looking at the recent primaries, which show Rudith at dead last. Romney may have a chance in NV due to the mormons, but will be slaughtered in SC, FL, and every where else.
What a bunch of psycho losers.
What can I say? Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of folks.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword.
Pricks.
Seems to me "The-Uniter-Not-a-Divider" strikes again, this time very close to home. Couldn't happen a minute too soon.
Republican Party self destructs, best news for the world
I love the smell of disarray on the Right. Smells like . . . victory.
Disarray? I liked to think the more accurate discription is 'toast'! Burnt toast at that.....JD
Well golly gee..as far as the media is concerned,Edwards DOES care too much.
Just ask that _______ Bill O'Reilly.
The thing is, this doesn't matter as long as the Dems are just Republican lite. They are not offering a legitimate alternative at the moment and so I'm not enthused. This country is going down the tubes and both parties are asleep at the wheel, or else flushing the toilet.
The death of the republican party would be a great thing for real conservatives. Im sick of these exploitative phonies, supported by a bunch of morons who think conservatism is about acting tough and hating arabs and gays.
A Brokered, Not Broken GOP
A brokered convention for the GOP would be its first since 1948 and a second ballot hasn't happened since 1952. The race on the GOP side is no longer about winning states but rather about amassing delegates. On Super Tuesday, it is difficult to foresee any of the candidates running effective campaigns in each and every state. In short, the GOP candidates will opt for a regional strategy rather than a national strategy competing against each other in regions where they overlap.
Huckabee and Thompson (if he makes it past SC and NV) will contest states like GA, TN, AL, AR, WV, MO, OK and perhaps ND. Barring a Thompson exit, they would likely split this region though Huckabee is probably better positioned to win most outright of these budding neo-Christian theocracies. Elsewhere he is doomed to low double digits if that. Guiliani is banking on a Florida win the week prior and hopes that will propel him in states like NY, IL, MN, NJ, CT, MA, IL, MN, and CA. Hope springs eternal (or is it hope springs 9/11?) in the Guilaini camp but he is likely done after Florida opening these states up for the perceived front runners du jour: Romney and McCain.
Romney seemingly has a lock on the Mountain West, where Mormons are a large percentage of the population: UT, MT, CO, and AZ. He would as well compete in states like MA, CT, NY, DE and CA and perform well enough to prolong his own personal agony and debasement of the family fortune. If there is a poster child for a broken GOP, it’s Mitt Romney. It’s all about perception for Romney but the reality is cruel for Mitt because in the end he’s like what Gertrude Stein said of Oakland once, there is no there, there.
McCain will seek to win the southwest states like AZ and CO as well as contest the more liberal and independent minded areas like CA, NY, NJ, CT, MA, DE, MN, ND, and IL and do well enough in the South to offset any Romney advantage in Mormon land. Paul will likely compete in all of the above and perhaps actually carry one not yet mentioned AK. Otherwise his tallies will be higher in Mountain West and states like CA where he will exceed 10%. Elsewhere, it is high single digits but that's better than Guilaini who can't find a hole to crawl in fast enough having even not found refugee in Florida’s Everglades. It is a sad day for crocodilians no doubt.
Where the candidates win second place will matter as primaries are not winner take all but proportional. It wouldn't surprise me if out of a brokered convention the GOP arrives at a compromise/surprise candidate even one not in the race at the moment. William Kristol, lately of the New York Times, believes it will be Dick Cheney who will come out of a brokered convention. I don't think so because his heart is not in it, that is whatever is left of a heart for Mr. Cheney and well because Mr. Cheney may be the most despised politician in the country. But fear not brave GOP, there might be an answer to your rather broken national party and my guess is that the GOP may opt for Newt Gingrich who appeals well to social conservatives and Reagan Democrats (however few of those that yet remain) and perhaps opt for former Governor Tom Keane of New Jersey for the VP slot.
Such a formula, Gingrich-Keane, arising from a brokered convention would do well enough though it is difficult to foresee an outright win for any GOP slate in the popular vote. Still at the very least, Gingrich-Keane might prevent a likely massacre in the House and a near sweep of the Senate. It’s Survival 101: living to fight another day, after all the next four years promise to be anything but rosy. An electoral college scenario is more difficult to forecast because it would depend if Tom Keane (or the other former NJ Governor Christine Todd Whitman even especially if Hillary is the nominee on the Democratic side) can make inroads in the Midwest and Northeast where Republicans and Independents are less of the social conservative variety.
Who the Democratic opposition is of course of prime importance and that is also far from certain right now. But on a number of issues this brokered formula has an appeal. Immigration would be a less divisive issue since both support a sensible approach and the GOP may yet be able to attract some Hispanic voters, enough to say keep Texas and Florida from going blue. And as Gingrich can easily claim the pro-gun, pro-life, pro-war crowd that will spell relief across the reddish South and Mountain West. For the GOP is really at the crossroads. The Reagan coalition is, well, as dead as Reagan. A badly splintered GOP spells electoral disaster on all levels of government in November especially if the economy tanks as expected.
Gingrich is perhaps the GOP's ace in the hole. You know the one in case of a looming electoral disaster, break the glass. Unbloodied by a bitter primary fight with Reagan credentials and with wide though not universal name recognition, Gingrich may yet be the nominee and a more formidable one than any of the current crop at that. Gingrich is a savvy political operator and retains astute political instincts. Did he choose not to run foreseeing such a scenario? He offers Mrs. Clinton honest praise, which is frankly worrisome.
Gingrich might save the GOP from implosion and with Keane as a counter moderate, this Gingrich coalition might take votes in the swing districts such as suburbs. Keane is not a household name but he was a popular governor of New Jersey and headed the 9/11 Commission. He adds a certain gravitas to Gingrich who is after all rather partisan and bitterly ugly at times as well as suffering from more than one serious ethics lapses. Keane could help in overcoming these. Dick Lugar of Indiana might also fit in well in the VP slot adding significant and instant foreign policy credentials.
A brokered convention might also bring other names forward but these are more second tier mostly composed from recent Senatorial losses and therefore probably less appealing to the GOP: Jim Talent of Missouri, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Jeb Bush of Florida, Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania or George Allen of Virginia. The aim for the GOP it must be remembered is not necessarily to win but to find a formula where it is not routed.
That the Republican agenda is likely to be rejected I do not doubt but what the GOP needs to do is avoid outright repudiation. A landslide margin is a ten point margin but the GOP with a Romney or Huckabee at the head of the ticket face a debacle not unlike 1936 where Roosevelt won 60.8% of the popular vote winning 46 states amassing 523 electoral votes compared to Alf Landon’s 36.5% share of the popular winning but 2 states and 8 electoral votes. Only Ronald Reagan's 58.8% in 1984 has come close to besting that share of the popular vote and yet his coattails failed to capture the House for the GOP.
In 2008, there is a perfect storm brewing: an unpopular and expensive war that is in a lull that may get hotter soon, a recession either here or on its way, a falling dollar that is making imports like oil more expensive and a deep pessimism among Americans that the country has lost its way. That storm could finish the GOP as a political party for its fissures are now too clearly evident. The Buchanan populism of the early 1990s is finding resonance in Huckabee who couples that message with a Robertson appeal to Christian evangelicals. However that vision can appeal to no more than a fifth of the US electorate. Even more broken is traditional conservatism such as espoused by the likes of Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter or Sam Brownback. When a libertarian messenger like Ron Paul is outpolling traditional mainline conservatives that is truly a harbinger of things to come. Even a national security and “common sense” conservative like John McCain is not faring too well. In a general election, he might avert a debacle but probably not a landslide.
In all honesty, a brokered convention may save the GOP from its own worst enemy, itself. It would be a brokered but not broken GOP.
facta non verba
San Francisco, CA
One comment says Lush Rambo and the rest of the neocons bemoan the fact that they can't find anyone as stupid/corrupt as Bush to run the show, while another, who apparently actually listens to this pisspool's radio drivel, claims that Lush is supporting Romney -- well, hey, Magic Girdle just happens to fill the bill. He is nothing but a suit, a cipher whose only difference from Arbusto is that he actually went out and made a decent living. Yes, in part, because of Daddy's name and connections, but Smitt did it pretty much on his own, if you can call it that. Actually, his big consulting firm was a partnership, so it's anybody's guess who the real brains behind the operation happened to be. (I don't have time or inclination to Google it right now.)
As governor, Romney was a loser all the way around. Job growth in that state was about the lowest in the nation. He likes to take credit for a health care reform, but it's all smoke and mirrors. Lush and the neocons like him because he will privitize everything in sight, just as Ruliani would if 9/11 had the ghost of a chance of being elected, and his chances are about as poor as those of Gomer Shuckabee's. The dittoheads like Romney because he will continue Bush's super rich giveaways, move more government functions into the private sector to line the pockets of cronies, and do the bidding of the multinationals and flat world profiteers.
If anything, he's smarter than Arbusto but just as corrupt, and if Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hydrocodone supports him, he's got to be the worst possible person for the job.
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, drive them before you and hear the lamentation of their women
---Conan the barbarian on the disarray in the gop ranks.
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