Here we have a great video of a debate between candidate George H.W. Bush and Governor Ronald Reagan in the run up to the GOP primaries in 1980. It explains the chief difference between the tax and spenders like Bush and his ilk and Ronald Reagan.
Oh, and Reagan was RIGHT. As always
-By Warner Todd Huston
The National Republican Congressional Committee has upgraded its website and unveiled it today at nrcc.org. The catch phrase they wish us to take away from the new site is: Regaining America’s Trust Begins in the House.
I hate to say it, but that seems a bit defeatist and gives the impression of the beaten dog. Though, perhaps a little beat down is deserved, eh? Anyway, I just wish it was a bit more of a positive message. Of COURSE we have to admit as a party that we screwed the pooch, but do we have to make that our advertisement theme, too?
It almost seems to scream “We Effed up, but we’ll be better, I SWEAR TO GOD!” It is a bit unsatisfying as a rallying cry, I have to say. After all, “regaining” trust implies we lost it in the first place. Wile true, do we have to prostrate ourselves even in a rallying slogan?
It just reminds me of the skinny kid yelling “don’t hit me!” And we all remember that yelling that invites double the smacks.
Continue reading “NRCC Updates Its Website”
-By Warner Todd Huston
I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of Old Media people like columnist Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post and liberals like Pelosi and Obama who keep claiming that talk show host Rush Limbaugh is the only voice of the Republican Party. Imagine. A mere radio guy. Our voice!
I am through with Limbaugh’s supporting the long tradition of rugged American individualism, done with his harping on free trade, and up to here with his going on about the Founders and our American character. I am worn out with his bellicose talk of stopping terrorism, and so done with Limbaugh’s high profile as one of the most listened to conservative advocates in the country that I could just spit. I simply don’t want this Limbaugh character to be the sole voice of the GOP. Stop it now. Make it go away.
Continue reading “I Don’t WANT Rush Limbaugh as the Voice of Republican Party”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Rod Dreher, author of the “crunchy cons” definition of that certain sort of “Birkenstock wearing, environmental, gun-loving” Republican has weighed in on the economic crisis the US faces and is attempting to further expand his factional theory of the conservative side of the political aisle. This time Dreher is claiming that the next anti-corportate, anti-Wall Street populist revolt will be led by his “crunchy con” faction of the center-right electorate, but I think he misses the mark with this one.
Linking the current economic crisis to past religious revivals that have periodically swept the country, what he calls a “creedal passion period,” Dreher thinks he sees where this will all soon be heading, at least as far as center-right voters are concerned.
John Boehner, GOP Minority leader, reports on a new venture…
Today marks the launch of a new collaborative effort between The U.S. Congress and YouTube.com. The House Hub and Senate Hub have been developed to make it easier for visitors to find their elected officials and their YouTube channels. YouTube and other popular technologies continue to empower American citizens with real-time information about the policy debates and actions being undertaken by Congress.
As we see more and more members from both sides of the aisle embrace web video and social media, it’s easy to forget that only a few months ago Democrats on the House Administration Committee were proposing rules that would have brought this free flow of information to a screeching halt. The proposed rules, including an “approved list” of websites that could be used by members of Congress, would have amounted to new government censorship of the Internet by a panel of federal officials that is neither neutral or independent.
Continue reading “Congress Comes to YouTube (again)…But it Almost Didn’t Happen”
-By Warner Todd Huston
We have gone through the first round of internal recriminations with the recent excoriation of Governor Palin by those “unnamed” McCain staffers. But, as we all know, Gov. Palin was the subject of heated debate even among Republicans long before the election. One common complaint was that she was the “worst” VP candidate pick “ever.” But, was she really?
A look at recent history can only serve to deflate that ridiculous claim. There have been far worse picks than Gov. Palin and only the extremely emotional state of mind that this past election ginned up could obscure the historical record. Two of those picks in particular make Palin’s choice rather inspired by comparison.
In the first case George Wallace’s pick of general Curtis LeMay for his vice presidential pick in 1968 was a disaster and in the second George McGovern’s pick of Thomas Eagleton for his in 1972 was even worse — both were far more disastrous than Palin’s. There was some speculation in the media that Palin would suffer Eagleton’s fate, but the situations of the two just don’t bear any resemblance at all.
Continue reading “Was Palin the Worst VP Pick Ever?”
-By Warner Todd Huston
I was asked to be a part of a podcast for http://www.skewz.com. The quality of the recording is not so hot, but that is a minor annoyance. At least you can understand all involved for the most part. Go on over and give it a listen.
Skewz Podcast #36: Sound-Off- Mike Finnigan of Crooks and Liars and Warner Todd Huston of NewsBusters Talk About Media Bias in the 2008 Election
We had a blast speaking to Mike Finnigan of Crooksandliars.com and Warner Todd Huston of Newsbusters.org. We discussed how the media may have played a role, if any, in the 2008 election. Mike was in rare form and Warner and I had a good time keeping up with him. Of course, Warner felt the treatment of Palin was especially abusive. Mike, as you might have guessed, didn’t entirely agree. Listen in and decide what you think.
We hope you enjoy the conversation with Mike and Warner as much as we did.
Why The Finger Pointing Aids Democrats
-By Warner Todd Huston
We have gone through the first round of internal recriminations with the recent excoriation of Governor Palin by those “unnamed” McCain staffers. We are also starting to see a few hints of the slaps for John McCain more of which will soon come from amongst GOP faithful. But, while the media loves the bashing, this internal carping does nothing to help us at all. And most especially, breaking out the long knives for our own will only strengthen Barack Obama by cementing in the voter’s minds that the GOP is in permanent disarray setting Obama up to create a Democratic majority that will be difficult to defeat.
First of all, the attacks on Governor Palin are sure to cleave this party in half if they continue. The candidacy of Palin highlighted the split in the Republican Party that has been there since Reagan forged a new GOP majority to support his bid for the White House in 1980. Palin does not appeal to what used to be called the country club Republicans but she appeals very much to the family values voters that Reagan brought into the Party. In fact, she doesn’t just appeal to them, she excites them.
Continue reading “He Said, She Said”
-By Warner Todd Huston
With that headline you may think I am employing hyperbole. If so, you would be wrong. I am absolutely and positively blaming the conservative movement for the rise to the presidency of a man that adheres to a socialist ideology. In fact, in this day and age, I might even blame conservatives for the continued existence of this man’s ideas altogether, though that might be a stretch. No, more directly, conservatives are at fault for the singular fact that many millions of Americans saw no reason not to vote for a socialist. They mistakenly imagined his ideas were still just as American as anyone’s. These voters haven’t the first clue that their vote stood four-square against true American ideas. Unfortunately, conservatives are at fault for this rampant inability of our fellows to understand what is an American ideology and what isn’t. Sadly, we have allowed several generations to pass without being educated as to why Barack Obama’s basic political creed is blatantly socialist.
Leftism got its start in America before the turn of the 20th century but in 1960 a conservative grass roots movement began to form around what later became the 1964 candidacy of Barry Goldwater. His campaign biography, Conscience of a Conservative, captured the minds of hundreds of thousands of Americans yearning for a return to American principles. After only its first few short years the book that bore Goldwater’s name had sold over 3 million copies and has by now gone through dozens of printings.
Continue reading “Conservatives, Obama’s Win is Your Fault”
-By Warner Todd Huston
As election night began, there was a discussion on a news radio station about the Senate races. Joe was mentioned. No not “The Plumber,” or the one from Scranton, but Lieberman. The news anchor mentioned that people are now waiting to see if Joe Lieberman will switch his party and become a Republican. Well, as Republicans, we should all be saying NO to a jumpin’ Joe. A Republican Joe Lieberman will do no good for anyone. Not Joe, not Connecticut and most importantly not the Republican Party.
Now, one might disagree in light of the fact that the GOP is almost nonexistent on the East Coast and most especially among the Original Thirteen. Wouldn’t it be nice, some may say, to have at least one Republican among the blue mass to serve our needs?
To that, of course, one must answer in the affirmative. But, would Joe Lieberman, could Joe Lieberman be that man? To that, with a little reflection, one simply must say no. Joe Lieberman cannot be that man.
Continue reading “Just Say NO To A Jumpin’ Joe”
-By Warner Todd Huston
The near orgasmic reaction in the media to Barack Obama’s win on Election-day is universal. His is being hailed as a mandate, a game changing win, a landslide. But, in reality, Obama’s “wind” was not as “righteous” as he thought, it was not a landslide at all. In fact, Obama’s isn’t as strong a win as Ronald Reagan’s or Nixon’s and it didn’t bring the mandate for Obama that the media is attempting to claim it did. Neither did Obama bring overwhelming numbers to the polls as everyone imagined, for that matter. In the end, the complete realignment for the Democrats did not occur. All Obama’s win revealed is that the American electorate is still closely divided and it also that the GOP has one more chance to make a come back.
Not a Landslide
Reagan won a landslide victory in 1980. Obama did not in 2008. Reagan beat incumbent Jimmy Carter with nearly 51% to Carter’s 41% of the vote in November of 1980. He won 489 to Carter’s 49 Electoral College votes. Now that is what a landslide looks like.
Obama’s victory is solid, yes, but not of Reagan’s caliber. Obama got 52% of the vote to McCain’s 46% and garnered 349 Electoral Votes to McCain’s 163. But, while strong, Obama did not do better than George H. W. Bush or either Reagan campaign. Obama also came nowhere near Nixon’s landslide win of 1972.
Continue reading “Obama’s Great win? Not so Great, Really”
-By Warner Todd Huston
The segment of the Republican Party that I call the “conservo-lite” wing is mad at Sarah Palin. Maybe not so much mad as supremely contemptuous. These folks have been pretty upset over the pick of Governor Sarah Palin as McCain’s VP nominee, some of them even going to far as asking her to step down — despite the damage that such a move would cause the Party. Kathleen Parker, David Brooks, George Will, David Frum and others have announced their opposition to Palin and, consequently, their utter disdain for most of the members of their own Party.
And now comes D.R. Tucker to tell us in his posting at Human Events that supporters of Palin are “causing a rift” that if not healed will “destroy” the conservative movement. He says that the pro-Palin and anti-Palin sides of the GOP must heal this rift or it’s all over. Tucker thinks that Ronald Reagan “must turn his head in disgrace” as he witnesses the party self-destructing over Palin.
But, I don’t think Mr. Tucker realizes what it is he’s really seeing. We are not witnessing the destruction of the GOP but merely a stark highlighting of the factions that existed before Palin came upon the national scene. It’s a split that has been there since Ronald Reagan made his first bid against Ford in 1976. Palin is not the cause of the rift, she is merely a light exposing the fault lines.
Continue reading “Con-Lite Crowd Whines That Party of Reagan Torn in Two Over Palin”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Joe the Plumber has been the catalyst that has finally helped highlight the fact that Barack Obama is a socialist at heart. His question and Obama’s candid answer has crystallized the true difference between himself and McCain. McCain may be a big government guy, but Barack Obama is an outright socialist.
After saying that it was Joe the Plumber that won in this election, McCain went on to finally deliver the right economic message.
Continue reading “McCain Finally Finds the Right Economic Message”