Cracks starting to appear in the GOP?

[MattusMaximus]

It seems that party unity is beginning to be tested in the GOP nowadays. If more and more Republicans start to break ranks, it'll be interesting to see how the hardcore GOP types handle them...

GOP at risk of becoming party in the no (http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090226/pl_politico/19346)
After near-unanimous Republican congressional opposition to President Barack Obama’s stimulus package and a week dominated by headlines of GOP governors poised to reject stimulus funding, House Republicans followed up with another resounding “no” on the $410 billion omnibus spending package Wednesday.

This time, though, 16 members broke from the party line on a vote Minority Whip Eric Cantor had urged his colleagues to reject. And the cracks in the facade appear to be the first public signal of Republican rank-and-file squeamishness with a remarkably high-risk strategy that promises an uncertain return. ...

[davefoc]

As much as I would like to see this as some sort of sign of a Republican Party breakup and reemergence as a legitimate voice for small government and fiscal conservatism I think the fact is that the Republican party will remain pretty much as it is for the foreseeable future.

That is the Republican party will stay a collection of cynical politicians who use a combination of social conservative, jingoistic rhetoric with a strong dose of free market, small government slogans mixed in to attract enough voters to retain a significant hold on political power in many areas and enough political power to challenge for the presidency when their guy has not been inept and corrupt for the previous eight years.

The fact that their free market, small government slogans are complete hypocritical clap trap doesn't seem to bother their base all that much. Eight years of massive fiscal irresponsibility and unparalleled cronyism seems to have gone largely unnoticed by the base. In politics, it seems, it is what you say and not what you do that matters.

[leftysergeant]

Eight years of massive fiscal irresponsibility and unparalleled cronyism seems to have gone largely unnoticed by the base. In politics, it seems, it is what you say and not what you do that matters.

It comes back to Reagan's commandment that Republicans are not to speak ill of other Republicans, even when they catch them in the kennel with their pants around their ankles. Hard to say which deteriorated faster, the conscience of the GOP or Reagan's brain.

Democrats look like a herd of cats because we like to kick ideas around and compare solutions that we think will work, or point out why an idea won't work, or that it has been tried before without success.

The Republicans are firmly convinced that Milton Friedman had a brain and a soul and are marching in lockstep right off the cliff.

[Magyar]

the republicans had a MASTER move when they recruited the xian right.
It's a piece of cake to manipulate people who think it's a virtue
to go through like fat, lazy and stupid. No one with half a brain actually believes
that there is any truth to small govt, fiscal responsibility and free market. It is simply a case of "I'm getting mine" so who gives a sh8 about the rest of them and as long as the meme keeps getting me mine then F*&K everything and every one else.

The last 30 years has proven NOTHING else but this. There is not a single measure that proves anything remotely positive about giving more money and more tax breaks to the rich and less regulation to corps. unless of course you're one of them. This elite group
- another master stroke by the republicans that the ultimate elitist party was able to slap that title on the dems - is the sole reason that the republican party exists and will continue to exist.

[Puppycow]

;)Joe The Plumber (http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/joe_the_betrayer.php) slams John McCain:

"He doesn't care about what's best for America," Wurzelbacher said. "He only cares about what's best for John McCain."

Joe himself, of course, only cares about what's best for America. No mere self-promoter, he. ;)

[Dr Adequate]

David Frum attacks Rush Limbaugh (http://www.newsweek.com/id/188279):

A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as "losers." With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence.

Joe the Plumber atttacks Michael Steele (http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=151455):

Unfortunately we have a chairman up there who wants to redefine conservatism; he wants to make it hip hop, put it in a new package and sell it.

Meghan McCain attacks Ann Coulter (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-09/my-beef-with-ann-coulter/full/):

I straight up don’t understand this woman or her popularity. I find her offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time ... Are some of her statements just gimmicks to gain publicity for her books or does she actually believe the things she says? ... Maybe her popularity stems from the fact that watching her is sometimes like watching a train wreck.

Ronald Reagan spins in his grave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eleventh_Commandment_(Ronald_Reagan)):

Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

:popcorn1

[Oliver]

David Frum attacks Rush Limbaugh (http://www.newsweek.com/id/188279):
A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as "losers." With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence.Joe the Plumber atttacks Michael Steele (http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=151455):
Unfortunately we have a chairman up there who wants to redefine conservatism; he wants to make it hip hop, put it in a new package and sell it.Meghan McCain attacks Ann Coulter (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-09/my-beef-with-ann-coulter/full/):
I straight up don’t understand this woman or her popularity. I find her offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time ... Are some of her statements just gimmicks to gain publicity for her books or does she actually believe the things she says? ... Maybe her popularity stems from the fact that watching her is sometimes like watching a train wreck.Ronald Reagan spins in his grave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eleventh_Commandment_%28Ronald_Reagan%29):
Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.:popcorn1

*lol*

Also: Cafferty: GOP becoming a cartoon (http://us.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/cafferty.republicans/index.html)

[Tricky]

Cracks starting to appear in the GOP?

Apparently. This picture of Rush Limbaugh was taken at the last convention.

[portlandatheist]

Apparently. This picture of Rush Limbaugh was taken at the last convention.
Booo! Hisss! Booo! ;)