GOP Conservatives already planning for "The Day After"

MattusMaximus · 29th October 2008, 12:48 PM

It seems as if many conservatives feel the Republican party is adrift. They are planning a post-election meeting to plan strategy...

Conservatives plan secret post-election strategy session

Quote:

Two days after next week's election, top conservatives will gather at the Virginia weekend home of one of the movement's most prominent members to begin a conversation about their role in the GOP and how best to revive a party that may be out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue next year.

The meeting will include a "who's who of conservative leaders -- economic, national security and social," said one attendee, who shared initial word of the secret session only on the basis of anonymity and with some details about the host and location redacted.

The decision to waste no time in plotting their moves in the post-Bush era reflects the widely-held view among many on the right, and elsewhere, that the GOP is heading toward major losses next week. ...

And it seems, as I have been predicting, that win or lose Sarah Palin (not McCain) is going to factor in heavily at these meetings.

Quote:

... But, this source emphasized, the meeting will be held regardless of the outcome of the presidential race. "This is going on if McCain wins, loses or has a recount -- we're not planning for the loss of John McCain."

Either way, Sarah Palin will be a central part of discussion. ...

In addition, it seems that the GOP will not be coming to its senses and moving towards the political center, at least on social & religious issues.

Quote:

... Few believe that the Republican party will respond to another brutal election by following a path of moderation, but conservatives are deeply dispirited and anxious to reassert the core values they believe have not always been followed by Bush, congressional leaders and their party’s presidential nominee . Many on the right, both elites and the rank-and-file, see a rudderless party that is in dire need of new blood and old principles: small government, a robust national security and unapologetic social conservatism. ...

So, based upon this news, it looks like the crazy, religious right wingnuts who control much of the agenda of the GOP are going to take the attitude that they simply haven't been crazy enough to win.

NotJesus · 29th October 2008, 01:03 PM

The big tent is collapsing. If the hard right gets its way, their new tent is going to be a lot smaller.

geni · 29th October 2008, 01:03 PM

I'm sure their are plans being quitely made for much the same thing on the dem side although there may be less preplanning of topics (other than perhaps what to do with Hillery).

bozothedeathmachine · 29th October 2008, 01:10 PM

So what. 5 dudes (and Palin) in a room talking about how awesome they are. Reminds me of high school.

What about the rest of (rational) GOP who say "now that those people are gone, let's get down to it"?

Augustine · 29th October 2008, 01:26 PM

I think Michael Steele states more accurately what the intelligent conservatives will be doing, also regardless of results.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ntil-2020.html

Quote:

Mr Steele said the first challenge for the Republicans was to admit that their demise was all of their own making.
Like Margaret Thatcher and the Tories, Republicans dominated Congress (though not always the White House) through the 1980s and 1990s, running as the party of low taxes, fiscal control and small government.
But after too long in power the party lost its way. "After George W Bush was elected we became the party of big government," said Mr Steele.
"It's anathema to grow government by 40 per cent, as we have, and to grow a $10 trillion deficit, as we have. No wonder people look at us cockeyed now when we talk about lower taxes and small government."
He said that the key reason for the Tories' progress under Mr Cameron was learning to be as relevant to as much of the electorate as possible.
"There is going to be a lot of soul searching about how we go about re-engaging with the American people," said Mr Steele, who is 50 and grew up in Washington with his mother, who worked in a launderette, and stepfather.

NotJesus · 29th October 2008, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Augustine

I think Michael Steele states more accurately what the intelligent conservatives will be doing, also regardless of results.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ntil-2020.html

That's not the point. The question is whether the "intelligent conservatives" and the religious wingnuts can continue to coexist in the same party. Pace Mr. bozothedeathmachine, those wingnuts are a very sizeable group.

skeptical · 29th October 2008, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by NotJesus

That's not the point. The question is whether the "intelligent conservatives" and the religious wingnuts can continue to coexist in the same party. Pace Mr. bozothedeathmachine, those wingnuts are a very sizeable group.

And that is what happened to the GOP: the crazies are running the asylum.

I recall not long ago talk of the religious right breaking from the GOP to start their own party. We should be that lucky.

leftysergeant · 29th October 2008, 02:06 PM

To survive, the GOP is going to have to be more centrist and less obstructionist and less aggressive on foreign policy and free trade. People have begun to figure out that all these imports and factory closings are connected.

The GOP, in falling in behind Palin, would send a message that they are still more concerned with regulating our bedrooms than the boardrooms, and that does not play well with a worker laid off because some rich guy just ran everybody's job into the ditch.

The GOP wingnuts are killing their party, and everybody is begining to get the message that Palin is nutty as squirrel droppings.

Please make her the head of the party.

dudalb · 29th October 2008, 02:12 PM

I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day.

maxpower1227 · 29th October 2008, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day.

Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one.

leftysergeant · 29th October 2008, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day.

No. I just want the lunatic fringe to marginalize itself, split up into smaller parties and cease to be a threat to world peace and stability.

Even the Democrats might split into the old Dems and Greens. This rush toi the center over the last 28 years has just strengthened the greedy right, to the hurt of working people.

The current GOP would be more appropriately divided between Libertarians and a Christofascist party.

Tony · 29th October 2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Many on the right, both elites and the rank-and-file, see a rudderless party that is in dire need of new blood and old principles: small government, a robust national security and unapologetic social conservatism. ...

Does it escape these morons that "small government" and "social conservatism" are conflicting ideas? How else would you enforce your "social conservatism" without a government large enough to go to someone's house and check to see if any anal sex is happening?

leftysergeant · 29th October 2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Tony

Does it escape these morons that "small government" and "social conservatism" are conflicting ideas?

Not that big a conflict, really. By "small government," they mean do away with regulatory bodies and let corporations police themselves, the way God intended, and let the local law enforcement people do their job to protect public decency, just like they did in the deep south before the 1960s.

Nursefoxfire · 29th October 2008, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by maxpower1227

Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one.

I'm sorry, that just reminded me of a Futurama episode:

Quote:

Morbo will now introduce the candidates - Puny Human Number One, Puny Human Number Two, and Morbo's good friend Richard Nixon.

leftysergeant · 29th October 2008, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by maxpower1227

Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one.

With four theoreticly viable choices, everyone would have to come up with a rational candidate or wither away.If we wound up with a fractured Republican party, Libertarians and what ever Christofascist party would be vying for the conservative vote, and the Libertarians would actually have a chance to prove themselves. Dems who do not think the party is doing all it should for the environment could go Green without handing the country to a whacko right winger as in 2000.

I do not see a dominant Democratic Party as a likely re-run of Nazi or Communist one-party rule. We ain't that well organized. (Have you ever seen a Democratic caucus? It's a bloody cat roundup.)

29th October 2008, 12:48 PM	#1
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,204	GOP Conservatives already planning for "The Day After" It seems as if many conservatives feel the Republican party is adrift. They are planning a post-election meeting to plan strategy... Conservatives plan secret post-election strategy session Quote: Two days after next week's election, top conservatives will gather at the Virginia weekend home of one of the movement's most prominent members to begin a conversation about their role in the GOP and how best to revive a party that may be out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue next year. The meeting will include a "who's who of conservative leaders -- economic, national security and social," said one attendee, who shared initial word of the secret session only on the basis of anonymity and with some details about the host and location redacted. The decision to waste no time in plotting their moves in the post-Bush era reflects the widely-held view among many on the right, and elsewhere, that the GOP is heading toward major losses next week. ... And it seems, as I have been predicting, that win or lose Sarah Palin (not McCain) is going to factor in heavily at these meetings. Quote: ... But, this source emphasized, the meeting will be held regardless of the outcome of the presidential race. "This is going on if McCain wins, loses or has a recount -- we're not planning for the loss of John McCain." Either way, Sarah Palin will be a central part of discussion. ... In addition, it seems that the GOP will not be coming to its senses and moving towards the political center, at least on social & religious issues. Quote: ... Few believe that the Republican party will respond to another brutal election by following a path of moderation, but conservatives are deeply dispirited and anxious to reassert the core values they believe have not always been followed by Bush, congressional leaders and their party’s presidential nominee . Many on the right, both elites and the rank-and-file, see a rudderless party that is in dire need of new blood and old principles: small government, a robust national security and unapologetic social conservatism. ... So, based upon this news, it looks like the crazy, religious right wingnuts who control much of the agenda of the GOP are going to take the attitude that they simply haven't been crazy enough to win.
	__________________ Visit my blog: The Skeptical Teacher The Times They Are A-Changin' Last edited by MattusMaximus; 29th October 2008 at 12:49 PM.

29th October 2008, 01:03 PM	#2
NotJesus Unsaviory Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA Posts: 5,581	The big tent is collapsing. If the hard right gets its way, their new tent is going to be a lot smaller.
	__________________ I have now reread what I've just written, and I see that I'm much more intelligent than what I've written. How does it come about that what an intelligent man expresses is much stupider than what remains inside him? -Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Adolescent

29th October 2008, 01:26 PM	#5
Augustine Muse Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 893	I think Michael Steele states more accurately what the intelligent conservatives will be doing, also regardless of results. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ntil-2020.html Quote: Mr Steele said the first challenge for the Republicans was to admit that their demise was all of their own making. Like Margaret Thatcher and the Tories, Republicans dominated Congress (though not always the White House) through the 1980s and 1990s, running as the party of low taxes, fiscal control and small government. But after too long in power the party lost its way. "After George W Bush was elected we became the party of big government," said Mr Steele. "It's anathema to grow government by 40 per cent, as we have, and to grow a $10 trillion deficit, as we have. No wonder people look at us cockeyed now when we talk about lower taxes and small government." He said that the key reason for the Tories' progress under Mr Cameron was learning to be as relevant to as much of the electorate as possible. "There is going to be a lot of soul searching about how we go about re-engaging with the American people," said Mr Steele, who is 50 and grew up in Washington with his mother, who worked in a launderette, and stepfather.
Augustine Muse Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 893

29th October 2008, 01:49 PM	#6
NotJesus Unsaviory Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA Posts: 5,581	Originally Posted by Augustine I think Michael Steele states more accurately what the intelligent conservatives will be doing, also regardless of results. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ntil-2020.html That's not the point. The question is whether the "intelligent conservatives" and the religious wingnuts can continue to coexist in the same party. Pace Mr. bozothedeathmachine, those wingnuts are a very sizeable group.
	__________________ I have now reread what I've just written, and I see that I'm much more intelligent than what I've written. How does it come about that what an intelligent man expresses is much stupider than what remains inside him? -Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Adolescent

29th October 2008, 02:03 PM	#7
skeptical Muse Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 957	Originally Posted by NotJesus That's not the point. The question is whether the "intelligent conservatives" and the religious wingnuts can continue to coexist in the same party. Pace Mr. bozothedeathmachine, those wingnuts are a very sizeable group. And that is what happened to the GOP: the crazies are running the asylum. I recall not long ago talk of the religious right breaking from the GOP to start their own party. We should be that lucky.
skeptical Muse Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 957	__________________ Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan Ignorance and fanaticism is ever busy and needs feeding.- Clarence Darrow, Scopes trial 1925 When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. - Stephen Roberts

29th October 2008, 01:03 PM	#3
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,639	I'm sure their are plans being quitely made for much the same thing on the dem side although there may be less preplanning of topics (other than perhaps what to do with Hillery).

29th October 2008, 01:10 PM	#4
bozothedeathmachine Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Zürich Posts: 626	So what. 5 dudes (and Palin) in a room talking about how awesome they are. Reminds me of high school. What about the rest of (rational) GOP who say "now that those people are gone, let's get down to it"?

29th October 2008, 02:06 PM	#8
leftysergeant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Spanaway WA Posts: 18,613	To survive, the GOP is going to have to be more centrist and less obstructionist and less aggressive on foreign policy and free trade. People have begun to figure out that all these imports and factory closings are connected. The GOP, in falling in behind Palin, would send a message that they are still more concerned with regulating our bedrooms than the boardrooms, and that does not play well with a worker laid off because some rich guy just ran everybody's job into the ditch. The GOP wingnuts are killing their party, and everybody is begining to get the message that Palin is nutty as squirrel droppings. Please make her the head of the party.

29th October 2008, 02:12 PM	#9
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 23,014	I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day.

29th October 2008, 02:23 PM	#10
maxpower1227 Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,125	Originally Posted by dudalb I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day. Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one.
	__________________ Warning. If you don't want to see your treasured "evidence" completely pwned in public, don't show it to the posters at JREF. - Rolfe

29th October 2008, 02:26 PM	#11
leftysergeant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Spanaway WA Posts: 18,613	Originally Posted by dudalb I see Lefty's desire to basically destroy all oppostion to the left in the US is becoming more apparent each day. No. I just want the lunatic fringe to marginalize itself, split up into smaller parties and cease to be a threat to world peace and stability. Even the Democrats might split into the old Dems and Greens. This rush toi the center over the last 28 years has just strengthened the greedy right, to the hurt of working people. The current GOP would be more appropriately divided between Libertarians and a Christofascist party.

29th October 2008, 02:30 PM	#12
Tony Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 13,798	Quote: Many on the right, both elites and the rank-and-file, see a rudderless party that is in dire need of new blood and old principles: small government, a robust national security and unapologetic social conservatism. ... Does it escape these morons that "small government" and "social conservatism" are conflicting ideas? How else would you enforce your "social conservatism" without a government large enough to go to someone's house and check to see if any anal sex is happening?
	__________________ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company. - Mark Twain Last edited by Tony; 29th October 2008 at 02:32 PM.

29th October 2008, 02:41 PM	#13
leftysergeant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Spanaway WA Posts: 18,613	Originally Posted by Tony Does it escape these morons that "small government" and "social conservatism" are conflicting ideas? Not that big a conflict, really. By "small government," they mean do away with regulatory bodies and let corporations police themselves, the way God intended, and let the local law enforcement people do their job to protect public decency, just like they did in the deep south before the 1960s.

29th October 2008, 02:48 PM	#14
Nursefoxfire Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,197	Originally Posted by maxpower1227 Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one. I'm sorry, that just reminded me of a Futurama episode: Quote: Morbo will now introduce the candidates - Puny Human Number One, Puny Human Number Two, and Morbo's good friend Richard Nixon.

29th October 2008, 03:15 PM	#15
leftysergeant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Spanaway WA Posts: 18,613	Originally Posted by maxpower1227 Yeah, I'd rather the rational members of the GOP wrest control from the fringe and kick Palin and her supporters to the curb. I'd prefer to have two choices to consider the next time an election rolls around, rather than one. With four theoreticly viable choices, everyone would have to come up with a rational candidate or wither away.If we wound up with a fractured Republican party, Libertarians and what ever Christofascist party would be vying for the conservative vote, and the Libertarians would actually have a chance to prove themselves. Dems who do not think the party is doing all it should for the environment could go Green without handing the country to a whacko right winger as in 2000. I do not see a dominant Democratic Party as a likely re-run of Nazi or Communist one-party rule. We ain't that well organized. (Have you ever seen a Democratic caucus? It's a bloody cat roundup.)