Norquist on US Politics
September 30th, 2010 at 6:16 pm by David FarrarWhen Americans for Tax Reform asked me if I would like to catch up with their President, Grover Norquist, in Sydney for half an hour to talk about US politics, I didn’t hesitate to say “hell yes”. Grover is one of the most influential and connected people on the right of politics in the US, and arguably the most powerful lobbyist in the “vast right wing conspiracy”.
We ended up actually chatting for an hour and a half, and I got some fascinating insights into how things are being positioned there. The chat was on the record, so I can blog some of the insights. I’ll try and categorise them:
US House
This is the key target for the 2010 mid terms. Not the Senate, not the Governorships but retaking the House. With that you get the Speakership and the ability to influence (downwards) spending and tax plans. Many of the House candidates have signed a no tax hikes pledge.
They need 39 seats to take the majority. Currently the number of net pick ups could be in the 50s, so it is looking relatively probable.
US Senate
The Republicans have 41 seats at the moment. There are around five seats they are highly likely to pick up, and another five that they could pick up. Gaining 51 would get the majority and control of the agenda.
However as 60 votes are needed for a cloture motion, gaining the majority is not as important as in the House.
The big challenge at the moment is that with only 41 seats, the Republicans have to hold all 41 Senators to prevent something going to the vote. That makes life very hard for the Senators in more liberal states such as Maine.
If the Republicans get to even 46 seats, that gives them a lot more flexibility to allow Senators in marginal states to vote more in line with their state’s wishes, enhancing their chances of re-election.
Now 51 would be nice to get, but that is not the real target. The target is 61 seats by 2014. Is this impossible? Not at all – look at the makeup of the seats coming up.
In 2010 around 40 seats are up for election – around 20 held by Republicans and 20 by Democrats. This means in 2012 and 2014there will be approx 30 seats up for election each time – and 20/30 will be Democrat holds and only 10/30 Republican holds.
Also remember that 2006 was the swing against Bush mid terms, when previously Republican states went Democrat. They will all be up in 2012.
So they are planning a long-term game, where they can end up not only in the majority, but with a super-majority that can force votes.
Governorships
They are looking to pick up quite a few states. Around 25 states have implemented their proposal to list basically all Government expenditure in an online searchable database. Several candidates who are leading in the polls have pledged to do this also, so eventually they hope it will cover almost all states and then the federal government.
I’d like to see such a policy back home – for central and local government. Have all payments over say $1,000 listed on the Internet and let a nation of armchair auditors get to work scrutinizing what their taxes are spent on.
Sarah Palin
Grover shares my view that she will probably not stand for President in 2012. She is making more money and doing very well in her current role as a commentator and power figure.
We talked about whether she has become a de facto leader of the Tea Party. The best way to describe it is that she is not a leader in an organizational sense but she is the endorser-in-chief. If she endorses a candidate in a race, then it focuses massive attention and potential energy and activists on that candidate. Now it doesn’t mean they automatically go on to win their primary – some of her endorsements have lost. What it comes down to is whether the endorsed candidate is ready and capable of using her endorsement to gain activists and supporters.
The Tea Party
This is still very much a grassroots movement. There is no national hierarchy or structure. In fact Norquist said it is better to think of it as a brand – such as Reagan Republicans or Goldwater Conservatives. What they represent is in fact the fifth wave of “entrants” into the Republican party – others were the Goldwater conseratives, the Pat Robertson religious right etc etc. These are the fiscal conservatives.
Also worth noting that many Tea Party people are not registered republicans, but independents.
So thinking of the Tea Party as a symbol of identification or brand, rather than a formal party or organisation is a good thing to remember.
We talked about the tension between whether one should go for the more moderate electable candidates, or the more “fiscally pure” candidates who may end up not winning the seat in the general election.
ATR do their own endorsements and they do not always match those of the “tea party”. In several seats unreliable incumbents have lost to challengers, and the challenger is looking likely to win the seat in November. So that has been very successful. Delaware stands out as the obvious example where the Republicans are now very unlikely to win the race, after Mike Castle was defeated for the nomination.
Norquist said that Castle lost because he was unwilling to modify any of his positions, to reassure activists he was worth electing. If he had been willing to do that, he would have won easily. He compares it to McCain. McCain beat off a challenger because he moved more towards the Republican base on issues such as cap and trade.
2012
The challenge for the Republicans is that a generic Republican candidate would beat Obama according to the polls, but once you start naming names Obama leads. Norquist says though that the primary campaign season can and will change this, as candidates become more nationally known.
Romney is the front runner for now. As I said previously Palin not expected to run. Huckabee may stand again also.
Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is a solid contender. He was McCain’s choice for VP before they went for Palin. Texas Governor Rick Perry has solid conservative backing also.
Newt Gingrich would like to be President and would like to run, but may struggle for some support as having led the Republican to victory in 1994, he failed to reduce government spending much. Grover made the point that it is useful to Newt’s broadcasting career to remain a presidential contender, and he won’t pull out early if he does.
Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is very popular and would be very acceptable. He is young so his time may be in the future but Norquist says having him on the ticket as Vice-President would be a smart move.
Haley Barbour of Mississipi is another “acceptable” candidate. He is a former RNC Chair and lobbyist, so may struggle for public appeal outside his state. Norquist said that he would be an ideal Chief of Staff to the President, which is an interesting possibility. Barbour, incidentally, is good mates with former National Party President John Slater, through their shared involvement with the IDU. So we might have a useful link to the White House of Barbour ended up in that role.
Another potential contender is Meg Whitman, if she wins the California Governorship. If you start with 10% of the electoral vote in your rocket, you have to be a contender.
Chris Christie is another possibility. A very popular Governor.
A Whitman/Jindal ticket could be very electorally popular. Far too early to speculate really, but it could happen.
Talking US politics, Obama has just had Chief of Staff resign, to stand for Mayor of Chicago. I’m not sure many people would go from running the US Government to running Chicago, but I guess the perks are better in Chicago 
Related posts:
- US House Scenarios
- The 2010 Senate Elections
- Can the GOP retake the Senate and the House?
- US mid term elections live update
September 30th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
And did he think that Obama was doing a good job so far? Especially having won a Nobel Peace Prize so very quickly. The Kenyan Muslim does appear to be a bit down in the mouth recently, perhaps 6 holidays since January and more rounds of golf than a Pro might enjoy he is making up for all the work he did in the two weeks that he gained the Nobel Prize.
Barry O’Bummer from corrupt, union and teamster infested Chicago is a bit special though.
[DPF: Actually we did chat about those convinced he was born in Kenya, and how the birthers were the right's equivalents of the 9/11 truthers on the left!]
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
***McCain beat off a challenger because he moved more towards the Republican base on issues such as cap and trade.***
McCain also moved away from his previous ‘amnesty’ position on illegal immigration and supported Arizona’s new enforcement approach. This is particularly important for Republicans, not only because illegals are a net drain on the economy (see California http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112167023), but also Hispanics tend to vote Democrat. It will be interesting to see how the Republicans survive with the changing demographics in the US.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
This is still very much a grassroots movement. There is no national hierarchy or structure.
Meanwhile, Dimpost is linking to an article entitled “Tea & Crackers: How corporate interests and Republican insiders built the Tea Party monster”.
Frankly, the way that the dems are attacking the Tea party is a bit like that Die Hard scene when Danny Glover strips down to his underpants and clucks like a chicken – except it was their own idea, not someone else trying to make a fool of them. The right in the US must be pissing themselves with laughter.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Right on Guy Fawkes, the Kenyan has certainly brought change but there seems to be piss all hope.
I like Chris Christie, he doesn’t mince his words and doesn’t suffer fools like those from the lefty MSM.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
bit like that Die Hard scene when Danny Glover strips down to his underpants and clucks like a chicken
I think you mean Lethal Weapon.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Do you seriously consider that Palin will not run for the Republican nomination because of being successful selling books and making speeches. Surely it has more to do with the fact that no thinking person could possbly vote for someone so hopelessly inadequate for the job. Mind you this is a country that voted for George W Bush so you never can tell.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
It’s actually a pretty good article, even if you disagree with it, it’s a good read.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/210904?RS_show_page=0
My personal favourite
An apt description of Redbaiter.
The Right are pissing themselves alright, but I doubt that it is from laughing.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Interesting to see if the GOP would be brave enough. How would the Tea Party view that pair?
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Sarah Palin has a political philosophy (similar to Reagan), while others, even republican machinery hierarchy themselves are clueless, i.e., they’re in reality progressives (same as democrats). They move with the wind (whatever the mood of the public at a particular time).
A person that has a solid foundation in his/her belief on a certain type of political philosophy (regardless of where in the political spectrum – left / right) is more important than one who doesn’t but happens to know the capital of Nigeria or Kenya for instance. WHY? Because that sort of everyday knowledge although useful, doesn’t require one to have a brain of a nuclear physicist or need to understand “Feynman path integral” for instance (which are indeed very complex subject), in order to be effective in carrying out his/her task based on the very foundations of their political philosophies/ideologies. It wouldn’t take someone 2 seconds to learn the capitals of various countries in Africa. Knowing a capital of country is not a pre-requisite for an effective politician.
The left had attacked Palin on irrelevant things. Look at John Key; he doesn’t have a political philosophy. He is a populist PM, he abandons almost everything & principles that the National party was founded on.
I bet that most readers here don’t know the capital of Tonga. Does that mean you’re dumb person? Of course not. How important for a politician to know the capital of Tonga as a pre-requisite for him/her to be effective? Zilch.
I wouldn’t be surprise if the so called experts in politics jump in here to refute/rebut my comment.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I actually don’t believe that the ‘Chosen One’ is a practising Muslim. As for not being a US Territories born baby. Don’t really care.
He is POTUS and is useless. Not only has be leveraged the States way above what the dropkick from Texas did. He has now Mortgaged that Country for 5 decades minimum. He is a corrupt left wing vainglorious well presenting Rhetorical Orator, with a wife that has become known as the Marie Antoinette of our times. And that is from the MSM who still try and cast him in a good light.
Palin is thick and probably the wort option the World could have. Shudders.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Guy Fawkes, can you tell me why you think Palin is thick? Thick on what? Aren’t we all thick in some specific area of knowledge? That’s exactly the sort of comment that I mentioned in my previous message. State clearly on why she’s thick. Why one can being thick in a specific area of knowledge relevant to her/him being an advocate for small government, less tax, less govt interference, etc, etc,…
Don’t make a throw away comment or generalization without an explanation, because when people are generalizing, it means that they argue for the sake of it and no refutation. Generalization is also an evasion to debate.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Ezzie Babe and a bunch of other random chancers having a good cry. Yep, the left is terrified.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
A little story to warm your hearts: our toddler, just a little while ago, climbed off her mother’s knee, after finishing the bottle (Chamomile tea, no sugar) that normally sends her to sleep, came over to me and led me off to put her to bed. I sat beside her and she was asleep in a couple of minutes. At my age, that’s just a tremendous privilege.
Back to business: Islamophobes need to be aware that Norquist is married to Samah Alrayyes,[33] a Kuwaiti PR specialist who was formerly a director of the Islamic Free Market Institute and specialist at the Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs at USAID. She’s Muslim, therefore, according to most here, a terrorist. Norquist is obviously part of the fifth column!
And for an analysis on the Republican’s midterms policy platform, go here: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge?xrs=eml_tds
No matter which side you are on, it’s very well done and very funny!
But I think on this one DPF is wrong. Sarah Palin will throw her hat in the ring for president 2012. If she doesn’t, her gravy train will dry up. Assuming she loses the nomination, she will still be relevant and maintain her earning power. Of course, if she wins the nomination, well, anything can happen, but the least is yet another book.
Who knows, even a Penthouse invite before it’s too late?
Personally, I would applaud a Palin presidency. It would hasten the end of the American Empire. And she’s a lot better looking than Hillary Clinton who, I suspect, will soon resign and get ready for another run at the presidency.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Her inablity to answer questions, and particularly the Africa is a country comment.
Full of strange ideas that just don’t hand to-gether but are popularist.
Just wish McCain had taken Bush W’s gig!
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Luc,
No, what this proves is that you remain intellectually bankrupt. You require a conspiracy amongst all right wingers to continue the myth in your mind that anyone who is right of centre and disagrees with you is an Islamophobe.
Instead, when faced with an inescapable fact that a champion of the right is married to a former director of the Islam Free Market Institute, you try to claim (and thereby generate) a sense of fear, when those of the right clearly do not see it as any sort of an issue at all.
That simple fact completely undermines your whole conspiracy theory reason for being Luc. You can even try to claim it is a singular event, but even within the serpentine labyrinth that passes for logic within your mind, you know that is not true.
There you go – chasing the conspiracy theory that proves (in your own words Luc – your own judgement) that you are intellectually bankrupt. We must continue to believe that there is hope for you Luc. Take the first step. Admit your bankruptcy. Help yourself Luc
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Anti semite enviro-fascists breeding does not warm the heart.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
So for Sarah Palin to not know that Africa is a continent is a big deal, huh? It is the useless (leftist) journalists that pose irrelevant questions such as that who are thick rather than Palin herself. As I said above, what relevant is such everyday (noise) knowledge to being president or vice president? Zilch. If such useless knowledge is relevant, then why don’t journalists quiz candidates about other irrelevant general (noise) knowledge such as what’s the atomic number of the element Californium in the periodic table for instance. The knowledge that a presidential candidate has about Africa is a continent is irrelevant as knowing the atomic number of Californium. The platform that a candidate stands for is what counts (their political philosophies). Noise knowledge is something that can be coached by advisors in 2 seconds. No big deal if the candidate doesn’t know about such irrelevant knowledge.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
And even worse Obama!?! I think they’ve already hit rock bottom Mark…..
Gee, the Palin bashing mouth-frothers got out of the blocks quickly tonight… LOL
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
They would say….RINO’s both!!
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
bhudson
Somehow, I think you missed my point. Why am I not surprised?
Sonny
I think only scum like you can pass a comment like that. Of course, there are plenty of examples of such scum on this site, which is why I do make the occasional foray into normalcy – you know, like counselling.
Why do you wish for the genocide of Palestinians? What have they done to you? Unlike you, I support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. If Israel (note: Israel is not a Jewish state; it is less than 70% Jewish, and they are mainly secular) simply abided by international law and UN resolutions, it would no longer be such a threat to world peace.
As far as your “enviro-facist” remark goes: tell my, why are you so happy about potentially killing off human civilisation? Why do you hate your fellow humans so?
Now turn to Sky 10 and relax with Jon Stewart.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Luc,
No, I haven’t missed your point. Your point (your words Luc) is that conspiracy theorists are intellectually bankrupt.
You, Luc, are a conspiracy theorist. That means you out yourself (constantly) as an intellectual bankrupt. That was your point above Luc. You can’t help yourself – you cry out for help form your inner self.
Take the first step Luc. Admit your bankruptcy. Help yourself
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Good to hear you’re getting some counselling for your groping issues, Hands-on.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
bhudson
Take yourself off for a nice wank. Think of me if that helps.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Luc,
I don’t recall attacking you like that. Do you have violence issues? Do you need some anger management assistance perhaps? Is this why you see conspiracy everywhere? Is this why you think everyone is working against you?
But anger can be good Luc. It shows you are getting close to your important self realisation. From bankruptcy you can build credit Luc. Embrace what you are Luc. Help yourself. Help us help you.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
What do you think Ebola’s doing?
You never bothered to answer my questions from yesterday’s GD either. But then again, that’s Factless Hansen through and through.
Vote:September 30th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
So many (loaded) questions…
so little time…
Hurf, help me out…what questions?
PS Isn’t it past your bedtime?
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 5:01 am
I’m embarrassed by otherwise sensible people who swallow the leftist talking points on Palin. She has more executive experience than Nixon when he was picked as Eisenhower’s running mate, and more experience in elected office. She has much more experience than Obama. She is much smarter than Biden. She wears her religious faith on her sleeve, but so do most US politicians, because that’s who their voters are. I don’t think she is a genius, but it seems bizarre to ask that of politicians – I’d rather they simply had good policy, which Palin does in spades.
I disagree with both Farrar and Norquist. Palin is being propelled into seeking the Republican nomination whether she likes it or not. If you read her autobiography, what comes across is her propensity to seize the moment in seeking a position. She doesn’t turn down offers when they present themselves – it is not in her nature. I believe she will seize the moment and run, and if she does run, the nomination is hers. Only Pawlenty might stand a chance against her, and even then she would have to have a Howard Dean meltdown moment for that to happen. The momentum for her is huge and she is very popular with ordinary folk. The haters are all beltway leftists.
Could she become President? I think with the right campaign she could appeal to enough Independents to get there. She would certainly get out the Republican vote more than adequately. And I think she would be a fine President if she won.
What if she loses? Well, Reagan only became President on his third try, and Nixon lost on his first go as well. She’s got nothing to lose by running this time around.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 5:58 am
Good Point Blair, but my own gut reaction is still that she is a loose cannon. No class, no flair, and thick.
Reagan was a very good President at the time. Still it just made so much sense to have a deliverer of lines for the administration at large.
We do now know that the Presidents Brain was missing for much of his time in office. Q, the Princess David comment on Brittania.
Really not comforting to establish that POTUS has early onset dementia.
As for Clinton. I have nothing but contempt. Gathered then, and re-inforced recently. As least he is more personable that the Perfect Bitch he is still married to. Guess it helps when you are boning 3 others bitches a week elsewhere.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 6:16 am
Palin would make a good President.
By the way Blair, your blog at http://blairmulholland.typepad.com/ is down. Just saying.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 6:59 am
I’m embarrassed by otherwise sensible people who swallow the leftist talking points on Palin. She has more executive experience than Nixon when he was picked as Eisenhower’s running mate, and more experience in elected office. She has much more experience than Obama.
Nixon had four years as a commander in the Navy, four years in the Congress and two in the Senate before he became Vice President. Obama has three terms in the State Senate and one in the national Senate and half a term as US President.
Palin was mayor of a small town and Governor of Alaska for half a term before she quit to be a FOX news journalist. Her cheerleaders like Blair are dumb enough to think this makes her more experienced than Nixon and Obama, but no one with an IQ over 80 is going to by it. So she might well win the GOP primaries but she’s unelectable in a national race.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 7:04 am
But you’re not embarrassed about reeling off the standard Palinesque talking points?
Your claims don’t stack up with reality.
36% favorable, 53% unfavorable. Pollster.com
26% favorable, 59% unfavorable . Vanity Fair/60
30% favorable, 52% unfavorable. NBC News/WSJ – 14% very positive, 38% very negative
There mustn’t be many “ordinary folk” in the US, and huge numbers of beltway leftists. Oh, and her momentum has been downwards for the last two years.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 10:00 am
Talk of Meg Whitman as a GOP contendor is a bit premature. The GOP’s candidates in California,Gloria Fiorina in the senate, and Whitman in the gubernatorial contest have settled back to a Democrat advantage after an earlier spurt.
Vote:Whitman has one of the residency problems that Clinton had with Zoe Baird as A-G. Employing an illegal alien as a nanny !!
That will be exploited by the left wing Californian media, especially the LA Times.
Talk of Sarah Palin. She is an expert on Russia because she claims to be able to see Russia from Wasilla, her home.
Talk of her as president. She is another Winston Peters, long on talk and short on ability and experience.
Hopefully the GOP will come up with a good candidate-perhaps Chris Christie from NJ who is attacking the sprendthrift budget. However Christie almost seems to be too good to be true.NJ has a great history of corruption in its politicians.
Maybe the GOP will produce a candidate who comes thru like Eisenhower.
The USA needs a far right President like a hole in the head. Huckabee a nice guy but as President No
Sarah Palin – No
October 1st, 2010 at 10:00 am
On balance an excellent analysis. I used to think that Palin wouldn’t run – I think its more like a 50/50 chance now as she surveys the scene. The biggest factor will be Obama’s popularity (or lack). If he does a Clinton and tacks to the centre after the likely spanking Congressional Dems will get in 5 weeks, then he will be tougher to beat and, barring a double dip recession, he could bounce back to win. If she sees his popularity climbing she’s likely to conclude that 2016 is a better time. Barbour and Jindall are not realistic options – Barbour is from a small southern state and Jindall, as impressive as he is in Louisiana, is too new.
Mitch Daniels (Gov – IN) and John Thune (Sen – SD) are possiblities. Chris Christie is the darling of the fiscal right with his budget busting performance in NJ (and the balls to take on and beat so far the teachers unions). Palin biggest problem is her poor showing with Independents – a vital demograph and the one that brought Obama victory. Her powerbroker role via strategic endorsements has been very evident in GOP primaries but the General electorate is a whole new ball of wax and she doesnt poll as well with them. I think that she will be informed and prepared enough to match Obama (who had the skinniest of CVs when he ran for President – far far skinnier than Palin’s) but if he is sufficiently bold to genuinely govern from the centre, he will find it easier to paint her as more right wing. My prediction is that Obama will double down on the progressive agenda and use the Executive branch to end run around Congress and try and get as much done for the left knowing he will be defeated in 2012. if he does this, then a Palin run is more likely as the more unpopular Obama is, the less impact Palin’s negatives will have.
Beating Mitt Romney will be tough. He has a ton a cash, lots of IOUs from party county chairs that he can cash in, he follows the GOP tradition of ‘the next in line’ and he has learned alot about this level of campaigning from his 08 run. He is a safer pair of hands with the media as he is whip smart and won’t ever suffer from a Saturday Night Live-able fumble, he has no skeletons and the Mormon thing was pretty much done to death when he ran before. That said Romney still leaves some of the social cons queasy over his squishy abortion position when Gov of MA and Romney care in MA was a state version of Obamacare and is in some disarray so that will be a major electoral millstone for him in the GOP primary. The evangelical right will also go to Palin or Huckabee because of their latent anti-Mormon bent. For this reason a Pawlenty could emerge through the middle. Huckabee’s early release of a cop killer will be too hard to overcome and Gingrich’s multiple affairs will be trotted out and that wont go down well in GOP primaries.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 10:06 am
Bobby Jindal was an exceptional personality during the oil spill fiasco.
He was the complete opposite of the BP CEO and a much needed authority figure
who met the crisis with an attitude people needed to see. His state bore a huge brunt of the oil spill
And he spoke vehemently against BP. I would say he was one of BP’s biggest enemis because he exposed the size of the
problem they were trying to diminish.
If he keeps talking about the plight of the common worker after the media move on quickly, he will almost certainly be one of the most popular candidates in 2012. That’s all his strategy has to be.
Sarah Palin will walk in his shadow.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 11:09 am
Gingrich is slime. He’s had three affairs on three wives and even served one of those wives divorce papers while she was in hospital with uterine cancer.
Just imagine how he would be painted by the so-called “social conservatives” if he was a Democrat.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 11:31 am
Norquist said that Castle lost because he was unwilling to modify any of his positions, to reassure activists he was worth electing. If he had been willing to do that, he would have won easily.
I highly doubt the liberal RINO could have gotten away with so cynical a flip-flop and fooled the Tea Partiers that easily! They’re not as gullible as many Obama voters were, for example. They want rock-solid smaller government types to vote for who reflect that #1 position of theirs. That’s how critical the situation is to them for the country right now.
[DPF: Actually we did chat about those convinced he was born in Kenya, and how the birthers were the right's equivalents of the 9/11 truthers on the left!]
Hardly the same, although the 9/11 Commission was a whitewash: a farce by politicians to let politicians off the hook for their failures to execute the main purpose of Federal Government: a common defense.
Vote:Asking “Where is the birth certificate?” is a fair question. Obama has failed to produce one. Even his mother’s passport has been lost, so we don’t know where she was at the critical time. Also, unlike 9/11 conspiracies – which will never cease – Obama’s eligibility question could very easily be settled and put behind everyone, something people want. Why has it not been? Birthers aren’t in some sort of denial or a fantasyland like 9/11 truthers. It’s Obama defenders in denial of the birth-place issue!
October 1st, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Why does this sensible & respectable New Zealand blog attract so many American-style nutters?
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Interesting comments indeed, as much for what they say as what they don’t:
….Many of the House candidates have signed a no tax hikes pledge.
They’ve signed a no-new spending pledge as well? Because if they have not they’re simply going to inherit and expand upon the crazed spending of the Pelosi branch of the Democrats.
….but with a super-majority that can force votes
On what? To what end? Fixing the entitlement monsters of Social Security and Medicare? As Tibbi points out (not that he cares about fixing them), there’s no indication that’s going to happen. As far as I am aware the only Republican who is willing to go on record about fixing this stuff – Paul Ryan – has all of 13 GOP people “signed” on to his plan.
…..McCain beat off a challenger because he moved more towards the Republican base on issues such as cap and trade
What McCain and some other cynics are sure of is that by 2012, certainly by 2014, such things will have ceased to be of much importance. That’s why he so shamelessly pandered on these issues, confident that politics as usual will return and he’ll be able to go back to reaching across the aisle setting in place left-wing ideas that can never be repealed.
What’s interesting is that other GOP members not in this situation – notably Lyndsey Graham, whose Senate seat is not up for election this time around – have also been pulling their horns in on things like Cap and Trade. That means they are not so confident about the eventual return of politics as usual and suspect that the Tea Party may actually still be around in a few years time and coming after them.
Another potential contender is Meg Whitman, if she wins the California Governorship. If you start with 10% of the electoral vote in your rocket, you have to be a contender.
Vote:Becoming a GOP governor of California puts the state in play for you as GOP Presidential nominee? Come on. A long time ago in a galaxy far away it might have done, but California is the poster child for how the left can so utterly corrupt the situation. Even now, facing huge unemployment, godawful state finances, tax revenue collapse, a steady stream of people escaping to other states, insane public employee spend-ups, ever more intrusive environmental rules and so forth – both Whitman and Fiorina are locked in close contests with Democratic opponents who are the living personification of policies that led to this. Obama still polls over 50% approval in the state.
October 1st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
“and how the birthers were the right’s equivalents of the 9/11 truthers on the left!]”
Response to this here-
http://falfn.com/CrusaderRabbit/
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Danyl Mclauchlan (853) Says:
Vote:…but no one with an IQ over 80 is going to by it.
And anyone with an IQ over 80 knows that it’s spelt BUY not BY….
October 1st, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Then there’s Matt Tibbi. I have to say that I get a laugh out of his snarky one liners. But the fact is that the entire article focuses on the same attack lines that have been used on the Tea Party since it first emerged:
– White
– Old
– Crazed Fringe
– Selfish
– Stupid
– Gullible and easy manipulated.
Good luck with that given how well it’s worked so far. More. More
As such Tibbi heavily leans on the Paul angle, returning to it time and again – as if one could not write equal articles about some of the Democratic loons associated with the anti-war groups that were such a feature of the supposed ground swell against Bush and co., circa 2004, or who are running for office even now (Dayton in MN anyone – jeez).
I often get the feeling with Tibbi that he’s projecting. He’s often implied or outright claimed that he holds both Democrats and the GOP in equal contempt. Witness his ending:
You mean in the same way that Goldman, Soros and BP “appropriated” the Democrats and Obama? Has Tibbi really never noticed how BP, more than any other global oil company, jumped into the whole Green Energy bullshit (“Beyond Petroleum”) in order to try and cosy up to the enviro movement? A lost cause even before the Gulf spill I would say, but the focus was not the enviros but the mainstream Democrat candidate, who would thus be able to make excuses for the lobbying funds heading his way from BP. Similarly with Goldman and Soros.
Having seen his other stuff I’m sure he has noticed all of this – but at heart he’s still a left-winger and will vote Democrat when push comes to shove. It’s just easier to attack all these sins in lengthy detail when the GOP commits them and hope that people will understand/assume that it’s also a proxy attack on the Democrats.
He did the same with his article on Palin a couple of years ago when – after ripping her for being lightweight, inexperienced, the latest product of a shallow, frothy, celebrity obsessed US media culture, followed by morons and so forth – he finally acknowledged the 800 pound gorilla in his basement of an article by briefly talking about how attacking her on these things as a VP candidate might be difficult because the same things could be said (but more so) of the Democratic nominee for the Presidency. Tabbi did not bother actually exploring whether such arguments had weight – the article was about Palin after all – but he did not bother refuting his brief implication either, even with a one word dismissal.
But the projection that I enjoyed seeing in this Tibbi article was the following:
Gosh – exactly like most of the left-wingers I encounter on most websites – including….
Sounds like Matt knows who they are. He also appears to know who we are with comments such as ….surrounded as they are by America-haters like you and me – dry, knowingly ironic comments presumably directed straight at the poor, sad 60′s/70′s relics leafing through the dusty pages of Rolling Stone hoping for insights into the latest cutting-edge music from Bono, Mick, “Keef” and the rest of the boys.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I thought the Tibbi article was interesting – seemed to describe a Redbaiter template to a T. I also got the overall impression of cynical despair at the Washington “system”, where few seem to escape the gravity, and the closer to the centre of power the more likely they get sucked in. Like a black hole.
I thought GW may have started with some reasonable (apparent) ambitions and it fucked him before he could prove it, I still haven’t decided if it is just fucking Obama or how much of a head start he had. Palin would probably have the resistance of candy floss. It’s hard to see anyone overcoming it.
Vote:October 1st, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Btw… where’s the birth certificate? And why is it so hard to believe Obama isn’t eligible? C’mon: it’s just a rusty old archaic and prejudiced rule anyway, that can easily be glossed over through sheer fervour and belief in one’s own Messianic cause. Admit it.
Btw, Hitler wasn’t even German.
Vote:October 2nd, 2010 at 9:36 am
Good Point Blair, but my own gut reaction is still that she is a loose cannon. No class, no flair, and thick.
You may be right about the loose cannon. That’s something only a primary campaign can establish. She may well have a Howard Dean-type meltdown… or she could rise to the challenge. Who knows? I’d like to see what happens
OECD – I’ve stopped blogging, I no longer have time for it, and it costs me money to keep the site up. I’ve tried so many times to resurrect it now, but I finally admitted defeat last week.
Nixon had four years as a commander in the Navy, four years in the Congress and two in the Senate before he became Vice President. Obama has three terms in the State Senate and one in the national Senate and half a term as US President.
Yes, Palin has had more executive experience. Sitting on your arse listening to speeches, making the odd speech, and voting is not executive experience.
Palin had two terms as mayor of Wasilla. She was then Alaskan Oil and Gas Commissioner for a year. That’s five years, plus two and a half as governor. Seven years. I stand by my statement.
Pete George – she still gets over 40% in a matchup against Obama. I wouldn’t trust a Vanity Fair poll. You are underestimating the huge impact that the Tea Party is having on American politics. Those people will mostly support Palin.
Vote:October 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 am
Look at the WSJ/NBC poll tables Blair. Obama has been static all year, with significantly stronger positive and very positive results than Palin.
And look at the Tea Party over the year (page 6), static positive and neutral, increasing negative.
Still, it’s a long two years until the presidential poll that matters, a lot of things can happen and change in that time. What the economy does will be significant.
Vote:October 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
When Jon Stewart gets this cruel, the Democrats should truly know how much trouble they’re in. Perhaps we can get Jon as the weekly US Reporter for Radio NZ:
We Came. We Saw. We Sucked
Vote:October 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
Everything the left say about Sarah Palin is projection. Just as she confronted the Republican old guard in Alaska, so she is confronting them nationally. And was there ever a bunch of losers who deserved that confrontation more? Like the Nationals in NZ, the US Republican Party is full of people and ideas more suited to the Democrats. It will be purged of traitors, and Saran Palin and The Tea Partiers are just the ones to do it. The partisan mainstream media, the Democrats and the RINOs can go fuck themselves. Their time is coming to an end, we’ve tolerated their Marxist/ Keynesian poison for far too long.
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