Comments Posted By Aaron
Displaying 11 To 20 Of 60 Comments
MY CONSERVATIVE APOSTASY AND WHY I DON'T GIVE A F**K WHAT YOU THINK
@lionheart: Why does that which worked for the Democrats (hyperbole, demagoguery) not work for Republicans? I’m not saying it is the right thing to do for either party, but your concern is stated (”primary beef”) that permanent minority status is the ultimate destination for this tact.
The teeth-gnashing of the far left is not what worked for the Democrats, if anything it hurts them. What worked for them is inclusiveness. It's the same thing that worked for the Republicans in 1980. Have you noticed that the Democrats talk a lot more about fiscal restraint and a lot less about gun control than they did 10 years ago? It's because pro-gun-rights folks and fiscal conservatives are completely welcome in the Democratic fold. Hell, michael reynolds is trying to recruit Rick Moran, who for the most part doesn't agree at all with Democrats on policy issues. But if you're capable of critical thought and not a xenophobic dickwad, the Democrats are happy to have you. The overall effect of this is that the Democrats inching slowly from idiocy toward pragmatism while the Republicans are embracing idiocy with a reckless abandon.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 3.12.2009 @ 13:25
My guess is we'll see a measurable uptick of support among Republicans and a downtick of support among Democrats, but nothing like jackson1234's absurd prediction of a "vast majority" on either side. Many Dems will realize that it's the best decision possible given the circumstances, and many Reps will simply ignore it because it doesn't fit in with their preconceived notion of 'Obama = bad'. Glancing at PJM, Michelle Malkin, Free Republic, the general reaction is silence.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 2.12.2009 @ 12:56
Over the past couple years I've gritted my teeth while reading many of RM's wildly exaggerated, hyperbolic, injudicious, ad hominem, unreasonable, and illogical attacks on the left. That being said, I return to this site regularly to remind myself that there are some Republicans (albeit a wildly unpopular minority) who don't fit on Johnson's list.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 1.12.2009 @ 13:39
"There have been very few conservative Utopians - at least not in the traditional sense of the word, because the right realizes such schemes always come with a price; someone’s idea of “Utopia” might not match everyone else’s."
I disagree, Ayn Rand has massive appeal and influence among conservatives. You'd have trouble convincing that John Galt's mountain enclave isn't a Utopia. Sort of a nightmarish Utopia filled with arrogant millionaires, but I bet the snowboarding is pretty good.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 17.11.2009 @ 16:59
THE NFL IS WORRIED ABOUT A 'RACIST' OWNER?'
"I don’t have your gift for looking into the souls of men to glean what’s in their heart."
When you declare that Limbaugh isn't a racist, aren't you gleaning what's in his heart? You're giving him a rather generous benefit of the doubt, and I don't see how you can fault others for not doing so.
That fact is that through what you call "racial agitation," Limbaugh has become a poster-boy for racism in America. And rather than dispel that notion, he has reveled in it. Regardless of the hypocrisy you see in how this was handled, regardless of the amount of true racism that exists in the NFL today, there is a line that people aren't willing to cross. And Rush Limbaugh is it. Whether he's truly racist or not, Rush Limbaugh has made plenty of money from racially-charged statements made within the cocoon of his radio show, and now by being publicly shamed he's learned that there are real-world consequences.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 15.10.2009 @ 12:49
INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM ISN'T DEAD: MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT PHILOSOPHY
@manning: "I firmly believe also that sane and respected leaders will emerge to help move the right onto the proper paths"
The best way to force this to happen is through elections. From my perspective the Republican electorate is far to easily influenced by rhetoric -- pro-life and pro-Christian rhetoric, pro-USA and anti-foreigner rhetoric, and anti-Democrat rhetoric. It's seductive because it is effective at fighting the culture war, but it's not a substitute for policy.
Particularly troubling is anti-tax rhetoric because the lowering of spending that must accompany it has become a forgotten stepchild, as we saw from the massive rise in deficits during the Bush administration. Lowering taxes is a good campaign slogan but by itself it's horrible policy, especially if spending increases.
Based on the the strong negative reactions on the right to Obama's presidency, which started on day one of his term, I don't see the influence of rhetoric on the Republican electorate going away anytime soon.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 12.10.2009 @ 13:21
OBAMA WELL DESERVES PEACE PRIZE - AFTER COMMITTEE LOWERS THE BAR
In fairness to the nomination process, Obama did have 11 days to prove that he's not George Bush. I can confidently say that he's not, because I've seen his birth certificate...
Comment Posted By Aaron On 9.10.2009 @ 09:09
<em>SEVEN DAYS IN MAY</em> MEETS <em>COME NINIVEH COME TYRE</em>
"can you think of one movie or TV show that ever showed a left wing plot to take over the government?"
Valkyrie and The Manchurian Candidate are a couple.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 30.09.2009 @ 14:24
DEBATE OVER TEA PARTY PROTEST NUMBERS MASKS THE REAL HISTORY MADE
You know it's one thing when people protested Bush with "he's not MY president" and were against the war in Iraq. Obama has not started 2 wars, or given away the treasury to Wall Street (Bush's doing) - yet he is taking more than political heat for it. When the tea baggers are armed with guns and signs that say "Obama = Hitler" and protesters say "We are losing our country, we think the Muslims are moving in and taking over." and quoting Tim McVey's favorite "Blood of tyrants" line. And they have about a dozen Conservative radio hosts and a TV network all daring these people to take the country back "by any means necessary" I am waiting for Glenn Beck to openly advocate assassination - he's not far from it.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 13.09.2009 @ 22:58
THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR OR THE GREAT PREVARICATOR?
"I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. It is unrealistic for the president to ask the GOP to support him on issues like the public option ... it violates fundamental principles of conservatism. "
You've also made it clear that your vision of conservativism doesn't match 100% with the GOP's vision, if they have a vision at all. At the moment we have GOP members casting themselves, bizarrely enough, as defenders of Medicare. While I agree that the GOP as a whole won't support the public option, a few individual GOP members might if they see a political advantage.
Comment Posted By Aaron On 10.09.2009 @ 13:31
