COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Party is Over. Republicans Return to Exile as Returns Retire Republicans.

The party is over. As of this writing, three things are known. The House defeat is a landslide. It is a complete and utter rejection of Bush, his ideas and his policies. Not one incumbent Democratic Congressman lost. Not one. The President, severely diminished, can only use negative control. His ability to influence foreign affairs has been reduced. How much, no one can tell just yet. The Republican controlled Senate, if gone, and it sure looks like a dead parrot to me, will mean the end to more conservative judges. A defeat of this magnitude will not stiffen the resolve of many middle of the road Republicans. Quite the opposite, If the Republicans have proved one thing, to many Americans it is this: They stand more for power than principal. That will be something very hard to change. It may not be changeable. Only the Republicans can figure this one out. The party is over and some Republican has one big clean-up job in front of him.

42 comments:

  1. This election is more about rejection of Bush and a cynical Republican leadership. It is not a radical turn to the left.

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  2. The results after Watergate were about corruption.

    Didn't matter. The Democrats and their media allies have never cared how they got into office.

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  3. The truth is that Bush and the Republicans deserved to lose.

    The problem is that under no circumstances did the Democrats and the press deserve to win.

    They just proved they could win without actually espousing any cogent policies.

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  4. Sorry for the spam, but one more comment.

    I've got a professor for military analysis who is pretty brilliant.

    He was a national security guy in the Clinton Administration, but he's smart as a tack and measured, even if we don't agree on everything.
    IMO, that guy didn't win this election, even if he's a member of that party.

    Certainly, the Democrats reached into their bag of tricks to find people who don't show the McGovernite/New Left side of their party. People like Webb who actually aren't even Democrats (at least not yet, it remains to be seen if they'll be assimilated), but just don't like the Republicans at this point in time.

    But IMO it still wasn't them that won this election. People like Pelosi and the NYT editorial board are the ones who are going to benefit from this. And they aren't moderates or centrists. And they don't have any clue that their agenda didn't win this election, even if they might realize they had to hide it to win it.

    Whatever. Keep fighting the good fight.

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  5. The old and sick Supremes can quit now:
    Leahy in charge, right?
    Bush should nominate folks 65 or older.

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  6. Librarians delivered the Senate to the Dems.

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  7. Bummed K-Lo Sore Loser Predictions [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

    President holds amnesty signing ceremony in February with Speaker Pelosi.

    JP Stevens retires. President renominates Harriet Miers.
    ---
    A New Voter Fraud
    Democrats are getting people to vote for moderates in order to put extremists in power.
    By Thomas Sowell
    (Some of the "moderates" aren't:
    Tester is a left-wing moonbat who goes pro-gun to win.)
    ---
    Alcee Hastings the crook for Intelligence:
    Jane Harmon offends Nancy.

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  8. The Most Relieved Person in America Today... [John Podhoretz]
    ...is John Kerry.
    ---
    Once again you miss the main point, John:
    Kerry's POTUS aspirations are toast.
    ...but who knows if he's aware enough to know it.
    Maybe Hillary will get aggressive cancer.
    Perish the thought.

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  9. Post Election [John J. Miller]

    The Washington Post, on Oct. 18:

    Virginia Democratic Senate candidate James Webb, who was critically wounded as a Marine in Vietnam, said yesterday that he is uncomfortable talking about his personal story even if doing so could help him unseat Republican Sen. George Allen on Nov. 7.

    The Washington Post, right now:

    When Webb claimed victory, he did it as a Marine. He came into the Vienna hotel ballroom accompanied by his brother Gary playing the bagpipes, and about a dozen of his Marine buddies emerged from behind the stage. He stood at attention, ramrod straight, as they filed in.

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  10. What's he smokin?
    ---
    Still Plenty of Room to Confirm Strong Justices
    [Ed Whelan 11/07 10:08 PM]

    As I write this, Senate Democrats have apparently already gained three seats (in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island), and it is certainly possible that they will gain the additional three (and perhaps more) seats needed to capture formal majority control of the Senate. Even if Democrats do take control, President Bush will still have plenty of room to get another excellent Supreme Court justice—or even two or three more—confirmed. I will spell out my thoughts on this more fully soon, but, at least on the topic of Supreme Court confirmations, there’s simply no cause for despair.
    Speaking of hope: I will attend the oral arguments in the partial-birth abortion cases Wednesday morning and will try to find time to provide a report.

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  11. As I write this, Senate Democrats have apparently already gained three seats (in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island), and it is certainly possible that they will gain the additional three (and perhaps more) seats needed to capture formal majority control of the Senate.

    Right about now a lot of sincerely apologetic Dems are saying to Lieberman, "Hey, no hard feelings, right Joe? Right?"

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  12. Religion Digs in Its Heels
    Faith meets modernity, and prospers.
    By Jonah Goldberg
    In one of the more interesting election campaigns of the year, a hard-core leftist embraced religion, came out firmly against abortion, and openly campaigned as if God were on his side. Election results weren’t official at the time of this writing, but victory seemed a foregone conclusion. Harold Ford in Tennessee? Nope. Hillary Clinton in New York? Nope. I’m talking about Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.

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  13. "I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
    I watched myself crawlin' out as I was a-crawlin' in
    I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
    I saw so much I broke my mind
    I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in"
    Kenny Rogers & the First Edition with backup by HABU.

    I didn't watch anything last night but DVD's..I just now saw the results..OUCH. But I slept like a baby last night.

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  14. I think President Bush just got spanked.
    Any bets on when the first Articles of Impeachment are offered?
    When do the hearings begin on Iraq-gate?
    I've been a Rep. all my life but they had all the power and this is what they did..spent more and fucked up a war.
    I will reregister as a Libertarian.
    When they find a Teddy Roosevelt I'll come home.

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  15. cutler makes some interesting points, the Democrats, in order to win, nominated and elected candaidates who could have easily run as Republicans. That pushes the Democrats to the center. The American public likes the center. Every generation needs to learn their own lessons. They tried what they thought was the Republican Conservative way. Many Conservatives thought they were trying the American Conservative way. It was far from conservative, but Bush donned the title as a Conservative. The brand image has been tarnished.

    I bought a Volvo once, and it was the worst car I ever owned. I never bought another one. Likewise, the Bush Administration, short of a miracle in Iraq will not be remembered for successes. He has Republican emblazened on the hood and was marketed at a GOP, Conservative.

    I see several good things in this:

    Intitiatives to pass English as an official language passed. That shows some hope for immigration reform short of amnesty.

    Iraq must stand up and pay attention. they now can see that they may get what they "say" they wish for., an early American withdrawal.

    The Europeans may pay attention and see that if we do not get some agreement about Iran, the US may withdraw to isolationism. That is a bigger problem for Europe than the US.

    There could be good that comes form this and then again maybe not, but Republicans better not think that this was just a normal mid-presidential election cycle correction. That would be wishfull thinking. It would be foolish thinking.

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  16. Oh, come on guys, it's all just part of the Master Plan.

    The consumate poker player and all that...

    Mr Webb wins in a squeaker and Mr Allen goes the Al Gore route of rejection, recounts and law suits.

    It was worse than I thought it would be and I thought it would be bad.

    That "bridge to nowhere", they should have let Mr Stevens resign over it.

    Ms Miers for the Supremes, that'll be great, compassionate and all that.

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  17. People,people here ye.

    With the plans already in place and moving forward for the North American Union I don't think you have too much to worry about with the socialism. It's been here a long time.
    The country already works "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs) a slogan popularized by Karl Marx in his 1875 Critique of the Gotha Program. The phrase incorporates the ideal that, under a communist system of government, every person shall produce to the best of their ability in accordance with their talent, and each person shall receive the fruits of this production in accordance with their need, irrespective of what they have produced.(Wiki)
    Our method is the IRS collection and Congressional redistribution of wealth. No difference at all.

    I have hoisted the Jolly Roger. I thought about the Red Flag of Revolution but was afraid too many might just mistake it for the red rectangle of rage.

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  18. And, doug, just 'cause I saw the debacle before the finished counting the votes, does not mean I'm pleased as punch by the result.

    My Representitive and Senator are still Republicans, how about yours, amigo?

    Mr Foley seems inconsequental, this morning, aye.
    Heard Tom DeLay say you cannot win by not losing, it gained my attention, then I realized he was talking Politics, not WAR.

    No course change there, we'll still play to "not lose" in Iraq and the "Global War".

    War or Retreat, we'll retreat some more, then there will be a real War.
    The Chamberlain analogy seems more apt each day, The "Phoney War" is over, now its 1973.

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  19. Rufus,

    Now we'll see in the next few weeks how the markets react. Although the market talking heads always say the same thing. " We already factored that into the market"

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  20. Here's where the Democrats really go after Wal Mart. From the socialist program.

    The Erfurt Program
    1891
    [1] The economic development of industrial society tends inevitably to the ruin of small industries, which are based upon the workman's private ownership of the means of production. It separates him from these means of production and converts him into a destitute member of the proletariat, whilst a comparatively small number of capitalists and great landowners obtain a monopoly of the means of production.

    People get ready for the trains a com'in ...

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  21. People get ready for the trains a com'in ...

    At least they'll be a com'in on time.

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  22. I have hoisted the Jolly Roger. I thought about the Red Flag of Revolution but was afraid too many might just mistake it for the red rectangle of rage.

    Just don't make it higher than the Bush Administration's Pink Polygon of Progressivism.

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  23. I’m talking about Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.

    Nicaragua is second only to Haiti from the bottom of the economic ladder in the Western Hemisphere, and if he ushers in communism again, he'll be taking her clear to the bottom. Now is not the time to panic and fund the contras again by selling TOW missiles to Iran.

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  24. But the beat goes on

    GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Hamas' military wing called Wednesday on Muslims around the world to attack American targets following reports that an Israeli tank strike killed 18 people in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

    The Hamas-led Palestinian government distanced itself from the call, saying its fight was with Israel.

    Hamas militants have historically directed their suicide bombings and rocket attacks only against Israeli targets.

    "America is offering political, financial and logistic cover for the Zionist occupation crimes, and it is responsible for the Beit Hanoun massacre. Therefore, the people and the nation all over the globe are required to teach the American enemy tough lessons," Hamas' military wing said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. ...

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  25. In a triple setback for conservatives, South Dakotans rejected a law that would have banned virtually all abortions, Arizona became the first state to defeat an amendment to ban gay marriage and Missouri approved a measure backing stem cell research.


    Found this at a link at drudge, great days acomin', along with that on time train?

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  26. Now we'll see in the next few weeks how the markets react. Although the market talking heads always say the same thing. " We already factored that into the market"

    If the Dow is up today, the headline on CBS news will be "Stock market rises 100 points under Democrat leadership"

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  27. What is really kinda funny, Ms Pelosi was derided as an enemy of the Republic, while Mr Maliki was embraced as a bestest ally, just like the General President.

    Mr Bush called his fellow Federals the Enemy and embraced Islamo-fascist as friends.

    No wonder the US Public was a bit "confused".

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  28. Ms T,
    Like she's undercover..we could never tell.
    Yeah, were fried 'em, and bombed 'em so that only shadows remained.
    Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue.

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  29. Joe buzz,
    In The People's Republic of Santa Monica you can't go into a 7-11 without a burka.
    In the 60's and 70's it was a caftan but times change.

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  30. The Chin's,Chang's and Lee's at Sandia Labs and Lawrence Livermore are busy this morning transmitting the remainder of our TOP SECRET data to the Chi-coms.

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  31. Well, in Santa Monica tobacco has been outlawed, but the "evil weed" from Mexico has been decriminalized.

    So if a Policeman sees the Marlboro man, it's off to the jail, but a blunt does not even rate a ticket.

    Times they are a changin'

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  32. Ah well, at least we get to see the Dems trying to walk the walk instead of sniping via the MSM. Too bad the path they walk leads straight to hell.

    So whats the program now?

    The Dem centrist/pragmatic wing in cahoots with the 'pubs will not want to cut and run from Iraq, but the Kos leftists will undercut the war effort at every turn and the leadership will accomodate both, kinda like Vietnam in 1970-72, just in time for a flee the embassy photoshoot in october 2008?

    More Churchill Ward flavored leftist indoctrination lunacy in academia? More group entitlements enforced by academia, government, business? If they enforced school desegregation, can they enforce neighborhood desegregation?

    Legalising marriage between any two consenting parties, even if the age, sex or species do no match appropriately?

    Limp duck exit from Iraq followed by feelgood Clintonist humanitarian intervention in Darfur?

    Reparations for slavery? (But ... whaddya mean white, I FEEL black ...)

    Reparations for 200 years of unjust repression of the native Amerindian peoples?

    When France finally loses it and starts repressing/ opressing/ ejecting/ deporting/ cleansing the banlieus of terrorists/ islamoids, the USA will abandon Darfur and invade France, in order to defend the poor mooslims right to wear burkhas and well, because its a pushover?

    Pelosi houses passes immigration amnesty with Bush blessing and America gets x0 000 000 new citizens (guarantee permanent victory by importing new socialist voters ala Belguim/Sweden) in time for elections 2008, with three times as many new ilegals having replaced them?

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  33. The pundits final week apercu of Republican momentum has now now been reclassified as the sound of Reps. running to the lifeboats.
    I think I saw some nasty elbows being thrown and children slipping from the loving embrace of incumbents.
    This means ALGore,Gary Hart,Adeli Stevenson,George McGovern, and General Grant are all back in play.

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  34. Fellow Peacekeeper,

    I don't believe academic lunacy has an apogee to ever be reached so no worry there.

    Anyway the North American Union which is already in play, well in play will denude American sovereignty and dilute your rights within a score years. Without a revolution there's no stopping it.

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  35. I just really hope and pray that our beloved Nancy P. doesn't get one of those facelifts that make you look like you have saran wrap stretched over your face and the corners of your eyes pulled back to you ears.
    She is a damn sight prettier than Hastert. Think we could talk he into a 34D showing some cleavage?

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  36. On the upside maybe I'll get to wax some banditos right here in 'merica.

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  37. Some of you have multiple personalities, while others want to appropriate the identity of their betters.

    Blogging is such an educational activity on so many levels.

    Mr Allen sounds more and more like Al Gore in Florida.
    Good for him, I guess.

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  38. Personally I'm expecting to see the press "realize" the economy's going great and credit it to the incoming Democratic pulling it out of a two-term Bush malaise.

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  39. "FoxNews reporting from the White House: White House spokesman Tony Snow reacted to the change in House control by allowing they're disappointed, but that it presents some intriguing opportunities, such as passing comprehensive immigration reform which failed in the previous Republican House."

    Don't want to jump the shark, but things are pretty bad when even I begin to wonder if this was to some extent, seen as a consolation prize in the White House.

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  40. "The Europeans may pay attention and see that if we do not get some agreement about Iran, the US may withdraw to isolationism. That is a bigger problem for Europe than the US."

    I've never gotten the memo that the Democrats are isolationists. Perhaps it is true, but I don't see it. The people who voted for them, maybe, but not the national leadership. The populism is nothing but a front.

    They DC leadership are internationalists. They project power in plenty of places. The problem is those places have nothing to do with American national security (and in places like Kosovo, actually harm it) and typically get American involved in places it doesn't even need to be. They also demoralize and wear down the military.

    What we get are temporary accolades from schmucks like Gerhard Schroeder and Kofi Annan who see us as the incompetent pool boy who should just be expected to do that shit. To be followed by carping and anti-Americanism wherever possible

    The Democratic rule of thumb isn't that power is bad. It is that power in pursuit of American interests is bad.

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  41. Possum, I like your profile. :)

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