The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

When Hope Is the Hardest Thing

Posted on | March 22, 2010 | 68 Comments

When you really get your butt kicked, the way we got our butt kicked last night, the post-defeat depression is very real. Having spent the past week blogging almost non-stop about this ObamaCare cramdown, I’m as bummed out as anybody.

And yet good came out of it, because truth was revealed. I hope no conservative henceforth labors under the delusion that there is any such a thing as a “conservative Democrat” in Congress.

Bart Stupak covered himself in shame, a shame shared by all those who told us that “pro-life Democrats” could be useful allies. Stupak and the Blue Dogs (all of them, even those given permission by Pelosi to vote “no” last night) provide the fig leaf of moderation that enables this radical regime.

I encourage everyone to contribute to That Dog Won’t Hunt, a political action committee dedicated to the eradication of the Blue Dogs.

What comes next? We fight. Obi’s Sister is fighting mad. Before that fight begins, however, allow me to express hearty agreement with Philip Klein of the American Spectator:

The question conservatives should be asking though, is how did we get in this position in the first place? How come, over the course of two elections, Democrats were able to take back the White House and amass substantial majorities in both chambers of Congress, allowing them to enact this sweeping legislation with no Republican votes – and huge defections in their own party? How could a generally right-of-center nation be taken over by liberals from Chicago and San Francisco?
The answer, of course, is that none of this would have been possible without George W. Bush — or more broadly speaking, Bush era Republicanism. While they were in power, Republicans squandered an opportunity to push free market health care solutions. When they did use their power to pass major legislation, it was for policies like the big government Medicare prescription drug plan, which was (until today) the largest expansion of entitlements since the Great Society. They took earmarks and doled out farm and energy subsidies. They earned a reputation for fiscal recklessness and corruption and incompetent governance. President Obama ultimately forced through the health care bill in spite of the political consequences to his party because he’s ultimately a true believing liberal. But it was only because of the failures of Bush-era Republicanism that an ideological liberal with little experience was able to capture the presidency on the abstract notion of change.
Today will be largely remembered as the biggest legislative victory for liberals since Medicare in 1965. But it should also be remembered as the day that Bush cemented his legacy as one of the most destructive presidents for advocates of limited government.

Which is to say that what happened Sunday night was not the birth of a new era of liberalism. Rather, it was the death of a kind of “conservatism” that was never really conservative at all. It was the “conservatism” of No Child Left Behind and ethanol subsidies, of unprincipled compromise and cynical self-dealing, of “shamnesty” and kowtowing to CAIR.

If the Republican Party can offer America nothing better than that in the future, the GOP will go the way of the Whigs, passing unlamented into political oblivion.

Now, however, is not  the time to dwell too much on that. There’s going to be some long overdue payback in this year’s GOP primaries — J.D. Hayworth is gaining ground in Arizona — but the much bigger target is Tuesday, Nov. 2. We can look forward to that fight with hope. We need fighters for this fight, and Allen West is ready to fight:

Sunday’s vote by the House of Representatives was a travesty of policy, politics and process.
The liberal troika of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi has once again conspired to trample the will of Americans and strong armed Congress to pass healthcare legislation the public simply does not want.
From all across America citizens flooded Congress with the message that a government takeover of healthcare, complete with an exploding bureaucracy and massive tax increases, is not the reform needed to solve our healthcare problems.
Congressman Ron Klein was complicit in the tangled tactics used to move an unpopular bill past the public and toward the President’s desk.
Klein did not hold a single town hall meeting where the general public was invited to ask questions or present their views.  Klein hid behind controlled environments such as telephone conference calls and tightly controlled meetings.  He refused my offer to debate him on this topic at a place and time of his choosing.
Klein has ignored the public’s will with his vote Sunday.  On November 2nd Klein will pay the price for his arrogant approach to representing Florida’s 22nd District when the people flood the ballot box with their frustration for Mr. Klein.
My pledge to the people of the 22nd District is simple-once elected I will do everything in my power to repeal the repugnant portions of this monstrous piece of legislation.

Go West!

Category: Congress, Election, Health Care

Comments

68 Responses to “When Hope Is the Hardest Thing”

  1. republicanmother
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 4:57 pm

    The republicans lost control of congress because of this same crap, only on a smaller scale.

    McCain lost because of supporting the bailout.

    Obama was elected to punish the RINOS on the part of independents who actually believed him.

    The pendulum is ready to swing again, as Davy Crockett said (check out my Davy Roundup on my new blog!) – Like Jonah’s gourd, the party in power will quickly die.

    I think the country is uniting in opposition. Like Patton said, America loves a winner and won’t tolerate a loser. The majority of the country is now in the position of underdog fighting against “the man” (Nancy Pelosi is not a woman in the true since of the world.)

    Just cue up the video montage of us all stuffing envelopes, putting up signs, making voodoo dolls, etc. with some cheerful 80’s music in the background. Let’s get organized with a 50 state strategy and not let up!

  2. republicanmother
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 11:57 am

    The republicans lost control of congress because of this same crap, only on a smaller scale.

    McCain lost because of supporting the bailout.

    Obama was elected to punish the RINOS on the part of independents who actually believed him.

    The pendulum is ready to swing again, as Davy Crockett said (check out my Davy Roundup on my new blog!) – Like Jonah’s gourd, the party in power will quickly die.

    I think the country is uniting in opposition. Like Patton said, America loves a winner and won’t tolerate a loser. The majority of the country is now in the position of underdog fighting against “the man” (Nancy Pelosi is not a woman in the true since of the world.)

    Just cue up the video montage of us all stuffing envelopes, putting up signs, making voodoo dolls, etc. with some cheerful 80’s music in the background. Let’s get organized with a 50 state strategy and not let up!

  3. Joe
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 4:59 pm

    Interesting how this change might change things.

    I guess I am not thrilled with Kennedy getting more power and influence leaning liberal (more “that is how they do it in Europe” does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling), but in some cases it might be a good thing.

  4. Joe
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 11:59 am

    Interesting how this change might change things.

    I guess I am not thrilled with Kennedy getting more power and influence leaning liberal (more “that is how they do it in Europe” does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling), but in some cases it might be a good thing.

  5. Adobe Walls
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 5:22 pm

    BTOC- Day+1 March 22, 2010
    Today is the 1st day of the rest of the war to crush the left and eliminate it as a viable force in our political, social and cultural life. Yesterday those who support Liberty and personal Independence in this nation, indeed the world, lost one battle in which the odds against us massively favored our foe. This battle was almost a draw, not exactly a crushing strategic victory for the forces of darkness. The fact that our defeat, which should have been quick, easy and cheap for the left, was forestalled for so long places us on “good ground” tactically for the next and much more crucial battle coming in November. Today we start driving in their pickets and chasing off their scouts.
    In the next election cycle the Bolsheviks must lose the house if this doesn’t happen that will be a significant strategic defeat. If the conservatives (not just republicans) don’t take both houses and the White House in 2012 that will demonstrate that the public hasn’t actually learned anything from the nearly catastrophic choices voters made in 2008. The left’s single most significant weakness, aside from it’s intrinsic evilness, is that the progressives believe their own mythology. They actually think that the American Public can be sold this HC bill in the next seven plus months despite our refusal for the last eight. The Social Democrats prattle on about how wonderful we’ll find this latest assault on our liberty. They insist that they will get more traction by succeeding at this infamy than if they had failed to pass anything at all. I say repeated unsuccessful attempts at murder gain one no kudos after finally succeeding. These socialists are counting on some improvement in our economy and the rate of unemployment. The problem with this fantasy is it relies on the nit wits in power to do something to positively effect these improvements, meanwhile they just voted to raise taxes and are planning on renewing the push for cap & tax and their “assault the capitalists” financial reform. The obtuseness of these people truly astounds.

  6. Adobe Walls
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 12:22 pm

    BTOC- Day+1 March 22, 2010
    Today is the 1st day of the rest of the war to crush the left and eliminate it as a viable force in our political, social and cultural life. Yesterday those who support Liberty and personal Independence in this nation, indeed the world, lost one battle in which the odds against us massively favored our foe. This battle was almost a draw, not exactly a crushing strategic victory for the forces of darkness. The fact that our defeat, which should have been quick, easy and cheap for the left, was forestalled for so long places us on “good ground” tactically for the next and much more crucial battle coming in November. Today we start driving in their pickets and chasing off their scouts.
    In the next election cycle the Bolsheviks must lose the house if this doesn’t happen that will be a significant strategic defeat. If the conservatives (not just republicans) don’t take both houses and the White House in 2012 that will demonstrate that the public hasn’t actually learned anything from the nearly catastrophic choices voters made in 2008. The left’s single most significant weakness, aside from it’s intrinsic evilness, is that the progressives believe their own mythology. They actually think that the American Public can be sold this HC bill in the next seven plus months despite our refusal for the last eight. The Social Democrats prattle on about how wonderful we’ll find this latest assault on our liberty. They insist that they will get more traction by succeeding at this infamy than if they had failed to pass anything at all. I say repeated unsuccessful attempts at murder gain one no kudos after finally succeeding. These socialists are counting on some improvement in our economy and the rate of unemployment. The problem with this fantasy is it relies on the nit wits in power to do something to positively effect these improvements, meanwhile they just voted to raise taxes and are planning on renewing the push for cap & tax and their “assault the capitalists” financial reform. The obtuseness of these people truly astounds.

  7. Bob Belvedere
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 5:54 pm

    Quoted from and Linked to at:
    DEFCON 1: ‘What Comes Next? We Fight.’

    Oh, and by the way: Representative Bart Stupak Is STILL A Cheap Crack Whore
    —–
    It’s Time To ROC ‘N’ ROLL:
    Restore Our Constitution & Restore Our Lost Liberties

    WOLVERINES!

  8. Bob Belvedere
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 12:54 pm

    Quoted from and Linked to at:
    DEFCON 1: ‘What Comes Next? We Fight.’

    Oh, and by the way: Representative Bart Stupak Is STILL A Cheap Crack Whore
    —–
    It’s Time To ROC ‘N’ ROLL:
    Restore Our Constitution & Restore Our Lost Liberties

    WOLVERINES!

  9. DEFCON 1: ‘What Comes Next? We Fight.’ [Updates Below] « The Camp Of The Saints [New Main Site]
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

    […] from Stacy’s call-to-arms of this morning: …what happened Sunday night was not the birth of a new era of liberalism. […]

  10. Paul A'Barge
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 7:21 pm

    Want to stop having these kinds of experiences? Then stop voting for people like GWB. Stop electing people who listen to people like Karl Rove.

    Vote for Conservatives.

  11. Paul A'Barge
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 2:21 pm

    Want to stop having these kinds of experiences? Then stop voting for people like GWB. Stop electing people who listen to people like Karl Rove.

    Vote for Conservatives.

  12. ~ The Government Now Officially Calls the Shots Regarding Your Health Needs – Unfortunately for You, Their Only Interest is in Saving Money « Critical Political Thinking
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 3:31 pm

    […] The Other McCain: They Should’ve Listened to Rush -When Hope Is the Hardest Thing […]

  13. Noel
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 11:18 pm

    Capt. Ed had a similar Hot Air post, mentioning Jack Kemp’s willingness to engage on “Democrat” issues, and the “nature abhors a vaccum”-opening we left for Democrats by not solving the problem on our terms when we had a chance.

    McCain actually had a decent plan, though he had trouble explaining it, and it was about 20 years too late. Even before Bush, we should have raising hell about Liberals driving up health care costs to bring on single-payer, and taxing people into poverty for the same reason.

    When his kids left the house, Jack would say: “Be a leader.”

    Good advice.

  14. Noel
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 6:18 pm

    Capt. Ed had a similar Hot Air post, mentioning Jack Kemp’s willingness to engage on “Democrat” issues, and the “nature abhors a vaccum”-opening we left for Democrats by not solving the problem on our terms when we had a chance.

    McCain actually had a decent plan, though he had trouble explaining it, and it was about 20 years too late. Even before Bush, we should have raising hell about Liberals driving up health care costs to bring on single-payer, and taxing people into poverty for the same reason.

    When his kids left the house, Jack would say: “Be a leader.”

    Good advice.

  15. Ellie Light
    March 23rd, 2010 @ 3:33 am

    Sorry the reason the GOP died on Bush’s watch was that it became dhimmi lite. It wasn’t the spending, the corruption, or arrogance, it was AMNESTY.

    AMNESTY, AMNESTY, AMNESTY>

    It was this issue when the rank and file got to see why the McCains and Bushies entertained the Kennedies and Reids so often and got along so famously. They had shared values, but the mere progues, well those folks qwere bigoted racists who would deny the elites their nannies and gardners.

    I don’t think there is a nickel worth of difference between these people.

  16. Ellie Light
    March 22nd, 2010 @ 10:33 pm

    Sorry the reason the GOP died on Bush’s watch was that it became dhimmi lite. It wasn’t the spending, the corruption, or arrogance, it was AMNESTY.

    AMNESTY, AMNESTY, AMNESTY>

    It was this issue when the rank and file got to see why the McCains and Bushies entertained the Kennedies and Reids so often and got along so famously. They had shared values, but the mere progues, well those folks qwere bigoted racists who would deny the elites their nannies and gardners.

    I don’t think there is a nickel worth of difference between these people.

  17. Robert Birch
    March 23rd, 2010 @ 5:47 am

    I live in the 13th Congressional District in Texas. All I can say is the Chet Edwards is a smart S.O.B. for not voting for the bill.

    Oh, prediction time. Pelosi goes down in 2010! John Dennis got quite a lot of support last night after the bill went down.

    P.S.
    I share in the same depression that Smitty, McCain and all of us are feeling tonight.

  18. Robert Birch
    March 23rd, 2010 @ 12:47 am

    I live in the 13th Congressional District in Texas. All I can say is the Chet Edwards is a smart S.O.B. for not voting for the bill.

    Oh, prediction time. Pelosi goes down in 2010! John Dennis got quite a lot of support last night after the bill went down.

    P.S.
    I share in the same depression that Smitty, McCain and all of us are feeling tonight.