The Other McCain

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

The Vichy GOP Thinks Tea Parties Should Just Shut Up & Fall In Line, Or Something

Posted on | September 21, 2014 | 64 Comments

by Smitty

One must borrow Her Majesty’s dead horse in response to the Fox News question:

Will Tea Party, GOP establishment be ‘mending fences’ to win Senate in November?

After a long, unapologetic effort to defeat Tea Party and other so-called “unelectable” candidates in GOP primaries, the Washington establishment will likely need Tea Party voters in November to help swing several tight Senate races and win control of the upper chamber.

Here I go:

What difference, at this point, does it make?

One can understand that, yes, there are still two years of #OccupyResoluteDesk to endure. But

  • ObamaCare is still a river of lies, with no hope of repeal
  • The IRS is an affront to all things American
  • Ground truth on Benghazi remains elusive
  • We have no hope of a reasonable budget
  • The Federal Reserve is still running amok
  • The immigration sellout seems a question of when, not if
  • Border and national security seem a shambles

The GOP can’t just argue: “We may suck, but we’re all you’ve got” and “SCOTUS” and expect the base just to roll over like so many moderate Congressional panhandlers waiting for the deal to be cut.

Actual conservatives are wondering things like: “Where is the leadership?” and “What is the reform course?”

The gut feeling amongst the irregular troops who should be supplying the bulk of the momentum for a wave election is that there may not be a point to it. That the real mission of the GOP is to be a shock absorber for reform. That the substantial difference between Boehner and Pelosi is that Cryin’ Johnny never equated Tea Partiers Nazis. That those who cautioned against leaving the GOP for a brand new party (and I’m still in that camp, barely) may have been just wrong. That it may be time for our version of UKIP. There are a couple of proto-Nigel Farage figures in circulation, but breaking them loose of the Vichy GOP would seem unlikely at the moment.

A repeat of 2010 should be a no-brainer, but we may first need a no-Boehner.

Comments

64 Responses to “The Vichy GOP Thinks Tea Parties Should Just Shut Up & Fall In Line, Or Something”

  1. NeoWayland
    September 21st, 2014 @ 5:46 pm

    I’m not sure, but I think you should be severely punished for that last line.

    Maybe you should only consume your third-favorite adult beverage for a week.

  2. RickCaird
    September 21st, 2014 @ 5:56 pm

    I have been amazed at how the GOP establishment just trashes TEA Party types and tells us all only the establishment can win, and then support and force a Thad Cochran and Pat Roberts on everyone as if they are paragons of good government. Nonsense on stilts.

  3. NeoWayland
    September 21st, 2014 @ 6:15 pm

    I’m going to put the idea out there again.

    None Of The Above.

    Think about it.

  4. Daniel Freeman
    September 21st, 2014 @ 6:54 pm

    Fusion voting. Make it so that every vote for a candidate adds together, no matter what party line it’s under. Then your minority party can prove that the candidate wouldn’t have won without your support, and you’ll actually have leverage.

    Of course, (IIRC) it was the Republican party that killed fusion voting in most states, for that very reason…

  5. M. Thompson
    September 21st, 2014 @ 6:59 pm

    I’m tired of the Democrats running the state into the ground at highspeed. So I’m holding my nose in some cases (Mr. McFadden, take note).

    Also, how many are complaining and not doing things? I’m sick and tired of all talk and no effort types. Do you go to local party mettings, and actually work to choose the candidates? If not, why aren’t you showing up? At a local level, it is VERY possible to kick the “establishment” candidates out, and chose your own.

  6. Daniel Freeman
    September 21st, 2014 @ 7:05 pm

    To refuse to choose is to choose the default. Unless you’re advocating revolution, voting “none of the above” is barely distinguishable from voting “poll leader.”

  7. Adobe_Walls
    September 21st, 2014 @ 7:43 pm

    The problem is that in almost all elections above the level of County Sheriff do not offer an actual choice other than one of the two wings of the same party. In almost all US congressional, senate or presidential elections voting Libertarian or even Communist for that matter is at least as constructive a vote as voting Democrat or Republican.

  8. NeoWayland
    September 21st, 2014 @ 8:17 pm

    I always thought the default was unoccupied…

  9. Daniel Freeman
    September 21st, 2014 @ 10:13 pm

    That sounds like a reference, but I don’t recognize it. If the default is unoccupied, that is only conceptually; in an actual election in the real world, the default is occupied by money.

  10. AZfederalist
    September 21st, 2014 @ 11:25 pm

    Mrs. Federalist has been very active locally. Problem is, the establishment Republicans act more like democrats when crushing the opposition within the party than democrats do. Then, come the general election, they expect us all to fall in line with the establishment picks for the election while that pick fawns and rolls over for the democrat challenger treating the democrat with more respect than was ever shown for the republican primary challengers. The state and local GOP change the rules to make sure that Tea Party or conservatives are shut out, when one is successful, the rules are changed to make sure that doesn’t ever happen again. She has become very disillusioned and I share that disillusionment. It may be that the Republican party is truly dead, or is just becoming a subsidiary of the democrat party and it will take the formation of a true second party (note, I deliberately did not say third party) to win back the country.

    This year, yeah, we’ll hold our noses again, because even a weepy Boehner and spineless McConnell are superior to an evil Pelosi and senile Reid. But that’s not going to save the country from the looming disaster.

  11. Adobe_Walls
    September 21st, 2014 @ 11:47 pm

    If disaster it is to be we may as well embrace the inevitable and move on from there.

  12. Only idiots sit out an election | Law of Markets
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 12:45 am

    […] right sat out the last election. This is a list from The Other McCain by Smitty in which he argues The Vichy GOP Thinks Tea Parties Should Just Shut Up & Fall In Line, Or Something. This is the list of issues that might have been dealt with if we had elected those more to the Tea […]

  13. Stosh
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 2:02 am

    The Tea Party needs to win positions at the local and state level. Mayor, County Sheriff, State Rep., and more importantly they need to run and win at the local GOP party positions. We can’t win the top federal positions without a solid elected base, simply walking in protests is not enough.

  14. K-Bob
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 3:01 am

    One of our problems in the creation of a UKIP-like party here (besides all the other serious problems) is that for some reason, precious few serious candidates will take the effort to study how Farage presents UKIP. It goes beyond that. If you listen to Daniel Hanan or even Mark Steyn for more than a few moments, you realize another way of discussing events and ideas is possible.

    Instead, our politicians refuse the effort. Like a musician who is doggedly determined to never practice scales or learn chords, they plan on creating the next, great symphony, with a few memorized licks and parts of easy-to-play songs “everyone” likes.

    I you could merge Ted Cruz, with his general Constitutional scholarship and his competence in the Reagan method of deflecting stupid media questions with Allen West’s classical speech techniques and boldness in public speaking, you’d just about have a voice like Farage or Hanan (Yes, I know Hanan isn’t a member of UKIP).

    But come on, these skills are teachable! Pop Stars use aspects of them all the time. So clearly it’s not an intellectual exercise. Vocal training, vocabulary building, a study in rhetoric, a stint in debate, and a thorough grounding in the philosophy of the founders… all of those things ought to be entry-level considerations for any Republican.

    We get half of that in our best politicians.

    However, to Smitty’s other points, I’m in agreement. I don’t think it’s possible to create a third party from scratch and win in 2016, 2020, or even 2024. But if we started now, maybe by 2028 you’d see a “USIP” candidate in the Oval Office.

    Provided the Oval Office exists by then, and elections are still held. I don’t really think we have that many years left to us, frankly.

    Thus, we’re forced to overcome the Republicans and take over their party. Big donors like Adelson stand athwart that effort, however. It’s a rum go, guv, and no mistake.

  15. Adjoran
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 4:30 am

    That the substantial difference between Boehner and Pelosi is that Cryin’ Johnny never equated Tea Partiers Nazis.

    Seriously? Those two have been on the opposite sides of nearly every vote, with the exception of compromise budget/continuing resolutions, since they’ve been in office together.

    What color is the sky in your world?

  16. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:18 am

    It is not a reference, though it does reflect common libertarian thought.

    The answer to government problems is not always seizing control. Government “problems” tend to be caused by government. Usually the best thing you can do is reduce government.

    So a vacant seat in the legislature takes power away from both parties and lessens the chance of either major party getting a legal majority.

    I have my ideas about the parties too, and fundraising, but one idea at a time.

  17. Lemuel Vargas
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:58 am

    That is why it boggles the mind why the GOPe wants to commit hara kiri ny alienating their base. At least, the Dems pander to their base.

  18. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:18 am

    “” A repeat of 2010 should be a no-brainer””” I recall in 2010, the GOP losing a number of senate races thanks to bad tea party candidates.

  19. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:19 am

    What’s wrong with Roberts? He has a reliably conservative voting record. His opponent was a someone who violated HIPPA laws by posting gun shot victims pictures on his Facebook page.

  20. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:20 am

    Oh you’re so brilliant!!! Almost as smart as Harry Reid who got a None of the Above option added to the NV ballot.

  21. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:22 am

    The reason I no longer support the TP is they’ve lost all sense of reality.

  22. RickCaird
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:31 am

    He is old. He doesn’t live in Kansas. He believes he is entitled to the seat. He is firmly entrenched in DC. His opponent is giving him fits. Is that enough or do you want more?

  23. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:39 am

    His opponent wouldnt matter if Milton Wolf hadnt divided the GOP, by running.

  24. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:41 am

    The TP lost primaries because they:
    1. Viciously challenged incumbents with conservative records.
    2. Ran awful candidates
    3. The establishment is tired of seeing TPers lose winning races (CO,NV, IN).
    The battle cry the TP didnt hear is “No More Todd Akins and No More Richard Mourdocks”

  25. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:46 am

    What the “Other McCain” doesnt want you to know is that since 2010, when the GOP took the House, The federal budget deficit has fallen from, $1.5 trillion to $400 billion (10% of GDP to 3% of GDP), the fastest decline since WW2. That in 2013, federal spending was 23% of GDP, down from 26% of GDP in 2010. The first ever decline in nominal federal spending since the Korean War occurred with the current House GOP with the Sequester.

  26. RickCaird
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 9:47 am

    LOL, so you are of the opinion one should never challenge a Republican incumbent. That is a nice philosophy for keeping things the same. You must like being in the minority and benefiting from the perq’s of office. Are you sure you are not a Democrat? If Roberts loses, it is because he is a poor candidate who has passed his expiration date.

  27. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 10:26 am

    It’s not a “total solution” I’ll admit.

    It would help if folks started holding the politicos responsible for what they have done instead of what they say they will do.

    I’d like to see the national leadership of both parties prosecuted under the RICO Act. Including the current office holders.

    Uniform rule of law.

  28. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 10:30 am

    And that would be bad how?

  29. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 10:49 am

    I notice you are not talking about the Federal debt or the unfunded liabilities.

  30. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 11:01 am

    Yes, I am of mostly of that opinion. Roberts has average 60% of the vote during his time in office. KS voters would gladly return him to office were it not for the awful candidacy of Milton Wolf who posted facebook photos of his patients violating HIPPA regulations. BTW I also supported Justin Amash and opposed the establishment candidate. The problem with you TPers is you never take responsibility for your reckless actions.

  31. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 11:01 am

    “”It would help if folks started holding the politicos responsible for what they have done instead of what they say they will do.””

    Your problem is with Dems not the GOP

  32. Bobloblaw67
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 11:04 am

    So you admit that the House GOP did indeed stop the bleeding. Good. I just told you that the rate of federal debt increase has dramatically slowed since 2010.

  33. RS
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 11:40 am

    The Republican usurpation of the Whigs is instructive, I think. And I agree with the commenter above who maintains any such movement must begin at a local level. It is a long term process. The problem is whether we have that much time.

  34. RS
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 11:43 am

    The current Mythos attributes Todd Akin to the Tea Party. Wrong. I was there and I know what happened. The Establishment refused to support the best conservative candidate in a three way race. That’s why we got Akin, who is a complete idiot.

  35. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 12:00 pm

    I’m a libertarian. My problem is with politicos.

    Specifically with this politicos who deliver higher taxes, higher spending, more laws, more government agencies, more regulation, and more sacred cows.

    I’m from Arizona, and my problem is definitely with John McCain.

  36. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 12:02 pm

    I didn’t “admit” anything.

    Overspending less is hardly responsible. Especially when so much of the official budget goes to debt service.

  37. Adobe_Walls
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 12:18 pm

    What would be worse?

  38. NeoWayland
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 12:21 pm

    Embracing the inevitable and moving on.

  39. K-Bob
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 1:28 pm

    So the first thing we do is, we invent a time masheen.

    http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/idiocracy_timemasheen.jpg

  40. Finrod Felagund
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 2:28 pm

    New York state has that kind of voting. It’s one of a very small number of things about that state that I actually like.

  41. Finrod Felagund
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 2:30 pm

    Akin was no Tea Partier. Pushing that meme invalidates your entire theory.

  42. ArdvarkMaster
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 4:19 pm

    John McCain won’t campaign against his good friend Udall (D) in Colorado. Why the hell should any conservative ever vote for any Rino, ever?

  43. Beeblebrocs
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:29 pm

    Yes, because you GOPe supporting Statists have done such a fantastic job so far. By the way, riddle me this Bob, who voted for the loathsome McConnell for minority leader last time and who will vote for him again as either minority or majority leader next time?

    Let me educate you. Roberts.

    So I don’t care whether Roberts is a 100% conservative voter. If he supports McConnell, he lies at the heart of the country’s sickness.

    As for your slander of Wolf, you are a despicable person.

  44. Beeblebrocs
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:34 pm

    The TEA party represents the views of most productive, constitutionally minded Americans. I suppose in some people’s twisted world, this is to lose all sense of reality.

  45. Beeblebrocs
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:35 pm

    Pretty much anytime boblo speaks he invalidates what he is saying.

  46. Beeblebrocs
    September 22nd, 2014 @ 8:44 pm

    What’s your point bob? So the TEA party took back the House and reduced the deficit. I thought you hated the TP.

    By the way, the FY 2014 deficit is $649B. And $649B is death for an economy. So yip, yip, you ha. We’ll go down in flames just the same but at least it won’t be as big of flames as it could have been.

    Of course, had Boehner and McConnell not folded like a cheap suit on the CRs, we’d be out of the woods by now. But that’s the problem with neo-statists; they LIKE big government totalitarianism.

  47. Damning With Faint Praise | Daily Pundit
    September 23rd, 2014 @ 12:31 am

    […] The Vichy GOP Thinks Tea Parties Should Just Shut Up & Fall In Line, Or Something : The Other Mc… […]

  48. Quartermaster
    September 23rd, 2014 @ 1:43 am

    It’s what’s coming no matter what we do in the GOP. The GOP is a zombie anyway and I don’t think there is any saving it. Its corruption, part of it’s political DNA, has killed it.

  49. Quartermaster
    September 23rd, 2014 @ 1:47 am

    The GOP did not “usurp the Whigs.” I have no idea where you would get such an idea. The core of the party founders were Whigs to a man.

  50. Quartermaster
    September 23rd, 2014 @ 1:48 am

    Akin was a paid up member of the GOPe.