The Election Thing

Posted on | October 7, 2014 | 106 Comments

Let me say, to begin with, that elections matter. From 2009 (the Doug Hoffman campaign in NY-23) through 2012, nobody argued more strenuously than I did about the importance of winning elections, and nobody covered campaigns with the kind of gonzo fanaticism that I brought to the gig. In the past couple of years, however, it has been very difficult to ignore the evidence that Republicans don’t want my support, and that the GOP Establishment in general is profoundly embarrassed to be associated with conservatives in any way.

What was done during the dishonest and brutal Mississippi primary was definitive in that regard. If ever conservatives needed an argument why they should stay home on Election Day, “Re-Elect Thad Cochran” was it.

The Republican Party reminds me of a Bible verse, which is to say it is “without form and void” (Genesis 1:2).

If the Republican Party were listed on the periodic table of elements, it would be in the right column, among the inert gases.

From the foregoing discussion, you can perhaps understand that I’m just quivering in anticipation at the prospect that Republicans might — just barely, maybe — capture a majority in the Senate on Nov. 4.

John Ekdahl at AOSHQ has a state-by-state breakdown, for those of you who experience spontaneous erection just thinking about the idea of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

See, here’s my problem: It’s not just that I remember all the recent backstabbing and sellouts by Mitch McConnell and his GOP Senate cronies, but I also remember the history of Republican Senate majorities under such paragons of conservative leadership as Bob Dole and Trent Lott. I remember how GOP leaders begged and groveled in their vain attempts to retain the “party loyalty” of such stalwarts of Republican principle as Jim Jeffords and Arlen Specter. And then I think one more time about that Mississippi primary, you see, and the way all these things keep adding up in my mind . . .

Well, maybe Mitch McConnell will be Senate Majority Leader next year. Maybe that gives you a raging boner, just thinking about it.

But speaking for myself, “Meh.”

They haven’t done a damned thing to suggest they even care whether I care or not. And I’m pretty sure I don’t care. Do you? Why?

Category: Election

Comments

106 Responses to “The Election Thing”

Lemuel Vargas
October 8th, 2014 @ 11:42 am

If we are to ever effect a change in the Senate and the House, we better elect TP candidates by voting overwhelmingly for them. We have the strength in numbers, you know.
Lemuel Vargas
October 8th, 2014 @ 11:54 am

We TPtiers should put relentless pressure to the Republican candidates if they stray from TP principles (be it TP or GOPe if they win) until they bow down to the pressure like what happened to Boehner when he tried to cram down our throats the GOPe version of immigration reform. He bowed down (crumbled?) under the relentless pressure that he was subjected to.
Eric Ashley
October 8th, 2014 @ 12:29 pm

And the GOP becomes ever less until its not there.
Eric Ashley
October 8th, 2014 @ 12:32 pm

If people like Adjoran would help fix things….but nope.
Eric Ashley
October 8th, 2014 @ 12:37 pm

First, the GOP has to get its mind right, then we can talk. Ivoted Constitution last, I can again. And if you are not about point one, don’t bother.
Jeanette Victoria
October 8th, 2014 @ 12:48 pm

Other than voting (which doesn’t count anymore) what would suggest?
Physics Geek
October 8th, 2014 @ 12:53 pm

I’m not giving up. I’m preparing for what I see as the inevitable. The collapse is going to happen, sooner or later. Saying “Let it burn” does not mean that I’m going hold and use either the match or the gasoline. It’s simply a recognition that the flames will only stop when the fuel runs out.

The one thing-the only thing- that is motivating me to get to the polls this November is the thought that Reid will no longer be Sen. Majority Leader. We might finally see Barry have to veto legislation, since the Senate would finally be able to bring bills to the floor. Also, we might see Reid have collapse on the Senate floor and start eating his own feces. That would be fun.
Katherine Kelly
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:01 pm

Molon labe.
Physics Geek
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:02 pm

I see that American Thinker repeated the effing lie that Akin was the Tea Party candidate. I am sick of this Big Lie being repeated over and over again.
donfulano
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:07 pm

Voting is often like a prostate exam- done with little enthusiasm, yet hopeful that things will turn out well.

That said, the current GOP formula is a slow jam of “Fundamentally Transformed.”
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:20 pm

Based on this cycle thus far and the 2012 and 2010 cycles I’d say the evidence proves that we don’t have the strength in numbers.
Here in Georgia assuming I could vote in any house district who is the “true conservative” house rep and senate candidate worthy of our overwhelming vote?
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:36 pm

The Republicans will move more to the left whether they win or lose. If they lose they’ll say they need to move left in order (see 2012 post mortem) to win next time. When they win they’ll say we can’t govern conservatively or the left will throw us out, this was the excuse they made throughout theBush years. That and all politicians inability to grasp the concept of don’t just do something stand there or better yet don’t just do something undo something.

At least the left has some elements of a governing vision no matter how sick. The Republicans only have a winning vision and when they win they introduce policies that they think will keep them in office.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:56 pm

The TPtiers don’t have the juice or a radical enough agenda to maintain relentless pressure. The reason Boehner had to back down on immigration are two fold. First reform other than securing the border isn’t as popular as the WSJ and the chamber of commerce want us to believe.
Two no matter what changes the house made to the gang of eight bill or how limited a bill got through the house with Republican votes, that house bill and the gang of eight bill would go to a conference committee where in the gang of eight bill would pass the committee vote and then be passed by the senate and by the house with a majority of Democrats and a few squishy Republicans. The TP group only succeeded in preventing immigration reform by preventing a vote in the house.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 1:59 pm

It will not be repealed.
Bob Belvedere
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:05 pm

You know…actually…it would.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:07 pm

The Roman empire didn’t fall until 1453. The so called barbarians who replaced Roman rule in the west had great admiration for Roman civilization and culture and attempted to continue it after a fashion. They also brought vitality and energy to a moribund and decrepit society.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:09 pm

Who will the press blame for the vetoed legislation?
Elections 2014: ‘Paralysed Force, Gesture Without Motion’ | The Camp Of The Saints
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:28 pm

[…] McCain is not very enthusiastic about the November […]
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:30 pm

The ACU gives McConnell a 90.2 lifetime rating Heritage Action gives a current rating of 68% (Rand Paul gets 92% and 98 from ACU). Obviously ACU’s notion of conservative voting is out of step with many conservatives for instance they give Saxby Chambliss a 90 and Johnny Isakson an 85!! HA rates them at 50 and 49. In my opinion the ACU is just as dangerous to liberty and free markets as the Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 2:38 pm

Have you considered the fact that Republican control of the senate will lead to legislation (after many astonishingly bad compromises) being passed? How ”good” do you think legislation that is acceptable to the house, senate and Obama will be.
The current gridlock is Washington’s sole redeeming value.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:05 pm

Not by Republicans, no.
LLC
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:11 pm

Personally, I’d rather not be a criminal solely because I’m using my God-given rights. On the other hand, I have no intention of surrendering said rights.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:12 pm

Both statists. The difference between them is unimpressive.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:17 pm

…and no glove.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:18 pm

One of my favorite things ever said by Walter Williams (when he was subbing for Rush years ago) was:

“Why should I care about future generations? What have they ever done for me?”
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:29 pm

Yeah, once I noted that it was a real eye opener.

Levin was going on about a new website that apparently does a better job of rating folks, because it goes back several years (to pick up their votes cast when safely ensconced, and not trying to get re-elected).

*Googlin’*

Crap. They aren’t showing up under the search terms I’m using. That’s bad for them. But luckily I remembered it’s called “ConservativeReview” (.com)

It’s worth a look, I guess.
MNHawk
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:39 pm

Because they’re nieces and nephews that have nothing to do with the rot that was left to them.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:40 pm

One thing to remember, though:

Never pass up a chance to exercise the franchise.

You don’t have to vote for either of the two party candidates. Just vote for the person you feel is best suited to the office, even if you have to write in a name.

You can also help by voting for local folks.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:44 pm

Oh there’s a difference.

Not one that’s going to mean anything important. But there’s a difference.

Just like Valerie Jarret and barack are clearly very different. Just not where it counts.

But your argument against learning from history is intriguing.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:47 pm

Where do you see anyone giving up?

I haven’t seen any indications of that at all.

Stating that we’ve lost something is not the same as giving up.

We know we’re headed toward the same potential conflict that emerged in the mid 1800’s. The question is, will we avert it via using the Constitution, or will we let the yahoos and firebrands drag us into the conflict directly?
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:50 pm

Well, as to that, humans do have a tendency to admire a population they have ground to dust. It’s easier than admiring people still alive.

But yeah, there’s a lot to be said for the notion that The Dark Ages weren’t really so dark.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:52 pm

It’s just for the look of the thing.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:52 pm

Heh.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:54 pm

Well, the testosterone level in the Oval Office would go up a notch, at least.

But Hillary doesn’t throw live people under her bus. She prefers a smooth ride.
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 4:58 pm

His point was that the things he does to make his own life better ARE the things that contribute to the future.

If you make yourself prosperous, the only thing standing in the way of your descendants benefitting from that is government.

Excepting national defense, very little the government does contributes anything good to the future.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 5:18 pm

Many early and middle Medieval era scholars strenuously object to the Term “Dark Ages” stating that is only accurate relative to how much less information is available on that era as opposed to the “late Medieval” period.
Further more the “Barbarian” conquest of Roman lands didn’t grind the population to dust. They mostly displaced the former decrepit ruling class which had earlier been superimposed on the existing population.
For instance the “Roman peoples” conquered by the Goths in what is now France weren’t really Romans but were Romanized Gauls previously conquered by Rome.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 5:59 pm

You may rest assured that for one reason or another you are a criminal.
Somehow, Stacy McCain Just Isn’t Feelinig the Love…I Wonder Why? | Daily Pundit
October 8th, 2014 @ 6:30 pm

[…] The Election Thing : The Other McCain […]
K-Bob
October 8th, 2014 @ 6:31 pm

VDH is one such scholar. He points out that a lot of really good stuff was invented in the so-called dark ages.

It’s kind of like the topic of “Seventies Music.” When it comes up, most people remember Muscrat Love and other gems, and use that to dismiss the entire decade as worthless. Totally forgetting that Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, and many other icons of modern music came from that era.

But by “Ground to dust” I mean that the ruling systems had been eradicated, and the dominant culture replaced. The proletariat continues, as always, no matter who is in charge. Carthage had lots of survivors. The Holocaust didn’t destroy the majority of Jews in Europe (sent them packing, yes, just like the survivors of the Sack of Carthage). Replacing the dominant is about the only possible way to “grind to dust” any culture.
ErikEssig
October 8th, 2014 @ 6:34 pm

Good grief man, are you serious?
(I don’t disagree that most politicians are statists).
LLC
October 8th, 2014 @ 6:49 pm

Good point.
Conan O’Brien and the Notorious Flaming Skull | Regular Right Guy
October 8th, 2014 @ 7:00 pm

[…] The Election Thing […]
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 7:27 pm

Comparing the ”Barbarian” invasions to Carthage or the Holocaust is simply incorrect. Most of those who took over various parts of the Western Roman Empire didn’t seek to smash the status quo they sought to enjoy it. Further more there simply weren’t enough Barbarians to run their new acquisitions. They had to have the bureaucrats to run things and maintain continuity.
Adobe_Walls
October 8th, 2014 @ 8:20 pm

On the other hand that might get people off the porch.
The Election Thing | That Mr. G Guy's Blog
October 8th, 2014 @ 9:11 pm

[…] The Election Thing. […]
theoldsargesays
October 8th, 2014 @ 9:18 pm

Okay, I’ll bite…

What is the difference between Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid? (other than the fact that Harry Reid is an alleged pederast)

But really, what’s the difference between them?
Dana
October 8th, 2014 @ 10:22 pm

Actually, what I expect is very little legislation other than the budget and appropriations, but it is with the budget and appropriations that a Republican-controlled House and Senate can get more done, by spending less.
Dana
October 8th, 2014 @ 10:25 pm

A Tea Partier primaried Senator McConnell, but lost by a fairly significant margin. The Bluegrass State has registration by party, and closed primaries, so there were few Democratic shenanigans involved.
K-Bob
October 9th, 2014 @ 12:47 am

I wasn’t comparing, I was pointing out the most extreme examples STILL didn’t manage to eradicate everyone.
K-Bob
October 9th, 2014 @ 12:53 am

If you tried to tell me there’s an impressive difference between Reid and McConnell, I’d worry about your grasp on history, if not reality.

So I’m sure that can’t be what you’re on about here, can it?