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I’m disturbed.
I left politics months ago to focus on the first six months of my startup business, a wise decision which put me in a great position
Now, I’ve returned to find the place a mess. The Left, in charge of both the state and federal government is making poor choices, whether it be the “Worst Bill Ever” on Capitol Hill or secret, closed-door, one-party meetings in Dover. We’ll get to that later.
But the Right is no better off. You would think they’d get the message when 40% of the country identifies as conservative but the opposition party is in control. The problem is not conservatism. The problem is conservatives: the birthers, the purgers, the absolutists, the Beckites, you name it. It’s the people, and their general attitude, not the policies.
Somebody asked me the other day if I was a conservative. My answer to them was that I didn’t even know what conservative meant anymore. The redefinition of conservative over the last 5 years has left me without a solid understanding of what the term means. After all, it was self-styled conservatives that blew up the deficit. It was self-styled conservatives that gave us TARP, Part D, NCLB, and generally failed to deal with the entitlement apocalypse that’s coming.
It was the ‘pure free markets’ crowd that gave us derivatives and unchecked greed on Wall Street. How do I know it was the ‘pure free markets’ crowd? I used to be one, and I was cheering them on. But the market wasn’t free. It was rigged, and the ‘too big to fail’ bunch abused it and suffered no consequences, while middle-class people & small business owners did suffer. So I’m ready for some regulations that protect consumers and small businesses against the banks & Wall Street. And if you’re too big to fail, you’re too big to exist.
Glenn Beck has emerged as the media figurehead of this new conservative movement. Sarah Palin has apparently emerged as its political leader. I have absolutely no respect for either, and I think both severely damage the cause of the center-right in America. And by center-right, I mean those on the right who actually want to participate in governing, actually have a say and attempt move the needle back toward the right. I’m not talking about the absolutist cultists who want to purge anyone who strays from their doctrine.
So what does that make me? I don’t give a damn. I’m through with trying to adhere to labels.
So call me what you want. I’m taking it issue by issue.
I do know this, however. I’m back.
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(EDITED: Originally, I used the statement “I’m through with labels.” Obviously, in today’s political climate, there are many labels. So, I will be dealing with them, maybe even creating some. But I will no longer attempt to clear my ideas through any sort of mental checklist of somebody else’s definition of “Republican” or “Conservative.” Thanks to my good buddy anonone for helping me clarify.)
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Welcome back. I hope you are prepared for the slings and arrows.
No way. I’m far too thin-skinned for that.
Yeah, but this time they come from both sides. No one to protect those fleshy flanks…
I wouldn’t have it any other way, brother.
Welcome back, Dave. You know what they say… you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone. I’m eager for debate.
BTW, my condolences on the death of DP.
Thanks, Pandora. Me too.
Consider yourself bookmarked… and in a place of honor on my toolbar!
Yeah, boooooooooooooooooooy!
How did I not get to be the first to comment?
I look forward to my comments furthering all the midadventures this new site may bring.
Cripe…and I open with a spelling error.
miSadventures
DP jumped the shark today… The rise of Glenn Beck and the Shrinkers/Purgers (those who think the GOP is not quite small enough yet) are omens of doom, and it’s about time those of us that care had a standard ’round which to rally.
And with that said…
THE FONZ WANTS TO DANCE!
(Sarcastic slow clapping) The nation breathes a sign of relief.
But seriously folks…while this blog entry strikes a nice chord, how can we not descend into rank partisanship?
The rules of the new game have been handed down from the grand high masters. Karl Rove knew that nobody would like Republicans and modern Republicanism if they played fair, so they have built a machine that only works when on the attack. There is no careful consideration of policies. There is only your team being two runs up (or down) in the 9th inning. The health care “debate” demonstrates that.
“I want Obama to fail.” They say. We know. We know.
The label-less high road disappears around the corner of the first tight election. After that it is all waving the bloody shirt and making excuses for your team while wishing a pox on the other team. I wish it were not so, but it is. We can pretend to be something that we are not for a while, just as the Cooper or the Wheelwright in Colonial Williamsburg can pretend to be honest to goodness humans for a shift. But then the shift ends, they get in their cars, and stop at taco bell on the way home.
The dream dissipates and they end up an ugly world that they don’t like because it was built but shortsighted, greedy fuckwits, and so, Dave – do we.
One of the thoughts that’s been banging around in my head over the past six months is that parties are a bigger part of the problem than most people give credit for.
Did you have to bring Taco Bell into it though?
Plus, I have to admit that blogging really helps my writing for my day job. Keeps the juices flowing.
I call you “smart” welcome back!
Thanks, Kim. I really appreciate it.
Jason makes a good point – which, coincidentally would make an excellent blog post. (subtle enough?) That said I think the Republican party is headed for a major split, with Conservatives wielding the saw. How soon will this happen? My guess is that the crazies will have their moment – and I do mean moment – in the sun before shattering. No one can live up to their standards, not even them.
I don’t know. I’m not back to make a major theme out of this. I really want to lay some groundwork for what I think things ought to look like and where I think things ought to go.
I know that part of that will be the fight to maintain sanity, pragmatism and reason inside the party, but I want to try and show people through ideas, policy and history versus just telling them that they’re on the wrong path.
Part of the core issue is what I touched on in my post: most people self-identify with center-right principles. But yet the tea-party crowd is driving people away from supporting the issue positions with their extremism.
And it’s such a crucial time. (watch the IOUSA film at the top if you haven’t already)
We can’t afford to be screwing around with all of this. We have a country that needs fixing. And at some point, we really are going to have to work together.
Pandora, these folks are not conservatives.. at least as that term has traditionally been understood. They are really better described as populists, with a heavy helping of isolationist and nativist sentiment thrown in for good measure. Also don’t confuse volume for numbers- just remember how “well” they did in the Sussex special election. Most folks on the right are rational enough to realize that permanent minority status within a party composed solely of ourseves is not a great political future.
Aayy!
Welcome back.
So you “returned to find the place a mess.” Really? And what was it before you left? The conservative republican utopia that you dreamed of?
Oh, and “through with labels,” are we? Are you still a registered republican?
And finally, any one who hands over their megaphone to a lying, totalitarian-loving, religious fanatic like Dave Anderson has no business complaining about Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin.
None.
As I said, “welcome back.”
Nice to see you too, a1.
The “shattering” will occur, depending on Obama, the wars, the economy (unemployment), and elections. That’s not saying much, or maybe it’s too much. I hope it is only a moment, but I’m not at all sure.
As a nation we are in a hole, but don’t yet know how deep it is. I think it is deep, that we are just at the beginning, that most of us are too young to realize what real hardship is. Half of our children are now on food stamps – there’s a clue!
Dave, I like your opening statement, a real breath of fresh air.
Pandora has it right about you! So I am looking forward to more!
Welcome Dave 2.0.
Grab a mop.
Mop? There’s no point mopping when the house is falling down.
Me, I’m going to the hardware store to try and fix the house.
Welcome back Dave. Good luck on this new enterprise. I hope you are successful.
Dave,
Can you in good conscience still vote for Republicans? They don’t govern by the principals they espouse and they’ve turned this country into a complete mess. They are only operating in attack mode and are not interested in the business of governing. And now things are going to get worse because the GOP is bringing the purity purges to the local level. What are you going to do to fix this?
Welcome back, Dave, and good luck here.
And don’t stop at the hardware store until after you’ve hired some heavy equipment to clear away the debris first. No point in wasting all those shiny nails on all of those double wides they stacked up on the foundation.
Shorter commenters:
They all say, “Welcome Dave! Boy oh boy have we missed you and all the good times we once had together! Good times, good times!”
Oh, I can tell you that Jason’s long-time dream of you coming back and restoring his focus has been realized. You have once again given him purpose. P.S.: I think he has a crush on you.
UI — That comment has a real talking-pointy feel to it. And to say that one party has turned the country into a complete mess is just indefensible. I’ve made the case 1,000 times. Bob Rubin drove the end of Glass-Steagall as much as Phil Gramm did. Democrats protected Fannie & Freddie. In the end, though, the financial catastrophe was caused by nonpartisan entities like greed and risk more than any party’s policies.
And your comment applies to national Republicans, I believe. Most of my ballot will be state officials. So we’ll see.
And cass, it’s a nice house. The nicest around. It’s just rotting from the inside out. And it’s taken many years to get into this condition.
Missed this from UI: “What are you going to do to fix this?”
Well, first of all, somebody’s gotta say what a lot of people were thinking. I did that here.
Second, I hope to push the idea that asking “where’s your idea to fix things and how good is that idea” far surpasses “do you check all the boxes on Glenn Beck’s checklist? in importance.
I like what the NCCGOP did in the last few days, throwing out some ideas and letting people know that they’re on the job, trying to make things better. It’s a great step forward.
” most people self-identify with center-right principles. “
Is this the high level thinking we can expect?
What most people? Most people at CPAC? What “center right” principles? …cuz most Americans like liberal stuff like health care reform. Most Americans think that corporations cannot self-regulate, they want a foreign policy that depends on diplomacy first and bombs last. They like the fairness of a progressive income tax. They want the government to make smart investments in the future – not be starved to death by ideologues who think evet tax is an inherently evil affront to nature.
When you stop talking about abortion and gays, what does “the center right” really have?
I’m talking about these people.
“Is this the high level thinking we can expect?”
If you think I’ve come back to be all things to all people, you’re mistaken.
And these people.
Rick Moran The Anti-Reason Conservatives
He warns about the 40% number:
There were no talking points. Republicans controlled all the branches of the federal government and we ended up with endless war, endless deficit and debt, the worst recession since the Great Depression and no action on things like health care. I don’t need a memo to see the obvious.
Welcome back, Dave. Glad you’re back. It sounds as though you will be taking a new approach. It should be interesting.
But I didn’t use it to justify extremist ideology. I said most people lean that way. And they do, but in moderate stripes, i.e. they don’t favor abortion, but they don’t want to throw women in jail, either.
As far as your other talking points, the Democrats supported the war, both by voting for it in the first place and by reauthorizing it when they took back Congress.
I already did the recession thing a few comments ago. It’s just not that simple. Unless you want to blame the recession on the Democrats because they controlled Congress at the time, too.
“Welcome back, Dave. Glad you’re back. It sounds as though you will be taking a new approach. It should be interesting.”
Thanks, professor. I figured one of the four horsemen ought to hang around since you, Jason & Mike are otherwise occupied. Hope you’re well.
I guess that “most people self-identify with center-right principles“ explains why so many Democrats have been elected.
Here is a question that I asked a certain Delaware republican politician with the initals “TPN” and he refused to answer, so let me ask you:
Since the repubs have already failed to defend the country, lied us into war with Iraq and killed thousands, sanctioned torturing people to death, run up incredible deficits, brought the country to the brink of financial collapse, and illegally spied on its own citizens, is there anything at all that the repubs could possibly do that would cause you to finally leave the party?
Is so, what?
If not, why?
“I guess that “most people self-identify with center-right principles“ explains why so many Democrats have been elected.”
I addressed that in the original post.
As far as the rest of your comment, I would have to accept your premise, which I don’t. Your absolutism is no better than theirs.
And “the party” doesn’t do anything. Individual elected officials and groups of officials do. I have strong disagreements with a lot that happened during the Bush years and a lot of praise for some of what happened under Clinton. But this incessant hammering about leaving the party is silly. I’m not going to cede my party to extremist absolutists. I’ve given too much and worked too hard.
And cut out the “the Democrats supported the war” b.s.
Bush and his co-conspirators like Blair, Cheney, and Powell deliberately, brazenly, and wantonly lied to the Senate, Congress, and the American people. By and large, the Democrats who voted for the war did so because they made the mistake of believing a repub President and might be telling the truth.
It didn’t take long for you to be back at it with the same old lies and distortions, now did it?
Would you like me to list the specific votes to re-authorize funding after the Democrats re-took Congress?
You not agreeing with me does not equal lies and distortions.
And apparently I need to make one thing crystal clear: I’m still me. I’m not here to please and appease. I’m still not taking any crap. I still hold the same beliefs. Don’t come here thinking that I’m all of a sudden going to feast on a diet of bullshit.
Like I said:
P.S. New blog, one-and-only post, only a few hours old, and this is the 43rd comment. Yeah, he’s back.
“And “the party” doesn’t do anything.”
You’re kidding, right? Above all else, repubs have put loyalty to their party holding power over loyalty to their country. And it hasn’t stopped. Yeah, it is about elected officials – and look at who the repubs have elected and at their current leadership and base. Who do you like there, Dave?
The fact that you continue to be a member of the party that supported GWB overwhelmingly, even up to his last days in office and despite his malfeasance, speaks volumes about what your intentions are.
You saying that you’re “not going to cede my party to extremist absolutists” is to admit that you live in some alternate reality. Your party is already the party of “extremist absolutists” whether you “cede” it or not. The fact that you want to continue to carry that banner in spite of all the havoc and catastrophes your party has caused this country shows clearly you can’t even move beyond your own label.
Shivering with anticipation for the future discussions here.
I’ll take your very unique and strong opinions under advisement. I would then ask that you not care so much what the capital letter on my registration card is.
I know the votes, Dave. I ain’t here to cheer on the D’s. Most are way too conservative for me. But at least many spoke and voted in opposition to the war. How many R’s opposed or voted against Bush?
I’ll take your very unique and strong opinions under advisement. I would then ask that you not care so much what the capital letter on my registration card is.
Welcome back. Adding you to my blogroll.
Glad to see you are reaching the same vision of politics I see as well… the GOP is cannibalizing themselves and the Dems are sitting back running things as they watch the show.
Thanks, Brian. I have a strong libertarian streak in me, too.
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