Guest Post: RSmitty’s Thoughts On Last Night
Editor’s note: RSmitty emailed the following post to Delaware Liberal.
I have a high-level of self-regulation when it comes to principles and morals. In June 2009, I switched my party registration from Republican to Unaffiliated, largely in part to my intended disassociation from those who were gaining control of the national-party platform. I have been asked to return to effectuate change back from the image that exists now. Even though I may be separated from the characters of recent image-altering events by a wide margin, the common bond would be a voluntary alignment within the same group-membership. I can not and will not identify myself with what is quickly becoming, if not already fully in place, a large cast of characters that refuses to respect any of the processes our long-established political system has granted us, which in its own right was a hard-fought-for PRIVILEGE, when viewed from the world stage. It was not that long ago when the majority of Republicans were screaming that the activist opposition to Bush/Cheney (note that I never supported Bush due to what I saw as questionable tactics of Cheney and Rove) should be quiet in deference to the decorum demanded by the office of the POTUS. Republicans have claimed to stand on principles for generations. Given that generations of what used to be Republicans has now been flushed out of the party, it should no longer be a surprise that there is no deference to the office of the POTUS, either. It certainly took no time at all for many who were screaming that you respect the office of POTUS to turn around and act more offensively in opposition to that principle, compared to those who railed against Bush/Cheney for so long. For a party of supposed principles, why do we engage in the same (worse, actually) behavior rather than practice what we used to preach?
What happened at last night’s Presidential address was downright pathetic and I am referring directly to Rep Wilson of SC. It is this behavior and attitude that has quickly infiltrated the party and the subsequent passive admonition, or worse yet, acceptance of this behavior that led me to my decision in June to go Independent. I realize that not all Republicans identify with this behavior nor accept this behavior. That is worth recognition, but what disappoints me is that we shouldn’t need to recognize it, for the offense should never happen, particularly within a party that has long claimed supposed principles. Unfortunately, the leaders of the party either refuse to confront it or, as I mentioned above, accept it. For those who refuse to confront it, complacency is passive acceptance; therefore, they, too, have accepted it. I see that other US Reps and Senators from the Republican Party are referring to Rep Wilson’s outburst as unfortunate, shameful, etc. They should. I have not seen Michael Steele nor the chair of the SC Republican Party utter a single word, either in the media directly or through a press release. They should be jumping all over this. This is the complacency factor I cite.
I hold myself to very high and tight standards when it comes to what I believe in. Self responsibility and respect of others is high on that list. While Rep Wilson may truly be remorseful, his act is just too synonymous with what has become the party’s image for a while now. It’s like the tactics that Gingrich is becoming known for: throw the most damaging accusation out there first, and then reel it back with apologies or pretend bipartisanship when less people are watching. In other words, the intended damage has been inflicted, then offer a band-aid once the wound has already formed a scab. I’m not interested in this. I’m far more interested in truth and respect, but where the party is willing to accept that – not a party that has thrown it in the trash can. I know there are individual exceptions, and I know quite a few, but they don’t any longer make up the party, they aren’t fanatical enough, and that’s a good thing for those I consider friends.
A party becomes a minority because the general public has turned away from that party’s message. There is no expectation that the minority party should abandon their core principles to regain the majority, but there certainly should be an expectation that the message has to be reworked! What we are seeing on the national level is the minority party verbally terrorizing the political-scape in an effort to impose the non-core principles, the same ones that lost them their influence, onto the entire populace. I can’t believe I am saying this, but Michael Steele and the national Republican Party: you lost and you lost big. You still have your core principles, but stop compromising them because you don’t know how to work like a political minority. Being the minority never means you roll over and play dead, but it does mean that you don’t always get what you want; however, it also means that you need to work harder at shaping what you don’t want into something more palatable to your platform and you do so with the decorum that should be demanded by those who voted you into office! I leave with this: act professionally and work it out. You act as if the Republican Party has a gun to its head and is in survival mode. I, too, see you in survival-mode, but one where the party has all the guns and is staring wild-eyed from a bunker. Get over it, get professional, and work it the hell out. Taking the ball from the sandbox and stomping off never helped anyone.
-RSmitty
Tags: Republcians
This is really excellent, Smitty.
What we are seeing on the national level is the minority party verbally terrorizing the political-scape in an effort to impose the non-core principles, the same ones that lost them their influence, onto the entire populace.
The tactics of the teabaggers ought to be deployed specifically — they should not become the default standard of behavior. For anybody.
I was going to write about bipartisanship today, based on the exchange I had with Tim Pancoast last night, and you already did the work. Bipartisanship does not mean abandoning your principles — which I think is the lesson of Teddy Kennedy — but it does mean taking what opportunity you can to influence the solution to a problem everyone understands is there. Pretending that there are no solutions unless you get every item on your bill of particulars satisfied is the behavior of folks from a permanent 3rd party — not one of the major governing parties.
I’m still struck, though, at this circumstance. Perhaps the R base is unredeemable, but there are still serious numbers of Rs who find this whole business distasteful. And there are high-profile leaders who agree with them, starting with Colin Powell. How is it that there is no work (apparently) to replace the base?
Cassandra,
Yes, that was a great part of the speech. I wish the media would understand this. Even if you’re in the minority party, you should still fight to influence legislation. You’re elected to govern, not prevent governing. I think the filibuster is in place to protect the rights of the minority before it became so abused as to require some kind of supermajority to get things done.
It is excellent and should be read by everyone. We really need to get a handle on this sort of behavior. I really don’t want Presidential Addresses turning into reruns of this summer’s town halls.
Badly done, Mr. Wilson.
I’m not sure, does the GOP not understand the concept of hypocrisy or do they not care? From RwR’s comments last night on CA Assemblyman Duvall’s sex romp bragging – it seems like he didn’t understand the concept of hypocrisy.
Standard IOKIYAR. That philosophy is getting them in trouble. The hypocrisy is glaring… everybody is noticing. In fact, Joe Wilson drove the point home last night.
How is it that there is no work (apparently) to replace the base?
Once they took over, they hid the keys! 😆
The morale is so shredded that I think those who think/see it this way don’t want to mingle within the asylum, which is what it would take. I seriously think the best path would be to splinter and rebuild separately, but that would obviously yield to one-party control for quite some time. Aside from Steaksauce (A1), most people see that (elongated one-party control) as a potential bad thing, even those within the same party. So, I think there are plenty enough who want this to happen, but everyone is waiting for the first move to be made.
This is really excellent, Smitty.
Thanks!
iSmitty,
As I have written many times, I’d like to see the repubs become irrelevant and the Dems splinter so that the current mainstream Dems become the “conservative” party and a strong true progressive party emerges.
So I don’t believe that “elongated one-party control” is a good thing. I do believe that “elongated one-party control” by Dems is far better than “elongated one-party control” by the repubs. Furthermore, those who would wish a repub party revival simply for the sake of having two-parties are misguided. The modern repubs have never been well-behaved or anything other than an unprincipled enemy of progressive ideas.
The flaw in the GOP’s bipartisanism logic is to cling to the idea that they are equal partners right now. Any successful negotiation has to begin with both sides understanding their relative strengths. The fact is, the GOP has gotten beat badly the past two elections. Voters have shown that, for right now at least, they prefer the Democrats’ ideas. And I don’t mean to be harsh about it, but frankly right now the GOP should be happy to get any little consolations that they can. Instead, they are trying to dictate what is happening. No doubt at some point this will change, but for now this is what we have. Until they truley accept it, there really is little hope at any true bipartisanship.
I seriously think the best path would be to splinter and rebuild separately…
I agree with you, Smitty. I have actually written several posts on the idea. I think the best hope for intellectual Conservatives (many of whom seem to be in hiding right now, as I think you were alluding to) to regain their legitimacy is to jettison the nutball fringe, maybe peel off a few conservative Democrats, and form a true moderate-to-conservative party.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m thoroughly enjoying seeing them implode, but I’m not so naive as to think it will last forever. At some point, a new William F. Buckley type will come along and restore some sanity.
A1 – you’re right. As I read your reply, I do recall you putting it that way.
At some point, a new William F. Buckley type will come along and restore some sanity.
Hmm…maybe in terms of convictions and being a professional about it. I can do without the heavy-right conservatism, though.
many of whom seem to be in hiding right now, as I think you were alluding to
There are plenty, Scott. They’re missing the catlyst to make it go, though. In my mind, it’s all in due time and not much else.
The professionalism is pretty much what I was going for. Although I’m not that young and I do remember him, his heyday was pretty much before my time. So I admit that most of what I know about Buckley is basically what I think I know about him. But he always struck me as professional, serious, intellectual, and intolerant (in a good way) of the fringe. (He organized a stand against the Birchers in the early ’60s, right?) If he were here today, I would probably agree with very little of what he said, but at least I could respect him. Unfortunately, there are very few conservatives taking part in the conversation today (nationally) of which I can say the same.
Although I’m not that young …
He organized a stand against the Birchers in the early ’60s, right?
Sheesh! 🙄 I’m struggling enough coming to grips with having just turned 40, don’t age me another 10-15 years! 😆
I saw an interesting post over at HuffPo that suggested that Joe Scarborough was a potential Republican candidate for 2012. That is vaguely scary, as he has spent the last 2 years cultivating a moderate image.
Scott,
I think we’re waiting to see what damage occurs to the current Republican party. I think the GOP is being damaged right now the same way the Democratic party was damaged by violent activists in the 60s.
Smitty, and here I thought you were the wise, old fool of the group. I guess two out of three ain’t bad. 🙂
His writings are very mature.
His writings are very mature.
Well, that decides it. We’ve finally discovered the one thing about me that is mature! 😛
Hey, are we off topic?
I don’t think so. We were originally discussing opinions of the future of the GOP (the topic of the original post), then briefly discussing you. As the purveyor of the original opinion, I think it was fair game. Objection overruled!
Although, pardoxically, by discussing whether we are off topic, I may have gone off topic. My head hurts. I’m going home.
I think the moderator is going to teabag us all. No, wait. 😯
Aren’t you the moderator, Smitty?
Off-topic, it depends, is it an organic off-topic or an inorganic off-topic?
Nice post.
Woo-hoo! I was the one who dragged him out of exile!!! I’ll take that cool million in small bills, please.
If there is to be one, the Republican saviour will come from where one least expects it… Why? Because as Smitty points out, those whom we have heard of, partake of different mushrooms than those ones ingested by mainstream America.
I can give a brief synopsis on how a rebirth can happen. Fact is, I’ve seen a rebirth of a Republican candidate on a local scale with my own eyes…. That was a previously vulnerable Cathcart walking into a late summer meeting on Vance Neck Road and saying almost literally after listening to a whole room that was fired up against work force housing: “this is bullshit…”
It wasn’t partisan, even though almost all of county council as well as its president, were of the other party. It was that he was right. The work force housing ordinance was, nothing more than.. bullshit…
Give us a good local Republican candidate who will run hard against developers and the building trades in a local election, and you will see your party’s rebirth. Give us a Republican who can turn the Positive Growth Alliance into a huge negative, again, you will get your rebirth…
[Aside: A Smitty post generates some Cathcart praise. What are the odds? ] As to the point Kavips, I call bullshit. The new Republican Party is married to angry idiocy and nonsense in the same way that the Catholic Church is married to the veneration of Mary.
There is no interest in reason, rationality or sanity. They are in endgame mode. Read any comment from any of the conservatives here. Listen to any “news” themed TV show. The ghost dance is on, but these ghost dancers are armed, dangerous and as Smitty points out – have an violent contempt for our democratic history and traditions.
Consider me a pessimist.
kavips, are you censoring, banning, or moderating your commenters now?
In spite of the numerous times the repubs have taken kavips’ lunch, broken his rose-colored glasses, and given him a wedgie, he keeps crawling back to them, hoping that they’ve changed and will be nice to him.
kavips is like a squirrel stuck in the middle of the road – he just keeps getting run over.
Jason,
In spite of the repubs being in “endgame mode,” the Dems are still acting like they’re the minority party. Leave it to the D’s to lose the game by forfeit.
Case in point: How is that censure or reprimand of Wilson coming?
Consider me a pessimist, too.
By the way, Wilson is now using the publicity from his “You Lie” scream to raise money for his campaign.
I expect the Dems will soon apologize to Wilson and offer him a megaphone and fresh batteries for the next time the President speaks to a joint session of Congress.
A1,
Wilson’s opponent raised more than $500,000 from the “You Lie!” moment.
I don’t actually agree with censure of Wilson. Don’t get mad, get even.
Hey UI,
I was only pointing it out as it relates to the sincerity of his apology. If the House doesn’t do anything (both Rs and Ds) then the formula becomes clear:
(Break House Rules/Decorum) + (Token Apology) = Raise money
Add “Censure” or “Reprimand” to that equation and it changes it entirely.
And good for Wilson’s opponent. I hope he isn’t a blue dog.
That’s all.
If you are a Dem candidate you have only a few short months to work out a strategy to hang Joe Wilson, Crazy Eileen, Glenn Beck, Michelle Bachmann et al around your opponent’s neck.
Every Repub candidate should be asked if he repudiates Joe Wilson’s comments. If we had a real press they would be asking every Repub that question this morning. But they won’t, so Dems will have to ask it themselves.
Dem candidates need to paint their opponents into the crazy corner. If they do not then they are accepting their crazy viewpoints as legitimate.
Exactly anon.
Remember how Obama was asked if agreed with something Sidney Poitier said when he started running for president?
Sidney Poitier had nothing to do with Obama.
Joe Wilson and Michelle Bachmann are members in good standing in the Republican party, as are other birthers. Every Republican should be asked if they agree with the birthers. They should also be asked if they agree with rising crazy group, the tenthers.
The Tenthers basically are trying to wave the Tenth Amendment as proof that the Federal Government is not allowed to spend on social programs. Once you explain to voters that the Tenthers are going after Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicare and Medicaid – it won’t be so much fun for the Tenthers.
Joe Wilson takes back his half-assed apology, now using his lie as a fundraising gimmick.
Oh, I definitely think pinning the tenthers on current sitting officials will be fun.
[Aside: A Smitty post generates some Cathcart praise. What are the odds? ]
J, that’s proof for you, the simple act of being around me just oozes out the good vibes.