The Tent Is Getting Smaller
Lest ye think I’m just picking on Democrats
Not too long ago, there was this group of small government types; conservatives longing for the days of the Republican party in the 1990s; small l libertarians; big L Libertarian types who were realistic; South Park Republicans; Neocons; Paleocons; socially liberal but economically conservative types; people who just don’t like Democrats; people who dig federalism; The God Squad; right leaning moderates; people who hate gay cooties; and others; all in bed together. In a Big Tent, even. We mostly got along with a few issues causing us some strain. But, generally, we voted Republican.
That’s when the Big Tent decided that the small government types; small l libertarians; big L Libertarian types who were realistic; South Park Republicans; socially liberal but economically conservative types; and people who just don’t like Democrats; people who dig federalism; could collectively go fuck themselves. They dropped us faster than Brittney can drop a dime on therapy bills. But they stuck with the God Squad;the people that hate gay cooties; the Neocons; Paleocons; and others. To the former, the appealing to the latter seemed like they were keeping all the bad and none of the good.
Now, something else is happening. And the appeal of the party to the Paleocons; the God Squad; and the people that hate gay cooties; isn’t so great. All that’s left are the Neocons and some moderates.
So, forgive me if I’m not too sympathetic to cries of the Paleocons; the God Squad; and the people that hate gay cooties; about how the Republican party is dead. They abandoned me before they abandoned you.
Remember how you told me to suck it up and get in line? Not so fun, eh?
Update: In comments, AC says I got the Paleocons in the wrong group. I can see it going either way.
Update: Why the GOP is dying.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
and others; all in bed together
… and all overwhelmingly white. 🙂
They abandoned me before they abandoned you.
Don’t kid yourself. They never really accepted you in the first place.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Amen brother Uncle!
(brother Uncle? insert redneck joke here)
February 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hey yo, you got the paleos in the wrong group.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Yup.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think that a resounding defeat in the presidential election could well indeed send the Republican party the way of the Whigs.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
It seems that Democrats stick to that name and their “choice of persons”, more than do Republicans despite the wide-divergence of political views that also exist within that party.
I think that IF there’s gonna be a Republican Party, it should stand for the “guarantee of a republican form of government” (Article IV, Section 4) as defined by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. But that is more of an intellectual exercise than the emotive attraction to “their persons of choice” by which charismatic, savior-types tend to attract the worship of the massses, promising to impose on others to provide for them “bread and circuses”.
Restricting the government and declaring the rights of the people doesn’t seem to have much of an attraction UNTIL an unrestricted government restricts their rights….and THEN it’s too late without the difficulty of resistance.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Sorry guys, the republican party isn’t going anywhere. Even if there is a resounding defeat in 2008. No moreso than the Democrats were going anywhere after the thumping they were taking during the ‘Republican Revolution’.
Despite what the internet savvy crowd would suggest, we aren’t even a sizeable minority of the “small government types; small l libertarians; big L Libertarian types who were realistic; South Park Republicans; socially liberal but economically conservative types; and people who just don’t like Democrats; people who dig federalism”.
Let’s face it, if we had anywhere near the clout we think we do, there would have been only 2 candidates in contention from the beginning. R0|\| P4u| and Fred Thompson. Both of whom failed miserably. And it’s not because the God Squad and the Neo-Cons are that much bigger than the other groups. We just don’t make up as much of those other groups as we think we do.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Yu-Ain, people on Al Gore’s Internets seem to think they’re far more important/influential than they really are.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Oh, I don’t think the GOP is “going anywhere”, but I think it’ll be out of power for the next four to eight years.
It’ll be interesting to see who’s at the wheel when it returns. I think the Big Government Hawks (aka “Neocons”) will be toast, and either the God Squad (socially conservative populist hawks) or the Reaganesque paleocons will have the helm. Socially liberal small government fiscal conservatives (little “l” libertarians) just aren’t numerous enough to be worth courting, except on the internet.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
That I don’t necessarily take issue with. I’m not certain yet of Republican defeat, but it is certainly very possible. It’s the “IF there is going to be a Republican Party” or the “go the way of the Whigs” sentiments that I thing are completely off-base.
As for who takes the helm if they are out of power is anyone’s guess. Personally the Republicans have always been better at being Republicans when they have the majority of congress and a Dem in the White House.
Which isn’t to say that they are necessarily more successful, just that they try harder.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
The GOP is not dying! McCain is not a cadaver! He may look like a cadaver, but he’s not a cadaver! He’s something else! I don’t know what, but he’s something else! Not a cadaver! And I’m not in denial about that either! Nooooo! No denial! Noooooo!
And he’s not going to take over doing PSA’s about ED from Bob Dole either! That rumor is totally untrue! No ED PSA’s! McCain is not going to be the new poster boy for ED! Nooooooo!
February 14th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
So, are you saying that McCain is the forerunner of the Zombie Apocalypse??