Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
John Grant ·
Dec 19, 2011 at 2:37pm
Ruthfully Yours has posted an interesting letter from Angelo Codevilla on the history of the tension between the Republican Party Establishment and ordinary Republican voters. He traces this tension back to the New Deal Era.
This argument is a supplement to Codevilla's essay (and later book) The Ruling Class. It provides a useful perspective on the current battles among Republicans.
I don't always agree with Professor Codevilla, but I have found that he is always worth reading.
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Dec '11
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
My quibble with the linked article. The message isnt "Shut up and do as your told," it is "Shut up and send money."
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Codevilla's piece is, indeed, disturbing.
Dec '11
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
I'm not smart enough to vote. I need Karl Rove, Ramesh Ponnuru and John Sununnu to tell me what to do.
Dec '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
So I'm not the only one who feels like I'm being told how to vote. I guess sometimes us slopes just don't get it.
Jun '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
It's disturbing because Codevilla is one of the few people who sees the situation realistically. Our elected officials have become a ruling oligarchy regardless of party affiliation. We are "represented" by plutocrats and kleptocrats. By and large the only constituency they represent is themselves: thieves, liars, scalawags, insiders, power-brokers, media manipulators, lawyers, lobbyists, grifters, embezzlers and whores. So ends the American republic. God help the rest of us.
Mar '11
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
The Establishment made a pretty good case for the TARP funds, well, they suckered me, anyway. And as the article states, they turned right around and ignored all the terrible "toxic assets" and spent the money in direct bailouts.
They want our money and they want our votes and they want us let them do the thinking without a lot of lip.
Jul '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
This is why there is a Tea Party. This is why a movement of accomplished professionals and tradesmen are dismissed openly by media and the opposition, and by many GOP privately if not publicly, as racists, rednecks, bible clingers, and the like.
It is why both Romney and Gingrich are unelectable.
It is why I have never registered Republican in my life, even thou I never vote Democrat. I judge them by their actions, not their words. The Party of Reagan is at war with the party of Bushes and Doles and Nixons and Fords, and at Reagan's height he was still the voice of dissent within the party.
If we don't break this duopoly with America itself on the line, then we do not deserve America, and will no longer have America.
Edited on Dec 19, 2011 at 4:54pmSep '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I mean, its not as though GWB, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are all Harvard grads:
All aboard Hawvaaad Yaaaawd.
Edited on Dec 19, 2011 at 5:41pmJul '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Pseudodionysius: I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I mean, its not as though GWB, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are all Harvard grads:
All aboard Hawvaaad Yaaaawd. · Dec 19 at 5:29pm
Edited on Dec 19 at 05:41 pm
I haven't called you evil lately. My bad. Now I know the appropriate time of day to pay my respects. Well played.
Jan '11
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Don't ignore the fact that Codevilla's indictment of the Republican Establishment included "no-win" wars.
Conservatives like to rail against Establishment Republicans who never reverse the welfare state or really cut the budget. But the same conservatives are united with the Establishment politicians of both parties in supporting ever-expanding military outlays and endless far-flung operations for dubious purposes.
The same progressives who gave you the welfare state and Keynesian economics gave you our assertive interventionism. If Wilson, FDR and Nixon were wrong about the first two, why are you so sure they were indisputably right about the third?
Edited on Dec 19, 2011 at 9:26pmJun '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
I keep saying that Newt has to fight 1) the Dems, 2) the MSM, 3) Republican and conservative elites defending the status quo. He's done this from the start of his career in congress.
I keep saying that the Republicans and conservatives are suffering from a Stockholm Syndrome type of disease whereby they let the memes dreamed up by the MSM and the Dems take root in their own minds and then start repeating them like Stepford children. This is why Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle had no defenders when they were thrown to the wolves. This is why so many Republicans and conservatives still think Sarah Palin is less qualified to be president than Barack Obama.
I think it's true that George Will would much rather invite Barack Obama to dinner than Newt Gingrich. This is a class issue -- these elites are the ruling class. Though they do disagree on many policy issues they close ranks when an upstart like Gingrich moves in. I'm sure it's partly simply because he is unpredictable but also he will bring on a new paradigm and these people aren't part of it.
Oct '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Freesmith: Don't ignore the fact that Codevilla's indictment of the Republican Establishment included "no-win" wars.
Conservatives like to rail against Establishment Republicans who never reverse the welfare state or really cut the budget. But the same conservatives are united with the Establishment politicians of both parties in supporting ever-expanding military outlays and endless far-flung operations for dubious purposes.
The same progressives who gave you the welfare state and Keynesian economics gave you our assertive interventionism. If Wilson, FDR and Nixon were wrong about the first two, why are you so sure they were indisputably right about the third? · Dec 19 at 9:22pm
Edited on Dec 19 at 09:26 pm
Beautifully written, though I'm not sure I agree with it.
Oct '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
I've said this before: you always need a healthy dose of right-wingers to keep the squishy types in line, to which I'll add establishment types in general. Establishment types provide a number of benefits; they're the "wise old men" who know what works in politics. Unfortunately they also tend to drift into elitist snobbery if left alone, become drunk on their own power, develop paranoia about non-elites, and in general view themselves as God--whom they will not believe in upon reaching this stage.
In other words, political elites tend to suffer from nihilism. That's where the healthy dose of right-wingers comes in. You can see the Republican elite moving towards reasonableness over time, as the proportion of conservatives increases--first Goldwater, then Reagan.
Edited on Dec 20, 2011 at 12:41amJul '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Larry Koler: I keep saying that Newt has to fight 1) the Dems, 2) the MSM, 3) Republican and conservative elites defending the status quo. He's done this from the start of his career in congress.
...
I think it's true that George Will would much rather invite Barack Obama to dinner than Newt Gingrich. This is a class issue -- these elites are the ruling class. Though they do disagree on many policy issues they close ranks when an upstart like Gingrich moves in. I'm sure it's partly simply because he is unpredictable but also he will bring on a new paradigm and these people aren't part of it.
Agree on first point.
George Will has excoriated Obama, Gingrich, and Romney on a regular basis. December 4, he was urging a second look at Perry and Huntsman rather than a capitulation to the logic of the current front-runners. And having spent time in line for popcorn at Capitals games, Will has no problem striking up a conversation about the game outside his entourage (there wasn't one) to pass the time.
Will also has particulars from Gingrich's campaign for and term as Speaker.
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Freesmith: Don't ignore the fact that Codevilla's indictment of the Republican Establishment included "no-win" wars.
Conservatives like to rail against Establishment Republicans who never reverse the welfare state or really cut the budget. But the same conservatives are united with the Establishment politicians of both parties in supporting ever-expanding military outlays and endless far-flung operations for dubious purposes.
The same progressives who gave you the welfare state and Keynesian economics gave you our assertive interventionism. If Wilson, FDR and Nixon were wrong about the first two, why are you so sure they were indisputably right about the third? · Dec 19 at 9:22pm
Edited on Dec 19 at 09:26 pm
Good point. But context counts--in the Cold War we did have a very powerful enemy working hard to destroy our way of life.
Codevilla consistently maintains that American foreign policy should be guided by the preservation of our rights and our way of life rather than a vision of transforming the world.
In other words, it was right to resist the USSR or respond militarily to 9/11, but those policies have been warped by Progressive, utopian goals.
Jun '10
Re: Codevilla on the Republican Party Establishment
Sisyphus
...
Agree on first point.
George Will has excoriated Obama, Gingrich, and Romney on a regular basis. December 4, he was urging a second look at Perry and Huntsman rather than a capitulation to the logic of the current front-runners. And having spent time in line for popcorn at Capitals games, Will has no problem striking up a conversation about the game outside his entourage (there wasn't one) to pass the time.
...
First, a little ad hominem: I have not found Will readable or interesting to read in decades. I find myself reading the first sentence or two of an article, reading the last and finding myself wondering why he's still in the business. Compare and contrast to Jonah Goldberg, VDH, Steyn.
I was referring to this. Nothing sinister in this -- nor do I have any theories of conspiracy. But, make no mistake, this was a meeting of the hive. Not the left-wing hive, the status quo-ruling class hive: the hive that works in concert with the left-wing one. This was the congratulatory ring kissing ceremony. These elites do not represent us. Our small constraint on these people lies in the voting booth.
I invite everyone to ponder the likelihood of Newt Gingrich being invited to dinner at Will's home. Will would undoubtedly see Gingrich as more conservative then Obama. But, who is Will more comfortable with personally? Myself, I really would have difficulty shaking Obama's hand because I really despise anti-Americans like him and his ilk. I would never invite him to dinner in my own home.
This ruling class hive is in bed with the left-wing hive and this is the nexus of our problems.
Edited on Dec 20, 2011 at 9:35am