Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Bret Stephens at the Wall Street Journal says they do:
As for the current GOP field, it's like confronting a terminal diagnosis. There may be an apparent range of treatments: conventional (Romney), experimental (Gingrich), homeopathic (Paul) or prayerful (Santorum). But none will avail you in the end. Just try to exit laughing.
It's not just the current field that Stephens is upset with. Check out the not-so-subtle dig at Mitch Daniels:
Finally, there are the men not in the field: Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour. This was the GOP A-Team, the guys who should have showed up to the first debate but didn't because running for president is hard and the spouses were reluctant. Nothing commends them for it. If this election is as important as they all say it is, they had a duty to step up. Abraham Lincoln did not shy from the contest of 1860 because of Mary Todd. If Mr. Obama wins in November—or, rather, when he does—the failure will lie as heavily on their shoulders as it will with the nominee.
He ends by saying that he hopes within four years the GOP will figure out if it doesn't want to lose, it shouldn't run with losers.
So, is this just a tantrum or is the party this doomed? And what are you going to do about it?
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Comments:
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
The thought did cross my mind that it's funny this column comes out only now. It's not like anything in there is new information that we didn't know six months ago.
Dec '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
By far the most devastating charge against Romney I've read:
Now, I'm not convinced the voters saw through Obama's pragmatism veneer, and I suspect many of those who will decide the election still don't, but I'm afraid everyone sees through Romney's conviction veneer, which is why he's having trouble with the base and will lose in the general if he becomes the nominee.
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
I'm not entirely sure that it's a bad strategy to destroy the GOP establishment this year.
Sep '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
I will never expunge the image Sarah Palin has burned into my eyes for all time of Chris Christie getting his "panties in a bunch", especially after he appeared on Oprah this weekend. The line "he's like a bull in a lingerie shop" is just too choice now.
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Bret Stephens has a point, and he overstates it. Those willing to run this year were flawed -- deeply flawed. There were others who could have run who were far less flawed, and they let us down.
For the time being, however, we will have to work with the options we have. We are not, in my opinion, doomed to lose. Mitt Romney might, under the pressure of the campaign, learn to connect. He might find himself forced to articulate the conservative argument. He might figure out how to speak to the concerns of ordinary Americans.
And Newt Gingrich -- well, he might mount another insurgency. The man has qualities.
Sep '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
I could not have said it better, Lucy. Welcome back! Whereyabeen?
As for the High Court: Roberts: 57 this year; Scalia: 76 this year; Thomas: 64 this year; Ginsburg: 79 this year. Alito: 62 this year; Sotomayor: 58 this year; Kagan: 52 this year; Kennedy: 76 this year; Breyer; 74 this year. Breyer has been at times a centrist but usually votes with the liberals. Ginsburg, who's been ill, is very liberal, so it's moot. I don't think Scalia's going anywhere. Kennedy, the only other justice in his 70s, seems to relish being the tie-breaker. ... unlike in 2008, I'm not so concerned about the High Court. I think the bigger worry now is a president whose administration botches this genuine opportunity to persuade people that less government is better.
Edited on January 24, 2012 at 4:24pmMay '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
And what are you going to do about it?
I'm going to implement The Plan.
Aug '11
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Which may be the greater flaw. I know that some Ricocheteers are all atwitter at the prospect of Mitch Daniels jumping in at some late date. At this point, I will think dimly of someone who jumps in now. Why now? Why not last fall? Mitt Romney might be "timid," but at least he put himself out there.
Sep '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
I John Adams that!
Nov '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Miss Mollie's last line is the one that arrests me: "And what are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? I wonder. My pennies won't alter the landscape an iota; my efforts here in my own county are dependent upon the national nominee; our primary is so far down the list that the issues will be decided before we vote; and, for whom would I vote anyway? Finally, in Stephens's view and also in my own, Achilles (whoever he may be) in his tent is damned by the failure to enter the fray and no hope for the present, Professor Rahe's trumpet call to the contrary notwithstanding.
What, Miss Mollie, is there to be done?
Aug '11
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Franco:
This article doesn't deserve attention - except for highlighting how out of touch some Republicans are.
Well, we expect the establishment to become unhinged at the prospect of Romney losing the nomination. This is just another example of unhingement, isn't it? Put this on the table with the rest of the bittercakes.
Nov '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Leslie Watkins: I could not have said it better, Lucy. Welcome back! Whereyabeen?
Hi, Leslie! Thanks for asking. Sent you a private message.
Your analysis of the Supreme Court is extremely comforting.
Sep '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
The GOP may deserve to lose, but the American people don't. For the first time here, I disagree completely with Mr. Rahe. Stephens makes no valid point overstated or not.
Clear eveidence exists in his article that he is playing fantasy football politics. Pundits can speculate all they want... coulda, shoulda, etc. but they can't pretend that there isn't a real world out there.
So again, who at the Wall Street Journal, or here even, honestly believes - now give this some thought , 30 seconds should do - what kind of result an Obama vs. Christie would give the GOP?
How about an Obama vs. Bush election? What would that look like? Take a moment.
I'm sorry, Jeb could make the absolute ideal President, but he would never get close. So why does his name keep showing up in these silly articles? This guy Bret whoever-he-is throws these names around without thinking. Why should anyone read this drivel?
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
M1919A4: Miss Mollie's last line is the one that arrests me: "And what are you going to do about it?"
What can I do about it? I wonder. My pennies won't alter the landscape an iota; my efforts here in my own county are dependent upon the national nominee; our primary is so far down the list that the issues will be decided before we vote; and, for whom would I vote anyway? Finally, in Stephens's view and also in my own, Achilles (whoever he may be) in his tent is damned by the failure to enter the fray and no hope for the present, Professor Rahe's trumpet call to the contrary notwithstanding.
What, Miss Mollie, is there to be done? · 13 minutes ago
The only thought I have is that people need to turn their attention from the presidential race to the Senate and House races STAT.
Sep '11
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
I may be hopelessly optimistic, but, after the public sees another 10-11 months of this failed presidency, Mickey (or Minnie) Mouse can win.
Our field isn't perfect, but neither is our opponent!
Dec '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
It might be extremely juvenile to say this, but everything about Romney makes sense if I use his first name rather than the middle name he chooses to go by. A guy named Willard just isn't going to connect with the American people unless he's celebrating birthdays of centenarians.
Oct '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
This is looking more and more like 2004 and John Kerry. We really need a better candidate.
Jul '11
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
True, but the fact that Kerry came very close to unseating a weak incumbent belies just how dire the current situation is. Replaying the 2004 race but substituting Bush with Obama and Kerry with Romney will not mean a similarly close election. It will be a 40 state (at least) blowout because the media will be openly hostile to Romney (or Gingrich) while Kerry had their wind at his back. That counts for a lot, unfortunately. It's going to be a long, ugly, frustrating year.
Dec '10
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
Cobalt Blue
True, but the fact that Kerry came very close to unseating a weak incumbent belies just how dire the current situation is. Replaying the 2004 race but substituting Bush with Obama and Kerry with Romney will not mean a similarly close election. It will be a 40 state (at least) blowout because the media will be openly hostile to Romney (or Gingrich) while Kerry had their wind at his back. That counts for a lot, unfortunately. It's going to be a long, ugly, frustrating year. · 11 minutes ago
This is why Newt makes sense under this set of circumstances. Newt can tack a lot closer to the wind than Romney.
Jul '11
Re: Does The GOP Deserve To Lose?
The King Prawn
Cobalt Blue
True, but the fact that Kerry came very close to unseating a weak incumbent belies just how dire the current situation is. Replaying the 2004 race but substituting Bush with Obama and Kerry with Romney will not mean a similarly close election. It will be a 40 state (at least) blowout because the media will be openly hostile to Romney (or Gingrich) while Kerry had their wind at his back. That counts for a lot, unfortunately. It's going to be a long, ugly, frustrating year. · 11 minutes ago
This is why Newt makes sense under this set of circumstances. Newt can tack a lot closer to the wind than Romney. · 8 minutes ago
True that, KP!