Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Blue Yeti ·
September 17, 2010 at 10:21pm
We're all about the mid-terms this week and we're joined by one of the country's foremost campaign experts to help us sort through them: National Review's Jim Geraghty. We cover Delaware, the infamous Murphy post, and a host of other contests around the country. We also politely discuss the Ricochet Code of Conduct and how it works. Or doesn't.
And now, a fusillade of bullets:
- Jim Geraghty's Campaign Spot column is required reading. And while you're there, subscribe to his daily email blast. We do.
- The now legendary Mike Murphy Ricochet post Civil War in the GOP? A Peacemaker's Proposal...
- El Rushbo didn't care for it.
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 contributed to the start of World War I. More recently, he lent his name to a Scottish rock band.
- You can track the amount of money Christine O'Donnell has raised (and contribute) here.
- In the 90's, Christine O'Donnell took a stand against hands (so to speak).
- Sharron Angle's latest poll numbers against Harry Reid.
- In California, it’s close. Very close.
- Fiorina's Demon Sheep spot.
- The Ricochet Code of Conduct: Read it. Learn it. Live it.
Music from this week's episode:
- Wake Up by Arcade Fire
- Different Drum by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
The direct link to this week's episode is here, but please do the polite thing and subscribe.
The Ricochet Podcast is sponsored by the Encounter Books Broadside series. This week's title: Obama and America's Public Sector Plague by EJ McMahon. Available at EncounterBooks.com
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Rob Long:
"Well, let's get some callers in on this..."
Peter Robinson:
"Uh, Rob, I thought we said we weren't going to do this..."
Rob:
"OK! Let's go to....Philip...in Palm Beach!"
Caller:
"Hey, Rush! Dittoes! Geez, you're my absolute favorite..."
Rob:
"Um, Rush isn't actually on the show, Philip..."
Caller:
"Sometimes I collect seashells on the beach outside your house, Rush. I keep them in my underpants..."
Rob:
"OK!....let's go to Rachel...in Istanbul!
Caller:
"You know, I have like, all these friends? And they're always telling me there's, like, no such thing as a moderate muslim? But there are, aren't there, Rob? Moderate muslims, I mean."
Rob:
"Claire, is that you?"
Caller
(Dial tone)
Rob:
"(sigh)...alright, let's go to...Howard...in Van Nuys..."
Caller:
"Yeah, Rob, I just wanna ask why you guys expelled me from Ricochet..."
Rob:
"Because you were posting about firebombing Mike Murphy's house. We try to be lenient with freedom of expression, Howard, but that one tripped the zero-tolerance wire..."
Peter:
(sotto voce): "Rob, we really, really have to talk..."
Rob:
Facepalm
Edited on September 18, 2010 at 6:50amMay '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Oh great Jim Geraghty the guy who hates Mark Levin because he is willing to hurl insults right back at the left who are constantly firebombing us on the right and the guy who declared absolutley that Mike Castle would win in Delaware. Wow he should bring some real insight to this Podcast. If I might make a contributor suggestion how about Larry Elder? Jim commented on how Mark is a small time radio guy, well the last time I looked Jim you aren't a radio guy at all let alone a National Radio Guy. Jim please more insight into why MC is going to win in Delaware. This was all on the Hugh Hewit show by the way incase anyone is wondering.
Edited on September 17, 2010 at 11:19pmRe: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Peter,
Jim discusses his prediction on Delaware and why he (and just about everyone else) got it wrong. Give it a listen.
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
I for one am looking forward to listening. I've followed Jim Geraghty since the early days of The Kerry Spot. He is still daily reading for me. I've always found him to be level-headed and insightful.
However, I'll have to wait to later to listen, as I'm getting ready to take my wife out to The Melting Pot. A good evening to all.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Wow, a Star Trek reference in every podcast!
I take Jim's point that O'Donnell is of questionable character and might turn on Republican voters after being elected to office. But why not gamble when the alternative is a proven dud?
It's not about who is "the true conservative." It's about the bottom line that Republican seats are means to an end, rather than victories in themselves. The GOP might be a mix of many viewpoints, but without shared principles it's the U.N.
"We need to build a coalition", Jim says. Alliances are formed for a common purpose. What is that purpose? I couldn't care less if Republicans control policy if their policies are peripheral to restoring Constitutional fidelity. Repair the foundation.
Let me put it this way. Republicans will not impress me by lowering taxes or changing regulations when I know Democrats will reverse those actions later. Though our government has done some good things, its general course for the past century has been expansion and corruption. If Republicans cannot reverse that trend (not merely slow or stop it until Democrats regain control), any other victories will be shallow and short-lived.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
If the odds are against us, so what? What do we teach our children? "Aim high and act with determination." Right? No matter how high the barriers, we'd be fools to try only for what we know we can achieve. It's not idealism to strive beyond normal limits. The popular American expression about giving 110% represents a realization that a person should always seek to do more than is clearly possible.
Forget the odds.
I agree completely that the messenger matters as much as the message in regard to electability (only ever vaguely known) and public support (also difficult to guage).
How ironic that Democrats, the collectivists, disregard their candidates' oddities while Republicans, the individualists, want a regular Joe.
If unemployment returns to 5% and Americans are happy despite Obamacare and many other expansions of government, I'll be very depressed.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
OK I'm starting to look forward to Kenneth's callers almost as much as the podcast...
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
You and me both, Aaron. One of the things that sort of makes me optimistic is the continued insistence by people -- maybe not the inside-the-beltway crowd -- that cutting taxes, or slowing the growth of government, or actually eliminating entitlements is absolutely necessary. We haven't had that kind of consensus from anywhere for a long time. In this respect, the Tea Party movement is ahead of the curve. Insiders, I think, have always secretly suspected -- with some reason, to be fair -- that even conservative voters never wanted to cut their entitlements, that even conservative voters would punish real belt-tightening in the voting booth. As usual, though, the guys at the top are a little behind the voter. All great American movements have been driven from the people up to the politicians. Never the other way around.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
I share their doubt. But we have to try. Like Steyn, my general outlook on the future is pretty grim, but I won't take the cancer lying down.
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Great point, Jim around minute. 50. The reason we're riding this tidal wave is because B.O. promised, "elect me and things will be great." Americans said, "ok." And now things are worse, much worse.
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Kiss me.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Geraghty and Lileks seem to have amnesia. Don't they remember that just ten short years ago we had 100% control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. And we got what?
Edited on September 18, 2010 at 1:05amJun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
EJ, in the words of Hansel, "You are talkin' loco and I LIKE it!"
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Every once and a while Peggy Noonan comes up with a gem. Her latest column touches on the idea that on the government yard stick 0" is conservative and 36" is liberal. Ideally you end up at 18". Except even when our guys were completely in charge everything ended up at 28" and we were supposed to be happy it didn't end up at 30"!
When you're in charge and you end up at the 28" mark that's failure. And to quote Mike Murphy, the GOP owned it.
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
EJHill: Geraghty and Lileks seem to have amnesia. Don't they remember that just ten short years ago we had 100% control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. And we got what? · Sep 17 at 4:04pm
Edited on Sep 17 at 04:05 pm
We will end up with total consciousness.
So we got that going for us, which is nice.
Edited on September 18, 2010 at 1:46amJul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
Mr. Long, why are some Republicans, principled Republicans, referred to as "fantatic[al][?]"
Why have I never heard of "fanatical" democrats, or "extreme" Democrats? Leftists? Yes. Liberals? Yes. But Democrats? Never.
Edited on September 18, 2010 at 4:01amMay '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
That's because they're out here in California, the state where Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Pete Stark can win elections. There are plenty of fanatical Democrats out here.
There are still plenty of Obama bumper stickers on the road too. They still get that tingle when they see his face...
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
(Self-censored some Seinfeld-ian humor.)
Edited on September 21, 2010 at 2:42pmJul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
EJHill: Geraghty and Lileks seem to have amnesia. Don't they remember that just ten short years ago we had 100% control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. And we got what? · Sep 17 at 4:04pm
Edited on Sep 17 at 04:05 pm
I'm more pessimistic about government than you EJ. What didn't we get? Nearly every proposed bill that didn't pass was a victory.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #34: The Squishy RINO
What?