Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
It's better to give than receive at Christmas, as the saying goes. My gift this year are three books for the stockings of our testosterone-depleted Republican leadership:
1. Machiavelli's The Prince.
I'd circle this passage in red: "The question is whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is that one would like to be both the one or the other; but because it is difficult to combine the two, it is far better to be feared than loved."
2. Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
The pull quote is: "Therefore those who win every battle are not really skillful--those who render the enemies' armies helpless without fighting are the best of all."
That's what Democrats have been doing to Republicans for the past two decades!
3. Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals.
Pull quote: "Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have."
Just imagine the pain and suffering Neville Chamberlain could have spared the world if he had read Mein Kampf before going to Munich. And how much trouble could John Boehner and Mitch McConnell spared us all if they read the book by Obama's guide and mentor the day after inauguration in 2009, and understood how he sees the world and how his mind works?
E.g. Alinsky quoting Lenin: "They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet."
Merry Christmas.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
While we're at it, why not have the voting public read the Physician's Guide to Social Pathology? Might give the electorate some insight into who exactly makes up the ruling class.
Aug '11
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
I don't know if being feared is better than being loved-- maybe for a king--but Romney scared people and he didn't get the votes.
The Sun Tsu quote is interesting. Republican leadership acts as though they are scared-- "rendered helpless without fighting" but is that really the case? I think the big government Republicans-- Paul Rahe's "managerial progressive" types, have an incentive to preemptively cave to the Democrats and leave Tea Party types holding the bag (so to speak) and walking the planks on the TV shows. I think conservatives, in general, on the radio or in print, are usually willing to get out their and make their points.
The Alinsky quote is very interesting. It isn't one I've heard before. I do think there is something to that, whether it is on abortion, gay marriage, religion or immigration, conservatives are always told "hey, don't become irrelevant, just cede these principles and you'll get the votes you need" even though every fight is winnable.
Speaking of Rules for Radicals, David Kahane's (Michael Walsh) "Rules for Radical Conservatives" is a pretty good good book as well.
Oct '10
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
A diet of Mao and Lenin for the GOP 'leadership' wouldn't go amiss. They did win their revolutions, after all.
May '10
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
Shouldn't Santa give them coal instead?
Arthur Herman:
E.g. Alinsky quoting Lenin: "They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns, then it will be through the bullet."
The Left's leaders evidently do not care about truth and do not care about their enemies. They are capable of anything, and restrained only by power.
There is no connection between the friendliness of casual interactions between neighbors and the unconditional respect which prevents thuggish politics.
Jun '11
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
Given that there's no effective challenge to Boehner, sometimes I wonder if the GOP rank-and-file really wants better leadership. Most are in safe seats anyway.
Apr '12
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
Number three, the most important.
May '10
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
I am just diving into 'Rules for Radical Conservatives' by David Kahane (aka Michael Walsh of NRO). I skimmed it, and it seems to have some good high level ideas. We will see how the details round out. The introductory premise is a bit much (The Kahane pseudonym is a Hollywood lib giving advice to conservatives). I was hoping for something a bit more straightforward, and not so tongue-in-cheek...
Re: Three Books for the GOP's Stocking
I was thinking of the GOP Congressional "leadership" but I'm glad Goldgeller brought up Romney, which goes to prove my point.
Why didn't Romney press harder on the Benghazi debacle? He didn't want appear mean-spirited or fit any of the other negative stereotypes that the liberal media use to ensnare and emasculate Republicans. Machiavelli would say, he thought it was more important that he be loved...ie loved by the New York Times!
Big mistake.
Want some more Alinsky? Try this one:
"The organizer...must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act."
Does that not define the entire GOP problem? Instead of tearing into Obama's vulnerabilities and missteps and starting a fight, they say nothing and hope they'll get credit for bipartisanship. Instead, they let the opposition choose the time and place for battle.
"The organizer becomes a carrier for curiosity, for a people asking 'why' are beginning to rebel."
This is a war for our nation's survival. Republicans need to act like it--and then they'll rally those who want to know "why."