Somebody Kill Me

 

Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 9.51.33 PM

First of all, congratulations are in order. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have all but clinched the nominations of their respective parties and have done so abiding by the rules.

Having said that, somebody kill me.

Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign slogan was “A choice, not an echo.” Today the presidency has boiled down to a Clinton-Trump undercard that doesn’t even seem to qualify as an echo. As Nick Gillespie put it, at this point he’d settle for a wind chime.

In a February column George Will memorably described the Democratic Party as “clinging to Hillary Clinton like a shipwrecked sailor clinging to a spar.” Less than three months later and the only positive coming from the Republican Party’s nominee is that America’s energy needs can now be met by harnessing the power of progressive schadenfreude.

Every now and then progressives (as in this article in The Atlantic) will float the blatantly unconstitutional idea of compulsory voting. If it isn’t clear to you that not voting is clearly a constitutionally-protected form of political speech, maybe the Clinton-Trump undercard will change your mind.

“But Trump can win!” my fellow travelers say: like it’s a good thing. Then again, maybe it is a good thing. I don’t know, I just… don’t… know anymore.

I peruse the internet for a glimmer of hope and can do no better than the latest installment of the always-wrong Hugh Hewitt’s Brokering A Convention series of blogposts. In part III of this establishment wet dream, Hewitt has Kasich inviting Ted Cruz and Cruz’s father for a sit-down. Kasich proceeds to condescend to Cruz that he (Kasich) is the only one who can defeat Hillary. And what is the source of Kasich’s incredible unbeatability in a general election? Reduced to plain English, the similarity of his policies to Hillary’s.

The latest unseemly installment has Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan solemnly calling on delegates in Cleveland to do their patriotic duty by nominating… South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. Nikki Haley. Who does Hewitt imagine as her running mate, Eric Cantor?  

Sounds like a plan. The implausibility of it all rivals unscrambling the eggs in the Middle East. Wait – that is our Middle East policy.

Meanwhile, self-styled “center-right” individuals and institutions like John Podhoretz, Michael Medved and The Weekly Standard like to characterize Tea Party crazies like me as wanting to elect members to Congress in order to “do nothing.” For the record, we don’t want Congress to do nothing: we want Congress to undo things. Undo the individual mandate. Undo sanctuary cities. Use the power of the purse. Forget about “winning” for a moment: how about a candidate who promises to undo so much government meddling in markets that we become bored with unprecedented prosperity?

Would such a candidate win? Probably not. But at least we could have an actual national debate about the role of government and the fact of American Exceptionalism. Maybe in some awesome parallel universe Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul clinch the nomination of their respective parties.

Instead we’re going to send a crony capitalist from New York to the capital of crony capitalism, Washington DC.

And that’s regardless of which one wins.

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  1. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I like it.  But Goldwater was 2 generations ago.

    • #1
  2. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    I love the creepy crawly Clinton hand around Melania’s waist.

    • #2
  3. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    David Deeble: For the record, we don’t want Congress to do nothing: we want Congress to undo things. Undo the individual mandate. Undo sanctuary cities. Use the power of the purse. Forget about “winning” for a moment: how about a candidate who promises to undo so much government meddling in markets that we become bored with unprecedented prosperity?

    I’ve been saying this for years. I want the guy who will go to Washington and undo the last thirty years of legislation.

    I’d even take the guy who pledged to get out of bed every morning with the goal of slashing a thousand regulations.

    • #3
  4. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    David Deeble: Instead we’re going to send a crony capitalist from New York to the capital of crony capitalism, Washington DC.

    So true. :)

    Oh my gosh. We are doomed.

    We really are giving him the keys to the vault.

    • #4
  5. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    I wonder how Democrats feel when they see that picture.  Do you think they have a similar feeling?

    • #5
  6. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Quinn the Eskimo:I wonder how Democrats feel when they see that picture. Do you think they have a similar feeling?

    I think this is what they mean when they say “reaching across the aisle.” :) :) They love this.

    • #6
  7. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    MarciN:I love the creepy crawly Clinton hand around Melania’s waist.

    If one knew nothing about the figures in the picture you would assume that Melania was his wife as opposed to the women on his right.

    • #7
  8. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Roberto:

    MarciN:I love the creepy crawly Clinton hand around Melania’s waist.

    If one knew nothing about the figures in the picture you would assume that Melania was his wife as opposed to the women on his right.

    Exactly!

    • #8
  9. TKC1101 Member
    TKC1101
    @

    This picture is fine. Why are people worried about this when the Gang of Eight picture was about really screwing us over something important. Apparently that is fine and acceptable.

    This one makes me puke.

    gang of 8th

    • #9
  10. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I’m assuming that Melania was smart enough to make sure the necklace was still in place afterwards.

    • #10
  11. Ash Inactive
    Ash
    @Ash

    Great Goldwater quote usage.

    • #11
  12. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    Roberto:

    MarciN:I love the creepy crawly Clinton hand around Melania’s waist.

    If one knew nothing about the figures in the picture you would assume that Melania was his wife as opposed to the women on his right.

    I’m sure Bill would trade in a nanosecond.  Not that I blame him.

    It looks like she’s holding Bill’s hand in place to prevent it from heading a up the side of her torso and getting a free grope.

    • #12
  13. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    livingthehighlife: It looks like she’s holding Bill’s hand in place to prevent it from heading a up the side of her torso and getting a free grope.

    :) :) :)

    • #13
  14. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Dave,

    Isn’t it interesting that the only reason that the Republican Party holds both houses is that the tea-party conservatives won real races over real issues in 2010 & 2014. The failed races of 2008 & 2012 are the results of the wisdom of the moderates. The ACA is the result of the twisted legal reasoning of moderate Cheif Justice Roberts. The principle reason that we have Trump is that the Republican moderates after 2014 didn’t read the handwriting on the walls (written in 50 foot high letters too). They happily continued on their path of least resistance. Boehner is still crying about it and wants the DC crowd to punish Ted Cruz for being so mean. If he and McConnell had been awake Cruz wouldn’t have needed to say anything.

    Sometimes when it seems darkest it is just Gd trying to get your attention. Without an easy clear path forward we are being tested about our core beliefs. If Trump actually wants to be a conservative he can show us that. If not we will take what comes and stick to our guns. We need relief a lot more than some wheeler-dealer with 8 billion dollars or some inside the beltway power broker but we’ve come this far and we don’t feel like selling out.

    Sorry Dave, I’m not gonna shoot ya. How about a good laugh instead.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #14
  15. RyanM Inactive
    RyanM
    @RyanM

    David Deeble: Meanwhile, self-styled “center-right” individuals and institutions like John Podhoretz, Michael Medved and The Weekly Standard like to characterize Tea Party crazies like me as wanting to elect members to Congress in order to “do nothing.” For the record, we don’t want Congress to do nothing: we want Congress to undo things. Undo the individual mandate. Undo sanctuary cities. Use the power of the purse. Forget about “winning” for a moment: how about a candidate who promises to undo so much government meddling in markets that we become bored with unprecedented prosperity?

    To be more clear, we want them to undo things, and then we want them to do nothing.

    • #15
  16. Von Snrub Inactive
    Von Snrub
    @VonSnrub

    Why is anybody bothered by this picture? I’m in pictures with democrats. Lot’s of pictures, since most of my friends are democrats.

    My wife’s graduation has Obama speaking. I’m tempted to go, just to see a president.

    Let’s not get hysterical.

    As a fellow New Yorker, I understand the struggle of conservative in a sea of liberalism.

    Personally, I don’t think Trump is conservative. However, He does appear to be a good father, maybe not husband, but father.

    • #16
  17. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans

    A lot of things can happen between now and November. Maybe Jeb! will be the next President. Don’t “misunderestimate” the Bushes.

    • #17
  18. Von Snrub Inactive
    Von Snrub
    @VonSnrub

    Yeah I really wish Jeb would win. His brother did such an excellent job.

    • #18
  19. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Von Snrub:Why is anybody bothered by this picture? I’m in pictures with democrats. Lot’s of pictures, since most of my friends are democrats.

    Democrats who are likely to be their party’s presidential standard-bearer?  I’m not “bothered” by the picture (I won’t speak for anyone else), but it’s emblematic of how cozy the real establishment in this country is, and a nice riposte to those who consider Trump some kind of outsider.

    • #19
  20. RyanM Inactive
    RyanM
    @RyanM

    TKC1101:This picture is fine. Why are people worried about this when the Gang of Eight picture was about really screwing us over something important. Apparently that is fine and acceptable.

    This one makes me puke.

    gang of 8th

    ouch, any time you see McCain front and center, with Graham grinning smugly…  yeah, Rubio should have an “oh, crap!” look on his face.  I agree that this picture is scary.

    • #20
  21. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    RyanM:

    TKC1101:This picture is fine. Why are people worried about this when the Gang of Eight picture was about really screwing us over something important. Apparently that is fine and acceptable.

    This one makes me puke.

    gang of 8th

    ouch, any time you see McCain front and center, with Graham grinning smugly… yeah, Rubio should have an “oh, crap!” look on his face. I agree that this picture is scary.

    And Chuck Schumer out in front.  Didn’t Trump give him money?

    • #21
  22. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    It burns!

    • #22
  23. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    David Deeble:Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign slogan was “A choice, not an echo.” Today the presidency has boiled down to a Clinton-Trump undercard that doesn’t even seem to qualify as an echo. As Nick Gillespie put it, at this point he’d settle for a wind chime.

    If Gillespie doesn’t think there are real differences between Clinton or Trump, than either he’s not paying attention, or he’s just being a braying ass. And from what I’ve read of his work over the years, the later may be more likely. One says he’ll build a wall to keep illegal aliens outs. The other kisses their rears and promises to open borders even further. I’m frankly surprised Gillespie isn’t endorsing Hillary on that aspect alone. NATO, trade policy, etc… the differences are numerous. We’ve got a choice.

    I peruse the internet for a glimmer of hope and can do no better than the latest installment of the always-wrong Hugh Hewitt’s Brokering A Convention series of blogposts. In part III of this establishment wet dream

    Perfectly described

    The latest unseemly installment has Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan solemnly calling on delegates in Cleveland to do their patriotic duty by nominating… South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.

    See above. Romney just adds a little more arrogance to the recipe.

    • #23
  24. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    MarciN:I love the creepy crawly Clinton hand around Melania’s waist.

    But you gotta agree, she is hot. Trump’s barely touching Hillary. Probably ran to the men’s room to wash up afterwards.

    • #24
  25. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    David Deeble:

    Meanwhile, self-styled “center-right” individuals and institutions like John Podhoretz, Michael Medved and The Weekly Standard like to characterize Tea Party crazies like me as wanting to elect members to Congress in order to “do nothing.”

    What’s wrong with nothing?  I like nothing.

    Why are Texas and a few other states so successful?  Perhaps because they only allow their legislatures to meet a few days every year or two.

    • #25
  26. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    Douglas:One says he’ll build a wall to keep illegal aliens outs. The other kisses their rears and promises to open borders even further. … NATO, trade policy, etc… the differences are numerous.

    Numerous differences from a guy who constantly lies, has no record, and little conscience about spreading lies, hate, and false rumors?

    Perhaps you would like to point out to the rest of us where he is not lying.

    Lies are always to the leftist side.  Hillary Clinton may lie, but we all know that she’s a leftist.

    • #26
  27. J. D. Fitzpatrick Member
    J. D. Fitzpatrick
    @JDFitzpatrick

    Great job, David.

    • #27
  28. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    The Cloaked Gaijin:

    David Deeble:

    Meanwhile, self-styled “center-right” individuals and institutions like John Podhoretz, Michael Medved and The Weekly Standard like to characterize Tea Party crazies like me as wanting to elect members to Congress in order to “do nothing.”

    What’s wrong with nothing? I like nothing.

    I got plenty o’ it.

    • #28
  29. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    The Cloaked Gaijin:What’s wrong with nothing? I like nothing.

    coolidge

    • #29
  30. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    The Cloaked Gaijin:Why are Texas and a few other states so successful? Perhaps because they only allows their legislatures to meet a few days every year or two.

    Yep.

    • #30
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