Establishment Republicans Could Destroy the Country

 

Remember the good ol’ days when we had different kinds of Republicans, some deeply conservative, others pretty moderate, and others who were barely Republican at all? But we managed to tolerate each other. We were known as a party that was friendly with the Democrats; the parties were all like lawyers, who would fight to the death in court and then argue over who would buy lunch afterward.

Those days are long gone and are unlikely to return, certainly not in my lifetime. And that change is a significant opportunity for the Republican party to take a close look at itself and ask just what kind of party it wants to be.

The problem that faces Republicans is that they are reluctant, for a myriad of reasons, to move into the 21st century. Their own self-interests are mired in the traditional mores of doing business, making them resistant, if not downright hostile, to making the changes that Republicans need to make if they are to survive.

And they could not only destroy the party but the country, too, as a result of their reticence.

So, what are the biggest roadblocks? The first glitch in the approach of the Republicans is that they’re stuck in what they’ve always done, and that covers a lot of factors: most of them see making changes as inconvenient, time-consuming, and annoying. The next glitch is the Republicans’ mentality about what it means to be a Republican: being seen as cooperative has become more important than sticking to one’s values and beliefs. Then there are all the people who want to call them evil, nasty, selfish, greedy, and any other derisive label that will hurt their feelings. Or those who are actually supporting the Left/Democrat agenda but do that behind the scenes, making up excuses for their conflicted allegiances. And finally, they have used President Trump as their scapegoat to avoid taking responsibility for their lack of action and decisions.

There was a time that a diversity of opinions to operate as Republicans was celebrated; the more, the merrier. But they no longer have the luxury of being “diverse” or rancorous within the party. That time is long past. Ironically, if Republicans want a model to follow for solidarity and victory, they don’t have to look far. As much as we criticize the Leftists for being in lockstep with their leadership, they get a lot of things done.

Which is more than Republicans can say.

So am I suggesting we should be acting more like Democrats? Not exactly. What I am saying is that we can no longer be petty about issues and decision-making. Republicans need to decide what is really important (and that doesn’t necessarily mean each person winning his next election). So what does it mean?

It means reaching agreement within the party on the critical issues.

It means not indulging in insignificant arguments.

It means putting up with the viciousness of the Left.

It means taking unconventional action against injustice and tyranny by the Left.

It means being able to face one’s self in the mirror and know that you ultimately may not be doing what is best for your personal election chances, but that you are doing the very best you can do for the country.

No more excuses.

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  1. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Susan Quinn: It means putting up with the viciousness of the Left.

    You mean “not putting up…” Right? 

    Not to diminish your argument or post, but this is what many have been saying for ten years and longer. It’s why we had a Tea Party, why we hated John McCain, why we thought Mitt Romney was a joke and why DJT was elected in 2016. It’s still a worthy topic, although I honestly don’t know what the remedy is.

    Now we have supposed stalwarts of the Republican Party openly advocating for Democrats. This isn’t really new. Remember Colin Powell? He is supposed to be a Republican but openly endorsed Obama twice (with moderate Republicans as his opponent) and then Hillary, and then Biden. And no one in the legacy GOP has so much as complained. 

    • #1
  2. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    The GOP ran itself into the ground, with historic lows in 2008.  Come 2010, the base mobilized and rescued the party, delivering a historic swing, majorities in both houses.  The establishment went to war against the Tea Party.  They said so.

    That was where the split surfaced, and the establishment has not wavered.  They have long been willing to lose where required in order to deflate the base.  “Protected Class” (Codevilla) fancy Republicans can weather Democrat storms better than we mere citizens.  There’s a reason the well-off NTs see a threat only from Trump, and not from Biden & co.  It’s no threat to them.

    2015:

    https://ricochet.com/280066/gop-royal-dream-win-without-the-base/

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Franco (View Comment):
    You mean “not putting up…” Right?

    Nope. I mean not using the attacks from the Left as an excuse to cave in.

    Also, Powell is one person. Now the numbers are much more obvious. WE have to get serious about holding them accountable. 

    • #3
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Republicans in the House and Senate need to know the other party’s members might be their colleagues, but they are not their friends . . .

    • #4
  5. DonG (CAGW is a Scam) Coolidge
    DonG (CAGW is a Scam)
    @DonG

    Susan Quinn: And they could not only destroy the party but the country,

    I think you have the tense wrong in your post and title.  It should say :

    Establishment Republicans Did Destroy the Country

    • #5
  6. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Hi Susan,

    You and I are about the same age so we were both adults during the Reagan administration.  How about Reagan as a model of how to get things done and reverse the movement to the Left?

    Gary

    • #6
  7. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Hi Susan,

    You and I are about the same age so we were both adults during the Reagan administration. How about Reagan as a model of how to get things done and reverse the movement to the Left?

    Gary

    How did that amnesty deal work out?  I adore Reagan, but put him in context: Reagan budged and the Democrats ate his lunch (and ours) for the next forty years!

    Go-along-to-get-screwed is what I call it.

    • #7
  8. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Hi Susan,

    You and I are about the same age so we were both adults during the Reagan administration. How about Reagan as a model of how to get things done and reverse the movement to the Left?

    Gary

    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Establishment GOP: “The Tea Party, Cruz, Trump, MAGA, etc., are horrible, deplorable people who must be purged from the party.”

    • #8
  9. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    This is all you need to know about RINOs: 

    California RINOs held a kangaroo court to unendorse Mike Cargile, a California Pro-Trump candidate due to his right to free speech on Facebook.  The California GOP would rather see a radical Pelosi communist Democrat than a pro-America candidate in their state government. 

    California GOP RINOs Unendorse Pro-Trump State Candidate for Free Speech on Facebook – Would Rather See Pelosi Democrat Instead (thegatewaypundit.com)

     

    • #9
  10. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    The leftism attacks must be met and returned. 

    We need to call the left evil. Every day,every hour.

    Never stop.

     

    • #10
  11. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Hi Susan,

    You and I are about the same age so we were both adults during the Reagan administration. How about Reagan as a model of how to get things done and reverse the movement to the Left?

    Gary

    I think we should start fresh. The times have changed and things are in a terrible state. I want to look forward, not back.

    • #11
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Establishment GOP: “The Tea Party, Cruz, Trump, MAGA, etc., are horrible, deplorable people who must be purged from the party.”

    Repubs. can disagree with each other, but not publicly. It wrecks their credibility and creates even more chaos.

    • #12
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I know these things have been discussed in the past, but we must keep hammering away, or find new ways to get through. We can’t just complain and wring our hands–we must act!

    • #13
  14. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Hi Susan,

    You and I are about the same age so we were both adults during the Reagan administration. How about Reagan as a model of how to get things done and reverse the movement to the Left?

    Gary

    I think we should start fresh. The times have changed and things are in a terrible state. I want to look foward, not back.

    That’s fair.  Thanks.

    • #14
  15. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Indeed. And it is hilarious that some of the most notorious ‘Establishment Republicans’ TM (Conservative (sic), Inc.) of today still pretend to claim President Ronald Reagan as ‘one of them’. Hysterical. President Reagan was most certainly not the Establishment (that was Jerry Ford before, and GHW Bush during/afterwards). Reagan was the ‘bomb-throwing’ upstart who tried to be President ‘before it was his time’ as the Establishment dictated.  Here are the actual players for the Show:

    Establishment gOpE:   Jerry Ford, GHW Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain (the ‘Maverick’ who was adopted for lack of a better choice), GW Bush (again, more thrust upon them via legacy than embraced), Mitt ‘Dream Boy’ Romney, Jeb(!)

    Non-Establishment Fighters who were rejected:  President Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, President Donald J. Trump

    Please clap!

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Indeed. And it is hilarious that some of the most notorious ‘Establishment Republicans’ TM (Conservative (sic), Inc.) of today still pretend to claim President Ronald Reagan as ‘one of them’. Hysterical. President Reagan was most certainly not the Establishment (that was Jerry Ford before, and GHW Bush during/afterwards). Reagan was the ‘bomb-throwing’ upstart who tried to be President ‘before it was his time’ as the Establishment dictated. Here are the actual players for the Show:

    Establishment gOpE: Jerry Ford, GHW Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain (the ‘Maverick’ who was adopted for lack of a better ), GW Bush (again, more thrust upon them via legacy than embraced), Mitt ‘Dream Boy’ Romney, Jeb(!)

    Non-Establishment Fighters who were rejected: President Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, President Donald J. Trump

    Please clap!

    But Columbo, we also have to nail the senators and reps. They can’t keep hiding behind their positions!

    • #16
  17. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Indeed. And it is hilarious that some of the most notorious ‘Establishment Republicans’ TM (Conservative (sic), Inc.) of today still pretend to claim President Ronald Reagan as ‘one of them’. Hysterical. President Reagan was most certainly not the Establishment (that was Jerry Ford before, and GHW Bush during/afterwards). Reagan was the ‘bomb-throwing’ upstart who tried to be President ‘before it was his time’ as the Establishment dictated. Here are the actual players for the Show:

    Establishment gOpE: Jerry Ford, GHW Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain (the ‘Maverick’ who was adopted for lack of a better ), GW Bush (again, more thrust upon them via legacy than embraced), Mitt ‘Dream Boy’ Romney, Jeb(!)

    Non-Establishment Fighters who were rejected: President Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, President Donald J. Trump

    Please clap!

    But Columbo, we also have to nail the senators and reps. They can’t keep hiding behind their positions!

    Absolutely. It is a Sectarian Civil War with too many battle fronts.

    • #17
  18. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    BDB (View Comment):

    How did that amnesty deal work out?  I adore Reagan, but put him in context: Reagan budged and the Democrats ate his lunch (and ours) for the next forty years!

    Agree, nostalgia for Reagan blinds people to the fact that the country is in a very different place now. Reagan had to fight communism in Nicaragua and athe USSR. Modern conservatives have to fight communism in the halls of Congress. 

    • #18
  19. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should remind Liz Cheney of this. 

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    • #19
  20. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should remind Liz Cheney of this.

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    TDS

    • #20
  21. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should remind Liz Cheney of this.

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    Her actions only tear down the party to satisfy her own desires. She’s near the front of the line for hurting Reps and the country. 

    • #21
  22. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should rBaemind Liz Cheney of this.

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    Her actions only tear down the party to satisfy her own desires. She’s near the front of the line for hurting Reps and the country.

    And yet the NTers extol her as some Profile in Courage, or the like.  Barf.

    • #22
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should rBaemind Liz Cheney of this.

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    Her actions only tear down the party to satisfy her own desires. She’s near the front of the line for hurting Reps and the country.

    And yet the NTers extol her as some Profile in Courage, or the like. Barf.

    They are also, in these times, damaging the Republican party.

    • #23
  24. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Stad (View Comment):

    Republicans in the House and Senate need to know the other party’s members might be their colleagues, but they are not their friends . . .

    The other party’s House and Senate members are certainly not MY friends. 

    • #24
  25. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    The leftism attacks must be met and returned.

    We need to call the left evil. Every day,every hour.

    Never stop.

     

    Yeah, I’ve given up trying to figure out the docility of the Republican Party. 

    I regularly see statements like this (from the associate editor of Financial times): “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career.  Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans.  Nothing close.”

    Think about that.  This wasn’t some college freshman venting at an Antifa meeting.  This came from a once-respected publication.  The author of this wasn’t talking about MAGA Republicans or Far Right Republicans.  He was referring to all Republicans.

    To date, I haven’t heard one dissent coming from Democratic leadership.  Not one.

    Except for some purse clutching from a few Republicans on FOX,I haven’t heard anything from the Republicans who matter.  Kevin McCarthy is busy lining up useless “investigations”. Mitch McConnell is busy planning a cocktail party with his wife Elaine.

    Most of the purse clutchers have the argument that, “Oh, we shouldn’t say nasty things about the Democrats because we would just be going down to their level”.

    I’m totally sick of these effete hangers-on.  I want to see articulate fighters who aren’t afraid to give a well-timed punch to the face of Democratic sleazoids such as the one quoted above.

    The Democratic Party is evil; totally evil.  Republicans who can’t (or won’t) see this are useless to this country.

     

    • #25
  26. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (VieAnw Comment):

    Victor Tango Kilo (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

    Someone should rBaemind Liz Cheney of this.

    Liz Cheney Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley As ‘Unfit For Future’ Office.

    Her actions only tear down the party to satisfy her own desires. She’s near the front of the line for hurting Reps and the country.

    And yet the NTers extol her as some Profile in Courage, or the like. Barf.

    They are also, in these times, damaging the Republican party.

    And yet, these NTers continue to come here, stand on their soapboxes, and lecture the rest of us about how Trump supporters are the ones who are damaging the Republican party.

    • #26
  27. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    CACrabtree (View Comment):
    The Democratic Party is evil; totally evil.  Republicans who can’t (or won’t) see this are useless to this country.

    Extremely well stated, CA. Especially adding the quotation from the experienced journalist. I really do think they are worse than ever; they’ve become complacent, stuck and useless. We really need some new blood, but I don’t know if we have many newbies coming in.

    • #27
  28. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    CACrabtree (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    The leftism attacks must be met and returned.

    We need to call the left evil. Every day,every hour.

    Never stop.

    Yeah, I’ve given up trying to figure out the docility of the Republican Party.

    I regularly see statements like this (from the associate editor of Financial times): “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.”

    Think about that. This wasn’t some college freshman venting at an Antifa meeting. This came from a once-respected publication. The author of this wasn’t talking about MAGA Republicans or Far Right Republicans. He was referring to all Republicans.

    To date, I haven’t heard one dissent coming from Democratic leadership. Not one.

    Except for some purse clutching from a few Republicans on FOX,I haven’t heard anything from the Republicans who matter. Kevin McCarthy is busy lining up useless “investigations”. Mitch McConnell is busy planning a cocktail party with his wife Elaine.

    Most of the purse clutchers have the argument that, “Oh, we shouldn’t say nasty things about the Democrats because we would just be going down to their level”.

    I’m totally sick of these effete hangers-on. I want to see articulate fighters who aren’t afraid to give a well-timed punch to the face of Democratic sleazoids such as the one quoted above.

    The Democratic Party is evil; totally evil. Republicans who can’t (or won’t) see this are useless to this country.

    Indeed. The democrat party is Godless. The opposite of “Light” is darkness, which is Evil.

    Democrats Boo God

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX11IUjkEKs

     

     

     

     

    • #28
  29. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    CACrabtree (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    The leftism attacks must be met and returned.

    We need to call the left evil. Every day,every hour.

    Never stop.

     

    Yeah, I’ve given up trying to figure out the docility of the Republican Party.

    I regularly see statements like this (from the associate editor of Financial times): “I’ve covered extremism and violent ideologies around the world over my career. Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Nothing close.”

    Think about that. This wasn’t some college freshman venting at an Antifa meeting. This came from a once-respected publication. The author of this wasn’t talking about MAGA Republicans or Far Right Republicans. He was referring to all Republicans.

    To date, I haven’t heard one dissent coming from Democratic leadership. Not one.

    Except for some purse clutching from a few Republicans on FOX,I haven’t heard anything from the Republicans who matter. Kevin McCarthy is busy lining up useless “investigations”. Mitch McConnell is busy planning a cocktail party with his wife Elaine.

    Most of the purse clutchers have the argument that, “Oh, we shouldn’t say nasty things about the Democrats because we would just be going down to their level”.

    I’m totally sick of these effete hangers-on. I want to see articulate fighters who aren’t afraid to give a well-timed punch to the face of Democratic sleazoids such as the one quoted above.

    The Democratic Party is evil; totally evil. Republicans who can’t (or won’t) see this are useless to this country.

     

    I am fine with not starting it, but these things need a vociferous and resounding retaliation to them.

    We can avoid sinking to their level by returning heavy, but tightly controlled, fire.

    • #29
  30. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    CACrabtree (View Comment):
    The Democratic Party is evil; totally evil. Republicans who can’t (or won’t) see this are useless to this country.

    Extremely well stated, CA. Especially adding the quotation from the experienced journalist. I really do think they are worse than ever; they’ve become complacent, stuck and useless. We really need some new blood, but I don’t know if we have many newbies coming in.

    You don’t have to be, at this point, a MAGA Republican, to see that the Democrats are engaging in outright political warfare – not diplomacy or negotiation, but abject application of power.

    So, if a representative running on any GOP ticket doesn’t see that – and acknowledge it – he’s worthless. Worse than worthless because he/she is a placeholder – an NPC in their Potemkin Village of Democracy, lending the system legitimacy. 

    The more the Democrats succeed in demonizing MAGA voters, the more the Trump alternatives voters will be attracted to the Never candidates and punditry. So of course they collude with Democrats  to disparage Trump.

    But this movement can only help Democrats in the long run. And the question that everyone should be asked running for office is:

    Do you think the FBI is corrupt, and if not, why not?

    Yes, Susan, we can do things like force our representatives to go on record, and vote out the NPC’s

    • #30
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