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Political strategist Mike Murphy makes a long overdue return to the Ricochet Podcast to discuss what really happened in the Cantor-Brat race. Was it immigration or is all politics local? Our old friend Mickey Kaus has a point of view on that, and he joins to give his boots-on-the-ground analysis of what happened in VA-7. Spoiler alert: he and Mike disagree — but in a very entertaining and knowledgable way. Finally, the answer is “This Ricochet editor is currently the reigning champion on Jeopardy.” Remember to give your answer in the form of a question.
Music from this week’s’ episode:
America from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, West Side Story
The opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks.
EJHill is 100% legal.
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Mostly.
For many of us,”never again” would still not make Mike Murphy’s return to the podcast “long overdue.”
You should give it a listen, especially the segment with Mike and Mickey. It’s a really interesting and entertaining conversation.
Did we ever find out how many Ricochet members there are? Or is that for another episode.. Stay tuned folks..
Cue Lileks: And now a word from our sponsor..
I do like the podcasts in all there variations..
Their.. I said it again as the song goes.. Oh that red button. Reset.
OK – I have to unload on Murphy. I have no choice. Ahem.
So just what in tarnation is WRONG with Mike Murphy? Does he genuinely believe that if we are perceived as being nice to the illegal immigrant uncle of a legal hispanic in this country that we are going to automatically earn that person’s vote? Where is the evidence which Mr. Murphy can marshal to make this case?
How many false analogies can he employ to make his point? “If I run a red light to get my wife to the hospital I’m a criminal too” is a just plain awful analogy – it’s entirely justifiable to run a red light in an emergency! It isn’t justifiable to break the laws of a country because it’s convenient or better for you and your family. Mike’s lack of interest in defending the rule of law is disheartening to say the least.
CONT’D
So let’s examine this potential hispanic voter which Mike proposes we will capture: A sizable majority of them already vote Democrat because they are possessed of Latin American values and view government as an instrument for extracting goodies for themselves from other people. They don’t care about appeals to the better angels of their nature, free markets, better education and nice-sounding economic libertarianism. They view the government as a value proposition, where they can punish their enemies and reward their friends.
The other aspect of this is that time and again, we’ve seen when people (particularly minority populations) are given the choice between fake Democrats (Republican Squishes) and Real Democrats that they prefer the Real Thing. Every. Single. Time.
Another issue is that this is merely pandering to what is already a deeply racialist movement in politics among the non-white segment of this country. Can you imagine the screams of racism and bigotry which would emerge from the media and minority activists if the white majority had voted for the white candidate in anything like the proportion the Black and hispanic population voted for Obama? Not to mention that Obama wouldn’t have won a single state. We can’t win these people over because a) we aren’t offering them what they want and b) we don’t look like them.
If Mike were genuinely interested in getting people to vote Republican what he should suggest is this: First, we secure the border to the extent practical with a double barrier fence and guard stations. Second, we implement a $10,000 fine for any employer who is caught hiring an illegal alien, and the fine mounts by $10,000 for each subsequent offense. Then we offer a $2,000 bounty for anybody who reports such a violation.
This would have the effect of shutting off the supply of illegal labor overnight. That would subsequently cause employers to have to pay fair market wages to American workers. That in combination with stopping the extensions of unemployment insurance would mean that people would be incentivized to return to the work force, raising the work force participation rate, lowering unemployment AND undercutting the Democrats in their foolish fervor to raise the minimum wage, as that situation would take care of itself through the normal action of labor markets.
EDIT: In short – Murphy’s prescription for the party is nothing more than suicide on the installment plan.
EJ – only a sick mind would come up with that shirt that Rob is wearing in the picture.
Yeti – Even with the presence of Mike Murphy, I’m looking forward to this podcast. It’s kind of difficult to save it for tomorrow, but I really appreciate the Ricochet podcasters keeping me entertained on long car rides!
Mike Murphy will be for amnesty/path to citizenship/The Dream Act/keeping your uncle here until an illegal immigrant takes his job. Mr. Murphy should remember: As the country becomes more Hispanic, there will be less need for pasty white political consultants with Irish last names. Knowing Mike Murphy, he’ll change his name to Montes and get a tan.
Ryan – Don’t look at me. Rob even married Murphy!
I will not listen to him again. Not good on blood pressure.
The question: Who is Troy Senik?
He’s unable to make the case he wants from facts and using reason, so he has to mislead about what a poll actually says and then do personal attacks when someone spills the beans on the fact that no, it did not say what he claimed?
I was thinking he might have a point until that, appeals to “put your uncle in jail” or no.
But when someone has to make emotional arguments, do personal attacks (JFK conspiracy and a half-accusation of racism? Really?) and on top of it all makes up the little data he did offer to support his view…nope.
With a working e-verify.
I will repeat what I said about Murphy three years ago:
If it is not the man then it is surely what he embodies: The professionalization of politics. And it’s not that he’s hated for his organizational skills. No one would deny the importance of that or the reality that someone needs to keep ahead of the Byzantine labyrinth that is federal election law. No, it all comes down to The Lie.
The Lie is not the one that’s told about the opponent, the slanders that include everything from drug running, “October Surprises” or fake National Guard memos. It’s worse than that. It’s the messaging. It’s the focus group policy stances, the answers the candidates mouth because they’ve tested well. It’s the fundamental dishonesty that pervades the system. It’s what lets problems rage out of control until it’s too late because just talking about fixing them is deemed a loser. After all, winning and perpetuating power is the bottom line, correct? If you accidentally do the right thing along the way, that’s good, too.
1/2
2/2
Murphy offers his opinions and experience honestly. But he’s like the steroid pusher in sports. “Look, ya wanna win, kid? Then ya gotta do this my way. ‘Cause ya know the guy on the other side of that line of scrimmage is usin’, too! I know! ‘Cause I know his dealer! Welcome to the National Football League!”
In Murphy, our ideals clash with his reality. We want to win but there’s a part of us that only wants to win cleanly. We want conservatism to prevail because it’s the right thing and because the country is standing on the precipice of the long decline. But Murphy is our own version of Al Davis, pacing the sidelines and growling, “Damnit, it’s the NFL! Just win, baby!”
We’ll root for the team, but we don’t have to like the way it’s being run.
Not really. Were Murphy actually tough and effective, I would be more friendly to him.
E.J. Hill for President
The humanitarian crisis playing out on the southern border went unmentioned on today’s podcast. Thousands of unaccompanied minor children from Mexico and Central America are streaming into the United States, attracted by our diktat-wielding dreamer of a president. Many endured abuse on the way to America only to find themselves housed in squalid government holding camps, political fodder for the summertime push for “comprehensive immigration reform.”
An open border with Mexico is a winning political strategy for the Democrats, yet Mike Murphy expects the left to give it up once Republicans deliver a bipartisan amnesty bill. Really? As Peter points out in the podcast, won’t Democrats simply push for more, once again painting eeevil Republicans as latent racists standing athwart civil rights for no good reason?
And can’t we reliably expect an even larger flood of illegal immigrants to arrive on cue, adding to the political pressure?
Placing a Republican imprimatur on Obama’s lawless immigration policy will not attract hispanics, but it will certainly dispirit the conservative base, potentially fracturing the party. Something of a twofer for the left.
I am with Kaus on this: secure the border first, grant amnesty second.
I used to think Murphy was interesting to listen to in his pre-election interviews, but here you really get a feel for the fantasy world he and Jen Rubin and other wealthy, white beltway Republicans live in on this Hispanic issue. Assuming that the Hispanic vote is as important as they claim (i don’t), the obvious fact that Obama will still be president when this “reform” happens, and therefore the Democratic party will get the credit in voters’ minds seems to be as far from their minds as algebra to a kindergartner. But, at least they “understand math.”
That’s what I was getting at in my interjection – any goodwill you accumulate via amnesty evaporates the moment you say the border must now be secured to control future immigration.
He has my vote. And think of the posters and campaign buttons!
Thank you, George. I’d thought I was raising a pretty good point, but Mike brushed it off so dismissively that afterwards I thought maybe it wasn’t so good after all.
But if you say it was, it was.
Mr. Robinson I would say that the sweater perpetually tied round your neck has more credibility with conservatives than Mr. Murphy’s entire corporeal being. That he would be dismissive of a point you raise is why, I believe, so many of us on this site cannot stand him. He is condescending. If he will not listen carefully to a former Reagan speechwriter what are the chances he’ll listen to us poor slobs out here in fly over country. Frankly I prefer Bob Beckel– he doesn’t pretend to be on my side.
As I have said about Rick Wilson’s use of social science in advertising -I’ll admit that it works. I don’t want to live in the Republic where elections are decided by them.
But at least I think Rick Wilson’s plans will work.
Can the editors give us members a reason why they continue to think we have any interest in enduring Mike Murphy’s arrogant condescension on a podcast? I don’t routinely invite guest to my house who bombastically mock my friends.
I propose a rule: Mike Murphy may only appear again opposite David Limbaugh.
Seconded.
Blue Yeti
Eustace C. Scrubb:
You should give it a listen, especially the segment with Mike and Mickey. It’s a really interesting and entertaining conversation.
Listened to the podcast and it certainly had many moments of wit, wisdom and insight. Murphy provided none of these moments.