I Agree 100%, Mike. And *that's* exactly the problem! (or The Wisdom of Michael Reagan)

[Bucky]

“It’s interesting that people say the right has taken over the Republican Party — but no one can say what we’ve done,” Mr. Reagan said. “We’ve been closeted for the last eight years; it’s time for the right to come out of the closet.”

Hold on there, Mike. I've got a couple of names of closet-jockeys you can start with. But for the record, there's a nice group of fellows in the Hague who are right now working up that list of "what your party has done."

More from the article G.O.P. Debate: A Broader Party or a Purer One? from the NYTimes...

“We strayed from our principles of limited government, individual responsibility and economic freedom,” said Chris Chocola, a former Indiana congressman who is head of Club for Growth, a group that has financed primary challenges against Republicans it considers insufficiently conservative. “We have to adhere to those principles to rebuild the party.

Step one, Chris: learn what the hell those words mean. Step Two: figure out that "adhere" doesn't mean "constantly talk about and never do."

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina said ideological purity was the road to success. “The best way to get to 60 is to have a core group of Republicans who really do what they say and stand for their principles,” Mr. DeMint said.

I know math ain't yall's strong suit, but surely you don't need reminding that before you hit 60, you gotta get back up to 50 first.

Patrick J. Toomey, a former head of the Club for Growth whose primary challenge to Mr. Specter led the senator to bow out in the face of what he thought was a probable defeat, said Republicans should be open to a “wide range of opinions on a wide range of issues.”

“But I think fundamental common ground that the vast majority of Republicans share is the belief in limited government, freedom and personal responsibility,” Mr. Toomey said.

Actually, Mr Toomey, just about all Americans believe in "limited government, freedom and personal responsibility." Your problem is that your party stood up for unlimited intrusive government, the restriction of traditional freedoms, and then went about modeling reckless irresponsibility at every turn.



By the way, can anyone tell me who passed around the memo saying limited government, freedom and personal responsibility was this week's empty mantra? It's always a little creepy to me to see the values of rugged individualism espoused with such a fierce uniformity.

[gtar100]

1. Absolutely right on so many points

Actually, Mr Toomey, just about all Americans believe in "limited government, freedom and personal responsibility." Your problem is that your party stood up for unlimited intrusive government, the restriction of traditional freedoms, and then went about modeling reckless irresponsibility at every turn.

We are still on the edge of doom because the likes of Mike Reagan. Hopefully when the economy comes around people won't get so hypnotized by the empty promises of the right wing blowhards as they have for the past 30 years. As much as they try to run from the responsibility they bear, I will not forget all the crap they have hoisted onto this country of ours.

[JHB]

2. They don't need a memo...

...that's the chant of the Holy Church of St. Ron. When in doubt, quote the Gipper. Ol' "Dutch" Reagan said it, they believe it, and that settles it.

Just because they've divorced those words from their meaning in the English language doesn't mean they don't know how to pronounce them.

[verges]

3. A change?

“It’s interesting that people say the right has taken over the Republican Party — but no one can say what we’ve done,” Mr. Reagan said. “We’ve been closeted for the last eight years; it’s time for the right to come out of the closet.”


So if they're coming out of the closet; does this mean they'll change their view on gay marraige?

[Bozvotros]

4. Best line of many....

"It's always a little creepy to me to see the values of rugged individualism espoused with such a fierce uniformity."

You get the feeling that they are desperate to Seig Heil someone. That's the change THEY can believe in.

[nxylas]

5. The useful thing about DeMint's assertion is that it's essentially unprovable

The compromises that need to be made in real world politics mean that absolute idealogical purity is an unachievable aim for any political party. So the far right can fantasize that "if only we had a REAL conservative as a figurehead, not like that socialist traitor Bush (who we lauded as being that real conservative leader when he first took office), tomorrow would belong to us", knowing full well that they'll never be called on it.

[Fuzz]

12. The terms 'real' and 'pure' make me uncomfortable when not speaking of drugs

(the legal kind) ;)

[man4allcats]

6. Re: "Your problem is that your party stood up for..."

Actually, Mr Toomey, just about all Americans believe in "limited government, freedom and personal responsibility." Your problem is that your party stood up for unlimited intrusive government, the restriction of traditional freedoms, and then went about modeling reckless irresponsibility at every turn.

The funny thing is, I have tried to make this very point to so many whining conservatives who are still weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth over last November. Incredibly though, even with the mountains of evidence right before their very eyes, they still don't seem to get it. It occurs to me that the average reThuglican is just totally divorced from reality.

[nxylas]

7. In particular, they can't get their heads around the polls that show Palin was a drag on the ticket

In the Rightwingoverse (thank you, Tom Tomorrow), Palin is universally loved and would be a shoo-in for the Presidency had she been at the top of the ticket.

[Chemical Bill]

8. I don't believe in limited government.

I want a strong central government to stand between the rich and their taking over the country. Unfortunately, at this point the government is bought and paid for by the rich. Most of the little people in government really want to do what's best for the American people, but when we get Darth Vader at the top he only works in the interests of those with the most money.

Bill

[Bucky]

9. Actually, yes, you do believe in limited government.

"Limited government" is a term of art in the social sciences referring to a government that lives by the social contract theory developed during the Enlightenment. It states that the principal job of government is to protect the rights of the people and that it must be limited by an adherence to the natural rights of all people, citizens or not (think Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence).

A government can be both an activist government and still be limited by the rule of law and the individual rights of the people--think of George Washington's administration in which the role of government was radically expanded, a debt was created to bond the nation together and bolster the business environment, at least one serious rebellion was put down, and yet the rights of the people were still respected and saw expanding suffrage and greater freedom.

[Chemical Bill]

10. If you can convince repuke assholes...

to use that definition, then you have me at your side. But as long as "limited government" is used by them to mean no government regulations that hamper the ultra rich, and no government help for the middle class and poor, I stand by my statement.

Bill

[pattmarty]

11. Ya know, Michael is the ADOPTED son of st ronnie. The REAL............

..........son is Ron Reagan jr, and he's a Liberal.

[Fuzz]

13. Yeah, but I'm adopted too, kind of an icky argument to make.

[pattmarty]

14. I love satire, sorry didn't mean to offend anyone.

[Fuzz]

15. I'm rarely if ever offended.

[PatSeg]

16. I'm adopted too

and I personally think Michael has tried too hard all his life to win his father's approval. He was shut out of Reagan's 2nd family where both the children were liberal and rebellious. Even during Reagan's funeral, he was treated like the unacknowledged relative. I really felt badly for him until I heard what a right wing nut job he was.

I really think the man has many unresolved issues.

[PatSeg]

17. Loved the last line

"It's always a little creepy to me to see the values of rugged individualism espoused with such a fierce uniformity." You really nailed it!

[burning rain]

18. Mike Reagan sports one of the boniest heads of all righty radio jocks.

God is he weak. "Just sit back; smile and dial!"... "I'm here; you're there!" Ugh.

[Motown_Johnny]

19. Joe Scartissue was saying the same kind of thing on MTP

Ignoring all the wing nut stances on social issues and calling out for the GOP to be more conservative on spending.

Go For It !!!!

Call for the party to be even more conservative, clearly 21% self identified Republican and 16% leaning Republican are numbers that are to high. Call for more extremisms. Good luck with that (morons).

[Motown_Johnny]

20. dupe