In the wake of liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava suspending her congressional campaign after polls put her behind the Democrat and New York's Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman who has earned support from many conservatives, Los Angeles Times veteran Ron Brownstein fretted over how it's “a sign that the leash that the base is holding on the party is tightening and that the Palins, the talk radio, Rush Limbaughs, the Fox, the definition of what is acceptable as a Republican I think is narrowing.”
Brownstein, who joined National Journal in 2007 after nearly two decades at the LA Times and three years as “chief staff writer” for Ralph Nader, conceded that “in the short run there's clear energy here in the small government/anti–government argument, but in the long run,” he warned, “I do wonder about whether Republicans are going to have the freedom to maneuver they'll need to recover in some of those blue states where they've significantly eroded?”
Undermining his credibility, Brownstein painted Senator Arlen Specter as another victim of the awful right-wingers, claiming “Specter essentially was forced to leave the party after voting for the stimulus.”
Brownstein on the Sunday, November 1 This Week with George Stephanopoulos, during the roundtable with George Will, Ed Gillespie, Dee Dee Myers and Al Sharpton:
I think this is going to be a mixed message for Republicans out of this. I mean, on the one hand I think it's another indication, I think we're going to see others on Tuesday, that there is energy in the small government, anti-spending argument at this point. On the other hand, the fall of the other Dede – as I think she's known now [humorous reference to Dee Dee Myers] -- I think is a sign that the leash that the base is holding on the party is tightening and that the Palins, the talk radio, Rush Limbaughs, the Fox, the definition of what is acceptable as a Republican I think is narrowing.I mean this does come after Arlen Specter essentially was forced to leave the party after voting for the stimulus, after Chuck Grassley faced threats -- open threats of a primary challenge if he compromised with Max Baucus.
In the long run -- in the short run there's clear energy here in the small government/anti–government argument, but in the long run I do wonder about whether Republicans are going to have the freedom to maneuver they'll need to recover in some of those blue states where they've significantly eroded?
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Let's do some forcing
November 1, 2009 - 13:20 ET by tim413Everyone who voted for the "simulus" should be forced to leave the Congress. Ditto re health care "reform," immigration "reform," etc. "reform."
Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413
McCain followed the Brownstein model
November 1, 2009 - 14:29 ET by allanfand where did it get him?
→ Brown Stain model
November 1, 2009 - 14:38 ET by Cool ArrowYes, Juan McCain followed her model, and when the chips were down, he threw in both Bush and Obama rather than taking a stand as a statesman.
Holding my nose might have helped, but my eyes were burning.
Mmm, mmm, mmm - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Al Sharpton?
November 1, 2009 - 13:22 ET by ricklailThis program has definelty jumped the shark if they have Al on as a legitimate commentator. Was he on as a clown or what? Al Sharpton?
Semper suprene nitens
OBAMACARE: If it ain't good enough for my Congressman then it ain't good enough for me.
I watched that segment this
November 1, 2009 - 20:22 ET by fitzfongI watched that segment this morning, and I had to laugh that every time Sharpton ran his big mouth about something, George Will rolled his eyes and covered his face mocking the absolute stupidity of it all. It wasn't embarrassing enough that liberals outnumbered "conservatives" 2 to 1 on the panel (Stephanopoulous, Myers, Sharpton and Brownstain vs. Will and Gillespie), but they actually put that pimp Sharpton on the same roundtable as someone of such intellectual and moral superiority as George Will...simply humiliating for all involved.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Brownstein has such
November 1, 2009 - 13:28 ET by d1carterBrownstein has such credibility on Republican and conservative issues.../s
Got it right
November 1, 2009 - 13:29 ET by Jerry MackHe got it right in his first paragraph. I am sick of RINOs.
YADA YADA YADA
November 1, 2009 - 13:35 ET by PaarlAn old tune that is still off by several octaves......when GOPers nominate or promote pols that get respected by the MSM they get slaughtered in November turkey shoots.
despite my Rhodesian Front pedigree I am not on the right wing of the GOP....I disagree with several major planks of the conservative wing but the GOP must present a cohesive set of principles to their voters and the public at large....they cannot function as dEMOCRATS and try to corrall many disparate groups into the party in exchange for an allocations of power and political spoils. GOP voters will not tolerate it and independents will not beleive it.
I do agree with Newt that there must be outreach to different ethnic groups etc.... but that must be done by expressing GOP ideas/philosophy in more relevant ways not by bending and breaking the ideas. The elderly..a traditional DEM group..will be up for grabs...find a way to get our ideas to them....Hispanics as a political bloc are NOT nearly as dumb as the Jewish and Black political BLOCS and they are still there for the grabbing...Here we must be very careful in promoting the 'rule of law' issue in finding our way on the immigration issue. I hate to use the word but a little 'sensitivity' is required here because this can be explosive and we as conservative GOPers must remember that EVERYONE is at fault over the illegal issue.....from Reagan right on down to the local landscaper in Republican Morris County New Jersey..
In the end ..if the psycho Mark Rich..is getting the bends over Hoffman's apparent succcess...then something good is happening. Our message should be clear but even a clear message must be honed carefully and the rough edges smoothed.
Go Hoffman..go Christie
Paarl of Rhodesia
In most regards Brownstein
November 1, 2009 - 14:00 ET by jkwtradingIn most regards Brownstein analysis is correct. The republican party if it wants to exist must take on a relevancy of which the people decide.
We are in the phase the Party is learning and seeing, and examining close hand what they wanted the past 12 years does not suffice for the true desire of those whom want to be in the Republican party. The party has a choice, succumb to the obvious change or become extinct...the change we see is the real desire for the party to follow.
Brownstein conclusions...he assumes the acts of Palin, etc are a defeat for the party,, yes and no, but a true beginning to the real movement of conservatism or basic values we the people undertook 240 years ago. The seeds of the movmeent will grow and grow huge, so Brownstein conclusions in a year or two will be irelevenant..
In my own thoughts I wonder if the liberals will learn fast enough to realize being overpowered is the way they should succumb...I sense sometimes the libs will take an absolutely wrong stand and attempt violence so the entire process of reverting to our basic values done in 1776 do not resolve in a peaceful manner but a violent manner as the years 1762 to 1776 occurred.
→ BrownStain
November 1, 2009 - 14:09 ET by Cool ArrowI don't think I'd go to a veterinarian if I had pneumonia.
Why go to Brown Stain for a checkup of Conservative principles?
Mmm, mmm, mmm - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
May I add, trading...
November 1, 2009 - 14:17 ET by BO STINKSCould ya learn how to write a couple of comprehensible paragraphs? Jeez, it took way too much concentration to wade through your stuff.
I hope he is impeached, soon.
Narrowing, intolerant,
November 1, 2009 - 14:17 ET by nadadhimmiNarrowing, intolerant, rigid, exclusionary and finally, the ever reliable term "racism", are all used to describe conservatives when said conservatives don't do as they are told to do by liberals. People are getting in the mood for a political fight and the powers that be had better look out. Eff the Rino's, socialists and Marxists. Eff the Republican party with it's Gingrich's and Lindsey Grahams and Michael Steeles. Eff the Marxist Totalitarian Dems. They all sell their souls and the Country for invitations to NY and DC cocktail parties. They damn well better pay attention to a Teaparty or two. I'm all for tribunals of the people to try these traitorous politicians, and let them suffer the judgement of the people for destroying the Constitution.
Terrified
November 1, 2009 - 14:53 ET by Thinking.ManThe last thing the tyrrant want's is people to have a clear choice between tyranny and freedom, only the tyrants lackeys and slaves choose the former
Ron Brownstein, Leftist
November 1, 2009 - 15:07 ET by justbob223Wahh! Wahh! Wahh!
“a sign that the leash
November 1, 2009 - 15:19 ET by R D HelmGod, for the future of our republic, let's all hope so.
Spector wasn't "forced" to do anything, but I wish he had been, along with every other idiot RINO who voted for TARP or Porkulus.
I'm sorry, but I could not care less what the blue state idoits who voted for this incompetent boob of a president think about anything. If they didn't take their time to do their homework on this guy, tough.
And if 10+ months into the screw they still haven't noodled out the hideous (and possibly near-fatal) damage this former community organizer is carrying out on our republic, then it sucks to be them, I guess.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
" . . what is acceptable as a Republican I think is narrowing.”
November 1, 2009 - 16:01 ET by Gat New YorkThe problem of self-described liberals is that they have blinders on.
The Gallup Poll clearly shows that self-described conservatives out number moderates who out number liberals.
So why would the GOP seek to go in the direction of liberals?
Scozzafava's actions by backing a liberal Democrat speak volumes about her lack of integrity as a Republican. It also lays waste to those GOP leaders who initially supported her and have now been stabbed int he back.
Who are they?
November 2, 2009 - 08:58 ET by Sergeant ROCKAside from Newt, I didn't catch any other names.
On the subject at hand, I'd gladly endorse conservatives leaving the GOP to the liberals and moderates and form a third party that has 'conservative' in it's name.
At least that way, liberal commentators won't be confused about the ideology of that party. And the GOP will then be free to try and out-liberal the democRATS.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
neither politcal party
November 1, 2009 - 16:04 ET by jkwtradingneither politcal party understands the American people.
the movments we have now will more closely resemble the desires of the American people. Self determination, personal freedom etc will slowly rise and dominate the agenda until both parties finally understand they are but merely bowling pins in the way of our basic desires.
the libs/democrats have further to fall or understand what they are truly confonting so Brownstein and his ilk are just ways to measure how far they have to fall to "get the real drift".
I read people like Bronstein in a non serious light, or more like reading the comics in the paper.
Once upon a time
November 1, 2009 - 17:51 ET by doug1950the Republican Party was about conservative ideals and beliefs. In some misguided efforts to "attract" other groups they came up with this "big tent" BS but what they really created was a bunch of smaller little tents for the groups to be in. They abandoned most if not all of the conservative principles along the road and in the process lost the base. They have lied to the base repeatedly about their intentions, promised then never delivered on those promises. The GOP could be a big tent but only if the people inside can agree to the conservative principles and planks of the Conservative idea, otherwise they are simply in the wrong damn tent. If they are liberals, than they are not Republicans (if Repubs are in truth Conservatives by their very nature). Those voters need to go vote with liberals for liberal ideas, plain and simple. We have allowed the GOP to be come succotash in an attempt to pull in other groups based on ethnics, color, religion, etc. That is what Democrats do! If you are conservative it should not matter what you look like, worship like or any other thing "like". RiNOs have been in charge for too long, but they have awakened a sleeping giant, and he is angry. In short, neither Party has kept their promises to any of us and have taken the priviledge of serving as a Representativeand turned it into their Right. Time to take it back.
The Republican Party has done an extremely poor job of putting forth their message and continue to do so today. They have tried to move the Party towards the voters they have wanted to attract instead of educating the voters about who and what conservatives stand for. Their "bait" stinks!
Amen doug...Amen. ...You
November 1, 2009 - 18:31 ET by bigtimerAmen doug...Amen.
...You said it all.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Second that
November 2, 2009 - 00:29 ET by toneyukiI left the Republican party because the Republic party went to the LEFT of me.
Left wingers having it both ways - just like they like it
November 1, 2009 - 17:23 ET by Patrick MichaelIsn't it amazing that on one hand the left shouts "WE WON, WE WON, WE WON" and states unequivocally that the right has zero influence on the other hand wants to bemoan the fact that it "forces" people out of office, or worse out of their party? Which is it?
Stay Free!!!
Let's be clear on what the
November 1, 2009 - 18:24 ET by ThisnThatLet's be clear on what the "narrow" conservative principles of the Republican party should be, shall we?
Lower taxes
Respect for traditional values, including marriage
Gun rights
The right to Life
The Constitution
Strong national defense
Individual liberty and freedom
This list might be considered too "narrow" by liberals and RINOs. So what? I frankly don't care. People who embrace these principles get an "A" in my book. And I think Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and the like do embrace these values. So any liberal that doesn't like it, can stuff it, as far as I'm concerned.
__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
Yup, Brownstein really
November 2, 2009 - 01:24 ET by MikeBYup, Brownstein really wants the Republican Party to have majorities in Congress, so we need to listen to him when he advises Republicans to go further left. The party did so well in 2006 and 2008 by trying to appeal to the left. McCain's being a moderate maverick really worked out well, didn't it? If McCain had been the Reagan Republican he has claimed to be, and run to win, I would be willing to bet that the United States would still be waiting for its "first black President". Oh, yeah, Comrade Bubba was the first black President; he said so himself.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan