Comments on: The Republican Defections Continue

By: Kyle E. Moore

Kyle E. Moore — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:26:24 +0000

I mean, let’s be real here dudes, my brain won’t even turn back on until about 9, 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.

By: Kyle E. Moore

Kyle E. Moore — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:22:50 +0000

Actually, I just saw an opening to look someone up on “On the issues”. I have fun doing that.

By: Michael Tedesco

Michael Tedesco — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:15:12 +0000

My point exactly.

By: mick

mick — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:58:26 +0000

I assumed you meant “moderate” as in, you know, the Republican version of a moderate, ie, someone who isn’t an actual mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, xenophobic troglodyte who thinks the trouble with Adolf Hitler was that, lacking the courage of his convictions, he just didn’t go far enough. I think by that definition, Hagel probably is a “moderate”.

By: Michael Tedesco

Michael Tedesco — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:50:22 +0000

Boy oh boy, Kyle has been waiting for someone to gang up on since yesterday’s fracus huh?

So maybe I should not have used moderate and old-school in the same sentence. Sue me. My point is that the conservatives that have been able to win in the traditionally blue states, and who have done so basically since Reagan, are jumping ship. Let’s not get confused about who is moderate and who is not. These people are certainly considered out of step with the rest of today’s wacko party.

By: Lincoln Chafee Leaves the G.O.P. - The Detroit Times

Lincoln Chafee Leaves the G.O.P. - The Detroit Times — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:46:54 +0000

[...] DownWithTyranny!, Blogs for Bush, Macsmind, unbossed.com, SteveAudio, Comments From Left Field, The Politico, The Newshoggers, Liberal Values, Donklephant, The American Street, The Next Hurrah, [...]

By: Kyle E. Moore

Kyle E. Moore — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:48:02 +0000

Yeah, Hagel’s a moderate in the same way I’m a three toed sloth.

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm

(note: I’ve looked up dozens of politicians, and I’ve NEVER seen one that sits on the red line before, not even Ron Paul)

By: matttbastard

matttbastard — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:31:22 +0000

I dunno - Chafee is certainly one thing, but labelling Hagel as 'moderate' still rubs me the wrong way. Ideological consistency /= 'moderate'. See also the John Birch Society-approved Ron Paul (favourite quote: "I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They’re generally well educated, and they understand the Constitution. I don’t know how many positions they would have that I don’t agree with." That distant *thunk* you hear is my head striking the well-dented surface of my desk, over and over.)

By: mick

mick — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:38:18 +0000

X is right on one point, these defectors know they could not win “dog-catcher” but isn’t that exactly the point?

Yeah, it is. It’s important to recognize that the Republican rush to self-destruction isn’t limited to a few radical leaders. The entire GOP hierarchy is shot thru with radcons coast-to-coast thanks to Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman. Worse, the only voting citizens who are sticking with the GOP are those who comprise the 27% that are dead-enders. Pub primary voters won’t back a moderate any more. Judging from the silly performance of the GOP pres candidates, the 27% want more insanity, not less.

The GOP hasn’t had real centrists in over a decade, and in that time it has become more extreme, not less. People are turning away in droves. All Hagel and Chafee et al are doing is saying so.