Patterico's Pontifications

5/7/2009

Dawn of the Dead Party

Filed under: General — Karl @ 8:23 am



[Posted by Karl]

Like the man on the cart in Monty Python & the Holy Grail, the Incredible Shrinking Party is not dead yet:

There’s good news in Senate races in Illinois, Connecticut, and Delaware; there’s good news in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Looking past that, the GOP is probably going to take back the governor’s mansions in Kansas, Oklahoma, maybe Tennessee, maybe Wyoming. The GOP has to like their early chances in Ohio and Michigan. And perhaps most surprising, in Colorado, former congressman Scott McInnis leads Gov. Bill Ritter, 48 percent to 41 percent, and Ritter’s disapproval is 49 percent.

And now there are all kinds of interesting developments in New Hampshire

Jim Geraghty might be getting ahead of himself in Ohio, but Gov. Jim Corzine is already panicking in New Jersey.  The list of targets gets longer at the National Journal:

Even in Massachusetts, one of the country’s most solidly blue states, Democrats are increasingly nervous about Gov. Deval Patrick (D), who recently drew a wealthy GOP challenger and has seen his approval ratings plummet since February.

Patrick’s counterpart in New York, Gov. David Paterson (D), is widely dismissed these days as a dead man walking and, according to polls, would lose to either Republican eyeing the race, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani or former Rep. Rick Lazio. A survey this week showed that voters, so dissatisfied with Paterson, wish his disgraced predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, had never resigned. The silver lining for New York Democrats: Paterson will likely lose a Democratic primary to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who then looks strong next fall against both Republicans. But Paterson’s legacy could linger until November, when his Senate appointee, Kirsten Gillibrand (D), could face a tough race.

For that matter, Cuomo could be weaker than he looks.  Geraghty extends the list to House candidates in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, and Pennsylvania, even excluding races where Republican House members lost by a hair in 2008 and are thinking of running again.  Soren Dayton totes up GOP wins in a batch of special elections for state legislative seats since November, while Geraghty notes that the GOP is gaining ground at the local level in Obama-friendly spots like northern Virginia.  Beyond that, we are seeing discontent with the status quo in California and even Cook County, Illinois.

Don’t get me wrong — the GOP remains a zombie party at the moment.  The party is politically and intellectually exhausted, largely leaderless, with a chasm between its elites and its grassroots.  The rough parity on the generic Congressional Ballot among likely voters reflects a lack of enthusiasm for either party rather than gains for the GOP.  But Americans have been pretty fond of divided government over the past few decades, and it seems that impulse is already playing out in these smaller, off-year elections.  Moreover, the fact that decent candidates seem to be lining up for 2010 provides plausible alternatives, should the economy continue to plod or decline next year. It’s not good, but for Day 108, it could be worse.

–Karl

166 Responses to “Dawn of the Dead Party”

  1. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

    Between the Rush Limbaugh/Club-for-Growth-led purity purges and Democratic gains, I am thinking the Dems will get to 65 in the Senate and solidify House gains next year.

    Few on your side want to talk about N.Y.-20 or the results of actual elections. Just about what’s fixin’ to happen.

    Fine. Knock yourself out.

    But I do give you credit for acknowledging the current “zombie” status of the party.

    I agree with all of this: The party is politically and intellectually exhausted, largely leaderless, with a chasm between its elites and its grassroots.

    I also think there is an unbridgeable chasm between moderates and the right wing, as recently evidenced by the dust-up between de facto party leader Rush and Gen. Colin Powell. Those two views cannot be reconciled. Send the Democrats your tired, poor and huddled moderates. A place will be made for them.

    Myron (98529a)

  2. The so called “Moderates” of the Republican party have already proven themselves to be devoid of substantive ideas.

    Myron seems to think that the increasing disgust with the massive spending will result in 65 senate seats. My oh my Myron, you really should stop smoking that herb, its causing you to think strange thoughts.

    GM Roper (85dcd7)

  3. The polling of Gov. Ritter in Colorado is a bit of a surprise. His administration has been lackluster at best but I did not realize that there was that much dissatisfaction.

    SPQR (72771e)

  4. Good Allah, myron again? With the same talking points, no less. The trolls have been like a 17-year storm of locusts recently.

    Racists

    JD (c8f5e6)

  5. Oh yeah, Powell be da man. He should join Specter and come out of the closet as the Obama apologist he is. Yes, real conservatives would be sure to vote for an Obama last election. Is there much doubt that Powell voted racial pride for the greatest POTUS of all time? Who needs backstabbing pricks anyway? You see how things turned out for Specter with his official move to the dark side. What is McCain waiting for now? Or the two bimbo RINOs from Maine?
    The media loathes Sarah Palin, but how does Obama’s actual experience compare to hers. Measue what she did in “too small” state Alaska to what Duh-1 has “accomplished” in 100 days. Yes, he is far superior if you seek a conversion to socialism and/or crony capitalism. I’m sure the
    workers and retirees of UAW and Teachers’ Unions are ready to figuratively fellate teh One.

    aoibhneas (0c6cfc)

  6. The problem with the republican party is for too many years all it cared about was the republican party. Neither party has appeared to truly care about American liberty in the last decade, which is why both parties poll so low. A large number of Americans recognize a bad relationship when they see it and just walk away.

    Ray (9c6b5f)

  7. I’d love to see Erlich back in the governor’s mansion in Maryland. The Dems here were effective in beating him up and then appropriating his ideas/positions. Especially slots. O’Malley has raised every single tax he can think of, right now he’s trying to invent a few.

    Vivian Louise (eeeb3a)

  8. The party with its feet planted firmly in the air will save the Republic. Great News……

    howard432 (3f8901)

  9. No surprise that the usual leftist trolls have begun to show up. A resurgent and unapologetically pro-individual rights and anti-big government Republican party is their worst nightmare. Hence their ever-helpful “advice” that the GOP become just like the Democrats. They know their clay-footed messiah is going to have a nice pratfall.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  10. Hence their ever-helpful “advice” that the GOP become just like the Democrats.

    I don’t know who you are talking about, but that is certainly not my advice. I agree with the right-wing that moderates cannot be accomodated in the Republican Party, as currently constituted. I believe the purges should continue.
    The moderates can join the Dems until they at some point form a third party, which is really what needs to happen.

    Myron (a5d1ef)

  11. No one has addressed N.Y.-20, I noticed, an actual, real-life election as opposed to conjecture. No one wants to talk about Franken/Coleman. I guess the facts are too painful. Wasn’t the NY-20 race supposed to spell the end for Michael Steele? The Dems will take him, too, incidentally, when the GOP has run him out.

    Has anyone noticed that Lieberman turned against his party, Specter turned against his party — and the Democrats ended up with both?

    No one wants to talk about that, either.

    Fantasy races are much more comfortable for the “zombie” party to talk about, I supposed. Can’t blame you.

    Myron (a5d1ef)

  12. The so called “Moderates” of the Republican party have already proven themselves to be devoid of substantive ideas.

    The Democrats will give them some ideas to vote for, since the Democratic party actually has ideas (card check, health care, climate change legislation etc). Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.

    Myron (a5d1ef)

  13. Myron — and some of the more conservative commenters here — should take note that a number of the GOPs best shots in the Senate in 2010 will come from moderate candidates in Blue states. Patrick Ruffini, who is working one one of those campaigns, makes the following argument:

    If it’s a choice between Lindsey Graham, a headline-grabbing conservative-hating conservative, or an honest, workmanlike moderate like Collins who will not go out of their way to rip the party to pieces in the press, sign me up for the moderate. Both parties will have their moderates. And if we keep ours in line and grab some of theirs, that’s the surest sign we’re winning (see: card check). If we ever find ourselves in the position where moderates can’t vouch for a center-right governing agenda, we are in trouble.

    He has a point, speaking from the standpoint of practical party-building, in the short-term, given the hand the GOP currently holds. (And note that not all of the elections noted in the original post fall into this category.) More conservative or libertarian folks — myself included — won’t always be happy with how that works out, in the short term. Making it work better in the medium term is a subject for another post, which I will probably get to in the near future.

    Karl (f07e38)

  14. The national GOP is (has) morphing into a clone of the California GOP, a party that represents rural areas only, and one that still thinks getting farm produce to rail heads and box cars is what gets you elected. They keep saying they represent the “real America” although they have nearly zero reps in the
    State Legislature. Old White Men Without a Clue….

    howard432 (3f8901)

  15. Isn’t it time someone stood up to Rush and asked him to zip it for once. How can he stand there and ask Powell to move over to the Dems? Is he for the Reps or is he for himself? It’s disgusting. Can’t you folks see how he is weakening this party further with this kind of rhetoric? I think it is racist for him to say that Powell supported Obama because of race. Not minding the myriads of defects plagueing the GOP now.

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  16. The Emperor7,

    Patterico is certainly on record as not wanting Limabugh as the face/voice of the GOP.

    My view has always been that anyone asked about Limbaugh ought to laugh at the questioner. There is no evidence that Republicans think Limbaugh is the face of the party, and any GOP official who treats the question seriously plays into Axelrod’s hands.

    Karl (f07e38)

  17. Note to those who are fixated on Rush:
    Rush is not a Republican, but a Conservative, and that philosophy is what drives his political commentary.
    Guess what: He has probably said more good things about Zell Miller – a conservative Democrat – than he has negative things about Colin Powell – who self-identifies as a Republican, but whose public pronouncements seem to put him on-the-cusp of Lib-GOP/Mod-Dem.
    Colin Powell is a Beltway-Establishmentarian, and as so, is contrary to everything a Conservative GOP should be, and is what has destroyed the brand, so to speak, of the current National GOP;
    and that, is why Rush attacks him, and justifiably so.

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  18. These are the exact same memes myron puked last time it graced us with it wisdom.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  19. I don’t know about “leaderless.” Romney and Gingrich spring to mind. There are likely those in Congress, too, who aren’t from the Delay-Hastert crowd. It will be an interesting 2 years.

    I think, though, the Republcians will win double-digit seats in the House and a couple Senate seats in 2010. This is the Democrat high-water mark.

    There is a vibrant grass-root movement that someone will tap, bringing the party back to the small government, get-government-off-my-back attitude that brought us out majority. This is not an “old idea”, it’s a timeless one. A never-ending battle against the forces of the unitary State.

    Bush forgot that — indeed he embraced the State — and lost much of the party. In the end, Bush’s Republican base was reduced to the evangelicals. Part of the coalition, sure, but there are no new ideas there, possibly by definition.

    Much has been made of Powell’s comments, but Powell dismisses both the economic and social conservatives, and without them you have nothing. To the degree that he says the religious message has become the party’s ONLY message, he’s got a point. No one likes to be harangued.

    But the mesage needs to be a Republican one, based on free people, free labor, and free markets. As before.

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493)

  20. Moderate will be attracted to what they like more. It will be much the same way we held our noses for McCain. He’s not your friend, but he sure is better than your enemy.

    You run to the right, the moderates aren’t going to run away. At least social moderates. Fiscal moderates really have no place in the party since controlling spending is supposed to be a LYNCHPIN of the GOP

    I’d like to know what version of the Republican party Colin Powell thinks liked higher taxes and increased government control.

    Hawkins (3d318d)

  21. BTW, some guy over on The Jury Talks Back has been having a go at Colin for a few days.

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493)

  22. The GOP is where the Democrats were four years ago. Of course, it doesn’t have the lapdog media to turn 2010 into the “all Foley, all the time” circus that was 2006. I expect some gains as even the media wall can’t protect Obama and his cronies forever. Even the lapdogs abandoned Jimmy Carter in 1980, so anything is possible.

    Just remember, there is a culture of corruption in DC, it’s called the Democratic Party. Honest Democrat is a contradiction in terms.

    Ken Hahn (80a400)

  23. #21…a fair, unbiased, and completely non-partisan referral.
    Heh?

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  24. You can’t have it both ways. Which is it? Did Powell support Obama because of race or did he support him because he (Powell) is a closet Democrat? Which is it?

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  25. Since Democrats vote on race quite often, it seems like a distinction without a difference.

    Mars vs Hollywood (788077)

  26. NEW YORK (Reuters) – A swindler whose arrest in 2007 prompted Hillary Clinton to return $850,000 in Democratic Party campaign contributions from fundraising, pleaded guilty on Thursday to fraud charges in an investment scheme.

    Businessman Norman Hsu, who was sentenced to three years in jail by a California state judge in January 2008, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to a criminal indictment of mail fraud and wire fraud in running a Ponzi scheme of up to $60 million.

    Now how did this one get lost ?

    Neo (46a1a2)

  27. Emperor7,

    Please understand something: It is no longer about the issues and ideas when it comes to who approves of which political party. IOW, there’s nothing we Republicans can do that can lead folks like you to approve of us.

    So any suggestion that I or any other Republican or conservative should denounce Rush because of his (legitimate, IMHO) statements on Colin Powell will be placed in the proper circular filing cabinet. Put a sock in it, Emperor7.

    Brad S (9f6740)

  28. My view has always been that anyone asked about Limbaugh ought to laugh at the questioner. There is no evidence that Republicans think Limbaugh is the face of the party…

    Laugh, eh? ‘Denial’ is in Egypt and you’re chuckling past the pyramids. The Galloping Kantor kisses Boss Limbaugh’s ditto daily; Michael Steele melts in Boss Limbaugh’s shadow and Mike Pence quakes at challenging the Boss’s bellowing as well. Maybe you should ask the thousands of Clear Channel employees layed off to help fund Boss Limbaugh’s heavily larded $400 million contract as well.

    Conservatives have created an 800 pound monster with a 50,000 watt megaphone and the sweaty sloth is out of control. There was a time 20 years ago when the Boss served their purposes. No more. Mocking Michael J. Fox with the Parkinson’s Jig; Race baiting decorated veteran Colin Powell– a man respected by all Americans– and joking about the recessions effects on his own listeners is just the latest spasms of stupidity.

    Boss Limbaugh is all about Boss Limbaugh. He doesnt give a damn about conservatives and uses them as a means to his own ends. Boss Limbaugh is stellar marketer. A Barnum protege to be sure. As W.C. Fields said, “Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump.” Stop being chumps, conservatives.

    But Americans have survived Boss Limbaugh’s damaging kind before. Father Coughlin. Walter Winchell. Arthur Godfrey. They all follow the same tragic career arc in time. And when conservatives wise up, the Boss will come crashing down.

    Boss Limbaugh’s greatest fear isn’t for America’s future, but his future. He needs someone to listen to him. All his life, from small stations to national syndication, Boss Limbaugh has craved an audience. And soppy conservatives oblige– because his wives wouldn’t– or couldn’t. Keeping his family of advertisiers happy is all that counts, since Boss Limbaugh can’t build a family of his own and it’s a list of sponsors smart Americans are beginning to note.

    When Republicans grow a pair and jettison this out of date, hard right clown and conservative schtick, purge Boss Limbaugh and his dittoheads from their ranks, the GOP will center up and grow again.

    Boss Limbaugh and his Dittoheads, culled out of the herd, can start a third party– a ‘conservative party’ and every member gets a free radio.

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    What a gift.

    The Republican Party stands a chance of survival the moment Boss Limbaugh suddenly finds to his horror that he is no longer the Boss. When a person emerges to challenge Boss Limbaugh openly, not court his blessings in the press, on the airwaves and in person, the party will have found its new leader.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  29. DCSCA, since you go around quoting discredited faux facts from Michael Moore, you literally have no credibility on your little Rush Limbaugh rant. And in fact, denial seems to be more of your projection.

    So when the Democratic party dumps Moore, and you disown him, then you will have something to whine about. Until then, you remain a discredited loon.

    SPQR (72771e)

  30. #19- I don’t know about “leaderless.” Romney and Gingrich spring to mind. Uh, Gingrich led the GOP to disasterous losses and resigned under a cloud of disgrace. Slick Romney has already shown he’s a loser in the last cycle. And he criticized the Democrats as ‘monarchists’… this from a man who is the son of George Romney. If that’s your vision of leadership, get an eye exam.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  31. In 2010, the Democrats won’t have Obama at the top of the ticket drawing 99% of the African-American vote, with massive turnout. The donkeys will be crushed.

    Official Internet Data Office (b2a3ec)

  32. #17- Colin Powell is a Beltway-Establishmentarian, and as so, is contrary to everything a Conservative GOP should be, and is what has destroyed the brand, so to speak, of the current National GOP;
    and that, is why Rush attacks him, and justifiably so.

    Well said, Dittohead. How about a game of solitare…

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  33. The little troll’s droppings of “advice” are as useful as its lengthening collection of factual errors. Its Chrysler howler was merely the latest. It knows how to copy bumper sticker slogans, but actual comprehension is above its pay grade.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  34. Comment by DCSCA — 5/7/2009 @ 12:19 pm

    It puts the cut and paste in the basket.

    BJF – LOL! troll droppings.

    Vivian Louise (eeeb3a)

  35. Like the man on the cart in Monty Python & the Holy Grail, the Incredible Shrinking Party is not dead yet…

    Conjuring up the picture of a soiled, sore-riddled, 14th Century Anglo-Saxon dying of plague to be finished off for a few coppers as the state of the GOP is a great image for the Grand Old Party, indeed. “Bring out your dead!”

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  36. The little troll flubs it again: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was set in 932 A.D. That’s the 10th century, not the 14th, for those who know their history.

    But the little troll knows as little about history as it does math.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  37. between de facto party leader Rush

    Myron doesn’t realize that as soon as you lead with that inanity, you lose the other commenters immediately. No one here listens to Rush, save for Bradley (who’s a Libertarian with a capital “L”). Showing your extreme ignorance upfront never gets you anywhere, Myron.

    Dmac (1ddf7e)

  38. Brother Bradley is not alone in his listenership.

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  39. But the little troll knows as little about history as it does math.

    That’s patently untrue and unfair, Bradley – it knows all about the following areas of expertise, as claimed previously:

    – rocket centrifuges while working at NASA
    – discussing space exploration with Von Braun
    – deep knowledge of energy futures while working at Enron (apparently at the same time while working at NASA – how does he do it?)
    – lead sniper on CIA hit squads in Latin American
    – extensive training as a Navy Seal

    Truly, it is a Renaissance Troll.

    Dmac (1ddf7e)

  40. My mistake, AD – there are probably a few others as well.

    Dmac (1ddf7e)

  41. Jeez, Louise, shouldn’t the “Boss” Limbaugh trolls go to some site where someone cares about “Boss” Limbaugh.

    You kind of lose the impact of your snark when no one really cares much what you say.

    Besides, I thought the “recession is ending” meme was the top bullet point on “Boss” Rahm’s agenda today. I do see that Myron got the “goposaur” memo, though.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  42. If the little troll really did listen to Rush, it wouldn’t make nearly as many factual screw-ups as it does.

    Seeking to disparage Rush, the little troll reveals its ignorance every time.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  43. DCSCA’s pretty much beclowned himself.

    SPQR (72771e)

  44. You liberals think (I question the ability) the people who voted for Obama will not see the light in 2010. You are just not paying attention. Carter lasted 4 years and out. Obama said one thing and is doing another. The damage the media has done to itself is self inflicted as the American people are tired of paying more. You will be shocked at the results of the midterm elections, but you will not hold a majority in either house.

    Zelsdorf Ragshaft III (57cae1)

  45. Just to help DCSCA’s existing efforts to googlebomb the catchphrase It won’t work 100%, because he really does type it every time, occasionally with misspellings (“life” microphone, for instance).

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    Until then, the GOP has shown it can be led to disaster by a fat, deaf, high school educated drug addict, with several failed marriages, sitting alone, locked in a room, ranting to himself beside a life microphone.

    Boss Limbaugh! Parkinson’s Jig!

    carlitos (027922)

  46. #45- Googlebomb? Never thought of that. See, the conservatives do have ideas after all.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  47. #36- “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was set in 932 A.D. That’s the 10th century, not the 14th, for those who know their history. Point taken. But then, point made. “Bring out your dead!”

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  48. #36- But then, Conservatives who mark comedy and fiction as history is the norm for the dittohead, isnt it, dittohead.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  49. Add to the list of what the little troll needs to learn, the actual meaning of “dittohead”. Then it might be able to actually discuss ideas and not rely on bumper-sticker slogans.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  50. Its hard to discuss ideas, Bradley, when one is wearing a clown nose and floppy shoes, as DCSCA is.

    SPQR (72771e)

  51. #39 It makes these claims because it mistakes the “roles” it has taken while playing various Euro-Style and Ameritrash board games for real experience.

    — Rocket Centrifuges — Space Place CCG
    — Space Exploration — Liftoff
    — Deep Knowledge of Energy Futures — Funkenschlag
    — Lead Sniper — Sniper! Special Forces.
    — Trained Navy Seal — Firepower

    Christian (abaa8f)

  52. SPQR,
    The little troll’s habit of copy and pasting half-understood stories is an endless source of amusement. So are its Walter Mitty stories. The little troll is safer sticking to stuff within its intellectual capacity, such as calling Limbaugh a stinky fatso.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  53. Meanwhile, Tom Ridge, whom SOME polls suggest would crush Pat Toomey in the GOP PA Senate primary, says no to the run.

    Could be his residency status.

    Could be replacing a pro-choice moderate with a pro-choice moderate holds limited appeal.

    steve (107ccd)

  54. Bradley, half-understood? I guess you are being charitable today?

    SPQR (72771e)

  55. I wouldn’t even bank on the Dems holding the IL Gov seat, unless Mike Madigan (State Senate Dem, IL 22nd Dist.) runs.

    If he does run, I’m voting for him just because he was one of the key factors that blocked a lot of the idiocy Blago tried to pull. He also seems to be one of those rare creatures, a principled democrat. He’s one you can talk to and have an intelligent debate with. Unlike some lefties that frequent these parts.

    If he doesn’t run, there are a couple of Chicago area republicans I could see myself voting for.

    Blago is going to be a heavy weight around the Dem party neck come the 2010 state race…

    Scott Jacobs (90ff96)

  56. Googlebomb…Do you think it would completely destroy DuckCrap if he was told of the Googlebomb PP released about this time last year?

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  57. Comment by Brad S — 5/7/2009 @ 11:55 am

    In other words, you don’t have an answer to my question. Not surprising.

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  58. #50- At least the spork has utility. Having heard the creation of the ‘dittohead’ live on the air back in the day, it is amusing to see dittoheads trying to redefine it. But then, denying Boss Limbaugh’s stench is equally amusing. Meet him some time. I have. It’s little wonder Boss Limbaugh is drawn to the ‘Right Guard.’ When you swing by a pharmacy for a refill, pick some up Boss. It’s available in stick roll-on or spray.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  59. DCSCA said:

    Blah blah, “Boss” Limbaugh, blah, blah, “Boss” Limbaugh, blah blah, “Boss” Limbaugh, blah blah “dittohead,” blah, blah.

    Meet him some time. I have.”

    Also, I’m the King of Luxembourg. Really. You can look it up.

    DCSCA: I hope you never leave. You are, and I mean this sincerely, the funniest person who has ever You are a gift.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  60. Crud, I was trying to compliment DCSCA and I hit the button too quickly. What I meant to say was:

    DCSCA: I hope you never leave. You are, and I mean this sincerely, the funniest person who has ever posted here. You are a gift.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  61. Quite sphexish, the little troll is.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  62. ASPCA has body odor. I know. I met it, at the zoo.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  63. Obviously DCSCA can’t even think of a fresh snap.

    How boring.

    SPQR (72771e)

  64. The mistake many of my fellow commenters are making regarding this particular fellow is their failure to discern the repeated indications of mental disorder present in his communications.

    While there can be no specific description of ‘normal’ that can effectively cover all facets of human behavior and cognition, patterns of repetition can indicate anomalies outside of what most would recognize as reasonable boundaries. For example: a medical professional may wash their hands many times a day, while some may carry anti-bacterial sanitizers on their person when going out in public in order to lessen the chances of infection. When someone begins to wash 200-300 times a day, however, this pattern is indicative of a disorder that is unrelated to the elimination of physical sources of infection.

    Similar to the attempt to reason with the homeless man outside of McDonald’s who is shouting obscenities to himself, the observation that “don’t you think your hands are clean enough?” is an insufficient method to deal with the underlying issue, and as such, will elicit no meaningful response.

    My concern has nothing to do with disagreement. Aphrael and Leviticus disagree with me, but I do not believe that they are in any way exhibiting mental disorders in their communications. In fact, were I to pick people to represent me in a debate, they would be included with many of the other commenters here that I agree with. I respect clarity, honesty and intelligence in both those with which I agree and those with which I disagree. As well, dishonest, unclear or base commenters with which I agree do not earn my respect.

    What has become painfully obvious is that the comments submitted by this fellow are absolutely unrelated to the subject or post at hand, as well as to the idea of discussion whatsoever. He has even, in a fugue of lucidity, stated that his ‘purpose’ here was to ‘annoy conservatives’ – ostensibly for the greater good. It is quite odd (and perhaps not coincidental) that one of his repetitious fixations is on Rush Limbaugh, who, as many will remember, confessed to ‘carrying water’ for the Republican party against his own beliefs – essentially admitting to knowingly deceiving those he was addressing – for the greater good. Perhaps there is an identification with this approach to ‘the game’ played by Limbaugh that this fellow seeks to emulate, even if he does not know it, and it’s attraction has turned obsessive.

    Think about it: How does this fellow describe his ‘nemesis’ Boss Rushbo? Alone, divorced, drug addled in a small room ranting at those outside. Definitely a love/hate, with himself as well as Limbaugh.

    Other repetitive oddities are:

    Barking orders. The random issuing of orders to ‘get the tape’, ‘run along’, ‘read this’ etc. seems to indicate an attempt to make up for a powerless self image.

    Grandiose fantasies. Related to the previous self image issue, the attempts to embellish achievements and experiences, quite often debunked, reveal a need for societal importance, as well as an inability to comprehend the fallacy of argument from authority. The need for societal importance itself is quite often indicative of a lack of achievement. Most people understand that – even those who have not been to college. That this fellow (who claims higher education) fails to comprehend that indicator reveals an inability to relate to others around him on an equal level, thus explaining his lack of civil discourse.

    Childish argumentation. While examples of such behavior are available from most commenters, the ability to carry on a discussion at an advanced level will eventually surface. Not so for this fellow. This is not simply a valve for frustration, but an entire method of communication. As I’ve said before, this fellow has been incapable of actual discourse over a lengthy period of time, and while some may see that simply as dedication, I would argue that it screams of an inability to engage in reasoned discourse. That should be troubling for most other commenters.

    There are others, such as posting insults in the middle of the night when most other commenters have retired for the evening. This reveals a self image that knows it must cheat in order to obtain relevance.

    All of them are related to attention. While everyone needs attention, there are positive and negative ways to obtain it. Given that our friend has exhibited difficulty in rational communication skills, any attention at all will be reinforcing negative behavior, leading of course to more negative behavior.

    Engage this fellow if you will, but understand that, as it is with the example of the screaming fellow outside of the McDonalds, attempting to reason will work for only so long. After a while, continued interaction will cause many to rightfully wonder about both of you.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  65. Comment by JD — 5/7/2009 @ 4:25 pm

    Does he wash his hands? Mmmh? Does he?

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  66. Wow, Apogee.

    carlitos (027922)

  67. You know, there was that “homeless” fellow at the off-ramp who had a lap-top tucked under his arm????

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  68. (Puts on DVD of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next)

    I’m here to cooperate with ya a hundred percent. A hundred percent. I’ll be just right down the line with ya, you watch. ‘Cause I think we ought to get to the bottom of R. P. McMurphy.

    “Hit me Chief, I got the moves!”

    carlitos (027922)

  69. I bow. Like Barcky did in Saudi Arabia. Brilliant, Apogee.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  70. Patterico’s is a great site, and Patterico, Karl and the rest of the posters do a great job of raising questions and expressing opinions that are thoughtful, consistent, and interesting.

    This isn’t about trolls. This is about something that does a disservice to all that hard work.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  71. #57, DCSCA wrote: “Having heard the creation of the ‘dittohead’ live on the air back in the day, it is amusing to see dittoheads trying to redefine it.”

    So you were in Sacramento in the late ’80s? I don’t want to call you a liar without hard evidence, but it really does seem amazing how you get around. A regular Forrest Gump, you are.

    danebramage (700c93)

  72. Well I see some have finally seen that the Republican party is being destroyed by the crackpots of the radical right. Hate to say I tried to warn you..

    Think about it…Who in their right mind wants to vote for a party with Sarah Palin as its vice Presidential nominee and Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter as its chief spokesfolks?

    Who needs a party that has no ideas other than tax cuts for the wealthiest, thinks global warming is a joke, denies evolution, tells us “abstinence” is the ONLY way of avoiding pregnancy, wants to prohibit abortions even in the case of rape and incest, thinks any gun regulation is “dictatorship”, calls a popular president a Marxist, thinks an extra 3 % tax on top earners is “Socialism” and has a proven record of wars for false reasons, engages in racial attacks on Colin Powell, subverts the Constitution all while running up massive deficits while preaching balanced budgets.. PLUS if you are a Democrat and disagree your either anti American or a Marxist and if you disagree and are a Republican then you are the lowest of all creatures .. a RINO.

    You dug your own hole and, frankly, I believe in a two party system but I definitely think Republican should not be one of them. You had your chance and you blew it.. I told you so..

    VietnamEraVet (04b9ee)

  73. And with #71, yet another mentally disordered troll shows up . . .

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  74. Apogee:

    Gee whiz. Great analysis.

    However, I’m all for reinforcing negative behavior.

    It will be along soon to call you a “dittohead.” And rant about “Boss” Limbaugh.

    Again. And again. And again.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  75. Apogee – Care to handle this one? Or can we just say “See #63”. ‘Cuz VeV is a loon too.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  76. VEV,

    Only you can prevent forest fires.

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  77. I refer everyone back to JD’s Rule of Trolls. An increase in volume, frequency, and vitriol corresponds to Barcky doing less than perfect in their eyes. The worse Barcky does, the loonier they get.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  78. JD’s Second Rule of Trolls is that the topics and threads where they go the most loony are the topics and issues that they want the least attention focused on. Their performance art is designed to distract from the topic, therefore it is educational to note which topics drive them the most loony.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  79. Who in their right mind wants to vote for a party with Sarah Palin as its vice Presidential nominee and Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter as its chief spokesfolks?

    About 60,000,000 voters, it seems.

    carlitos (027922)

  80. The 1st Restatement of JD’s End Rule of Trolls is that you are all jingoistic imperialistic xenophobic racist homophobes.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  81. JD – Care to handle this one?

    Apart from you guys handling them, they pretty much handle themselves. As I’ve commented before, even an RNC sockpuppet wouldn’t think to troll sites as a Dem with these arguments because they’re so unbelievably off.

    Again, my lengthy comment concerned the disractions of a certain fellow who I truly believe shows signs of mental illness. I appreciate the work that P and Karl put into their posts and become irritated at the nonsense that interferes with their points. It’s not just about us.

    VeV may have similar issues, but isn’t around enough to really throw things off.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  82. Comment by JD — 5/7/2009 @ 4:59 pm
    Oh come on JD. he did not bow. He fell over forward at the sight of a sniper. ( In coming!!!….) 🙂

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  83. #70- Manhattan, actually. Better bone up on your Boss, bubba.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  84. VietnamEraVet, is many ways I agree with you. I haven’t voted for a Republican for President in 17 years. I vote waaay to the right of where the Repubs are.

    But I’ll play your game:

    Who needs a party that has no ideas other than:

    A) Tax increases for everybody via both direct taxation and indirect taxation (inflation due to an unsound monetary policy and profligate printing by the Fed in order to finance rampant spending)

    B) Cannot distinguish between “global warming” and “human-caused global warming,” and moreover thinks either or both of them is a proven fact beyond all dispute

    C) Is either so stupid or uneducated that it doesn’t know the essential weakness of the evolutionist case…or at the very least, isn’t familiar with the serious objections brought against it

    D) Is so stupid it thinks its opponents’ argument is that abstinence is the only way to avoid pregnancy

    E) Wants to assassinate innocent children for the crimes of their parents

    F) Thinks the 2nd Amendment has something to do with duck hunting

    G) Thinks a Marxist should not be called a Marxist if he’s pretty and popular with the girls

    H) Thinks that government ownership and/or direction of industry has nothing to do with “Socialism”

    I) Is too dumb to realize his own party leadership in Congress voted for the “war for false reasons”

    J) Lies through his draftee teeth about “racial attacks” on Colin Powell

    K) Backs a party whose goal since at least 1968 has openly been the subversion of the existing Constitution and its replacement with a new and improved version.

    Oh, why go on. You lefties are wearisome.

    danebramage (700c93)

  85. #41- But Jeez, Dom DeLuise, Boss Limbaugh is the boss of your party. Why else do GOP leaders genuflect at his microphone. Unless, of course, they’re scared of losing the support of dittoheads at the polls. It’s quite a problem for a GOP that needs to grow, isnt it, dittohead.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  86. #58- Also, I’m the King of Luxembourg. Really. You can look it up. Yes, and repeatedly crowned.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  87. #82, DCSCA wrote: “Manhattan, actually. Better bone up on your Boss, bubba.”

    When I used to listen to Rush back in the early to mid nineties, his explanation was that “dittohead” arose during his stint in Sacramento. Maybe I’m misremembering that, but I don’t think so. Can anyone else settle this question?

    Just for the record, DC, I’m not a Republican. Haven’t been one for almost two decades. So is Rush my boss, too, or is he only the Republicans’ boss, or what’s your line now?

    danebramage (700c93)

  88. See comment #63

    JD (c8f5e6)

  89. #62- I like you, spork. You try.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  90. The little troll doesn’t even know what dittohead means.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R., (0d19ee)

  91. #82:

    #70- Manhattan, actually. Better bone up on your Boss, bubba.

    Wow, right on time.

    #84: Dom DeLuise? And back to the dittohead business.

    #85: Good comeback. It cut me to the quick.

    So, let me sum up: Boss, blah, Boss, blah, dittohead, blah.

    Boss Rahm will have something better in the morning. I can’t wait.

    And I am the King of Luxembourg. You can’t prove it’s not true.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  92. #86- It occurred in the late 80s/early 90s in Manhattan from high atop his EIB Building (known to commuters as Penn Station.) He imposed it as a time saver to budding dittoheads who were eating up his talk time gushing platitudes. If he used it in his Christy days, then he’s, perhap to the surprise of environmental wackos, a recycler.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  93. #85- Use Rahmbo.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  94. See comment #63 ASPCA

    JD (c8f5e6)

  95. Comment by DCSCA — 5/7/2009 @ 6:07 pm

    I’m LMAO at this response… not because it’s wrong, but because it’s so telling. He can’t help himself. This is something he actually believes he is right on, so when challenged he has to provide more details to prove it. That’s why when he’s proven wrong on so much other stuff he just ignores it. He knows it was BS from the start and doesn’t feel the need to defend it. Ignore him.

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  96. #63- Grandiose fantasies. Related to the previous self image issue, the attempts to embellish achievements and experiences, quite often debunked, reveal a need for societal importance, as well as an inability to comprehend the fallacy of argument from authority.

    Don’t be so hard on conservatism and the Reagan myth. In time the hard right will get with it and folloe centrists and the left. Or go extinct. Dinner time! Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce…

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  97. VietnamEraVet, is there a reason you are still making up stuff? You’ve had yourself schooled almost as much as DCSCA the clown.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  98. You had your chance and you blew it.. I told you so..

    Comment by VietnamEraVet

    Ditto.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  99. Stashiu3 – He can’t help himself.

    My point exactly.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  100. Stashiu3, indeed its long been obvious that DCSCA’s misrepresentations are knowing and intentional.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  101. DCSCA said:

    #85- Use Rahmbo.

    You mean like an over-the-hill action hero clinging to lost youth?

    Sounds good, but I’ll stick with Boss Rahm. You’re my inspiration.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  102. Its complete lack of self-awareness is breath-taking.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  103. Apogee,

    I think about 95% of what you wrote is demonstrably correct. The other 5% is reasonable inference. I wouldn’t disagree with any of it. Well done.

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  104. When are we going to put a stop to this childish back and forth and really get down with the business of fixing a broken party? Isn’t that what this thread should be about?

    The Emperor7 (0c8c2c)

  105. Stashiu3 – Well done.

    Thanks. Coming from someone with your experience regarding such matters, that is a huge compliment.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  106. The Emperor 7 said:

    When are we going to put a stop to this childish back and forth and really get down with the business of fixing a broken party?

    I don’t know, about the time trolls stop saying the only way to save the GOP is to act more like Democrats.

    And, why do you guys keep insisting we’re Republicans?

    Also, fixing comes from the bottom up in effective politics — not the top down. If the GOP leadership is smart — and there’s good reason to doubt that — they will begin to listen.

    If not, you guys will be in power for the next generation or two, so what’s not to like?

    I won’t have to pay for my kids’ college, I’ll never have to worry about working and all my health care will be free.

    Unfortunately, that’s all that will be free.

    I’m not really thinking about me, though. I’m thinking about you.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  107. If you think those things are expensive now, Ag80, just wait until they are free 😉

    JD (c8f5e6)

  108. #65- Awed by long-winded monologues, aren’t you. The perfect dittohead.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  109. When are we going to put a stop to this childish back and forth and really get down with the business of fixing a broken party? As soon as a leader arises with the courage to challenge Boss Limbaugh’s position as kingmaker. The man or woman who dispatches Boss Limbaugh to the ‘dustbin of conservative history’ is your new leader.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  110. DCSCA, when you’ve ditched your cult-like following of Michael Moore, call us. Until then, you are just another boring hypocritical repetitive troll.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  111. Get help, douchenozzle.

    JD (c8f5e6)

  112. Emperor7,

    Don’t worry about the GOP. It’s no more dead than the Democratic Party was a mere 8 years ago when Robert Reich declared it dead. (He even used a Monty Python reference.) Politics is cyclical, like life, and right now Democrats are on the upswing and the GOP is on the downswing.

    Anon (b0f193)

  113. #100- Who mentioned Schwarzenegger. He’s a Republican. But if you want to slur Vietnam vets as Boss Limbaugh did to General Powell, by all means, yo, go for it.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  114. DCSCA #112, yet another lie on your part. No one was slurring vietnam vets.

    Do you have any lines that don’t involve lies on your part?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  115. #111- Of course it’s not dead. Dont ‘whig’ out over it… yet.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  116. DCSCA, so your answer is “no”, you don’t have any lines that don’t involve lying on your part.

    That’s what we thought.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  117. I’m much more optimistic than you are, Karl.

    Beldar (e9a43c)

  118. Indeed, Beldar, we should be able to do quite a bit in campaigns with the extraordinary amount of corruption we are seeing from Democrats already.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  119. #115- Your party has come to a fork in the road, spork. Quite a dilemma… for you.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  120. DCSCA, recycling lame lines is not really “green”. Just lame.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  121. DCSCA said:

    #100- Who mentioned Schwarzenegger. He’s a Republican. But if you want to slur Vietnam vets as Boss Limbaugh did to General Powell, by all means, yo, go for it.

    Who mentioned Schwarzenegger? Punctuation sometimes matters.

    Sylvester Stallone was a Vietnam Vet? Really? I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info.

    How did Limbaugh slur Gen. Powell? By calling him a Democrat?

    The gift that keeps on giving.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  122. #120- How did Limbaugh slur Gen. Powell? By calling him a Democrat?

    The gift that keeps on giving. Yes, Boss Limbaugh certainly is.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  123. What a joke to be fretting or fussing about Rush Limbaugh being the face of the Republican Party when a slimeball like Al Tawana-Brawley-was-raped Sharpton — who will be attending a meeting on education hosted by the guy currently occupying the Oval Office — is coddled, fondled, smooched and tickled by the Democrat Party.

    Mark (411533)

  124. Apropos the “chasm between elites and grassroots” Karl mentioned:

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22242_Page2.html

    Tim McGarry (9fe080)

  125. Yes, Boss Rahm certainly is.

    It’s been interesting talking to you, but now it’s time to play the game. Say the secret word and you could win $100.

    (Hint: It’s “Boss.”)

    George Fenneman will have your prize.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  126. Meant to link to page 1 of the Politico story, sorry.

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22242.html

    Tim McGarry (9fe080)

  127. #122- No argument there. As bad as Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  128. The Republican Party would be in real trouble if it did not have a champion working every day to bring it back to power. His name is Barack Obama.

    Right now I have to take time out for Michel LeGrand and a cigar.

    I just finished a lovely filet and will be back soon.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  129. And a glass of Chateau St Jean Merlot, of course.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  130. With a $3.4 trillion budget, the Obamessiah should be able to hire a better class of trolls than the bottom-of-the-barrel dregs we’re stuck with.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407)

  131. Brother Bradley J. Fikes:

    DSCSA came up with this gem:

    #122- No argument there. As bad as Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam.

    That’s probably his best. And they want the “right” to “come up with new ideas?”

    Wait a few, he’ll be back with Boss and dittohead.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  132. A way needs to be found to defuse the social conservative and economic/libertarian conservative rift.

    I don’t know it will be accomplished, but this reconciliation will have to start with the two sides talking with, and listening to, each other. The demonization, on both sides, needs to end.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407)

  133. Ag80,
    In the little troll’s narrow vision, America’s Christian conservatives are just as evil as Saddam. Why, you can hardly tell them apart! Look at the opponents the American Taliban have fed into shredders! The thousands killed in the suicide bomb attacks by those Christonazis!

    No wonder secularist critics cower for their lives. They fear the notorious Gestapo tactics of the Jesuseen.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407)

  134. Guys, with all respect to JD, I won’t be engaging the fantasist in the future. All the best. I agree with apogee; it brings down the level here to engage mentally ill commenters. I got sucked in to the last über-troll’s gig and it was not to my credit. All the best.

    carlitos (027922)

  135. I think the answer is 27, folks.

    Eric Blair (33cc23)

  136. Hitchhikers fans will know what I meant.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407)

  137. Check your e-mail if you don’t know what I meant, Bradley.

    I miss Douglas Adams.

    Eric Blair (33cc23)

  138. Hey, carlitos. You really tried to engage some people. The only problem is that they really didn’t care about anything but scoring self-referential points.

    Eric Blair (33cc23)

  139. Carlitos and Eric:

    I was just messing with the guy. And I probably shouldn’t. He’s only looking for something to fill a hole in his life.

    And Brother Bradley said:

    A way needs to be found to defuse the social conservative and economic/libertarian conservative rift.

    You are absolutely right about this. Freedom isn’t for a few, it’s for everyone. And finding a way to bring social conservatives into the mix, while respecting their values, is essential.

    As is bringing anyone else into the mix, while respecting their values, as long as they believe everyone is the same under the Constitution and the law.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  140. Ag80, you were funny. His goal is to get people angry.

    And apparently, to use the word “boss” an awful lot.

    Eric Blair (33cc23)

  141. Eric:

    Thanks boss. (I think you know what I mean).

    Ag80 (b683da)

  142. And Brother Bradley:

    42 to you, too.

    Ag80 (b683da)

  143. Damn it, that is now X+1, Ag80!

    Eric Blair (33cc23)

  144. Anyone who can smoke a cigar (Dominican), listen to Michel LeGrand with “You must believe in Spring” (From Les Demoiselles de Rochefort), digest a small filet and enjoy the evening is unable to deal with trolls. I am too mellow.

    There are serious things to discuss but not right now.

    Enjoy life, even if Obama is intent on wrecking the US economy.

    It’s too great an evening.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  145. 4+2=6, not 42! Parkinson’s Jig, people.

    carlitos (027922)

  146. #136 Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R.:

    Hitchhikers fans will know what I meant.

    I haven’t got a clue, but for some reason, my mice got all excited reading that.

    EW1(SG) (5766f7)

  147. Karl,

    No one really foresaw the 1993-1994 thundering herd, as we all are preplexed by Republican behavior, they are starting to mak huge gains in the Northeast.

    Astonishing but not really totally surpizing

    EricPWJohnson (4485ad)

  148. Yeah, my mouse made the cursor skip all over the monitor . . . Oh, *those* kinds of mice . . . NEVER MIND!

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (0ea407)

  149. For the elucidation of DuckCrap….h/t wikipedia
    “Dittoheads
    Faithful listeners to The Rush Limbaugh Show.[24] As Limbaugh often explains in his books and radio show, these are not necessarily those who agree with his views. Rather, he believes they are people who love the show and what he’s doing, and hope he never stops doing it. The term came into use because callers would frequently begin by giving praise and thanks to Limbaugh. Knowing that the caller’s and listener’s time is valuable, one caller simply said roughly “ditto to what those guys said (how much they enjoyed the show).” Thereafter, callers were encouraged to simply say, “Dittos,” and then get right to their point. Thus, long-time listeners would begin their calls with “Dittos, Rush,” leading to the term “dittoheads.” The term is also used pejoratively by critics of Limbaugh, who claim that his listeners simply copy his political views without any independent thought.”

    AD - RtR/OS! (5b2e4f)

  150. The pendulum swings this way and that, and while the dems might lack grace and fail to be magnanimous, they are indeed on top for now. And overplaying their hand quite desperately. Because of that, the GOP will have at least some level of recovery… who knows how much. And eventually the pendulum will swing the other way.

    One thing is for sure: the GOP is not fixing itself… it’s not becoming the party the nation needs. The democrats are straight up bad for the country, but the GOP is not based on any basic principles, such as limited government or basic rights….

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  151. You know, if Bush had lost in 2004 and Kerry had been hit with Katrina and the financial meltdown — along with losing Iraq — we’d be talking about the death of the Democrat Party today.

    Does anyone remember 1991, when Bush Sr looked absolutely unbeatable? Yet a year later he was lucky not to come in third.

    Sure, maybe Obama will make socialism work for the first time ever, print $3 trillion and not get stagflation, avoid another 9/11, not have Israel-Iraq, Pakistan-India or Mexico-Mexico erupt and run a scandal-free administration.

    Yeah, sure.

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493)

  152. #152-Does anyone remember 1991, when Bush Sr looked absolutely unbeatable? Yet a year later he was lucky not to come in third.

    Now this is a comment from a thinking conservative. But risky to hang hopes on President Obama failing. But then, at this time, that’s all you’ve got. That’s not much of an alternative to offer the electorate given the GOP/conservative track record over the past 30 years Americans rejected. By summer it’s pretty much going to be President Obama’s ball game with little immediate wreckage to push back on Dubya. The momentum is President Obama’s to lose and conservatives can do little to stop him– except to cry foul over preferring mustard on his hamburgers.

    President Obama’s weakness is not meeting the goals and promises in a timely fashion he so eloquently spoke of during the campaign. The Democrats have all the marbles now and although the president is a personable fellow, Americans are an impatient people.

    On July 20, (after celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, if conservatives can stomach honoring a Kennedy inspired event) Republicans should grill President Obama’s burger buns with a rational, measured report card on what he has not done in six months and present viable centrist alternatives. Send the wackos on a field trip to the zoo with Boss Limbaugh that day. And start saving your party.

    DCSCA (9d1bb3)

  153. Mom Blogs – Blogs for Moms…

    Anonymous (5fa9a5)

  154. I am not sure that Obama failing is enough. The GOP would have to be seen as an alternative that would not have so failed. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think this round, the people are more easily led, so to speak.

    Juan (4cdfb7)

  155. Not sure if anyone mentioned this (I can’t read the comments anymore – troll madness) but here in NY we are getting all the NJ governor ads. The race is between Republicans Christie and Lonegan and darned if I can tell who is lying and who is telling the truth about the other. It seems to be a given than Dem Corzine is a dead gov. walking. Good for NJ if so.

    Peg C. (48175e)

  156. “There is no evidence that Republicans think Limbaugh is the face of the party, and any GOP official who treats the question seriously plays into Axelrod’s hands.”

    Then why do they all rush to kowtow and hurriedly apologize when they say something he disagrees with?

    JEA (53fe4f)

  157. If Lonegan and Christie split the Republicans in NJ, I think Corzine will win. There is virtually no Republican presence here in Sout Jersey, and you havethe urban areas up north that are heavily Democratic.

    The last time we threw out a Democartic governor was Florio (about 20 yrs ago) when he raised taxes. Corzine could suffer the same fate – it’s hard to tell at this point. But if the economy improves in the 2nd half of the year, I’d say he’s a prettu good bet to say b/c NJ is so heavily Democratic.

    JEA (53fe4f)

  158. The Leftists have said that Boss Limbaugh speaks and talks for you. Dammit, they are right. They know more about how you think than you do. Listen to them, they won. They have your best interests at heart.

    JD (c15e00)

  159. If you are curious why DCSCA’s commenting volume is curtailed, note that there are protestors outside Jack Kemp’s funeral.

    SPQR (72771e)

  160. “The rough parity on the generic Congressional Ballot among likely voters reflects a lack of enthusiasm for either party rather than gains for the GOP.”

    Actually, no. As you can see in this chart. In fact, during the last year, the Republicans have gained on the generic vote question, and the Democrats have lost.

    (Note to Karl: I would have emailed you this correction, but I don’t have your email address.)

    Jim Miller (6c4f8c)

  161. Another reminder of Democratic corruption as Norman Hsu, a crooked donor to Hillary Clinton, is convicted of running a Ponzi scheme.

    SPQR (72771e)

  162. News! Flash! Rush Limbaugh is really gay! He has the hots for Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich. Those two are not saying anything, but they sure are batting eyelashes. New York is about to fall to the gays. Expect more rants from the Rush. With apologies for gays everywhere. Could you figure out a worse punishment for those three? They die and go to Hell and is full of gay demons looking for love…

    PJ (baf24e)

  163. You sound jealous PJ. Project much?

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  164. Where do these idiots come from ?

    JD (80dce8)


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