First of all, let me outline my conservative credentials, Kristofer: I support bombing Iran. I support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the Patriot Act. I am a laissez-faire capitalist. I vociferously oppose multiculturalism. I think that Harry Reid is a traitor. I volunteered for George Bush, Bob Ehrlich, and Michael Steele. I’ve also written lots of articles on this site in support of the positions I mentioned, as you very well know. I am a member of several conservative campus organizations, including the College Republicans, Youth for Western Civilization, and Students for the Preservation of the Second Amendment. The most recent article of mine published on RealClearPolitics was a list of obnoxious liberal buzzwords that I created in order to make fun of leftist campus activists. My messenger bag has pins of Goldwater, Reagan, and Giuliani on it. My personal library includes books such as “World War IV,” “In Defense of Globalization,” “Islamic Imperialism,” “Capitalism and Freedom,” “How Capitalism Saved America,” “The Case for Democracy,” “Party of Defeat,” and even Ann Coulter’s “Treason.”
You is right, of course, though, Kristofer. This is a conservative website. And that is why I feel perfectly at home, here: because it is a wonderful outlet to discuss how best to further conservative ideas and ideals.
The thing is, Kristofer…
Some of us think that those ideals are better served by shooting ourselves in the foot. Others of us think that it is better to shoot the opponent.
Some of us think that those ideals are better served by having only thirty members of the Senate. Others of us would like to have sixty members of the Senate.
Some of us think that those ideals are better served by pretending that we don’t have a problem as a party connecting with the American people. Others of us think that it is better to speak to the priorities of the electorate.
Some of us think that those ideals are better served by dismissing all dissenters by saying that they’re “agents of Kos.” Others of us want to revive the intellectual tradition of the party — the torch carried by men like Charles Krauthammer, David Horowitz, and, yes, David Frum.
Some of us think that those ideals are better served by having a discussion with the mirror. Others of us prefer more honest reflection.
If that makes me a “liberal agent of Kos,” then so be it, Kristofer. But please realize that you have not refuted any of my ideas.
PS – Kristofer supports partial-birth abortion. You don’t want to start this war with me, Kristofer.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Those are conservative credentials? Now I’m seeing the problem here.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I forgot, Liz: you’re not a legitimate conservative unless you’re a member of the Ban All Abortions Now club!
April 29th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Huckabee Got There First
By David Frum
http://www.newmajority.com/ShowScroll.aspx?ID=975f0ad9-bf6e-4b14-8035-8d514fe57039
“Jim Webb’s legislation for a bipartisan commission on prison reform is welcome – especially if it leads to improvement of conditions in prison rather than decarceration on a mass scale. Glad to see Arlen Specter will provide Republican cosponsorship. Fairness though requires acknowledging the first politician in years to take the risk of speaking up for this once least popular of causes: Gov. Mike Huckabee.”
Why is Frum, the self-proclaimed pragmatist, praising something he concedes is not a very popular cause?
April 29th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Well, “deconstructive criticism” doesn’t appear so obviously helpful.
Alex is just acting as this site’s grumpy old man.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Alex,
“Others of us think that it is better to speak to the priorities of the electorate.”
HA! Your the guy who says a Republican incumbent should NEVER face a primiary challenge. I guess we just have to HOPE that they reflect our priorities as well as dear ol’ Arlen does……
April 29th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Perhaps a mediator should handle this dispute behind the scenes, someone level-headed with a relationship of trust with both parties…maybe Kavon?
April 29th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Well a reasonable person has got to admit abortion for convenience-sake is a barbarian practice with no place in civilized society. It kind of has become a litmus test for ones humanity, for me anyways. I love children. I have a lot of them. I would hope everyone should feel that way.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
bar-BARIC practice I mean. ‘scuse me.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Both raise good points. But this bickering has to stop. Who cares about your petty differences? Can’t you just email them to each other instead of front-paging them? It’s like being forced to watch two high school girls fight over who’s more anorexic….
April 29th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
“It’s like being forced to watch two high school girls fight over who’s more anorexic….”
LOL!
April 29th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
“It’s like being forced to watch two high school girls fight over who’s more anorexic…”
Except these two are much much more obnoxious than any high school girls.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!
April 29th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I’M more anorexic, Ohio Republican.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Does anyone else think it odd that suddenly our two gladiators have gone silent?
I mean, they COULD just be eating their Cocoa Puffs, or………..
April 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Ah! There is Alex, just as I was wondering where he was! How’s that for timing……
April 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
“PS – Kristofer supports partial-birth abortion. You don’t want to start this war with me, Kristofer.” Yes, I disagree with Kristofer’s social liberalism, but at least he is a loyal capitalist and he defends the tax-payers. Yes, I know that you are a capitalist Alex, maybe you can demonstrate this better in the month or May better than you have in April. While I disagree with social liberals and do not like promoting them, I have no problem with SoLibs being in our party as long as they defend Capitalism most of the time. While I have disagreement with Kristofer, he is a good defender of many Conservative principles and policies. And I would admire Kristofer even if I were not in his camp!
April 29th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Alright kids, go to your separate corners and cool down a bit. Just remember at the end of the day, we all are pulling for the same team.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Bombing Iran isn’t conservative. It is insane.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
#18:
It is better if it is said in song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg
April 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Proved my point, you attack those of us who want the issue of abortion handle at the State level (me) and those who want abortion handled at the Federal level (Liz).
Are you on anyone’s team, Mr. Sullivan?
April 29th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I think that the GOP may very well be on the path to victory and we are in a formidable position politically right now.
Dick Morris had a very good article the other day in which he predicted that the ground work for Obama’s overwhelming defeat in 2012 have all been laid in his disastrous first 100 days.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
and “Some of us think” that the reason our party has so many “Specters & McCains” is because there are people who just want to WIN more than sticking with the principles of the Republican Party!
April 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Ps – I had so much more respect (even though I don’t agree) for this post before the low blow at the end!
April 29th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
What’s wrong with saying “I am a Republican and I want to win?”
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
April 29th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
#22:
Those who just are in it to win and are still in the Republican Party are idiots. We can’t get a candidate elected dog-catcher right now.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
“I support bombing Iran. I support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the Patriot Act. I vociferously oppose multiculturalism. I think that Harry Reid is a traitor. I volunteered for George Bush. I am a member of Youth for Western Civilization.”
Are these Conservative credentials, or proof of your own idiocy?
April 29th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
#25, we tried.
http://faithinthesound.blogspot.com/2006/03/gop-candidate-for-saluda-county-dog.html
April 29th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Max R., all Alex has proven is that he is a patriot and has a nationalist streak…I am still waiting for his conservative credentials.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Bravo Alex, We need a Republican leader to call for regime change in Iran and boots on the ground.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:03 am
-28
I disagree that Alex has proven his patriotism. I am not accusing anyone of not being patriotic, I just don’t think aggressive foreign policy, support of the ironically-named Patriot Act, or opposition to “multiculturalism” (read: non-anglo culture) is “patriotic.”
These positions are not truly patriotic, they are merely hawkish… there IS a difference.