We can certainly hope your analysis is correct, or better. But, we cannot live on hope alone. We must also work to secure not only good conservative candidates for our side, but to work even harder to set up the GOTV mechanism that will actually GOTV, not fail mightily at the last minute. But, you know all that. What we really need is to work now to get all conservatives on board, and to keep them motivated to actually get off their butts and vote this time. But, you know that too. Here’s hoping we succeed with all we need to do.

Obama’s A team was a C team. He’s now surrounding himself with the most corrupt, old, inept, white-guilted Liberals just to prove that he doesn’t need them to run the regime. They’re all puppets anyway. His hand is filled with Eric Holder and Valerie Jarrett.

Valerie Jarrett. She runs the country. She evades, avoids, and deflects scrutiny, even by the best. Her name, her background, her agenda, her face all need to be as recognizable as Obama’s. The Dems need to see who their leader really is.

FWIW, I spent last weekend with 7 men, all retired, white, conventionally liberal. I was stunned to discover the unabashed adulation they have for Obama — the most brilliant man ever to be president, perhaps to walk the earth, he doesn’t need advisers because he knows more than any could. This is far beyond the devotion Democrats had even to FDR. This truly is a cult of personality worthy of North Korea. When Newsweek talks about the Second Coming, they aren’t kidding.

What we are dealing with here is far beyond politics as usual.

You need to get a grip.

Ike’s big tent didn’t involve abandoning principles, it involved having no real Conservative principles in the first place.

Reagan’s big tent is what we need to replicate. Sunny optimism to ward off gloomy malaise appeals to everyone.

I am a retired AF Officer and Conservative. I was disgusted with Medicare Part D and ever increasing spending under George W. I voted for him the second time holding my nose (I liked the man as a person, but not some of the policies he was talked into) because of the upcoming Supreme Court vacancies.
George W. was guilty of surrounding himself with right of center hawks and they dominated the policy making. Any true strategist would have looked at an optional war in Iraq from a leadership and foreign policy perspective and determined it was bad idea. To be honest I said so at the time. If the strategy of “fear” (Hussein’s strategy) is going to replaced by some other strategy, the new strategy must trump the old one if it is to hold a nation together that wants to behave like three different and very distinct states (make that three states that hate one another to the point of killing each other). The war in Afghanistan was necessary in the wake of 9-11 but anyone who reads the military history of Afghanistan would come away thinking the biggest mistake a nation might make in an Afghan conflict (with limited and difficult to achieve objectives) would be inserting a large ground force.
The important point that I think Erick is correct in asserting is that when you surround yourself with folks of the same ideology (in business or Government) no one dissents. No one makes you argue for your idea, no one is there to make you better. The result is an echo chamber that moves you too far from what most Americans want which is a government that doesn’t meddle and doesn’t appear to favor their donors at the opposition’s expense. Barrack Obama will fail miserably in this regard (though the media will make this very hard to see). The challenge for Conservative Americans is that they don’t have a party right now, all we have is a smaller version of self-centered crony capitalists who take care of their own donors and who act like little Democrats and spend a little less. The most important virtues for the Republicans to find between now and 2014 (and 2016) are integrity and humility. Americans despise Republicans not because they don’t talk about the right things, it’s because they don’t do the right things when they are in power.

I agree with this analysis. But I am afraid the voting public wouldn’t acknowledge sunny optimism if it walked up to them and punched’em in the nose.

“they will not recognize that they are destroying this society and this country with this President and his/their policie.”
Are you kidding me?
That is their objective!

Can’t wait for the worm to turn. I hate that the media will continue to prop him up as long as they can. And his approval rating is really high right now. We are probably a year or 2 away from the bottom falling out if it ever does.

Erick has others on his same side on this issue:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/02/07/Brennan-Nomination-to-CIA-Offers-Rare-Chance-for-Bipartisan-Unity–in-Opposition?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BreitbartFeed+%28Breitbart+Feed%29

This is my exact experience as well. I knew some liberals who felt that way about Obama back in 2008, but its been years since I’ve seen feelings like those. It feels a lot more like an ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ type of situation, where liberals support Obama’s policies largely because the GOP is opposed to them, with Obamacare being the perfect example. I don’t think anyone actually likes the Affordable Care Act as its written.

More phoniness from the person going to deliver the SOTU response and stab us in the back in 2016.

I want a bumper sticker “I know Jack Schitt”.

The only comment I will make is that, with all of the challenges described by EE, at least Obama can thank his lucky stars that he has John Boehner to kick around, and around, and around again, and again, and again.

MattM is worth reading.!! My problem with electively creating war in Iraq is how do we choose just that one country ? N Korea, Pakistan, India all have major WMDs, Nukes, N Korea treats it’s people very badly !!, to point of starving. Civil war and genocide in many African nations, out of SO many bad actors, why was Saddam so much worse ? We had a moral right and world support to take him out and finish job when he electively invaded Kuwait 1991, but not later. (2003, eve of invading Iraq, never before in the entire history of mankind, has one person ever been so protested as GWB, albeit modern Instantaneous news must also play a part), and we rushed out of focusing on Afghanistan, finishing that first, stretching our voluntary military force to the breaking point, way, way too many redeployments due to lack of numbers of soldiers available. Yes, indeed, I think history points all the way back to Alexander the Great and no one has won a war in Afghanistan, it’s nothing but mountains and caves and sand and a very leathery tough people who can disappear in that rugged terrain and live on nothing more than sand, it seems. Iraq, what a terrible elective expenditure in lives, PTSD veterans who too many are now committing suicide to the point of one every 15 minutes ?? I’m not sure from memory, but just saw that terrible statistic recently, and of course, from the party claiming to be the hawks on spending, we seem like hypocrites when it comes to military expenses. Always more, more, more, even tho right now we spend a minimum of 15x more on military than any other developed nation. Change of subject: So, how do we elect someone like Mitt R. when primaries demand a very conservative stance, and then the closer we get to Election Day, the more moderate the candidate must be to get enough votes ?? He ended up flip flopping all over the place solely tailoring his message by 10 minute segments changing aim for every target audience of the moment ?? Last fall campaign, I couldn’t help but be reminded of old saying “If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything”. Mitt changed his stance so often, we didn’t know what to count on for a stand. I wonder how the dichotomous primary vs fall campaign trail tactics can be blended better next time around ????

From reading your commenting history, I wonder why one of the moderators hasn’t thrown your trolling self out of here long before now. Participatory democracy, Time magazine? Uh, do you realize how stupid you look (are)?

You are not a Republican, and you are advocating a move away from Conservatism. You don’t belong here, so shove off.

Here’s hoping Moe, Neil, or streiff will help you do it sooner.

Killing terrorists isn’t a left/right thing. It’s a spineless wimp/fighter for liberty thing.

“Permanent majorities are fleeting.”

I’m sure that will be of great comfort to Californians.

To be fair, I think most people involved in politics or government sometimes fantasize about how much easier certain things would be if they could cut all the red tape in one swipe, like a dictator could. President Bush (the second) had a great quote about that, which I don’t totally remember offhand. It totally freaked out a bunch of liberals at the time, who saw it as a sign of an upcoming coup.

Republicans need to be very cautious, any premature move to impeach Obama would be likely to be seen as a partisan witch hunt, and boost Obama’s standing and damage the GOP.
Remember how the effort to impeach Clinton ended up boosting Clinton’s standing in the polls to 68%, the highest during his term in office. We need to learn from our mistakes.

Know what offends me? I am a Conservative…so that makes me, as the MSM has referred to me…a terrorist, a crazy, a racist, a bigot, unstable, uncompromising (which, btw…that seems that is all the GOP can do, principles be damned)looney and the list goes on ad finitum.

So…we are crazy because we find out that one of the “painted” Conservatives of the GOP, Karl Rove, made a bundle off of the campaign but was not concerned with the outcome. We learn that he does not want the supposed “crazies” running for anything (example…Ted Cruz). He wants Republicans just like the ones in office…you know…like Boehner and McConnell. How have either helped us out? But then…I am crazy to ask. According to rationalanaylst…We should just shut up and “trust” the elitist GOP.

We have some very good representatives…the problem is…we don’t have enough of them.

We’re crazy because we wanted to stop the spending, spending, spending. That makes us crazy? The debt is $17T. We want the Constitution upheld…we are crazy??? We want honesty…we are crazy?? Yet, if we do not tow the line and agree with every single thing that McConnell/Boehner/Reid/Pelosi/Obama want…we are crazy and uncompromising.

We stand for the Constitution…so Mr. Rationalanayst…that makes those writers of that document crazy also…it makes our great presidents crazy also…it makes every amendment nutty.

Continually calling us names appears to me like you have been boning up on Rules For Radicals and applying that technique to the people that truly do love this country.

Excellent diary. Correct on every point of observation.

Thanks for the kind words on the post reddog. I believe America will follow a true leader, one who lives what he/she says. This leader must be able to articulate the value in smaller Government (which most would agree is something like “I don’t want the things you believe in forced upon me when your party is in power”). Think of how well that played after George W. (can you say “hope and change”) or how well it might play after Obama’s lurch to the left. I do not believe that this leader will rise from the establishment, there is simply too much mistrust in someone who’s spent their life in “one party or the other” and talks about their party instead of talking about America first.

Think of all the places in the world that meet the criteria you laid out in the second paragraph above….Syria being the easiest to see currently. Leadership requires consistency, our allies want to know where they stand and they want to know when we’ll engage and when we won’t. I used to tell people even if they had a bad boss, as long as he/she was consistently bad you could do good work for them once you figured where they were coming from. America is by nature not an offensive minded nation. We are tough, but generally speaking as a people we prefer to be so tough that no one picks a fight. Reagan understood our psyche, built a military that scared the heck out of our adversaries and used it very sparingly. Leaders understand their people and the Republican establishment doesn’t understand the people who best represent what they claim to believe, therefore in the election of our lifetime, many of them simply stayed home and we lost to a very beatable incumbent. Many, many Americans are uncomfortable with Barack Obama, their choice this election cycle was him, or an Investment Banker (who may have been one of the best men, strength of character wise, to ever run for office). I understand Investment Banks somewhat and don’t trust their political influence or the securitizaion of consumer credit as a product. It didn’t take long for the opposition to “kill Romney” and then there was nothing left to “vote for.”

Gee you said it so much more succinctly!

The triumverate of Kerry, Brennan and Hagel would give the President his ardent wish, as stated in his inaugural address: Peace in our time.

The Gimme-Dats will ALWAYS vote for the Gimme-crats. The 47% is zombie-like and growing.

It really almost makes me feel sorry for people who have so much of their lives and emotions wrapped up in someone they don’t even know. It has helped me understand why some horrible things in history were allowed to happen under the noses of people who one would consider sane and rational.

In war, due process is aiming before you shoot.

It feels like what you are saying is we don’t need to work to repair the damage that Obama has done, simply wait for the winds to change. I think that is a bad idea.

Read my response above. The POINT is that the memo authorizes the murder of American Citizens even when they are
“not considered an imminent threat” NOR “actively engaged in any
specific plot”.

These aren’t idiots storming some hill, this is American Citizens not in active combat. The Hallowed 0ne wants to be able to kill them WITHOUT any checks on his power to do so. because he and his clowns determine them to be a threat.

If he wants that HE SHOULD RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION and follow due process!

Fine, I agree.There are many ways to be a threat without being on a battlefield with a gun.

BUT If this US CITIZEN is such a serious threat that you want to KILL THEM without TRIAL, You should be able to make the case to a reviewing body ( be that a judicial review that signs off on your assassination of an American Citizen. ) or a military tribunal, SOMEONE.

( Not just your buddy Eric “Fast & Furious” Holder , or your pal Hilly Clinton.)

THAT’S THE POINT. The Founders were VERY SPECIFIC about this, Neil, having lived under a king’s tyranny firsthand.

I’m not prepared to take Zer0′s word on this. “Trust me. That American was a terrorist. No, I couldn’t be bothered to show proof to anyone, I just ordered him dead. Just trust me.” Oh. Come. On.

The coalition that swept Barry into office twice was not really a democrat coalition……but a “Barry” coalition.

That quote is irrelevant to this discussion on both points, but thanks for playing. Good thing most Republicans are actually serious about being on America’s side.

Hasn’t Obama already come out against enforced border security? Even if the Dems did support it, Obama would veto it. Obama smells blood now and he is holding out for a “clean” amnesty bill without border security measures, especially since public opinion is shifting toward legalization.

While I admire your optimism, I mostly disagree with your analysis Erick. If society now was more reminiscent of the world in which we both grew up, when basic common sense was a more regular part of everyday life, then I would agree with the majority of what you are saying. However, at this point after two straight elections where the electorate has now expanded to include millions more of those sheeplike individuals who are so easily swayed by hype, cult of personality, race baiting, fear mongering, and outright lies, I find what you are saying to be based on wishful thinking and anecdotal evidence (especially your last paragraph, which is particularly naive). We saw a lot of this type of analysis leading up to the election last year, but it didn’t take into account how far this country has lurched to the left and how the most moronic and uninformed among us are now the true driving force in our politics. In the words of comedian Ron White, “You can’t fix stupid”.

There may very well be a “…disturbance in the Democratic force” as you said, but this is temporary. In the end, Dems always show up when it counts – at the ballot box – unlike conservatives who did not and have not in the last two presidential elections for primarily selfish reasons. The biggest advantage the Dems have is their ability to get their base out and as long as we have a significant part of our base sitting it out, then I don’t see how we will ever win back the presidency, hold the House, or take back the Senate – especially with amnesty waiting in the wings and both parties eager to sign off on it.

One problem with this analysis is that we’re in all likelihood going to live in fully Obamacared world by 2016. Thus, even if the Republicans were to mount a comeback, they will be governing in an Obamacare world. The restaurant will have been permanently altered; the only battle left will be for which waiters serve us.
Another problem with this analysis is that the media has changed. Since they figured out in 1992 that by abandoning all pretense to objectivity they can get their kind of guy elected, the old political equations no longer apply. Admittedly, Republicans squeeked by in 2000 and 2004 with the aid of a couple acts of random journalism (Gore’s debate performance, Memogate), and an unbelievably fortuitous electoral college outcome in 2000, but Obama has if anything benefited from an even more stridently partisan media. Any bad thing about him is immediately swept under the rug and a cult of his awesomness grows. This guy doesn’t have the presensence of JFK or Reagan, for goodness sake. He’s a prissy punk, but he’s got a cult following nevertheless. If the media can do this for Barry, and are now accomplishing the same for Hillary of all people, what is to stop them? And if they can take a nice fellow, charitable, good family man, squeaky-clean in every way, and turn him into a monster, what’s to keep them from Romneying the next Republican challenger also?
Which brings us to the third problem with your analysis, which is the Republican Party. They are clueless about what to do about the media, and almost indifferently clueless. Their idea of battling the Democrats and the media is to negotiate with them, try to look harmless and cuddly, start a repackaging initiative,and hold a couple of polite votes now and then, preferably a “no” vote in a losing effort — but at all costs show their Democrat/media overlords the respect that is their due. There is no battle of ideas or for the hearts and minds of the voters anymore. There is Democrat/media attack followed by Republican react. Republicans are passive and scared, and show it.
The pendulum swings left, inches imperceptibly right, swings even further left, swings even less imperceptibly right. Democrats I’m sure are fine with a few disturbances in their own force, and even an Obama administration that runs aground in its second term, because the pendulum basically only swings one way any more. The one thing that might really change things is a new Republican party, one that had the nerve to stop Obamacare while there’s still time and stand up to the media to their face and contradict them. But that would take a totally new party leadership, one capbable of thinking outside of the incredibly narrow box they’ve errected around themselves. And since half or more of the conservative intelligentsia (another problem) think the Republican leaders are still more-or-less totally awesome fellows who are being unfairly criticized by the conservative base, what is the chance of that?

You wouldn’t know from this article. My action here will have an effect Erick is a good guy stuck in the echo chamber. So, If I don’t slap him and wake him up, who will? You, Mr. “Tad bit harsh”? How about Jim_Riggs? I’d like to get a grip around his neck, silly jackwagon…

Prissy punk indeed. Sorry I missedt last week.

More than you.