For those of you who have not heard, my book is coming out in two months. Some of you have emailed to ask why my front page postings have been lighter than normal, both here and at Peach Pundit. Well, now you know — I’ve been writing, just not here.
You can pre-order Red State Uprising: How to Take Back America right here via the RedState Store at Amazon.
Below are the opening paragraphs (subject to editing) to give you a flavor of what the book is about. And yes, the first chapter is a denunciation of the GOP’s failures over the past decade. I have a hard time intellectually attacking the Democrats for stuff the GOP did without also beating up the GOP. So my co-author, Lew Uhler, and I take them both on and provide some ideas to fix the problems.
Here’s the opening:
They’re all terrible. All of them. Democrats. Republicans. The so called “leaders” of both parties do nothing but compromise away our freedoms. The good guys are few and far between and need reinforcements.
Ask yourself a simple question: when is the last time the Democrats ever compromised in favor of the free market? Can’t think of one? That’s because it rarely happens. It’s always the Republicans who compromise in favor of big government.
George W. Bush gave us steel tariffs in Pennsylvania, No Child Left Behind, the prescription drug benefit, TARP, and the auto bailout. His father before him gave us his lips on which we read a lie. They, like so many other Republicans, paraded around in conservative’s clothing while having little in common with actual conservatism.
The Republicans gave us progressivism (read up on Robert LaFollette and Teddy Roosevelt). The Republicans gave us the Environmental Protection Agency. Heck, Republicans gave us Earl Warren, Nelson Rockefeller, Dede Scozzafava, Charlie Crist, and the list goes on and on and on.
The Democrats, by contrast, have given us over to European socialism, degenerated our moral society, destroyed the nuclear family, never met a race they didn’t bait, and mushroomed the GOP’s spending programs.
For too long the Republican Party has decided to be the Democrat-lite party, and the American voters in 2008 decided to just go with the real thing. Turns out, there is a difference between the Republican Party and the Democrat Party. While both may be terrible, the Democrats are worse.
Therein lies the terrible conundrum for voters. We’re not choosing the lesser of two evils. We are choosing between the assorted evils of two lessers. The problem is compounded by a very simple fact: there are no betters than these two lessers. No third party is or will ever be viable. The deck is stacked against them.
Contrary to what we may say and the polemical frustration conservatives too often are forced to express about the Republican Party, there remain very real differences between the two parties—life and death differences that cannot be underestimated or ignored.
It is easy to say both parties are appalling. They are. It becomes very difficult to figure out what to do about it. There is, however, a starting point. As bad as you or I may think the Republican Party is, at least it will not sell us down the river to our nation’s enemies. At least it will more often than not support businesses and individuals against the government. At least it will support you working for yourself over you working to give money to someone else.
There are real differences, but too often Republican leaders try to find ever shrinking common ground with the left, than make a stand on opposing ground fighting for free people and free markets against the leviathan of government. With the rise of the tea party movement, conservatives must unite to clean up the Republican Party. If they don’t, voters will keep rejecting Republican pseudo-socialists in favor of authentic socialists.
Hunter Baker
Ben Domenech
streetwise_IT
Dan Spencer
JadedByPolitics
Jim Kelly
Agreed
GreyCloak Thursday, July 29th at 6:59AM EDT (link)When the Republican Party returns to the Newt Gingrich years, and stops the agregious spending of the GW Bush years, we’ll return to a good place.
In the meantime, unless The Party seriously cleans up its act, vote for the Greens or the Libertarians, or anybody not Republican or Democrat on the ballot. The hacks in our major parties are only interested in themselves, not The People.
Wrong answer
Oz Thursday, July 29th at 7:48AM EDT (link)This is still a Republican site.
Your advice just elects more Democrats.
I’d accuse you of being a troll but you’ve had a login for a long time.
What is needed is what we have pushed on this site: conservative in the primary, Republican in the fall election.
third party
rdelbov Thursday, July 29th at 9:00AM EDT (link)votes gave us franken and Merkley (OR). That gave the democrats 60 and allowed them to pass Obamacare. Please do not punish any more republicans the nation can’t stand it.
Definitely a wrong answer.
Bill S Thursday, July 29th at 8:48AM EDT (link)And recommending votes for Democrats and Libertarians is a sure way to get your account deactivated. So I strongly recommend you not do it again. This is a Republican and conservative site, not just the latter.
Decorum is fo’ suckas - unless it’s one of the good guys
Newt Gingrich
autiger89 Thursday, July 29th at 9:26AM EDT (link)Sadly, Newt Gingrich left “the Newt Gingrich” years many years ago himself.
OOPS
autiger89 Thursday, July 29th at 9:27AM EDT (link)I meant “the Newt Gingrich years”.
can't you read, man?
Veronica Thursday, July 29th at 11:12AM EDT (link)“No third party is or will ever be viable.”
I’m a reading teacher.
You fail.
“It will take at least FIVE elections with this concerted effort.
2010 — wrest control of the house and a bit of the Senate.
2012 — elect a strong, fiscal, small government President and take control of the Senate.
2014, 2016, 2018 — Primary moderate Republicans from conservative states / districts and replace them with conservatives.
2016 — Re-elect or primary the person we elect in 2012 depending on how they govern.
2010 to 2020 — Hold their toes to the fire once they get in.”
-Oz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The United Nations is many things, but despite all its standing bodies and prognosticating committees, it is not an international legislature that passes laws binding on all the people of the world. The United Nations has no formal authority to establish or impose law internationally. The U.N. Charter is not a global constitution. The U. N. General Assembly is in no sense a legislature, and the Security Council is a political, not judicial, body. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), or World Court, is best understood as an arbitral panel with a limited jurisdiction and no actual enforcement authority.”
- Casey & Rivkin from Shaefer’s ConUNdrum, p. 31
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
- John Adams
~~~~~~~~~~
I’m around.
Can we turn the tide in November....?
NeoKong Thursday, July 29th at 7:47AM EDT (link)Are we the ones we have been waiting for ?
Retire Barney.
Support Sean Bielat for Congress.
There is no cavalry, we'll just have to save ourselves.
acat Thursday, July 29th at 10:31AM EDT (link)Although, I do respect the recycling of the Obama meme…
Mew
WE are the calvary. - nt
deano64 Thursday, July 29th at 2:37PM EDT (link)Precinct Committeeman before it was cool.
“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”
Alexis De Tocqueville
Then where's my d### horse? [nt]
acat Thursday, July 29th at 4:05PM EDT (link)(insert unicorn joke here)
I like the opening Erick.
shaitra Thursday, July 29th at 7:51AM EDT (link)Looking forward to reading your ideas on improving the GOP.
Yeah Erick,
obladioblada Thursday, July 29th at 10:15AM EDT (link)you had me at “they’re all terrible.”
Can't wait to read your book EE
fpete13527 Thursday, July 29th at 7:59AM EDT (link)The glimpse you gave here really inspres me.
Glimpse "inspires" me, <nt>
fpete13527 Thursday, July 29th at 8:00AM EDT (link)I like the start
JoeSwiss Thursday, July 29th at 8:17AM EDT (link)Will the book cover entitlements?
“conservatives must unite to clean up the Republican Party”
There is little hope for a return to constitutionalism unless the above also means getting out of federally-sponsored welfare programs. (A gradual exit, say over 20 years.)
Without that step, what does “limited government” mean? Nothing.
When a party starts talking concretely about how to get out of welfare statism, then there’s real excitement.
It will require getting rid of the “Ruling Class” first, otherwise it won’t happen.
Agree with this
Kentucky Scott Thursday, July 29th at 8:54AM EDT (link)I am waiting for the leaders who will admit to the American people that our only hope for the future is to “deconstruct” the federal tyrant that has been built in the last 80 years. It may 20 or 50 years to exit this destructive behemoth. Until we have leaders with the courage to tell the American people that we must reverse the unconstitutional policies of the 20th century we will continue to toward our eventual ruin. The question is how bad must life become before the American voter is willing to elect a politician who will tell them the truth.
Christ Christie is a good sign. Living in Kentucky I can see that Rand Paul understands what is needed. He will be just one voice of the many more needed before the restoration of our constitutional republic can begin.
Will it be available on Kindle?
fenriswolfkpc Thursday, July 29th at 9:50AM EDT (link)N/T
Great timing for your book
4life Thursday, July 29th at 9:56AM EDT (link)and I can’t wait to read it. It will get RedState’s message out of the blogosphere.
Ignore the "Icing". Get to the "Cake"
nelsa Thursday, July 29th at 10:14AM EDT (link)Good job sir!
Wow.
Veronica Thursday, July 29th at 11:18AM EDT (link)I pat myself on the back b/c I called it here at home after I’d been here just a bit at RS.
Still haven’t been here that long, but y’know.. daily watching accounts for sumpin.
Your book is materializing. How wonderful.
Yeah, this is exciting to hear: “We’re not choosing the lesser of two evils. We are choosing between the assorted evils of two lesser.”
I can definitely get the flavor.
You’re not talking down to anyone, Erick. You’re talking to the common man so they can understand and move to action.
I can so get that.
Don’t let the editors kill your style. It *works*.
Tell it, deacon.
Congrats again.
“It will take at least FIVE elections with this concerted effort.
2010 — wrest control of the house and a bit of the Senate.
2012 — elect a strong, fiscal, small government President and take control of the Senate.
2014, 2016, 2018 — Primary moderate Republicans from conservative states / districts and replace them with conservatives.
2016 — Re-elect or primary the person we elect in 2012 depending on how they govern.
2010 to 2020 — Hold their toes to the fire once they get in.”
-Oz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The United Nations is many things, but despite all its standing bodies and prognosticating committees, it is not an international legislature that passes laws binding on all the people of the world. The United Nations has no formal authority to establish or impose law internationally. The U.N. Charter is not a global constitution. The U. N. General Assembly is in no sense a legislature, and the Security Council is a political, not judicial, body. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), or World Court, is best understood as an arbitral panel with a limited jurisdiction and no actual enforcement authority.”
- Casey & Rivkin from Shaefer’s ConUNdrum, p. 31
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
- John Adams
~~~~~~~~~~
I’m around.
I think you split the uprights, Erick.
BA Cyclone Thursday, July 29th at 11:55AM EDT (link)It can be a narrow set of goalposts that explain how we can concurrently say Repubs AND Dems generally stink, but we have to keep within the GOP system.
Reforming the GOP may sound hard, but forming a new Party and effectively reforming the whole electoral system is some exponent harder yet.
Frankly the GOP has the constructs to be an effective tool to be that agent of “real change” that gets our government back into the Constitutional box it deserves. It’s only scary because we’ve allowed both the GOP and the government itself to drift aimlessly in the sea for so long, we can barely see land from here.
There is a LOT of energy and consternation out there with regard to the intrusions upon liberty, and the Government letting us down in general. That includes disappointment with the GOP. We cannot allow this “good” energy for change to be directed outside the GOP. We must provide cause and avenue for it to help reform the GOP to be the sole agent of Constitutional conservatives, and it should own the vision of restoring the Liberty upon which this Nation was founded and every American holds dear.
I look forward to reading the rest of your book!
Freedom is the goal. The Constitution is the way.
– Beaglescout
“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” - James Madison
“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” - Thomas Jefferson
I think you split the uprights, Erick.
BA Cyclone Thursday, July 29th at 11:55AM EDT (link)It can be a narrow set of goalposts that explain how we can concurrently say Repubs AND Dems generally stink, but we have to keep within the GOP system.
Reforming the GOP may sound hard, but forming a new Party and effectively reforming the whole electoral system is some exponent harder yet.
Frankly the GOP has the constructs to be an effective tool to be that agent of “real change” that gets our government back into the Constitutional box it deserves. It’s only scary because we’ve allowed both the GOP and the government itself to drift aimlessly in the sea for so long, we can barely see land from here.
There is a LOT of energy and consternation out there with regard to the intrusions upon liberty, and the Government letting us down in general. That includes disappointment with the GOP. We cannot allow this “good” energy for change to be directed outside the GOP. We must provide cause and avenue for it to help reform the GOP to be the sole agent of Constitutional conservatives, and it should own the vision of restoring the Liberty upon which this Nation was founded and every American holds dear.
I look forward to reading the rest of your book!
Freedom is the goal. The Constitution is the way.
– Beaglescout
“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” - James Madison
“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.” - Thomas Jefferson
Telling it like it is
melissatx Thursday, July 29th at 12:30PM EDT (link)The greatest generation gave birth to the least greatful generation who now run this country in both parties. That generation of boomers has spent the last 60 years living on credit and trying to extend their youth at a nation’s expense. They have given more entitlements, extended more self-help programs, paid themselves ridiuculous salaries in an attempt to be coddled as their Depression era molded parents did. The believed Al Franken’s mantra-I’m good looking, people like me and darnit it I DESERRRRVE it.
They are living, breathing illustrations of the meltdown we just experienced, They created it, they benefited from it, they created great wealth off of it and now they have used THEIR manipulated failures to implement the greatest power grab of all time.
The Democrats were the architects, but plenty of Republicans benefited and did nothing, so they are just as culpable. Democrats were the horny drunk in the room that assualted the Republicans who refused to press charges.
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams
Telling it like it is
melissatx Thursday, July 29th at 12:30PM EDT (link)The greatest generation gave birth to the least greatful generation who now run this country in both parties. That generation of boomers has spent the last 60 years living on credit and trying to extend their youth at a nation’s expense. They have given more entitlements, extended more self-help programs, paid themselves ridiuculous salaries in an attempt to be coddled as their Depression era molded parents did. The believed Al Franken’s mantra-I’m good looking, people like me and darnit it I DESERRRRVE it.
They are living, breathing illustrations of the meltdown we just experienced, They created it, they benefited from it, they created great wealth off of it and now they have used THEIR manipulated failures to implement the greatest power grab of all time.
The Democrats were the architects, but plenty of Republicans benefited and did nothing, so they are just as culpable. Democrats were the horny drunk in the room that assualted the Republicans who refused to press charges.
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams
The Ruling Class is especially dangerous now because it's cornered
katesmith Thursday, July 29th at 2:55PM EDT (link)The third party mention I’m guessing was a throwaway line for the main point which was to do some Gingrich spamming. Gingrich is only around today because the left wants him there to create distraction from real right of center people. He has made it clear he cares nothing about the people. He is Ruling Class personified, blows with the wind, has no conscience. I don’t understand why grass roots organizations allow him to speak at their events. Gingrich is a prime example of why grass roots organizations became necessary. Grass roots or Tea Party people mostly expend time and money they don’t necessarily have to try and save the country. He does not deserve to sell his books or advance his image on the backs of these people. He was recently endorsed by Howard Dean, which was sold as ‘praise from an unlikely source.’ It is not at all unlikely. The left as always promotes who they want us to run, knowing the candidate will be a failure. Such as McCain.
I read a piece yesterday following on the recent Ruling Class theme that said, times are especially dangerous now because the Ruling Class is cornered.’ I find that a good way to look at things.