Not backward.

And if we are going to look backward, let’s look at Reagan’s 11th Commandment.

I don’t see what your beef is with Wurzelbacher…Steele is the one who is coming off flat after winning the Chairmans race.

As far as the “circular firing squad” I think this meme is overblown. We are in a period of reflection for the party because we have gone to long without having a clear definition of who we are.

If Joe wan’ts his voice heard good for him, I wish Steele stop going to shows like DL Hughley’s. Maybe stand up in indignation when his party is compared to Nazi’s…but yeah you are probably right, Joe the plumber is the problem, not the party’s lack of leadership and definition.

Started as an “only in America” story and has evolved into a monsterous embarrasment. He needs to grab his plunger, do his job, be a good conservative, and make America work.

Michael Steele is trying to find conservatives where we have never looked for them before, that’s what he means by “hip hop” you have to find ways that people can relate to conservatism. We haven done this for urban communities and it’s high time we do.

I think James is right on the money: we need to be united. Rush has forgiven Steele, I know many conservatives are suspicious of him for teaming with Christine Todd Whitman (as the conservative representative on the RLC) and that was a mistake on his part, but I dont think Steele has had a rough start, other than the two hiccups on DL Hughley (Which has been subsequently cancelled.) Steele has done a pretty good job.

Here’s my solution to Ms. Liz’s criticism of the circular firing squad.
Instead of holding our tongues and not inculcating our party with the core principles, let’s make the firing squad a nice, straight, efficient line.

And stand up some Republicans in front of it, figuratively. Those who don’t believe and support the ultra-simple principles need to go away. Enough milquetoast DC insider crap. If you’re gonna be a dog, be a BIG DOG!

We support life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people. We cherish life. We believe in the fairness of opportunity, not outcomes. That’s what Joe the Plumber was speaking to.

And as much as I believe Joe’s 15 minutes are up, I am much more supportive of his right to speak than a majority of the GOP dead weight.

I agree with Tankertodd:

The first thing you do when you lose a war, when a company goes down, when a family implodes - you find the people responsible, and tie a can to their butts. No fuss, no muss - they’re *gone*.

Frankly, as a new minority party, we don’t need “Big Tent” nonsense right now - we need message discipline.

And message discipline means a whole bunch people who either got us into this mess, or who continue to make excuses, need to *go*.

Now, I’m not saying we need to unload everyone (when people start going after people like Roy Blunt, you’ve probably gone too far). But a lot of people need to be drummed out of this party.

Yes, the Dems and media will have a field day with it. Yes, some people around here will whinge and complain, and storm off to the sidelines.

And that’s just tough.

It’s a necessary process.

Some so-called Republicans and conservatives, either those who don’t believe, or those who too easily get ‘off message’ need to go. Or be pushed.

Either way, it needs to happen.

But in this particular case, Steele has already been such a disaster, put me down as probably lining up with Joe The Plumber. And this party better be careful if we’re going to demonize people like him - that’s exactly the *wrong* direction to go in.

In the aftermath of 1965 and 1974 the GOP had to do housecleaning. The unfortunate aspects of any political party doing this is it never happens in the dead of night under cover of darkness.

Don’t panic Mr. Richardson this happens from time to time. Sometimes it is good sometimes it is bad, but it is inevitable. Take a deep breath the elections are a long time off and we have time to shake out the wannabes and the fools.

One thing Mr. Richardson you might not like Joe, and from the sounds of it you do not. Please don’t take your jealousies (which is what your criticisms sound like) and pass them off as sound astute judgment.

So what if it’s three weeks after the fact, it doesn’t make his opinion any less valid. Is he somehow obligated to move his speaking engagement up 3 weeks to discuss something he thinks is important? Can he only reflect on events of the past 24 hour news cycle? Would this be somehow less offensive if Joe weren’t selling a book? I don’t recall anyone complaining when Rush slapped Steele (or Newt for that matter), and he’s selling advertisements. The fact of the matter is that Joe is right, and the MSM has decided that he’s going to get coverage. If they cover Joe and Joe says something that’s typically thoughtful and insightful should we care if his comment could be more timely. Joe is a true Conservative and he’s out there doing good work for the cause, first by punching huge holes in the MSM’s absurdly biased coverage of the recent Gaza conflict and now by helping us keep our own house in order. I choose to stand with Joe the Plumber (again!) and against the divisive forces in our own party and in the MSM who are hoping to take him down.

Even Rush, Anne Coulter, Frum, Brooks and all of us do it. So why not Joe?

On the authenticity or level of intelligence presented in his book:

1. If you did buy the book, then , I guess, you can complain all day with its contents. But it’s still your own fault, not Joe’s. Joe never lied that he got an Ivy League degree from Harvard or something.

2. If you didn’t buy the book, and YOU JUST SAW ITS COVER, then, please….. let those who bought/will buy his book do whatever pleases them.

3. It think that the book is not physically toxic. So it’s generally safe. So, please, stop destroying the business on a Small American.

As for the issue of RNC Chairman Steele, sorry bro. If Steele has the freedom to mock Rush, so is Joe the Plumber to mock Steele.

My Joe the Plumber Advice:

Joe needs his additional income. Please mock his book later when the publisher already secures enough profit. …. You know, it’s recession and all.

To me he is a symbol of “average Americans” who surprisingly often have more common sense and understanding than many of the “luminaries, thought-leaders” etc.

Joe was the one who got Obama to make the “spread the wealth around” comment.

Even more, he is an example of an “average American” who speaks up, speaks out. I believe we need that now more than ever. I find it sad that his example also shows the lengths to which certain forces will go to destroy and silence even a private citizen. Worse, how much criticism he receives from all sides.

Just me, but I’m glad Joe has the opportunity to speak his mind, I think he might speak for a lot of other people. Besides, I personally get sick of listening to all the “experts” and “intellectuals” who seem to be wrong at least as often as they are right. Joe’s not pretending to be an expert or a spokesman for anyone or anything. He thinks for himself and speaks for himself. I say, more power to him. More “power” to the American people.