Politics The Elephant in the room...The GOP today

A 15-25 percent differential in public perceptions of the respective parties is not a trend that should comfort Republicans.

 

It is a political party. If I listed 100 issues by importance it would not match anyother's list - even those who I share party affiliation with. So, within the party there is a natural give and take on issues and priority of issues. At the core of what makes me a Republican is not at risk. At various times it has been at risk, for example I thought the Clinton impeachment was an over-reach and a waste of time - I left the party at that time and joined the Libertarian Party. With the Libertarian Party the core issue that caused me to move back to the GOP was the Libertarian Platform of national security, specifically preemptive war. I can't "fix" a political party, I vote with my feet so to speak.

Because the things they think are problems are not the problems. One problem I had when Bush was President was his failure to control spending that combined with a few other factors lead to the Tea Party movement. In 2008 and 2012 establishment Republicans and Tea party "outsiders" have been at odds with each other. This has nothing to do with most of what is being written in this thread.

Also, I would think Democrats would be better served addressing the issues within their party. I don't pretend to know what those issues are - other than thinking they should be more conservative on spending and government interference in our lives.

First, I find that hard to believe.

Second, if I am traveling, in a car, about noon, looking for an AM station (notice all the qualifications), odds are I am in a remote or rural area. there are three choices, or four if you speak Spanish - sports talk (in the south college football), religious talk, or Rush Limbaugh. So if that is the basis of his ratings, more power to him - but it is immaterial in my opinion. However, if for example I am in Chicago or Washington D.C. there are all kinds of options on AM radio for political talk - perhaps his ratings in areas where people have a real choice would be more valuable.

People tune into Rush with opinion, not to have their opinions formed. Rush knows his audience and directs his comments accordingly. In many instances he says things just to get "inside the belt-way" liberals aggravated. It is a money maker for his show. Occasionally he will say something controversial and I will make it a point to listen to his response and to see what the fuss was about - he even admits it, and jokes about it!

 

I want Republican to alienate voters who support bigger and bigger government, excessive regulation, increasing deficit spending, etc. In fact, as a Tea Party supporter I don't care about alienating old guard Republicans - I think it time for new blood. So, why do you think this is a problem?

Please read what I write. I think the Rush Limbaugh influence is an example if an "inside the belt way" echo chamber. I think Limbaugh's popularity has declined materially in the past 10 years and even when he was at his peak I believe people brought their leanings to his show rather than him influencing their leanings. He is on a dead medium.

The points above are my primary points on Limbaugh - you have not responded to them in a meaningful way. I find your ratings statistic unbelievable - so if you have something to support the statistic I would review it.

 

Because it's the Old Guard who understood how the governmental and regulatory systems worked and actively sought to improve them, as opposed to drown them in a bathtub. The Old Guard were the ones who forged the big tent that led to GOP victories. The Old Guard were the ones who actively proclaimed pride in being intellectuals.

The Tea Party appears to be made up by the uneducated people they managed to keep penned up as a voting block for 30 years who managed to take over the asylum. Ted Cruz's worst opponents being in the GOP is a good example.

Other examples include:
Todd Akin ("legitimate rape")
Joe Donnelly (rape-caused pregnancies "God intended to happen")
Christine O'Donnell (who's tried to get Executive secretaries on trial for a Terrorist sleeper cell accusations)
Sharron Angle (who supported insurance companies rejecting pregnancy coverages)

 

The way I see it is that the old guard is complicit in getting us in this deficit/debt/big government mess. I don't like it. These are the people who won't fix the tax code. I don't like it. These are the people who won't address Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security/Immigration/Education/Health Care/etc. These are the people who supported big corporate bailouts while previously allowing legislation that created the financial crisis. I am not angry, I simply became an advocate of Tea Party principles and support Tea Party candidates. And some here think that is a problem, I simply say it is not.

I have been to some Tea Party functions and have interacted with Tea Party people. I remeber going to a Republican Party event at my county level in about 2007 and a few ladies had a small little table in a corner with pre-printed cards stamped envelopes and Tea bags ready for anyone willing to send one to their elected officials and a few years later it was wall to wall Tea Party. If you say uneducated, it tells me you do not know what you are talking about. Tea Party people are everyday people from all walks of life who want and know America can do better!

Sure some Tea Party people have said silly things, I think it happens in all parties and in all movements. Is it reflective of what the Tea Party stands for, no.
--- merged: May 22, 2013 at 6:00 PM ---

Label me confused. This thread is about my party, but it is not about what I want?

I have been saying what I think as it relates to this thread and the report. I do not see the point. Do you want me to care about something I really don't care about? Do you (you - in general not you specifically) want me to apologize for what I believe? Do you want me to compromise what I believe so that you can feel good about me? why would I do any of those things?

I remember hearing his show in the 1980's. So he has been in business for over 30 years. He in fact did revolutionize AM talk radio. He made money. I am also saying he peaked and his time (as an entertainer) has passed. Keith Oberman at one time commanded a $10 million salary - what influence does he have? Net worth or income is of little significance in terms of political influence.

Rush as a business person did what many in the industry do not do. He owns his show from top to bottom.

Ask the next 10 people you see how frequently they listen to AM radio. Report back and we will take it from there.

 

The problem for Republicans, at least in terms of candidates state-wide office, is that they keep nominating these guys (not only the "foot-in-mouth" examples, but the general Tea Party extremists as well) and lose winnable elections, for which I am thankful and hope they continue.

Unless you dont see the conflict in embracing the extremists positions of the new base of the party while attempting to appeal to Independents and moderate right "country-club" conservatives that are critical to winning statewide in toss up states.

Last year, the Pew Center for People & the Press asked more than 10 people.

More Americans continue to get news from traditional news platforms than from digital platforms. Seven in ten (71%) say they watched television news, read a print newspaper or listened to radio news yesterday. By radio news, it might range from NPR to Limbaugh.

 

Because the GOP was decimated after the 2008 election. But Rush started at the end of Jan 2009 to change the GOP into the extremist party it is today, and to push the GOP to adopt the policy to just say no to everything Obama was trying to do in order to help the country.

 

I'm not talking about tea party supporters, I'm talking about the people they nominate. They are uneducated about how the government works. They literally filibuster their own bills because of this fact....

 

Bob Dole on Fox News Sunday today took today's Republican Party to task for its obstructionism and suggested to host Chris Wallace that the party lacks any positive ideas and is no longer a place for even conservative Republicans like himself...or even Reagan:

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Fox's The Five: Liberals, Muslims, And Multiculturalism To Blame For European Violence | Video | Media Matters for America

to steal a line: fox news should declare that it is a country--neofascististan--and immediately close its borders.

 

Michelle Bachmann announced last night that she wont seek reelection in 2014.

Who will now lead the fight to expose members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Obama administration?

Or suggest that the ACA will encourage minors to seek abortions?

Or call for the media to question whether members of Congress are pro-America or anti-America?

Or characterize the Dodd-Frank financial reform law as fascism?

Or expose the Obama administration's complicity in UN efforts to undermine US sovereignty?