The Evidence Mounts: Democratic Party IS The New GOP
(Paraphrasing Lili Von Shtupp) "Is it twoo that you people have ... dwifted? [Sounds of political camouflage being dishevelled] It's TWOO! It's TWOO!"
Over the past few years, as the evidence of Obama's actions confirmed his declaration to Univision that his policies are those of a "moderate 1985 Reagan Republican", some have been led to observe that as the Republican Party has moved so close to the radical edge of the political spectrum, the Democrats have not only moved in to claim the territory, but have also assumed the policies and trappings of the former "conservatives".
To date, the evidence has been somewhat circumstantial. But the evidence to support the contention just grew significantly. Talking Points Memo just posted commentary from many prominent (and a few not-so-prominent) Republicans on how much like the old GOP the Democrats have become:
Well done, @realDonaldTrump. You made Democrats a party of sunny patriotism and values. You sure @billclinton didn't ask you to run?
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) July 29, 2016
National Review editor Jonah Goldberg:
Why this convention is better: It's about loving America. GOP convention was about loving Trump. If you didn't love Trump, it offered nada.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) July 29, 2016
Replace Trump with Hillary, and it sounds like the Democratic Party Convention to this Bernie supporter. But I digress. This post is about how the Democrats have become the Republicans of yore:
John Podhoretz, former Ronald Reagan speech writer and Commentary editor:
Take about five paragraphs out of that Obama speech and it could have been a Reagan speech. Trust me. I know.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) July 28, 2016
[emphasis mine]
FOX host Greg Gutfeld:
if repubs had championed their principles with specifics rather than embrace autocracy - they wouldn't have yielded this turf to dems.
— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) July 29, 2016
Conservative blogger Erick Erickson:
For Republicans who are not social conservatives, I have to imagine last night and tonight at the DNC are having an impact on them.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 29, 2016
Conservative Iowa radio host Steve Deace:
So most of conservative media and the GOP spent the week rooting for Russia, and now the Democrats get to rally around the flag. Dreadful.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 29, 2016
Conservative Wisconsin radio host Charlie Sykes:
Snark aside: GOP needs to understand what is happening to them tonight…
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) July 29, 2016
Do you know how old I am? Old enough to remember when speeches like this would've been given at GOP convention… Not Dem one. Brutal.
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) July 29, 2016
[emphasis mine]
Rich Galen, press secretary for Dick Cheney:
How can it be that I am standing at my kitchen counter sobbing because of the messages being driven at the DNC? Where has the GOP gone?
— Rich Galen (@richgalen) July 29, 2016
Conservative ops veteran Matt Mackowiak
This Democratic convention has been an unmitigated disaster for the GOP. Very well produced. Unifying. Patriotic. Bravo.#DNCinPHL
— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) July 29, 2016
Amanda Carpenter, former spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Cruz:
I am sure hearing a lot more about God and faith at the DNC than the RNC.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) July 28, 2016
Conservative blogger AGConservative:
Still stunned. Feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Obama just defended America & conservative values from attacks by the Republican nominee.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) July 28, 2016
[emphasis mine]
Commentary editor Noah Rothman:
Republicans could have stopped all this.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 29, 2016
Daily Caller Writer Jamie Weinstein:
Now an immigrant medal of honor winner? If the goal is to reach independents and conservatives uneasy w/ Trump, well done Democrats
— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie_Weinstein) July 29, 2016
And now for your thoughts on the subject.
(edited for typo)
Comments
Look at the shadows behind the curtain,
they appear to be laughing.
I think that the open appeal to Republicans should be very
liberating for Progressives.
The Democrats are trying very hard to be two, two, two breath mints in one. As they lurch more rightward they will inevitably alienate their lefty/progressive/Bernie wing and tamp down both their enthusiasm and their numbers in trying to appeal to Republican voters they will never appeal to.
They are forgetting three BIG facts:
1. A LOT of Republicans loathe Hillary Clinton with a deep, visceral hatred. They believe literally, not metaphorically, that she is an escaped convict who is both corrupt and potentially treasonous due to her ineptness/laziness. That's not my interpretation - go into any comments section of any newspaper and you will find these sentiments voiced and seconded ad nauseum. These Republican voters will NEVER cross the aisle for Hillary. These voters have been bred in the Tea Party voter mills and re-inforced by Republican politicians and rhetoric for years now. The Republicans are stuck with both the voters and the candidate they created - double Frankensteins.
2. Republican elites may be willing to vote for Hillary but they are not representative of their rank and file.
3. Republicans have an alternative. There happens to be a ticket on every ballot that offers up two former Republican Governors as a more palatable offering if any Republican has enough sense to not vote for Trump.
Conclusion, Democrats pivoting rightwards towards prep school Republicanism at the exact moment of a National explosion of populist sentiment from both the left and the right is the stupidest move they could possibly make. So, naturally, that's their move.
******
Edit to note - just read that Libertarians are not on every ballot but still working on it. Republicans could still choose to write in Johnson as an alternative to Trump.
" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "
Doesn't matter what their move is
Only that it is a cynical move, devoid of any values except to grasp the reins of power for their own "privilege".
Yup
DLC / Third way / Clintonista wet dream. Drumpf drags ReThuggery off the right edge into disPutin land and now sHillary gets to triangulate or just angulate over the whole game board.
Actually he's dragged it right around the circle
and back to where the Democratic Party used to be, Before FDR.
Woodrow Wilson was as viciously bigoted as ever Trump has spewed - he just cloaked it in more polite language, and did far greater damage than ever Trump could.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
disgusting. N/T
She's Tired
Here I stand, the goddess of Desire
Set countries on fire
I have this power.
Morning noon and night it's lying and fighting
Some quick check writing
And then a shower.
Stage door Lobbyists always surround me
They always hound me
With one request.
Who can satisfy their lustful habits
I'm not a rabbit
I need some rest.
I'm tired!
Sick and tired of votes
I've had my fill of note$$$
From below and above.
Tired, tired of being liar
Tired of speeches uninspired
Let's face it I'm tired!
I've conned 1000's of Dems
Again and again
I promise the moon.
But they keep on about fracking
Or my email hacking
Oh, send in the goons!
Right Barry?
I'm tired.
Tired of this whole campaign
Ain't it a crying shame
I'm so tired.
God dammit I'm exhausted!
Tired, tired of all Bernie's fame.
Ain't it a crying shame
I'm so tired.
[Senators:]
She's tired (She's tired)
Sick of the moaning (Give her a break!)
Would rather be droning (She's on the take!)
Just wants her crown. (Can't you see she's sick?)
Tired (She's bushed)
Tired of being admired (Let her alone)
Tired of speech uninspired (Get off the Blackberry!)
She's tired (Don't you know she's pooped)
I've conned 1000's of Dems
'Registration mayhem'
is what floats my boat.
And rigging elections
Gives Bill an erection
So what if millions can't vote?
Aye!
Tired, tired of playing the game
Ain't it a freakin' shame
I'm so...
Let's face it everything below the 1% is kaput!
[Senators:]
Tired!
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
The realignment is happening!
All that's missing is a major party to represent us.
At any rate, it's amusing to note the rigid control imposed by moneyed elites upon the political process. When Hillary "moneybags" Clinton is granted the authority to shape the Democratic Party to her liking, the final form looks pretty much like the Republican Party. As for the Republican Party, their thunder has been so thoroughly stolen that Donald Trump won their nomination and so they're on the way to becoming the American Independent Party of 1968. Expect Trump to carry five states, probably the same five states carried by George Wallace back in '68.
“The loyal Left cannot act decisively. Their devotion to the system is a built-in kill switch limiting dissent.” - Richard Moser
Never underestimate the power of human fed-up-ness
It can take really strange forms and lead to really strange results.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Green Moneybags
When Bernie was running, there was a long time window, so I set up a monthly donation. For Stein, though, we have almost no time until the first debate and they need to get away from the Federal matching dollars trap. So I'm giving the full GE amount as soon as the convention in Houston is over and I encourage everyone who can to do the same.
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg