We just read this piece on RealClearPolitics by Daniel Henninger, Voters Are Desperate for Political Leadership.
Please read it before you go any futher with us here.
Great Merciful Zeus, that was interesting…and we think spot on.
For some time we have been telling you how we feel this country is in uncharted waters. We’ve been working alongside Republicans since June 7th, and don’t see that ending…our permanent loyalty to the Democrat Party, once unassailable, terminated May 31st, 2008 when the DNC’s RBC met in Washington DC (with us protesting in the rain), and took away delegates Hillary Clinton won and gave them to Dr. Utopia. We remain Democrats because the Clintons are Democrats, but more and more each day we find it difficult to justify what the DNC and the Democrat Party at large does.
The way the DNC behaved in the 2008 campaign, and what it is doing now, has increasingly made us more independent.
If you read the article above, you can’t help seeing that many former lifelong Democrats are now joining the Independent ranks. Those without the powerful connection to the Clintons that we feel are already calling themselves Independent. Aside from our loyalty to the Clintons and their loyalists, we are truly Independent ourselves.
We will vote for good Republicans. We will vote against bad Democrats. We would like to see the majority of incumbents booted from office, except for those who are loyal to Hillary Clinton.
In reading Henninger’s take, it really feels tailor made for the rise of Sarah Palin in 2012. If she successfully paints herself as a rugged Alaskan outsider sent from The Last Frontier, astride a moose in ready-made campaign tee shirt art, to rescue this nation from the dithering incompetence of our current effeminate, weak, apologetic president — a man of broken promises and nonexistant resolve who enjoys kicking Americans in the teeth when they are down, telling them how RAAACIST they are, how wrong they are to want the best lives possible, and how stupid they must be if they don’t drop in astonished awe at his own personal, Nobel Prize-winning AWESOMENESS.
Who on Earth would want four more years of this?
If Republicans had turned out to vote in 2008 instead of boycotting McCain as “not conservative enough”, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Hopefully, conservatives, Independents, and us moderate Dems can join together in 2012 to put a stop to this madness. Like we tried to do in 2008, but where the conservatives thought it was much more important to give their butts quality time with their couches instead of waddling outside to cast ballots in the most important election of our lives.
November 5, 2009 at 12:45 pm
The concepts in the RCP article is something that has been going round and round and round in my mind as I watch the Obama presidency unfold.
I don’t know yet if I agree that most of us are looking for leadership. I also don’t know if I buy into the idea that the NJ and Va elections panned out the way they did.
Rather, I think that more and more voters have fired a shot across the bough to let our legislators know that if they choose to walk in lock step with anyone who is out of touch with or blatantly ignoring the will of the people is toast.
I have friends in NJ, and although they didn’t know too much about Christie, they knew all too much about Corzine. And the POTUS. So, don’t think Christie doesn’t realize that he is on a short leash. One false step, and there will be a lot of noise, and even more of a penalty for him to pay. At least according to my friends across the Hudson.
Here in NYC, it’s a different story. Most of us HATE the idea the Mike Bloomberg bought his way into a third term that we Manhattan residents voted against twice. It will be interesting to see how much local support and traction he will or will not get in the future.
Case in point: Two days before the election, I got into a taxi. There was a 50 cent surcharge at a time where there should have been none. I asked the driver what was up and he informed me that the surcharge was installed to be allocated to the MTA.
Thats right – the surcharge in our taxis is going to the subway. After they just raised subway fare 25 cents in exchange for the same crappy service. I deducted the surcharge from his tip, which left him 80 cents. When he started bitching, I told him to call the Mayor and ask for reimbursement. If I wanted to get on a subway for that trip, I would have gotten on a fucking subway. It seems I wasn’t the only one doing that, and now the TLC is readying for a strike.
Short story – I think the American people have awakened, and god help those on Capitol hill who continue to pretend they are deaf to our voices.
November 5, 2009 at 12:46 pm
OMG- Sorry for the long post, I guess I got carried away…..
November 5, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Worth every word, Anthony. However, don’t you think you were a little tough on the cabbie? He didn’t cause the transit budget problems; he’s just a working stiff like the rest of us, trying to eke out a living. Your wrath belongs at the feet of soulless politicians … who travel in chauffeured limos and town cars at taxpayer expense … and have no knowledge of “little peoples’” plight. As to the egomaniacal, Napoleonic dwarf Bloomberg, he should be ashamed for buying a third term; NYers should be doubly ashamed they allowed it to happen. Wretched little man, King Mike.
November 5, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I thought about that for the while ride (not being tough on the cabbie), and decided to forego conscience for efficacy. Fact is that the cabbies still get their percentage of the revenue they collect. All thats being effected is their gratuity, which is customarily left to the discretion of the patron.
The politicians would either yes me to death, or worse. The only way that this can be reformed is by motivating the cabbies.
The rest of us in NYC are mostly out of work. As a freelance writer/artist, I am slower than usual as well. The only people working in this situation are the drivers and the politicians. The only people paying for this folly are the passengers, who are footing the bill for many other things here in NYC.
If the drivers feel it as much as the rest of us, they can put pressure on the mayor’s office by striking. Otherwise, the rest of us just get to bitch about it and STILL keep paying.
If the TLC strikes, the media will respond, and you know how much politicians hate any negativism, especially if its widespread.
BTW, all the cabbies I’ve spoken to agree.
November 5, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Glad to read that the MSM (for as much as RCP can be considered as such) is finally catching on. The GOOOH organization has been working to the same end. Neither the Dems nor the GOP can rest on their laurels, whether it be the Utopian crown in the case of the former or the recent gubernatorial wins in the case of the latter.
As I’ve said since May 31, 2008, BOTH PARTIES SUCK! Maybe the Tea Party really is the new and viable third party? We shall see, but for now, I remain a Dem of 35 years turned INDY after that sham of an RBC meeting (not to mention, for the thousandth time, the Dem caucus CHEATING).
Go rogue, everyone! Go rogue! Imagine the shock of the two parties if their membership numbers would decline in droves. Stop holding on to a flimsy tether line. You’ll sink and drown!
November 5, 2009 at 12:51 pm
If the majority go INDY, we’ll regain the power.
November 5, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Garlic: Wonder what will happen to AARP’s membership now that they’ve come out and backed the House health care plan? I hope they suffocate under piles of returned membership cards.
November 5, 2009 at 12:52 pm
It’s a good article. Andrea Dworkin noted that the left and the right collude and the people run to the left for justice, when they fail to get that, they run back to the right for order. And so it goes, election after election with the people never really winning anything except… another politician. Sometimes we get lucky and that person remembers they must have a “servant’s heart” as Palin said, but mostly we just get more of the same.
(I’m pretty sure mentioning Dworkin and Palin in the same paragraph is some sort of major sin somewhere, LOL. Oh well, what can you expect from a bitter knitter, neocon, loony lefty, anti-feminist, racist?)
November 5, 2009 at 1:42 pm
hahahahha
November 5, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I long for a party who’s primary goal isn’t to have government run the lives of everyone (Dems now in power) and who isn’t trying to be everything to everyone (Reps) and thus diluting everything.
I used to say that Bush could spend as good as a Democrat – then Obama took the seat and proved how utterly wrong I was (if Dr. U was a true Democrat – and I don’t think he is). I used to think that Clinton said he was a moderate – but really was pretty far left, then Obama took the seat and has me longing for the days of Clinton’s moderation.
We now have a House who’s desire is to vote through a monstrous 2000 page bill designed to take control of the health of everyone in this country. When you control someone’s health – you control their lives. As someone who’s dealt with a chronic cardiac issue for 24 years (heart valve replacement 18 years ago) this bill being voted on this Saturday scares the hell out of me.
I really feel like I’m living in a surreal world. I’m mad at Democrats for voting for politicians who are really socialists or Marxists (the wealthy elite like George Soros and Nancy Pelosi who never have to worry about money themselves but feel they can control the money and lives of everyone else.) And I’m mad at the Republicans for feeling the answer to solid leadership was trying to act like the DemLite party. (See NY23 as most recent example)
Most of all, I’m tired of a growing population in this country who expect the government to provide everything for them and who buy into the empty promises of people wanting to be elected in order to control their constituents and not represent them. There are STILL people who believe that the mere fact that U was elected meant they would just be getting a check written out to them. And now because of this mindset, I risk having to deal with a healthcare system that will not allow me to get another valve replacement when I need it because of the rationing, or long wait to be seen by a doctor, or that I’m too old. But I’m sure I’ll be able to get and abortion if I want to.
Sorry – I’m sounding off. I never thought I’d see this country THIS politically screwed up and I have a hard time conversing with good friends who campaigned hard for Dr. U.
November 5, 2009 at 4:55 pm
The problem is that they can LIE LIE LIE to get elected. Look how well O did lying! Hasn’t stayed true to his word yet!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to have more vetting done by the media, etc. They cannot follow along like puppy dogs!
November 5, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Sarah should run on Energy independence, anti reckless spending and deficits, and tie those two things into national security and why keeping money here in america is the way to go. What do you think?
It will be SOOOO HARD to overcome the obama bots and their media allies:(
November 5, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Hey! I just got back from Bachman’s tea party/press conference and it was AMAZING! Thousands of people came out in the middle of the day on a Thursday!! Here are links to some of my pictures:
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs072.snc3/13969_562334380432_20101513_33419331_4238322_n.jpg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs052.snc3/13969_562334495202_20101513_33419336_2137298_n.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs052.snc3/13969_562334500192_20101513_33419337_2461993_n.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs072.snc3/13969_562334270652_20101513_33419325_6321657_n.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs072.snc3/13969_562334275642_20101513_33419326_4020166_n.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs072.snc3/13969_562334375442_20101513_33419330_8296674_n.jpg
November 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Thanks Erin for representing those of us who couldn’t make it. The pictures look great. I was watching it live on a FOX feed but couldn’t really tell how many people were there!
Thanks again and I really mean it!
November 5, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Thanks Erin – it was very hard to tell how many came by the news coverage during the event (which wasn’t much – even on Fox News) The live feed Fox had was just a camera aimed at the speaker’s podium and the sound was terrible. But I did hear a story on ABC News Radio on the event and they did say “thousands” so that’s good.
Thanks for going!!
November 5, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for the photos Erin! I made some calls at the same time to back you all up, and so did my MIL.
November 5, 2009 at 5:48 pm
No problem! I often hate living in DC, but it’s worth it when I can go to these things on my lunch break! These events are really so amazing! I felt so hopeless last year after Obama’s win, but every time I go to a tea party (and now with this weeks elections) I realize that the American people are always in charge. Even when we have blips – even BIG blips like Obama – there is always REAL hope that things will get better!
November 6, 2009 at 8:26 am
Oh my… look at all those right wing terrorists extremists!!! Run for the hills!! /sarc
November 5, 2009 at 2:03 pm
IMO, every senator, every representative, should be very concerned if they have elections in 2010. No one is safe. Where some thought there positions were etched in stone alongside the Ten Commandments, they should benow quietly (sacredly and secretly) thinking again. I think voters are ready to vote any and all of them out, no matter which side of the aisle, how much history they have, how long they may have served, etc. Congress should definitely beware and listen. This WH is pretending NJ and VA are not signals to them and they plan to stay the same course. That just shows the arrogance of this WH. They need to read between the lines as to what voters and their constituents are saying, otherwise, the stars in Congress may soon be realigning.
November 5, 2009 at 2:11 pm
As God awful as this presidency is… I think we needed this. We had all become to complacent. Things happen for a reason.
November 5, 2009 at 2:45 pm
A simple memo would’ve done it for me….
Most people that I know only need a few minutes “reality check” – four years is a bit much imo.
November 5, 2009 at 4:01 pm
There are some days where I think people have to scared @%$&-less by leftism in order to see it for what it is.
Case in point – In one of the earlier versions of the Cap and Trade there was a mandate that required homeowners to meet certain “green” standards before they would be allowed to sell their home.
The people who wrote the bill claimed that this was a way to create new “green jobs” i.e. more inspectors, more retro-fitters, etc…
However, if it was ever enacted, we would see a huge dislocation in the housing market. Think about the type of costs that would be faced by an owner of a 100 unit condo building that was built in 1920′s Chicago. Those units fetch a pretty penny, but would no longer be worth much if they required a special assesment of $5 million in order to bring it up to some arbitrary “green” code.
November 5, 2009 at 4:41 pm
And just think how much crap like this “green homes”(only health related) idea is in the 2000 health care/economy grab that the House is voting on?
November 5, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Sharon, I never thought I’d say it, but I agree. This is a beginning of purging DC. With a McCain presidency, we would have remained complacent.
November 5, 2009 at 4:54 pm
[...] we post the email, there is this appropriate article written by Daniel Henniger which others are discussing today. Henninger writes “Voters Are Desperate For Political Leadership“: Welcome to [...]