Thanks, Lisa!

And, thanks to all the others who refused to standby and/or outright stabbed Cruz & Co. in the back.

This is why the Dems continually pull it off:

They. Stick.Together.

From over at Ace:

Here are the Republicans in the Bubble, who apparently do not talk to anyone except themselves and some ckufwitted "political consultants" who have done nothing but shit gold bars so far so of course you want to take their spreadsheets as the Word of God:

...

At some point, when they've been primaried out or simply lost their careers due to lack of voter interest, perhaps they'll realize, "Hey, maybe I should have once in a while listened to the people who vote me into office. Just heard them out. Rather than conceiving them as Imbecile Monstrous Children who Must Be Taught a Lesson so they know Who's In Charge."

I'm not convinced of the let the Dems have what they want and make them own it strategy. Things like this tend to stay around once we let them in.

Just think about this: all of us nonbelievers were convinced that Obama had so messed things up that He was a Carter repeat, at best, and there was no way in hell he was going to be reelected. So, we got hoodwinked into running more of the establishment.

Look how well that turned out.

Sighting-In: Adjustments for Trajectory

When I first decided to create this blog, I'd had every intention of changing my formal affiliation from Independent to Republican and getting my apathetic @$$ more involved in party reform. Unfortunately, as I watch things continue to unfold, I'm no longer so sure there is anything worth saving.

More and more, I see the party leadership continue to betray its base and really show itself as only the flip-side of the same dysfunctional coin.

I think Ace also has a related, interesting point in his post On Hope and Change and Winning Elections:

Here's the political problem with the GOP: They can take all the polls they like, and compose all the spreadsheets they can, and can have expert consultants (Caveat: consultants are not experts in anything except consultation) type up white papers explaining all the reasons the base can't have what the base wishes to have.

But at the end of the day, people need Hope that things will actually Change if they undertake the efforts the party asks them to undertake.
...

No matter how clever you think your arguments are, and no matter how tight your statistical analysis is, if your strategy does not include some sort of pathway by which people can continue to cling to the illusion of Hope, it's an unsound strategy.

People will find such a pathway if it is permitted to exist at all. Just as people's minds naturally find patterns in unrelated events, people's minds are programmed by their Survival Instincts to find a pathway of hope.
...

I think this is where some of the anger is coming from: The GOP is not even permitting its True Believers to believe. It's not even leaving them the illusion of hope.

I don't think this is a sound strategy. You always have to let people believe. The GOP's analysis may be statistically sound, but it's psychologically infirm.

This is why the Tea Party continues to inspire passion while the GOP inspires little else but resignation. The Tea Party might be wrong about most things. I believe the GOP thinks they are wrong about most things, especially strategy. (And, honestly, the Tea Party's strategic thinking is not its strongest attribute.)
But one thing the Tea Party understands, on a gut level, is that there must be a sense of idealism and optimism about the future, and idea that things could change if we just make them change.

RTWT.

The further I go, the more damned I feel in trying to find any salvation in either of our well-established parties, the more atrophied and diminished I see our great republic becoming*, and the more libertarian I feel.

*I don't think we are too far off from witnessing the contemporary decline of the Roman Republic with our bread (unsustainable support for dependent masses), circuses (reality TV, vulgar sitcoms designed for their shock value rather than their message), and declining morals (although you could certainly call me a liberal on things like sex, I am against wanton promiscuity and the ongoing destruction of family units and all religious communities except for those considered the darling children du jour of the politically correct sheep).

Sighting-In: Amen, Sister Sarah!

From Jeff Poor over at The Daily Caller:

Sarah Palin floats idea of leaving the Republican Party

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican nominee for vice president responded to a Fox News Channel viewer’s Twitter question Saturday about the possibility of her and conservative talker Mark Levin abandoning the Republican Party and creating something called the “Freedom Party.”

...

"...I think there will be a lot of us who start saying ‘GOP, if you abandon us, we have nowhere else to go except to become more independent and not enlisted in a one or the other private majority parties that rule in our nation, either a Democrat or a Republican.’ Remember these are private parties, and you know, no one forces us to be enlisted in either party.”

I still hold a lot of respect for Sarah Palin and, personally, felt like she was set-up by the good old boys in both parties and left to the wolves and post-election gutter-sniping of McCain's feckless aides and advisors.

I think I'd upset a few Republican friends when I'd mentioned one time that I would work to destroy the GOP if they sold us out on gun control. That's how frustrated I've felt for actually the past decade.

Every time we turn around, they are either stabbing us in the back through lack of leadership or selling us out where we're left feeling like cheap hookers forced to swallow off their expectations of political fellatio. And, the worst part is, we don't even get the fee from John. He hands it over to someone else (like millions of illegals). I don't think there is enough mouth wash in the country to wash away the taste of the immigration "reform". Thanks Marco and, from a more local perspective, thanks Lisa.

When I first began to put this blog together after the last election, I'd had every intent of getting more involved in the GOP to try to work some needed change from within. I'm not so sure it's worth saving beyond serving as an obstacle to the Democrats and, more often than not, it provides no obstacle at all.

That Wasn't Water*, It Was Kool-Aid

Amen:

Republicans haven’t learned anything from 2012. Passing the Rubio-Schumer bill is an excellent way for Republicans to throw the 2014 election and grant Barack Obama unchecked power during his last two years in office.

The GOP base worked hard to win elections for people like Marco Rubio. When he ran for Senate in 2010, Rubio promised Republicans that he was against amnesty, for border security first. That’s turned out to have been a lie. He supports legalization first, and border security eventually. We may as well have elected Charlie Crist. What was the point of electing Rubio, now? He has become the Democrats’ most powerful weapon against the Republican Party.

*Marco Rubio Drinks Water During GOP State Of The Union Rebuttal

Sighting-In: The "Ideologues" in Today's GOP (Or, Would Reagan Have Had a Place?)

Over at PJ Media, Rick Moran covers comments by Bob Dole to that effect:

Former Kansas senator and 1996 GOP candidate for President Bob Dole echoes a complaint from a lot of 1980′s era Republicans; the party has lurched too far to the right.

That the Republican party is more conservative today than it was 30 years ago is beyond dispute. Some might even argue that conservatism itself has been redefined to become far less inclusive, open minded, and tolerant than it was in Dole’s days as well.

But I think what Dole is really talking about is that today’s Republicans are simply too ideological; rigid, unyielding, and allowing passion to govern their intellects rather than logic and reason.

In a lot of ways it would appear to be that the "ideologues" have begun to hold the party hostage. I think, though, that the point is being missed by too many that this has become a legitimate response—a line in the sand, so to speak—by many who don't feel that we have to push ourselves further into the polarized right so much as begin to hold firm against too much:

• Cronyism;
• Placing the maintenance of the establishment over the common good;
• Lack of firm leadership and realistic adherence to common ideals; and,
• Excessive surrender of positions in a feckless guise of compromise (we keep giving half our cake while they offer nothing of similar value in return).

By its very nature, any act of drawing and holding to a set line or position is seen as extremist. It can be called by many things including, "making hard choices" and "tough love", depending on the circumstances.

I've always leaned Republican, as this has been the most viable party to realistically represent the more libertarian aspects of my nature. I'm not so sure anymore (although, by my previous posts, you've probably guessed one party I will not turn to with any consistency).

My issues aren't the horrors of Adam and Steve getting married and adopting pregnant teenager Eve's illegitimate baby. My issues are ensuring that said baby grows-up taken care of by a stable, loving household; has realistic access to good healthcare; goes to good, non-indoctrinating schools, where teachers educate based on merit and not union-enforced longevity; has the ability to seek good employment; and maintains the right to protect him/herself, family, friends, and community...

...And, all without a f#cking government, composed of nagging busybodies who all believe they know better than us, trying to intrude and dictate and regulate every minor aspect of this baby's life.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Sighting-In: Looking Downrange Towards Jindal 2016

Paul Mirengoff takes a little time for Appreciating Bobby Jindal over at Powerline:

Recently, Republicans have exhibited a fascination with the “flavor of the month” in presidential politics. Flavors have included Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Herman Cain, and now Dr. Benjamin Carson.

The tendency towards such infatuation is understandable, especially given the Party’s tendency to nominate stale candidates like Robert Dole, John McCain, and (many would say) Mitt Romney. Unfortunately, though, a few speeches and appearances on conservative talk shows provide a dramatically insufficient basis for judging a person’s suitability for the presidency. We need to see a potential presidential candidate circle the track at least once before making such judgments.

...

Bobby Jindal was once a flavor of the month Republican. But now that he’s circling the track the second time, we’re in a better position to assess his leadership skills, his potential electoral appeal, and his conservative bona fides.

Overall, it's waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too early to really start thinking about who may oppose Joe or Hillary in 2016; however, the one thing I do feel certain about, is that there will be no Ronnie to lead us out of the wilderness.

My Thoughts Exactly!

Having grown-up and watched the change on the Cape as more and more of the Boston-area urbanites moved down to have their slice of heaven (and bring the f#ck!ng liberalized, urbane ideals with them), I have to wholeheartedly and emphatically agree with Sebastian on this:

Hey Rick, You Know How These People Vote, Right?

Hey, just what Texas needs: more California voters. This has worked out real well for Oregon, Nevada, and other western states who’ve seen huge influxes. You know, they don’t start voting red just because they move, Rick.

 I say let 'em wallow in their self-created, blue state hells (not that I'm bitter or hold a grudge or anything).

I Think There's a Reason I'd Chosen That As One of My First Labels

I initally caught this over at Instapundit this morning...

From Jonah Goldberg over at NRO:

A Democratic senator hired an unpaid intern who was an undocumented immigrant but a documented sex offender. Apparently Senator Menendez needed an immigrant to do sex offending that Americans won’t do.

Meanwhile, Representative Jim Moran is “embarrassed” by the revelation that his voter-fraud-orchestrating son smashed his girlfriend’s face into a garbage can and pleaded guilty to assault. The girlfriend appears to be doing what she can to make the story go away. But don’t worry, the phrase “war on women” may still only be used to describe people who don’t want to pay for someone else’s birth control. No word if anyone on the left will be expressing their gratitude for the Violence Against Women Act for this.

Over in Michigan, defenders of the union protestors who tore down an Americans for Prosperity tent are heading toward trutherism, suggesting that it was all a set up, the canvas-and-rope equivalent of the Reichstag fire. No word yet if anyone is claiming the Jews inside the tent got advance notice. 

Oh, and after months — nay years — of rhetoric from the president and his proxies about how taxes are simply a sign of neighborliness and the dues we pay to live in this great country, we learn that Obama’s staff owe nearly a million dollars in back taxes.

And the Republicans are losing to these guys.

It's amazing what those evil Republic... [what, they're not?!] uh, wonderful, thinking only of the little guy/women/minority/ad-nauseum Democrats are capable of (if we don't report it).

Get out and get active, folks. Give voice. Get involved in the party you typically vote for and take part, take responsibility for it. Hold it accountable to you.

Sighting-In: The 4th Shot and Trying to Come Back on Target

It seems like I've been hearing all the right-leaning talking heads pine about who will be the next Reagan to lead the conservative cause going all the way back to before McCain was running against Obama in '08.

I've got some sad news for you, folks, President Reagan died June 5, 2004.

In getting back on track, keep it straight that there will never be another Ronald Regan. Ever!

I've got some more distressing news: Reagan never was part of the Good Ole Boys Network that seems to be running the GOP into Da Stoopid Partee these days.

Quit pining for the next Ronny. Quit holding all potential party leaders in his shadow.

Start seeking new blood and new ideas.

Yeah, I know, it's been said before. But, hey, this blog's my 2-cents and, you know what?

I don't think it's been said loud enough!

I  also don't think anyone's been willing to listen; instead, being more willing to curse the darkness rather than light the candle.

Sighting-In: the 2nd Shot from the Bench

I'm a good 11 days overdue from when I REALLY wanted to write this post. In retrospect, it's probably a good thing that I hadn't had the blog up and running. People who know me often don't realize I actually do have more than a touch of that cliched Irish temper. I've been pretty good at practicing something akin to the Buddhist "pause and breath", holding back for just a moment to put space around what has just triggered my emotions and allowing myself to cool down. It's probably kept me out of a lot of trouble throughout my 40-plus years.

Alaska being four hours behind the East Coast, I was watching an awful lot of the election results rolling-in, right there in prime time for me. Talk about losing your appetite for dinner!

Had I not had that enforced moment to "pause and breathe" as I reviewed the election results from the Scott Brown/Lizzie Warren race, I probably would've simply posted something aimed at those who either turned their backs or--especially-- those who entirely refused to show for Brown, along the lines of:

What the fuck were you thinking, you myopic morons?

Luckily, I've had time to cool down.

I'd followed Scott Brown's original campaign with a lot of excitement (and, dare I say, hope?) from up here in Alaska. It seemed miraculous that a [cue the sound of PDRM Party apparatchiks gagging--ed] Republican winning Ted's seat. Granted, I'd rate a PDRM Republican as somewhere equivalent to an Alaskan Democrat on the liberal-conservative spectrum; however, it seemed like the proles were finally waking-up and trying to leave the soviet. There appeared to be hope when it looked like we were plunging ever deeper...

I shared a lot of folk's trepidation when Senator Brown lived-up to his bipartisan promises, shall we say, a little more enthusiastically than most of us would've liked. I think he could've better picked a few battles and votes and I wholeheartedly agree he left many feeling like he may have turned his back on us.

You.Don't. Alienate.Your.Supporters!

I agree with feeling that you shouldn't continue to support someone who's left you feeling that all bets are off or has stabbed you in the back. Where I draw the line, though, is in refusing to show and letting the opposition run rough-shod. I can certainly understand doing this in cases where maybe the opponent was a worthwhile political investment but, come on folks, can you honestly say that about Fauxcahontus?

It was always "rumored" that a maternal great-grandfather of mine out in western Mass was native: he was left on a doorstep for adoption and was described as "looking like an indian and walking like an indian." My now Senator-elect Warren's genealogical analysis, I guess that should make me one-somethingorotherish part Native American and eligible for all that entails.

And. let's not forget her law practice. Professor Jacobson has done a phenomenal amount of research and expose in this matter and I would recommend checking out his articles over at his Legal Insurrection blog. As kind of a quick summary:

Warren represented not just Travelers, but numerous other companies starting in the late 1990s working out of and using her Harvard Law School office in Cambridge, which she listed as her office of record on briefs filed with various courts.  Warren, however, never has been licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.

Check him out. Good job, Professor Jacobson, Wish I could say more for PDRM voters.

I can understand this of the mindless Party proles.

If faced with an incumbent you can no longer support and, an ascending opponent that provides no viable options, you get out there and get involved. Volunteer with a party (more about that in a separate article, yet to come), get involved with organizing the base, and work it out in the primaries.

Don't.Refuse.To.Show. Silence is assent. If you don't participate, you can't complain. Falling into that later category, I think you can pretty well tell my opinion.

Luckily, I've calmed down a bit since the night of November 7th. And, in writing this article now, I can more politely rephrase my earlier knee-jerk reaction and summarize it as:

How could you be so selfish and misdirected, you myopic morons?

It's not just Massachusetts that I feel this attitude. I'm feeling it towards elements on the national stage, who may not have turned out because Romney wasn't X, Y, or Z enough. 

Don't disengage. Get active.

My Sentiments Exactly

No Further Comment from Here...

And about those diverse Republican candidates 

One Line I Draw (Of Many)

I've been doing a lot of cogitating as to what happened and where we're all going since last week's election. There's certainly a lot of social issues, of which I don't necessarily share the same level of view as the party I've been primarily voting with (and, more to come on that as soon as I get that post satisfactorily put-together...) over the last few years. But, and I mean a big BUT, just what part of "illegal" don't they understand in the term "illegal immigrants" [I believe the PC term is "undocumenteds--ed.]?

I am not against people coming to this country to start over; however, these people that the amnesty crowd (and, apparently, da Stoopid Partee, in its attempt to regroup) are now pandering to are not "our tired, our poor, our huddle masses yearning to breathe free..." [thank you, Emma Lazarus--ed.]. They have knowingly and willfully entered this country outside of the legal options we maintain to do so.

And, now, we're supposed to reward them for this? AYFSM?!

As a blog connoisseur, I know I'm not the first to bring this up but this just spits in the face of anyone who has ever legally immigrated to this country and naturalized through legal means.

It also smacks of our country's growing tendency to protect, coddle, and  reward perpetrators at the expense of all others.