tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post1948149991361570528..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Leadership From Dummies: Eric CantorAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-4248303802230109642009-09-27T19:46:32.355-04:002009-09-27T19:46:32.355-04:00CrisD, I suspect that the party is going to find t...CrisD, I suspect that the party is going to find that the people have decided to have their say. And they ignore the people at their own risk.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-31230903163605413702009-09-27T19:42:22.967-04:002009-09-27T19:42:22.967-04:00Andrew,
I hope that you are right. I hope that th...Andrew,<br />I hope that you are right. I hope that the leadership, itself, is lacking and not the general position of Washington having kicked the Fedzilla can down the road for too many years.<br />I have my doubts.CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-29477076385038415932009-09-27T10:19:35.662-04:002009-09-27T10:19:35.662-04:00CrisD, I disagree slightly. I think that conservat...CrisD, I disagree slightly. I think that conservatives find themselves in a very strong position. The moderates had their chance in McCain and Bush and they failed. And after years of Congress getting more and more moderate, all we got was a Democratic majority. So I think they won't succeed with Republican voters for some time to come.<br /><br />The problem is that our leadership just seems to be inept. They don't understand politics, they don't want to offend their "friends" on the left, and they don't seem to understand the mindset of the people.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-40688250573653738212009-09-27T09:15:04.276-04:002009-09-27T09:15:04.276-04:00This disconnect by Canter et. al is the heart of w...This disconnect by Canter et. al is the heart of what has the tea parties going.<br /><br />Americans see that their representatives in Washington are not reflecting their position on tax expenditure and values. They see that representatives have political motivations to do with their careers. And, as described in your post, they do not want to offend at ANY cost.<br /><br />The emperor has no clothes. The crash last fall opened a chasm...more ordinary Americans can see the yawning horrible abyss of the economic state of USA. Unfortunately, the brainwashing and payoffs to President Obama's constituency places conservatives in a weak position (to say the least.)CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-7536117633451968202009-09-27T00:50:42.843-04:002009-09-27T00:50:42.843-04:00P.S. Jed, Politeness and courtesy only work in po...P.S. Jed, Politeness and courtesy only work in politics when all sides agree to follow the same rules -- and the left certainly has not. I don't recommend being a jerk, but you can't limit yourself to playing by a set of rules that the other side doesn't recognize.<br /><br />That said, I don't believe in using controversy to get noticed either. That works for all the wrong reasons, especially in politics. It makes people question your judgment and it makes you easy to caricature. Also, often, it's a cover for a lack of any other qualities.<br /><br />True political leaders find the right chord to get people to listen. They sell a positive image of the future and then offer plans that make sense (to the voters) for how to achieve that vision.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-19381524816838386372009-09-27T00:43:25.251-04:002009-09-27T00:43:25.251-04:00Jed, Now is absolutely the time for whoever wants ...Jed, Now is absolutely the time for whoever wants to be the party leader to step up. There is a vaccum there to be filled and it will go to whoever is the first to seize it. But to seize it, they need to be able to convince conservatives that they really are a capable, genuine conservative with a plan.<br /><br />Sadly, none of the contenders seem up to that task, and most seem strangely unwilling to try.<br /><br />On third parties, I agree entirely that supporting third party candidates is a waste -- but right now, the Republicans need to win folks like me back, and they aren't doing it with the wishy-washy attitude and a policy stance that can be summed up as "not as bad as Obama." If they can't fix that, they will never be able to take advantage of the Obama gift.<br /><br />In terms of charisma, I'm not as concerned about charisma so much as I just want someone that I think actually represents conservatism, and that can explain and defend it.<br /><br />I liked Duncan Hunter's views/postitions. But he vanished so quickly from the primary that I never got a real chance to evaluate him as a leadership candidate.<br /><br />On the signs, I don't know if they were liberal plants or just our whacko fringe, but in either event they weren't the slightest bit representative of the people who turned out. And that's what guys like Cantor should have said, not just concede the point.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-5072140114579746112009-09-26T23:22:50.208-04:002009-09-26T23:22:50.208-04:00Andrew - we certainly do need to find a charismati...Andrew - we certainly do need to find a charismatic Republican; and make no mistake, we do need a Republican. Splinter off a third party or libertarian and we squander the gift liberals are presenting with their hubris laden over-reaching. <br /><br />Up to a point, a politican who uses restraint and civility can be kind of classy. But if you go that route, you better damn well be charismatic, and Cantor does not appear to exude that trait. This issue is particularly true for Republicans since the m.s.m. is certainly not going to give them any positive free publicity. It kind of makes me think of Anne Coulter. Anne goes out of her way to be provacative and controverial. Why? because it gets her noticed. The same is true of Tennessee's new football coach. He made some waves with controverial statements early on, but realized he had to start by getting himself and the program noticed.<br /><br />As far as the weak-kneed statement about not condoning nasty Anti-Obama signs at rallies, I'm not so certain many, if not most of them are actually liberals in disguise trying to set up scenarios where they can say "see we told you the right is responsible for racist vitriol and lack of civility."<br /><br />For who can we get to be a better leader, what do you guys know about Duncan Hunter, who, I believe, is a congressman from southern California? I liked him early on, but once he didn't do well in early primaries, his limited campaign funds dried up. It seems to me now is the perfect time for a conservative pol to step up and separate him or herself.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-44003413467632252692009-09-26T22:08:03.851-04:002009-09-26T22:08:03.851-04:00Writer X, I don't fully understand it either.
...Writer X, I don't fully understand it either.<br /><br />I know that for the most part, politicians are fairly stupid. Still, you would think that out of the hundreds we have to choose from, some of them would be up to the task.<br /><br />And many of them are afraid to take a stand on anything for fear of being voted out -- so they go along to get along.<br /><br />I also know that many of them are far too insular -- I discovered this to my dismay in DC. That's a serious problem. They have little grasp of our culture because of it.<br /><br />And I suspect that they rely on the same jerks for advice who got them into this position -- only now those bozos are paid consultants.<br /><br />I know they also rely too much on lobbyists to give them advice.<br /><br />Apparently, this combination creates a lethal cocktail of ineptitude and cowardice.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-61690464740872928972009-09-26T21:50:17.480-04:002009-09-26T21:50:17.480-04:00It's such a shame because the Republican Party...It's such a shame because the Republican Party is handed gold every day on a silver platter in terms of Democratic missteps and blunders. The differences between the parties have never been more clear. And, yet, there is not one Republican politician who sees this? I can't believe it's just because they're all a bunch of nice guys; I'm leaning on the side that most of them are just plain dumb.<br /><br />Sorry, but Sarah Palin, like her or hate her, seems to be the only one with any real backbone at the moment. At least she doesn't seem to be afraid to jump into the fray.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-70556120181373164832009-09-26T21:42:47.169-04:002009-09-26T21:42:47.169-04:00Writer X, LOL! Thanks, someday I may definitely n...Writer X, LOL! Thanks, someday I may definitely need to look into running for something. Maybe I should work as a community disorganizer for a couple years, then I can run for the top job.<br /><br />I feel the same way about the party, I keep waiting for someone to step up and say, "ok, it's time we fix this thing," but no one seems interested. All they want to do is cower and apologize for anyone else who takes a stand. It's sickening. Now is the time when leaders are made and all we seem to have are sheep.<br /><br />When I first heard of Cantor, I hoped he was something new, but like you, every time I see him I just get that feeling of "this is it?" And now to see him just roll over and play into Pelosi's game on something as simple as this tells me that he's not able to represent our views.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-88591363458672443602009-09-26T21:35:27.423-04:002009-09-26T21:35:27.423-04:00Andrew, you are definitely not alone. I'm so ...Andrew, you are definitely not alone. I'm so sick and tired of the namby-pambyness in the Republican Party that sometimes I can't see straight. Thank you for confirming what I'd already begun to believe about Eric Cantor. Whenever I see or hear him, I find myself saying, "Where's the beef?" He's been less than impressive.<br /><br />I keep hoping that someone will emerge from the pack. And that person will have some backbone. But who? Other than running you for office, I'm not seeing anyone who knocks my socks off.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-57813160011240225782009-09-26T21:21:42.299-04:002009-09-26T21:21:42.299-04:00Stan, I agree. I want to see them learn to explai...Stan, I agree. I want to see them learn to explain, defend and promote conservative principles, goals and policies, and to do so without falling to their knees and apologizing for being conservatives. If they can't do that, then they need to quit politics and make room for people who can do it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-65844417389346060972009-09-26T21:13:46.248-04:002009-09-26T21:13:46.248-04:00I’m with you Andrew. Washington politicians are al...I’m with you Andrew. Washington politicians are all headed in the same direction, one’s just moving a little faster than the other. The Republicans are like the dweeb core, feckless little weenies who run from their shadows. Do you remember Newt Gingrich as the opposition leader late’80s tearing into Speaker Jim Wright in his special orders speeches after hours on CSPAN, and the brilliant build up to ’94 “Contract with America,” sending Speaker Thomas Foley home, or to K-Street. That’s what I want to see ferocious conservative attack, with reasoned defense, (sending Pelosi back to Lawhawk and San Francisco, …ha) never accepting the premise of the other side. Unabashed defense of the Founding principles without equivocation. But no …we have Eric Cantor : (StanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-61017832309643902462009-09-26T21:07:47.981-04:002009-09-26T21:07:47.981-04:00patti, I want so much to see them improve, but, li...patti, I want so much to see them improve, but, like you, I am finding it harder and harder to take. They need to learn to stand for something and they need to learn to fight, or what good are they?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-38387353470489355112009-09-26T19:19:20.378-04:002009-09-26T19:19:20.378-04:00oh andrew, i heart you. i have been a registered ...oh andrew, i heart you. i have been a registered republican all my life. not any more. i just can't stand the thought that i, a harmless mouthy gal from texas, have bigger balls than all of them put together. and i mean that. i need some serious action on their part before i would ever align myself with them again. i need them to show some tough love. i need to see them LEAD. we the people are waiting, begging, for true leadership and when we see it we are gonna follow in droves. until then, cantor and the rest of them can suck, um, eggs.pattihttp://www.notawonk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-60591825289921696612009-09-26T17:45:46.109-04:002009-09-26T17:45:46.109-04:00Lawhawk, I think you've drawn the right lesson...Lawhawk, I think you've drawn the right lesson from Pelosi's example! LOL!<br /><br />I wish that the Republicans would learn anything even the basics of politics, argument and persuasion. It's like shooting fish in a barrel with these guys.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-46972933380440580312009-09-26T17:30:58.377-04:002009-09-26T17:30:58.377-04:00Excellent! Cantor is a mealy-mouth, who is going n...Excellent! Cantor is a mealy-mouth, who is going nowhere fast. I'll know we have a leader when he says he also abhors, violence,just like Pelosi. And then explain why her example was so apt. A drunken, possibly-drug addled, mentally-unstable Democratic office-holder murdered two other Democratic officeholders in a town populated largely by Democrats. It is very important that if we want to end violence, stop electing Democrats, and don't listen to anybody from San Francisco (present company excepted, of course).LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-80268656940904977592009-09-26T17:20:52.433-04:002009-09-26T17:20:52.433-04:00CrispyRice, you're not alone. I just don'...CrispyRice, you're not alone. I just don't understand why our leaders have no political instincts and no backbone.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-6573878816331386442009-09-26T17:18:18.227-04:002009-09-26T17:18:18.227-04:00You certainly are riled up, Andrew!
You can count...You certainly are riled up, Andrew!<br /><br />You can count me in on the masses of Republicans who have only a vague idea of him. "I know I've his name, ummm.... who is he again??" So thanks for the info. He sounds like a great leader. >>eyeroll<<<br /><br />*sigh* I'm so tired of the lack of leadership and the wishy-washy-ness of this party. >:/ Grrrr.CrispyRicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07302075204880024936noreply@blogger.com