A Food Fight in the Big GOP Tent

A food fight in the Big GOP Tent

The week conservative Republicanism lost some traction

By Howard Fineman
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 5:43 p.m. ET May 24, 2005

WASHINGTON - I’m wondering if we haven’t just witnessed a turning point in politics. Years from now, when we look back on the “Gang of 14” deal, will we see it as the moment when the tide of conservative Republicanism crested?

American public life moves in cycles. A generation ago, Lyndon Johnson trounced Barry Goldwater. But Goldwater’s 1964 crusade unleashed energy and ideas that inspired the New Right-Republican movement, which eventually reached its zenith in George W. Bush. He unified the libertarian, religious and corporate cadres of conservatism under his GOP banner.

Is the wheel turning again with another bold Texan in power? Hard to know, of course, and the Democrats won’t rise in some mere hydraulic fashion. They need to find vision, ideas and charismatic leaders, and none of them seem to be in great supply. But the line of products – call them “Bush Right” – suddenly is looking like what marketers call a “mature brand.” There are signs of age, strain and overreach, internally and externally.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7967628/

SIGNS?

What was his first clue?!?!?!

they're driven to a point where some poor soul could feel sorry for them...

they have so many people to satisfy....

they promised plenty to their 'base...

Investment bankers....privatization of social security
Credit card companies...success
Gun lovers...laying low and waiting their turn, though they seem to have it all now...maintenance required....
Upper class...keep those tax cuts coming in...keep the labor coming in.
Corporations....keep on letting us pollute, keep on bringing down the unions, continue letting us outsource and bank offshore, and give us the good judges.
Religious fundamentalists....ah OK... give us all of the above and jail those liberals and heathens and let us look into their bedrooms and heads while we keep on doing our thing.

He's not done too badly pleasing the corporatists, except that many of them are worried about the deficit. And SS reform is bombing badly. But they'll still remain on board...

But how long can they keep lying to the religious right and keep them voting? Look at how loudly their leaders are screaming. How many of them are going to keep falling for it, even though the chimp gets replaced by, say, a baboon? (Allen). They need those votes, cause there just aren't enough corporatists to do the job, even with voter suppression.

I agree, there are definite signs of aging and frailty there.

You want a hydraulic rise? C'mere ya fuckwad ........

a good clue to the integrity of this guy might be listening to Imus stroking Howie everyday on msnbc...worries me that Imus is so enraptured by The Daily Show...

and start telling the truth for a change.

Bad, bad, bad news for the Bushistas. I can hear Howard's phone ringing now, and Karl Rove is NOT pleased.