George Will on the recurring dangers of Populism

[sailaway21]

George Will addresses the dangers of populism and such matters as the 'shrinking' middle class. A fine article for those who like their politics based upon facts and not emotions. Populists in both parties do not escape his attention. There's even some gas station conversation thrown in for good measure.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01062008...ace_609746.htm

[wind_magic]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

George Will addresses the dangers of populism and such matters as the 'shrinking' middle class. A fine article for those who like their politics based upon facts and not emotions. Populists in both parties do not escape his attention. There's even some gas station conversation thrown in for good measure.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01062008...ace_609746.htm

Sway, you are definitely a Republican's Republican.

I knew the traditionalists inside the Republican party were going to turn on Huckabee and try to bury him, and sure enough they started doing it before the Iowa caucus was even over. As soon as they realized he could win a caucus, his fate was sealed. I bet Rush and the other Republican talk radio folks spent all weekend explaining to their listeners the 1001 reasons that Huckabee isn't the right choice for the party.

[sailaway21]

Well Windy, you're a bit behind the curve. Rush and the other talk radio show hosts have spent the past month explaining that Huckabee is no conservative, long before he won Iowa. Huckabee is a tax and spend politician, with little or no knowledge of foreign policy, who's got some criminal pardons and ethical questions to answer.

My membership in the Republican party is a mere convenience; I am a conservative. To the extent that canidates are conservative I will support them. As my party of convenience, I will endeavor to ensure that the Republican party does the same.

Governor Huckaby will bury himself with little aid from myself required, or Mr. Will for that matter. He is quite a good speaker, is he not, and probably a decent fellow for someone who's grown up in the Arkansan political machines. He appeals to the social conservative side of the Republican coalition but hardly at all to the sides that favor strong defense or small government with low taxation.

ps
Rush is on Monday through Friday, noon to 3pm.

[SailinJay]

Will, in the last paragraph, was very complimentary regard Obama, as compared to both Edwards and Huckabee (and Clinton). How does this track for you conservative folks?

[camaraderie]

Wind...I was originally attracted to Huck some months ago when I learned of his outspoken support for the fair tax...and I still find him FAR more palatable than any of the Dems. That said...the more I listen to HIM (rather than Ruh or the others) the more I find myself thinking that he is not nearly the best choice for the Republican party.
His stance on creationism vs. evolution really worries me about his intellectual underpinnings.
His lack of knowledge of foreign policy or current events is not up to par
His stance on illegal immigrants is soft and out of touch with want the public wants.
I get the impression that he is in favor of "nanny-statism" when it comes to health issues.

What I really regret is that he has pulled attention and support from Thompson who is truly conservative and thoughtful but looks to be about "over" unless he can pull out a win or a strong second in South Carolina.

Huck is over too in my opinion so we are left with McCain, Romney and Guiliani. Not great choices for real conservatives. McCain looks to win tomorrow in New Hampshire putting Romney on the ropes and needing a comeback in Michigan where he unfortunately looks "like the guy that fired you" to a lot of folks. Guiliani has remained "out" of the initial primaries and so has not been "defeated" anywhere yet...but has lost support due to being out of the limelight. Florida on the 29th should tell the tale for him.

What I don't understand is how republicans (as opposed to independents voting in republican primaries) can vote for McCain.
1. He was one of TWO republicans that voted agains the Bush tax cuts.
2. He partnered with Kennedy on the immigration "amnesty " bill.
3. He sponsored the McCain Feingold campaign finance travesty.
4. He believes in global warming and would ACT against it.
5. He believes waterboarding is torture and would not use it in any circumstance.
6. ...and lots more. (Gang of 14, Voted against Gay Marriage amendment etc.)

Will it all be settled in 4 weeks or will we have a brokered convention?

[TSteele65]

Personally, I'm getting a huge kick out of watching the GOP leadership trying to kill Huckabee. Reagan let the evangelicals in the tent almost thirty years ago, and now they've taken over the party and are pushing one of their own.

[camaraderie]

TSteele...now they've taken over the party and are pushing one of their own

Somewhat an overstatement. Huck has about 11% in NH as of today...not exactly a takeover. Iowa is a different place. They are a significant voting block:
When it came to 2006 turnout, white evangelicals and born-again Christians made up about 24 percent of those who voted, compared with 23 percent in the 2004 election. (Source NYTimes)
Evangelicals make up a significant MINORITY chunk of the Republican faithful since70% vote republican and thus have much of their social agenda reflected in the various repub candidates. The Dems don't have any prospect of getting a much larger chunk of these voters...but not for lack of trying...check out your local Washington Post!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...052201154.html

[TSteele65]

Cam - NH is an obvious exception to the rule (not many evangelicals there). Wait until the southern primaries and watch what happens.

[teshannon]

Hukabee will fade on his own very soon after SC, no need for Republicans to intervene.

[sailaway21]

TSteele65,
You're apparently getting a huge kick out of an imaginary event. the Republican party, as is the Democratic party, is in the process of establishing it's leadership, not responding to it. The quadrennal primaries are where each party vote's for it's electors and who will be the head of the party. while GW Bush is the titular head of the GOP currently he will, for all practical purposes, relinquish that role once a canidate is nominated at the convention.

Evangelicals make up perhaps 25% of the Republican party, hardly a dominate force, although it is probably true that most of the rest of the party finds itself more in agreement with them than disagreement. What perhaps you're getting at is that the party does ten to show some deference to the views of the evangelicals. This is probably a far wiser policy than the Dems policy of ignoring minorities once they've dropped them off from the ride to the polls.

And Reagan didn't "let" the evangelicals into the party tent. They entered the party the same way that Reagan, the Democrat, did. "I didn't leave the Democratic party, it left me", was the way that Reagan phrased it.