Feb 12 2008
Hannity & Gingrich, Conservatives In “Exile”
Another day, another whine from conservative talk radio. Hannity and Speaker Newt Gringrich were talking today about how they are now “conservatives in exile” – which means they no longer consider themselves Republicans. Clearly they see something not apparent to the rest of regarding the fortunes of the hyper-right in this nation. Why else basically declare they have been defeated in terms of dictating the path of the GOP? Why go in ‘exile’ unless it is clear that they have destroyed their cause and no longer represent the formative views of the GOP?
After years if being a conservative with principled and rational differences with the hyper-partisan right (which I prefer to call the hyper-right to save some key strokes) and being disappointed with their direction and destruction of the governing coalition I find the current ‘exile’ statements quite petulant. When I and others disagreed on Dubai Ports, The Gang of 14 and Comprehensive Immigration reform we were ridiculed and you know those who ran the GOP over the cliff wanted unconditional support and obedience to their views. And now that they have become the minority voice in the governing conservative coalition they are declaring themselves unable to support that coalition unless and until it bows to their views.
Quite a fit of self absorption there if you ask me. I am a conservative. I believe in low taxes, strong defense, sanctity of life, finishing our work in Iraq and strong borders. I also believe that the most prudent path forward on some of the nation’s most nagging issues is to deal with long term illegal workers with fines and back taxes and criminal background checks (toss anyone out who has committed a violent crime, never to be allowed back). I was not spooked by Dubai Ports and to me the Gang of 14 helped pave the way for two conservative justices on the USSC and a plethora of conservatives judges across the federal benches.
For having these positions which are more than defendable (and probably more representative of America overall – that great country the hyper-right claims to love so much) I saw responses such as traitior, fool, quisling and our President attacked and called names like El Presidente Jorge Bush. This one way obedience being demanded by Hannity and his fellow exiles is what destroyed the coalition – they are untrustworthy allies. They don’t get their way they lambast their allies and bolt to the sidelines.
It occurs to me that exile is another word for loser – someone who did not get their way (lost) and cannot handle getting back into the game with respect to those who may have bested them this round. They are not leaders and clearly do not have what it takes to lead – patience and respect for others. All I could see from Hannity’s and Gringrich’s exile as the final admission – they lost and now they know it and now those who disagree will pay the price.
Empty threats from a spent political force IMHO. Compromise is not evil. Working with fellow Americans to find a way forward together is not un-American. Having a modicum of respect for political opponents is not weakness. Running away when one loses a round is a sign of weakness. Somehow I fail to see how Anne Coulter voting for Hillary is the ‘true’ conservative over someone willing to support McCain (despite grave differences) to make sure Hillary and Obama never become President. But that is the twisted pretzel logic coming from those who lost the broader base because they could not deal professionally with those who disagree.
I am not the only one wondering what happened here, just check out Ollie North’s thoughts on this today. This distancing is not helping beat the Democrats.
Update: Reader Crosspatch notes Hannity has just declared himself a RINO – a Rep in Name Only. How ironic, and finally factual.
People that thoroughly obsessed with gathering and holding power in the GOP should be permanently exiled.
These people have their point of view and they have a microphone. I have my point of view, no microphone. Sometimes I agree with the talk, and sometimes I don’t. If they didn’t have a message that many agreed with they wouldn’t sway one person. It’s fine with me that they have a point of view. I wish I didn’t have to vote for McCain. As a matter of fact I really, really dislike voting for McCain. My dislike has nothing to do with Hannity or Rush.
It’s a lot more fun being a “conservative in exile” – that way you NEVER have to take responsibility for making things work, you never have to weigh any of the messy compromises that happen in a democracy, you never have to admit that your pie-in-the-sky ideals might not actually work in the real world. No, if you’re in exile then you can bitch and moan and wail and complain about everyone and anything ceaselessly – and no one will ever ask you to produce anything useful because you can’t, you’re in “exile” after all. For somebody who don’t want to run nothing but their mouth, it’s the perfect place to be.
Mark Helprin had a good op/ed out today with a couple phrases I loved: first he compared “talk-radio hosts whose major talent is that, like hairdressers, they can talk all day long to one client after another.”
and ” As anyone who has listened to them knows, the depth of their thought is truly Oprah-like. ”
that about sums up my thoughts about most radio show hosts, too.
Tonight on Fox I heard them say that people who listen to talk radio are doing what their masters tell them and standing against McCain. Ofcourse, that means they voted for Huckabee. And I thought What???These people do not like Huckabee anymore than they do McCain. They are just trying to embarrass him and cause him trouble.
There are some people who are saying there is a plan afoot by certain self obsessed ideologues to create a brokered convention and take McCain down. I fear the only thing they will take down will be the party they say they are trying to save.
Whatever happened to building a core support within the party and bringing in new blood and moving it in the direction you want it to go, all this grandstanding and all these threats only make you wonder who these people are really looking out for. I think they just want power and influence.
“This distancing is not helping beat the Democrats.”
That is what I have been trying to tell people for almost 10 years now. Conservatives really aren’t Republicans. They are RINOs. They will align with the Republicans when it suits their agenda but when it doesn’t they will bolt. They aren’t politically reliable. They are only interested in their own agenda. They are narrow-minded and have a self-destructive “all or nothing” streak. Reagan complained about it all the time. Knuckle headed conservatives are generally a pain in the rear. They are incapable of compromise and they are constantly “my way or the highway” in any dealings. They are selfish, self-centered immature knuckleheads.
Now ask me how I really feel.
I don’t think it has anything to do with power and influence, they have a point of view and a microphone. You are giving them too much power and acting just like what you say you don’t like about them . They are free to their point of view and you are free to yours. What’s the problem? We are not spineless, dribbling, voters out here. We are thinking, smart people and the majority will win out.
AJ,
I think your becoming a hyper-moderate.I agree that Hannity and Ingraham are self absorbed(I don’t think Rush is),but calling them whiners,losers and untrustworthy is a little hyper.I didn’t have a problem with Harriet Meirs or Dubai.I see where you’re coming from there.Ingraham was over the top on Meirs.Rush didn’t have a problem with Dubai.I don’t think anybody on on the right on either side of the Gang of 14 arguement would be hyper.You and Rush can hash that one out.I also don’t think any of these people would call you a traitor or a fool for your positions on these issues because your arguments are legit.You just disagree.Your still conservative and so are they.In the end we want Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh on our team.I’ll take right over left,hyper or not.Saying McCain is nuts on global warming is not hyper.Two people arguing over whether the earth is round or flat does not make the guy arguing for “round” a hyper-partisan.It makes the guy arguing for”flat” an idiot.Somebody should give them some hell.
My posts usually aren’t this long.Sorry.
Struggle on.
The MSM is also trying to delegitimize talk radio and drum up animosity in the moderates to exploit a division.Don’t let them do it.
Hold…Hold…Hold… ——-Braveheart.
Kathie:
I disagree, it is about power and influence. Everyone has a point of view. This is not about that, this is about them trying to screw up for other people because they did not get what they wanted. I have a point of view too, especially when it comes to issues like immigration. I can not stand Tancredo. But you know what? I would have voted for Romney if he got the nomination, even though he flopped on that issue just to get Tancredo’s support. Why? Because some things are more important than me getting everything I want. There is no other way a party can survive. If everyone devolves into hissy fitters promising to bolt when they don’t get what they want, then there is no party, there is no coalition.
And struggler, some of these people on talk radio do not need the MSM trying to delegitimize talk radio, they are doing a bang up job of that by themselves.
struggler,
Hyper moderate is an oxymoron.
BTW, Ollie North’s remarks were interesting. He reminds us that McCAin has a son in Iraq. I doubt the same can be said for Gingrich or any of those outraged talk show people.
How about extra-medium?
Terrye,
Don’t be an oxymoron Nazi. Lighten up.Are you a spelling Nazi too?
The game has rules. You try every way you can to win your point, but if not possible, you lose. Like it or lump it, you lose to the winner.
These folks want to go back and change the rules. They also like to opine about ‘standing on principle’ as they do it.
Yes, I do believe the man behind that curtain is Newt. The other problem is the hate being stirred over at Malkin’s.
I heard Hannity say it on my drive home from work … he is a Conservative first. I knew he was a RINO. See, I registered for the REPUBLICAN party. If he wants a conservative party, then he and Newt and Michelle should just go an start one. I am more interested in defeating the socialist Democrats than in being “conservative enough”.
extra medium is good actually. clever.
I have heard conservatives like Delay complain about McCain and Santorum complain about McCain and Gingrich complain about McCain and the party and God knows what else.
But Delay will be forever associated with K Street and an indictment, Santorum got beat soundly and Gingrich had to leave office in disgrace.
Meanwhile the Democrats have someone people treat like a rock star running for office. Look at the numbers, there are twice as many Democrats voting as Republicans. The last thing Republicans need to do is shrink the party even more. If they do, the Democrats will run over them. They will be a greasy spot.
CP:
I have heard there is talk of that very thing. Yep, we will have Ross Perot redux. Great. Whatever would Democrats do without stubborn conservatives?
AJ,
I believe that Crosspatch is the one calling Hannity a RINO not Hannity declaring himself a RINO.
I listened to Rush today. I normally don’t. He’s not that bad. I agreed with the stuff he was saying. I was not able to listen to the entire broadcast; perhaps it is the emotion he puts in to what he is saying that makes him sound extreme. I have yet to listen to Hannity. But I’ve watched him on TV, and agree he can be aggressive and uncompromising.
By the way, what is a hyper-right, “pure” conservative? Is that a derogatory term for a conservative now? Is it a reference to uncompromising conservatives? I would like to know just what you mean by that. From the conservatives I respect, they would all agree that compromise on some issues is necessary for progress. That does not make them moderates. Though I would like to know what you mean by moderate as well. Because I’m not sure you really are one.
I think it is fine for conservatives to discuss McCain’s record and what he will do for conservatives. I think that is prudent. If conservatives don’t like him they can choose not to vote and shouldn’t be insulted if that is what they choose.
What is a hyper right conservative? A guy or gal who would help the Democrats win if the Republicans do not change the rules, take McCains’ votes away from him and somehow give them a victory they did not earn.
This is not just about discussing McCain’s record, it is about trying to sabotage the man with a lot of hateful rhetoric.
I have stopped listening to these people altogether. I have discovered that listening to audio books is more informative. I just got David McCullough’s 1776 on CD. I think that will be a lot more informative than the bitch and moan brigade.