These god-damned economic concepts, such as branding, show how basically dishonest politics has become. What is branding? Taking a product and asserting that it has qualities that we admire and aspire to, without making sure that it in fact the product has these traits.

That is inherently dishonest. They’re selling a product, not making sure that our common good is looked after by the best possible candidate. And the rethuglicans have made damned sure that they have branded a fool to be the ultimate parasite.

There’s that old strawman. I don’t believe any rational person would think our levels of military spending are necessary. I live in San Diego, and see the huge military infrastructure, and the homeless vets, panhandling in the street. Our priorities are skewed, and republicans offer nothing to address that, except ever more military spending, with little or no oversight. History has shown repeatedly; republicans don’t do oversight.

I’m not advocating that this is what I believe the country needs now, only that republicans should stand for something – regardless of the current circumstance.

Typical, kick-the-can-down-military-industrial complex road disregard for the nuts and bolts of governance. Just do it cheap, so I can buy another car on the taxes I save.

I think republicans should offer an alternative to democrats.

If you are a party, you should set priorities. If the people don’t think we need a strong military – they’ll vote for the weak military party. If they think they need more revenue for, let’s say infrastructure – they’ll vote for the higher tax, more infrastructure party. I’m only saying – it should be a clear alternative, one not based on the polling of the day.

BTW, I consider myself more liberatarian only because I disagree with conservatives on most social issues. (criminalizing abortion, gay rights, etc)

But, I line up with republicans on alot of economic issues and I support Bush anti-terrorism efforts (to include the effort in Iraq) obviously more than most here.

And yes I see the conflict with higher taxes and a strong military. Let me put it this way: lower taxes and as strong a military, as we can afford while balancing the budget. (I’m not advocating that this is what I believe the country needs now, only that republicans should stand for something – regardless of the current circumstance.)

Republicans haven’t had integrity since Teddy Roosevelt…

Seems the big republican loss in ‘06 spawned a whole heard of erstwile “libertarians.” How embarrassing, and humbling it must be, to align yourself with such incompetent failures, and now deny that you ever were one.

At one time, didn’t they at least pretend they were the party of integrity?

You’re almost at ground zero; the truth is, all the supposed “conservative” issues were nothing but a way to appeal to the base desires of incurious xenophobes.

I would suggest that whether they ever were these thing or not, republicans should differentiate themselves and recommit to:

So, you want low taxes, and yet a strong defense. That you cannot see the conflict says a lot about you intellectual acumen. We already spend more on defense that all other countries combined. If you want to lower your taxes, don’t you think it would be sufficient to be spending, say half as much? That would still dwarf military spending of all other countries, just not combined.

And it looks like Crybaby is going to lose his leadership post, because he’s so incompetent.

I’m more libertarian than republican, but it seemed like at one time that republicans believed in less regulation, less government. Less taxes. A strong national defense. Free Trade. At one time, didn’t they at least pretend they were the party of integrity? It’s not my issue, but republicans use to dominate the conservative social issues.

They have lost those issues, because they have chosen to be an inferior brand of democrat. Democrat lite.

I would suggest that whether they ever were these thing or not, republicans should differentiate themselves and recommit to:

Strong national defense

Lower taxes, less government

Conservative social values (not my thing, but should be for republicans)

Free trade.

Business friendly/free market economic policies (corporations and small business)

And hey, why not throw in some integrity.

This is Shinola…..

Same sh*t, new bag.

I just think the expectation is that Bush has made such a mess of foreign affairs, the economy and the constitution, that it shouldn’t be that hard for a Democrat to come along and make things, in all those areas, significantly better. I’m just suggesting there will eventually be expectation for Democrats to deliver on the demogogary.

And progressives have done an outstanding job of painting our current circumstances as the most dire possible.

But, do progressives ever worry that they have possibly set the bar too high?

I mean: George Bush – worst president ever. Worst economy since the Great Depression. Bush’s efforts to prevent terrorism – criminal acts.

When Obama becomes the president with a solid Democrat majority in the congress, what if things don’t get much better? What if they don’t get better at all? Will you still be able to point to republicans?

If you paint Bush as the architect of the worse economy in 70 years – won’t the expectation be that Obama will make it significantly better?

If Bush’s policies on terrorism have been so atrocious, won’t Obama be expected to revoke them all? Is it possible that some of those policies really do prevent some attacks? How would the public react to a domestic terror attack against the U.S. after we haven’t had one since 9/11, when Democrats are clearing in charge? What if Obama decides to keep some Bush policies because he realizes they may have merit?

Anyways. Progressives have done an outstanding job of promoting the idea that Bush has been a terrible (the worst ever) president. kudos. The only issue now will be trying to clear that bar of expectations that you have unwittingly set pretty high.

I hope you’re right. In any case, it will be interesting to watch.

Hello, anyone in the 30% that is voting for McCain, this is what you are proud of