First: Warren G’s “Regulate” (with Nate Dogg) was the first rap track I heard all the way through—and liked. The other day I was listening to a Ron Paul supporter bash “federal regulators,” and then it hit me: “Regulate” would be perfect for a conservative Super PAC attack ad. Throw it in the background, add … Continue reading
Though it’s only been (officially) over for a few days, the autopsy is already underway. Just what did Rick Santorum’s campaign mean for the GOP? For the United States? The going analysis mostly dribbles into the “Can Mitt Romney snag the social conservative vote?” trench. Can he? Probably. Will he? Probably. Will this be enough to win? … Continue reading
It is one of the great canards of American politics that leftists have gotten tarred as “utopian” dreamers. In conservatives’ hands, progressives and liberals alike are cowards who cannot make their own way in life and thus look to government to protect them from tragedy. These latter are weak-kneed social dependents who believe that conflict … Continue reading
On the heels of my last post, I’m still thinking about FDR’s possible place in modern progressive rhetoric. Listen, for a moment (have some scotch and aspirin ready), to rhetoric from the GOP’s presidential field. After God (and His son), no one comes in for more frequent and positive mention than St. Reagan.** They love … Continue reading
While Gingrich is promising to stay in the race even if Romney wins Florida, his candidacy is starting to look like the longest of long shots—a “moon shot,” even. It’s been said before, but reflect for a minute on how ridiculous this is. The 2012 GOP nomination field is/was supposedly the most wide open in … Continue reading
A progressive friend of mine recently suggested that the Democrats should make the 2012 elections a referendum on President Eisenhower’s Administration. In the face of a Republican Party that seeks to redeem the catastrophic failures of Barry Goldwater conservatism, he said, Democrats should run on an “I STILL Like Ike” platform. Eisenhower was a sensible … Continue reading
Much has been made of the GOP presidential field’s newfound interest in populist appeals—especially on the heels of Mitt Romney’s declaration that he “likes to be able to fire people.” Cue the predictable coverage: Will this make Romney seem out of touch with ordinary Americans struggling in a tough economy? Romney’s opponents—especially Newt Gingrich and … Continue reading
Ta-Nehisi Coates got me thinking about this on Twitter yesterday. What if the GOP candidates overcame their fear of hip hop (and urban America, and a host of other things) and each picked hip hop campaign themes? What if they finally went after that “hip hop makeover” that former chairman Michael Steele suggested? Given the GOP’s … Continue reading
Yep! Here’s the latest poll. While Chris Cillizza (and others) thought that Paul’s isolationist foreign policy answers in the last (and every) debate would cost him going forward in Iowa…that hasn’t happened yet. And, hey, I told you so. Gingrich’s support was never more than ephemeral. Romney might actually benefit from a Paul victory in … Continue reading
The GOP field just finished their last pre-Iowa presidential debate. I’ve watched at least 90% of the 17 (give or take) debates this year, and I think this is the first time that I’ve stayed up late afterwards to offer something like an instantaneous response. It’s not that this debate was extraordinary. It’s not that … Continue reading
