Golly. How did this happen?
What does conservative mean? It now means Republican.
It doesn’t mean small government, Republicans expanded government more than Democrats used to or are likely to now.
It doesn’t mean restrained fiscally, Republicans might still like to cut taxes but they’ll spend shamelessly.
It doesn’t mean commitment to the rule of law or strict construction of the constitution. Need I say more?
It doesn’t mean free trade or loose regulation. The Republicans haven’t been terrible but haven’t really been present on trade either. Besides, immigration is the movement of human capital over borders.
The Republican party is a mess because all it stands for anymore is that the government will selectively accommodate orthodox and majoritarian preferences.
I am as conservative as I was ten years ago, and fifteen when I almost exclusively voted Republican. Today I have major policy differences with Democrats but the Republicans are insufficiently punished to suit me. At least the Democrats aren’t traitors. I have to admit that I am angry with the Republicans almost to the point of hatred. Good thing I still have my bible.

OK, I just watched the kerfluffle of the day and Obama said something that will go down as brilliant – and took it directly from what happened in 1980 with Carter and Reagan. Obama said something about “changing trajectory” and pointed out that Reagan had done it while Bush, Clinton, Bush had not. Trajectory is the word. 72 % of the country thinks we are going the wrong direction – very similar to what I recall as the Republican line of 1980 – yes I’m old and I’m sure David was probably in elementary school then. But, all Obama has to do is fill in the blanks on that line. Edwards fell into the trap. It can only create silence among Republicans – I mean – how do you respond to that.?
Everyone – everyone – is talking on both parties as if Apollo XIII (us) can’t be saved. The oxygen is low, the economy is bad, everybody in the world distrusts us and there is a slim moment in which the trajectory can be changed – the direction turned – he’s not comparing himself to Reagan – he’s figuring out a language that will give us possibility and it is the single thing that will work. Damn – I need to go watch Tom Hanks save the capsule again (with the help of everyone in NASA). So far, nobody else is talking about it except in the manner we have always talked about it. You can’t change direction, you just defend the indefensible and pretend it’s not happening. Sorry, I was just sitting there thinking ( hence my blog name) and it felt like that moment when the Tom Hanks decided to change the plan. OK – I like movies too much, am hyperconnective when it comes to analogy and metaphor – but I think this line is brilliant. Where did he say it? California where memories of Reagan are perhaps less clear and more mythic. Hope for that capsule brought everyone together – you could feel the world praying that day – and for some reason he used a word that is about change, about hope, and can connect to everyone. I just hope everyone has watched Apollo XIII – and then – of course – there is always the possiblity I’ve been in the house too long watching the snow and this whole “moment” is because of that. We’ll see. If so, I would appreciate it if everyone just ignores this post.

Where does Obama stand on the existential issues facing our country– environmental catastrophe, terrorism and nuclear proliferation?
1. Environment. The Democratic consensus is that “polluters” must be made to “pay” via a cap-and-trade scheme. Problem is, the majority of our greenhouse gas emissions come from automobile tailpipes. Obama probably supported tighter CAFE standards (I’m not sure), but don’t expect him to make it a centerpiece of his campaign– he does need to win Michigan, after all.
2. Terrorism. Like other Democrats, Obama would try to end the diversion in Iraq. He says the right things about port security, bin Laden and Musharraf. He does not, however, talk about the need to reconceptualize our “war on terror” as a battle for the hearts and minds of the Islamic world. That would take real courage.
3. WMD proliferation. Will Bush’s deal with India encourage further proliferation? Bush’s deal with North Korea bought us a few years of breathing room– what should we do when that time runs out, and Kim Jong Il is on the front burner again? Is supporting a KGB-dominated Russian regime the price we must pay to secure the former USSR’s nuclear weapons? Why haven’t I heard the candidates talk about any of these issues??
You haven’t been in the house too long, Thinker. You’ve been following politics too closely. If you listen to Clinton and the Republicans long enough, Obama sounds like a visionary. He’s not. It’s probably better for him that way– we say we want visionary leadership, but truthfully, most of us don’t.
Peace.

Obama doesn’t have to be a visionary.
Just setting a new national tone of healing (and frankly, of closing the Bush-Clinton-Bush era for good) would do wonders.

It stands to reason David, that chaos, immorality and disorder would benefit the Democrats and not the GOP. Just take for example Obama’s Kwanzaa-Christianity. For the Dems, from their creation story to their sexual, social and political morality, chaos, debauchery and disorder are civl rights and a choice onto which they grasp firmly. Republicans have a harder time selling their souls and joining with people that they know are repugnant and evil. Clearly we are seeing that played out nationawide. The Dems literally grow in numbers in those categories just the way the New Testament described they would.

Donny, if the Republicans have a harder time selling their souls, they should be commended for overcoming the challenge nicely and without undue delay or driving up the market price.

Doug:
ROFLMAO!!!
Thinker:
Wonderful analogy.
I’d say the difference between the Democrats, Republicans and Jim Lovell is that when Lovell said, “Houston, we have a problem” he said it with personal alarm, knowing the grave danger — but a simultaneous calmness that somehow, in his training, his crew’s training and his experience with Mission Control, he and his crew would find a way through the problem to survive.
The Democrats say, “Houston, we have a problem,” but I admit (including my guy Obama) they don’t seem to quite yet — though they could develop it! — have the confidence and SPECIFICITY that their plans and programs can start to solve America’s problems. (Both with the economy and in Iraq.)
The Republicans (except, maybe, Huck) are saying, “Houston, WHAT PROBLEM?!”

As a life long Republican I have to start asking myself, what should the Republicans take away from this election which I do believe we’ll lose. Do we need to re examine our acceptance of Bush’s cloaked administration, that did not go over well with me but especially military friends of mine. Or maybe this war that we supported even though we all knew at some point that we were wrong. As a recovering racist I do struggle with the thought of a black president but to call him a Muslim is even below me. And Palin, common! What kinda example is she? She doesn’t represent my values let alone Conservatives as a whole. Just a few thoughts folks.