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The GOP Should Let Obama Self-Destruct
Reuters
I’m no strategist or political thinker, and I voted Democrat in the last presidential election—but since everyone else is weighing in, what the hell.
My friend, the enchanting and brilliant biographer Sally Bedell Smith, dropped by yesterday morning to sound an alarmist note about the Bolivian lithium situation. In a nutshell: Bolivia is apparently running low on lithium. Our laptops, our electric cars, the human race itself—all are doomed.
I told Sally that, dire as this sounded, I have no time this weekend to worry about Bolivian lithium. My “To Do” list reads: 1) Mourn demise of Republican Party; 2) soak dog’s paw in Epsom salt; and 3) buy more Purell against swine flu or H1N1 or whatever it’s called.
Were I in charge of the Republican Party, I would send out a coded text message saying: REMAIN CALM. SHUT UP. THIS IS GOING TO BLOW UP IN THEIR FACES.
This past week has been, for the Republican Party, what July 1789 was to the French monarchy.
First President Obama celebrated his first 100 days with a knockout press conference, amid polls showing that he is the most popular American since Neil Armstrong, even though a majority thinks his economics policies are going to land us in what George Bush the First called “deep doo-doo.”
“Negative capability,” the term coined by Keats, was interpreted by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” In this sense, America is taking negative capability to a whole new level. We adore Obama but deep down aren’t sure about his policies.
The week’s second big thing was Arlen Spectre (or is it spelled Specter?) announcing that he is leaving the Republican Party, because if he stayed, he wouldn’t win re-election.
Say what you will, but you can’t fault the man’s principles. Not since Newt Gingrich shut down the U.S. government because of bad seating on Air Force One has a Republican taken a nobler stand.
And now, in one of those turns that would make any satirist want to hang up his pen, my old pal Al Franken will become the 60th and decisive vote in the new Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate. Unless, that is, the Minnesota Republican Party gets its act together and starts bribing those judges. But failing that, the Democrats will have their filibuster-proof way.
Tomorrow’s obituary page in the Times might read:
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DEAD AT 154;
‘GOP’ PRODUCED LINCOLN, T.R., REAGAN
BUT SCREWED UP IN RECENT YEARS
I come not to gloat, but to mourn. I grew up in the GOP sandbox. My dad took me, age 7, to meet Herbert Hoover, in his apartment at the Waldorf Towers. He gave me a silver dollar. Being a young Republican, I spent it on comic books.
Say what you will, but the GOP then stood for certain things, among them strong defense and balanced budgets. (What a quaint notion, that latter.) It even had a certain sort of fuddy-duddy glamour. How many Republicans does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to mix the martinis, one to change the light bulb, and one to reminisce about how good the old one was.
An elderly friend, a native Tennessean, told me that he’d once asked his father, then in his 80s, “Dad, what gives you pleasure these days?” His father replied, “Voting Republican and being left alone by your mother.”
I grew up in Connecticut, in a town until recently represented in Congress by Christopher Shays, a thoroughly decent man. A liberal Republican, he lost last November and into the bargain suffered embezzlement by his campaign manager, leaving him financially devastated.
New England—New England!—now has not one single Republican congressman. Maine has two very good, but very liberal, Republican lady senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. The only pejorative aspect I intend by “very liberal” is their spending. They spend other peoples’ money like two New York ladies working their way down Fifth Avenue, hurling shopping bags into the back of following limousines.
So what’s to become of my beloved old GOP? Whither the Party of Lincoln?
Many bright right minds have weighed in on this, from David Frum to Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, offering detailed prescriptions. I’m no strategist or political thinker, and I voted Democrat in the last presidential election—but since everyone else is weighing in, what the hell.
One of the oldest rules in politics is: If your opponent is committing suicide, don’t interfere. So were I in charge of the Republican Party, I would send out a coded text message saying: REMAIN CALM. SHUT UP. THIS IS GOING TO BLOW UP IN THEIR FACES.
Much as I admire President Obama, I believe with something approaching certainty that his spending will bring this country to its knees. “Sustainability” is all the rage as a buzzword, but a $3.6 trillion budget is not “sustainable.” Doubling the national debt is not “sustainable.” Inaction in the face of $77 trillion in unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Medicare, entitlements) is not “sustainable.” This is math, not ideology.
The Republican Party once could lay claim to the mantle of being the fiscally responsible, or “Daddy Party.” That reputation was squandered some time ago, but it could be regained if the party would content itself with that all-important goal, and not instead fight doomed skirmishes over gay marriage, stem-cell research, abortion and creationism, Ten Commandments in the courtroom, and other such issues that the country has by and large already decided upon. The GOP once liked to call itself the party of “the Big Tent.” But America itself is the bigger tent.
Andrew Ward, writing in the Financial Times, quotes a Democratic Party strategist: “Right now, the Republican Party is the party of Southern white males, and that is a shrinking group. You are never going to win elections if you cannot compete north of the Mason-Dixon line or west of the Rockies.”
That’s the enemy speaking. He’s giving us advice. Let’s listen.
Now, more important, this Bolivian lithium situation. So here’s the deal…
Christopher Buckley’s books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir.
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How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
One Hell of a Speech
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
The Audacity of Oops
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Too Big to Succeed
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Genni2002
You seem like a reasonable man... The Republican party of the last 10ish years just doesn't sound like your kind of party. Frankly, am very sick of the blow-heart hypocrites going on about how everyone else (apparently) should live when they turn out to be gay themselves or cheaters (spouse or tax) or plain stupid. The incompetent slackers, especially related to anything finance, in either party are really awful!!
jeffzekas
Excellent post, Mr Buckley! It sums up what many former Republicans, myself included, feel about the GOP. The "party of Lincoln" has been stolen by the "other" party... as long as the GOP is seen as white, wealthy, country club elitists, it will continue its downward spiral. Frankly, President Obama seems more "Republican" then many of the so-called current GOP members!
TaterNYC
". as long as the GOP is seen as white, wealthy, country club elitists, it will continue its downward spiral."
Actually if the GOP were still viewed in this light they might be doing just fine. In truth most Americans see the face of the GOP as angry, lower-middle class southern evangelicals who spout senseless apocalyptic drivel and rally against the very social safety net that they so desperately need. The current GOP could be summed up three words;
ignorance on parade."
Find the old martini class and you might find your way back from the wilderness.
DavidDial
TaterNYC swiped my comment.
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n--Y--Xertrukgator1
Who are today's Republicans? The commentators on TV: Limbaugh, Hannity, Buchanon, O'Crazy? Are they the ones in DC: McConnell, McCain, Sen.Bathroom? Are they the Up & Comers: Palin, Jindal, Santorum??? No wonder the Republican Party is dying. These people are caricatures with talking points.
As WFB rescued the Conservative Party from crazies - the John Birchers of the 50s & 60s, someone needs to raise an intelligent voice, rather than the bumper sticker, hypocritical punch lines currently being served up by second and third rate minds.
Mystrohan
Just out of curiosity, do you really see Santorum as an up-and-comer? I thought he was rather definitively rejected in 2006. After all, an 18% loss - by an incumbent, no less - would seem to signal a pretty solid repudiation.
MaryJo1451
It's "blow hard," not blow-heart.
dwurry
Duh? What do you think the Democrats did.
Buckley, How many Democrats does it take to send a text message? 2 Hillary Clinton had to text Polosi to keep her from blowing up in the White House driveway after she learned about the Bush administration's involvement in 9/11. What did she say? Don't worry Nancy, this one will blow up in their face.
I was working for MITRE on an NSA assigment in Maryland at the time. "BU** SH** is going to be hitting the fan for so long we won't even remember TARP when it's all over.
bigwurzz
But seriously what about the lithium. Did the editors cut that? I need to know about the lithium!!!
rahrah
Good one, Buckley.
I too voted D in November, but you're right. Everyone's screaming and yelling about the end of the Republican Party (which, in its current incarnation, is a good thing). The general 'They' do not seem to realize that the quickest cure will be an Obama failure which won't give the R's the beneficial karmic and reforming kick in the ass that our fickle nation so desperately needs. Well, maybe Rush does...his career might depend on it.
boatscain2003
Another great post from Mr. Buckley. I agree that something needs to be done in the Republican party to keep it from tanking all together. I'm left of center and a registered Democrat but I value our 2 party system and don't see as much in the way of intelligent debate shaping American political views as I have in the past. It's a true shame that people like Christopher Buckley's father aren't speaking for them as much and as loudly as they have in the past. Then again, with the Bush Administration making it a tough sell, who can blame them? Instead we have people like Rush Limbaugh and the like driving wedges with ridiculous commentary and it's just not helping the conservative case. Our country got what it wanted with the November elections and there's a chance that our President and the Democrats could fail. Mr. Buckley is right to suggest the Republicans should calm down. The Democrats have the reigns now and if we don't succeed then it's possible the 2010 and 2012 elections will probably reflect it. What really needs to happen is a movement away from social issues as a clear determining factor for people. Can someone be vehemently pro-life and pro-social programs at the same time? Of course they can. I know that when I ask someone who is chiefly pro-life about a lot of pillars of the Democratic party without saying that they are I more often than no get a left leaning answer but they still insist on voting for a Republican. What a horrible way to establish a voting record. I'd like to see Mr. Buckley do a piece about repairing the Republican party. I think it would be a great posting with a a list of valid points and a clear path. I also think it would be greatly ignored by the people who need to pay attention to it the most. Thank you for your insight, nonetheless.
diogeron
So, the GOP just elevated Jeff Sessions to replace Specter on the Judiciary Committee, thereby reinforcing the point Buckley makes: The GOP is now a party of white southerners. There are no more moderates in the GOP and the conservatives are not the "get the government out of our lives" libertarian leaning types like Barry Goldwater, who was pro-choice and an advocate of separation of church and state. No, this bunch of GOP leaders are intrusive "get government in people's lives" when it comes to those issues and Obama wouldn't have had to do what he is doing if Bush hadn't squandered the huge surplus Clinton left him and drove the economy into the ditch, managing to wreck the financial system in the process.
Now the GOP is ramping up to oppose anybody Obama chooses to replace Souter. At some point, maybe someone will tell the GOP leadership and rank and file that a consistent mantra of "No" does not constitute an alternative policy to the president's ambitious agenda.
MaryJo1451
Bill Clinton's huge surplus? And what about Barney Frank's (D) and Chris Dodd's (D) role in "driving the economy into the ditch?" And are the rising unemployment numbers and falling housing prices part of the president's "ambitious agenda?"
Kestrel10
Diogeron makes a great point. The Republican party over the past ten years has been pushing for a limited federal government, but it has often advocated for policies that expanded federal power.
The Patriot Act was incredible expansion of federal power and it undermined Americans constitutional protections. Republicans don't trust the government to regulate derivatives, but it invites the federal government to ease drop unwarranted on our phone calls. This is not limited government. Conservatives have been so worried about protecting their guns, they forgot to protect their freedom.
The Terry Schiavo fiasco is another great example. Congress passed a law in effort to upend a decision that have always been made at the state level. It got personally involved in a private matter. A number of people I know were terrified by this action because they realized that they would have to make similar decisions in their lives and they didn't want Congress to get involved. This is not an example of a limited government. A number of the hot button social issues promoted by conservatives would also federal authority and power.
Freedom, personal responsibility, and personal choice are good. If the Republican party ditched its misguided social agenda it might make some new friends.
Banjo1
Between Buckley and McCain's daughter, the Daily Beast has the full range of RINO opinion covered. Um, Tina? Is Mark Steyn too expensive?
boatscain2003
Banjo1,
That's exactly the myopic thinking that's hurting Republican efforts. Purging isn't going to help you gain numbers. I do like how this basic mathematical logic goes ignored and the numbers shrink. What would be so wrong with backing up people who are concerned with the conservative agenda as opposed to calling them RINO's? One should note how Arlen Specter was welcomed with open arms. So were his voters. Keep it up Banjo1! We love the help.
easton
Exactly, if Christopher Buckley is considered a RINO then the Republicans are doomed. If anything, Christopher Buckley should be the definition of the Real Republican; fiscally conservative, managerially competent, rational.
Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh are the true enemies of Conservatism.
janet1003mn
Ah, boatscain2003, let 'em keep up the RINO call. When reasonable and real conservatives do get their act together and ditch the Banjo1s of the party, there will be a renaming contest anyway. So see? They really might be RINOs after all! With apologies to Lincoln, TR, etc., Republican as a brand is just too tainted to keep.
lmktacwa
every time I see your monikor Banjo1... I hear that ol' banjo music from Deliverance... your monikor becomes you. And I agree w/ boatscain2003, keep it up... dig that hole... don't let the door hit you... you are too cute by half.
briancraig
"if Christopher Buckley is considered a RINO then the Republicans are doomed"
Anyone who claims to be a Republican and voted for Obama and actively endorsed the man is either a RINO or a naive fool. I know Mr. Buckley's a smart man, so that leaves only the other alternative.
jglass54
Amen on that, lmktacwa! I like to think of Banjo1 as the Joe the Plumber of The Daily Beast.
inexpugnable0199
@briancraig:
This guy's dad practically invented modern conservatism. If Buckley's a RINO, then it is the term Republican that has changed its meaning. The very fact that the "Party of Lincoln" primarily consists of white, southern, bigots whose daddies hated Lincoln's guts is either ironic or more likely absurd.
briancraig
Yes, William Buckley was one of the founders of modern conservatism and there are few men in history who I admire more. That doesn't give his son a pass when he does something foolish like endorse Obama.
A conservative who voted for Obama (like Christopher Buckley) either doesn't understand the principles espoused by William Buckley or they didn't understand Obama.
AlwaysOptimistic
I have been an Independent for over 30 years, voting for many Republicans over the years. However, I have been quite dismayed over the past decade by the power the Christian Evangelicals have had in the party. I am convinced that the term "separation of church and state" is no longer important to the GOP. This is disturbing. But what has really become disturbing is the Republican party has seemingly become the party of "mean". Though the party continues to, and rightly so, hold up their hero Ronald Regan as an example of conservative values, most of the current GOP leaders have forgotten what a "gentlemen" this President was. As long as the GOP continue to be hijacked by the Christian right, and to be filled with nothing but vitriol in their rhetoric, this Independent will be voting for Democrats.
inexpugnable0199
Reagan has become a mythic figure. The real Reagan shamelessly pandered to the Moral Majority, raised taxes, sold arms to Iran, and illegally fought a proxy war in Central America. He had some good points, as well, but hagiography is not history.
JayneO
If liberal or moderate Republicans not associated with the Christian right is what people want, why was Christopher Shays rejected? Why was Specter losing his primary bid based on his stimulus vote? Specter's opposition is mainly a fiscal conservative - not a social conservative. Why are RINOs not proudly pointing to Schwarzenegger as an example of good governance?
useburners
Don't place that gift at my white-anglo-suburban-born-again-republican feet! I refuse to accept it. Not-necessarily-Christian Eric Hoffer once said (and I am paraphrasing), "man's yearning for freedom foments chaos. Man's yearning for order destroys freedom."
What we have going on now is chaos. A little restraint of Christian morals could have done us well here. Oh well. We'll see where this leads us. I am stocking up on guns and ammo for the coming riots.
mindlessmissy
Whither the Party of Lincoln?
------------------------------
Sucking on Reagan's TITS ...
Banjo1
Yes, Democrats would like nothing better than for the other party to take on their views. A one-party state led by a Dear Leader is their idea of nirvana.
JohnnyAces
Kettle black, look who's calling.....
dm10003
banjo1 "would like nothing better than for the other party to take on their views."
lmktacwa
Deliverance - Dueling Banjo's w/ himself...
Sempronia
Wouldn't it be great if Banjo turned out to be an intelligent liberal with a deep-seated sense of irony who just enjoyed making asinine comments confirming everyone else's distaste for right-wing purists and especially to rile up sensitive left-wing readers? I'll be he's having a high old time ruffling our feathers and secretly wishing he had a life...
DeaconDrJones
Absurd. The last thing I want is a bunch of conservatives hijacking my liberal party. Stay on your side and we'll stay on ours and maybe elections will seem like choices instead of two warring corporatist armies similar in every way except the colors they wear.
SteveStone
"Much as I admire President Obama, I believe with something approaching certainty that his spending will bring this country to its knees." The country was already on its knees, thanks to the ministrations of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney.
Now it's simply trying to hold its head up.
gator1
Maybe it's time for "A Republican Carol". Sean Hannity is visited by three ghosts: Teddy Roosevelt (Republican past), Dick Cheney. (Republican present), Rick Santorum (Republican yet to come - the really scary one). Otherwise, Sean will end up walking the Earth forever being nothing but an invisible and lonely ghost, like his deceased friend Rush Limbaugh.
liviapeacock
Mr. Buckly,
To hint that the Obama administration is bringing our country to its knees is a bold face distortion of what he inherited and is attempting to fix. You more than most know what a mess he was left with, so get off your band-wagon of doom and gloom and support the guy.
This is irresponsible and an easy direction; you're better than this.
snschick
He's right. i support Obama and his ideas but I also recognize that there is a possibility that he may be wrong. He should be given a full chance to fulfill all of his campaign promises and his bold new ideas. I hope he is right all will be well very soon,
But, it is possible that he is wrong. That being said, since we won't really know for a few years I agree with Buckley that SHUT UP is what I really want the Republicans to do.
inexpugnable0199
Joseph Schumpeter (sp?) used to say something like," vote for the guy that promises the least - he'll be the least disappointing" Obama's doing fine. It is the Democrats who need to step back and let the Repubs destroy themselves.
JayneO
What he inherited? Why do you people act as if Obama just appeared on the scene. He's been in politics his whole adult life, barring a brief stint as an employee at a company in which he felt that he was "behind enemy lines" (Dreams of My Father). Instead of being on the side of ACORN and pushing banks to make shaky loans, perhaps he could have been advocating something more responsible. Following that up with wowing the Democrats at Kerry's convention, and his time in the senate, he had a platform to speak up. Remind me again of which spending bills he voted against, which regulations he advocated, which Fannie Mae officers he called out? He got his just inheritance which he helped create, and he's pretty pleased to use this crisis as his Chicago thug Rahm has explained to do things you couldn't otherwise get away with.
gator1
Actually, I think Bobby Jindal would make a scarier Republican-yet-to-come than Rick Santorum.....
LeighBeast
About that budget, "Daddy Party" --- Common wisdom is: You've got to spend money to make money. Fill in the gaps with financial infusion and watch it grow. We all benefit.
Republicans are narrow-minded and visionless. That's their biggest problem(s).
dm10003
the "daddy party" wants to screen my prom date. trouble is, i'm an adult, and he's not my daddy.
baptox
Um, dm10003, If you're a Sarah Palinesque trailer park Alaskan republican or a banjo-picking, guns'n'suds southern republican, he's your daddy and your prom date. Get used to it. It's the state of the party.
DeaconDrJones
Republicans: spend all the money blowing things up and restricting my rights to bang who I want
Democrats: investing in people and infrastructure
Tough decision.
GoodDay
Let's face it - the Republican Party still has its head up George W's hinder. But ever since the George W. Bush economic collapse of October, 2008, Bush ain't too popular with the rest of us.
trisha08
Yet, the GOP now has Jeb Bush on the case as part of their new rebranding committee. Sigh. They just don't learn, do they? No More Bush!!!!!
squiggy
Spot on. GOP should be formulating a plan at this moment to regulate business, protect the country and trim the fed government to the bone. They should be figuring out how to turn over the responsibilities to the states and letting them tax and offer entitlement programs according to local level need. Make the Congress work for their people at home and not get lost in national politics and money.
Caradog
Goddam it, Buckley, get that hat off your head and throw it INTO THE RING! Don't let Chris Shays' bank balance frighten you - let's put on a show. Define the new, true Rock-a-fella Republican.
hithere3
He's too nice.
The GOP has sown such hatred (for liberals and liberal ideas) in its faithful that to win an election, Republicans must spit poison at everything from intellectualism to fine art. Brains and beauty are not exactly anathema to Mr. Buckley. Look at his wife.
There's also the little matter of religion. Republicans are intolerant of non-religious or non-traditionally religious people. Buckley would be much happier with the GOP if it rid itself of a social-issues agenda.
Thank you.
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