I've long considered myself a bad Republican. During the Bush administration, for example, I've felt free to whack George W. and Republicans in Congress for passing big-spending bills, such as their pork-rich 2002 farm bill, the underfunded prescription-drug bill and earmark spending. But in 2008, I find that I'm a piker in the bad Republican department.
Enter Christopher Buckley, the satirical novelist and GOP legacy prince who wrote a piece in the New York Times in February excoriating Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives for not supporting John McCain for president, despite McCain's conservative credentials and unassailable character. This month, Buckley announced he would vote for Democrat Barack Obama for president, as McCain's campaign had rendered the former P.O.W. "inauthentic."
Republicans Colin Powell, William Weld and Scott McClellan also have endorsed Obama. On Friday, Limbaugh lashed out at Buckley and company, as he asked, "What the hell happened to your theory that only John McCain could enlarge this party, that we had to get moderates and independents?"
"Good riddance," Limbaugh said, to GOP moderates. In an e-mail Monday, Limbaugh wrote, "What I meant to imply is that moderates leading a conservative revival will doom it. I'm happy to have them — but not as definers and leaders."
Limbaugh should ease off on the "moderate" bashing. Buckley, Powell, Weld and McClellan don't represent moderate Republicans so much as they represent themselves — and a small universe of New York and Beltway conservatives who have not retreated to the middle, but simply bolted for the nearest exit.
They had spent the last eight years in a contentious marriage marred by a circular argument revolving around George W. Bush. McCain appeared as the man who might offer a chance for happiness. But when they found themselves trapped in the same ceaseless argument that plagued their last unhappy marriage, they announced they were leaving home to buy a pack of cigarettes.
William Ayers? Everyone knows that if McCain had held a campaign event at the home of someone who founded a violent anti-abortion group, it would be an issue.
McCampaign seemed out of touch in bringing up in the midst of an economic crisis Ayers, an education professor who helped found the terrorist Weather Underground in the 1960s. When GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin hit Obama's "socialist" tax policies, here again, the campaign seemed not so much too conservative, as too 1950s.
They were still arguing about style, as McCampaign had morphed into a style-crime road show. The factor here is not moderate versus conservative Republicans, but the cool guy versus the old guy.
Buckley did not claim that Obama's policies are better. Indeed, he wrote that he will "pray, secularly" for Obama to betray the traditional left-wing politics he espouses. Powell told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he supported Obama "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America" — not because of Obama's position papers.
When Obamacons explain why they are deserting the GOP nominee, you don't hear them arguing that Obama will do better by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. They don't say that Obama has the best ideas for the economy. They instead lean on the belief that Obama can bring people together.
They gloss over the fact that McCain will settle for nothing short of a successful military policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or that Obama sees Iraq as a place where the U.S. government spends $10 billion a month that could go to social programs at home. They count on Obama to do what is expedient, not what he has pledged to do.
They tend to agree more with McCain's emphasis on limiting taxation to encourage job creation than Obama's zeal to spread around affluent people's wealth. So they don't dwell on the policy questions.
They don't care that McCain has a history of working with Democrats, while Obama has a history of talking about working with Republicans. Because they have lined up behind the Democrat, they have determined that Obama will bring people together.
This isn't about ideology — moderate or conservative. It's a personality contest.
E-mail Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@sfchronicle.com. To find out more about Debra J. Saunders, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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These guys are Republicans? You forgot those other stallworths of the RINO Brigade. Michael Bloomberg. He's a Republican. Peggy Noonan. She's another one. There's the little puke that writes for the New York Junk Bond Times. No, not Crystal. The other one. But Chris Buckley? He's just Ronald Reagans' daughter posing for Playboy. This is his only chance at 15 seconds of attention. (I know it's supposed to be 'fame', but this guy's too pathetic for that) What we need, are more GOOD Republicans. Like David Gergen. (That's sarcasm) Rush is right. (what a surprise) These guys, and broads, are just trying to stay on the Dinner List. They're like the Arab Street. They've read the tea leaves, and come to the hypotenuse, that the Great and Powerful Community Organizer for the ages, is going to win the day. So they're jumping ship. WE DON'T NEED THEM. And, WE DON'T WANT THEM. If there's a God in Heaven, McCain and Palin will be victorious. If not, and there IS no God, then Obama, being the MARXIST that he is, is the perfect fit. Wouldn't you say?
Comment: #1
Posted by: Timothy L. Pennell
Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:09 AM
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Re: Timothy L. Pennell;... Sir, If you should happen to look in the mirror at your pimply face, and you don't see a fanatic it is because you need glasses or a new mirror.... Just to warn the world... I have read Marx, and I have identified very often with the Marxixts, and I want all people to know... Mr. Obama is no Marxists.... But we are all socialists... If there is a disaster, no one waits on a paycheck for a chance to be a hero... No one hearing of some one burned out or suffering a death in the family holds back money... That man with a boat in a flood is a socialist because human beings are sociable... Necessity makes good neighbors, and wealth makes poor neighbors... I can say mine, and I can guard it with a gun; but when I have to choose between being a little better off and a human being, I find I would rather have less and be loved more... So naturally I don't have so much, but so long as I have more than the next guy I am wealthy, and I am happy to share... And it is painful because of all the need no one can touch... And it is sad that so many are destroyed, spit out, and useless, and to know if you help them you might not be able to help another who might need it worse, or use it more responsibly... I can't tell you how to judge your fellow man... I try to leave that part to God, and rather do as I can.... But it does not make me nicer, or fun to be around... Here I am trying to save my soul, and all I see are people in the same shape, or worse off... And, you know something... Herditary poverty is just as bad a hereditary wealth because each makes people mean, stingy and self centered...I can't bring myself to hate you, but worse for you, I pity you... You might aspire to be a modern day Robin Hood, taking from the poor, and giving to the rich... You are not alone... From my point of view, the poor are running out of give... They work hard and get poor... They pray to God and are blessed with poverty... They obey the law and by the law lose all they own... Sir; consider that there never ever was a society anywhere where people did not have to sacrifice for membership... If the rich want to live here; what is their sacrifice??? Is their tolerance all we can expect??? Thanks...Sweeney
Comment: #2
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:41 PM
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Ma'am;....Are you ever going to be through talking about William Ayers and the Weather Underground??? If I may, you are full of it, and to feed that none sense to a generation who never experienced the police state we had during Vietnam, carried a draft card, or lost some one close fighting that illegal war against humanity... My brothers stopped to talk at a john bircher one day and got FBI files... Any one of us on any given day might have dropped a bomb on the Feds or the Police, or the Military... We saw that those who killed commies abroad had no respect what so ever for our rights; and were we supposed to respect those with no respect for us??? I don't know what you were doing while your country was going to hell... Judging by your common attitude, you have no understanding of what war does to people, how often it ruins those it does not kill, how many if kills in the beauty of life... What you say for money hurts people having no choice but to do as their country says do even when it is wrong, ill advised, or dead stupid... To hell with patriotism... It is not just the last refuge of a scoundrel, but the first refuge of ideologues and politicians... Wrap yourself in the flag, and go straight to hel... Ten seconds after you are gone you will be replaced by another blond... Why not be a human being with a sense of justice for all??? If nothing else, you will be harder to replicate... Thanks... Sweeney
Comment: #3
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:28 PM
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