ext_306469 ([identity profile] paft.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2012-11-10 12:18 pm
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So, Republicans -- What's the Next Step?

There's been some discussion here about the right wing response to the shocking, I tell you, SHOCKING re-election of President Obama and the over-the-top reaction we've been seeing. A lot of it has involved personal idiocies from Freeper vowing everything from cutting off disabled Obama supporting relatives from support (I kid you not) divorcing spouses, spitting on neighbors, moving into bunkers, etc.

And there have been some hints of payback from people actually in a position to hurt either Obama supporters or perceived Obama supporters. The CEO of the same coal company that forced employees to spend a day without pay listening to a Romney speech laid off over a hundred employees on November 9th after publicly reading an unctuous and insulting "prayer," and on Thursday a man claiming to be a business owner in Georgia called C-Span and boasted about cutting employee hours and laying off two people because of the election. “I tried to make sure the people I laid off voted for Obama,” he said.

The fact remains -- Obama won.

Attempts at limiting the franchise and making it hard to vote didn't help Republicans. It just pissed off a lot of voters to the point where they were willing to stand in line for seven hours to vote for a Democrat. Threatening to fire employees if Obama were re-elected didn't help Republicans. It just highlighted the insidious damage Citizens United has done to our political environment. Attacking blacks, women, gays, and hispanics didn't work. It just galvanized a large portion of black, gay, female, hispanic, etc. voters into fighting Republicans.

So my question is, Republicans, what's the next step?

A couple of weeks ago, Frank Rich wrote a piece in Salon about the fact that losing an election does not seem to make the Republicans reassess their extended march to the right. They just double down and march further to the right.

Is that what's going to happen, Republicans? Because I have to tell you, you've been marching to the right for so many years you're on the verge of stepping off one hell of an ideological cliff. Are you going to openly embrace the genteel racism of Charles Murray? Are you going to openly work to limit the vote only to people of a certain income level? Is the aim going to be disenfranchising large portions of the public and telling the rest, "vote for us or we'll fire you?"

Just curious.

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[identity profile] rimpala.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
we're not asking for a "love-in", we'd just wish Republicans would stop threatening people's jobs and stop impeding people's right to vote for one thing. Tu quoque this as much as you want, it doesn't make the extortion and foul play any more right, and it doesn't make any of the bigotry right either.

Like it or not, the GOP has come associated with anti-women, anti-gay, and anti-minority policies. Distancing themselves from that is their responsibility and until they do that they can expect more losses in future election years. That is neither the voter's responsibly or the Democrat's responsibility.
Edited 2012-11-11 06:51 (UTC)

[identity profile] dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
It's so cute that you wanna use buzzwords or catchphrases like tu quoque, but I believe I said that there ARE assholes on both sides and agreed with Paft that the 2000 election wasn't as bad as this one, but it wasn't peaceful by any means, either. So what exactly is your problem with that?

Like it or not, the GOP has come associated with anti-women, anti-gay, and anti-minority policies. Distancing themselves from that is their responsibility... - They have. Just because the GOP leadership at the convention passed their platform without supporting marriage equality, doesn't mean there aren't individuals in the party willing to break that barrier. I demonstrated that with multiple sources in my response to [livejournal.com profile] curseangel on my blog, if you bothered to read it.

[identity profile] rimpala.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
It isn't a buzzword, I'm calling out a logical fallacy. You are deflecting blame by searching for incidences where the other party has done wrong. The problem I have is that it's all wrong and shouldn't have an excuse.

If those on the right want to improve their own party's image and stance on social issues then that's what I'm ultimately for, but until the politicians themselves improve themselves they're not going to find support.

I don't wish I read other blogs, I'd rather keep conversation within this group.

[identity profile] dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 07:41 am (UTC)(link)
If those on the right want to improve their own party's image and stance on social issues then that's what I'm ultimately for... - So only those on the right have to change their views and their behavior? That's some pretty fucked-up logic you have there.

The reason I posted in my journal is because comments have a character limit and my response was in-depth. You can choose to read it or don't since it wasn't aimed at you anyhow, but it's insightful nonetheless.

[identity profile] rimpala.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't say only. The Republicans can only change their own behavior, the Democrats can only change their own behavior. No degree of "NO U" is going to change that.

[identity profile] dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
Doesn't jive with what you said in your previous comment, but feel free to keep backpedaling.

[identity profile] rimpala.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
As for whenever a conservative meets a GOP's criticism with "but, but a liberal somewhere did this too I HAVE PROOF!"

I will call them out on it. And I will. Not. Stop. Doing it.

[identity profile] dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 08:01 am (UTC)(link)
Good for you.You want a medal or something? You're not gonna find me with one in hand for you. We can talk in circles all night. Difference is I can back up my points with fact - what do you have?

[identity profile] allhatnocattle.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Your facts are actually just reasons to excuse Republican behaviour. Instead, everybody needs to be responsible for their own actions.

The point is that if everyone stops hating, then there's no hate. If everyone stops shitty things to each other, that would be awesome.

Stop making excuses. Stop this childish "No U" bullshit. It's not helping anyone.

[identity profile] rimpala.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
You're clearly left with nothing but arrogant comebacks and trollish abstract mind-games.

[identity profile] yes-justice.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The reason I posted in my journal is because comments have a character limit and my response was in-depth.

Break it into multiple comments, like everyone else does. Maybe try to be more concise?

I read your post. Do you really consider twitter comments citations? And if so, do you think that they carry the same weight as quotes from politicians and party members?

Are you aware that there are online tools for generating fake twitter streams?





[identity profile] allhatnocattle.livejournal.com 2012-11-11 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
You are not only hurting your cause , but you're hurting your country.