Little Green Footballs: ‘Why I Parted Ways With The Right’
I recently did some posts noting a developing split in the Democratic party ranks — a split likely to be greatly accentuated if, as expected, President Barack Obama announces hefty troop increases for a surge-but-we-won’t-call-it-that in Afghanistan. But there signs of cracks in the GOP’s wall as well — and here’s one of them:
Little Green Footballs, long considered one of the conservative mega-sites in terms of its big readership, has a post “Why I Parted Ways With The Right.” It’s in the form of a list which you can read in full here.
Here are the final paragraphs after the list:
The American right wing has gone off the rails, into the bushes, and off the cliff.
I won’t be going over the cliff with them.
This is a fascinating – and perhaps pivotal – time in American politics.
Both parties are now showing signs of impending splits, although time will tell how serious and politically consequential each of these splits are. Each party’s base (left in the Democrats; right in the Republicans) consider the word “moderate” a dirty word.
Some in the base of each party want to purge their party of some who they feel aren’t “real” Democrats/Republicans. Some Democrats want to push the party left…some Republicans want to push their party further right.
And it’s inevitable that some on the right and left may not agree with the push, tactics, or party line pressed by those who seek a more ideologically pure party. In the GOP, the split may come between those who do not buy into the party’s talk radio political culture and those who do. Right now, it’s clear the talk radio political culture wing is “winning” in terms of dominance.
Where will those who feel edged out (moderates, or those on the left or right who don’t go along with ideological purification) in each party go?
And what impact will this have on 2010 — and beyond?
opinions powered by SendLove.to
19 Responses to “Little Green Footballs: ‘Why I Parted Ways With The Right’”
I guess I don't agree with at least part of the contention here. The right is off the rails. But the left isn't really that left. The whole political spectrum in my view has shifted so far right, is so far right, that even though we have a demo congress, house, and President………the majority of these policies do not reflect way left thinking even if the right decries it to be “socialist.” So in my view if we move to the left we are actually moving toward the center. In a corporate lobbied world there is no room for left/right only profit, so anybody who wants to get on board the market driven train is welcome. In my view, it is time to ask what kind of democracy we want to live in?
Extremism is never good, but the best ideas don't come from the middle.
I believe it is Charles who has gone off the rails. Which is unfortunate because he used to be a very funny guy who made many good points on policy. Whatever happened to him (burnout?) I don't claim to understand but it has turned him into a cranky old guy who spends most of his time viciously attacking anyone who disagrees with him. He's also lost many of his long term posters because he no longer tolerates much in the way of dissent at LGF. It used to be fun; now it's just diatribe of the day toward whoever offended him last. Well, it's his blog and his choice. I'm not going to say any more because it's rather pointless to dwell on someone so negative.
Wow, is it contagious, DeMav? A negative post written by a negative guy apparently about another negative guy……….but is there anything to it? Is it news? What does it mean for a guy of this stature to resign before the train goes over the cliff?
Take heed lest you catch it yourself! (DaMav genuflects furiously)
It means people sometimes change political allegiances. And oft become cranky and cantankerous. Hey, it's not like the evil right wing is threatening to run Ned Lamont against his blog in the next election now, is it?
[...] Moderate Voice, taking all that in moderation, examines room for moderate growth. Doesn’t address whether LGF can lay claim to any of that turf. Hateful craziness in defense of loving sanity is no mental illness? [...]
The question to be asked is, what, exactly, is the middle? What do they believe in? I think it would be important for the article to explain what it means, Joe.
[...] indeed, as Joe Gandelman points out, Both parties are now showing signs of impending splits, although time will tell how [...]
Instead of attcking Johnson, why not criticize his 10 points. John Cole at BalloonJuice made the same points many years ago. Will Obama fly in his PJ's, back to Moscow, to ignore state jurisdiction to save a brain dead puppy?
Having read the LGF view of the “right,” I am left wondering how he ever considered himself conservative. One may support strong defense capability and its appropriate usage without embracing American Empire. One may believe Bible teachings on sexuality and family without being homophobic or misogynistic. One may think that the current US government has stepped well beyond its Constitutional limits without being anti-government. One may oppose affirmative action and group identity politics without being a racist.
These are completely moderate positions, and they are also conservative principles. It seems to me that the LGF post attempts to portray them otherwise.
“These are completely moderate positions, and they are also conservative principles.”
But not conservative “enough.”
Just to clarify, corporate dominance through government is not a true right wing philosophy. The “free” part of a free market requires that no one group gets favored over another. Corporate favoritism is not market driven, nor part of right-wing philosophy. Politicians of both parties, and independents, favor it because it helps their campaign funds.
“Politicians of both parties, and independents, favor it because it helps their campaign funds”
You said it Prof.
Until we get private money out of campaigin finance, we will never get our government back.
All I can say is that I hope these party splits result in some real political reform or a third major party. Right now, neither party represents my interests and they seem to put party interests above that of the constituents they are supposed to represent.
Somehow, I have a problem with putting the government in charge of government elections. That's not asking the fox to guard the henhouse, but to run it! I'd far rather limit donations to real (natural) citizens.
Very well stated, navigator.
I used to consider myself a right wing extremist, only to be mentally destroyed when a liberal friend described me as a thoughtful libertarian.
One may support strong defense capability and its appropriate usage without embracing American Empire. One may believe Bible teachings on sexuality and family without being homophobic or misogynistic. One may think that the current US government has stepped well beyond its Constitutional limits without being anti-government. One may oppose affirmative action and group identity politics without being a racist.
One may, but it's not easy. As the current state of the right demonstrates.
“I believe it is Charles who has gone off the rails.”
Anybody who posts that feeble-minded stuff at this late date is not firing well on all cylinders, certainly.
[...] on a subject we’ve covered, but not so bitingly Another Black Conservative takes umbrage “Moderate” voice takes no stand, which it never does unless it can slant a story to the left. Joe Gandelman is only [...]