Whither The Conservative Movement?

Brooklynite Reihan Salam lays out his populist conservative economic agenda:

Folks Before Kochs

To save itself, the Republican Party must finally put the working class ahead of the donor class.

I am hardly one to resist a rhyme but with the latest round of Trump coverage, "Folks" and "Volk" seem awkwardly similar. However, lots of good ideas. For some reason his immigration stuff is sure to be bitterly controversial, although it is the practice in Canada:

A Pay-Your-Own-Way Immigration Policy

No issue better illustrates the divide between elite Republicans and the party’s base. One recent survey found that a large majority (67 percent) of Republicans favor decreasing immigration levels while only 7 percent of them favor an increase. Nevertheless, leading Republicans, including Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, have backed proposals that would greatly increase immigration levels in defiance of the Republican grassroots. Trump, meanwhile, has used incendiary language to electrify Republicans who oppose immigration.

What accounts for this divide between the policies prominent Republicans have backed and those favored by rank-and-file GOP voters? For high-income Republicans, skilled immigrants are their colleagues, neighbors, and friends, and less-skilled immigrants provide them with the low-cost child care, restaurant meals, and other services that allow them to lead comfortable lives. These affluent conservatives thus take a more relaxed approach to immigration, which is reflected in the immigration reform proposals they’ve advanced. Less-affluent conservatives, meanwhile, are far more likely to see immigrants as either competitors for scarce public resources or as a burden on hard-pressed taxpayers.

To unite the right, the GOP ought to embrace a simple immigration reform principle: The U.S. will only welcome immigrants who can pay their own way. Immigrants who earn high wages are less likely to need public assistance than those who earn low wages. They are in a better position to provide for their families, and their children are more likely to flourish as adults. Republicans should not shrink from advocating immigration policies that protect the interests of American workers. That means welcoming immigrants who are economically self-sufficient and who can help finance social programs for poor Americans—whether native- or foreign-born, of every racial and ethnic group—rather than relying on those social programs themselves.

This would require us to dial back family reunification and we can hear the howling. But if we have to pay more for our lawn care to keep Hillarity! out of power, I am sure some of my neighbors will step up. Not all, of course...

Comments

[Captain Hate]

A mind is a terrible thing to waste:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/02/29/the-benefits-of-a-republican-party-breakup/

[-peter]

What Gustav wrote in the last thread. (Channeling my inner Thurgood )
Oh and I denounce myself

[Threadkiller]

Michael Medved is finding comfort in Stephen Colbert clips.

Apparently they agree about Trump.

[narciso]

when tm was in the phantom zone, clarice apprised of this fellow, who I followed earlier in the first wave of inner tubes, before Carlh Jhonson went squirrelly and Balloon Juice popped,

http://www.dailypundit.com/?p=117465

[narciso]

more whiffleball from the basilisk:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/01/how-breitbart-unleashes-hate-mobs-daily-beast/

[derwill]

Re Texas running out of ballots--must be all those people flocking to the polls to vote for Hillary and Rubio. Wait . . . what?

[narciso]

civility they haven't figured out over there,

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/egyptian-lawmaker-throws-shoe-at-colleague-who-invited-israeli-ambassador-to-dinner/

[Captain Hate]

Geez, narc, I really liked that Quick comment.

So I take it Colbert doesn't call Squishved on "Disagreement Day".

[lyle]

Quiz time:

Have McTurtle and Assley sold us out already?

A. Yes, that's why the Dow is up 300+ pts.

B. Yes, that's why Chuck You Schumer has that post-sex afterglow

C. Yes, they won't let the vulgarian Trump nominate

D. Yes, their knees are sore from kneeling in front of King Putt

E All of the above

[NK]

TomM-- who does your lawn care in town?; I use Armstrong.

[Comanche Voter]

You know if the current Republican party imploded--so what?

Over on the left of the Democrat party (there is no "right" in the Democrat party) you've got the Socialist loons like Bernie, various aging Gyno-Americans, black and latino whinging minorities, and a bunch of blue state upper class snobs. There are no Scoop Jackson Democrats left.

As for the Washington DC Republicans, they could give a rat's patoot about the rest of the country. They got theirs when they went to DC, and they are all right Jack! I doubt I'll miss them when they are gone.

So where does that leave me? Out in the cold I guess--no political home anymore. The good news is that I am close to shuffling off this mortal coil anyway, so I won't have to watch the goshawful mess we are sailing towards. It ain't gonna be pretty.

[Appalled]

A Vox article Threadkiller and Cheerleader will like:

http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11135388/trump-general-election

[Threadkiller]

I don't go to Vox.

Any highlights you'd like to quote?

[lyle]

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/03/white_house_looking_to_increase_number_of_syrian_refugees_.html

And everyone wonders why Trump is leading...

[Appalled]

TK:

Apologies -- it does not quote well, but it is a strong argument that trump is well-positioned for the general election. Lots of charts, based on the assumption that the GOP will unite behind him. Here's a sample (which ripped out an accompanying table)

More importantly, many liberals think Trump is unelectable because he's too conservative for America, and that's just not accurate. Trump isn't Barry Goldwater or even Ted Cruz. To assume that Trump will have to "run to the center" in the general campaign is to make the same kind of assumptions about left, right, and center that led a lot of people to believe Donald Trump couldn't win the Republican nomination.

His populist ideology doesn't easily fit either party's platform, but it describes plenty of American voters. And many of those voters are moderates or independents. In fact, Trump's base of strength in the primaries has been among moderates.

This is extremely important for two reasons. For one, it means that many of the voters who are typically assumed to be swing voters — middle-class suburban whites — are, quite possibly, already enthusiastic about Trump. But it's also another reminder that we can't predict how the 2016 general election campaign will shake out. Because Trump isn't a typical candidate who's run to the "right" for the primary election and will have to run to the "center" for the general, he could find other ways to expand his appeal that might not seem obvious right now.

[derwill]

--You know if the current Republican party imploded--so what?--

That's the mood I'm in right now. Miss Marple and I . . . well, mostly Miss Marple tried to warn them, but they wouldn't listen. I'm at the point where it's a race to the bottom as to who appalls (ha) me more, Trump or the GOPe. Hillary and Bernie trump (ha2) them both, though. So IVR.

[lyle]

Take your pick:

http://www.redstate.com/dan_mclaughlin/2016/03/01/vote-trump-vote-make-hillary-clinton/

But I can't get over this guy's conclusion:

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/02/just_how_bad_a_candidate_will_hillary_be.html

[jimmyk]

I don't go to Vox.

Wise policy, TK. Studies show that every minute spent at Vox reduces one's IQ by one point, and raises blood pressure by one point.

[Jeff Dobbs]

jimmyk (from last thread):
For all the heat, my reading of the JOM sentiment is: A tiny minority have Trump as first choice, a tiny minority won't vote for Trump in the general if he's the nominee, and everyone else (80+ percent) prefers one of the other R candidates but will vote for Trump if he's the nominee.

Well, from my poll of JOMers:

On balance Trump is a jerk who will probably not govern well

Strongly Agree 31%
Agree 8%
Disagree 14%
Strongly [Dis]agree 0%
He's The Only Man Who Can Save America 45%
Where's the poll for James' book? 2%

Nearly half of the respondents, it would appear, would not only put Trump as their first choice among those running - but among all living human beings. Well, at least among the males. Maybe even deceased ones - it gets a bit fuzzy because of my wording.

[jimmyk]

And that is classic Vox: Knock down a total straw man, restate the obvious, and sound patronizing doing it.

many liberals think Trump is unelectable because he's too conservative for America

No one thinks that. The rest is blather.

[squaredance]

Anyone that listens to Salam is nowhere close to being a "true conservative". In fact, anyone who does not get white knuckled angry at having to listen to his pontifications about what is right and proper in the USA is not a "true American" so far as I am concerned. The NRO has really tipped its hand by allowing this one to have a say ion anything.

What happened to the Conservative movement is that they let this guy and his bosses into it. Now they are about to get kicked out of it, thus the grousing and whining.

In reality, Trump has breathed new life into the Tea Party movement, and expanded it beyond that groups original impetus and what passed for its "ideology" (and of course, it was never that "ideological" in the first place.)

The "Conservative Movement is alive and well, thank you very much--it just does not want any longer to play the patsies.

[GUS]

More Syrians' allowed to come settle and stay from the largess of the Taxpayer. And REPUBLICANS have done what????

The list of REPUBLICAN FAILURES is epic. The COWARDICE of the GOP has given rise to TRUMP.

The weak teats of the GOP has pushed a large portion of the PARTY into the arms of TRUMP.

He is seen as a LIFEBOAT as the S.S.GOPeePee sinks.

I'd rather TRUMP than DROWNING.

[lyle]

many liberals think Trump is unelectable because he's too conservative for America

Wow. What kind and how much psychotropic drugs is that cat on??

[NK]

I read Salam, sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I don't. I guess by some accounts I am neither a 'true conservative' nor even a 'true american.' A lot of purity testing goes on in some quarters. Count me out, in fact I find it disgusting.

[clarice]

Until rather recently all immigrants had to establish they were free of crippling diseases and could pay their own way or had a sponsor willing to assume that obligation. It seems a perfectly sensible idea. Generous social welafre benefits and open borders are the end of sovereignty and the economy.

[NK]

Gerahgty says Mikey B won't be around to kick. Real billionaires don't like to be criticized. I actually find Mikey B to be more insufferable than Le Donald. Le Donald has his charms and he appears to love the give and take with people, Mike is just an insufferable bastard. BUT.... Mikey made NYC run on time, he was a remarkable manager. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/432173/report-michael-bloomberg-probably-wont-run-president

[squaredance]

Well the truth is that the GOP have in the public's estimation moved decidedly from "incompetent cowards" to "traitorous enablers". One can scarcely see the difference between them and the the Left, at least in terms of outcomes.

Frankly, I find it odd all the panic over Trump. He is not saying anything that would not be a common place 40-50 years ago or so, and that would be even in the Democrat party?

Tariffs? Protect the American Worker? Caution about third world immigrants? Bring back Manufacturing Jobs? Sound like Tip O'Neal or one of his Union buddies to me.

It is standard Democrat stuff before the New Left took over. (possibly excluding Trump's rather adult take on updating American Libel law--or rather returning it to the sanity it have prior to the 60s). In fact, Trump would be a typical (slightly) right of center Democrat of 40 to 50 years ago. It is only that the country has been pushed so far left, and mostly push against its will too, these last 30 years or so that he some how seems controversial.

The hue and cry about Trump is truly bizarre.

He has not really saying anything radical at all when it is placed against broader US political history.

That would really seem to be the point of his supporters, and they are quite right here.

[Appalled]

Lyle & jimmyk

The first words of the sentence y'all hate is "many liberals think". And they do believe that Trump is an uberconservative because he talks very loudly about impolite issues. They also thought George W. Bush was an uberconservative.

[NK]

Clarice-- the sage Milton Friedman made that exact point about mass 'family reunification' immigration. Salam does as well, of course his parents were immigrants from the professional classes in a former Brit colony, so he's projecting his own background there. And that's fine.

[lyle]

http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/fbi-nabs-another-syrian-refugee-terrorist-as-obama-opens-door-to-more/

How dare you question King Putt's patriotism and fealty to this country, wingnutz?!? Have you no decency?

[GUS]

Squaredance, it's about POWER and the REIGNS of POWER and the CA$HI$H involved. Trump cannot be President, he's not part of the CLUB. And if he does become President, the CLUB will be personas non grata

In other words, the CONNECTED TROUGH SLOBBERS will hear.....NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

[lyle]

I marvel at your mindreading acumen, Appalled, but I'm afraid you've whiffed.

[Porchlight]

I have to agree with Appalled. Libs of my acquaintance, meaning about 99% of the people I interact with in daily life, think Trump is conservative.

I have my weekly pub trivia tonight with lib pals who aren't aware of my politics. I'm in the closet with that group so I hope it doesn't devolve into political conversation.

[lyle]

Do you wear a Che-shirt to your pub soirees, Porch? :)

[Appalled]

lyle:

And we mind-melded so perfectly on that earlier thread!

[lyle]

I know! Ironic, isn't it? :)

[Threadkiller]

Liberals think Trump is conservative and conservatives think he is liberal.

Looks like he leads the race to the center that wins the general.

[DublinDaveForever]

"You know if the current Republican party imploded.."

What do you mean "if"?

Watching Trump and Rubio insult their way round the Networks over the last week has forced us Dems have come to this conclusion;Republicans are low-class.They're riff-raff.

I feel like the United States of America is a Michelin star restaurant and the Republican party are barefooted,four teeth between them,white trash rednecks who've somehow been allowed in and are trying to order fries and coke from the waiter.

You're disgusting, low-class people.

[Porchlight]

I couldn't bear to, lyle. I just change the subject a lot and mentally roll my eyes at the stupid questions which often blast conservatives.

I've lost my zest for playing except I really do like the competition and getting for an evening each week or so. And I like my teammates, I just don't share their worldviews on most stuff.

[DublinDaveForever]

sorry......to come to this conclusion

[rse]

jimmy-'first choice' sounds entirely too complimentary to the trump contingent here from what I have read. I also would not describe those of us who made that decision as supporters.

He was simply the 'least worst' of the available choices. Given what I do every day you could accurately guess I am privy to some additional info that are deal breakers for me.

I spent a good bit of the year in Fla for years and knew rubio from before he ran for senate and then that campaign. I know what he promised when he was trying to get traction over crist. he violated that in the most cynical way and his behavior this past weekend indicates he is a man of little judgment.

I was working on something this morning and ran into David Barton again about two layers in, which does not help me on cruz.

Glimmer of hope is the best I can say, but the Never Trump crowd or Paul Ryan's pontifications can't be used to blackmail anything apart from IVR.

[squaredance]

Well they thought GWB was a conservative too.

W. never ran as a Conservative. He ran as a right of center moderate. People forget this. controversial issues like his medicine program, or the no child left behind stuff? He openly ran on this stuff.

He was not duplicitous; there was no bait and switch.

A large number of Conservatives latched onto him as some sort of conservative, possibly because he was not an outright communist traitor--that is how desperate they were--but he never ran as an ideological conservative.

The Senate and and House folks: that is is another story. They openly posed as conservatives--as a bulwark against Obama--but they lied. They are no such thing.

Thus Trump.

In truth, most "liberals", that is, those of the "useful idiot layer", have not the slightest idea what a conservative is the modern American sense is. This is because they have at the very least weak minds shaped by the media and an even weaker educations.

[Miss Marple]

A good portion of those refugees from Syria and associated countries are not coming here to make a better life, to escape persecution, or to assimilate and become Americans.

They are coming to destroy.

I check what's going on in Europe every day. For every persecuted family who is grateful, there are 9 young men who are alternately attacking women and robbing people while whining that they don't get enough goodies.

When you look at that, it is patently obvious that Obama wants to damage the country as much as he can before he leaves.

[GUS]

Assuming Trump wins the nomination, what people think of him doesn't matter to me.

I KNOW WHAT RODHAM IS. And I cannot say it until LENT is over.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--sorry......to come to this conclusion--

Don't be sorry me lad. You're our trusty bellwether.
If a lint licking degenerate like you thought any higher of us we would know we were doing something seriously wrong.

[James D.]

Book poll update: Deeam Doctor leads 47-28-26. Way too close...

http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=56d261bae4b01668ec061dbf

[GUS]

Disgusting people, c'mon, it's not as if they blew jipe onto some interns blue dress.

[DublinDaveForever]

"Don't be sorry me lad. You're our trusty bellwether"

UGH!!! One of the Urchins is talking to me!!!!

It smells of urine and desperation!

[Old Lurker]

Quick! Add a new reg to Obamacare to fix this:

"Doctors are increasingly marrying other well-educated people with careers, and that may be exacerbating the shortage of doctors in already underserved rural areas of the U.S., suggests new research.

More than half of U.S. doctors are now married to other highly educated people, and those marriages are tied to a 38 percent reduced odds of the doctors working in rural underserved areas, researchers report in JAMA.

"It's making it increasingly difficult for rural areas to attract physicians," said lead author Douglas O. Staiger of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire."

[clarice]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/top-rubio-advisor-preparing-donors-for-dismal-super-tuesday-220046

Add the money they threw away on him to the money they blew on Jab and we're talking very pure returns on investment. Plus Jennifer Rubin will get even crazier.

[Buckeye]

Mrs. Buckeye has been bit by the genealogy bug in the worst way, and I threw fuel on the fire by getting her a membership on ancestry.com.

So now every day I get treated to all kinds of anecdotes about her or my relatives and their exploits. Today as I was eating a piece of cake at lunch she told me that she had discovered I was a direct descendant of Hugh "the fat", but that is a story for another day;)

What I found interesting is that there have been numerous cases where family members immigrated, worked and then sent for other family members when they could afford to support them. Gee, what a novel idea!

And this wasn't limited to just a certain period of time. We have family who came as early as Mayflower days and some in the last 30 years.

I am offended by recent naturalized citizens who think it is perfectly appropriate for their parents to show up, get section 8 apartments and a check every month.

[clarice]

*very POOR returns*

[NK]

Gus-- DD is definitely frustrated and irritable with his Dem crime family teammates. Personally,.... I like that.

[Porchlight]

In truth, most "liberals", that is, those of the "useful idiot layer", have not the slightest idea what a conservative is the modern American sense is. This is because they have at the very least weak minds shaped by the media and an even weaker educations.

That is true. They believe the lefty stereotypes - conservatives are haters of women, children, gays, blacks and all minorities; lovers of guns and the military and all violence; vote-suppressors; environment maulers; would strip schools of every textbook if they could; would kick old ladies into the street to die; well, you get the picture.

[NK]

DD sez "urine and desperation." well there is some projection going on there, I doanna mine tellin' ya.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

WeeDavey, cranky and out of sorts = realization of just how gawdawful Hillary is as a candidate.

[lyle]

most "liberals", that is, those of the "useful idiot layer", have not the slightest idea what a conservative is the modern American sense is.

DuDa is even that "useful."

[squaredance]

I assumed that he was talking about his local pub, though the thought occurred that it could have been about his last date, whatever year that was.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--would kick old ladies into the street to die--

Doesn't Teh Donald think we all love doing that too?

[DublinDaveForever]

'DD sez "urine and desperation." well there is some projection going on there, I doanna mine tellin' ya"

I'll take the urine,but i'm pretty confident of our chances from here on in.

[lyle]

--is NOT even that "useful"--

[DublinDaveForever]

"Disgusting people, c'mon, it's not as if they blew jipe onto some interns blue dress.Disgusting people, c'mon, it's not as if they blew jipe onto some interns blue dress"

Yeah,I would steer clear of romantic novel writing if I were you.

[GUS]

Paul Ryan threw his Mother off of a cliff. I think he got a bill for the wheelchair in fact.

Anthony Weiner is another clean toga Democrat, at least he is when his PANTS are ON.

[Porchlight]

I am offended by recent naturalized citizens who think it is perfectly appropriate for their parents to show up, get section 8 apartments and a check every month.

Appropriate? That's the goal!

My good buddy is a Marine and a devout Catholic and not exactly down-the-line conservative but hardcore pro-life. He used to be a principal of a charter school that took the kids who got kicked out of every other school in town - mostly gangbangers and teen moms.

He says that the hardest thing was convincing these kids that working is good and something they ought to be doing. They on the other hand believe that their goals in life are to obtain a Lone Star (EBT) card and a Section 8 apartment, after which they will be totally set.

The school got shut down by the TEA last year because of some accounting errors that happened on the previous principal's watch. My friend and his staff had really started to do some good work. But the unions can't have that charter school competition, now can they?

[jimmyk]

Libs of my acquaintance, meaning about 99% of the people I interact with in daily life, think Trump is conservative.

The Voxsplaining was "Trump is unelectable because he's too conservative for America." I know liberals think anyone to the right of Karl Marx is "conservative." But they don't genuinely think Trump is too conservative to be elected. They see him as too rude and boorish to be elected, and not conservative enough for the R base.

[GUS]

I love it when a GOPeePee'er or LIBTARD MFM'er asks if TRUMP really wants to "round up and deport" 12,000,000 people.
12,000,000 PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY.

Who allowed that?

[jimmyk]

More than half of U.S. doctors are now married to other highly educated people, and those marriages are tied to a 38 percent reduced odds of the doctors working in rural underserved areas, researchers report in JAMA.

Guessing there's a bit of correlation/causation confusion here.

[NK]

I actually don't mind the conservative debate about Trump/GOPe/Rubio-Cruz. The fight is about ideas and candidates. It is an authentic debate. The Dems are fighting over taxpayer funded swag. Doc Brown is a full on commie who says let's take it anyway we can. Hilligula continues the DLC/Third Way con faux centrist shyte. I'd hate to see a trump nominee because I want a conservative v. Commie election so there is a clear choice. We will win that fight. Trump muddles it. Immigration is the hot button because after losing 80-88 the Dems knew they were cooked without changing the electorate with mass immigration by welfare cases, and having Hollywood and University faculty change the culture of the young-- the culture wars. Alas, they have succeeded on all three, so we have this tight electorate. The majority, a tight majority, but majority want full stop ob these 3 cynical Dem plots. We can do better than Trump to win those voters IMO.

[matt]

Been on a road trip for the last week. Picked up a F-250 diesel in Houston and drove it the long way round towards home.

Gee, this is a huge country. Flying gives it no scale, but driving from Houston through College Station to Waco and seeing the stream of cars for the Baylor - Kansas game last week did.

So did the endless drive from #Waco through Abilene and Lubbock ending in Muleshoe, TX that night. Drove by Buddy Holly's house.

The next morning I saw the sand cranes in the early morning at the national wildlife refuge light along with a couple of eagles and all sorts of other birds. Magnificent.

Clovis, NM, where Holly and Waylon and a few others got their start; Santa Fe and lunch at the Plaza Cafe, which has the best bacon in the world and a hell of an indian bread tostada.

Up through Abiqui and and a couple of the old Spanish missions and some incredible red rock mountains on the way to Durango. Up US 550 through Silverton and some of the highest passes on the continent. 1 1/2 lane blacktop in 35 degree weather is a real joy to drive. Did 10MPH through much of it.

Down and through Montrose to Grand Junction. The red rock country in Utah and then finally to Las Vegas to crash for the night.

The front desk people asked me if I was there for the Megadeath concert that night. I politely told them, "no".

Thee last lap I stopped near Ft. Irwin and found out where I could buy surplus Army and Marine vehicles. Mainly trucks and HMMV's, but they had a couple of tank haulers as well. Impress your neighbors! The military apparently has tens of thousands of MRAP's sitting in the desert in Yermo waiting to become targets.

Imagine light infantry deployed in MRAP's. Sort of defeats the idea.

Home safe and sound and back at it.

I did get to read Noonan's column on Sunday and I think she nailed it. She must have stepped out of the bubble. It's about middle class America getting the shaft. Trump is perfectly understandable when the majority believes that those in power are grifters and charlatans in the pay of crony capitalists and special interests who despise Middle America.

Middle America is giving a great big finger to the elites.

[hrtshpdbox]

" The U.S. will only welcome immigrants who can pay their own way. "

TM says that "for some reason", this type of thinking may be controversial? How about the engraving on the Statue on Liberty, y'know, that "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" bit? It's a nation of immigrants, and the idea that people who feel that way do so because they get lots of housekeepers to choose from - that's bs. Of course there can't be an entirely open door, there must be quotas and a wait list and a wall and border security - but there can't be nonsense like "you can only come if you can pay your own way". That's hateful, and it's not what this country is about. In fact, I don't think there's any question that some of the most rabid anti-immigrant folks are xenophobes who can't stand the idea that they might have to share. Sharing is taught in kindergarten, I'm pretty sure. The United States must continue to offer political asylum where it's needed, and must continue to do exactly what it says on the Statue of Liberty - that's what this country is about.

[Rick Ballard]

Ignatz,

He only says things like that for effect. The thinking can never be deduced from the utterance.

[Porchlight]

They see him as too rude and boorish to be elected, and not conservative enough for the R base.

Yes on the first, maybe on the second. Most of my acquaintances are pretty ignorant of politics outside their Dem bubbles and believe that pretty much all the Rethuglikkkans are exactly alike. They might in the dim recesses of their mind have an idea that he is slightly to the left of Cruz.

[GUS]

Jimmyk, libs have no idea what a Conservative is.
If you don't agree to libs everything they want, including free this, free that, abortion, food stamps, etc etc. You are a conservative and they hate you.
Libtards are that stupid. And evil.

[Safta Rivky]

"Watching Trump and Rubio insult their way round the Networks over the last week has forced us Dems have come to this conclusion;Republicans are low-class.They're riff-raff.

I feel like the United States of America is a Michelin star restaurant and the Republican party are barefooted,four teeth between them,white trash rednecks who've somehow been allowed in and are trying to order fries and coke from the waiter.

You're disgusting, low-class people."
Well, if it was not so funny this low class, barefooted redneck who is sharing my teeth with so many others would be angry. But as it is, this grandma is seeing the left fainting & swooning b/c they know they are dead ducks come November. Sad, really. I am old enough to remember when political discourse was both uplifting & fun.

[lyle]

http://freebeacon.com/politics/clinton-confronted-voter-thinks-record-shows-she-doesnt-care-african-americans/

“You know what, dear?” Clinton asked. “You have a different opinion. He is a Somali elected to the City Council. I’m really proud of that.”

The woman said something unclear, to which Clinton responded, “Why don’t you go run for something then?”

Please keep this heartwarming stuff up on the hustings, you soulless grifter. Please.

[Buckeye]

but there can't be nonsense like "you can only come if you can pay your own way". That's hateful, and it's not what this country is about.

I am in favor of as many immigrants with no visible means of support coming that you are willing to support.

[GUS]

Those who came in passing the Statue and the plaque about "huddled masses", were EXPECTED to carry their own weight.

[squaredance]

NO Trump does not think that. That was just preemptive rhetoric to get around the usual straw man the Left throw out. It was a reasonable and in fact politically savvy thing to say, and it certainly was not meant as a "jab at conservatives"--again it was a parry fro the Left.

It seems odd that this has to be explained. It is amazing how people are letting the professional propagandists of the Left (and evidently the not so professional ones of the GOP) get to them.

Republicans are yet again allowing the Left ot pick their candidates, it would seem.

There are of course issues with Trump, but almost all the stuff banted around here are just red herrings put out by the Media--if not outright lies they are quotes taken out of context.

Again, there is little that Trump says that would not have been a commonplace 40 to 50 years ago.

It is absolutely comic to hear him compared to Mussolini or Hitler--by so called "Conservatives" no less--particularly after Obama's destruction of the Constitutional order of the Nation.

These people seem to have no idea at all what Mussolini or Hitler was even about. I do not know which is worse: they knowledge of American History, or the World History in general.

It is absolutely idiotic to speak of Trump as some sort of "tyrant"--some sort "strong man who will turn out to be "Caesar".

People should really know better. It is embarrassing to listen to them.

Love him or hate him, he is not articulating anything that is not on the minds of regular decent Americans, and no, these people are not lumpen-proletariate or even merely "working class" (another idiotic and condescending classification), and they are most assuredly not "Scotts-Irish"--and truly infantile political and historical classification of any portion of the American electorate if there ever was one--a slanderous one, in fact.

They are just regular Americans across a broader demographic or section than the media (and the GOP) wants to admit.

Today's vote will prove this, as did the one in NH.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--He only says things like that for effect. The thinking can never be deduced from the utterance.--

Wasn't sure at first if you meant WeeDavey or Teh Donald, Rick. Finally shrugged my shoulders and figgered close enough for either.

[Tom Bowler]

Clarice,

Generous social welafre benefits and open borders are the end of sovereignty and the economy.

I would agree, but go further. It amounts to a progressive coup, one that has been in the works for at least a decade. Their pseudo-issues and the policies they promote to address them are unworkable and unpopular because their true intent is get and hold power. Nothing more. Conservatives see through that, so progressives hope to flood the zone with low information voters. And when we oppose them on that they cry racism. It does become tiresome.

[rse]

porch-I was out with some law school classmates last night. All former law review types. What they believe about politics is fascinatingly false.

One problem is that you can be a highly successful litigator and not understand building a business or economics beyond large contingency fees are nice. One old friend who I had given a ride kept insisting bill was a moderate and hillary would be the same.

Red passed on a sad story today I thought I would share. The local elementary school in an impoverished rural area has decided to cashier their school librarian. Instead the first grade emphasis will be on social media use.

Her sorority is trying to get members to bring back books from spring break to restock the library somehow. Apropos of the doctor story, she said that I was right that who your parents are and how genuinely educated they are matters more than ever.

If you think I am nerdy apparently hubby taught himself the details of what is revolutionary about the propulsion system spacex or whoever is using and has been explaining to the kids. Same dad who always took them out on beach to watch the iridium flares.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--It seems odd that this has to be explained.--

SQD,
It doesn't. It was throwaway line, AKA a joke.

[Porchlight]

I agree, squaredance.

[Jeff Dobbs]

I'm very very jealous Matt. That sounds like a helluva road trip.

If you ever need any help driving on a trip like that, just let me know. I've done the 32 hours from here to ID in a single run without sleep - only stopping for food and gas....

[Porchlight]

That's too bad about the librarian, rse. I guess I'm not surprised.

[Rick Ballard]

Ignatz,

I understand the puzzlement. You're right.

[hrtshpdbox]

I am in favor of as many immigrants with no visible means of support coming that you are willing to support.

Also a sentence not found on the Statue of Liberty. Dead broke people have been coming here for decades (most of our great-grandparents, probably) and making something of themselves. Being able to offer that kind of opportunity, having the legal structure and the magnanimity of the citizens to enable that kind of opportunity, that's one of the things the US can truly be proud of.

[jimmyk]

It doesn't. It was throwaway line, AKA a joke.

Not sure what line this (or what Squaredance) referred to.

[DublinDaveForever]

"Well, if it was not so funny this low class, barefooted redneck who is sharing my teeth with so many others would be angry. But as it is, this grandma is seeing the left fainting & swooning b/c they know they are dead ducks come November. Sad, really. I am old enough to remember when political discourse was both uplifting & fun"

Oh Dear lord an old smelly one is touching my cape and smiling at me.Don't we have workhouses for the useless ones,must they pile up in the street and ruin a perfectly good afternoon?

[Miss Marple]

hrtshpdbx,

You do realize that this was the law for many, many years, including the years that Emma Lazarus wrote that poem.

You could come into the US IF you could demonstrate that you could support yourself. In the days of Ellis Island, when there was little to no government assistance, the screening was done so that cripples, TB patients, those with other diseases and infirmities, would not come in and burden the county and city hospitals. All others who came in were expected to work.

In later years, you had to have a sponsor who would guarantee your support if you couldn't work.

It is only fairly recently that we take in immigrants and immediately hand them government housing and food stamps.

So I reject your premise that this is hateful. Australia has followed this procedure for years. In fact, you cannot emigrate there is you are over a certain age (55 I think) and if your profession is one in which there are Australians looking for work.

Also, I figured out how to spell your annoying name, because it is a descriptive of a item with the vowels left out.

[squaredance]

The "we will not let anyone die in the street" or similar Trumpisms. These essentially mean that "we will seek reform but are not heartless, so spare me the melodrama", which I am sure any conservative would agree with in principle.

[hrtshpdbox]

"Those who came in passing the Statue and the plaque about "huddled masses", were EXPECTED to carry their own weight."

And many do, Gus. I'm all for eliminating public aid for the shiftless, whether they're homegrown or immigrant, and for tossing out illegals and also tossing out legal immigrants who break the law. But we can't stop being a beacon of freedom and opportunity to those who are oppressed and downtrodden and who genuinely want to make something of themselves. That is who we are, or at least who we should be.

[NK]

Buckeye at 4:43-- Bingo. Importing poverty --with LEGAL immigration-- to change the electorate which had swung to conservatism 1978-1988 was the reason the Clintons pushed mass immigration through the 90s, and the deal they made with TomM's neighbors (Tom lives in a much better part of town than me) the GOPe donor class was you get your cheap labor to upgrade your McMansions and serve your kids at ShakeShack in Westport. That was the dirty political deal that has rightly infuriated americans, and it angers oldwhitelibs, but their mental illness makes them tow the Prog line. The progs ruined immigration by making it a political weapon. Lyle's link? at least the third worlders they brought in are devouring the old white libs.

[Jeff Dobbs]

MM:
hrtshpdbx,
...
Also, I figured out how to spell your annoying name, because it is a descriptive of a item with the vowels left out.

Well, he does leave the o in box.

[hrtshpdbox]

"Australia has followed this procedure for years."

We're better than Australia. Let's keep it up.

[squaredance]

Oh we can curtail immigration with out turning ourselves into the enemy of "the downtrodden and oppressed". In fact we have done this before and for long stretches of our history.

America has not moral obligation at all for being some sort of final haven for the "oppressed". Immigration should be shaped to real needs of the nation, not some couplet on the Statue of Liberty.

A very real case could be made that the explosion of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries gave is the Democrat Party of the New Deal.

SO much for being a "beacon to the oppressed".

[James D.]

Hrt, we also used to expect immigrants to assimilate. we can't continue to be a beacon of freedom by importing people who do not share our values and are not made to learn and accept them.

[Porchlight]

hrtshpdbox's name just reminds me of that Nirvana song.

[squaredance]

gave US the Democrat Party of the New Deal.

[clarice]

hrtsh--you used to be able to meet the "pay your own way" by having an employment offer--you didn't need to have the $$ in your pocket .

This is very good if it hasn't yet been posted--Trump's new coalition:http://graphics.wsj.com/elections/2016/how-trump-happened/?mod=e2fb