Althouse: "At the most famous annual gathering of America's conservatives, the chairs are empty, the energy is low—and everyone seems a little bit defensive about it."

March 4, 2023

"At the most famous annual gathering of America's conservatives, the chairs are empty, the energy is low—and everyone seems a little bit defensive about it."

"The Sad, Desolate Scenes of CPAC 2023" (The New Republic).

ADDED: Watch Trump's speech here.

106 comments:

narciso said...: Lewis lapham did this better nearly 20 years ago, it was the 2004 gop convention,; 3/4/23, 5:27 PM
Mark said...: Trump has become Jeb!; 3/4/23, 5:37 PM
Mr Wibble said...: Trump didn't do this to the GOP, the GOP did this to itself. Trump merely stepped in when he saw an opening to win over the base.

CPAC is part of what is wrong with American conservatism: it's become too much of a business for grifters, and a club for weirdos who were way too into student government. What we're seeing now is the last big of cultural inertia that carried the old conservatism forward dying away. Eventually, something new will come along to push it forward again.; 3/4/23, 5:41 PM
Michael said...: It's a wait-and-see world right now. Will Biden make it to 2024 in shape to run? Kamela? Will Trump pull himself together or blow himself up? Have we passed "peak Woke"? Whither Ukraine? Whither the economy? What's going on with Big Tech? How important is the Lightfoot loss? Hard to imagine anyone is truly enthusiastic on either side.; 3/4/23, 5:45 PM
Lurker21 said...: I see Stephen "Shattered" Glass finally got his job back.; 3/4/23, 5:57 PM
Old and slow said...: I've got no love for the Goddamn Republicans, but they still beat the hell out of the Democrats. Would that they all could be dejected and low energy. They might fuck up fewer things. I refer to both parties, of course.; 3/4/23, 6:03 PM
Dave Begley said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/4/23, 6:03 PM
Dave Begley said...: Speech is full of substance.; 3/4/23, 6:09 PM
rehajm said...: Wow. If support for Republicans is that bad Democrats must be down right suicidal…; 3/4/23, 6:24 PM
Fandor said...: Says THE NEW REPUBLIC.; 3/4/23, 6:26 PM
gilbar said...: well, if the New Republic says it's so..; 3/4/23, 6:27 PM
Kate said...: Well-written. I also feel the ennui of another CPAC and the grind to produce anger over the same issues.

However, Club for Growth is the enemy. Your participation is noted, Gov DeSantis. And I hope that Trump will take the stage and divert everyone on a new path. His frickin communities with flying cars idea still cracks me up; go for it, Mr. President. Change the tedious narrative and Make America Fun Again.; 3/4/23, 6:30 PM
Big Mike said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/4/23, 6:32 PM
Wince said...: You'd almost think the TNR reporter might mention Tulsi Gabbard speaking at CPAC about why she left the Democratic Party, accusing Democrats of weaponizing identity politics in order to divide the country, and claiming the party has devolved into becoming the “racists they claim to hate.”

"I could not in good conscience remain in a party that's under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers, led by the queen of warmongers herself, Hillary Clinton."

But noooo!; 3/4/23, 6:32 PM
Michael K said...: The response to James O'Keefe did not sound like low energy.

But, of course, it is the NY Times for whom only DIE has endrgy.; 3/4/23, 6:50 PM
Fandor said...: "we will demolish the Deep State...villains...we are not going back to a party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush...endless wars...stupid wars...we will take care of our veterans...we don't do that anymore..."
The C-SPAN connection stopped at Trump identifying "China lovers"...
Trump is still a powerful speaker of truth. Yes, he is older, but I think his last mission is to SAVE The USA or die trying. Many will follow,die trying or go on to victory. Sign me up!; 3/4/23, 6:53 PM
Rabel said...: "Also missing in action: Ron DeSantis, who has instead opted to attend a closed donor event in his home state of Florida with the Club for Growth."; 3/4/23, 6:56 PM
Dave Begley said...: Watching. Oh, I do do love his rhetoric. But I doubt he can win because so many women hate him. And we need fair and secure elections in swing states.

He just said he’d keep men out of women’s sports and stop the sexual mutilation of children. That’s the Let Them Grow Act in NE and the Safe Spaces Act.

Just said he’d make China pay for Covid. Fabulous!; 3/4/23, 7:07 PM
Ann Althouse said...: We've been watching the whole Trump speech.; 3/4/23, 7:08 PM
madAsHell said...: Everybody else is out buying food, and ammo!!; 3/4/23, 7:11 PM
The Tangerine Tornado said...: I got to the "don't say gay" lie and stopped reading.; 3/4/23, 7:12 PM
madAsHell said...: We've been watching the whole Trump speech.

Does anyone remumber voting for Joe Biden??; 3/4/23, 7:19 PM
Big Mike said...: Althouse believes what The New Republic writes about conservatives. Isn’t she just precious?; 3/4/23, 7:27 PM
rhhardin said...: There's a lot of pathetic fallacy there.; 3/4/23, 7:29 PM
Political Junkie said...: CPAC is dead.
Let's build CCCP...Conservative caring, cuddly people. JK.

The new CIA...Conservative, Individualistic Americans.; 3/4/23, 7:31 PM
rcocean said...: Want more energy at CPAC? Bring back Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and Pat Buchanan. And let Nick Fuentes speak. And ask some non-conservatives like Jimmy Dore or Glenn Greenwald to talk about those issues they agree with Cons on.

That would put bums in the seats.; 3/4/23, 7:41 PM
Jimmy said...: how boring. Another article by 'journalists'. Like NYT, WaPo et al. Being paid whores for a narrative that has proven to be false many many times.
And gee, they left out a bunch of things too, who would've thought.
Again, the lefts house organs are despicable liars, and propagandists.
I'm beginning to understand why at Nuremberg they jailed, or hanged, some of the regimes propagandists.; 3/4/23, 7:42 PM
Achilles said...: “In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution,” Trump said. “Not going to let this happen. … I will totally obliterate the deep state. I will fire the unelected bureaucrats and shadow forces who have weaponized our justice system like it has never been weaponized before. And I will put the people back in charge of this country again.”

“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution,” Trump said. “Not going to let this happen. … I will totally obliterate the deep state. I will fire the unelected bureaucrats and shadow forces who have weaponized our justice system like it has never been weaponized before. And I will put the people back in charge of this country again.”

Trump is going to be the nominee and when the democrats have to mail in 40 million votes to beat him the system will fall.; 3/4/23, 8:12 PM
Achilles said...: Transcript of Trump's speech for people who want to see his actual words and not the opinions of the Regime fluffers Ann is so attached to.; 3/4/23, 8:14 PM
Maynard said...: Dave Begley wrote: "Just said he’d make China pay for Covid. Fabulous!"

It is his 2024 version of "I will make Mexico pay for the Wall."

I am so sick of Trump's bullshit, although it is definitely preferable to the crazy Marxists that run the Democrat Party.; 3/4/23, 8:15 PM
Achilles said...: "We’re grateful to be joined as well by a wonderful, wonderful, not only political person, but a wonderful person, Governor Kristi Noem. Governor. Thank you, Kristi. Great job."

It looks like Kristi Noem has chosen sides.

Interesting.

Haley is running to be GOPe Desantis VP.

Noem is looking like she has positioned herself to be the Base Trump VP.; 3/4/23, 8:17 PM
Dave Begley said...: 'I am your warrior, I am your justice... I am your retribution.'"

As an Academy Award winning screenwriter, that’s powerful stuff.; 3/4/23, 8:19 PM
Achilles said...: Trump spent the first 5 minutes thanking people and naming supporters.

He spent the next 10 minutes talking about the border. His first policy topic was the border.

Not purple hair dick chopping breast mutilation bullshit which is the only thing the GOPe will stand against.

This is why he beat GOPe Inc. the first time and why I don't think Desantis is even going to try this year.; 3/4/23, 8:21 PM
Dave Begley said...: “ “That means swamping the left with mail-in votes, early votes and Election Day votes,” he said.

Translation: We’ll beat the Dems at their own game and cheat like them. Fight fire with fire.; 3/4/23, 8:23 PM
Achilles said...: After the border he spent 10 minutes going after Silicon Valley.

This is a huge problem and fundamental but I don't think it is forefront in the minds of voters. Says the right things.

I guess you want to save the best for last?; 3/4/23, 8:25 PM
Dave Begley said...: “I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War Three,” Trump said.

I believe him. Weakness is provocative. Biden is weak.

Trump also said that the bugging out in Afghanistan was the lowest point in our history. Only the Brits burned the WH was worse.

Gen. Miley said it was too expensive to bring our stuff back. The Taliban sold Blackhawks to Russia and China.; 3/4/23, 8:29 PM
Ambrose said...: Democrats pounce on that!; 3/4/23, 8:30 PM
Achilles said...: We will hold China accountable for the damage and suffering they have caused, and make them pay trillions of dollars in reparations to us and to the world.

Trump is the only one saying this.

We will break up the big tech monopolies, and bring back free speech. We can’t let this continue. We will take back our elections, and finally, we will always include a thing called voter ID.

All things GOPe Inc. opposes because they are in on the grift.; 3/4/23, 8:31 PM
Narayanan said...: did anybody do crowd comparison for Trump against others?
was it YUUUge?; 3/4/23, 8:32 PM
Achilles said...: These are the convictions that define our movement today, and must define the Republican Party, which has truly become the party of the working man and woman. The working man, the working woman. That’s what’s happening. Look how many people are joining. We have a much different party than we had five years ago. You were in big trouble, Republicans, and look what’s happening. Now for the next 16 months, we must pour every ounce of our energy into winning a historic victory in the midterms. We will never give up our search for truth and justice for what happened in the corrupt presidential election of 2020 because without that truth, we cannot have an honest election in 2022 or 2024, no matter what they want to tell you.

Donald Trump: (01:25:46)
And our country will soon stand proudly for free and strong and proper elections again. The election fraud of 2020 is the single most requested topic for me and others to talk about. Ahead of the border, even ahead of crime.

Trump gets it.; 3/4/23, 8:33 PM
Achilles said...: Reading this text he is obviously not reading a teleprompter word for word.

His ability to speak like that is truly amazing.

People who question his intelligence are just pathetic and jealous.; 3/4/23, 8:39 PM
Kirk Parker said...: "Does anyone remumber voting for Joe Biden??"

Who???; 3/4/23, 8:47 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: From that horrid TNR piece:

"Nor does it really explain DeSantis’ absence, regardless of his new friendships: this is the man who recently ended Disney’s de-facto self-governance and placed a board of five hand-picked zealots to oversee the company’s tax district; this is the man who passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and passed legislation allowing endless challenges against inappropriate or “pornographic” literature in school libraries. "

Removing the special tax district and making Disney pay their fair share, like everyone else, was a long time coming. TNR liar.
and "Don't say gay" language is not found in the bill that the left have erroneously call "don't say gay" TNR liar.

Trump makes big promises. Too bad he didn't know better when he was prez. The deep state needed purging a long time ago. Instead, it overwhelmed him.; 3/4/23, 9:14 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Maynard - right? The big "Like never before" promises.... ugh.; 3/4/23, 9:15 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: It's amazing how the leftwing D-hack press use so many lies ... and then call Fox news "fake"; 3/4/23, 9:16 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: I like Tulsi. She's a lone voice of sanity. and brave to leave the mob.; 3/4/23, 9:24 PM
Drago said...: rcocean: "And ask some non-conservatives like Jimmy Dore or Glenn Greenwald to talk about those issues they agree with Cons on.

That would put bums in the seats."

It would also be a stark illustration of the most important political realignment of our lifetimes.; 3/4/23, 9:25 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Heh; 3/4/23, 9:31 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: OMG - I love Tucker Carlson's bio

"Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist, graduate of Harvard College & Yale Law School. Frequent visitor to the Aspen Inst. Fully vaccinated. She/Hers 🇺🇦 "; 3/4/23, 9:42 PM
Achilles said...: So now the only move for the Regime is to talk about how CPAC had no energy and was quiet.

They cannot face what Trump said. Trump put down all of the markers and called out all of the right people.

And Desantis did not even show up. He went to a big donor private retreat instead of facing voters. The primary is over. At least Haley and Pompeo made futile attempts. Desantis couldn't even do that.

I have been disappointed in Desantis but not surprised. He has spent his entire life building a presidential resume. The desire for power has apparently consumed him. And now he spends his time with donors and power brokers.

The only question left is how much money Con Inc is going to spend trashing Trump and trying to sabotage Trump in 2024.; 3/4/23, 10:25 PM
Achilles said...: I wonder why Vivek did not speak. He was at CPAC 2022.

He has vowed to shut down the FBI if elected. He has promise as a candidate.; 3/4/23, 10:27 PM
Mr Wibble said...: It would also be a stark illustration of the most important political realignment of our lifetimes.

My theory is that Tulsi and Sinema both have enough sense to read the political tea leaves, and have been positioning themselves as the "sane" leadership on the left in anticipation of a nasty defeat by the radical progressives. It was supposed to happen in 2020: the loss of a second presidential election to Trump would have been enough repudiation to allow them to attack the woke brigades.; 3/5/23, 1:05 AM
Mr Wibble said...: I have been disappointed in Desantis but not surprised. He has spent his entire life building a presidential resume.

This has been my biggest concern with DeSantis; he's basically the same as Cruz, in that his entire lives seem tailored to run for higher office. I don't want people who've min-maxed their skillsets for politics, because that's how we ended up in this mess in the first place.; 3/5/23, 1:07 AM
n.n said...: Conservatism is a viable philosophy: pro-Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness under a Constitution that curbs liberal license and mitigates authoritarian progress.; 3/5/23, 6:06 AM
AMDG said...: What does Achilles and the rest of the Trump Colon Cowboy Brigade have in common with the Democrat party and the likes of Bill Kristol and the perverts at the Lincoln Project?

They all want Trump to get the GOP nomination.; 3/5/23, 7:15 AM
Achilles said...: AMDG said...
What does Achilles and the rest of the Trump Colon Cowboy Brigade have in common with the Democrat party and the likes of Bill Kristol and the perverts at the Lincoln Project?

They all want Trump to get the GOP nomination.

Well there is the 85 IQ take.

Good points. Very mature. You made the case for Con Inc. very well.; 3/5/23, 7:41 AM
lonejustice said...: I have attended CPAC at least 10 times when it was held in D.C. Here is what happens there. Everyone spends thousands of dollars to fly there and rent a hotel for 3 or 4 days. You go to the convention hall and listen to speaker after speaker after speaker, all saying pretty much the same thing. That's pretty much all that happens. It's a huge echo chamber. There is no dissent. There is nothing about the real nuts and bolts about how to accomplish anything. It's all just talk. Then in the hallways there are lots of groups hawking literature and stuff, trying to get you on their mailing list so they can send you fundraising letters every week for the rest of your life. I went because a few of the speeches were good, and because a group was paying for my airfare and hotel. Eventually I got bored of all the talk and would sneak out and explore D.C. on my own, seeing all the monuments, the Smithsonian Museums, Arlington Cemetery, and the rest of the city. Then I just stopped going, and haven't been back since. CPAC is dying.; 3/5/23, 7:54 AM
Chick said...: When is the famous gathering of American liberals? I want to compare.; 3/5/23, 8:06 AM
Drago said...: AMDG: "What does Achilles and the rest of the Trump Colon Cowboy Brigade have in common with the Democrat party and the likes of Bill Kristol and the perverts at the Lincoln Project?

They all want Trump to get the GOP nomination."

All you have to do is show us a candidate that will fight for the economic nationalist, trade/foreign policies that clearly about 60% minimum of the republican base desire that also WONT stab republicans in the back at the first opportunity AND is more electable.

And if you say that is DeSantis, then you have to answer the question that gets asked every single day for the last year without ever being answered: how can DeSantis deliver those policies, assuming he would even want to, when he spent his time in Congress as a Paul Ryan clone and his staff are typical DC insiders and all his major funders are clear globalists and America Lasters?

I am beginning to suspect no one on the Early DeSantis Supporter side answers this question because of the cognitive dissonance it causes.

One "tell" for that is that we hear less and less the claim that "DeSantis can deliver the Trump policies with more competence and less Trump drama".

Its simply easier to insult those of us who are wary of tossing out the ONLY candidate in our lifetime that refuses to insult and belittle our beliefs and fights for us for a candidate that is clearly being backed by people that hate our guts.

Its not complicated.

Is DeSantis really capable of taking their cash and using their staff to get elected and then tell them "Surprise! Now I am going another way!"?

Go ahead.

Convince us that's going to happen.

We'll wait.; 3/5/23, 8:12 AM
JAORE said...: "When is the famous gathering of American liberals? I want to compare."

The Libs of TicTok would have to staff up tremendously.; 3/5/23, 8:38 AM
narciso said...: You were saying

https://contra.substack.com/p/the-soros-zuckerberg-and-koch-money?r=lj90&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post; 3/5/23, 8:41 AM
Drago said...: BTW, I'm still waiting for Flip-side Inga (HBTPFH) to explain just how it is that the dems are "engineering" a Trump primary victory.

For those asking, yes, that was Flip-side Inga's explicit claim.

Oddly enough, she hasn't offered up any amplifying details. And by "oddly enough", I of course mean "as is standard practice for her".; 3/5/23, 8:48 AM
Drago said...: lonejustice: "CPAC is dying."

It's the 202x's version of the old National Review Cruises.; 3/5/23, 8:55 AM
AMDG said...: Drago and Achilles:

“Blah, blah, blah, blah. DeSantis is GOPe. Trump’s ass tastes delicious”

The fact remains that Trump is the preferred Republican candidate of Democrats and their hangers on. Perhaps you should take a minute and ponder that. In 2022 Trumps candidates ran 7% to 15% behind other Republicans on a consistent basis.

Trump is detested by Independents - the people who actually decide elections.

You bleat on about an “American First” agenda and yet you want to nominate Trump which will guarantee that it will never be implemented because he cannot win.

A vote for Trump in the primary is a vote for Biden in the general.

Are you Trumpests actually agents for the perverts at the Lincoln Perverts?; 3/5/23, 9:02 AM
Achilles said...: Chick said...
When is the famous gathering of American liberals? I want to compare.

Davos.

But in the US they don't talk about things in public. They have to hide what they do.

But they are constantly meeting.

Every giant corporation board meeting.

Every Faculty lounge discussion.

Every Corporate News media daily story discussion.; 3/5/23, 9:10 AM
AMDG said...: To the Trump Colon Cowboy brigade:

You are faced with a tough choice -

You can either support a candidate who might work to implement some of your agenda or you can support Trump and lose.

And let’s not forget that Trump’s only real domestic accomplishments as President were the signing of the hated Paul Ryan’s tax cuts and working with the hated Mitch McConnell on judges.

After that he was nothing but ineffectual bluster.; 3/5/23, 9:14 AM
Achilles said...: AMDG said...
Drago and Achilles:

“Blah, blah, blah, blah. DeSantis is GOPe. Trump’s ass tastes delicious”

The fact remains that Trump is the preferred Republican candidate of Democrats and their hangers on. Perhaps you should take a minute and ponder that. In 2022 Trumps candidates ran 7% to 15% behind other Republicans on a consistent basis.

Trump is detested by Independents - the people who actually decide elections.

You bleat on about an “American First” agenda and yet you want to nominate Trump which will guarantee that it will never be implemented because he cannot win.

A vote for Trump in the primary is a vote for Biden in the general.

Are you Trumpests actually agents for the perverts at the Lincoln Perverts?

There it is folks. ADMG shows us his prolific wisdom. Really this is just removing the masks.

ADMG just cannot discuss these points in an intelligent fashion and has to resort to lies and name calling.

The GOPe Inc. Republican has always considered themselves more knowledgeable and intelligent than the average republican. They do not like the average republican voter. They have "mah principles."

But nobody wants open borders. Nobody wants all the wars. Nobody wants free trade with China.

The Republican party is now the working class party. GOPe Inc. is out and they are petulant angry shitheads about.

In the end the only difference between ADMG and democrats was the purple hair and dick chopping crap. Con Inc doesn't give a shit about working america and in fact despises them.; 3/5/23, 9:20 AM
Achilles said...: AMDG said...

Trump is detested by Independents - the people who actually decide elections.

I want to focus in on this particularly stupid attempt by ADMG to repeat his Democrat allies talking points.

Please explain how Trump got 10 million more votes from voters than any other presidential candidate in history.

Please explain millions more votes for re-election than he got the first time.

For every ADMG Trump lost he gained 10 actual independent voters. Working class voters that were never represented before.

Con Inc. doesn't represent anyone except for douchey elitists like ADMG that think they are smarter than everyone else and some oligarchs that don't really care about the people of this country.; 3/5/23, 9:26 AM
John henry said...: Here's a picture of some white privilege

https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2023/03/coal-miners-coming-up-after-work.html

Belgian coal miners in cages

John Henry; 3/5/23, 9:26 AM
Lurker21 said...: Journalists love to write "decline and fall" stories. They believe such stories bring out the poet in themselves. Also, when writing about political opponents, there's a kind of magical thinking that somehow writing an obituary or elegy will make the opponent truly dead. Unfortunately for the newspapers, "the other side" always comes back in one form or another, and usually sooner rather than later. There may be actual victories, but there will never be just one side, permanently victorious over all comers.; 3/5/23, 9:28 AM
hpudding said...: It’s helpful that this snippet describes the mood of these losers’ meeting.

Everything involving cons has to be in emotional terms or emotional framing since that’s basically all they can process. Asking a conservative to reason is like asking a cucumber to do calculus. Or a crab.

Just overreaction and emotion.

Normals need to rejoice in that. Conservatives certainly feel that their only success metrics revolve around annoying others. So it’s good for everyone else to realize that when these morons are dejected, their projection can finally be redirected back at them. And it’s a premonition that they won’t get the power they crave for stealing office, wrecking the economy, poisoning the landscape, dividing America and hollowing out the workers and their ruined communities. Like they always do.

Rejoice, Normals. Rejoice.; 3/5/23, 9:31 AM
Drago said...: AMDG: "The fact remains that Trump is the preferred Republican candidate of Democrats and their hangers on. Perhaps you should take a minute and ponder that."

Except for the actual fact of the democraticals doing everything they can at every level to knock Trump out of the primary via lawfare which puts the emphatic lie to your non-reality based assertion.

And good luck with your "interesting" "blah blah blah" campaign strategy for DeSantis.

AMDG: "You bleat on about an “American First” agenda and yet you want to nominate Trump which will guarantee that it will never be implemented because he cannot win."

There's quite a bit of bleating going on from all sides....but in all YOUR bleating I couldnt help but notice you could not even begin to address the simple, straightforward questions asked about DeSantis and other republicans and how they will win and deliver on that agenda.

You simply double-down on the bleating insults instead of the positive case you might be trying to make for someone else other than Trump.

Let me guess, that's all you've got isn't it?

Do you really believe you can bluff your way thru with that?; 3/5/23, 9:31 AM
hpudding said...: “I've got no love for the Goddamn Republicans, but they still beat the hell out of the Democrats. Would that they all could be dejected and low energy. They might fuck up fewer things. I refer to both parties, of course.”

Hilarious and typical comment, fitting that it comes from someone calling themselves “old and slow.” In any event, it perfectly describes the philosophy of incompetence that the right-wing has plagued America with. These Tory wanna-be’s stand for nothing but power, and seem to consider themselves wise for talking about the foibles of politicians generally.

Yes, dummy - we know about politicians. But you don’t go hiring the job candidate who walks into the interview talking about how crummy the company is, how it can never do anything right… and so therefore hire the right-wing candidate for office to earn that company’s salary and use his time on the clock building his grift machine with the competitors.

That’s the guy anyone with any sense would throw out of the interview, quickly calling in the other candidate instead. But cons don’t have any sense. And they didn’t when they chose the wrong side in 1776 either.; 3/5/23, 9:39 AM
Achilles said...: Drago said...

Do you really believe you can bluff your way thru with that?

NO. They know their place.

They run the permanent minority party and be good little pets for the globalists whom they have no real differences with on economic matters.

They show us who they really hate every time they speak. Ryan, McConnell and McCain and it seems the majority of DC Republicans were fully behind sending the IRS after the TEA Party.

I find it particularly interesting that ADMG pretends we are on the same side and Billy Kristol but not Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell. This is a fascinating fantasy on his part as if they are not all obviously Con Inc. traitors.; 3/5/23, 9:51 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: AMDG said

You can either support a candidate who might work to implement some of your agenda or you can support Trump and lose.

And let’s not forget that Trump’s only real domestic accomplishments as President were the signing of the hated Paul Ryan’s tax cuts and working with the hated Mitch McConnell on judges.

After that he was nothing but ineffectual bluster.

Good reminder.; 3/5/23, 10:23 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: If DeSantis jumps into the race... the fixers will too. Trump or bust baby! The Biden crowd demand it.

No way the mob bosses who run the show will want a DeSantis v Biden contest. They want the two old guys.; 3/5/23, 10:25 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Hpudding defines normal as:

• Anti-police
• Pro-Crime
• Pro-sex for kids in public schools
• Forced drag shows for kids at story time at the local library
• Tax rape
• Biden Family Grift
• Speech codes, speech crime, mind and thought crime - if not properly leftist
• Cancel Culture
• Open borders
• no immigration laws
• Free stuff for all who break laws
• Safe Drug injection sites
• Abortion up until birth
• Pro-noun police
• Pro-lie/ Pro-Lying liars who lie:
(ie: Trump is a Russian spy and the Florida law that protects children from leftist sex does not contain language about “don’t say gay” – leftists lie about it anyway, and hivemidedly repeat the lie)

I'm probably missing a few items - but that's basically the Democrat Party Platform; 3/5/23, 10:53 AM
hpudding said...: As someone not inclined to following authoritarian rallies, I had not tuned in to this CPAC craptacular. But eventually the flies swarming that rotting GOP carcass become too numerous to ignore.

So I checked out this hooligan hootenanny and I must say, it really shows how pathetic this anti-American movement has become. Best moments: D Trump Jr’s gf Kimberly Guildfoyle turning to an empty audience of about nine clapping for her MAGA screeches. Another was groper Matt Schlapp and rapist wrestling team coach Jim Jordan keeping their distance from each other as they fellated each other on their alleged status in DC.

And then there were the Republican Committee hearings this week. Wow. Matt Gaetz quoting ChiCom propaganda as resource material for his narrative POV. Marjory Trailer Green complaining that too many drugs were interdicted at the border. Lauren Blowbert being schooled on how the Trumpies bullied private media to make up stories friendly to his flunkies - including a complaint to Disney that Jimmy Kimmel had hurt Don’s feelings with mean jokes.

Wow.

It just keeps getting better and better!; 3/5/23, 10:59 AM
Drago said...: AMDG: "You can either support a candidate who might work to implement some of your agenda or you can support Trump and lose."

That's the level of "specificity" one has come to expect of AMDG and his political analytics "stylings".; 3/5/23, 11:46 AM
Drago said...: Flip-side Inga (HBTPFH): "Good reminder."

A "good reminder" of something that is completely notional and has no basis in fact.

Filed under: Things for which "good reminder" does not apply.; 3/5/23, 12:24 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Did Hpudding say Authoritarian Rally?

hmmmmmm; 3/5/23, 12:29 PM
Mikey NTH said...: CPAC? Never cared about it. Nor the White House Correspondents Dinner, the Oscars, or any other confab back slapping event.

I've got more important things to do including staring vacantly off into space.; 3/5/23, 12:38 PM
Drago said...: Flip-side Inga (HBTPFH): "If DeSantis jumps into the race... the fixers will too. Trump or bust baby! The Biden crowd demand it."

Except, back in reality, all the "fixers" and the Biden crowd are working overtime to keep Trump out of the race and set him up for indictment.

What a magical world Flip-side Inga and AMDG have created for themselves.; 3/5/23, 12:46 PM
AMDG said...: Trump in his speech last night provided a prime example of why he can’t win. Telling the Ryans, MConnells, and Bushes that they have no place in the party is telling them you do not want their vote. This worked well for Kari Lake when she told McCain supporters to “get the hell out”.

The Fat Tub of Goo and his colon cowboy brigade have stumbled upon a new political strategy - win by telling people not to vote for you.

If Trump were a Democrat plant what would he do differently?; 3/5/23, 12:59 PM
Eva Marie said...: Dave Begley said...
“ ‘That means swamping the left with mail-in votes, early votes and Election Day votes,’ he said.
Translation: We’ll beat the Dems at their own game and cheat like them. Fight fire with fire.”
No. The correct translation: We’ll beat the Dems by getting so many votes their cheating won’t help them. And wherever we can, we’ll insure elections are honest.; 3/5/23, 1:01 PM
Achilles said...: Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker said...
AMDG said

You can either support a candidate who might work to implement some of your agenda or you can support Trump and lose.

And let’s not forget that Trump’s only real domestic accomplishments as President were the signing of the hated Paul Ryan’s tax cuts and working with the hated Mitch McConnell on judges.

After that he was nothing but ineffectual bluster.

Good reminder.

It is.

We must all remember that when Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell got a chance to Close the border they betrayed us.

We must all remember than when Trump was under fire for the Russian Collusion hoax it was started by John McCain and that McConnell threatened to support the democrats in impeaching Trump.

We must all remember that many Republicans like Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney actually voted to impeach Trump for investigated the obvious corruption in Ukraine.

We must all remember that things are the way they are because of Republicans, not democrats.

It is time the Republican Party served it's voters, not Ken Griffen.; 3/5/23, 1:13 PM
Rusty said...: hpudding said...
What are you? Like, a 14 year old girl?; 3/5/23, 2:02 PM
Achilles said...: Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker said...
If DeSantis jumps into the race... the fixers will too. Trump or bust baby! The Biden crowd demand it.

No way the mob bosses who run the show will want a DeSantis v Biden contest. They want the two old guys.

If this was true then these are the things that would happen:

1. The news media would be showing Trump's speech at CPAC.
2. They would be talking about how he won the straw poll with over 3 times the vote of Desantis.
3. They would be donating money to his primary campaign.

But none of that is happening. What is really happening?

1. Desantis completely skipped the event and huddled with Club for Growth.
2. The media pretended that the Haley/Pompeo flops showed the convention had low participation.
3. They have completely blacked out Trump's speech.
4. No talk whatsoever about the straw poll vote results.
5. Desantis got more campaign donations to his "Governor" campaign than any governor in history.

You can keep saying the same thing over and over again.

But it is just stupid and baseless. You can't deal with what is actually happening honestly.; 3/5/23, 3:41 PM
Drago said...: AMDG: "Trump in his speech last night provided a prime example of why he can’t win. Telling the Ryans, MConnells, and Bushes that they have no place in the party is telling them you do not want their vote."

Who was first to tell the other side to leave the party? Who worked with the dems to attack the Tea Party members? Who has worked hand in glove with the dems to push the russia collusion smears and sideline a duly elected republican President? Who is working with the dems to weaponize the state against conservatives? Who is out there every day telling everyone Trump and his supporters are not wanted in the party?

The very people you clearly support.

Sorry. I don't think a large portion, perhaps a solid majority, of the republican base voters wants to play your Romney games any longer.

Find someone more electable that will fight for the policies that republican base wants instead of spending all your time telling the base voters to shut up and take whatever crumbs the McConnellites want to toss their way, because that message isn't going to work any longer.

We've all seen far too much and for most of them they aren't going to settle for your next GOPe drone.

If you think you've got a candidate that is not a GOPe drone, then let us hear why that is.

But you don't ever do that, do you?............; 3/5/23, 3:45 PM
Drago said...: Rusty (to hpudding): "What are you? Like, a 14 year old girl?"

He/she cannot answer that as he/she is not a biologist.; 3/5/23, 4:03 PM
Jim at said...: So it’s good for everyone else to realize that when these morons are dejected, their projection can finally be redirected back at them.

It's quite clear you don't understand the definition of projection. If you did, you'd delete your posts.; 3/5/23, 4:04 PM
Gahrie said...: Trump in his speech last night provided a prime example of why he can’t win. Telling the Ryans, MConnells, and Bushes that they have no place in the party is telling them you do not want their vote.

And just what exactly has the GOPe been telling the Tea Party and Trump supporters for the last twenty years?

Shut up and obey at best.; 3/5/23, 4:11 PM
Achilles said...: AMDG said...
Trump in his speech last night provided a prime example of why he can’t win. Telling the Ryans, MConnells, and Bushes that they have no place in the party is telling them you do not want their vote. This worked well for Kari Lake when she told McCain supporters to “get the hell out”.

The Fat Tub of Goo and his colon cowboy brigade have stumbled upon a new political strategy - win by telling people not to vote for you.

If Trump were a Democrat plant what would he do differently?

This is why Trump got 10 million more votes than any other republican presidential candidate.

For every one of you that left the party and joined your democrat allies, we picked up 10 working class/minority voters.

We do not want you in the party if that means open borders, stupid warmongering, and shipping all manufacturing overseas.

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Go hang out with Billy Kristol and Paul Ryan on your next NRO cruise.

We are a working class party now.; 3/5/23, 5:37 PM
hpudding said...: "What are you? Like, a 14 year old girl?"

And here I was trying to do my best impersonation of a fat, impotent, under-employed, skulking incel machinist high-school dropout like Republican Rusty. You know, the typical FOX propaganda network one-foot-in-the-grave viewer.

It’s hard to get more 14-year old than Trump and the equally fragile, petty egos that love him so. Or more girly. Nice way to throw some casual sexism into the replies, BTW. I guess I would too, if I were such a sorry excuse for a man.; 3/6/23, 2:02 AM
hpudding said...: “We are a working class party now.“

Hahaha, nice. So were Stalin and Schicklgruber’s parties. In equally disastrous ways.

Keep ‘em doped on religion and sex and TV.

The working man never had a better friend in America than FDR or even his cousin, the progressive TR. But conservatives hate the working poor in every way apart from the resentment and hatred that drives them. And ignorance and prejudice, as Trump revealed in his love letter to “the poorly educated.”

Only a fool would fall for conservatives needing the working poor, rather than just using them. For a case study, check out how quickly JD Vance grifted off this demographic, as soon as he went to Harvard and got bought out by Peter Thiel.

As James Carville said, drag a $100 bill through a trailer park and you never know what you’ll find. Dangle money in front of a poor conservative and he’ll bark like a chicken for you.; 3/6/23, 2:15 AM
guitar joe said...: It's amusing to watch the hardcore Trump supporters go folks who have lost the faith. That split should give Dems hope for the next election.; 3/6/23, 7:31 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Media ignoring and shutting down Trump... and also, mob fix that Trump IS nominee -that actually adds up. It's just a theory. We shall see.; 3/6/23, 8:19 AM
Rusty said...: hpudding said...@2:02
You should probably stop doing meth, young lady.; 3/6/23, 8:27 AM
Drago said...: Flip-side Inga (HBTPFH): "Media ignoring and shutting down Trump... and also, mob fix that Trump IS nominee -that actually adds up."

It's actually astonishingly dumb.; 3/6/23, 8:40 AM
Drago said...: guitar joe: "It's amusing to watch the hardcore Trump supporters go folks who have lost the faith. That split should give Dems hope for the next election."

I am only hardcore economic nationalist and America First (term used for brevity) on Foreign/trade policies.

If someone can push those harder and more effectively than Trump then great.

But you guys never name anyone who can do that and I'm not supposed to notice.; 3/6/23, 8:44 AM
hpudding said...: Looks like someone’s having trouble letting things go. Not that you’d expect much else from a poorly aging incel.; 3/6/23, 9:16 AM
hpudding said...: “I am… America First (term used for brevity) on Foreign/trade policies.”

So you use it in a different sense then than how Charles Lindbergh used it?

If he could put up with the time it took to fly around the world in a propeller-driven biplane then surely his imitators could take the time to come up with self-descriptions based on accuracy, rather than just brevity.

Fascist Trump Fellators could work.

Know Nothings and America Firsters. What a couple of American farces.; 3/6/23, 9:26 AM
Drago said...: hpudding: "So you use it in a different sense then than how Charles Lindbergh used it?"

Yes. Thanks for asking.

You might think it strange, but the world of 2023 is somewhat different than the world of the 1930's.

I know. It's shocking. Good luck to you in furthering your education! We all rooting for you.; 3/6/23, 10:05 AM
hpudding said...: The world changes, people do not. Or as George Carlin said, “smallpox is fast, evolution is slow.”

People are no less inclined to fascism in 2023 than they were a hundred years ago. If you feel that they are, then you can’t be a conservative anyway.

In any event, the name of Lindbergh’s movement is remembered for what it was, and still is. If you really think Trumpism is a somehow improved, fascism-free version of what Ford and Lindbergh and Charles Coughlin were all about then you could at least change the name to something halfway credible. I realize dropping dozens of comments a day at a site that substitutes for your social life requires brevity, but that’s different from being too lazy to even come up with a name for what you are that isn’t festooned with fascism.

I’d wish you good luck on that, but it’s obvious you don’t care.; 3/6/23, 11:07 AM
guitar joe said...: I'm no fan of DeSantis. I disagree with him. But here are some things he's done:

"In 2022, Florida’s unemployment rate continued to decline, dropping to a low of 2.6% in November which is the lowest among the nation’s top ten largest states and 1.1% lower than the nation’s.

"November marks two consecutive years that Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the nation’s.

"In 2022, Florida deployed a record response to Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, provided immediate support after Hurricane Nicole, and continued to spearhead recovery from previous storms that impacted the Sunshine State.

"The governor had 43,000 utility workers on standby to help right after Hurricane Ian landed. Law enforcement conducted rescue operations for more than 2,000 people. The bridge to Pine Island was built in less than three days and emergency repairs to the Sanibel Causeway were completed in 15 days.

"DeSantis and the Florida Department of Health said it continued to exhaust all efforts to protect those at highest risk for COVID-19, while realistically assessing vaccine safety and precautionary measures by establishing the new Public Health Integrity Committee.

"The signing of DeSantis’ Freedom First Budget in June made record investments in Florida’s transportation infrastructure."

https://flvoicenews.com/desantis-highlights-2022-accomplishments-jobs-parental-rights-and-right-to-life/

Aside from lowering corporate taxes and changing the balance of the Supreme Court, what can you point to from Trump?; 3/6/23, 1:47 PM
Drago said...: guitar joe: "I'm no fan of DeSantis. I disagree with him. But here are some things he's done:"

DeSantis has done many things I approve of as governor. The areas I have concerns about have been made explicit many times.

guitar joe: "Aside from lowering corporate taxes and changing the balance of the Supreme Court, what can you point to from Trump?"

Are you suggesting there is anything comparable to the situations President Trump and Gov DeSantis were/are in?; 3/6/23, 3:10 PM