re: #506 iceweasel

I’m certain you aren’t ‘risking your account’ by merely disagreeing with Charles— indeed, I disagree with him often, most recently by saying that I don’t think Prager’s columns, as opposed to his radio show, reveal Prager as someone to be respected at all. But as to this:

You’re flat-out wrong. That post made very clear that CJ was disagreeing with certain elements on the right (they happen to be the ones in charge of the GOP at the moment, much to the dismay of sane members of the GOP, who you will find amply represented here in comments).

Prager is the one constructing a strawman, and insisting that Charles engage with it and prove a negative: “Prove you don’t hate the ‘right’, and prove you’re not ‘on the left’ merely because you point out problems on the right!!!”, etc.

Here’s where you’re “flat-out wrong,” iceweasel. The elements you and Charles cite are not in charge of the GOP at the moment.

NOBODY’S in charge of the GOP at the moment. There are four people who could put claim to that, but none of them are running things:

Michael Steele, GOP Chairman: weak as hell. Nobody listens to him.

John McCain, last nominee for president: repudiated by large portions of the party.

George W. Bush, last president: Completely uninterested.

Dick Cheney, last vice president: Completely uninterested, content to give the Obama administration a few pokes every now and then.

The success of the Tea Party movement — especially in NY-23 — shows that a very large percentage of the conservative base simply doesn’t feel like listening to the national alleged leadership. Same in the two governor’s races and the MA Senate race — the national party was pretty much irrelevant.

The GOP has no leadership right now and, quite frankly, doesn’t need it. By depriving their opponents of leader figures, they disarm the Alinsky-style attack of personalizing and freezing the movement by going after the leaders.

That’s why so many on the left are trying so hard to crown someone — anyone — as “the leader of the GOP.” Rush Limbaugh. Glenn Beck. Sarah Palin. Sean Hannity. Michelle Bachman. Anyone they can rally their troops against.

Ain’t working. But it’s sure fun to watch.