As a conservative Dem (and that is by virtue of being mainstream in the Clinton era but not marching left with the new moral minority) I had posited in my FB Group "Intelligent Conversations with Liberals and Conservatives" (and I just cited this article in there if you want to follow the conversation) that we need a New Democratic Party to restore sanity and adopt popular positions like support the police, close the border, and requiring XX chromosomes to play women's sports.
Now I am thinking we need a New Republican Party, better yet we could resurrect Madison and Jefferson's Democratic Republicans, a noble pedigree, and join the centrist Dems and the sane conservatives.
Maybe instead of all the principled GOP jumping ship and getting jobs at Harvard or State U, they could just start a new party. If 4 senators, or 4 congressmen left the Ds and Rs they could control the Senate and/or House, the majority leader, speaker, and prevent the coercive power of the parties to eradicate people like Bacon or on the other side Manchin and Sinema.
I'd bet "dollars to donuts" (a phrase my late father used!) that these guys are mostly leaving Congress because of physical threats to themselves and their families. The current administration could significantly mitigate this threat, but chooses to look the other way. Their priority is creating an atmosphere of fear and loathing, for the undocumented certainly, but also for everyone else who's not in their cult. I find it sad but fascinating to hear respected pundits talk about the "potential" for authoritarianism in the USA, but they always stop themselves, and then the program ends. It might make sense to allow our fragile psyche to comprehend where we are RIGHT NOW.
I've said to multiple friends: "Don't you miss the days when I was the craziest conservative around?" But those who deny me the status of conservative are in no way conservative themselve.
Well said, Mr. Nordlinger - may I be formal with you for a moment? - (in the olden days back in the 1900’s we used to address both friend and foe alike with respect - Mr. and Mrs. and Miss, (ix-nay on the ‘Mizz’-say) until invited to do otherwise - sounds quaint, no?) B/Gen Bacon was one of the last Reaganites. We Zombie Reaganites are a dwindling bunch, rarely represented anymore in the halls of congress, as are former members of the military. To be threatened with violence by populist MAGA types who have hijacked the ‘conservative’ label is one too many redlines. To threaten one’s family? For MAGA? How is that acceptable? There’s more to being a conservative than merely calling yourself one. You sir, are not a ‘reasonable conservative.’ You are reasonable. And you are conservative.
Thanks for this profile. Many here in North Carolina wish Thom Tillis had been more like Don Bacon much sooner.
Very sad. Republican party slowing being zombified (Trump-ified?) and America is left with two illiberal parties and no sane people in government.
Thanks Jay.
As a conservative Dem (and that is by virtue of being mainstream in the Clinton era but not marching left with the new moral minority) I had posited in my FB Group "Intelligent Conversations with Liberals and Conservatives" (and I just cited this article in there if you want to follow the conversation) that we need a New Democratic Party to restore sanity and adopt popular positions like support the police, close the border, and requiring XX chromosomes to play women's sports.
Now I am thinking we need a New Republican Party, better yet we could resurrect Madison and Jefferson's Democratic Republicans, a noble pedigree, and join the centrist Dems and the sane conservatives.
Maybe instead of all the principled GOP jumping ship and getting jobs at Harvard or State U, they could just start a new party. If 4 senators, or 4 congressmen left the Ds and Rs they could control the Senate and/or House, the majority leader, speaker, and prevent the coercive power of the parties to eradicate people like Bacon or on the other side Manchin and Sinema.
America and the rest of the world does need them.
I'd bet "dollars to donuts" (a phrase my late father used!) that these guys are mostly leaving Congress because of physical threats to themselves and their families. The current administration could significantly mitigate this threat, but chooses to look the other way. Their priority is creating an atmosphere of fear and loathing, for the undocumented certainly, but also for everyone else who's not in their cult. I find it sad but fascinating to hear respected pundits talk about the "potential" for authoritarianism in the USA, but they always stop themselves, and then the program ends. It might make sense to allow our fragile psyche to comprehend where we are RIGHT NOW.
Don Bacon, like Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, Ron Reagan, and Adam Kinzinger, is one of my heroes.
You, too, Jay.
I've said to multiple friends: "Don't you miss the days when I was the craziest conservative around?" But those who deny me the status of conservative are in no way conservative themselve.
Well said, Mr. Nordlinger - may I be formal with you for a moment? - (in the olden days back in the 1900’s we used to address both friend and foe alike with respect - Mr. and Mrs. and Miss, (ix-nay on the ‘Mizz’-say) until invited to do otherwise - sounds quaint, no?) B/Gen Bacon was one of the last Reaganites. We Zombie Reaganites are a dwindling bunch, rarely represented anymore in the halls of congress, as are former members of the military. To be threatened with violence by populist MAGA types who have hijacked the ‘conservative’ label is one too many redlines. To threaten one’s family? For MAGA? How is that acceptable? There’s more to being a conservative than merely calling yourself one. You sir, are not a ‘reasonable conservative.’ You are reasonable. And you are conservative.
Thank you so much, Scott.