10 Days That Shook The World: The Czar Must Go (UPDATES)

I switched on my computer this morning, my dislike for analogies aside, feeling like I was experiencing 10 days that shook the world, but having trouble figuring out who was Kerensky, Lenin, Trotsky, etc., and knowing I’m not even up to John Reed’s reporting. I think, however, I do know who is Czar Nicholas.

Broad and broadening swaths of Americans are disappointed, at best, disgusted, at worst, with many of our politicians, Democrats and Republicans, generalizing to all a pecuniary and even unpatriotic narrow selfishness and regal unconcern.

The word “budget” seems to only apply to the peoples' needs and not to restraints on the rulers. Throw them all out seems to be the peoples’ message from the generic polling.

The word “sacrifice” seems to only apply to our brave service volunteers on the front lines and not to the political programs and the easy-chair comforts of those at home being protected from an existential threat and reality.

The word “reform” seems to only apply to further impeding the upward climb of our own citizen poor and not to the businesses and middle and upper class profiteering from out-of-control immigration only to be made worse by new leniencies and properly suspect follow-through on border and employer barriers.

The current discussion among leading conservatives over how to reshape the Republican Party, or to even abandon it for now, is interesting and important. I personally believe it may be looked back upon as 10 days that shook the Republican Party.

A consensus is emerging that conservatives must engage in the battle for worthwhile candidates and policies at the grassroots level that will carry the message of integrity demanded all the way through the halls and salons of imperial Washington. Current Republican leadership better get on board or be thrown off. The train is leaving the station. (Closest I could get to a Finland Station -- not Helsinki, as I previously wrote -- metaphor!)

I’ll steer you to some of the latest discussion below. Like me, you may see many distinctions made without a difference, except that the Czar and court must go.

Mark Tapscott

Jim Geraghty

Hugh Hewitt

Ed Morrissey, and again

Smoke On The Water (A smart blogger voice)

Steve Bainbridge
(Anyone who thinks during 1974-1980 “the larger point is that the country managed to muddle along,” needs some serious tutorials in history, and current tragedies – domestic and abroad – that we’re still suffering as a result.)

ALSO, see the ever-prescient Peggy Noonan.

AND a rant from a friend:

It is hoped that revitalized Republicans will, for
once, learn there's more to this than bashing
democrats, or pandering to hometown colloquial
interests, or even posturing as a statesman and
reaching wonderful photo-op agreements with democrats.
When in the hell is the Republican party going to
get down to the basics and tell American public what
it is selling? Perhaps it doesn't know any more?
It's the old marketing/advertising watchword:
features and benefits. WHAT are you selling and HOW
does it benefit consumer. Damn Republican Party can't
sell squat and probably doesn't care; too
self-mesmerized by partisan politics. Many may not
even know what it is they're selling. If Republicans
designed and manufactured the best car in the world,
and an amazingly low price, they'd leave the
merchandise in the backlot, and put out signs in the
front say "GM sucks!" and "Fords are for weenies."
They would also limit advertising to "Our car is a
nice car" and "Our car starts and stops on its own."
I have no idea what stupid virus has infected the
Republican Party but it goes back a long way. Bush
Sr. got Arkansas fats elected in '92, running an
amazingly insipid and boring campaign. Repeat in '96
with Dole. Bush was NOT elected in 2000 or 2004.
Gore LOST and Kerry lost to the Swift Boat guys, the
internet, and cable news. Bush never won yet he could
have and should have won going away.
Rove, Matalin, etc. seem obsessed with poll data
and shadow-puppet posturing to appeal to these
invisible pollees. Republicans seem entranced with
the ballet of deal-cutting and accomodation-politics,
having forgotten another constituency: US voters and
citizens. Bush's Monday speech had all the impact of
listening to a phone recorded message.
It makes you wonder if the those posing and
posturing as Republicans even know what it is they
were once supposed to be about.

ADDITIONAL from Tapscott (at post above):
Well, an argument he clearly considers to be of about the same weight as a gnat. I am referring, of course, to my own, above, and Master Hewitt's lengthy, detailed and passionate response. I have to confess that every time I've read a response from Hugh, Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters and Jim Geraghty at NRO, I've found myself nodding in agreement and being tremendously impressed with the strength and reasonableness of their arguments.

A partial explanation for that is undoubtedly the fact that I've grown up as a conservative Republican, beginning with Reagan's speech for Goldwater in 64 and continuing through my own service to President Reagan during the 1980s and during my years at The Heritage Foundation, which is to conservative thinking what the library in Alexandria was to learning for the Ancients.

But I keep coming back to this one undeniable fact: The GOP has for three decades talked the talk before the election but then mostly run the other way after the ballots are counted. Maybe I am, as Bruce Kesler first suggested, suffering from battle fatigue.

More likely, mine is but one small voice among the many in the Blogosphere who love this country devoutly and only wish to see its priceless freedoms nurtured and protected. It's been a great discussion that has certainly helped me clarify my own thinking on these matters and I suspect that of a lot of other folks.