The Mitt Romney Republicans or The Slobs vs. the Snobs « 2016

Remember the classic comedy, Caddyshack, where everything basically was about a clash of civilizations, the Slobs vs. the Snobs? That is what is happening in the GOP. Like Bill Murray’s classic character, the ‘snobs’ are becoming unhinged.

Paul Krugman wrote:

“…There has been a lot of buzz over the past few days about an article by Kevin Williamson in National Review, vigorously defended by other members of the magazine’s staff, denying that the white working class — “the heart of Trump’s support” — is in any sense a victim of external forces. A lot has gone wrong in these Americans’ lives — “the welfare dependency, the drug and alcohol addiction, the family anarchy” — but “nobody did this to them. They failed themselves.”

O.K., we’re just talking about a couple of writers at a conservative magazine. But it’s obvious, if you look around, that this attitude is widely shared on the right. When Mitt Romney spoke about the 47 percent of voters who would never support him because they “believe that the government has a responsibility to take care of them,” he was channeling an influential strain of conservative thought. So was Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House, when he warned of a social safety net that becomes “a hammock that lulls able-bodied people to lives of dependency and complacency.”…”

I was listening to Amanda Carpenter on CNN. For those who don’t know her, she worked for Jim DeMint. She’s declared war on anyone who says they support Donald Trump, calling them out – to destroy them, to blackball them. She is joined by Erick Erickson and Mark Levin and Glenn Beck. These aren’t the most stable individuals, but they are true believers, the ones who have made the GOP so miserable it became a joke. I’m so tired of this. They began creating this toxic atmosphere eight years ago. They are ceaseless with their nastiness, vitriol, and pure hatred of anyone who dares not be ideologically pure. As a Republican, I’m tired of this. I’m tired of having to deal with them. Because they control certain segments of the talk show world, they control the message. They bullied us with Romney, and now they are going to do anything to hold on to their power.

You see, it isn’t really about Donald Trump. I don’t live or die by Trump. He wasn’t my first choice or even my second choice. It is about breaking the choke-hold Charles & David Koch have on the GOP and destroying their miserable influence which goes all the way down to the state level. I’m tired of it. They have basically turned the GOP into a heartless caricature of mean, nasty old white men who are only interested in themselves.

I don’t like the anti-immigration proponents who are supporting Trump. But what I like is the split that is occurring within the hard right ranks. It needs to happen in order to be able to attempt to rid the GOP of the Erick Erickson bullies. And – they are bullies. Trust me, I know. They are relentless and will do their best to destroy anyone who gets in their way. Trust me, I know that, very well. At least, their repulsive ugliness is finally starting to surface.

What I want is my old GOP back from the dead. There are two Republicans I use to judge another Republican. When I don’t know what to do, they are the only ones whose endorsement I trust. They are Rudy Giuliani and New Gingrich. I consider people like this the heart and soul of what the GOP once was. They are the voice or reason.

Ben Shapiro has an interesting column where he breaks down the numbers. If 40% of Republicans support Trump, who is not conservative, and 40% of Americans are supporting Hillary, this means that at least 60% of Americans no longer support the Erick Erickson version of Conservative. The Mitt Romney – Koch Brothers version of the GOP has lost. The Slobs vs. the Snobs fight is about the heart and soul of the GOP, and the people I want to see lose, are doing just that.

I seem to remember that the slobs won.

One of the good things about having been around politics all my life is that I remember back in 1980 when the GOP nominee was treated like dirt by the same ilk who are trying to destroy Trump. They also lost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!