Republican’s Plans To Become More Popular

Ken AshfordRepublicans1 Comment

They're going to get "hip": "We have to do it in the Facebook, with the Twittering, the different technology that young people are using today," Duncan ventured. "Let me just say that I have 4,000 friends on Facebook," contributed Blackwell, putting his hand on Dawson's and Anuzis's knees. "That's probably more than these two guys put together, but who's counting, you … Read More

Sarah Palin: Conservative Of The Year

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

According to conservative Human Events magazine, Governor Sarah Palin is the 2008 Conservative of the Year.  And Ann Coulter has the honor of explaining why Palin is the 2008 Conservative of the Year, in an article more telling than Coulter probably imagined. The reason why Palin is 2008 Conservative of the Year?  Apparently because she annoys liberals.  Seriously!  Read Coulter's … Read More

Sing It, Colin Powell

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

On the future of the GOP: Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. "Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal … Read More

Oogedy-Boogedy: Part Deux

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Republicans1 Comment

Columnist Kathleen Parker, a longtime GOP supporter, revises and extends her "oogedy-boogedy" remarks from a controversial column last month, in which she wrote: To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh. Today, she acknowledge addresses … Read More

Free The GOP

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

Another voice in the rising chorus of Republicans who think the GOP cannot survive as long as it continues to coddle the religious right.  This time from Republican Christine Todd Whitman, who served as Bush's EPA Director.  I suspect she left that post out of frustration; the Bush Administration doesn't believe in environmental protection. Anyway, here's her thesis in the Washington … Read More

Eating Their Own: The Future Of The GOP

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

It seems that everybody is writing their views about where the Republican Party goes from here, now that they are "in the wilderness", without a leader.  It's a given that the GOP has lost its way. From what I read, the theme seems to be this: in order to re-emerge, the Republican Party needs to return to its roots. But from … Read More

Senator Stevens (R-AK) Who Immortalized “The Internet Is A Series Of Tubes” Is Convicted

Ken AshfordCongress, Crime, RepublicansLeave a Comment

As the Wall Street Journal notes, this has some historical significance.  Sen. Stevens is a sitting senator, one of only five in all of history to be convicted of a crime, and the first since 1981. Stevens is 84 years old — soon to be 85 on Nov. 15 — and is the longest-serving Republican with almost 40 years in the Senate … Read More

Jesse’s Grill

Ken AshfordIn Passing, Race, RepublicansLeave a Comment

You might wonder why I havent opined on the passing of Jesse Helms and his bigoted foul legacy. It’s because I was taught not to speak ill of the dead. Besides, we all know he’s in hell. UPDATE:  But here’s a column from David Broder written in 2001 (when Helms was still alive), which pretty much sums it up with … Read More

The American Dream

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Republicans don’t get it: At a press conference today unveiling the stimulus proposal, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) justified the conservative plan to give tax breaks to corporations — instead of working Americans — by arguing that people actually like working long hours: I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We’re the workingest state in the country, … Read More

Yet Another Republican Sex Scandal

Ken AshfordRepublicans, Sex ScandalsLeave a Comment

This one comes from Washington State.  It involves GOP State Rep. Richard Curtis, a lawmaker who voted against domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples and opposed an anti-discrimination law to cover sexual orientation. So, if you been following the GOP follies lately (as reported here and elsewhere), you can probably guess what comes next. Yup, the anti-gay Curtis apparently … Read More

He Just Wants To Pump (Clap) Them Up

Ken AshfordRepublicansLeave a Comment

Last week Arnold told California Republicans that the GOP was "dying at the box office." On Wednesday he explained what he really meant: If I see you gaining weight and gaining weight and gaining weight, I would eventually — if I cared at all about you — I would say: "You know something? If you continue this way, you may … Read More

Another GOP Scandal In The Offing?

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Republicans, Sex ScandalsLeave a Comment

I mentioned it last month; you may have heard about it — the double murder/suicide in Florida involving GOP operatives.  Speculation was (and remains) that this involved some gay lovers’ tryst.  Or something.  The dead men were: Ralph Gonzalez, 39, his roommate, David Abrami, 36, and a friend, Robert Drake, 30…. Gonzalez was executive director of the Georgia Republican Party … Read More