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Michael Steele on the role of the “loyal opposition”

On FoxNews Sunday with Chris Wallace:

“I think the other thing that I’ve found that’s been lacking over the last four years, especially the last two cycles–’06 and ’08—we don’t know how to talk to people. We’ve absolutely forgotten how to communicate a message … to espouse those principles in the context of people’s everyday lives. … Our party needs to have a voice, it needs to have a relevant voice that people can identify with.”

An okay start. But I’ll take it one step further and note that we need to articulate classical liberal ideals and contextualize them in concrete terms — self reliance, freedom, equality of opportunity, and individualism as they manifest themselves in everyday life (and run counter to many of the ideas “progressives” are hoping to couch in the language of moderation and pragmatism) — not simply talk about how we need to talk about such things.

Enough with the meta-naval gazing. Time to strap on our Eliot and find a few powerful objective correlatives through which we can bring the ideals of classical liberalism to life.

Reached for comment, FOXNews’ Shep Smith sneered, and noted that if Mr Steele were truly interested in being the “loyal opposition,” he wouldn’t have stood by and fiddled with the rest of the GOP while “his own people” were being carved up as jerky in the Superdome…

29 Replies to “Michael Steele on the role of the “loyal opposition””

  1. snuffles says:

    Ideas in themselves are timeless. They are not tied to individuals, much less to a people. They rest in a people, it is true, and affect their attitudes. Ideas, people say, are in the clouds. When someone comes along who can put in words what everyone feels in their hearts, each feels: “Yes! That is what I have always wanted and hoped for.”

    -Some famous bad dude

  2. dre says:

    “That is what happens the first time one hears one of Obama’s Hitler’s major speeches. I have met people who had attended an Obama Hitler meeting for the first time, and at the end they said: “This man put in words everything I have been searching for for years.”

    David Axelrod aka Goebbels

  3. happyfeet says:

    Chris Wallace bothers me. He doesn’t look like a real person.

  4. happyfeet says:

    He doesn’t talk like a real person either.

  5. Carin says:

    I like Chris Wallace, only because his every time daddy Mike tunes in he’s got just be asking himself HOW did that happen?

  6. Slartibartfast says:

    It’s not all that surprising that snuffles is a Goebbels fan. Whatever it takes!

  7. Silver Whistle says:

    So Snuffles, are you comparing Jeff’s para on the need to present cogent classical liberal ideals with Goebbels’ thoughts on propaganda? Do elaborate.

  8. snuffles says:

    Everybody in a democracy who is trying to win votes for their party or ideology is paraphrasing Goebbels whether they know it or not, Silver.

  9. JD says:

    STFU, sniffles.

  10. Bob Reed says:

    I know a bit about Steele, originally being from Maryland and all…

    I think that he’ll make a good RNC chairman; from the positions I’ve heard him espouse during his election runs, he believes in the classical liberal idealogy…

    But the left will call him an Uncle Tom! because he’s not down with quotas, set-asides, and other discriminatory vehicles…

  11. JD says:

    Oreo, House n**ger, Uncle Tom, you name it …

  12. alppuccino says:

    How do you call a guy “Uncle Tom” when the president is black?

    Shouldn’t he be called an “Aunt Bruce” or something?

  13. Silver Whistle says:

    Everybody in a democracy who is trying to win votes for their party or ideology is paraphrasing Goebbels whether they know it or not, Silver.

    That, logically, is patently absurd.

  14. Slartibartfast says:

    That, logically, is patently absurd.

    Oh, lovely. We are all Goebbels, eventually.

    Snuffles, I believe you have minimized your relevance. Your work here is done.

  15. BJTexs says:

    al: SEXIORACIST!

  16. Rob Crawford says:

    Everybody in a democracy who is trying to win votes for their party or ideology is paraphrasing Goebbels whether they know it or not, Silver.

    Hmmmm… that may just explain the left’s love of dictatorships. They view attempts to persuade as morally suspect, so prefer simply having the power to force others to their will.

    Or, snuffles/alphie is talking out his ass, merely expressing his own moral confusion.

  17. alppuccino says:

    Sexi O’Racist was in the back line of the ’98 River Dance company.

  18. Ken Wiebe says:

    Great Communicator + Ability to Tap Into Angst Generated by Opposition = Victory. You must have both.

  19. pdbuttons says:

    ’tis a shame what goebbels did to his kids/ and it’s a shame what obama’s gonna do to our children
    a happy fun parade is only a success if we go home with the free t-shirts..
    alive!

  20. Silver Whistle says:

    Or, snuffles/alphie is talking out his ass, merely expressing his own moral confusion.

    Can I take ass-talking for $50, Rob?

  21. happyfeet says:

    Speaking of communicationings. I keep getting stupid email from Robert M. ‘Mike’ Duncan, RNC Chairman. Pick a name, dorkwad. Not that I would read your email but I might not think you’re a total doof.

  22. Everybody in a democracy who is trying to win votes for their party or ideology is paraphrasing Goebbels whether they know it or not

    You only believe that because you share Goebbels’ premises about the efficacy of political power. Most conservatives believe that political power is of limited use in bringing about desirable social outcomes, whereas to the left it’s the end-all be-all. That’s why when conservatives are out of power it’s a bummer and all that, but for the left being out of power is that which cannot be endured.

  23. JohnAnnArbor says:

    Well put, Mr. jackson.

  24. Rusty says:

    #22
    I disagree. It’s because she/it knows it lies and expects others to believe her/its lies, and furthermore she/it believes everyone lies in persuit of thier goals. It is a thouroughly dispicable creature.

  25. ccoffer says:

    Ever see the one from the other day where Shlep is interviewing Ralph Nader? Nader used the term “Uncle Tom”. Shlep is outraged that his Lord’s name was taken in vain. You would think Nader had said “blue-gum spear-chukker or sumpm’. He will defend his man’s honor just like a good life-partner should.

  26. EW says:

    I don’t know, he probably would be a good leader of the GOP but i think the Republicans need to be careful of just picking him because he will be a opposite to Obama, the GOP’s Obama. He won’t and can’t be that. The liberal illuminati will go after this guy just like they do all the Republicans, be ready for that for sure.

  27. snuffles says:

    That’s why when conservatives are out of power it’s a bummer and all that

    At least you’re honest enough to claim Bush as a Conservative, Peter.

  28. TKFarrow says:

    Many of Steele’s sentiments are being echoed in other places in different ways. he may be on to something.

    http://www.politicsandpunditry.com

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