Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

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Weetabix
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Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by Weetabix »

I've seen several pieces lately about the GOP Presidential campaign that mention "establishment" vs. "grass roots" Republicans. The articles talk about the struggle between the two and the fact that the "establishment" candidates (Romney, McCain, Dole, etc.) in previous elections cost them the election. The "establishment" keeps McConnell and Boehner in, even though they capitulate to the Dems and Obama in particular on everything.

I know they're people dumber than rocks who can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Consistently.

But just who ARE they? Boehner? McConnell? The Illuminati? Skull & Bones?
Note to self: start reading sig lines. They're actually quite amusing. :D
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Kommander
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by Kommander »

"A bunch of pretentious old men playing at running the world. But the world left them behind long ago."
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Vonz90
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by Vonz90 »

Weetabix wrote:I've seen several pieces lately about the GOP Presidential campaign that mention "establishment" vs. "grass roots" Republicans. The articles talk about the struggle between the two and the fact that the "establishment" candidates (Romney, McCain, Dole, etc.) in previous elections cost them the election. The "establishment" keeps McConnell and Boehner in, even though they capitulate to the Dems and Obama in particular on everything.

I know they're people dumber than rocks who can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Consistently.

But just who ARE they? Boehner? McConnell? The Illuminati? Skull & Bones?
I think it is pretty much a shorthand for the donor class (think the chamber of commerce types) and the party infrastructure that they support and have influence on. That said, there isn't a precise definition and different people saying it mean different things by it.
Last edited by Vonz90 on Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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First Shirt
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by First Shirt »

Career politicians who are more concerned with re-election that doing what they were elected to do in the first place.

Think of people like McConnell, Boehner, Graham, etc. They couldn't give a shit less what their constituents want, it's all about what their donors want.

Honestly, I think most of them are so crooked that they have to screw their hats on, but I'm not a charitable person.
But there ain't many troubles that a man caint fix, with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six."
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HTRN
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by HTRN »

First Shirt wrote:Career politicians who are more concerned with re-election that doing what they were elected to do in the first place.
This has been going on since the Greeks came up with democracy.
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mekender
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by mekender »

Vonz90 wrote:
Weetabix wrote:I've seen several pieces lately about the GOP Presidential campaign that mention "establishment" vs. "grass roots" Republicans. The articles talk about the struggle between the two and the fact that the "establishment" candidates (Romney, McCain, Dole, etc.) in previous elections cost them the election. The "establishment" keeps McConnell and Boehner in, even though they capitulate to the Dems and Obama in particular on everything.

I know they're people dumber than rocks who can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Consistently.

But just who ARE they? Boehner? McConnell? The Illuminati? Skull & Bones?
I think it is pretty much a shorthand for the donor class (think the chamber of commerce types) and the party infrastructure that they support and have influence on. That said, there isn't a precise definition and different people saying it mean different things by it.
I tend to think of it as the country club / yacht club types... More money than sense, more power than ability to wield it and a complete sense of knowing that they know what is best for the country and the party and everyone else be damned.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
toad
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by toad »

"They have remembered everything and learned nothing."
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First Shirt
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by First Shirt »

HTRN wrote:
First Shirt wrote:Career politicians who are more concerned with re-election that doing what they were elected to do in the first place.
This has been going on since the Greeks came up with democracy.
So, does that mean we have to tolerate it? It hasn't always been the case in the U.S.
But there ain't many troubles that a man caint fix, with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six."
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Malthorn
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by Malthorn »

First Shirt wrote:So, does that mean we have to tolerate it? It hasn't always been the case in the U.S.
Rope + tree. Some assembly required.

Starting with the third term your name goes into a lottery. Each year two name are drawn. The two drawn are tossed into the Thunderdome. Two policritters enter one policritter leaves.
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Kommander
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Re: Just who IS the Republican Establishment we hear about?

Post by Kommander »

While I like the idea of sending poloticos into personal combat with each other (though I would call it Blunderdome), I think a better solution would be that if any law maker at the federal level passed (for the House and Senate) or signed (for the President) a law the the supreme court later ruled unconstitutional they are immediately removed from office and bared from ever holding a political office ever again. I realize that this is not perfect, and some real crap has gotten past the supreme court, but it only takes one 5-4 decision not in your favor and it's off to the unemployment line.
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