Western Iowa Republican Meltdown - This is BIG!

[DU9598]

I posted the following in the Iowa room, but this is big news for national discussion as well. As background, western Iowa is the base of the Iowa Republican party and the home of right wing Congressman Steve King. The split in their leadership could mean a third party or decreasing participation of large parts of the republican's base. Is this occuring in other areas?

<http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2006/11/09/news/local/8a289d14ebfbe8bb8625722100154c8e.txt>

A day after the Democratic sweep of the midterm elections, Woodbury County Republican Chairman Steve Salem had harsh words for his own party, lambasting the influence of the conservative Christian right wing. Salem said he coined a new phase: "You've heard of IslamaFascists -- I think we now have Christian fascists. What is the definition of a fascist? Not only do they want to beat you, but they want to destroy you in the process."

Salem said "if things keep going the way things are going locally and statewide, it is going to be more and more difficult for Republicans to recruit candidates. We have elements of the party who are moral absolutists, who take the approach that if you don't take my position every step of the way, not only will I not support you, but I will destroy you."

Continued Salem, "We have a number of factions within the Republican Party who are putting their own personal agenda ahead of what is best for the party." He said he tried to hit the topic head-on in the last Woodbury County Republican Party Central Committee meeting, to bring the sides together, but said it didn't get resolved. He said Republican volunteers were "having (their) arms twisted to make calls for Blanchard. The local approach seemed to be to do everything you can to help Blanchard."


This follow up comment says so much about what lies ahead for the R's in Iowa:

Duane Brown wrote on November 09, 2006 12:20 PM:
"There is that old tale of the emperor who wore no clothes. The problems cited by Stephen Salem are just as obvious. Mr. Hoffman, in stating that he was " …‘surprised’ by Salem's schism comments…” is either blind or in complete denial. Stephen Salem is dead on right. He was actually overly polite in his description of self serving factions in the Woodbury County Republican Party. As a member of the Woodbury County Republican Party Central Committee, I have plenty of first hand experience. One particular organization is trying to hijack the Republican Party of Iowa. If you don't agree with them 100% on every issue, they not only refuse to support you; they take active steps to destroy you including the use of innuendo and outright lies. When confronted, they will not debate openly. They will not debate and discuss issues with any opponent. They only throw bombs, often in the form of literature that does not identify, or falsely identifies the author(s). The problem with bombs is that they can destroy everything with their fallout, as was done in this campaign. "

[BlueManDude]

1. I love it. Economic populism can turn King's seat red to blue.

[9119495]

40. It will happen...but differently

Iowa will lose a seat in the next census. Our congressional delegation before Tues. was 5 reps. and 2 dems. Come January it will be 4 Dems and 3 reps. King could never win outside his current Nazi district so when they redraw the map, he will be out of politics forever.

[msongs]

2. it's those family values people at work again nt

[williesgirl]

3. Iowans, keep the Dem movement growing - recommended

[tridim]

4. The "Reagan Conservatives" are also trying to make a comeback

I watched them on CSPAN 2 last night, and they're pissed!

So far we have..
1. The Bush Republican Party
1. The Fundy Party
1. The Reagan Conservative Party

Good luck in 08 GOP! :rofl:

[krkaufman]

30. "Reagan conservatives" ... what a joke.

Reagan was the dumbass that started this disastrous debt growth, and also accelerated the coalition of the pro-business and Christofascist constituencies.

[rodeodance]

37. you are right. Then he left (and he and nancy lived well--same thing will

happen with the Bushies)

[connecticut yankee]

46. A bigger joke

is "Compassionate Conservative."

[Cha]

58. That might just be the biggest

joke of all.

[YOY]

50. Reaganomics was also dependant on a significant enemy with similar

economic capabilities. The Soviet Union was a perfect example of this. They have tried to paint the insurgents in Iraq and terrorists worldwide as the new Soviet Union bogeyman.

Insurgents need little more support than an AK and some bullets. They don't need supertanks or nuclear missles. (although they would be really scary if they did.)

Bogeyman and a threat? Positively. But not a replacement for the Soviet Union.

[krkaufman]

56. Have you seen 'The Power of Nightmares' program? (a must-see video)

It pretty much spells-out what you're saying, that the neo-cons are pumping-up the threat of terrorism to replace the lost Soviet bogeyman. (i.e. terrorism *is* a threat, but not a country- or world-ending threat)

The video is available as streaming video from several locations, and you can also find good quality MPEG2 copies via BitTorrent.

Information Clearing House

Google Video

BitTorrent

[Irreverend IX]

55. Why can't someone form a breakaway party?

If a bunch of fundies went off and founded the Praise Jesus No Abortion Kill All Homos Party, it would break the GOP forever. It would be a great project for some Dems with a lot of time on their hands and a willingness to go undercover.

[Lexingtonian]

5. the real question strikes me

as which of the two sides will take control of their Party apparatus, whereas the other side leaves.

[gratuitous]

6. Take it with a grain of salt

A lot of these folks were in heavy denial that anything bad might happen to the GOP. Only during the last week of the campaign was it openly admitted that the House was a sure loss, and now they've lost the Senate, too.

GOP supporters are badly jarred, and while it's humorous to watch their discomfiture, it's a deadly mistake to think they're beaten or vanquished. There are going to be recriminations and blame a-plenty among the Republicans, in ways we haven't seen for more than a decade. Only time will tell whether the True Believer Storm Troopers will prevail, or if the more sensible and reasonable folks in the Republican party reassert their influence. The fascists have held sway for many years and their influence has been so all-pervasive that sightings of reasonable Republicans have become a rarity.

Now will be a good time to see if the Republicans continue to be seduced by their own fear tactics, or if they will once again stand up like adults and participate in our American system. Stay tuned.

Developing ...

[Fovea]

9. Like the Whites in the Russian revolution

They will have the organization and the support of the elites, but no longer will control
the economy that keeps an army in the field.

I predict the paleocons will lose an ugly power fight, while creating a more brutal,
less reality connected christofascist block. I predict the republican
party may not be able to mobilize more than 30% of their previous base
but they will be very committed to direct action, like the old Klan. A bit more cross, a little less white hood wearing, but essentially the same.

The Repub PaleoCons may join the Libertarian Party.
Some will become centrist Dems. BUt they won't be welcome at the
pachyderm games anymore. I think we dreadfully misunderestimate the
rage of the ChristoCons. I expect Mehlman to have to live like Salmon Rushdie for a while.


The Bush Repugs sat on a land mine this week and will be perminently hors de combat.

[krkaufman]

32. I gotta believe that use of their attack politics methods against their own...

... will only help to drive more people away.

[Arugula Latte]

7. Heck, we've been callin 'em Christofascists for a looong time.

Great news, though! :toast:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

10. Havn't you heard? they have a new faction

Christo Meth odists.

[frylock]

8. coined a new phrase my ass..

we've referred to them as christofascists and talibornagains for years now.

[Morgana LaFey]

11. Interesting

What is the definition of a fascist? Not only do they want to beat you, but they want to destroy you in the process."

I'm not sure that's part of any official definition of fascists, but it sure is an apt description of George Bush and Tom DeLay and a gazillion others in the extreme wing of the Republican party.

[theHandpuppet]

12. WOW -- thanks for sharing this!

K&R :kick:

[DCCyclone]

13. Sadly, nothing helpful will come of this for us......

I'm an Iowa native myself, and western Iowa these days is a lost cause. Gone are the days when Berkley Bedell or Tom Harkin (he was a Congressman representing southwest Iowa for a decade before moving up to the Senate) can win there. It's just become way too conservative. And those mainstream conservative Goopers who don't like the Christofascist base of the party won't ever do anything to make the party self-destruct or vote Democrat.

There won't be any third party or decrease in GOP base participation. They'll just have their ongoing intraparty feud but keep voting for Gooper nominees every other November, without the feud helping Dems at all.

If you live in IA-05, DU9598, you have my sympathies.

[bobbieinok]

38. Harkin was in the House from Story Co (north of Des Moines) too

There was an incredible district that was supposed to 'contain' democrats.

BTW, I left IA in 89, but my son is still there. He said Ames had become much more conservative than it used to be.

[9119495]

41. As I said above

we will lose a seat for the 2012 election after the 2010 census. King will not be able to win because in a four district state, the only way to get equal numbers in the district will be to pair NW Iowa with either Des Moines or the northern tier cities like Dubuque and Waterloo/CF (The distric would run the length of the entire state up north). King could NEVER win in Des Moines, its suburbs or Dubuque/Waterloo/CF. He is toast.

[powergirl]

14. That's what you get when you work for SATAN

Why didn't this gentlemen call out the Christian Coalition earlier? I guess as long as it keeps your job, it's not so offensive. :sarcasm:

[Auggie]

15. How many voters are we talking about here? In Iowa, and nationwide?

[AlinPA]

44. I've heard 70% of Americans claim to be Christians, but maybe only 30%

are these flat earth-fundamentalist-evangelicals (different from true evangelical Christians)

[Cafe Americano]

16. Let's hope Dems don't try to court them

Let's hope the fundamentalists stay right where they are - dragging the GOP down.

[StClone]

17. Steve Salem's problem is this

The National GOP called the shots and local elections took a back seat to National Goals. It's like trying to get a good local weather forecast, or independent book store, or non-chain restaurant...more so less and less. The GOP is a franchise and its franchisees must bow to their controllers, but when the chain goes bankrupt (morally and philosophically) even if the locals are doing fine it all goes down.

[The Wizard]

18. They're not a political party

but a dangerous religious cult.
There's a story about a guy who says God speaks to him through the hair dryer and because of this he's declared insane. So the difference between the guy who was declared insane and Bush is a hair dryer.
Thought disorders and loose associations can carry a party only so far. The only reason they've been in power is because the media is in their pocket.
Anyone know if there was an increase in the amount of anti-depressants prescribed over the past six years.
It feels like a wet blanket has been removed from America.
The Talibush is falling like the Berlin Wall.

[FREEWILL56]

47. I'll clarify this even farther Wizard

Yes they certainly are a dangerous cult. I am a Christian and Christianity is not about some evangelicals saying 'do it my way or else'. To be a Christian is to have personal belief in God and His Son Jesus. It is a guide for you to judge and improve yourself that you may be received in heaven, NOT TO JUDGE EVERYBODY ELSE. As Jesus has said we are all of sin and you aren't good enough to use God's name to force your will and judgements upon your fellow man without the satanic consequences of bearing false witness against thy neighbor among other evil deeds they stipulate.
Make no mistake about it that I am a Democrat and I'm very happy to see the oustering of many of these criminals who wear God and everything decent upon their sleeves as a means of putting themselves on pedestals for their own personal financial and power gains, none of which is what Christianity is about. They are hypocrites and pharocies.

[Demoiselle]

19. D'ya think Mr. Salem would have complained if they'd won? I don't. ...

Lie down with dogs....

[casus belli]

20. I'm beginning to think alot of Republicans feel freed as well...

Perhaps they were afraid to stand up against the status quo out of fear of retribution by the majority. What is clear is that there are either a lot of Republicans who finally feel able to express how they feel, or they are trying quickly to save political face so that the new Democratic congress will play nicely with them.

[tblue]

21. Then I look forward to hearing from them. The same thing happened in '92 when P*t Buch*nan

made that Culture War speech. It turned off just about everybody but the fundies and those who would manipulate them for political gain.

[bobbieinok]

39. notice that republicans never again allowed Pat to speak at a convention??

They kept this out of the public eye until they had all their plans made for W.

[codjh9]

22. I love it when they fight. :^) But the guy's right, too.

There's a huge division between the fundamentalists and the more economic-minded/moderate Repubs, and I'm all for their infighting. I wish the fundies would go form their own party, and then they'd usually lose (except for some state/local offices) because they'd have a smaller % of the vote.

[Nestor Mahkno]

23. Fight to take back the Republican party!

Please, I don't want a bunch of corporatists migrating to the Democratic party and turning it into a second Conservative party. We have enough trouble with the DLC.

[kestrel91316]

24. Uh, Mr. Salem? Some of us savvy folks on DU here have been using the

term "christofascists" for well over two years.

Oh, well, better you recognize the fact of what these people are truly about late than never.

[knight_of_the_star]

25. Excellent

Let them split. Be so nice to see the Reich Wing marginalize itself.

[iowamom]

26. IMO, Western Iowa won't be turning purple any time soon --

As an eastern Iowan, I would observe that a majority of western Iowans identify themselves with the GOP as both conservative Christians and through big Ag/big business. No matter which way the GOP goes, it will be very tough for the DEMS to win there.

[progressoid]

49. Hey, welcome to DU Iowamom!!

It certainly is tough on this side of the state. I'm hopeful, but it will take some time and plenty of re-education. I think there are a lot of people up there that are actually more centrist than they realize, they just need to be liberated from the clutches of the GOP.

[McCamy Taylor]

27. Maybe a parlimentary system and more than 2 parties would help?

[judaspriestess]

28. I wonder if they have a picture of Cheney and perform

satanic rituals since they are "Christians from Hell"

[krkaufman]

29. Glad to see them eating their own.

I'd love to know whether Mr Brown had this same opinion over the years, watching his leadership do the same to any and all critics... Democrats, ex-military, former Administration members, etc.

Suck it up, buddy. You cut the deal w/ the devil; it's time to pay-up.

[Erika]

31. Let them blame Rove and W who said Christ was

the greatest philosopher.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Same thing is happening here in KS

The primary in August was downright humorous. The repukes ran 4 candidates for governor and our Dem governor is the 3rd most popular governor in the country! The repukes just fought each other instead of battling the Democrats. I am sure most DUers have heard about the head of the repuke party here who switched to Dem to run for lt governor and our newly elected state AG who also switched to Dem.

[DFW]

34. NOW we have Christian fascists?

The movement started in Italy, what religion did he think the original facists were, anyway?

[Blue Gardener]

35. NW Iowa

Is very red, very conservative, and very religious. It's nice to know not every Republican is in lock-step with the far right religious nutjobs in that area.

[MadHound]

36. Yes, the Republican party has a lot of soul searching to do

I already noticed that the freepers are lambasting the RR due to many of their stance choosing to sit out this election out of disgust with Foley and other scandals. It would be interesting is the 'Pugs reject the RR. Then they could go back to the way things were, sitting out elections because those are considered matters of man, not matters of God.

[smb]

45. Yep

I already noticed that the freepers are lambasting the RR due to many of their stance choosing to sit out this election out of disgust with Foley and other scandals. It would be interesting is the 'Pugs reject the RR. Then they could go back to the way things were, sitting out elections because those are considered matters of man, not matters of God.

Many of the fiscal-conservative Pubbie faction are simply fed up with the way the GOP has been treating them. (As I put it in another thread, the GOP these past few years has been like the Dursley household: the religious right is spoiled-rotten Dudley and the fiscal conservatives are living-under-the-staircase Harry). Some of them sat it out, some of them voted Libertarian, fewer of them held their noses and kept voting Pubbie.

[suegeo]

42. NW Iowa -- BLECHH

If you are reading this from Northwest Iowa, my advice is to run. Run like the wind away from that place.

[AlinPA]

43. Lets hear it for the fundies in Iowa! Keep it up! hehehe

[Norquist Nemesis]

48. It's been happening here in Illinois

which is a big reason, IMO, why Topinka lost the race for Governor. Hubby and I fought about this one since July. I finally told him that I would have taken a second look at her had she not chosen the extreme RW Joe Birkett as her running mate.

Now, he's trying to pin the demise of the last moderate Republican (Topinka) with the rise of the wingers (Oberweiss) on me. :rofl:

[patrick t. cakes]

51. what did they think the fundies

were going to do. shouldnt have unleased that beast.
give them an inch theyll take a mile.

[Nite Owl]

52. And we think we got problems

Without these right wing fundies they no longer have the numbers to win. Republicans left to their own base just aren't going to be enough for them to pull off any kind of majority. They felt that they had this unbeatable majority until the right started to seriously misbehave and the more liberal minded repukes felt that they no longer had a home. No matter which group they throw out they won't have the numbers. We got the independents and the undeclared and we have to work to keep that group.

[MrPrax]

53. Steve King should stop whinning...

and simply switch parties.

BTW Raw Story has this thread linked on their front page...at the moment (11/11/06 11:08 EST)

A Big :hi: to Disenfranchised GOPers

Jeez, if you figured it out earlier, you might have been able to prevent a war... :eyes:

[DU9598]

54. Sweet - love RAWSTORY

wish I could have seen it.

[Cha]

57. Yeah, that's real Christian like to destroy

someone with inuendos and LIES. Oh YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. They're faux christians and I think their agenda is just plain ol' power and greed using the name of Jesus to steam roll their enemies.

[LesserFool]

59. Why care now?

These tax-cut guys didn't much care about the "nut jobs" so long as they were a political asset. Who are they going to sleep with now?