Pat Buchanan says this may be the beginning of the end of a Conservative era

[Tactical Progressive]

that the Bush neo-cons brought to America six years ago in 2000? No.
that Gingrich and the malevolent Republican House ushered in twelve years ago in 1994? No
that began with the Reagan revolution and the co-opting of centrist 'Reagan Democrats' in 1980, 26 years ago? No.

That began with Barry Goldwater!! In 1964, 42 years ago. The whole thing, inotherwords.

I think he may be right. It's almost too much to even hope for though, that this is the final implosion of two generations of Republicanism in America. This broad victory and the subsequent runnup to the 2008 Presidential election, where I'm hoping Hillary will make history and win convincingly with coattails, should be directed by Democrats to facilitate just such a destruction of Republicanism as a governing ideology in the United States. It has been valueless since at least as far back as the end of the Cold War.

I'm just passing on the most powerfully anti-Republican interpretation of this election that I think we're going to hear. I was hoping it might happen in 2008, but Pat may be right and this may be the start right here, with 2008 delivering a final blow. It was past time twenty years ago. I hope he's right.

[lildreamer316]

1. Interesting..

I was watching but distracted because Husband came home...
Wow.
I respect Pat. That's pretty powerful stuff, there.

[Skidmore]

2. Perhaps an end to the Nixon era?

And it is about time.

[MGD]

3. America fluctuates cyclically. It is only the end of "his" conservative era.

[Sherman A1]

4. Agreed and Well Said.

[liberal N proud]

5. Let's hope we can put the so called conservatives out of our misery

[iamjoy]

6. We Can Hope

but I'm not ready to make that bold statement yet -

I am savoring not only our House pick up, but Conservatives losing on 3 key issues in 3 different states (YAY!)

I am also celebrating the win of a local race here in Central Florida - in which a Democratic challenger upset the Republican money machine, defeating a Republican incumbent for a State House race.

[cobalt1999]

7. One election isn't enough to declare victory.

I'll be watching to see if the dems can win a couple more times w/o Iraq as a background. As you said, 2008 will really be the indicator.

[theoldman]

8. Everything runs in cycles whether it's months, years or decades.

The conservatives will always be here and eventually they will regain power. Lets just try to keep them down for a while. They have done enough damage to last several generations. Meanwhile I am going to act like a conservative and gloat.

[H2O Man]

9. There is a serious split

in the sub-groups that had joined to form the conservative movement. An obvious example is the neoconservative cell in the administration: their efforts to move their agenda forward in the Middle East is rather unpopular at the moment. However, we can not resolve the horrors of American involvement in Iraq -- and avoid a war in Iran -- without confronting the neoconservative crimes in the US. These include the Plame scandal and its sibling, the neocon/AIPAC espionage scandal.

If we do not push for congress to investigate these two conspiracies, then I predict with no chance of being wrong that we will see the neoconservatives morph into neoliberals, and one need look no further than Joe Lieberman to see that process taking form.

[Deja Q]

10. It never was conservative. Deficit spending is NOT being conservative.

:dunce:

[Tactical Progressive]

12. Deficit spending is most assuredly conservative

and has demonstrably been so for the past 26 years.

[Jacobin]

14. Nothing about today's republicans is 'conservative'

Cancelling the Bill of Rights.
Deficit spending.
Wars of aggression.
Government in the bedroom.

I don't let 'labeling' by Rush affect my understanding of the political spectrum either.

[Vogon_Glory]

11. End of a Conservative Era? I Fear Not.

Is this the end of a conservative era? Oh, do I wish it were so! I'd like to see progressives sweep triumphantly forward, impeach George and Dick, then see about cleaning out some more of the rascals from the Senate in 2008, but this isn't the end of this era.

Those people are still going to be formidable yet. They've still got their propaganda machinery. They've still got a lot of their money. They're still got a lot of their organization.

I feel like a kid watching the first Star Wars movie and watching the first Death Star explode, but Darth Vader has pulled his Tye fighter out of its spin and the Empire is still out there.

[gollygee]

13. From his mouth to God's ears!

so to speak

:D

[Doctor_J]

15. Personally, I think it means we survived the hate radio era

nothing more, nothing less.

[kcwayne]

16. Yippee!!! I have been just been waiting for the opportunity to

quit my job and live on welfare, leave my wife and child so I can have endless gay sex orgies in the parking lot of the local middle school, pray to Satan, cruise the grade schools to satisfy my pedophilia urges (oh wait, that's too Republican), get married to my transvestite lover and move next door to the Falwells, hand out condoms at church, and sell meth to the local pastors. Let liberalism reign!!

Actually, I am going to work hard, raise my family, pay my taxes, live a sober and reflective life, contribute to worthy charitable causes, and vote against any Republican candidate and platform until the day I die so that we might never see this absymal nightmare occur again.

[Tesha]

17. Not as long as they own the media.

We will never really put down to rest the stinking
reek from the rotting bodies and especially brains
and mouths of the Zombies of Conservatism until
we drive a stake through the heart of the Corporate
Media oligopoly.

Think the Democrats are up for *THAT* challenge?

Tesha

[Neshanic]

18. The understatement of the 21st Century.

[Tactical Progressive]

19. It's the strongest statement of the impact of this election

I've heard yet. I can see how it is maybe an OVERstatement, but I don't see how it could be construed as an understatement.