A New Voice Rises In the Red States

These are dangerous times. Men and women without jobs, who lost their homes, their healthcare, and hope for the future are formidable foes.
As the Administration has both the printing presses and the B.S. propaganda machines running 24/7 the working slobs, like me, are getting very Jeffersonian in their view of this government. Forget Bush, he only helped to grease the skids needed for Obama to slide into power. Obama is the symptom, not the disease. The disease is American apathy and ambivalence towards their rights. Remember Martin Nemoller, who said, regarding the Nazi's, "when they came for me there was no one left." Take heed America. First, they will come for the Right Wing Extremists, then the 2nd Amendment Supporters, then the Pro Life Groups, then those who do not condone Gay Rights. Soon, they will get to YOUR group, regardless how benign the gathering. A government with a power agenda has no ethical boundaries, no conscience, nothing but an appetite for more power. So, now that we have to trash the U.S. Constitution and the Ten Commandments, it is up to a small contingent to stand tall and to take the first arrows. I'm ready.

Sisao Tresed

The GOP needs to find itself. It's a lost and faceless party that is slowly losing its identity and connection with mainstream Americans, mainly the 25-35 y.o. electorate. The GOP has failed to take a close look at ALL of America and build a national grassroots effort like the Obama-Biden campaign did so effectively to win the 2008 presidential election. The GOP did not grow beyond its caucasian base, and failed miserably with connecting with new voters, especially African-Americans, Hispanic Americans , and Arab-Americans. Using the internet effectively can help spread the word of your party, but eventually it is the party's political leader who sets the tone and who takes a losing party into a new defining direction. No Conservative cheerleader like Bay Buchanan, Leslie Sanchez, or right-wing boom box like Rush Limbaugh can re-define a party that's lost its face and sense of direction......Our President-elect Barack Obama will have the daunting task of having to overturn 8 years of US economic and foreign policy decline under Bush 43. Unfortunately, for the GOP, the American people are more unified than ever at fixing what's wrong with Washington DC, than they are at fxing a dysfunctional Republcian party. Maybe there will be an interest in 8 or 10 years, only time will tell......God Bless America

For now, the political stage awaits our nation's incoming Democratic President Barack Obama and his majority party led Congress, as both America and the World eagerly look on with great anticipation.

The author of this pieces states: "That community network is where Red State's real power lies, and its organizational clout is why Erickson's latest???and most controversial???gambit has at least one faction of the GOP so unsettled."

Seriously?

To the author: do some basic research before you make a claim like that - you know, some actual "reporting"?

First, claiming "organizational clout" would require a site that doesn't give you a "500 Error" with undue frequency.

That "organizational clout" would also seem to require that they have a "base" of more than somewhere around 50 people. I bet if you actually looked at their traffic statistics, that well over half of their visitors are composed of lurkers who stop by just to marvel at the insanity.

Did the author even look at the comments to a few of their front page and/or "recommended" posts? They are like the online version of the Phelps clan. The incestuous backslapping and "amens" can be amusing, but it hardly leads to "real power".

Further RedState's attempts at online fundraising are pathetic to say the least - and completely refute the author's contention of "organizational clout". A place like the DailyKos raises enough money in ONE DAY to fund a front page columnist. Red State couldn't even fund the release of their "new, improved RedState 2.0 (see previous comment about 500 errors) despite weeks of pleas. The pitiful amounts they raise for their candidates certainly don't translate into influence. (Again, another place the author could have done some actual reporting: compare the amounts raised on RedState versus amounts raised on similar sites from the other side. The difference would probably be astounding.)

Finally the author states that the Operation Leper gambit "has at least one faction of the GOP so unsettled". Which faction is that? If you are going to mention this "faction", at the very least identify them - and a quote in response from this "faction" would probably be appropriate.

I'm sure Ms. Smalley has a tough assignment, reporting on a political party both out of power and virtually relegated to a regional faction, but she could have done a much better job, and a MUCH more accurate one, when describing this small coterie of wingnuts.

Addendum: the correct spelling is "RedState" (one word), not as the author kept writing it "Red State" (two words). One more example of shoddy reporting/editing.

Anyway, Palin is STUPID and as long as GOP will talk about her - NO ONE NORMAL person will trust Reps - too much lies too stupid candidates.

How did they DARE to put this Moron on the ticket?
That what did they really mean - "country - first"???
To - where?
Shame on McCain forever.

Ms. Smalley,
It's my understanding that when Mr. Erickson was interviewed for your little article that MY name was mentioned and I was discussed. Obviously, that reference to me was edited by some fool at your magazine thingy. I want the name of the person responsible so I can kill them and eat them. Franz The Prince of Dogness

Be relentless.

Another great conservative site is Free Republic http://www.freerepublic.com