From Jonathan Martin at the Politico:
Two days after next week’s election, top conservatives will gather at the Virginia weekend home of one of the movement’s most prominent members to begin a conversation about their role in the GOP and how best to revive a party that may be out of power at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue next year.
The meeting will include a “who’s who of conservative leaders "” economic, national security and social,” said one attendee, who shared initial word of the secret session only on the basis of anonymity and with some details about the host and location redacted.
The article goes on to say that the event is not based on a McCain win or loss. Regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, the event will be held.
I hope that the host invites people who have proven Conservative credentials and not those who talk about Conservatism when it serves their purpose (Hello, John McCain!). I also hope that the find folks outside of Washington and outside of the alledged “Elite.”
So aside from Fred Thompson, Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin who would you like to see at this shindig?
How about Paul Ryan?
Chad,
Steve speaks highly of him so he’s in. I’ll add one more, a MN counterpart, Michele Bachmann.
Since I doubt we’re limiting it to office-holders, I’d like to see a few blogger representatives there. I strongly suspect Patrick Ruffini and Soren Dayton will be there because of their past associations with the GOP (and Sean Hackbarth because of his current associations with them). I’d also like to see somebody like Mary Katharine Ham or Michelle Malkin or John Hawkins in the room as well.
If they’re serious about the meeting being about the future of conservatism, the future simply has to be there.
Steve,
Absolutely. We need people outside of Washington involved because the ones there, mostly, haven’t got the spine to actually hold course.
I’m having an interesting debate over at Dad’s place with someone who believes that the Conservative movement is where it is because we have no “Elites” leading the movement and that everything is Sarah Palin talking to gutter hicks. It’s thinking like that, IMHO, that has gotten us where we are at today!
I’ll have to jump in on that one. Another person I’d like to see there is Rick Moran.
Speaking of elites, I’ve once again jumped off the George Will bandwagon because he’s spewing that line.
Don’t forget the talk radio contingent … El Rushbo and Hannity, for starters.
that everything is Sarah Palin talking to gutter hicks. It’s thinking like that, IMHO, that has gotten us where we are at today
You are correct. Blue blood, country clubber elitists. Snobs. Bushie Republicans (instead of Rockefeller Republicans). These guys couldn’t win a one-man race for dog catcher. But they like to be invited to all the state dinners and the really cool DC cocktail parties (so the popular kids can laugh at them, by the way).
Keep Peggy Noonan out of there. She’s gone native with her Palin basing. She now has PDS.
Peter,
I agree. An automatic “non invite” should go to anyone who has dissed Palin purely on non policy issues. I wrote a couple of days ago that the moderates are taking this opportunity to tear at Palin because they are concerned that she actually does invigorate the base. An invigorated Conservative base, with someone to lead, is a danger to the current, barely even moderate, leadership in the Republican party.
Shoebox,
Read this to see what the Bushie Republicans are planning on doing to Sarah Palin next.
Peter,
I saw a couple of those articles yesterday. You may have missed my post on the topic a few days back https://norunnyeggs.com/2008/10/coincidence-i-think-not/
I’ve been having a debate over at Dad29’s place. It’s centered on who should/is leading the Conservative movement. One of the folks thinks Palin is a moron. I disagree. I do think she may have been forced a bit fast, I always thought she would be a better 2012 prospect. However, she does clearly articulate a Conservative perspective and clearly connects with those who also have that perspective.
Too many people believe that only elites can be in leadership. I say pfffft. I know too many people with ivy league degrees that have the sense of an ear of corn.
Thanks for the link
The guy you are debating with is one of the those wet liberal Republicans. He’s backing Al Franken for Senate in Minnesota, for crying out loud. This is the mentality of the Bush Wing of the GOP. I’ve stopped referring to them as Rockefeller Republicans, since few people remember Nelson Rockefeller. But GHWB and GWB have had the same effect of returning the Stupid Party to the Bob Dole/Bob Michel days of minority status and led it away from the Reagan coalition. They simply despise social conservatives, who just don’t belong on the DC cocktail circuit. They’re represented best by Judge Smails from Caddyshack. The rest of us are Al Czervik.
Peter,
Steve had given me similar background. I was suspicious as he was poo poohing Palin from the start. While some people may wish she was a bit more polished at times, I don’t know anyone with true conservative creds that dismiss Palin and especially don’t dismiss what she has done to help McCain.
If any of the Romney troop rumors are true I believe there could be a serious schism in the R party…especially if things go badly. McCain’s problem is McCain, it’s not, IN ANY WAY, Sarah Palin!