I have been struggling all day with writing a post of this nature (leaving a couple of unfinished drafts in our bin). Thankfully, Aron Goldman provided a link to Andrew Levy’s To Don’t List. Here it is:
The only thing worse than bad winners are sore losers, and we’ve had enough of them for the past eight years. So with that in mind, in the wake of today’s historic inauguration, here’s my Handbook For The Loyal Opposition, 2009 edition – a “To Don’t List,” if you will. Or even if you won’t.
DON’T question the motives – question the policy. When you disagree with Obama’s policies, say so, and make it clear why. But remember that President Obama is doing what he thinks is best for the country, as President Bush did. Both men love America and want what’s best for her. End of story.
DON’T make it personal. We don’t need another Derangement Syndrome. We don’t need people doing things like emphasizing Obama’s middle name in a derogatory fashion. How anyone would think that’s beneficial to their cause, or to the country as a whole, is beyond me. Also, it’s not even clever. Neither are smushwords like BusHitler, or sillywords like Rethuglicans and Dhimmicrats.
DON’T cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots. Sean Penn is an ass. No reason to be like him. ‘Nuff said. (Corollary: Don’t cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots and then act outraged when people question your patriotism.)
DON’T pretend you’re being brave when you criticize your government. Not while people in other countries actually, y’know, DIE, when they do that.
DON’T use the word “divisive.” At this point, all that word means is “You disagree with me,” and the English language gets mangled enough these days.
DON’T use the phrase “speaking truth to power.” EVER.
DON’T move to Canada.
DON’T say you’re going to move to Canada and then stay here. (I know it’s too late for Stephen Baldwin, but not for the rest of you.)
DON’T apologize to foreigners and say things to them like, “I didn’t vote for Obama,” or “He’s not MY president.”
DON’T say or do everything in your power to drive this country apart and then claim you want unity when it’s your guy in power. This is like the convicted felon who conveniently finds God when he’s up for parole.
DON’T call people un-American one week, and then talk about how “We are not blue states or red states, we are the United States” the next. (This rule may only apply to Tom Hanks, but I put it in just to be safe.)
DON’T automatically think people who disagree with you are stupid or evil. Some of them are, of course. But most of them aren’t, and you might actually learn something if you listen to them.
And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.
Pretty insightful stuff… Hopefully, those on the right can read and abide by it.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Great list.
“And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.”
This should be the most important item for conservatives. I’ve seen plenty of folks on here cite this as an excuse for their rhetoric over the last few days.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
While I agree that we must be bigger men and women then what the Democrats are and will be. However, we must also not forget that the duty of the opposition is to oppose and we must be willing to fight the Democrat agenda tooth and nail.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.
I just question if we can be effective without running the kind of strong opposition the left ran. We can talk about being civil and respectful, and thats all fine and well, but when I hear people talking about submissively accepting the role of nothing more than the loyal opposition – only helping to tweak liberal policies to the point that they are more popular, I don’t see how we ever become a political force again. People talk about trying to prevent Obama from rolling out liberal ideas, but thats not our job. Let Obama support what he wants to and what his party tells him to – then counter that by opposing him, and proposing an alternative.
Vigorous public debate over ideologies and issues is a critical part of our system of government, and its the best way for the GOP to start crawling its way back into power.
I’m all for giving civility a shot, for putting the kind of vile partisanship that the DNC used to the side – at least for now, but unless the GOP is willing to allow Obama to provide his half of the public debate, and then provide the other half, there is no use left for the party I love.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I also have to say, I can’t blame the Republicans who want to give the Democrats a taste of their own medicine. The GOP is suffering right now largely, though not totally, because of the never-ending attacks from the Democrats. Had the Democrats pursued the path of civility, focusing only on policy disagreements, always saying please and thank you, I highly doubt they would be in the majority right now.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Matthew, like I said in another thread, there’s an ocean of difference between opposing and behaving like histrionic infants. If the mainstream conduct of the GOP even approaches what Democrats/liberals have behaved like over the last eight years, I’ll bolt outta this party so fast it’ll make your head spin. (There’s a threat for ya!) We have a sterling chance to show America that our party is full of principled alternatives to liberalism, advanced by people of maturity and gravity. The thought is echoing the freak show we’ve been subjected to is horrifying.
And, let’s not pretend we haven’t engaged in some pretty rank partisanship during Bush’s administrations. I don’t want to get into a pissing match about which party was worse in this regard, but this has been a game we’ve been willing to play too.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Very wise points in that list.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
“I also have to say, I can’t blame the Republicans who want to give the Democrats a taste of their own medicine. The GOP is suffering right now largely, though not totally, because of the never-ending attacks from the Democrats. Had the Democrats pursued the path of civility, focusing only on policy disagreements, always saying please and thank you, I highly doubt they would be in the majority right now.”
I can ALWAYS blame people who want below-the-belt partisan warfare. I have no use for Republicans who can’t behave like adults.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
“The thought is echoing the freak show we’ve been subjected to is horrifying.”
That should be “the thought OF echoing.” Off my QWERTY game tonight.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Reiterating my first thoughts in the minutes following Obama’s victory…
http://race42008.com/2008/11/04/election-night-forum-part-ii/#comment-378540
January 20th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
RE: Don’t # 12. Is it okay if automatically think they are socialists?
January 20th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
“And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.”
I totally, 100 percent agree. I really hope that we don’t see the conservatives in this country behave like that. I’m already proud of the fact that we didn’t stage a line in DC with people holding up their finger to salute the president. We’re already up one on the hypocritical left.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Well, I didn’t think conservatives acted as bad as democrats, but when I watched the video of a line for a McCain/Palin rally, I was disheartened to say the least. These people really were saying the things they were accused of! Stuff like Obama is a terrorist and a Muslim, etc.
It was dispicable. Bugs the heck out of me when conservatives call up talks shows and say stupid stuff like that, and things like who could vote for a gay person, etc. I heard that one just today.
Makes me want to pull my hair out.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
#12 – I agree. I really didn’t want to believe what I was watching, but there it was. Conservatism at its worst. I certainly don’t think those people represent mainstream Republicans, but I was pretty shocked at the sheer number of people echoing those sentiments.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
On Replacing One of the Three “Pillars of Conservatism”
by Max Borders
January 20th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
“I can’t blame the Republicans who want to give the Democrats a taste of their own medicine.”
I can understand wanting to — giving into one’s base impulses, however, is childish and self-destructive.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Martha (12): It is somewhat disheartening, but there are fanatics in every movement. As Win says, these people do not represent mainstream conservatism or the Republican Party, any more than the stranger commenters at Kos represent liberalism. What is sad at Kos is to see how often whacko comments pass without criticism. I think it’s our responsibility to keep this site clean by not letting extremist sentiments be posted freely.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
#16 – To this site’s credit, I’ve NEVER seen the type of comments that you’re referring to at Kos pass unaddressed. Never. We have our arguments with one-another, but I can’t think of a regular poster to this site that would tolerate that crap.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:10 am
Win: I agree.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:27 am
How about a couple of other DON’Ts?
-DON’T buy a book documenting every verbal mistake uttered by him and insinuating that he’s a moron (not that the media would ever publish something like that)
-DON’T involve his daughters in any kind of political slander, ever, or Michelle either (unless she puts herself into it by making stupid political statements)
-DON’T demand that he resign or be impeached for actions consistent with his roles as president
-DON’T call him a liar later for logical decisions made with what was accepted and credible information at the time
Fair enough? I agree with the above comments that it’s time for us conservatives to show that we can be a little classier than the dems have been for the last eight years.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:34 am
Judge Obama on Performance Alone
Let’s not celebrate more ordinary speeches.
By Juan Williams
January 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Civil – good.
Toothless – very bad.
We have to make sure one doesn’t turn into the other.
January 21st, 2009 at 9:50 am
For some commenters joining the choir of agreement here, I suppose the “DON’Ts” still permit the spread of personal rumors, empty allegations, and vicious innuendo against other candidates within one’s own party — or against any member of such a candidate’s family, friends, and associates.
Perhaps some of you should take a day off to spray-paint a new coat of silver onto your fake halos — or at least to polish your brass balls.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:06 am
“For some commenters joining the choir of agreement here, I suppose the “DON’Ts” still permit the spread of personal rumors, empty allegations, and vicious innuendo against other candidates within one’s own party — or against any member of such a candidate’s family, friends, and associates.
Perhaps some of you should take a day off to spray-paint a new coat of silver onto your fake halos — or at least to polish your brass balls.”
Um, what exactly are you talking about?
January 21st, 2009 at 11:22 am
For all of you teenagers who don’t remember politics in the’90’s, take a look back at what Tom Delay et al. had to say about Clinton during the interventions in the Balkans. It’s surprisingly similar to a lot of what Democrats said about Bush’s policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m really not too optimistic about conservatives staying sane over the next 4-8 years.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 am
[...] Race42012 Yeah, well your blog name is a misnomer if you think you’re going actually win the race in 2012 with that kind of attitude. This guy has been “struggling” to write a post as useless, wrong and dimwitted, not to mention cowardly, as Andy Levy’s. Well, save your strength. You need it to cut your milquetoast breakfast, Mary. [...]