Federal Judge Richard Posner: The GOP Has Made Me Less Conservative

foundit66 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Judge Richard Posner, a conservative on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, has long been one of the nation's most respected and admired legal thinkers on the right. But in an interview with NPR, he expressed exasperation at the modern Republican Party, and confessed that he has become "less conservative" as a result.

Posner expressed admiration for President Ronald Reagan and the economist Milton Friedman, two pillars of conservatism. But over the past 10 years, Posner said, "there's been a real deterioration in conservative thinking. And that has to lead people to re-examine and modify their thinking."

"I've become less conservative since the Republican Party started becoming goofy," he said.

Posner, who was appointed to the appeals court by Reagan, speculated that the leaks about the deliberations over the national health care law — which are apparently designed to discredit Chief Justice John Roberts' opinion upholding the law — would backfire. "I think these right-wingers who are blasting Roberts are making a very serious mistake," he said.

"Because if you put [yourself] in his position ... what's he supposed to think? That he finds his allies to be a bunch of crackpots? Does that help the conservative movement? I mean, what would you do if you were Roberts? All the sudden you find out that the people you thought were your friends have turned against you, they despise you, they mistreat you, they leak to the press. What do you do? Do you become more conservative? Or do you say, 'What am I doing with this crowd of lunatics?' Right? Maybe you have to re-examine your position."

In addition to his work as an appeals court judge, Posner is the author of more than three dozen books on subjects ranging from law and economics to aging and literature.

Federal Judge Richard Posner: The GOP Has Made Me Less Conservative : It's All Politics : NPR

Now I realize that this plays out across the political spectrum, but I can't help but think that the right-wing has grown a tendency to show more of an arrogant, denigrating attitude towards those that disagree with them.
There seems to be a mistaken tactic that going more hard-core right is the solution.
I believe that is and will continue to cost them over time...

AZRWinger · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2012, 08:40 PM

So Conservatives should do backflips when Roberts folds under Democrat pressure to preserve his "legacy" by creating a new power to tax not in the Constitution? What is the point in cuddling up to Roberts when he abandons the Constitution at the slightest suggestion of his Leftist masters?

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

So Conservatives should do backflips when Roberts folds under Democrat pressure to preserve his "legacy" by creating a new power to tax not in the Constitution? What is the point in cuddling up to Roberts when he abandons the Constitution at the slightest suggestion of his Leftist masters?

You don't give a poot about the constitution ; as long as you think you 'win'.
sad
& indicative of your peers

G.R.A. Garner · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2012, 07:46 AM

If Barry Goldwater ("Mr. Conservative") could see what these "lunatic" fringe groups have done to the Republican party, he'd turn over in his grave.

AZRWinger · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.R.A. Garner

If Barry Goldwater ("Mr. Conservative") could see what these "lunatic" fringe groups have done to the Republican party, he'd turn over in his grave.

Please ask what Goldwater thinks of the ACA, Dodd Frank, and auto manufacturing nationalization in you next seance. If anything has him spinning in his grave it is Obama's radical Leftist transformation of the US.

G.R.A. Garner · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 09:50 AM

Well, tell me then: How do you think "Mr. Conservative" would fare in today's Republican Party? Do you think he would be "embraced" by the so-called "religious right"? How about the "right-to-life" fringe of the GOP?

How about Ronald Reagan? How would his "tax and spend" policies go down with the so-called "Tea Party"?

AZRWinger · #7 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.R.A. Garner

Well, tell me then: How do you think "Mr. Conservative" would fare in today's Republican Party? Do you think he would be "embraced" by the so-called "religious right"? How about the "right-to-life" fringe of the GOP?

How about Ronald Reagan? How would his "tax and spend" policies go down with the so-called "Tea Party"?

Goldwater would do just fine in the contemporary Republican party. His conversion to proabortion came in his dotage largely a product of lobbying by his much younger second wife.

Reagan failed to capture the Republican nomination twice because he was considered too Conservative. Fortunately the party came to its senses. It is doubtful he would have problems winning the nomination or the election today.

There is no so-called Tea Party.

dabateman · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

Goldwater would do just fine in the contemporary Republican party. His conversion to proabortion came in his dotage largely a product of lobbying by his much younger second wife.

Reagan failed to capture the Republican nomination twice because he was considered too Conservative. Fortunately the party came to its senses. It is doubtful he would have problems winning the nomination or the election today.

There is no so-called Tea Party.

Goldwater couldn't do well in the modern Republican party. For the same reason Gary Johnson didn't and for the same reason that Ron Paul isn't...

Sure, they have a small vocal support, but since the hijacking by the "values voters" the Republican party has virtually ended their dominance of the libertarian field.

Comet · #9 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Now I realize that this plays out across the political spectrum, but I can't help but think that the right-wing has grown a tendency to show more of an arrogant, denigrating attitude towards those that disagree with them.

Both sides do this. Neither can claim purity on that front.

saltwn · #10 (**permalink**) 08-10-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Federal Judge Richard Posner: The GOP Has Made Me Less Conservative : It's All Politics : NPR

Now I realize that this plays out across the political spectrum, but I can't help but think that the right-wing has grown a tendency to show more of an arrogant, denigrating attitude towards those that disagree with them.
There seems to be a mistaken tactic that going more hard-core right is the solution.
I believe that is and will continue to cost them over time...

Well they lost the me, that's for sure. Maybe forever.

You may not care but I'm not the only one...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

Please ask what Goldwater thinks of the ACA, Dodd Frank, and auto manufacturing nationalization in you next seance. If anything has him spinning in his grave it is Obama's radical Leftist transformation of the US.

Dodd Frank didn't go far enough, and talk about bail-outs. At least the company Obama bailed out is making a profit and is still in business...see sig

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