YOU, sir, are AWESOME!

I think what Andy is trying to say is don’t stoop to their (A. Baldwin/Penn/Cho/Olbermann) level.

Astute as always, Andy. You’ve articulated what I’ve been thinking.

Thanks.

Trying to be above the fray?
I watch ‘Redeye’ and you are amongst those who said some nasty things to President Bush.
Actually, I think I recognize you as one of those seen singing ‘nah nah nah nah. Hypocrite!!!

Well said, Andy. Tho’ I fear some of the suggestions will fall on deaf ears. For some folks? Their anger is pretty much all they have. And they’re not giving it up for anybody. Or any country.

That’s good stuff Andy. I hope that the majority of people understand and put it into practice. We know there is that faction that just want to return the same invectives that have been thrown our way for the past eight years. But let’s show that reason, intelligence and common sense can go a lot further than deranged emotional blather.

Andy Levy: If wit and common sense were a dusty rug, I’d hang him in the back yard and bang him in front of the neighbors.

i did take this election personally, we’re gonna see our freedoms shrink now, our civil rights squashed, as a new PC epidemic runs rampant in our schools and in our society. might as well hide your guns and your american flags before the PC Police show up at your door and take you off to a detention center in a gag and blindfold.

I work better by mocking people’s hypocrisies. I will probably mock Obama a little and believe less of what I say than that. The only purpose in doing so is to show the idiot liberals how incredibly vile they were over the past 8 years. Whether or not this proves to be the best strategy…eh, we’ll see. It’s the one I’m starting out with until it proves to have sunk in to at least one of the loons I’ve heard.

So, I could be on that project for a while.

words to live by.

Ever so tempted to print this up and post above my desk at work. Lord knows a co-worker who complained President Bush’s exit this morning was too quick, to the point he didn’t have time to give him the finger in salute, would love it. Hmmm…

Grow a pair! I for one will be part of the loyal opposition. Enough of the namby-pamby, don’t sink to their level crap. It’s time some of us get down and get dirty with the libtards. I will never cease to point out that Obama and his buds are Socialists, will ruin America with his policies and that all his followers are suffering from false-messiah worship complex. I will not go quietly into that fair night. Time to get in their faces. Paybacks, baby.

The list is objectively a good one, but I can’t help but feel a bit sour at its implications. The Left spent eight long years undergoing a scorched earth policy, savaging Bush at every possible opportunity and driving his poll numbers into oblivion. They were relentlessly negative and completely fine with doing things such as revealing intelligence secrets to the New York Times, providing our enemy with propaganda, and in many other ways just generally tearing down our country and imperiling the lives of our troops… all in the name of returning to power. No matter what Bush did, they were completely, immediately, and vociferously against him.

And it worked.

The Left is now back in the White House with a large lead in the House of Representatives and a basically filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. They didn’t get there by being nice. They got there by being mean as hell. And now they have the power to remake our country into something entirely different than the founders intended, perhaps forever.

So now we hear calls on the Right to take the high road, to be civil, to be the adults that the Left were not in the past eight years. And I can certainly sympathize with that aim. On the other hand, I fear what’s far more likely to happen with such calls is that they get perverted into a paralysis of timidity and niceness. That we won’t be a truly effective opposition party, opposing the Democrats at every turn. That our desire to seem “nice”, “bipartisan” and “adult” will cause us to instead only be weak, ineffectual and useless. And no matter how we act, the Democrats and the press will still hate us all the same anyway. But at least we’ll have the pride to know we behaved correctly, right?

So I agree with what you’re saying Mr. Levy, but I fear its implications for our movement, and by extension, our country and this world. We cannot let the world lose America. If we become just another Europe, there is literally nowhere else on earth for freedom-loving people to escape to. And more than that, Europe is currently a decaying continent, giving up its entire history and culture to a Muslim population that is intent on destroying Western values and ideals. They need not do so through arms if they can merely do it through cultural intimidation and the ballot box. That is Europe’s lot, and if we become another Europe, it will eventually become our lot, too. Then there really is nowhere else to go on this planet for one who wants to be free by any reasonable standard.

The stakes could not be higher.

So it not only seems monumentally unfair that the left can practice eight years of nuclear-level hatred against the right, gaining all the levers of power as a result, while we are told we have to play nice, but knowing the comparative jelly that Republican politicians and commentators are made of, such calls for “comity” and “civility” are only going to result in the kind of timidity and simple ineffectualness that we just can’t afford.

What good is it to act like an adult when the result of such evenhandedness is the children taking over the house and burning it to the ground?

Baloney! Give as has been given to you for the last 8 years! This is nothing more than appeasement for its own sake and the very reason we’re where we are today.

Actually, I’m torn. I have been trying all day to do the things mentioned here, that’s the morality in me. The survivor in me and the desire for justice in me wants to kick that little pansy morality’s ass and return 8 years worth of headaches.

ROFLOL! After the way the left has treated Presdient Bush for the past 8 years fat chance! Just remeber it is us who pay he taxes the left gvives things away from, if we decide to quit working for 5 months you all have a huge problem hehehe.

Forgot the link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/additional/

Wow, Republicans really are a bunch of wimps. So the Left can play hardball smashmouth politics and we are supposed to bend over and take it. Nope, no sir…I will give Obama and his family (including his daughters) the same respect that Liberals gave President Bush and his daughters. This is a war and we are losing. Better to inflict some damage on the opposition before we are thoroughly vanquished.

Exactly! Thank you. )

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.

My sentiments exactly. Only you managed to say it in slightly fewer words. Thank you!

“DON’T cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots.” – that’s President Obama’s job.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05212008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_to_ajad__atomic_assist_111819.htm?page=0
===
Obama announced that, if elected, he wouldn’t ask Iran to comply with UN resolutions as a precondition for direct talks with Ahmadinejad: “Preconditions, as it applies to a country like Iran, for example, was a term of art. Because this [Bush] administration has been very clear that it will not have direct negotiations with Iran until Iran has met preconditions that are essentially what Iran views, and many other observers would view, as the subject of the negotiations; for example, their nuclear program.”
===

Let’s all join hands and sing Kumbaya.

President Bush had these guidelines on his bulletin board for 8 years and all it got him was a sub-35% approval rating and a chant of “Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey, goodbye” on his walk to the helicopter. But hey, if that’s your goal, soft bigotry of lowered expectations, carry on. I’m on to bigger fish.

Nicely done Drew!

PLEASE HAVE ANDREW W.K. BACK ON REDEYE SOON!!!!

Well, it sure would be great if we could all play nice in the sandbox but I have my reservations. We can’t roll over for people who only know how to play dirty. How bout let’s all walk softly and carry big sticks? For all the people who love this country– of course we want Obama to surprise us. I would love for him to grow a set and shake off the hard left. If that happens, I will have nothing but sunshine and lollipops to spout off about. Even the left has no idea what this guy has in mind. I will reserve the right to complain or praise until we see what this guy is made of.

This is blue-blood country club Republican talk. I just got through writing on the NRCC website telling them they could take their request for a donation and stick it up their you know what. Excuse me…one of the Don’ts is gonna focus on whether or not I emphasize the obamanation’s middle name? Hello…its whats on the birth certificate that I am supposed to believe is legitimate. But you know what, I havent spent a whole lot of time worrying over that little bit of conspiracy theory. Its obvious to me that it wouldnt matter if the BHO was risen from the blood of the American Revolution, he STILL does not merit the office of the President of the United States. He is a MARXIST, and I dont acknowledge Marxists as my leader…and Marxism is a NASTY, VIRULENT political meme taht should be fought tooth and nail.

Cute list, but Ive been steaming mad since 2006. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the RNCC – if youre thinking this will help you ‘reach out’ and even the playing field, just cross the DMZ and STAY THERE, okay?

[...] More advice for conservatives; Good advice, actually. Basically it boils down to: Don’t act like the left has for the past 8 [...]

@Sharon:
Ok, you keep venting and screaming and poking the donks in the eye and throwing a fit. Nothing anybody can do to stop you.

In the meantime, I’m going to control myself, act like an adult, and help however I can to get more Conservatives into office.

Politics is about WINNING. The way you are acting won’t help Conservatives win.

Sorry Andy, but you are wrong. There is no right or wrong approach for Republicans to deal with the situation we are in. There are some ways that are better than others, but there is no way of knowing what will be a winning strategy. The last one the Republicans had was an epic failure. So go out there!Be yourself! Stop apologizing! Learn from your and other peoples mistakes! Have a plan, and DO SOMETHING!

My head tells me to do as Jesus said and turn the other cheek. But my heart tells me that Leo was right when he said nice guys finish last. I think I’ll follow my heart.

David Horowitz said that Republicans are too polite. I agree. While I would never stoop to the kind of psycopathic obscenities and hate that the lefties do, I can’t see me ever being very nice to or about BO. And I have a hard time believing that a man who can’t bring himself to salute the flag of his country or makes an issue of why he refuses to wear that symbol on his lapel loves America.

Brownie

News for you. People are people and behave accordingly. And it has nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat. Believe me. History shows that all Presidents have been hated by certain factions. Now just because Bush had low approval ratings simply means more people hated him. Boo hoo.
I’ve perused right wing web sites for years – like Little Green Footballs, Hot Air and Right Wing News and even Storm Front etc – trust me there is plenty of hate there.
I guarantee you the Right wing will hate just as much as the Left did. It’s already started. You guys hate Obama and therefore anything said about him that is out of bounds will be shrugged off.

Your admonitions are based on common decency, and rather unnecessary, at least for every conservative or classic liberal I know. But I’m sure you mean well. In any case, having grown up on the Left, I’ve had too much nasty experience to accept the premise of #1. In fact, I trace much of conservative troubles in the past eight years to a quaint and determined incomprehension of Leftist bad faith. The Left absolutely does not have America’s best interests in mind. Yet conservatives continue to operate within this comforting “construct” of shared commonweal; it is a willful and self-destructive blindness. Now I see conservatives flagellating themselves into rectitude, as if we’re all on some kind of probation. We’re not.

Klavan touched on the best approach to loyal opposition a few days ago. The first step is to internalize the endemic bad faith of the Left, then to approach every political conflict with an understanding of their total, demonstrated wrongness on every issue. The Left is NEVER right, its policies ALWAYS produce a social dysfunction, and it does NOT appreciate America as defined by its founding principles. Reagan understood this, and carried it with him every day, in every skirmish. He didn’t shout it out, or need to. It simply informed his arguments, reinforced his confidence. Every conservative needs to do the same.

This piece is brilliant, and more people need to read it. How do I get Andy on my show tonight/tomorrow?

[...] 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 [...]

Of course, if Obama says anything hateful about Pixel or Stormy, all these admonitions go out the window.

Kit:

FYI

Barry the Bush Basher

I know what you’re saying, however, it’s so hard after 8 years of irrational hate. The looney liberal DemoRats (sorry, couldn’t resist) owe us and especially President Bush and apology! Seeing how that’s never going to happen, I think we’re going to have to fight back!

Do pray for America.

On second thought! We have a Democrat cabal in Washington DC that wants to shut us up! I believe they would grasp power permanently and eliminate all opposition if they could. I don’t believe they’ll be satisfied until they establish a socialist one party dictatorship. Many of them want to put President Bush, VP Cheney and many administration officials in jail. We have no choice, but to fight back! I also agree with David’s message above.

But if you do want to move to Canada, keep in mind we currently have a more conservative leader than you, for what be the first time in history. Just saying . . .

Um…wasn’t it Alec Baldwin who swore up and down that he’d move to Canada if Bush won?

While I admire your little list here, Andy, I can’t help but agree with the rest who were disgusted at both the actions of todays crowd toward President Bush, and at the disrespect shown to Mr. Bush by both Dianne Feinstein and Obama in their speeches. Had the shoe been on the other foot, and those same actions were directed at an outgoing Democrat, rest assured the MSM and fellow Democrats would be up in arms, condemning everyone and anyone for such outrageous behavior.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush have shown absolutely nothing but class and grace in the face of vicious attacks, both political and personal, from the left. It’s sad that, in the face of what they like to term their ‘historic’ victory, the left can’t show anywhere near the same class.

GLENN:

Please, compare/contrast Jindahl & Palin for me. I’m confused. What’s their difference in competence/authority/charisma? Thanks.

Following your “to don’t” list and playing nice with the left is a lot like Israel calling a cease fire while Hamas is still lobbing rockets.

Texacalirose: Jindal has far more government experience than Palin (having served in the US congress) and just as important, he possess an air of quiet authority that she utterly lacks.

I like Palin. She is cool. In 2008, cool candidates were in. Mac needed her as a strategic answer to Obama’s charisma. But that was 2008, 2012 will be a whole ‘nother environment. Voters will be weary of cool, and they will be looking for experience, authority, and know how. Ultimately, Palin is a lightweight. I watched her debate Biden with some democrat friends, and I was embarrassed. Her answers were formulaic, and when she starting winking, I felt like crawling under the sofa. She is a popular governor right now because Alaska is rolling in dough, but my gut does not trust her when the chips are down.

And no, it’s not because she is a woman. I wanted to see Rice get the nomination.

Boy, has this thread engaged some reactions. Early on at January 20th, 2009 at 4:46 pm part of what I said was:

But let’s show that reason, intelligence and common sense can go a lot further than deranged emotional blather.

I’ll stand by that but I’ll add that intelligence can be demonstrated by pointed attacks on the inanity of the Lefties supposed sense of truth and justice. People like Coulter and Limbaugh have this ability down to an art. You may not agree with their tactics, but it is extremely effective. The Left hate it and all they can do is cry foul in response. The better we learn how to fight strategically, with wit and wisdom combined, the higher road is ours and we gain the vantage of the higher ground.

Another thread on BH was about the inability of writers to put Conservative viewpoints into scripts (sorry I couldn’t find the article). We do need to do better than American Carol, The Half Hour News Hour, and others like that. I think 24 does a good job of projecting a netural stance and if you think about it at all, you can make the argument that it is a Right leaning show. But as was commented in that thread, we need to do what the Left has done for thirty plus years. And that is make shows and films that the public at large loves to watch, but has the subtle or not so subtle message that the Left is wrong – in thought and action – and make them laugh at, or sit up and think about, the ridiculous situations that the characters have gotten themselves into because of those thoughts and actions. It’s not an easy thing to do, but the talented writers on our side should be able to provide those types of scripts. Then *all we need* is the execs with the cojones to exhibit those shows or films. I think if they can be shown that they’ll make money off those projects, they’ll show them.

It’s not about stooping to their level. It’s about shining the light on their foibles by playing their game but doing it with class. And the same should be done in day to day conversations with the progressives that we run across.

*sigh*

Andy, maybe a week or so ago, I would’ve been more receptive. I grant you, your points are well taken.

However, first of all, you are preaching to the choir, here ~ I know of very few vitriolic “righties” ~ most conservatives, Republicans, and definitely Libertarians just don’t go there.

Secondly, I am just tired of the lectures.

And thirdly, I think “Republicans – the New Be Kind to Democrats Party,” “Kit,” and “David S” ~ scroll above ~ all have a more inclusive list.

Thx, Robin Hu: I could not have said it better myself.

Glenn: Were your Democrat friends embarassed by all the false statements that Biden just made up on the spot during the debate? Or is the standard that one only has to sound like he has “authority” and not wink in order to be worthy.

And I didn’t think you were being sexist, either. My gut doesn’t trust Rice. And I like Jindal very much.

[...] am trying, really I am, to adopt Andy Levy’s To Don’t List, particularly these key points: DON’T make it personal. We don’t need another Derangement [...]

DO whine like babies at the drop of a hat in comments no one will ever read.

Man, this election makes me more embarassed to be an American than the last two terms did, and there’s no denying that there’s plenty of reasons to go red-in-the-face on Mr. Bush’s record. One side is glassy-eyed and stupid over their admiration for a POLITICIAN. The problem with politics in this country isn’t that they’re inherently centrist, but that the loudest talkers on both sides of the socio-political isle don’t seem to notice that they’re inherently centrist. The same Red staters who believe that if Bush weren’t so busy running the US of A, he’d be out there in a foxhole with an M16 or Blue-staters who believe Obama can wave a magic wand and fix social security and the health care industry have now changed roles. The formerly incendiary liberals are so blinded by their tears of joy that they can only see Obama as Messiah. The Bushheads, previously unable to see the obvious errors in Dubya’s foreign policy, now come out from the woodwork, both barrels of the muck-cannon firing full bore.

I DO want to move to Canada, but not because of the president.

Americans are idiots.

[...] Celebrate the Inauguration. Meanwhile, TV’s Andy Levy presents his more light hearted  “My To Don’t” List for the Right.   [link]  [...]

Poster David is correct,and I wish he had written an article,not Andy.Well written, David!
Oh and it was Alec Baldwin that whined about Canada,not Stephen.

Ms. Levy, you are totally full of crap. Have a nice Obama.

[...] it wouldn’t hurt to keep Andy Levy’s advice in mind, too, if they actually want to regain [...]

President Bush made many attempts to work with the Democrats and we all know how well that worked out. President Bush’s failure was that he didn’t stand up to them enough. For 8 years the Democrats attacked the President often in very personal ways. The constant criticism of the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan endangered our troops & enabled our enemies. Pelosi is still talking about investigating the President & the Bush administration & it’s the Democrats who seem to enjoy the instability & chaos that they create. Democrats put their party above everything else & they should not be forgiven for what they have done to this country. No slack for Obama & the Democrats from me.

Put Frank, Raines and Dodd in prison and BO and the leftist will get my respect.

Well, if nothing else, Andy’s attempt at comity has brought out the raving wingtards for display purposes. So there’s that. The sad thing about all this anger and paranoia is that one suspects it’s pretty much all they’ve got, which is to say they actually *define* themselves not by the things they do, but by the things, or people, they hate.

God, what a wasteful life.

By taking the high road, I do not mean that we should squelch our outrage when the O-team does something stupid and/or outrageous. Rather, we need to be as vocal as possible so that everybody hears our protest. But if we lower the level of debate to kindergarden style taunts and tantrums, we’re going to look like the Left has for the last eight years. A bunch of whiney little babies. We are smarter than that. We’re collectively in at least the 11th grade. And I’ve known some pretty smart high school juniors. What I want to see is the attempt to “change” the way we Conservatives frame the debate and challenge those that we disagree with. If you want to make fun of them, fine. Just do it with wit and style. If you need to attack them because you can’t control your rage, be a Ninja, not a caveman. I see Andy’s list as a bit tounge in cheek, but there’s truth to behold there.

All day long yesterday, I was picturing how the next year or so was going to be framed by the Left. If anything goes wrong, or it just is too difficult to fix right now, it will be Bush’s fault, of course. Whatever is able to be fixed or improved, and there is any sort of bi-partisan effort, it’s because of the way Obama has healed the country and changed the political landscape.

Please, let’s hold their feet to the fire and make them accountable for any policy F*#&-ups, any socialist control type efforts, any attempt to co-opt the Constitution. Make it known far and wide that we won’t stand for it. But I’ll say it again; intelligence, common sense, and good-naturedness will be what allows us to start the reclamation of the House and Senate in 2010 and the big ticket in 2012.

[...] Andy Levy has an important list of don’t for us on the right now that we are out of power totally: DON’T question the motives – question the policy. When you disagree with Obama’s policies, say [...]

I like Andy a lot…but I don’t need anybody telling me what to do. I am an individual, not part of a collective, so I can make up my own mind to act or react anyway I want.

[...] A “To Don’t” list for conservatives – Andy Levy (Big [...]

Why not do these things? The left did them for the last eight years and now we have a Democrat ruled House, a Democrat ruled Senate, and Democrat as President. Boy they really paid the price for their behavior, didn’t they.

[...] Read the whole thing here. [...]

TSJ017, that’s easy. We’ve seen it for the last eight years, tho’ probably not to the extent you think. As I said elsewhere, if you think the best way to respond to the douche bags who slandered G.W. for the last eight years is to act like a douche bag for the next eight?

Okay.

I think i’m getting into these half-agree/half-disagree moments lately on every site I visit.

Andy while it’s a decent list… I’m just not sure where you’re asking conservatives to draw the line.

Now I’m not going to go running around screaming : Obama = Mao! Or Obama = Chavez! (although it’d be tempting), I don’t agree with just standing back and taking every body blow they throw at us conservatives. I would prefer the ‘respond with the brain, not with the heart’ type of debate, but there are some times when that just will not work.

It’s a case where you have to _pick_ your battles and fight with the correct weapon, whether it’s down and dirty, or the high-brow road. I will not get to the depths of name calling or “chimpanzee comparing”, but if I have to fight dirty to prove a point, I will, even if I wanted
to take the high-road in teh fight.

Those of you reacting most violently against Andy’s advice here are the ones who most need to take it. You can vent your spleen OR argue persuasively, but not both.

The Makers have a much harder case to make than the Takers. No one is born instinctively understanding opportunity costs and unintended consequences, and many go to their graves without grasping them on more than a vague subconscious level. We can either teach our fellow citizens or let the world teach our nation the hard way, the way Greece, Rome and Britain were each taught in their time.

I, for one, am not ready to give up on America even as we take a left turn away from greatness. I will be following Andy’s advice to the best of my ability.

Sorry, Andy, but I have had enough of the Democrats trashing Republicans at every opportunity for my entire adult life: the last 28 years. The Democrats try to destroy their opponents. Remember Robert Bork, Newt Gingrich, Clarence Thomas, Casper Weinberger, Don Cheney, Sarah Palen, and of course Bush the last six years.

Call me B. Hussein Deranged, but I am going to point out the unattractive points to this empty-suit at every opportunity. Bi-partisan civility is for chumps, thanks to Democrats. So be it.

B. Hussein is going to be a disaster for this country. How do I know? Look at his sorry record. The most liberal voting record in the Senate. Look at his associates: Ayers, Rezko, Rev. Wright. Look at his cabinet appointments. A Treasury secretary who evaded paying taxes! And would be in charge of the IRS. A Secretary of State whose husband has accepted millions from foreign governments — no conflict of interest there! An Attorney General who was instrumental in the disgraceful pardon of Mark Rich. A CIA Director who is an amateur.

Loula, what good W has done for this country? Here’s a list:

* Defeating Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.

* Keeping America safe in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when virtually no one thought such a thing was possible. In achieving this, President Bush fulfilled the first duty of his office.

* Correcting earlier (and significant) mistakes in Iraq and supporting the surge when almost everyone — the American people, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commanding general in Iraq, all Democrats, and many Republicans — opposed his efforts. This was a textbook example of leadership and wise decision-making in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

* Leading efforts that led to a humiliating defeat for al-Qaeda in Iraq and, more broadly, to militant Islam being on the defensive throughout much of the world, including the Arab world.

* Liberating more than 50 million people from two of the most malevolent regimes in modern history.

* Standing with Israel against its enemies and having the wisdom to declare he would not deal with Yasir Arafat.

* Adding two outstanding Justices to the Supreme Court and appointing first-rate federal judges.

* Championing a culture of life and the global AIDS initiative.

* Cutting taxes several times and never, not even once, raising them.

* Putting in place the most far-reaching reforms in education in generations, which insisted on accountabilty, high standards, and produced positive results.

* Restoring dignity to the Oval Office, acting with civility and grace, loving his country, and serving her well.

* Implementing Stragetic Missile Defense

*He broke from the political mold that even Bill Clinton followed by appointing blacks to second-tier Cabinet positions like HUD. Bush’s appointment of Powell was not especially significant because of Powell’s stature, but his appointment of Condi Rice was truly historic.

“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.)”

It was Alec…not Stephen.

I’m just one conservative that feels the republican party has left him, but if republican’s followed this, people like me might actually vote for them. I think when people talk about wanting “Change” they aren’t thinking about policy, but about a change in the way our country has been governed.

President Bush’s governed passionately about doing what he felt was right, making hard decisions swiftly and often times without deference to public opinion. But his “I’m the decider” approach to policy making and decisions left many people and ideas out. And sometimes this approach began to make him look stubborn and arrogant.

Legislatively, the republican party started inserting itself and interfering with the lives of people on a “we know what is right” justification. Some of these instances, like the abortion issue are very hot on both sides, but other times republican’s have inserted themselves in some very private matters. Like the Terri Shiavo case, death and dignity, marriage, educational curriculum, etc. These are controversial issues, but the “we know what is right” approach doesn’t allow for reasonable people to disagree regardless of where they are on the political spectrum.

The unifying theme of the republican party over the last 16 years has been “oppose anything a liberal thinks is good.” Opposition isn’t a matter of policy, fact, or rational. The mere fact a democrat likes something is reason enough that it should be opposed. It seems ridiculous, but there are times I think if the democrats put up a plan for eliminating social security, medicaid and medicare, and to cut all taxes, that the gop leadership would introduce the largest spending hike and taxes in history.

But alas, I can’t go more than two or three comments before someone breaks at least one of these don’t – so I’m skeptical anyone in the GOP leadership will pay any heed. It’s business as usual, and republican’s will continue to be a regional party.

[...] Andy Levy (sounds like a joke name) at the new Brietbart Big Hollywood site counsels conservatives to eschew exactly the strategy the left used to demonize Bush and drive his [...]

[...] Andy Levy (sounds like a joke name) at the new Brietbart Big Hollywood site counsels conservatives to eschew exactly the strategy the left used to demonize Bush and drive his [...]

TO: All
RE: If Andy Didn’t….

….pronounce the items in this ‘list’ to everyone on the web in the previous eight years…

…he is nothing more than a rank hypocrite.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The Truth will out.....and the Left isn't going to like it.]

[...] facebook friend pointed me to this column by Andy Levy.  Good points, [...]

Generally good advice. I would modify it, however.

Only use phrases like “speaking truth to power” or “divisive” in a humorous way, and indicate it by the use of a smiley or a grin-and-wink. I think there is both educational and demonstrative value in doing so at times. Not often, of course, but at times.

[...] "To Don’t" List for the Right Some good points in here — both condemning the treatment of Bush and not keeping the cycle going. Big Hollywood Blog Archive My “To Don’t” List for the Right [...]

[...] I did it again. Don’t Do It says Andy Levy: DON’T apologize to foreigners and say things to them like, “I didn’t vote for [...]

David (Jan20 @5:05p) had it right. Many commenters pointed out that Republicans are the ‘adults’ making Dems the ‘children.’ Republicans are admonished to behave like adults and not ‘to sink to the level of the Dems.’

I agree, however…

There is an old saying, “to spare the rod spoils the child.” I think it is fair to say we Republicans have spared rods for far too long.

You’re right, Everyone Who Said Republicans Need To Act Like Adults.

It’s time to stand up and maturely dole out some well-earned political discipline.

Alright, WhiteboyJeff, you are precisely the kind of effete psuedo-intellectual that is frankly an embarassment to not just the Left, but to America. Of course, you’re probably just some kid who doesn’t know any better; but really… Show some class. And as a bonus, I think we’d all appreciate you getting your facts straight.
1) This election was decisive but by no means a ‘landslide.’ Go look at Reagans victory over Mondale. THAT’s a landslide.
2) Bush will go down in history as one of the great American Presidents. He will be compared to Truman: unlikely won a close election, was a war President who did difficult things to protect America and spread freedom across the golbe, and was reviled as he left office.
3) Educated people are mostly Democrats? Really? Your religious bigotry is only slightly outdone by your intellectual dishonesty. The truly great minds in history took the opportunity to explore and discover our natural world only to find it brought them closer to God. If you did any of your own research, you’d know that.
4) Again, your short-sided and typical flippant remark regarding human life is staggering. You must be an admirer of Himmler.
5) Your last “don’t” is disgraceful, repugnant, and depraved.

[...] My “To Don’t” List for the Right [...]

Joey, you remind me I must watch “Fletch” again. Excellent stuff.

>> Joey Ponchetti posted at – January 20th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

>> God, I admire you.

I have nothing but contempt for Bama and his minions and I’ve been at war with them for some time. I won’t buy from, contribute to, or have any dealings with anyone I know to be a Democrat. As far as I’m concerned, to be a Democrat Party member is to publicly announce oneself to be a depraved criminal. We are at war, and we’ll have to defeat the domestic enemies first before we can defeat the foreign ones.

In general, it seems that the efforts conservatives make to hold ourselves to a higher, more mature standard are futile because the internal rules we live by will never penetrate the liberal consciousness. I have been contemplating the biblical adage to “turn the other cheek” in relation to this issue & came to the conclusion that when one is dealing with evil – and I can think of no greater evil to befall this great nation than that of liberal fascism – the time for good manners has passed.

Chandler, “fair play”? You are familiar with the Arkansas Project, are you not…?

Considering the Clinton years, all this kvetching about liberals not “playing fair” and being too hard on Bush has given me a good laugh. I absolutely agree that the treatment of Bush by the crowd at the inauguration was inappropriate, though there was plenty of booing of Obama (though admittedly not to his face) during McCain’s concession speech on election night, too.

Anyway, my point is that to claim conservatives would never act similarly is patently and demonstrably ridiculous. Some conservatives – including some of the people commenting on this post – will do everything they can, ethical or not, to catch Obama out, and next time a Republican gets in, liberals will remember it and the cycle will continue just as it’s about to now.

Nice list. I’m not so sure about the “people who don’t agree with me aren’t stupid”, though. ;~)

TO: All
RE: George & Projection

….what a bunch of stupid morons on this. STILL so brainwashed and uninformed. — George

’nuff said.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[If you can't convince them, abuse them. -- Leftist approach to 'discussion'.]

P.S. Since he NOW has authority over the FBI and CIA as well as a number of other agencies capable of printing official documents, in a false manner, I will likely tend to doubt the simple presentation of a mere document….by itself.

It would have been better if he presented such documents BEFORE the inauguration. Don’t you think?

The George who posted @ 6:10 on 1/21 is NOT the yahoo who posted earlier, btw, different George.

Andrew, you are right on…..but it was Alec Baldwin, not Stephen.

Ok not everyone agrees with everything and that’s fine. Don’t even do what he says and that’s fine. But come on stop acting like a bunch of juvinile hypocrits and start leading by example and not by words. Ok I believe not in a party because to me a democrat or republican…who cares, I belive in someone who will get us out of this mess.Do the job, do the job well. Stop standing behind a polital party and start standing on your own two feet. OHHHHH one political party has more power than another, who cares!!! I just hope for the sake of my son’s future in this country that whomever is in office will do a decent job , nonetheless. I was in the Army and I thought I was fighting for justice to our country but all I see is fighting for people who could care less. If you don’t like whos in office, if you are going to have just absolutely miserable four yrs coming up, there are other countries out there. Oh I guess it’s not that bad because your still in the US. Please stop acting like fighting children and step up like an adult and say “you know what I don’t like whos in office but my life will go on” I know I’ll get flack from this and frankly I don’t care, I’ve heard worse. But at least you read and now like my catholic religion you can be a jerk again and then go ask for forgiveness, then walkout the doors and slam them in someone’s face!

[...] With Enough Sense to Listen By royheath If you’re not reading Big Hollywood, consider this your engraved [...]

Andy, are you a RepubliCAN, or a RepubliCAN’T? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Anyway, beg to differ on 1 and 2. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Politics ain’t beanbag. How many other cliches can I throw in?

Look, you may have a visceral dislike of the screeching insanity of the Bush-hating crowd. I do. But the questions you have to ask yourself are, “Did it really harm the country? Are we in mortal danger because of the latest Derangement Syndrome? Or were the incessant attacks on the President merely a means to power for the Left? And wouldn’t the country be better off with conservatives in power? Is whipping up votes by undermining Obama an effective tactic for conservatives?” Maybe you do believe we’ve suffered irreparable harm, but the only harm I see is that the vicious tactics of the Left have succeeded and swept a corrupt and contemptible man into the Oval Office. The only danger I see is the prospect that Obama will expand government power to unprecedented levels, while trying to disarm and silence us. The incessant hatefest of the last 8 years played a big role in the 2008 rout of the GOP — but I still believe we would be better off with conservatives in power.

So that leaves the question whether it’s even reasonable to expect conservatives to froth. Personally, I’m skeptical. Many conservatives can’t even stand Ann Coulter, whose main offense is to treat liberals like they treat conservatives. We’re conservative for a reason, and we’re not built for simplistic slogans (”No Blood For Oil!”, “Bush=Hitler!!!”) or protest marches, or snarky glibsters like Jon Stewart. And keep in mind that the Liberal hate machine has not been turned off. So it is quite possible that one outcome of the next four years will be the withering away of the GOP, rather like the Whigs in the mid-1800’s. (I remain optimistic that Americans are to lazy to fight another Civil War, though.)

Oh, and about that middle-name thing: I refuse to cooperate. From now on I will refer to the 44th President as “H” — which stands for “He Who Shall Not Be Middle-Named”….

BBB

Neil, you are a completely deluded fool who has swallowed the Dem talking points hook, line and sinker. Every argument you made about Bush is easily refutable by the simplest of methods: Google. I, however, can’t be bothered to educate you. The only two things you said in your screed that were accurate were your acknowledgements that liberal scum such as yourself had “poor behavior” and were not patriots. Those are truths for the ages, albeit grossly understated. Criminality and treason would be far closer to the truth. By the way, calling Bama a “statesman with integrity and intelligence” simply shows you wouldn’t recognize either if they came up and kicked you squarely in the groin.

You’ve been suckered by the biggest scam of the 21st Century to date. The Right knows Hussain is a two-bit charlatan and they know to expect nothing but criminality from him and his. It’s going to be fun watching all you starry-eyed libs gasp, choke and squirm as you try to swallow all the rancid tripe Chicago Jesus and his crooked friends are going to shove down your throats. You cretins defended the indefensible during the Clinton regime and it was funny to watch as you admitted this year you hated doing it. As I heartily laugh at you from another country with my money safely out of Hussain’s reach, I’m going to think you deserve every damned bit and more of another full dose of your chosen criminal’s excrement. Just remember as you gag that YOU RECEIVED WHAT YOU ASKED FOR!

It makes one realize how far downward the discourse in this country has spiraled, that Andy felt he even had to write this piece. What my parents once referred to as “common sense” would have dictated, in a bygone era, that the country would support a new president, especially in times as tough as these. And yet we saw what happened to the previous president, a man beset by the same, and worse (9/11) things. I hope, along with Andy, that those on the right, of which I am one, will, at the very least, take a “wait and see” attitude toward President Obama. There will be time enough to criticize him if he fails, but remember – if he fails, we as a nation suffer, regardless of our personal politics.
If the man can bring us together, then more power to him. But the truth is that no one man has that power. It always amuses me when people blame things, over which he has no control, on a President. Our system of government is not that of “one man” or even “one party” rule. The gridlock that has paralyzed Washington over the past eight years should be enough to demonstrate that. It is also good to remember that these elections come every four years, so if President Obama does not deliver, or continues to preside over a divided country, he will not have a second term. If you are a religious person, this would be a good time to pray for him, and for all of us. And to Andy I say, thanks for stimulating my mind this morning.

I understand the basic thrust of what Andy is asking for here, and it’s a laudable goal… but it is woefully incomplete, in no small part because it leaves out the concept of CONSEQUENCES for the misbehavior of the Left over the last eight years.

I’ll be glad to take the higher road on questions of policy, and both support and encourage Obama when he implements actual policies of substance which are objectively good for this country. However, I will not hesitate to engage in political juijitsu with the Left and the only standard which they seem to offer in debate: Hypocrisy.

Since hypocrisy has been their cri de coeur for the last eight years (and longer), I fully intend to use it against them. Obama gave a wonderful and lofty inaugural address… the question is whether he will be able to live up to the standard which he called for in that speech. Likewise with his campaign rhetoric. I intend fully to point out, at each and every turn, that it is the Left that leads a life of hypocrisy, and thus by their very own standard we should not treat them seriously.

Among other things, Obama stated “On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

Accordingly, I will point out every petty grievance, false promise and worn out dogma that Obama offers, as well as every tactic which he uses to strangle our politics. I can be the perfect model of civility with respect to Obama… all he has to do to get that, is to actually live the rhetoric that he offers. If he doesn’t, then by the Left’s standard, he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

And for every Leftist who continues the tactics of destruction, I will continue to point out the difference between my approach and their misbehavior… because to fail to do so, is to give silent assent to the tactic. It rewards them for bad behavior by allowing them to get away with it. I will challenge them to rise to the standard that Obama has called for, and live the goals rather then mouth platitudes about them while ignoring their substance.

If Obama actually lives up to the rhetoric which he has offered, he may very well be a truly great president. I’m hoping that he will, but I have seen no evidence at all to this point that he has. As he noted on the campaign trail, these very well may be “words…. just words.”

Set the standard by example (not just by word), President Obama, and you will have my support from the right. Be a true leader, rather than just a speech-reader, and change the tone of Washington starting with yourself. When you do so, you will have my encouragement and I will encourage all, Left, Right and Center to follow your leadership.

Fail to do so, and I will not hesitate to point out the hypocrisy, and I will do so without regret. Doing so will not be disloyalty, but instead an appeal to live to the standard which you claim to support.

The ball is entirely in your court, Mr. President. Show us how it’s done.

[...] 23, 2009 Andy Levy is perhaps the best visible representative the Libertarian party has. He gives advice to the “right” that is both entertaining and something that should be adhered to. The [...]

Can’t go along with you on this one, Andy. Obama’s objectives are not nice objectives. If he has his way, all those that disagree will be isolated, marginalized, and criminalized. And above all, let’s not forget those that obeyed his command to get in our faces. For them, restraining orders.

[...] again, you can’t win. And this is the type of thing Andy Levy was cautioning the right about in his excellent piece. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:’{{ e.title|escape }}’, [...]

[...] 21, 2009 · 2 Comments Via Big Hollywood: My “To Don’t” List for the Right. …Handbook For The Loyal Opposition, 2009 edition – a “To Don’t List,” if you will. Or [...]

>>>”Obama is a Marxist and what he thinks is best for the country mirrors what Hitler thought was best for Germany…”

Really? “Mirrors” how, exactly?

That we should pursue systematic genocide, perhaps? Unwarranted widespread military aggression? A doctrine of racial purity?

Which is it, Edwin?

C’mon. Perpetuating just this sort of kneejerk, overblown nonsense (i.e., “Obama = Hitler,” “Obama = Stalin,” etc.) is partly why conservatives continue to lose elections.

Comparing Bush to Hitler didn’t work well for the left wing — and doing so with Obama certainly won’t help the right. (Even with “good intentions,” which, as you helpfully point out, sometimes create inverse results.)

I’d suggest perhaps you, and anyone who shares your rather irrational perspective, reread Mr. Levy’s column (and this time maybe take its points to heart) if you want to avoid the “wingnut” label and have conservatism regain some influence.

[...] http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/alevy/2009/01/20/my-to-dont-list-for-the-right/ [...]

Why not? It seems to have worked wonders for them.

You could have just said "Andy Levy has no balls" and that would have summed it up far more succinctly.