Originally Posted by Jim in CT
It's hard to have balls when every TV station except one, will call you every name in the book for simply stating methematical facts out loud.
Isn't that exactly the time when balls are needed. You don't need balls when the majority agree with you. It is easier to steam roll a ball-less opponent if your opposition is prone to timidity rather than courage. I can understand occasional retreats against overwhelming odds. But if the retreats are constant, and courage is usually only a brief show before the ultimate cave, you are eventually seen as ball-less, untrustworthy, and not deserving of respect. Recovering from that may be more difficult than overcoming a majority bias against you.
Maybe the "establishment" Republicans are copying George Washington's tactic of retreating from overwhelming odds in order to maintain a fighting force, but his army did actually fight, and it was vicious, deadly battle, and they inflicted great damage to the British even in retreat. And they did not cower either from well funded Tory opinions and opposition nor threats from the Crown. And they did win a number of battles before the final one. It was difficult to maintain morale in the troops against the lack of funding, food and clothing, disease, overwhelming odds, the lack of support from half or more of the populace. And it was, as well, difficult to keep the faith of that portion of the populace who were for the revolution. But a basic morale, and hope, was maintained by a vigorous leadership which refused to compromise its goals and principles and was able to forcefully and inspiringly articulate those goals and principles.
If that Revolutionary tactic is being employed, it is a dangerous ploy. Washington sought to take advantage of whatever opening was available to win battles. To turn a tide, or gain a momentum. And he never allowed his troops to cut and run. He inspired them with the strength of his character, and he punished them for betrayal. If he had shown weakness, lack of character, was dull and uninspiring, the revolution would have been crushed very early on. Insofar as the Republican leadership appears to be weak, without the inspirational character needed to achieve its goals, nor, even a clear definition of what those goals are, cut and run tactics only erode whatever confidence the base has.
Abandoning all battles and skirmishes for fear of media disapproval in order to wait for the final big battle--rather to wait for the big collapse of support for Democrats because of the public's hate for the ACA--might "work," or might fail miserably. The Repubs, if that is there plan, better start fighting deep and hard right now to attack what little opening they have left after abandoning opportunities because of fear. Obama keeps putting off the ultimate effects of his health care plan until after elections. If they don't attack hard and fast NOW against his unconstitutional power to do so, their ploy of instigating public outrage against the Dems because of the ACA will dribble down the same drain of failed retreats they have shown for the past five years.
Is it better to compromise and win elections, or stick to your guns and lose? I don't know. What I know is that in our lifetimes, we will reap the whirlwind for not fixing entitlement programs, and the fallout will be so bad, I predict everyone will see that the liberals were 100% wrong, and the conservatives were 100% right.
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