The rightwing blogosphere reacts to the latest high-profile defection from the Bush disaster. Gandelman:
In considering Noonan’s main point, you could slice the immigration issue totally off, and you’d still have to note profound differences between this administration’s central ideology (to retain and expand political and executive branch power) and traditional Republican conservatives who insist upon following Barry Goldwater’s and Ronald Reagan’s cherished principles.
Yet, traditional conservatives have been driven into the circled covered wagons by the Bush administration to defend policies that are in some cases radical. And how? By using the late 20th century America’s most identifiable and potent political tactic: demonization of the opposition. If you believe your opponents have horns and pitchforks, you’ll work until your last breath against them.
Amen. One lesson conservatives should surely learn from the last six years is the danger of partisanship. It can blind you to the betrayal of your own ideals. The Right Angle loves Noonan. Rising Hegemon notices that Noonan’s own record on calling her own party out is less than stellar. Hey, better late than never.