What's wrong with the Republican Party

Townhall.com ^ | July 28, 2006 | Mark M. Alexander

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

With Republican majorities in the House and Senate, and a Republican in the White House, the GOP should have picked up where Ronald Reagan left off -- leading the nation as constitutional constructionists. Unfortunately, a cadre of constitutional obstructionists has split the Republican Party, diminished party loyalty and taken public support for the President and Congress to historic lows.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

This article focuses on the Tennessee Senate race and how that mirrors national problems within the Party.

[Rosemont]

"What's wrong with the Republican Party"


RINO Carlito Hagel, RINO Chafee

[Jabba the Nutt]

With few exceptions, elected Republicans are cowards. Start from there to figure out what's wrong with the GOP.

[King Moonracer]

Either spina bifida or scoliosis; either way they have a weak spine.

[Cobra64]

"What's wrong with the Republican Party?"

[Quark606]

"What's wrong with the Republican Party"

Actually, not a whole lot.

[EDINVA]

"With few exceptions, elected Republicans are cowards."

That IS the start of it ... I think many egos are so hugh they believe they were elected because THEY were so wonderful, not because the voting public anticipated they would lead as Republicans.

[AdvisorB]

There is nothing wrong with the Republican that my election to the POTUS couldn't fix.

[Popman]

"What's wrong with the Republican Party"

It's filled with politicians rather than Conservatives

[proxy_user]

This is not surprising - kind of like putting all the men in the US into the army, and then discovering half the army is below average in intelligence.

Naturally, if the GOP starts to be such a large majority it includes nearly everyone who is not a left-wing kook, this is going to start happening.

[MaineVoter2002]

RINO Carlito Hagel, RINO Chafee

Doesn't say much for Frist's leadership.

[tkathy]

The republican party and all it's elected officials has the entire MSM against it, continually cheap shotting it and back stabbing it. This is a huge problem, and it is important to realize it.

[grapeape]

They are not doing what we elected them to do. The more power the republican party gets the less conservatism has. It is quite a mess we have.

[trek]

"It's filled with politicians rather than Conservatives"

This man speaks the truth!

[Reagan Man]

What's wrong with the Republican Party

It would rather advance the liberal agenda of the Democratic Party ---- more government, more bureaucracy, more welfare state and amnesty for freeloaders.

Sure don't sound like Ronald Reagan's conservative GOP and for good reason.

[TommyDale]

Too many RINOs: McCain, Giuliani...

[em2vn]

The leader of the party is a Rockefellar Republican. He isn't a conservative. That's what's wrong.

[GeronL]

Unfortunately, a cadre of constitutional obstructionists has split the Republican Party, diminished party loyalty and taken public support for the President and Congress to historic lows

Whoa, are they blaming conservatives?? Say what??

Townhall went lefty??

[uncbob]

With few exceptions, elected Republicans are cowards.

Well yeah but so are most politicians

Problem is the media dumps on the GOP and gives the DEMs a free ride otherwise their yellow spines would be glowing

Politicians are whores

[DesScorp]

There's not nearly as much wrong as whiners are saying, but there are problems. RINO's are a huge problem...but since we're in a war, I don't want to hear crap about the budget...wars cost money, you can't fight them on the cheap. I'm not saying that there isn't rediculous spending elsewhere...there certainly is (look at Alaska's bridge to nowhere)...but some of this is petty whining because things aren't going just right for some activists.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

What's wrong with the Republican party?

1) Too much like Arnold.

2) Not enough like Ronald.

[JennysCool]

The Republican Party's biggest problem is that the mass media that enters 90 percent of American homes spins everything it does as somehow sinister and evil.

The inter-party problems can and will be sorted out. It is defeating this constant barrage of propaganda that is the hard part.

[Rosemont]

Frist is one of the weakest majority leaders in history.

[MaineVoter2002]

Frist is one of the weakest majority leaders in history

I fear he may be one of the last because of it

[AlexandriaDuke]

The writer is as naive as most FReepers. The GOP has NEVER been a conservative party. There have been conservative figureheads like Taft, Goldwater, Reagan, and even Newt. But, the power has always been with the Northeast Rockefeller / Bush wing. And they view conservatives the same way the Dems view blacks.

[gc4nra]

ARNOLD!

[TruthBeforeAll]

The Republican party seems to be made up of 3 groups. Christian conservatives, constitutional conservatives, and capitalists. The first 2 are pretty self explanatory and there is actually quite a bit of cross-over between them. While the capitalists just sell the illusion of conservatism to the other two groups to get votes so as to maintain their power and continue to make a buck.

The one thing that unifies these three groups is that they need individual liberty to survive. But the capitalists only care about individual liberty to the point that it allows them to make money. Socially, capitalists can be very liberal.

So what is wrong with the Republican party? It's being run by capitalists more than Christian or Constitutional conservatives.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

You left out us who identify as libertarians.

After 8 years of Clinton, there's a lot of us.

[NormsRevenge]

the power has always been with the Northeast Rockefeller / Bush wing.

--

ie, the liberal/moderate wing, eh?

'Naivity' is in the eye of the beholder, to use a bit of Jim McDermott's recent utterance re: terrorists.


Are you a student or teacher of history, btw? just curious.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Sorry that should read "those of us".

[EDINVA]

Do we know who will succeed Frist as GOP Senate leader? Is it McConnell? I'm 'out of the loop' on all this.

[singfreedom]

I hope the right guy wins in Tennessee, if he doesn't the people of Tennessee will have to accept responsibility for their choice. I find it remarkable that Corker might win despite his proven disingenuous ads.

Another issue brought up by this article: The national budget. I WANT TO KNOW (If someone can tell me, I will be much obliged.) by what percentage has our national budget gone up due to the WOT, and additional security made necessary by 9/11. This figure should be subtracted from the top before comparison to any Clinton budget.

I am constantly amazed by such comparisons (particularly by Conservatives) when there is no adjustment made for the two above named conditions. It almost makes me wonder if Conservatives have fallen prey to "Democratic talking points".

[kempo]

As I see it there is only one thing that can turn the Republican party around and make it united again. HILLERY CLINTON!

[MaineVoter2002]

Do we know who will succeed Frist as GOP Senate leader?

Probably Harry Reid if they dont start leading with their majority.

[Popman]

Do we know who will succeed Frist as GOP Senate leader? McConnell ?

Yup, it's Mitch. I would not write him off so quickly.

[Torie]

So many of the whiners and whimperers have never been elected to anything. They should try it sometime.

[rodguy911]

I'm plenty upset about the budget, the weak-kneed pubbies in the Senate the lack of enforcement on the border and many other things. Problem is I already have an old lady that whines and complains all day long! I'm not about to turn into one myself!

the proper courses of action IMHO is to get things done and stop the cry-babying. Posting opinions here, making noise in the old media as well as the new, writing and calling congress critters (I get to interview one every once in a while) all these things help, from my standpoint if we don't do things that help all the whining in the world will just drag us down more.

[Dante3]

Specter and McCain and those who voted for this country to surrender to foreign invasion are the problem.

[Torie]

But the capitalists only care about individual liberty to the point that it allows them to make money.

That is rather cynical. Perhaps many of them think that a free market economy (no protectionism, limited regulation, etc.), with constrained taxation, is the best way to grow the economic pie, to the benefit of all.

[EDINVA]

oh, I am NOT writing off McConnell ... I've always liked him, actually. Frist is, I think, a good and thoroughly decent person, wonderful doctor, etc., but NOT Senate Majority Leader material. McConnell is more politically savvy and would make a great leader, hopefully in the majority.

[singfreedom]

You are absolutely correct. My Congresscritters are on a first name basis since "immigration", finally, became an issue. I have emailed, phoned, visited offices and hounded them nearly every day. It can be done people, but it does take effort!

[AlexandriaDuke]

Are you a student or teacher of history, btw? just curious.

No. Just a loudmouth. But I was a true believer in the 80s and saw the Reagan Revolution kneecapped by the Bushies. By 1988, the primary was a struggle between Bush and Dole. What a sick joke on conservatives.

[singfreedom]

Now we just need to make sure he has a "Majority" to lead!!

[RightWhale]

The Republican Party in Alaska is also split. In fact it is in its normal state of disarray. Gov Murkowski is currently third in polls before the primary 22 Aug, but coming on fast. The next Governor could be a Democrat.

[mugs99]

And they view conservatives the same way the Dems view blacks.

You hit the nail on the head. The GOP is not Conservative!
.

[Paperdoll]

>What's wrong with the Repulican party?<

Answer: The CFR.

[AlexandriaDuke]

Frist is, I think, a good and thoroughly decent person,

If you are a cat lover, don't read his autobiography.

[going hot]

So many of the whiners and whimperers have never been elected to anything. They should try it sometime.

Roger, that.

[NormsRevenge]

Make that vocally noticeable.. ;-)

Amen and Amen, btw . Thanks! :-)

What's the point of having a revolution if the spoils of victory are lost to and commandeeres by those least deserving of them?

[NormsRevenge]

commandeered