Posted on 11/08/2006 8:14:07 PM PST by Checkers
The people around here are reeling and probably are looking at the couple of senate seats we could have had if it weren't for the Libertarians. That's not to excuse their behavior, but more to explain it. There's no reason to be calling names, especially 'Liberdopian', which is not only lame, but doesn't describe any Libertarian I know. (Personally, I have many issues with the Libertarian philosophy, but that's for another day and certainly isn't anything I'd call anyone names over)
Those people calling names are still blaming 'the people' for the problem, rather than looking inward. They look at the vote tallies and say 'If that Libertarian wasn't there, we'd have won', instead of saying, 'What did we do wrong that people wanted to vote for the Libertarian instead?'
That's a very short sighted way of looking at things, more akin to the way that many people at DU look at things. It is also a stage of the shock that one goes through when something like this election occurs. I went through it too...blamed the media, blamed the people, blamed my dog, yelled at the wife, and then took a step back and looked at what the bigger picture was.
Those folks just haven't seen the bigger picture. I can't promise that the Republicans will be able to see the big picture, but I'm hoping that they do and I'm personally going to try and do everything I can to get them to see it.
I'm hoping they will, but I'm just a hopeless optimist. :)
I see 4, unless we break out the IMs between a few of these guys and someone's sheepdog.
Seems to me that the Senate will still have a solid Republican majority till next year. Shouldn't the GOP act on this majority? What's to prevent them from using the next 2 months to ram through some judges, and actually implementing some of the things (border security, for example) we all want? If the situation were reversed, you can be sure the Dems would use these two months to great advantage. What could possibly be the downside to this?
Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I think it's because there weren't any Republicans to vote for.
Americans were given a choice between voting for a bunch of Republicans who have been acting like Democrats, voting for real Democrats, voting for someone else (and "wasting their votes") or not voting.
What do Republicans expect people to do when faced with such choices? It's amazing so many Repulicans turned out at all, given the pathetic state of our (allegedly -- and now previously) Republican-controlled presidency and Congress.
Am I a Monday morning quarterback? Sure. I'm okay with that.
My call: Republicans dropped the ball and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Want more Republicans to vote? Offer some real Republicans to vote for.
The whole damn Republican Party is RINO.
That's your problem.
Hugh makes some good points here, though he neglects to mention the Harriet Miers fiasco, possibly because he made the mistake of supporting her when the rest of us were screaming to dump her.
He's not saying anything that hasn't been said by a lot of Freepers over many months, for which they have been scorned and castigated.
The first steps to 2008 have the President planning to get his immigration reform (amnesty) and tossing Rummy over the side, and Hagel and McCain talking about what other principles need to be compromised.
Talk about not learning from your mistakes.
"Boehner CANNOT be Minority Leader."
The entire House leadership must go as well.
Trent Lott MUST NOT BE ALLOWED to assume another leadership position.
He failed before and he is destined to fail again.
I don't have any problems with a libertarian leaning person like you, who has analyzed the situation and votes R because they are closer to his views than the other party. I am frustrated with the ones who voted for Libertarian party candidates, and cost us the Senate.
Is this the same Hugh that said the GOP was going to pull it out two days ago>
Personally, I prefer "libiotarian".
Perhaps the same thing that's been preventing them from doing this for the last six years?
I'm truly sorry, because it breaks my heart to say this, but the Republicans had the ball, and they dropped it.
Now the Democrats have it, and though I have even less confidence in them, they may well take this chance to run with the ball.
Imagine that! Actually doing something with a congressional majority!
What a concept. :^P
They didn't cost us the senate. The people voted for them because we didn't give them a reason to vote for us. That's our fault, not theirs.
Agreed. No more weak kneed losers in leadership positions.
Allen
"Seems to me that the Senate will still have a solid Republican majority till next year. Shouldn't the GOP act on this majority? What's to prevent them from using the next 2 months to ram through some judges, and actually implementing some of the things (border security, for example) we all want? If the situation were reversed, you can be sure the Dems would use these two months to great advantage"
Great point. Especially since the Lame duck senate will be the one approving Gates. If they can approve Gates why can't they do other things.
If you didn't listen to them, and instead pushed them away, they didn't cost you the Senate.
Pushing away those who would be your allies (not just Libertarians, but all true conservatives) is what cost you the Senate -- and the House -- and failing to keep the promises you made to those who trusted you.
We are NOT your enemies, but as long as you treat us like enemies, you will get what you ask for.
Congress never lifted a finger on Social Security.
"I thought the turnout on both sides was hugh for a mid-term."
It stuned my beeber.
He could have left that out. These guys have always gotten more credit than they deserved. Winning in 2004? Heck, they took a sure thing against an obnoxious moron opponent and almost turned it into a loss.
Have they learned anything? Mehlman's first comments were that the loss now provides an opportunity for bipartisanship by passing the comprehensive immigration reform (amnesty).
Right. I hope nobody plans on using these guys in 2008. Let them move on to their K Street sinecures or become loser talking heads like Begala and Carville and Morris.
Thanks for the ping!
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