Posted on 11/08/2012 10:25:45 PM PST by Steelfish
Republican Party Begins Election Review To Find Out What Went Wrong
Peter Wallsten
Top Republican officials, stunned by the extent of their election losses Tuesday night, have begun an exhaustive review to figure out what went so wrong and how to fix it.
Party leaders said they already had planned to poll voters in battleground states starting Tuesday night in anticipation of a Mitt Romney victory — to immediately begin laying the groundwork for midterm congressional elections and a Romney 2016 reelection bid.
But as they watched one state after another go to President Obama and Senate seats fall away, party leaders quickly expanded and retooled their efforts. Officials told The Washington Post that they’re planning a series of voter-based polls and focus groups, meetings with constituency group leaders, and in-depth discussions with their volunteers, donors and staff members to find ways to broaden their appeal.
Republican officials said that they met all of their turnout goals but that they underestimated who would turn out for the other side.
Party officials said the review is aimed at studying their tactics and message, not at changing the philosophical underpinnings of the party.
(snip)
The Internet was buzzing late Thursday as word spread that Fox News Channel commentator Sean Hannity declared he had “evolved” on the issue and now thinks illegal immigrants without criminal records should have a “pathway to citizenship.”
In an interview Thursday with ABC News’s Diane Sawyer, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said the immigration issue “has been around far too long.” He said a “comprehensive approach is long overdue, and I’m confident that the president, myself, others can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This article from Rod Dreher (Senior editor, The American Conservative) makes some good points, I think.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20257611
It’s a much deeper analysis than most of the conspiracy theory type posts I have seen so far. Time for some actual soul searching, people! This was a true butt-whipping, so quit making lame excuses. What will convince a majority of voters (not just old, white, male, evangelical southerners) that the party has something to offer them? Demographics are destiny, that is a fact that cannot be overcome with rhetoric.
Lesson? Run squishy RINOs you lose.
Ditto that. The Romney strategy of muzzling conservatives to gain support of independents didn't work at all. It was still a total blowout in places like California, New York, and Illinois.
I think Boehner is doing this because by coming out first his putting on the Democrats to try to work with him
Yes, Hannity came out for amnesty yesterday on his show. He said he is “evolving” on the issue.
The GOPe has taken away any real power from Republican voters during the primaries, thus ensuring that the people’s wishes are ignored.
Ultimately, that is the cause of the Nov 6 debacle.
The GOP needs to end the practice of letting ANYBODY from any party vote in Republican primaries. Period.
The fact that so many of the early primary States allow this hideous rule cooks the primaries before most Republican voters have had a chance to vote in their primaries.
We will know the GOP is serious when they end that rule.
Ohio gets to vote for a Month and this is what you get,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2957390/posts
This was all just a game to Hannity, no more important than the Superbowl.
I almost fell out last night when I heard Hannity say that, and then Eric Bolling came along right behind him and said we need to dump social issues.
Then you have Ann Coulter saying “purists” (conservatives) need to be purged from the party, and Krauthammer stating that Republicans must embrace amnesty.
To keep Obama out, I voted for Romney, something I said I would never do. But I will not sell my soul. If winning elections means I have to become a Democrat, I’m out.
But Obama won the election partly by turning out his base and backing them strongly on social issues. The lesson if anything is that Republicans need to do the same with their base. We just tried liberal lite yet again and it didn't work.
Where we need to be pragmatic if anywhere is to pick a really likable, charismatic candidate. If our guy has those qualities, he can sell any issue we want him to, just like Obama can. We just got done picking a relatively uncharismatic candidate who was moderate on the issues. Time to do the opposite and find a very conservative, charismatic candidate for next time.
Republicans of every stripe REFUSE to admit this election was stolen..
and are devising plans and schemes that are extremely silly..
SILLY!!!..
“We” didn’t loose at all... multiple votes and vote counting malfeasance some it totally UNKNOWN as yet.. caused the LOSS..
Conservatives came out in the greatest numbers they ever have in any election.. but we still LOST...
HOW could that be?... well duuuugh..
WHat would it take to actually PISS OFF a republican?..
Answer; NOBODY KNOWS YET.. its never been done..
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