The problem in the GOP isn’t really with Liberal Republicans. It’s with Ronald Reagan and us Conservatives.
Reagan fundamentally changed the GOP into a Conservative Party. But people need to remember that he got the nomination because he was the Conservative running in a field of Liberal Republicans.
He was so successful that the Republican Presidential primaries are now flooded with Conservative contenders, allowing a non-Conservative like Romney, or McCain, to win the nomination with a plurality.
If we Conservatives were smart we’d figure out a way to, early and quickly and coalesce support around a common Conservative candidate. But in past cycles we haven’t been. And then get angry when a non-Conservative gets the nomination.
2016 will probably end up the same way. There’ll be a scenario (i’m greatly simplifying here because I think there’ll be at least 8 contenders) where Cruz gets 30%, Walker 25%, Rand Paul 10% and Jeb Bush gets the nomination with 35%.
And in that kind of scenerio, which we saw give McCain and Romney the nomination, who’s really to blame? I don’t see Romney, or McCain for that matter, as Liberals. That would be giving them way too much credit. They’re really just craven opportunists, saying and doing whatever they need to exploit a situation for their advancement and benefit. But if us Conservatives could actually get our acts together, there wouldn’t be a situation for them to exploit.
The GOP sends their sycophants out to keep us from getting our crap together. This thread is a case example. Add up the time we collectively spend debating the most basic points and principles of conservatism.
That is tens of thousands of hours a year collectively on FR alone. And it’s all time well spent for those intent on keeping us powerless.
I agree with you.
But I saw nasty stuff on FR against EVERY one of the conservative presidential candidates last time around.
I do not like the term “haters” as I do not think simple criticism is hate. However? There is hate on these threads for EVERY single conservative out there, from people who claim to be “conservative”.