The Reason For Our Defeat- Conservative Hubris (Vanity)

11-08-06 | A.Hun

[A.Hun]

Just calling it as I see it. Many here on FR warned what would happen if conservatives abandoned the Republican party. Those warnings went unheeded.

[cripplecreek]

And here I was thinking the republican party deserted conservatives.

[A.Hun]

Rare vanity ping!

[A.Hun]

Nope, they were working in our direction. Dems are sure going to help out.

[jennyjenny]

Well said.

[MNJohnnie]

Wonder if any of the "Borderbots" realize they just fired the ONLY people, the US House Republicans, standing between them and "Shamensty"?

NO one in DC is going to take them seriously now. They just bit the political hand that was feeding their political position. The worst nightmares stand ready to come true.

Talk about ripping our your tongue to send your brain a message stupid!

[oblomov]

Remind me- which party is the one that stands for limited government? This party apparently wasn't on my ballot, so I voted Socialist Lite (GOP) instead of full-on Socialist (Dem).

[Blind Eye Jones]

The biggest lesson is MSM: negative ads are the most effective in an election and the constant negativity about Iraq by the MSM was the Dems most effective ad tool. The MSM on Iraq was one big advertizement for the Dems. This needs to change.

[rightinthemiddle]

Here's my take:

Getting elected as a conservative is often difficult.

Governing as a conservative earns re-election.

[johnny7]

The Republican party is our ride to the dance...

[dfwgator]

We violated Reagan's 11th Commandment, and this is where it got us.

[NittanyLion]

Here's my take:
Getting elected as a conservative is often difficult.
Governing as a conservative earns re-election.

Spot on. I agree completely. This election was about Iraq and corruption, but I also think the GOP's failure to work toward reducing the scope and size of government was a major contributing factor. We failed to differentiate our party other than to say that we believe in staying in Iraq. The electorate believes differently, and as a result we got trounced.

[p[adre29]

Wonder if any of the "Borderbots" realize they just fired the ONLY people, the US House Republicans, standing between them and "Shamensty"

So what? we had both houses and the presidency and did nothing. To try and say that "gee, the republican controlled house stopped the republican controlled senate and white house from passing amnesty"

Is the crux of the problem.

vigilantes and all that.....

[A.Hun]

I have seen what Dem majorities have done with spending in the past. Republicans were far more responsible with our money than Dems, and the money spent went to more conservative agendas.

To have held spending as low as it is with two wars, a recession, dot com bust, 9/11, and about fourteen natural disasters to me is amazing.

Dems would have raised taxes and sent money by the barrelful to every lib cause. Some people can't see how good it is and how bad it could be.

[tennmountainman]

After a tidal wave has hit the GOP, you still place blame where it does not belong.
The MSM does NOT SET POLICY.

You fail to understand tha the Open borders policy caused a portion of the base to drop off.

The Out of control spending caused some fiscal conservatives to drop off.

The curruption caused a portion of the "values voter" to drop off.

The nomination of Harriet Miers caused a portion of srict interpretist to drop off.

The Dubia Ports Deals caused a drop in Non-Globalist to fall off.

You may call those who disagree with the policy decisions "Petty".

However, the results show just the opposite.

If want to place blame, place it where it belongs... ON THE ONES WHO MAKE POLICY.

In two years Bush will gone and with him his style of conservatism
He and karl Rove has single handedly destroyed the conservative movement.

Time to get back to the Reagan conservatism.

[tennmountainman]

You should be happy Johnnie.
You were in full support of Amnesty.

You may not get what you want.

[defconw]

I voted and I voted Republican and I agree with you, the pet projects and the temper tantrums from the right did not help us. The normal non-political junkies have spoken they are tired of the BS. We lost because we are to busy fighting each other and took our eye off the ball. We dropped the ball and I just hope we live to correct ourselves.This was a backlash vote. I knew this would happen, but no one wanted to hear it.

But no time to wallow or lick wounds, we lost the battle, but the war is still on! ONWARD!

[af_vet_rr]

The argument that this will teach the Republican Party a lesson to be more conservative rings hollow, as the most conservative members of the House just got bounced.

Some of those people you consider to be the most Conservative are not all that Conservative (they maybe Conservative to what passes for the GOP these days, but they wouldn't be considered all that Conservative when compared to a Conservative from 25 or 30 years ago).

Honestly, I don't see the GOP becoming more Conservative as a result of this election, nor do I think many other Conservatives believe this either, contrary to what you think. I see the GOP instead going after "moderates" (i.e. shifting to the left).

I have yet to hear any high-level GOP officials say "our problem is we aren't Conservative enough".

I have heard some talk about how they need to take back voters from Democrats. The only way they can do that is to move left.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"Just calling it as I see it. Many here on FR warned what would happen if conservatives abandoned the Republican party."

What you are 'seeing' isn't accurate.
Do you really believe that conservatives voted for a democrat house because they felt the dems would do a better job on immigration, economy, national security?
There are many reasons why the house was lost, and possibly the senate:
1) Corruption;
2) General sentiment that we are fighting the war in iraq with one hand tied behind our back;
3) Bushed of Bush;
4) individual poor campaign performances;
5) and just plain lack of message other than iraq that didn't sway the moderates back to the repub camp.
6) Pushing immigration issues like building a wall down at mexico, and not one up along Canada smacks of discriminatory illegal immigration. Last I heard, more muslims were in canada than in mexico, and not to many mexicans were on the 9/11 planes. Lets be consistent if we are going to call it a national security issue.

Bush has been ill-served by his administrative leaders, and his military leaders.

[A.Hun]

You are wrong. The nation is not ready for many of the things conservative want. GWB was the most conservative candidate that could have been elected for President.

He told all conservatives step by step what his goals were and carried through with them. The President didn't leave anyone, they left him, and we are going to pay for it. Karl Rove and GWB saved conservatives from extinction at the hands of Al GOre, plus delivered conservatives to the House and Senate in each election since.

Shortsighted one issue voters like yourself have made a huge mistake.