The reason why we fracture are those Republicans who attack Conservatives and don’t listen to Reagan’s 11th Commandment:
“Never speak ill of another Republican.”
I see nothing wrong with calling those Republicans out that attack Palin’s family or character, using liberal talking points.
I see a lot of attacks on McCain and Romney as RINOs, and very few from McCain and Romney supporters against Palin.
I'd suggest ALL Republicans - including those here supporting Palin - remember Reagan's words on working together and compromise:
"When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it.
"Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.
"I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'
"If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.
Those are sage words; if only ALL Republicans would remember them. Better a 60% agreeable "RINO" than a Schumer or Pelosi. Ronald Reagan would agree - it's right in line with his own words.
Rather than charging sitting Republicans who are not Conservative enough as RINOs and continuing to fracture the party, we should work to push them to the Conservative positions, or to find alternative candidates to meet them in the primary - but challenge them in the realm of ideas and values rather than personal attacks. And whoever wins the primary, get behind them in general election.
I'd take a John McCain over an Obama or Pelosi or Reid any day; I'd greatly prefer a Newt or Bennett or Santorum even more! Unfortunately, I fear too many FReepers have lost touch with the wisdom of Ronald Reagan and have become so extreme that only those who they perceive to be 100% ideologically pure can ever be supported. And that leaves us with the minority role forever.