The Reality Is that Bush has put his reelection in jeopardy by alienating a big chuck of the conservative vote time and time again. You talk as if conservatives have little influence in elections when the elections of 1976, 1992, and 1996 serve as stark reminders of what happens to Republican presidents and candidates that take conservatives for granted.
May I also remind you that most of the hard/tough campaign work in republican elections is done by motivated conservatives at the grassroots level—not the country club set. Truth is most RINOs are terrible at campaigning. They feel they are above knocking on doors, working the telephone banks and putting up the signs.
Lots a Luck on “getting out the vote” on Election Day if the conservative base is unmotivated.... You’ll need it.
It's not 1976, 1992, or 1996 anymore.
And y'all sat out one election too many. You ain't the base anymore. Bush isn't going to stick your neck out for him after y'all voted in smaller numbers in 2000 than you did in 1996.
May I also remind you that most of the hard/tough campaign work in republican elections is done by motivated conservatives at the grassroots level—not the country club set. Truth is most RINOs are terrible at campaigning. They feel they are above knocking on doors, working the telephone banks and putting up the signs.
Bravo Sierra.
There's a joke that's about a decade old from my time campaigning.
"Why does one super-conservative do the work of ten men in a campaign?"
Answer: "Because the other nine super-conservatives didn't f***ing show up!"
And in 1995, the "grassroots conservatives" REFUSED to join in a campaign to write in support of the budget showdown.
And then they whined about the GOP caving. Well, DUH! Refuse to give any evidence that you support their efforts, and they'll conclude that you don't support their efforts.
Lots a Luck on “getting out the vote” on Election Day if the conservative base is unmotivated.... You’ll need it.
The "base" has no-showed for so long that they aren't the base anymore. Somebody else is voting for Bush--and that means somebody else is getting what they want.
They either turn out their base, or they turn off their base. All the folderol about "Congressional hypocrites" and "electing Democrats" aside, if the GOP hierarchy keeps thinking and acting like it's the base's fault instead of their fault (and the fault of their idiotic anti-conservative policies and proposals) that the GOP loses elections, they'll turn off their base for good, and all this discussion about whether the base turns out for the Republican ticket will be a fond dream.