[Allen H]

You are pretty much right. Most of the RINOs are there because a real conservative couldn't get elected in those states. With a couple of exceptions, like McCain and Dewine. It's a lesser of two evils kind of thing. They're only Republicans half the time and frequently vote with democrats, and don't even agree with half of the Republican party plank, and most times, even less of the beliefs of the conservative movement. They help create a numerical majority in the Senate, but really, it's a paper tiger majority, because the RINOs have neither the inclination, desire, or will to do what the conservative majority of the country wants. If they were to retire or were defeated, it would be to a democrat because most of their states do not have enough registered conservative voters to put a real conservative in office.

This is all likely to change when some or all of the 11 democrat Senators that are in VERY red states that Bush won BIG, are replaced by conservative Republicans over the years. There are only three Republican Senators in very blue states, so that is a clear large advantage the Republcans have in the coming years. It's just getting from here to there that is the hassle. 8) But it's a positive outlook.

[Heartofsong83]

Couldn't you end up with the opposite situation in the strong Red States and have DINO's versus conservative Republicans?

[JeffAtlanta]

This is all likely to change when some or all of the 11 democrat Senators that are in VERY red states that Bush won BIG, are replaced by conservative Republicans over the years.

This is exactly what needs to happen, but I don't know how we get to there. The republican party is very loyal to it's incumbent senators. McCain should have had party funds pulled long ago, but they GOP is too scared that he would bolt to the democrats and lead a mass exodus.

The only way for this to happen is for the party to stay out of party primaries. From what I've read here on FR, the party is meddling an incredible amount in the upcoming Florida senatorial election.

[ekwd]

I hope you're right. That's way Reagan was elected and was the way the "Contract With America", by electing more Republicans, not evicting non-conservatives from the party.