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I don't agree with your historical assessment. In those cases you had articulate speakers - Reagan and Newt - who could communicate with both the right and the middle. It had more to do with effective communications than previous defeat. Until we have Republicans who can speak and persuade we will continue to have problems.

I don't agree with your historical assessment. In those cases you had articulate speakers - Reagan and Newt - who could communicate with both the right and the middle.

If Ford had won in 1976 he would have certainly ran for re-election in 1980. Ford's vice president would have most likely gotten the nomination instead of Reagan in 1984 as his age would have been used against him. Reagan realized that the people wanted to move to the Right and he seized upon it.

Newt, who represented my district, did not appeal to the middle at all - he was very much a lightning rod. The only people that Newt appealed to was the Right. He recognized that the American people wanted to move to the Right and not the Left so he seized the moment.

If we keep putting politicians in power that lie to us and only want to be a little to the right of the socialist democrats then we deserve what we get. Why not hold our elected officials responsible for their actions?

The only thing elected politicians care about is how well they poll in a general election against the OTHER party. His supporters can bitch and moan all they want but as long as he knows he has their undying support against the other party then he doesn't care how much you complain, write emails or leave voicemails.

I don't agree with your historical assessment. In those cases you had articulate speakers - Reagan and Newt - who could communicate with both the right and the middle. It had more to do with effective communications than previous defeat.

I want to make an additional comment as the your above quote makes my point.

Reagan was just as good at public speaking in 1976 as he was in 1980 and he was considered far more electable in 1976 than 1980 because of his age. Even with the things in his favor, he couldn't get past Ford by his was a sitting incumbent.It wasn't until the Democrat-Lite Republican incumbent was out of the way that Reagan got his shot.

That is the whole problem - the Democrat-Lite Repbublican incumbents are mucking up the works - they block anyone better from getting past them.

If a man like Reagan couldn't even beat Ford in 1976 then that shows you the power that sitting incumbents have in the primary process.