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Conservatives sitting out 2006 hurts the GOP’s right, not the RINOs
National Reviews ^ | May 15, 2006 | Jim Geraghty

Posted on 05/22/2006 10:21:56 PM PDT by FairOpinion

What’s really stunning is this absolute certainty of angry conservatives that A) Republicans will learn the right lessons from the defeat, and not, say, respond in a panic by embracing their inner RINO and flailing around for MSM approval and B) that the Republicans can easily win back Congress in 2008, just by stiffening their spines and pledging to return to their conservative roots.

I have my doubts on both counts. For starters, why would Republicans get the message that “we need to be more conservative” in a year that conservatives were knocked out?

In the Senate, a bad year for the Republicans would mean the loss of Rick Santorum (who has lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 88 out of a possible 100, and a 92 in 2005) in Pennsylvania, Jim Talent (93 rating lifetime, and a 96 in 2005) in Missouri, Conrad Burns (91, and a perfect 100 in 2005) in Montana and Mike DeWine (80 lifetime, only 56 in 2005) in Ohio. Of course, Ohio voters who sit this one out will replace DeWine with Sherrod Brown, who has a lifetime rating of 8 and 4 for 2005.

If the GOP base doesn’t show in Maryland, you get Ben Cardin (lifetime rating of 6, 2005 rating of 0!) or Kweise Mfume (lifetime ACU rating of 4) instead of Michael Steele.

Nice job, guys. Your effort to re-conservativize the Republican Party in Washington by staying home this year will have the effect of massacring the actual conservatives and empowering the moderates who you disdain. Perhaps we can call this counterproductive maneuver “RINO-plasty.”

Once the Democrats regain control of Congress, a GOP takeover is going to be exponentially harder than it was in 1994. You’re never going to catch the Democrats as flatfooted again.

(Excerpt) Read more at tks.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006; congress; conservatives; elections; lincolnclub; mainstreet; newmajority; newmajorityrinos; rinos
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To: FairOpinion

Foreign policy will not change much. The military will not be cut as long as people remember 9/11. I hate the thought of a dem in the whitehouse but I expect them to suck. What I hate more is to have my own team that I put in, laugh and snicker back in washington about how gullible we are and start throwing legislation around screaming....

" Gentleman! WE MUST PROTECT OUR PHONEY BALONEY JOBS, HURUMPH!"

We had the perfect position, and we looked the other way on so many things, until we realized... we're the dopes. It has happened again.


61 posted on 05/22/2006 11:27:59 PM PDT by Walkingfeather (u)
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To: buwaya

"He is an honest and believing Christian, and I think he is genuinely concerned about the Mexicans."

If that's his big concern, he's got the wrong job.


62 posted on 05/22/2006 11:28:15 PM PDT by Prokopton
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To: FairOpinion

Great article and one that should be read by every FREEPER and lurker and taken to heart.


63 posted on 05/22/2006 11:29:55 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: buwaya

It's my honey bunny's turn on the web. I'll let you referee the children's recess here, while I go pack more care packages for the troops.


64 posted on 05/22/2006 11:30:57 PM PDT by patriciaruth (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1562436/posts)
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To: buwaya

Sorry, but what is the difference between having the house, senate and a president with a 90% approval rating that can not get judges installed, ignore immigration laws, and out of control spending and being an irrelevant 3rd party?

Kind of a blurry line.


65 posted on 05/22/2006 11:33:22 PM PDT by Walkingfeather (u)
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To: patriciaruth

The all or nothing folks do not see the big picture.
If a Republican is 90% Conservative, not a real Conservative in their eyes.
But maybe the one who can win over the liberal Dem.
Their answer, sit at home, or vote third party
making the all or nothing folks feel a 0% conservative is better than a 90% Conservtive.

What are these people smoking. To them black is white, right is left and up is down.

The pseudo conservatives are working hard for Stretch Pelosi for Speaker. Me, I will stick with the Republicans.


66 posted on 05/22/2006 11:33:24 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Hey Congress - We need the BORDER FENCE NOW)
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To: Prokopton

A concern - unless you want a President to leave ethics at the door. I don't.

Its a rough job, the merest whim at that level of power costs lives. You and I can carp about his judgement, but it is his judgement, and I expect that judgement to include due attention to his conscience.


67 posted on 05/22/2006 11:33:24 PM PDT by buwaya
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To: Walkingfeather
Have the republicans been good stewards of the power they were given?

He[ck], no!

68 posted on 05/22/2006 11:36:16 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0urs)
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To: FairOpinion
Losing is LOSING, it's is beyond ludicrous to propose losing as a winning strategy.

Losing as defined by whom?

The republicans?..... Then I'm not sure I care..
Conservatives? .... Seems like true conservatives are already losing... Being sold out by RINO's in the republican party..
The Voters?.... Voters choose who gets to wield power in the President's office, and the Halls of Congress.. The only way they lose is if they choose the wrong people..

I'll try to vote for the "most conservative" candidate I can find.. although lately choices have been limited..
I won't vote for a Lib or a RINO..
Just because there is an (r) behind their name means nothing.. actions mean something.. voting records mean something..

When a Lib sells me out, I pretty much expect it..
But when a republican sells me out, it really ticks me off.. and they lose my vote, permanently..

I can and do vote for Independents when they meet the conservative criteria..
I will vote for a conservative Independent over a RINO every time...

What I'm seeing in congress right now is a bunch of RINO's.. They will not get my vote, or my campaign contributions..

69 posted on 05/22/2006 11:37:20 PM PDT by Drammach (Freedom... Not just a job, it's an adventure..)
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To: patriciaruth
You have to be stark raving insane to believe that a loss is EVER a good idea with a "silver" lining.

I am guessing that a number of military strategists have gained advantage by relying on such thinking.

70 posted on 05/22/2006 11:38:24 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0urs)
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To: Walkingfeather

90% approval means approval of things that everyone approves of. It was gone quick enough when the terrorism scare died down.

And having a nominal and slim house and senate does not mean that that senate/house majority agrees with itself 100%. A majority does not mean a one-party state, nor does it mean a bunch of single minded robots.

And he did get conservative judges installed, unless I was asleep and dreaming these last few years.

If you want to see irrelevant, wait for a switch in the house, we will indeed be irrelevant.


71 posted on 05/22/2006 11:40:39 PM PDT by buwaya
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To: buwaya
"You and I can carp about his judgement, but it is his judgement, and I expect that judgement to include due attention to his conscience."

Thats the problem, his judgment. I expect him to give due attention to Americans and be less concerned about invading citizens of a foreign country. If his conscience requires him to balance Mexicans interests against Americans, like I said, he's got the wrong job.
72 posted on 05/22/2006 11:42:20 PM PDT by Prokopton
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To: Luke21

They do, but the "purists" don't; go figure.


73 posted on 05/22/2006 11:43:15 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: FairOpinion

bttt


74 posted on 05/22/2006 11:44:02 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Drammach

Congress is the most conservative its been since I can remember (and my memory goes back to Nixons day).

The Senate is something else, but the Republican majority is very slim and not very conservative.

Perspective, like patience, is another conservative virtue.


75 posted on 05/22/2006 11:44:32 PM PDT by buwaya
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To: Mamzelle
How has the president "sacrificed" the WOT? Be specific and give ALL of the details. Because the last time I looked, we were actually not only winning the WOT, but Mexico had less than nothing at all to do with it.
76 posted on 05/22/2006 11:46:32 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: buwaya

Perspective? Is that like situational ethics?


77 posted on 05/22/2006 11:46:52 PM PDT by Texas_Jarhead
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To: FairOpinion

Bingo, doesn't take a brick in the head for most logical conservatives to figure that one out.


78 posted on 05/22/2006 11:46:56 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: buwaya

You can name about 5 consev. judges the rest have been blocked there were openings for dozens. remember meyers?

Sorry but he had time and the mandate to pass some huge legislation, but he increased spending. Don't speak of irrevalancy when you have a p%ssy like frist that cant say "Screw you " to a dem filibuster.

If you can't see that conservatives have been neutralized politically you are a fool or so naive that it is sad. And since we are, why should we pay for the privledge? Like paying for the motel room for your date to sleep with another guy.


79 posted on 05/22/2006 11:47:41 PM PDT by Walkingfeather (u)
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To: Prokopton

He has to balance the misery of a huge number of poor and blameless people vs US national interests. I don't envy him this choice.

There is no way to put off the guilt of dealing with it on someone else either. That is a cop out. He has the power, it is his choice, it is his guilt.

This is the kind of thing that prematurely ages people.


80 posted on 05/22/2006 11:48:50 PM PDT by buwaya
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