Rhode Island's Lessons For Real Republicans (If GOP Stands For Nothing, It Deserves To Lose Alert)

Worldnetdaily.com ^ | 09/14/06 | Jane Chastain

[tkathy]

Ronald Reagan didn't compromise on his beliefs to win votes....

Reagan didn't win by spouting religious beliefs. He won because Carter was a horrible president, Reagan had huge name recognition, Reagan was an outsidethebox because of his hollywood stardom, and he was enormously likeable.

[.cnI redruM]

Licoln Chafee is a butt-pimple. I could truly care less about his fate. The NRSC should redirect his funding to Santorum, Talent and Corker and Burns.

[Texas Federalist]

The name of the game is getting a Republican majority, then working to get the best conservative Republicans into leadership positions.

Yea, right. /sarc And how's that working for you?

[Texas Federalist]

How do you explain that several states that voted for Bush overwhelmingly both times have two Democrat Senators, including ultraleftists? So, you are saying that a moderate Republican can't even get elected in a purple or blue state, yet a leftwinger can get elected in a very Republican state?

I think the real issue is that these Republicans have no faith in their own beliefs to believe that a Republican LEADER can be elected and mold public opinion in a state. Instead they think that public opinion is incapable of being changed - it is a constant - and we must pick a leader to best match it. These people are dangerous to the causes we hope to advance because they pander and do not even attempt to persuade the public to adopt certain views.

[Texas Federalist]

He won because Carter was a horrible president, Reagan had huge name recognition, Reagan was an outsidethebox because of his hollywood stardom, and he was enormously likeable.

. . . and he won his second term overwhelmingly because he completely changed the face of the U.S. electorate by changing voter beliefs. He did not win by pandering to existing beliefs.

[wouldntbprudent]

Like death, it's better than the alternative.

[wouldntbprudent]

Sorry, that's something I picked up from my kids---means "I agree with every word you said!" :-)

[aShepard]

Hey Goldie - Stuff it

I voted for Chaffee, because the Rats have Sheldon Whitehouse running for the seat. Whitehouse is a highly popular ex Atty General.

All polls had Laffee losing to Whitehouse by 40 points in the November general; much closer for a Chaffee/Whitehouse contest.

I'll take my chances with a RINO if it keeps Dingy Harry away from controlling the Senate!

[Retired COB]

This is real special.

A bunch of people from other states telling people in RI how to vote.

No one is addressing the real problem here. I believe Rhode Island is an "Open Primary" state. I do not believe that Rhode Island Republicans elected Chafee. I believe that Rhode Island Dems and Independents did. The Dem candidate did not have serious competition, so they were free to vote in our primary.

This is the same strategy that McCain expects to use to win the nomination for president in 08. He will key in on states like Michigan where the Dems can help elect him. If it's left up to conservative Republicans, McCain doesn't have a prayer!

[My2Cents]

You make a good point. For absolutes, I go to God's Word. Political ideologies tends to shift over time, to address the times in which they're applied. For this time, conservatism is the most prudent and practical and sane perspective. The alternative is fatalistic and nihilistic. But I don't look to politics for pure absolute truth. This is the problem with many conservatives....Ann Coulter's book, GODLESS, was aimed at the "religion" of liberalism, for it is the religion of the radical secularists. However, politics in general is the religion of many, and conservatism is, for some, simply another denomination in the religion of politics. People need to be wary of the temptation to think that ultimate truth, right, and goodness can be embodied in a political ideology. Those that think this way are always going to be disappointed.

[prion]

Chafee won by about 8,000 votes. By far the majority of voters in RI are registered Independents, and it's a cinch that many of them crossed over for the primary.

What does that mean? I don't know. But I'd love to see what would have happened if the national party hadn't run attack ads on Laffey and hadn't helped Chafee outspend the man two to one.

Wouldn't that money have been better spent on a Santorum?

[wouldntbprudent]

Well said.

I was working with a Christian organization once and election time rolled around. To my dismay, the organization began to receive phone call after phone call from irate supporters, upset that a particular political candidate had failed to "thank God" in his acceptance speech (as a nominee).

I'm thinking, Whaaa? First, the checklists for who is and is not thanked in acceptance speeches should be applied only to the Grammies, etc.

Secondly, the man is a good conservative, but he has never put out there that he is even a Christian. Why would we expect someone who is not a believer to "thank God"?

Finally, don't we ever get sick of the Sinkmeisters of the world, who "thank God" constantly and carry a big thick Bible out of Sunday service, all the while they are dorking an intern and, further, really have no or little desire to please God rather than themselves? So why would we demand the outward sign of piety and not be concerned with the piety of the heart?

/soapbox

Thanks for your comments, my2cents.

[nopardons]

Thanks for the explanation. You really confused me, with your post. LOL