[JerseyDvl]

The only reason they pull this crap is because the Republicans always cave.
Foley has royally screwed the party and Rove had better have a Bin-Laden up his sleeve if he plans on saving the majority at this point.
Something smells REALLY bad in regards to the leaking of these IM's and WHO possessed them. Hastert had better hang tough and wait this out because the Dems are overplaying their hand. Their malfeasance will never be exposed if he allows himself to become the fall guy here.

[60Gunner]

You know, my initial visceral reaction was to call for Hastert's head (as many of you are aware). However, many here have called things to my attention that I was not aware of when I posted what I now consider to be an ill-advised commentary. But I learn from mistakes.

That said, and speaking only for myself, I take great umbrage at being accused of everything from being everything from a dumbsh*t troll to a DNC operative. I am neither. In fact, I am a devoted Republican, and always have been. And the fact that so many so many of these otherwise sane and temperate people have become so viciously insulting toward conservative Republicans for the sake of "Party Unity" is both disappointing and telling.

The fact that so many "Republicans" in this forum have come out openly bashing conservatives speaks volumes about their disdain for the core values upon which the Republican party was founded. How dare we conservatives upset the apple cart by demanding ethical accountability from our elected officials!

I challenge the folks who have so venomously slammed dissenting conservatives to re-read the values that made the Republican Party great. That's all that we are trying to uphold here. Then I challenge those people to justify the vitriolic, expletive-laden insults that they have hurled at fellow party members and how that fits in with their vision of "Party Unity." These RINOs accuse conservatives of pissing on "good Republicans?" Well, allow me to accuse these defenders of "Party Unity" (to the exclusion of conservatives) of pissing on the foundational values of the Republican Party.

I want party unity, too. But it's not just your party, dammit. It's our party. And I will be damned before I abandon the Party's core values for the sake of your sacrosanct "Unity." Neither will I support unethical jackasses in elephant suits. And I will not be silent while such people attempt to hijack the Republican party any more. Party unity? You bet. I'm all for it. Do I entertain diverging ideas on the theme? Absolutely. Do you?

I will not stand by and watch while others promote the idea of winning this election and keeping our Republican majority at the expense of leadership integrity. We are supposed to be different from the Democrats- remember? What's wrong with demanding as much from our leaders? And what's wrong with expressing- God forbid!- an idea that runs contrary to yours?

Great fancy Moses! If these Reaganite-bashers spent less time smacking conservatives with their oars and more time listening to our ideas, this boat will get a lot farther, the Republican majority will be preserved, and the ethical integrity and defense of justice that has been the hallmark of our party for 150 years will continue to be what draws people to our Party in the future.

But if those people would rather sacrifice ethics on the altar of political expedience, then piss on them.