[ajolympian2004]

Now keep in mind that Mike is specifically referring to the general election, NOT primaries in this piece. "Party Trumps Person" does not apply in primaries.

---

The primary is where you volunteer and work for the candidate based on their beliefs as they relate most closely to your own. Once the general election comes around and you are a conservative you better be voting (R) in for example a Senate race... otherwise, like us idiots here in Colorado, you will end up sending a (D) Senator to Washington who will be voting with the far left most of the time... see Pete Coors vs. Ken Salazar in the 2004 Senate election here in Colorado two years ago.

You can let Mike know what you think about 'Why Party Trumps Person' here: mikerosen@850koa.com

Mike Rosen's weekly columns:
http://www.insidedenver.com/rosen

Mike Rosen's 850am KOA webpage:
http://www.850koa.com/shows/rosen/index.html

Mike Rosen in the studio furing a show earlier this year -

[longtermmemmory]

VICTORY Bump!

VOTE!
VOTE!
VOTE!

[umgud]

A single politician, no matter how good or how bad, will NOT take your guns away, cause paid abortions for all, raise your taxes, risk the nation's security, etc.

But a dem majority will. Never ever vote for a dem, even if he appears better than the repub opponent.

[RegulatorCountry]

"The Republican coalition includes, for the most part, middle- and upper-income taxpayers (but not leftist Hollywood millionaires and George Soros), individualists who prefer limited government, pro-market and pro-business forces, believers in American exceptionalism and a strong national defense, social-issues conservatives and supporters of traditional American values."

I'm going to vote almost exclusively for Republicans, and would never vote for a Democrat. That said, how many different blocs of this coalition have been put off or even shunned in the past two years? Rather than trying to browbeat with constant party hackery, maybe a conciliatory gesture or two, towards limited government advocates and illegal immigration foes, among the many potentially disaffected but usually reliable Republican voters, would be in order ... heck, maybe even announce a broad initiative or two, for after the election, a "send us back to Congress, help us keep our majority, and ..." sort of thing. There's still time.

[AmericanMade1776]

Remember 2000! Vote! President Bush defeated Al Gore 271 electoral votes to 266. Imgaine what would of happened if....Al Gore had been elected, we would be all taking Prozac and hiding from al quaeda. REMEMBER ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!

[Oberon]

The Republican party-liners would have us be frightened into line by the prospect of "Speaker Pelosi! Booga Booga!"

That's entirely appropriate. Myself, I would like to have the Republican party-liners frightened into line by the prospect of "Speaker Pelosi! Booga Booga!"

[Obie Wan]

In some ways the stakes may be even higher now then when this article was written in 04. Every election cycle the same choice is offered, a Constitutional "free market" Republic or a socialist\marxist state and sadly many of our fellow citizens chose the latter !!!

[LWalk18]

The problem is, if you reward politicans regardless of behavior simply because of the letter (R) next to their name, what incentive is there for the party to put out better candidates? Or will things stay the same, as if nothing happened? Someone mentioned the primary, but then you are told that if you vote for the challenger he/she will be unelectable in the general, so stick with the incumbent.

I think such thinking can only work for so long before voters simply no longer believe the party line, and let the chips fall where they may. I don't think that we at that point yet, but the Republicans have to start listening to the dissatifaction among the base, and make changes accordingly, no matter what the outcome is on November 7.

[Tymesup]

"For better or worse, we have a two-party system. And party trumps person. Either a Republican, George W. Bush, or a Democrat, John Kerry, is going to be elected president in November. No one else has a chance.

Not Ralph Nader, not the Libertarian candidate, nor the Communist, nor the Green. Minor party candidates are sometimes spoilers - like Nader costing Gore the presidency in 2000 - but they don't win presidential elections. Ross Perot got 20 million popular votes in 1992, and exactly zero Electoral College votes."

If Ross Perot can get 20 million votes, why can't John Doe get 200 million votes someday?

"A vote for Bush is a vote for the Republican agenda and conservative players in key posts."

It's also a vote for a prescription drug plan and a continued invasion by illegal aliens. It's a vote for Norm Mineta and Michael Brown.

We wonder why blacks continue to vote Democratic even though we think Dems do not help them. We wonder why Jews vote Dem even though Dems appear to not support Israel. Shouldn't we wonder why conservatives vote Republican even though Reps don't support conservative issues?

While the country has had a two-party system throughout its existence, it has not always been D and R. Either the R's will shape up or they will be shipped out.

While I will not vote for Menendez as New Jersey Senator, I haven't heard anything good about Kean, either. Someone else will probably get my vote. I am not going to vote against my long term interests.

[Old_Mil]

It is truly sad when the Republicans have to base an entire election campaign on the slogan, "You must vote for us or the other side will win!"

Where's Tancredo's wall? Why are 100,000 new legal Muslim immigrants being brought into the United States every year? Why has Planned Parenthood received more money under the Bush administration than under any previous administration in history?

[NordP]

I'm a Republican because...

I believe:

« that our government's most solemn duty is to keep its citizens safe.

« a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit will keep our economy strong and provide more opportunities for workers and families.

« that free enterprise and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.

« in building an innovative economy to compete in the world, because America can compete with anyone, anywhere, thanks to our entrepreneurs and risk-takers who keep us on the cutting edge of technology and commerce.

« in strengthening our communities, because our children deserve to grow up in an America in which all their hopes and dreams can come true.

« in protecting our families, and I respect the family's role as a touchstone of stability and strength in an ever changing world.

I choose strength over uncertainty, results over rhetoric, optimism over pessimism, opportunity over dependence, freedom over fear, and moving forward over turning back.

Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best suited to preserve, protect, and defend these ideals.

NordP

When Democrats ask for your vote on Nov. 7th...JUST SAY NO!

[no dems]

I will vote and I pray that the GOP holds both Houses. But, I've heard no one but myself mention this.

When you talk about "cut-and-run" Conservatives; please note that the most despicable "cut-and-runner" was, and is, TOM DELAY!! He cut and ran from Distict 22 (TX) and left us with a write-in mess that may give that seat to a very liberal ex-Congressman, Nick Lampson.
I hope ol' Tom "prissy walk" Delay is happy.

[TET1968]

For the most of my life I have been against unconditional solidarity.
Times have changed. We live in a different world.
Look at the big issues....like Freedom vs melting ice bergs.

Keep control, vote Republican.

[jan in Colorado]

Based on this most recent poll here at FR a pathetic 4.7% of FReepers are planning to stay home during this election.

My guess is, they are trolls, NOT conservatives!

[Grampa Dave]

McCoy sums up, who really supports the stay at home to punish the Republicans by allowing the rats to control the house and senate. One wonders who much of this cut and run posting and behavior has been financed by George $oreA$$ and Opecker Princes and Thugs.

[Hildy]

Does Rush give credit to the guy who came up with "CUT AND RUN REPUBLICANS." I remember the call vividly. Then, all of a sudden, Rush was using the term ad nauseum.

[Zack Nguyen]

I agree with this to a certain extent. I've worked in politics and I understand the need for practicalities. To that extent I agree with the article - I voted for Bush twice despite grave reservations in 2000, and have never regretted it. I have voted all but straight Republican for the last several years, and have never regretted it.

But there is a point beyond which I will not go. I will not support or vote for a pro-choice Republican for President or Vice President. This includes Rudy Guiliani, for whom it seems some Republicans are already "measuring the drapes" for his nomination.

And yes, I am prepared to allow the election to swing to pro-abortion Democrats in order to maintain the Republican party as a pro-life party, which for now is where I hang my hat. If this appears unreasonable and stupid to some, so be it. I am in politics for principled reasons, not for reasons of power. I am not interested in being placated, bought off, or co-opted with a few symbolic photo-ops or comforting words in speeches, which is how a lot of Republicans prefer to deal with their Christian base. Ultimately I want to see concrete advancement on a specific agenda for government spending, abortion, judicial nominees, defense, taxes, etc. But if the Republican Party refuses to honor its stated committment to the unborn, I will not honor it with my vote.

[pgyanke]

Another take on the same topic (shameless personal plug that it is):

Why Should Christians Vote for Democrats?

[Defiant]

Great post. One additional comment--the 2 party system is mandated by our "winner take all" method of selecting Reps, Senators and the President, as well as local officials. It's basic game theory, you might start with 6 parties of people who are closer ideologically, but then they start banding together with a goal of getting enough people in their coalition to reach 50 percent of the vote, until there are only 2 parties left.

In a parliamentary system, minor parties can stay "pure" and then have influence when the government is formed, but not in ours. So people just need to figure out which they are, Republican or Democrat, and vote for their party. Independents are just people who can't figure out which they are.

[jjm2111]

I vote for whom I want. The GOP sucks, sucks, sucks!!! For 6 yrs, they had control of Congress and held the presidency and spent my tax dollars worse than the democrats. There has not been ONE conservative initiative since the tax cut and GWB can't even bring himself to call a spade a spade when it comes to Islam. "War on Terror" my heiny.

Furthermore the comment about "not supporting our troops" by not voting GOP is such horsehockey.

[9999lakes]

I Ain't No Cut and Run Conservative!

I'm a Stand And Deliver Guy!

The GOP hasn't Delivered! I'm Standin' Pat! And if they don't wake up, I'll deliver on my own!