Posted on 11/07/2006 8:02:25 PM PST by Philistone
The most important thing that Republicans should learn from tonight is that America is a representative democracy.
This does NOT mean that your congress critter shares ALL your beliefs, or that he is a perfect human being, but rather that, in general, he votes the way you want him to.
It's like hiring a lawyer. You may despise his personal life and his principles, but what is important is that he WINS YOUR CASE.
Democraps could care less about the morals of their elected officials as long as they win.
Republicans could learn a lesson here...
Good point! And this is a man who has gotten no due respect from Arizona's own GOP.
"Although we would all like victory I'm going to have to take a pass on this line of thinking. Character and principles in my opinion are traits that make a leader worth following."
Right. Character counts.
One lesson is that we Republicans need to take our own trash out in the primaries or the voters will take it out for us in the general election. If we had done this in about 4 key seats we wouldnt be sweating over about a dozen impacted races.
Well, here's your new House leader.
The time to "clean house" because somebody is not conservative enough for you is during the primaries and NOT during the general election.
"Conservatives lost tonight; big time
Yes they did. JD Hayworth is gone. :( "
I simply cant believe that ... and Santorum too.
Disaster for conservatives and Republicans.
Three words for the Republicans: Grow a pair.
The first thing you learn, it ain't the end of the world.
In any political contest that covers a broad spectrum of elective offices, perhaps 75% or so will be pretty fair-minded and judicious thinkers, well able to reason through the various problems of the day. About half will fall into one major political party, and half in its major rival party.
But in any election, at least half of the potential office seekers will be defeated. Some by vanishingly small margins, or on a plurality in three-way races, in which there is question as to whether they even deserve a mandate.
This also means about 25% of the actual holders of office will be total boobs, and really just place holders with pretty faces. Propped up by a corrupt machine, with handlers to make the public face look at least presentable, and with a formidable campaign staff, these boobs are able to maintain presence in the office for years (think Ted Kennedy, a person already well beyond his level of competence).
And what it is representative of is the sort of person who sent me off to Vietnam while he did weed on a student deferment, then threw baggies full of s*** at me when I came home.
I hate the people of this country, who just voted to squander all that our brave children have accomplished in Iraq.
Whichever asteroid Bert Rutan can get us to first.
"It's time to clean house. I want a new House and Senate leaders. And I want a renewal of the Contract with America. "
Done. Your Nancy Congress Socialist Contract with America will arrive with your tax bill!
Do me a favor, would you?
Move to Europe. That is where a defeatist like you belongs.
Federal government expenditures have increased 56% since 2000 under Republican control of both the White House and Congress.
"I" believe that Reagen did indeed accomplish much...but many a political historian have opined otherwise due to the various "media" imposed scandals...Iran/Contra..etc..that overshadowed some of his accomplishments...as a coined phrased often used by political historians Reagan fell into a sophmore slump by their account...one for which I disagree.
Sadly, we'll see what kind of problems Nancy and her ilk kick up for the President...
Republicans have got to learn to stand up for what is right and stop the dang capitulation game they play so well. While not a Lott fan, I would never have suggested he resign as Majority Leader. He did nothing wrong, but the Republicans wouldn't tell the Democrats to shove it. If they had any backbone, they would have attacked the Democrats with their own failings when they criticized Lott. I was very disappointed with Frist as the Leader...he was weaker and less knowledgeable about the Senate than Lott was. Why didn't they continue to pound Harry Reid until the media were forced to cover and report his unethical dealings as often as they ran that silly "Macaca" mess. The double standard and bias of the media needs to be dealt with IMO.
I also think the party's lack of fighting back against the rhetoric played a BIG part of it all. While nearly all democrat congressmen and senators took pot shots at Bush and the GOP, I never saw the republicans come out and counter them.
Iraq is playing a roll in this too. We should be fighting to win terrorist more than fighting to win the approval of the UN and Europe. Spending too.
I dont know if immigration played a part in it. We lost JD Hayworth and the House with was more tough on illegals.
Whatever the problem is... we need to know soon
Sorry Bro.
And thanks for your sacrifice.
Politics is the art of the possible. And understanding that if you only vote for perfection, you get Nancy Pelosi.
Let's start with defunding the Iraq war.
Then, no chance of a fence being built along any border.
Endless investigations of the administration culminating in the attempted impeachment of President Bush.
And the worst, and emboldened terrorist enemy seeing a very weak American President that cannot get anything done.
God help us all.
"The Democrats were running against Rush Limbaugh and President Bush (neither of whom were in the race) whereas the GOP did NOT run against Bela Pelosi who WAS campaigning for higher office."
Lame GOP campaign had missed opptys:
1. Missed oppty to bring up judges
2. Missed oppty to take credit for good economy and tax cuts
3. Missed oppty to highlight Pelosi's extremism.
I wasn't in the contested areas but I failed to see a real hard-edge in any of the campaigns I was part of.
I didnt see the GOP go after Democrats hammer-and-tong ...
Did we lose because we lost the "Hammer" touch? Or we just forgot how bad the Democrats are? Up until a few weeks back, the conservative base were whining about the GOP but complacent, while the left-wing nutroot were *hungry for power*! The base was activated but it wasn't enough to stop a Dem wave.
And so it goes.
***The big issue is IRAQ. That is the reason I voted Demo this time whereas I voted republican before. All the lies the neo-cons spewed out to get use to attack IRAQ...***
We're going to have to disagree some here. Iraq became an issue due to bad coverage by a fifth column media. A bunch of Quislings they are.
I now expect things to REALLY heat up there. The Iraqis, Iranians and others... of all stripes, friendly and otherwise... have just learned that America won't finish what it started; can't be trusted; and can be defeated by inflicting minimal casualties. They will learn from this that the West is nothing but a bunch of paper tigers.
Expect Iran to go full speed ahead towards building a nuclear weapon. It almost worked for Iraq. It did work for North Korea. And who will stop them? All the West will do is whine and pass some silly little resolution. As of tonight there's no one around with the will to stand up to them.
I hope I'm proven wrong on this but I really don't feel comfortable about the next two years. Thank God I have no children!
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