The Road Not Taken: Forfeiting a Majority

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/HughHewitt ^ | Wednesday, November 8, 2006 | Hugh Hewitt

[Paladin2]

I thought the turnout on both sides was hugh for a mid-term.

[umgud]

The GOP leadership sucked for the past two sessions

How very true, but it's really gonna suck for the next 2 years. I hope the pubbies get back to basics for '08.

[chasio649]

:D

[GeorgeBerryman]

[jocon307]

"The vicious cycle that began with Al Gore in 2000 can be ended. Graciousness can be returned to American politics."

I was with him until here. The dems will in no way permit this to happen. If anything I fully expect them to become more vicious and more partisan. George Allen can concede, he can litigate, he can kiss Jim Webb's big fat Scot-Irish behind, none of it will make a wee bit of difference.

[bonehead4freedom]

Dewine dug his grave while becoming a beltway boy. I'm sure right now he's still stunned that his pals the Democrats went all out to defeat him, after all he was ever ready to compromise especially on conservative principles.

[goldstategop]

When Republicans govern like liberals - they lose. The Democrats did not even run as liberals this year!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[zarf]

Stop lying and start doing what you promise to do, then you'll win.

$$$$$ talks. If it takes a lie to take the cash, the lying will continue.

[Majic]

"Bush made some serious campaign pledges, which if he had performed on, would have tipped the scales away from the Iraq War and still won back the Congress."

Perhaps, but I can't take up the mantra that "It's all Bush's fault!"

The Republicans have had six years to implement a true Republican agenda -- one which, by the way, as a Libertarian, I'd been holding my breath for.

And what do we get? A bunch of spineless RINOs pushing Democrat ideology.

Apparently the people of this great nation have grown weary of the empty promises and would rather have real Democrats running the country than phony Republicans.

God knows they must be desperate if they're voting Democrat. :^P

[greasepaint]

this is crap.
stop bashing our braindead Republican senators,
for normal behavior.

Republicans lost because...
House scandals
people are tired of the war
3 buck gas
twit candidates
Bush-Cheney fatigue
Ohio mess

[MaineVoter2002]

So true!

http://www.cafenetamerica.com

[perfect_rovian_storm]

The idea here is sound. I agree 100%.

It can really be reduced to simplicity:

We didn't give them a reason to vote FOR us. We only gave them a reason to vote AGAINST the other side.

That is an argument that rarely works. It is the argument that Kerry's crowd used to try and elect him and it's why he lost. If you have nothing positive to offer and are only telling people 'the other guy sucks more', you're bankrupt and you are going to lose.

We all saw it going in, and we all held our heads up in spite of it, but it wasn't good enough to get the job done.

We need positive, proactive LEADERS who are able to EXPLAIN our positions and our beliefs and FIGHT FOR THEM.

This milquetoast, weak kneed, lilylivered crap isn't going to cut it anymore.

[tcrlaf]

Social Security reform:
Are you from THIS PLANET?
On Earth, Bush and the Republicans got HAMMERED at every single mention of Social Security reform...

Illegal immigration solution:
Look at the election Demographics. Our "Border" people cost us a TON of Hispanic Votes Nationwide, and gave the Dems a whole new base of Illegal Voters....

[EagleUSA]

Apparently the people of this great nation have grown weary of the empty promises and would rather have real Democrats running the country than phony Republicans.
-----
If that is what it all distills down to, I would prefer incompetent, complacent Repubs to socialist-Marxists running this country, any day. Real democrats = power-centric Marxists. That is what their party has gravitated into...still with my dislike for the Repub performance, I will still take the MUCH lesser of two evils.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I mean, for the love of God, what the hell were we doing? We were protecting Chafee because we wanted to KEEP A SEAT for a majority? Why? What good was it going to do us?

When all your majority is about is keeping the majority, the time has come for you to go back to being a minority to reprioritize. That's where we are now. And we can emerge stronger for it.

[CottShop]

There better not be any kissing up to democrats- not after what they did to the GOP for 6 long years now & the GOP BETTER start firing back- loudly and constantly whenever the Dems obstruct progress- otherwise the Dems will win the minds of the public once again in '08.

Christian news and commentary at: sacredscoop.com ...

[Logophile]

If we can usher out the partisan rancor that has so marred the past five years, then we must.

I was with Mr. Barnett until this line. I think he is utterly wrong. President Bush tried the "new tone" approach and it was a disaster. The partisan rancor was largely on the side of the Democrats, who used it to their great advantage. It was not pretty, but it worked.

If the Republicans are to win, they must confront the Democrats. A little partisan rancor over the right issues would do wonders to energize the Republican base.

[samadams2000]

Pretty spot on.

[beezdotcom]

We didn't give them a reason to vote FOR us. We only gave them a reason to vote AGAINST the other side.

But that's really all the Dems did, too. And yet, they won.

[TheStickman]

Right on the money IMO.