[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Gutless RINOs are exactly what the party doesn't need.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The article is almost total BS. Hardly surprising considering its publisher.

[x]

Because from President Bush on down, no one in the party seems to touch us the way some Republicans previously did. Many haven't gone out on a limb, in our behalf, to champion our causes.

Wow! He really gets it.

It has something to do with what part of the country you come from, though. The closer you are to Texas (physically and spiritually) the closer you probably feel to the President. Ditto for some of the other leaders.

Politics right now has a lot to do with who you are, what you do, and where you live, and less to do with abstract principles than it once did.

So Republicans who you live in deep Blue states, even if they're pretty conservative, just don't get as enthusiastic in the current environment.

Doubtless, things will change in the future, but the rabbi has definitely caught something of the current mood.

[jaime1959]

The rabbi's right on.

[rottndog]

The biggest betrayal to me is those who tried to out-democrat democrats, under the label of being a "conservative". I think Bush is one of the worst offenders.

[TAdams8591]

While this administration took a number of actions benefiting the conservative cause, I do not feel the same kind of kinship towards them as I did with the Reagan administration. Nor was I as enthusiastic during either of GW's Republican conventions.

I like the President, he is the second best President in my life time, but I see him as a moderate who sometimes leans conservative, and always have.

[LibLieSlayer]

"How Come I'm Not Devastated?"

Get back with me about that in March!

LLS

[Mannaggia l'America]

How Come I'm Not Devastated?

You will be... You will be...

[pabianice]

[tiki]

I think he gets pretty close to how I feel.

[greene66]

I was a little bummed we lost the Senate. The House situation was oh-so predictable for nearly a year. But I can't say I'm devastated. The political landscape has been a bit murky lately, with our guys over-spending and over-growing the government, and Bush pushing that horrid amnesty for illegals. Indeed, it's this latter situation that really dampened my usual enthusiasm big-time.

Although there will be a lot of adversity (and heartburn) with the Dims back on stage and in the spotlight, there's something rather invigorating about the upcoming frays. This is where Republicans really thrive. True, the Dims can create a lot of damage, and that's certainly a huge concern. But, isn't everybody just chomping at the bit, ready to jump into the knock-down drag-out with those slimey, America-hating rats? I sure am!

[NeoCaveman]

Bump

[Jim Scott]

I never considered George W. Bush a true political conservative but simply a good man with conservative values and a 'practical' politician who was sometimes too willing to 'compromise' with those who were working at opposite purposes from him. Bush's tax cuts and his excellent reaction to 9/11 did please me. However, the president and congress are not the same entity.

For the past 12 years, I remained both annoyed and discouraged by the wishy-washy Republican majority in congress that seemed to allow the Democrats to run the show and decide the agenda but I remained thankful that 'we' had the majority as I felt that if the Democrats ever gained a voting majority in congress, the war in Iraq would be lost, a la Viet Nam, and President Bush would be unfairly impeached - if not removed from office, just so the Democrats could extract revenge for the Clinton impeachment and smear Republicans as 'law-breakers' in order to gain a political advantage in 2008. Sadly, this is now a very likely probability and is inimical to my - and the nations - interest.

I cannot put George W. Bush in the same 'class' as Ronald Reagan, as President Bush appears to lack the kind of rock-solid convictions of his core principles that drove Reagan. However, Bushs inability to convincingly articulate the importance of staying in Iraq to the nation and to lead the too-timid congressional leaders (Hastert, Frist) into battle for principle-driven programs, such as partial Social Security privatization and border control - the latter an issue where President Bush was notoriously weak and far too willing to accomodate illegal entry into this nation as a given that had to be accepted and legitimized by government - was a [huge disappointment. To what end President Bush championed 'amnesty' for illegal aliens, I'll never quite understand, except as some sort of misplaced compassion. If so, that kind of an emotional approach to a serious national crisis is inexcusable in a president elected to protect and defend his country.

Like the good Rabbi (the author of the lead piece) I'm not 'devastated' by Tuesdays loss of congressional 'control' - but I am dismayed. The next two years are not going to be much fun for conservatives and, one hopes, will energize political conservatives to reject the 'go-along-to-get-along' (with Democrats) mentality that plagued too many congressional Republicans recently and shove 'maverick' RINO politicians like John McCain aside in favor of more serious and truly conservative candidates for congress and, especially, for president in 2008.

That will be a winning electoral strategy and one that could finally end Democrat party power in American politics for a generation, as it would be based on principle, not personality and certainly not pandering and expediency or a wish to get 'good press' from news outlets that hate everything you stand for. President Reagan was able to govern effectively with a Democrat-run congress and I'm hoping that President Bush can, too. However, as we all know, whatever his attributes, George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan. I wish he were.

[fish hawk]

The Republicans, in the last few years, remind me of the Royalty of Europe. Marrying their own blood and after awhile they had mental illness and freaks. We end up with a bunch of RINOs. (except for a few, of course) And we all know that RINOs are gutless wonders.

[freekitty]

I don't feel bad either. These people needed to go so we can become the party of individual thinkers. Some others need to go. I kind of think of it as a cleansing process. We need to get our priorities set and come together. We need to find good people; not silly lap dogs that care only about their cushy jobs.

Actually I feel energized. Look, we know the what the left is about already. They are going to try every trick in the book. But, we will remain strong in our beliefs.

[Constantine XIII]

Or maybe the author is drinking the media koolaid. lol

[Noumenon]

Gutless RINOs are exactly what the party doesn't need.

But that's what we've got, with few exceptions. When will Republicans learn that surrender to Democrats is not a strategy? Not any time soon, I'd wager. Disgusting.

[Herakles]

"It's a group who won't stand up for their own. The minute the media make a charge against a Republican colleague or supporter, they've shown they'd rather appease the media than stand by a brother. This is not an endearing quality. Nor is it manly. All along we’ve wondered: Would they stand up for us?"

What can I say? This is the George Bush girlie man party of "reaching out to the other side". The Dems just cut off the hand and in '08 they will go for the head. But like you, I can't care much. It's obvious they don't have a clue as to how far disconnected they are when words like "a cold slap on the head" and "a thumping" are used.

I almost feel sorry they are so disconnected, but I have my own problems figuring out hold global warming legislation and increased taxes are going to disrupt my life.

You almost have to ask yourself "what were they thinking?"

[goldstategop]

To tell the truth, I felt quite surprised Wednesday morning. I didn't feel devastated at all. I didn't really think the Republicans being gone from Congress changed anything. Not that they cared about conservative issues. I don't feel in the least upset over how it went down.

"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

[right way right]

All I can think about is our soldiers.
They have the most to lose.

[bmwcyle]

No Child Left Behind --- The teachers teach the answers to the tests. I read my 13 year old home. The rest of the time is full with movies, CNN for the youth, and the NYT for school.