Rush Limbaugh Has It Wrong

Logic Times ^ | 11-9-2006 | Dan Hallagan

[Logic Times]

Rush Limbaugh has it wrong. He stated Wednesday that "[c]onservatism did not lose, Republicanism lost last night. Republicanism, being a political party first, rather than an ideological movement, is what lost last night." (here) This statement – a statement echoed by Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and other conservative pundits to whom a nation of shell-shocked conservatives turned for cathartic analysis – fails a simple test. If the electorate was demanding conservatism, then why did strong, principled conservatives lose? Incumbent conservatives such as Rick Santorum, George Allen, J.D. Hayworth and Curt Weldon to name a few. Superb conservative newcomers such as Ken Blackwell and Michael Steele.

The actions of the electorate last Tuesday was an indiscriminate firing of Republicans, not a thoughtful weeding out of RINOs. It is true that Republicanism lost on Tuesday, but it lost in all its forms – and that included the exact form of strong, clear conservatism that the movement desperately needs.

[kingu]

Eh, whatever. The long and short of it was that they didn't run. They expected to win, didn't campaign for a victory, and the other side put forward something to the voters. If they were out to 'fire Republicans' then so many races wouldn't have been close at all.

[Echo Talon]

IBTZ?

[operation clinton cleanup]

I think it had more to do with the districts/states they were running in. And the Diebold machines!

[unspun]

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

republicanism

Main Entry: re·pub·li·can·ism
Pronunciation: ri-'p&-bli-k&-"ni-z&m
Function: noun
1 : adherence to or sympathy for a republican form of government
2 : the principles or theory of republican government
3 capitalized a : the principles, policy, or practices of the Republican party of the United States b : the Republican party or its members

 

[The Hollywood Conservative]

I agree 100%...

One cant look at Santorum and Hayworth and Allan and say "They just weren't conservative enough to energize the base".

They were the same, but the constituencies they represent changed, and they didn't change with them, so they lost. We are not going to be able to replace those seats with MORE conservative candidates. That will merely intrench the Democrats who won.

[Tim Long]

a statement echoed by Sean Hannity,

Hard to take you very seriously now when you spent all year talking about how great the GOP is, Hannity.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Setting aside the phony scandals against Republican incumbants, the GOP lost simply because they didn't have a central theme from which to rally around to attract discerning votes. It created confusion for those voters. The Democrats rallied around the word "Change", voters wanted change, they got it.

[MaineVoter2002]

Santorum's campaign message was "my opponent is more pro-life than I am"

[Echo Talon]

How many LIBERALS won on Tuesday?(other than Ted Kennedy and KKK Byrd?)

[Sir Gawain]

But there were two distinct choices to dealing with the liberal infection spreading throughout the GOP: one was to fight the good fight from within while always remaining aware of the real enemy. The other was to blow the whole thing up. The former strategy may have prevented Nancy Pelosi from being third in line for the Presidency. The latter may have just put liberals in power for the next six years and made President Hillary Clinton a distinct possibility.

Yeah and the latter might have just saved the GOP in the long run if the party leaders have a clue why they lost (Bush and Snow are hinting that they're still clueless..."Yes! Now we can get amnesty through!"). Republicans staying in power probably would have meant Republicans keep going left and get defeated huge in '08. Instead we get a chance to get new party leadership and 2 years of Democrats reminding America why they should be the minority party again.

[Liberty Valance]

[Sir Gawain]

Hard to take you very seriously now when you spent all year talking about how great the GOP is, Hannity.

You listened to Hannity for a year? Ha!

[MaineVoter2002]

Hayworth was an Iraq War casualty

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I also think it had a tiny bit to do with the minimum wage issues on the ballots, as well.

[Paloma_55]

Hmmmm.... this is really frickin hard...

OH, I get it... Conservatives didn't go to the polls?!??

The moderates did.

How does that mean conservatives were thrown out?

I know that I had to see past my desperation with the Party and showed up to vote for our conservative congressman...but it was an effort. Instead, I voted for him and every other conservative and left the RINOs to fend for themselves...but I was truly fighting the urge to stay home.

[MrCFdovnh]

"Yer a great American."

Agreed.

[Tim Long]

You listened to Hannity for a year? Ha!

No. But I know how Hannity is and I catch parts of Hannity & Colmes from time to time. I like the stories they cover.

[Lokibob]

You do not have to excerpt your own blogs. (unless you are trolling for hits, in which case it is bad form).

[Steven W.]

Author is going to have to come up with some better examples.

Rick Santorum
Exception to the rule & family patronage (Casey)

George Allen
clearly not-yet-ready-to-be-president ... errh Senator Makaka?

J.D. Hayworth
$$$

Curt Weldon
Late campaign scandal

Ken Blackwell
Taint from state party scandal

Michael Steele
liberal elitist racism & DNC party unity mandate