[MACVSOG68]

You seem to be under some delusion that the GOP can win much without the "RINO" vote. It can't, except in certain selected areas. And of course, then there is the independent vote, which is even more RINO than the RINO vote.

Very true. One need only look back at the election of 2004. The Republican Party did not win it, the Democrats lost. They lost because Kerry put all his eggs into one basket...the left wing of the Party. America rejected that just as they rejected the Republicans this year.

But right after the election loss in 2004, a reading of the Democrat sites such as DU or Democrats.com reflected a sentiment that (along with Republicans "stealing" the votes), the moderate (DINO) wing of the Democrats lost the election.

Almost all of FR's sentiments have been very similar. Most here are blaming the moderates in the Party and calling for a rejection of them and a move back to the right wing. This will be fatal in 2008 if not corrected early on. America is tiring rapidly of extremism, no matter which side of the political spectrum it sprouts from.

[tfelice]

America is tiring rapidly of extremism, no matter which side of the political spectrum it sprouts from.

The goal of the conservatives should not be to sound palatable to the moderates/independents, but instead to convince them that our position is the correct one. Compromise gets you nowhere, but persuasion does.

Personally, if the GOP nominates Rudy, McCain, Pataki, Romney or any other RINO - I'm voting third party. I would rather see the GOP lose, then to see them win with a candidate that does not reflect my core convictions.