[Peach]

I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress.

Republicans weren't perfect, but they were 100% better than what we're stuck with.

Maybe some freepers need a reminder about compromise and not getting 100% of what they want out of any politician.

This clip is from Reagan's autobiography:

When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it. "Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything.

I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.'

If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.

~~ Ronald Reagan, in his autobiography, An American Life .

[IamConservative]

I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress.

Republicans in my neck of the woods lost in November because the center abandoned Republicans due to the War and Immigration. Our republican turnout was as large and loyal as it had been since 1994.

[OldFriend]

What is particularly galling is to hear the so called Reagan conservatives demanding all or nothing from the President.

[Chena]

I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress. Republicans weren't perfect, but they were 100% better than what we're stuck with. Maybe some freepers need a reminder about compromise and not getting 100% of what they want out of any politician. This clip is from Reagan's autobiography: When I began entering into the give and take of legislative bargaining in Sacramento, a lot of the most radical conservatives who had supported me during the election didn't like it. "Compromise" was a dirty word to them and they wouldn't face the fact that we couldn't get all of what we wanted today. They wanted all or nothing and they wanted it all at once. If you don't get it all, some said, don't take anything. I'd learned while negotiating union contracts that you seldom got everything you asked for. And I agreed with FDR, who said in 1933: 'I have no expectations of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average.' If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it. ~~ Ronald Reagan, in his autobiography, An American Life .

Excellent post, Peach! BTTT!!!

[dirtboy]

The continuing denial of the GOP loyalists is stunning.

The GOP should ditch the elephant and adapt Han Solo as their mascot - "It's not my fault!"

Sorry, but it wasn't the fault of voters that the GOP slapped earmarks on appropriations bills for the Iraq War and out Democrated the Democrats on spending over the last six years.

It wasn't the fault of voters that the GOP cavorted with K-street.

It wasn't the fault of voters that Hastert was utterly clueless for dealing with corruption, including his insane protests of the FBI raid of Jefferson's office.

It wasn't the fault of the voters that the GOP abandoned just about every stated principle from the Reagan revolution and the 1994 revolution.

So if you want to properly affix blame, look within the party leadership. Unless, of course, you're content with having the GOP slide back into perpetual minority status.

[explodingspleen]

If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later, and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

So what, pray tell, constituted the 75-85% of what we were asking for that we got when the Republicans controlled both houses of the legislative and the executive branch?

[Sir Gawain]

Keep assigning blame in the wrong place and you (and the party) will remain clueless.

[freedomdefender]

I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress.

Why are you blaming conservatives for the Republicans' defeat? In my cousin's district (I was visiting him during the election), a Democrat won in a seat that had been vacated by a Republican. The Democrat's ads were all about the war in Iraq. I'm sorry to say it, but the Iraq war - as important as it is - is not popular. My reading is that the election turned on the Iraq war. That's not unusual. Wars lose popularity as they drag on. Flame me if you will, but I'm reporting what I think is the truth. I'm not cut and run - but I also don't think it's fair to blame conservatives for the election results.

[Lucky9teen]

Well said Peach. Well said.

[UWconservative]

It's not as if they weren't given fair warning. They were warned not to attempt to outdo the Marxists at their own game. They were warned not to make themselves indistinguishable from the opposition. For years.

It's their responsibility to represent us, not ours to vote for them.

[Condor51]

****I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress. Republicans weren't perfect, but they were 100% better than what we're stuck with. Maybe some freepers need a reminder about compromise and not getting 100% of what they want out of any politician.****

Please stop it. Conservatives and FReepers didn't give the House or Senate to the Dems.

The Senate

1. George Allen. He had a 'HUGH' lead and lost because of 'Macaca' and his campaign imploding.
2. Lincoln Chaffee. Lost SOLELY because he had an "R" after his name and the ijit LIBERALS in RI were p***d at Bush.
3. Rick Santorum. Lost to a 'CONSERVATIVE' pro-life, pro gun Dem who has a name of GOLD in PA. Rick received almost ZERO help from the RNC as they chalked him up as a lost cause. And btw, where was Arlen and Dubya? Santorum sacrificed himself to his base to get Arlen elected and got squat in return.

   There's the Senate right there. Game set match for the RATS. And goodbye to Constructionist Judges. And if you'll recall Schumer had no expectations of taking the senate, nada, none, zero.

The House

1. Republican lost mainly to Dems who were running as the more Conservative candidate. The "R's" were running as Dem Light which leads to...
   
2. The Sheeple (90% of voters) only heard from the MSM of republican corruption and scandals. Unfortunately most, or far too may were true.
   
3. Spending: see #1 and #2
4. Mark Foley made up scandal that the sheeple bought.
5. Most losses in the House were extremely close. All of the above contributed.

And contrary to urban legend it WASN'T immigration illegals.
The Great Illegal Immigration Myth of '06

So please stop the bashing and the 'one issue' canard. The RNC and Karl Rove screwed the pooch, not FReepers or conservatives.

[LexBaird]

I hope the so-called perfect conservatives are happy with their new Democrat Congress.

Don't blame the Dems for this fiasco. Blame the McCain Gang of 14 and the balless GOP controlled Senate that let them languish in limbo for years to preserve "Senatorial Comity". Frist had his chance to end this gameplaying supermajority crap forever, but was too gutless to pull the trigger. Let's see how much that precious comity buys them with Reid in charge.

[neverhillorat]

To bad Tom Tancredo never took the time to learn this lesson from our Greatest President.

[Wolfstar]

...and that's what I told these radical conservatives who never got used to it.

And they still haven't Peach, nor will they ever. There's a number of reasons for this, starting with the fact that such people are not conservatives at all despite their bleating to the contrary.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Thanks, Peach. Wise words that ALL Republicans need to read, and heed.