Many of us are ready for the party to split, if the "our way or the highway" policy is presented as a mandate.
The days when the constricted policies of social conservatives
ruled our party are coming to an end - there is no doubt about that.
With the state of the world right now - we're more interested in leadership than we are in pushing lifestyle choices down the throats of the country.
While pure ideology is decent and respectable, however it is no longer
the guidepost for most Americans.
Other voices will rules the day.
In the mean time - we can all keep our own houses in order and ensure our children are raised with the values we embrace - while our leaders do their job.
Without the social conservative the Republican party will lose. It always has.
I agree 100%! I don't send my Congressman and two Senators to DC to deal with social issues -- they belong in my home, my church, my community and on rare occasions in my state.
Believe we will see some type of a split when we lose the social conservatives that jumped on the Republican bandwagon expecting Republicans to cater to their every need of legislating morality to suit their demands. That has not happened and now they are in a snit for the most part. We lost big in 2006 so we have to reach out to people that are concerned where this Nation is headed on the WOT and other important national issues.
No candidate that can win is going to be able to appease some of these voters. We have to build new coalitions and bring back in some of the voters the unappeaseables have driven away with their my way or no way approach that does not work.
Been a Conservative my whole adult life but I have learned over the past month that my Conservatism mirrors the Contract with America not what some of these people on here claim Conservtives have to be.
Read the thread on the platform and had my laugh. The days of the platform planks coming down to fist fights are over. My Uncle used to sit on the platform committee in the good old days when they would actually come to blows about the platform. It has been tea and crumpets for years and after all the Conventions at all levels, the platform is put back in the file cabinet until the next Convention. Each group gets their piece of the pie now and can go away claiming victory.
Back in the smoked filled backroom days, the candidates were searching for delegates up until the final talley was announced. Many of our candidates including Ronald Reagan in 1980 went to the Convention not sure of the final tally. Those days are gone and so are most of the caucus systems in states to be replaced by statewide primaries.
It is a new era in politics and political campaigns. Most voters live by the soundbite and why someone like Rudy is surging ahead. Takes million(s) to run a nationwide campaign, a huge staff of the best in the business consultants, and a demeanor that attracts voters. Vast majority of Americans don't care about social issues like they do on here. They care about being safe when they go shopping, go to sporting events, and other entertainment venues along with having the money to afford to do things. If that wasn't the case, you would have millions of people marching in the pro-life march in D.C. or on the flip side in the anti-war marches by the left. You don't have these huge numbers compared to the population of this Nation.
My children have been taught what is right and wrong from an early age and are conservative -- note that I said conservative not a labeled conservative.
Re post #20.
Great point and I hope you are correct. The social conservatives hijacking the 92 convention perfectly illustrates your point.
Your entire post and this last sentence is one of the best I have read in a long time--applause for you Freeper.