"somehow under the spell of its extreme right base"
What you call the "extreme right base" of the Republican Party is well to the left of where Kennedy was in 1960, socially, economically, and diplomatically.
"That focus included Terri Schiavo"
Road apples. Elected Repubs completely wimped out, through sheer cowardice allowing the institution of murder-by-lawsuit in our body politic.
"pushing amendments to restrict gay marriage decisions by individual states"
You think opposition to the forced endorsement of deviant sexual practices is a bad thing?
"and restrict the freedom of speech for political dissent"
I don't recall many Repubs advocating that. Not, at least, since the campaign finance disaster.
"arguing stem cell research, abortion"
Protecting the lives of innocent people is the state's first and foremost duty. Complaining about time spent on these issues is misguided.
"prayer in school, evolution"
Again, of vital interest to our survival, and under attack by our enemies.
"and a host of other issues of importance to the "social" conservative (RR) segment, but of little interest to the rest of the Nation."
Ya know, I care very little what may or may not be of interest to people too dim, ignorant, or wrong-headed to know what is and is not important, or what is right and what is wrong.
"And where was budget control, immigration reform, social security reform, tax reform, energy independence, all issues of importance to the Country, but not to the RR."
Yes, the Stupid Party certainly sold us down the river. However, that was not due to the influence of any "right-wingers," of whom there are maybe two or three in national office, but of the Republican left...which is well to the left of the Hubert Humphrey of 1968.
"And with both Congress and the White House under the control of the Republican Party, how many appropriations bills were passed during the fiscal year? And how have they controlled the earmark process? 11,000 in the current budget?"
Yes, a round of impeachments would certainly be in order.
"But they certainly led in the area of sex and financial scandals."
That's only because the Evil Party's propaganda arm trumpets Repub peccadillos to the heavens, while suppressing any news of the legions of major felonies committed daily by Demonrats.
"Hopefully, the Republicans can put their recent pathetic history behind them and reacquire their greatness."
Not until the crypto-commies are flushed, they can't. Not until they are willing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder like men and say No! to baby-killing, No! to sodomy, No! to ever-increasing regulation, No! to everything tainted with leftist thought.
"But until they realize that the social issues of a relatively small group represent neither the desires nor the interests of the Nation"
You're a mole, right? Seeking to sow discord from within? Same tactic the communists used to get Russian armies to desert in WW1?
Moral decay is destroying us, and unless we get back on track, no other issue will have any relevance in this world or the next.
That would then make Kennedy Pope, if that's the case.
Road apples. Elected Repubs completely wimped out, through sheer cowardice allowing the institution of murder-by-lawsuit in our body politic.
Yes, we'll permit a republican form of government as long as the states do what a select few of us want. Why not just eliminate the states and the 10th Amendment, and turn all decision making over to the RR?
You think opposition to the forced endorsement of deviant sexual practices is a bad thing?
No, not at all. What I oppose is the turning of our Constitution into a tool of the RR. I oppose those who want to ensure that no state be permitted to manage family law issues, as they have traditionally done, without the permission of the RR.
I don't recall many Repubs advocating that. Not, at least, since the campaign finance disaster.
You don't recall the attempt to amend the Constitution last year to restrict the First Amendment?
Protecting the lives of innocent people is the state's first and foremost duty. Complaining about time spent on these issues is misguided.
This has nothing to do with protecting the lives of its citizens, and everything to do with ensuring that only certain religious beliefs form the basis for federal law. If these are constitutional issues, then leave it for the courts to decide. The Congress has much more to concern itself with.
Again, of vital interest to our survival, and under attack by our enemies.
Only the RR would consider most of America their enemy.
Ya know, I care very little what may or may not be of interest to people too dim, ignorant, or wrong-headed to know what is and is not important, or what is right and what is wrong.
Exactly my point about the RR. They will dictate to America what the correct cultural, political and legal positions are, and if America is too dim, ignorant or wrong-headed to understand, screw 'em. And to hell with republican government. If it's ok with my particular version of theology, it ought to be ok for America.
Yes, a round of impeachments would certainly be in order.
Don't know about that, but the voters certainly got tired of that "109th Agenda" last November.
That's only because the Evil Party's propaganda arm trumpets Repub peccadillos to the heavens, while suppressing any news of the legions of major felonies committed daily by Demonrats.
Yes, it's always the fault of the messenger. I'm not much for the "Well, uh, they do it too" defense.
Not until the crypto-commies are flushed, they can't. Not until they are willing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder like men and say No! to baby-killing, No! to sodomy, No! to ever-increasing regulation, No! to everything tainted with leftist thought.
Somewhere in that I would hope there would be something of interest to most Americans. Oh yeah, the regulation part.
You're a mole, right? Seeking to sow discord from within? Same tactic the communists used to get Russian armies to desert in WW1?
I almost feel like it here at times. There doesn't seem to be many left who believe that the Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln, is not just the Party of a small group of right wing theocrats, but a Party that welcomes all into it; a Party that understands that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, not just someone's particular version of the Bible; and a Party governed by the principles of real conservatism, not the so-called "conservatism" claimed by a relative few.
Moral decay is destroying us, and unless we get back on track, no other issue will have any relevance in this world or the next.
And I don't disagree with you in principle. But moral issues are culturally based issues. Culture is the purview of the people, and a free nation permits its people the prerogative of changing culture. The Constitution is a moral document, but not a document of morals. It is a document designed to ensure the government is properly organized, and an enumeration of the rights of its citizens. Those rights include the freedom of expression, one of the principal means of impacting social and cultural values.
I wonder why the RR fears losing its grip to the majority, and therefore feels it must force its agenda through the federal legislative process.