Moderation on the Rise in the GOP?

Yahoo News ^ | Feb 26, 2007 | Peter Brown

[Jim Robinson]

It is too early to make definitive statements about 2008, but the evidence points to a change in the tone, if not the substance, of the Republican message.

Although moderation is in the eye of the beholder and difficult to define, the GOP message and messenger are much more likely than in the recent past to be less beholden to, or a member of, the party's strongly conservative wing.

There are two reasons why:

* The background and views of the two leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

* The lesson that may lie in the success of GOP governors with high approval ratings. Florida's Charlie Crist, California's Arnold Schwarzenegger and Connecticut's Jody Rell are thriving with a vision that features a larger role for government.

Since the nomination of Ronald Reagan in 1980, moderates have fared poorly in Republican presidential primaries. The GOP has stood for lower taxes, toughness on defense and opposition to abortion, gay rights and gun control.

But while McCain and Giuliani spout that line on taxes and terrorism, their views on lifestyles issues are less in sync with recent Republican tradition.

[SoCalPol]

Not only life style but McCain & Rudy are for amnesty for illegals, Mitt, it depends what day it is.

[pillut48]

Time to start a new conservative party?

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone that renders us invincible. These are the tactics we should study. If we lose these, we are conquered. -- Patrick Henry

Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles. -- Patrick Henry

We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments. -- James Madison

[jdm]

But a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California last month gave him a 58 percent approval rating, 55 percent among Democrats, 60 percent among independents and 72 percent among Republicans.

I haven't seen this poll or the specifics behind it, but it's pretty telling when the Terminator is polling highest among "Republicans" given his policies since Governor. His politics don't embrace conservatism in the least.

[Finalapproach29er]

If the east coast "moderates" (rudy & co.) gain control of the party, conservatism will be setback for another 12-16 years.

They will split the party and the social conservatives will stay home.

I still believe we're going to win the Iraq war this year, and the Democrats are going to be Royally screwed in 2008.

[Lurker]

The problem as I see it is that political conservatives have put all their eggs in the Republican basket and then failed, as Mark Twain instructed, to watch the basket.

They're quite happy to court our votes every four years.

They're equally happy to kick us in the face in the intervening years.

L

[StoneWall Brigade]

Great job Jim you hit the nail on the head the only way for conservatism to be victorious is to be conservative

[calcowgirl]

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government, January 2007
http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_107MBS.pdf (1.5MB)

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"The problem as I see it is that political conservatives have put all their eggs in the Republican basket and then failed, as Mark Twain instructed, to watch the basket."

---

I would view it as Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are the eggs to be guarded, with various entities out there that would suck eggs--or infant brains from their womb.

And, the Social Conservatives are the ones who value all equally and have the guns and the WILL to best stand down threats.

[VeniVidiVici]

Wonder when the story will be written about the rise in left-wing extremism on the part of the Democrat Party?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

What does a "win" in Iraq look like... and how can it be brought about this year?

[freeangel]

Dear GOP. Go ahead and moderate away. You are heading down the path of "mainstream" religion where anything goes but truth and morality.

[Hydroshock]

If Rino Rudy is the answer it must be a really stupid question.

[balch3]

RINOS on the rise in the GOP.

[Jake The Goose]

Rinos RULE !!!

[LibLieSlayer]

"Time to start a new conservative party?"


What an excellent plan for the klintoon dynasty. Just brilliant! What's Ross up to these days?

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Just so you know, I have quit donating the the Republcan Party and have actively worked against the spineless rino faction. Change must come from within the Party... and that means we have to be proactive every day.

LLS

[Daveinyork]

By "moderation" moderation in spending is not what is meant, I presume.

[sergeantdave]

This whole thing has the stink of a Pew foundation propaganda operation.

Pew was behind the disinformation to pass campaign finance reform.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110006449

The Rudy supporters are already comparing Rudy with Eisenhower.

I fully expect to next see a story about Rudy carrying fish and loaves.