The Great Disconnect between the Republican Party and the Conservative Base

vanity | 12 March 2007 | Trueblackman

[Joan Kerrey]

There are some folks who will not vote for a man who promotes abortion, the homosexual agenda, and gun control.

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Oh, now I understand. So by staying home these folks are okay with a electing a democrat who promotes abortion, homo agenda and gun control A N D would probably destroy the military, cater to radical islamists and sell out our country. Now it makes sense. God I wish these people would get a party of their own. I left the democratic party years ago because of their radicals and now I'm in a similar position again.

[TAdams8591]

"Conservatives need to concentrate on building its policies from the ground up by electing Conservatives to the local state legislatures, governships and then to Congress."

I agree.

" It can not be done from the "top down" by expecting to elect a conservative to the white house. There are not enough votes."

Here we disagree. If a charismatic principled conservative, ran for the Presidency, he could win. Likability is more important in this situation than ideology. It is the number one reason Reagan won twice.

In this particular election, finding that conservative, is the problem.

[TAdams8591]

"Ever since W's first election in 2000 and with Republicans in control of both houses, I was waiting with bated breath for them to start cleaning up the Clinton mess.

Instead, they just let them get by with it"

What exactly do you mean? What did you expect them to clean up?

[capt. norm]

What exactly do you mean? What did you expect them to clean up?

The Clintons did a lot of damage at the White House, in case you have forgotten. They left the offices, computers, etc. in a mess with their childish pranks.

The Clintons, themselves, walked off with everything in the White House that wasn't nailed down.

This forum was loaded with complaints about the Clinton gang and what could now be done about it, but Bush let it slide....even started chumming with Ted Kennedy.

He left a dangerous number of Clinton employees at the State Dept., CIA and other administration jobs....most of which have come back to haunt us later.

I can't believe you weren't aware of it or have forgotten. George W. Bush became "Carpet Man" for the Dems and they immediately started taking advantage of it.

[TAdams8591]

"I can't believe you weren't aware of it or have forgotten."

Excuse me? I'm still fighting a case from 1998 when I protested Clinton during impeachment season which was widely publicized on this forum. I followed the Clinton years very closely. I've hardly forgotten.

I wanted to know exactly what you meant before responding.

I never expected President Bush, nor would I have expected any other Republican President, to clean up after the Clintons. When it comes to such situations, Republicans are wimps. We're lucky we got Clinton impeached. That in itself, was a major miracle.

[Diggity]

Reagan was elected by Democrats and society had changed in the last 25 years. Remember Reagan carried California. Never again will a conservative carry that state.

I have said this before. America is a socialist country now. The Goverment controls about 2/3 of the ecnonomy when you consider its employees at all levels, federal, state, local and the contractors who do business with them.

Bush is about the most likable, honest, sincere guy I have ever seen in politics and he lost in most all the urban areas.

We can't expect to win the white house by running all the small states again. We are going to have to win some of the big state or Kentucky Fried Hillary will be Prez.

John

[VandyVol]

"promotes abortion, the homosexual agenda, and gun control."

One issue? Three and counting from where I sit..and three is enough for me...

[VandyVol]

a man who promotes abortion, the homosexual agenda, and gun control. You might see these as 1 issue voters

One issue? Three and counting from where I sit and three is enough for me..

[TAdams8591]

We disagree. Actually, I believe Reagan was more likable than GW, and another conservative who equals him in charisma could win the presidency, even though the country has changed in the past 25 years! : )

[VictoryGal]

>>"Ever since W's first election in 2000 and with Republicans in control of both houses, I was waiting with bated breath for them to start cleaning up the Clinton mess.
Instead, they just let them get by with it"

>What exactly do you mean? What did you expect them to clean up?

Huge spending. Entitlements. Borders. In short, everything we were promised that Republicans could do if they were unhampered by a Dim prez or a Dim congress.

They blew the historical opportunity. Big time. And now the opportunity has passed, and we have a Dim congress and a weakened president. Had they seized the opportunity, we may well have had a majority in Congress today. It is a dang shame.

[TAdams8591]

"They blew the historical opportunity. Big time. And now the opportunity has passed, and we have a Dim congress and a weakened president. Had they seized the opportunity, we may well have had a majority in Congress today. It is a dang shame."

GW campaigned on the idea of compassionate conservatism and faith based initiatives. It was not a sign that he was going to reign in entitlements and in fact was more likely an indication under GW entitlements would increase. Furthermore, I never heard President Bush talk about small government or decreasing the size of government on the campaign trail. It is no surprise government spending grew on his watch.

9/11 was a perfect opportunity to get all of our immigration problems, both illegal AND legal under control and I agree with you this administration "blew it, big time." You are probably right about the repercussions, though this past election cycle seemed to be more a referendum on the war than anything else.

The president should have spoken to the American people during prime time TV at regular intervals regarding the war's necessity and progress and should have ousted Rummy sooner, at least six months before the elections, as painful as it is to admit it, and we probably would have seen far more successful election results.

[Parrot_was_devastating]

They are falling for it......both parties are shopping at the Chumporium!!

The Democrats are following Osama Obama,
And the Republicans are following Political landscape nobody's.

My Plan is working!!

[Delphinium]

Oh, now I understand. So by staying home these folks are okay with a electing a democrat who promotes abortion, homo agenda and gun control A N D would probably destroy the military, cater to radical islamists and sell out our country

I don't think those voters I am speaking of see a big enough difference. They are independents who care about those particular hot button issues.

God I wish these people would get a party of their own. I left the democratic party years ago because of their radicals and now I'm in a similar position again.

It doesn't surprise me that this is how you feel. When you left the domocrat party were you thinking to change our pro-life, pro-gun party to be more like the party you left?

[Joan Kerrey]

When you left the domocrat party were you thinking to change our pro-life, pro-gun party to be more like the party you left?

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Not at all. I am pro-gun (NRA member for 40 years plus)
I was a conservative democrat following most of my family until the Carter years. But I am now finding that the radicals on both sides are very much the same, the ones who can't compromise, can't see middle ground, refuse to accept anything but their whole package unammended and who label any who would question their entire plank as not worth hearing.
This inflexability is bringing our nation to it's knees because NOTHING gets done, nothing gets fixed and both sides exist to bash the other and obtain as much power as possible while the country rots away.

I'm a hawk on national defense, support Israel 100%, pro-life, pro military and would have attaked Iraq after their first shot at one of our planes enforcing the no fly zone.
I advocated the destruction of one palace for each missle shot at one of our planes. But I realise that everyone doesn't feel that way and have views other than mine, some of which could have some merit to those whose eyes are open and who listen. I'm tired of our stalled government which has become a battlefield for partisan politics and am seeing a need for compromise and not getting everything I'd like.

[Delphinium]

This inflexability is bringing our nation to it's knees because NOTHING gets done, nothing gets fixed and both sides exist to bash the other and obtain as much power as possible while the country rots away.

So you believe electing someone who in his owns words says that his policies are almost exactly like Bill Clintons is the answer? No one except a liberal can do it?

I am pro-gun (NRA member for 40 years plus)..I'm a hawk on national defense, support Israel 100%, pro-life, pro military

Just kinda, but you must not really mean it.

[Youngstown]

Hey, Youngstown, good to see ya! : )

Thanks, TA!

Ron Paul has no chance to win.

As I said to someone else the other day, better odds with him than on a previous project LOL!

[Joan Kerrey]

So you believe electing someone who in his owns words says that his policies are almost exactly like Bill Clintons is the answer?

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Who would that be? Bill Clinton did nothing but kick the can down the road handing off the resulting mess to the next guy to try to fix. I don't see his twin anywhere.

[Delphinium]

Excuse me, I thought you were supporting Rudy.

He is the one who says from his own mouth that most of Bill Clintons policies are exactly like mine.

Is he lying?

[supercat]

Conservative candidates won't win again unless there is campaign finance reform to level the playing field. Big money will fight this because the current system is win-win for them and lose-lose for conservatives.

In case you hadn't noticed, the real purpose of "campaign finance reform" is to protect liberals. They can get all the advocacy they want from "news" pieces on broadcast television networks. Although the playing field is uneven, its roughness allows groups like Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to engage liberals in a reasonably balanced fight. Campaign Finance Reform would seek to level most of the playing field except for the liberal encampments which would be left intact.

[TAdams8591]

"At least the Republican Congress under Newt stood up against and fought the Clintons instead of the situation under Bush where they blindly rubber-stamped every expenditure, every expansion of the federal government, and the loss of freedom of all citizens in the false name of 'security' that were proposed by 'Junior'."

Here's my question to you, my friend - Overall did we lose more under Clinton or under President Bush?