We Have to Win

Vanity | gesully

[gesully]

In order for the Republicans to win the 2008 Presidential election we are going to have to get some crossover votes. The Evangelical Right is too immersed in the righteousness of social issues to deal with the hard facts of financial and international issues. In other words they will vote for a loser if he or she supports their social beliefs.

I like Newt Gingrich. I do not believe he is electable because of his baggage…the media will use this baggage to destroy him. They did it before. He is liked by Conservatives but loathed by moderate Democrats and some moderate Republicans. He cannot covert blue states.

I like Mitt Romney. I do not believe he is electable because he is a “suit”. I don’t believe he has the charisma to draw moderate Democrats and many Evangelicals will shun him because of his religion. He cannot convert blue states.

Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter and the others are at noise level in the national polls. These people may be desirable because they are closer to being the Conservative we would like to have. But ask yourself. Can they win? Can they convert blue states? I don’t think so. The previous two presidential elections were extraordinarily close. The entitlement crowd and blue urban states are becoming juggernauts. Remember, it is the electoral vote which decides elections. Not our “favorite guy”. We have to get someone who can convert a few blue states to red while holding the red states.

I like Rudy Giuliani. I believe he is electable. He is known. He is respected by many moderate Democrats. He has demonstrated political competency. The Evangelicals he loses will be more than made up for by crossover Democrats. He is weak on some social issues, notably abortion, guns and same sex marriage. These things don’t bother me because they are decided in the courts, not in the White House and he has said he will nominate originalist judges. He has the potential to win some blue states. He is tough and ruthless. He is articulate. He knows how to maneuver politically. All of these are missing in President Bush. Enough of this compassionate conservative crap. We need a Pattenesque approach to politics and we want that person on our side.

We have to get real. As Conservatives we are at a genuine crisis point. If a Democrat is elected as President in 2008 and if the Democrat majorities hold in congress we have lost it all. We are getting a small taste of the future with the Democrat-controlled Senate and House which were lost by our people not showing up to vote. Look what that got us.

Having a Republican President is all that stands between us and a grim future. If we don’t win the presidency (and the House and Senate remain Democrat) the Bush tax cuts will be rescinded, we will get real tax increases, nationalized health care (which once enacted will never be overturned because the dependencies created will make political suicide to deal with), we will lose in the Middle East, there will be an increased risk of terrorism on US soil because of our perceived weakness, open borders, amnesty for all illegal aliens, statehood for Washington, DC (another two Senate seats for Democrats), government spending beyond our imagination, and the list goes on.

Before you take your principled stance on abortion, gay rights and gun rights and flush the Country down the liberal toilet consider the future if we let principles blind us to reality. President Bush is a principled man but look what that has gotten us. He is neither tough enough, articulate enough nor is he politically savvy enough. Reagan isn’t coming back. He died. Wake up. We have to hold the White House. Get real! Winning is what is important.

[OldPossum]

I didn;t say he would run for president after his run as VP.

Neither did I in my post. I just said that if he ran as VP and won and served two terms he would be 74 and too old and tired to make those millions you referred to. Even if he served one term, he'd be 70 and that's not young either.

[HitmanLV]

I can see him thinking it through and coming to either conclusion - either run as a VP, or just kick back and continue doing what he is doing.

[taxcontrol]

And when the GOP abandons the Conservative Christians, why should they turn out? Bloated federal spending, restrictions on free speech, failure to close our borders and enforce our laws?

The lesson the GOP needs to learn from the 2006 election is that you CANT PISS OFF THE BASE, when you do, you LOSE elections.

[Tokra]

The lesson the GOP needs to learn from the 2006 election is that you CANT PISS OFF THE BASE, when you do, you LOSE elections.

And the lesson that the Conservative Christians need to learn is that there really is the greater of two evils.

I don't understand the viewpoint that if I only agree with 50% of someone's views - that I should stay home an let someone that I agree with 0% of the time win the election.

I've yet to hear anyone's explanation why it is better to sit home and let an avowed Socialist who will let our country lose a war to win - instead of someone who would at least protect the country - even if I don't agree with them on social issues.

The defense of our country trumps domestic social issues especially when the President does not have the power or authority to overrule Roe v Wade!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"They're like a bad cough that won't go away,"

Isn't that a symptom of an advanced case of a social disease?

[taxcontrol]

And the lesson that the Conservative Christians need to learn is that there really is the greater of two evils.

Wrong, simply wrong

There is evil and evil .... sin is sin ..... the Bible does NOT teach support the lesser of two evils. The Bible teaches us to oppose all evil in all of the forms that it comes in. It teaches us to walk upright and on a righteous path. Yes people fall down and turn away. That is what is forgiveness and grace are for - after there has been repentance and at return to the path or righteousness.

What many RINO tolerant GOP members FAIL TO COMPREHEND, is that supporting evil in any way, even voting for someone that supports evil ..... is considered a sin, an evil act within itself by the Christian conservatives. There is no option to sacrifice principals.... that is not allowed in the Bible.

Again, the GOP has a choice, work with the Christians ... or abandon the base and try to be a middle party.

And as for the President, there is a LOT of things the President can do to either favor or oppose abortion. One of the greatest powers is the ability to nominate justices to SCOTUS. Another is embryonic stem cell research funding.

[gesully]

I don't wholly believe what you say about the 2008 election being a reflection on Bush is right. People don't like Hillary. She is a tired repetition of Clintonism. Obama is wet behind the ears. The Republican choices are all pretty good.

We have to have appeal to the moderate Democrats. Gingrich won't appeal. I don't believe Romney will. I don't know much about Thompson but he would have to have the charisma of Reagan...he would have to be able to connect. Unknown. Duncan Hunter is unknown and I don't believe he would attract moderate Democrats. McCain...what else can I say?

But Giuliani, with all his faults, does appeal. If you don't like him because of his social positions, well, they are the same as Hillary's.

But Hillary has bad fiscal, judicial and international beliefs. She is at least a Socialist and more likely a Communist. Is that what we want for want of a few social issues? Well, that's what we'll get if we stay home or depend on principles rather than reality.

[OldPossum]

I don't know, do you? Sounds as though you might.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

It's called reading.

[OldPossum]

And your post 105 is called evasion of topic, the topic being the desire of many Freepers for you Guiliani supporters to just go away and leave FreeRepublic to conservatives.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

How dare you be so offensiveas to associate me with being a Guiliani supporter. Go to hell.

[JayAr36]

Don't count on it. Another Conservative looking for a party to represent him.