[Sadecki]

RINO’s like Ford almost killed the Republican party.

Watergate almost killed the GOP.

Moderates have always been an important part of the Republican party -- what do you think George W. Bush is? A conservative? The guy supports civil unions. Among many other things that could be considered moderate.

The rise of modern conservatism in the GOP movement was more a reaction to the horrible Presidency of Carter -- though Reagan's charisma and political saavy cannot be underestimated.

Whether it is fair or not, the 2006 loss of Congress is being blamed on the Conservatives in the party -- that they had 12 years to further conservative ideals and instead through pork, scandal of all stripes, and a huge expansion of government, seemingly morphed overnight into democrats.

That is why a lot of Republicans like myself, who is conservative in many areas is really not interested in getting into a pissing contest over who is the most conservative. We could care less. We are more interested in voting for the Republican -- and we are a diverse party. And the fact that republican moderates like Romney and Rudy are leading the pack, is not so much a refection on the GOP losing it's soul as it is a reflection of the punishment being meted out to the conservative movement within the party that dropped the ball.

[EternalVigilance]

I’m always amused, in a sad and ironic sort of way, by the spectacle of the compromisers blaming the results of their compromises on those who would not compromise.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Moderates have always been an important part of the Republican party -- what do you think George W. Bush is? A conservative? The guy supports civil unions. Among many other things that could be considered moderate.

Bush is pro-life and pro-2nd Amendment though, and during the 2000 campaign, he was talking about local control of education and reining in spending. Conservatives didn't know that he'd disappoint us on spending and the borders.

Whether it is fair or not, the 2006 loss of Congress is being blamed on the Conservatives in the party -- that they had 12 years to further conservative ideals and instead through pork, scandal of all stripes, and a huge expansion of government, seemingly morphed overnight into democrats.

So electing more moderates is the answer? ROFL

And the fact that republican moderates like Romney and Rudy are leading the pack, is not so much a refection on the GOP losing it's soul as it is a reflection of the punishment being meted out to the conservative movement within the party that dropped the ball

Nice twisted logic there. So conservatives are being "punished" because of the fault of elected Republicans who became RINOs and now the only solution is to elect more RINOs because of the perception that Republicans lost was because of conservatism. Ohhhhkay.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Whether it is fair or not, the 2006 loss of Congress is being blamed on the Conservatives in the party...

By liberals who stymied any chance of anything nominally "conservative" coming out of Congress... double talking RINOs...

[Diggity]

Great post and I agree 100%

John