[goldstategop]

The GOP has given this conservative no reason to vote. I wonder what the party stands for. Right now its "me too" with the Democrats. We need a choice - not an echo.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Brilliant]

Not going to happen. Before the GOP can come back, the Dems are going to have to demonstrate to everyone that they are totally unable to deal with America’s problems. Right now, better than half the people think they will do a better job than the GOP.

[TomGuy]

In 06, many of the talkshow hosts were predicting the end of the Democratic party.

Instead, as the votes were counted, the blood-splatter was from the GOP and their losses.

Ironically, just 2 years later, it is the GOP which is limping toward November.

And with all the spin and prodding and number-crunching, it still is an uphill feat for McCain. The Electoral count just isn’t there for McCain, yet. Barring some signficant October surprise [many think the Michelle Obama ‘whitey’ tape is it], McCain may not have enough oomph left to limp across the finish line as the winner. After all, even now he is relying on those dis-affected Clinton voters to help push him to a win.

[SengirV]

a NEW “Contract with America”?

Sorry, fool me once ...

[Oshkalaboomboom]

They could come out with a new contract signed in blood and nobody would believe them because their credibility went right down the toilet.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> John McCain may not be many conservatives’ favorite candidate, but he’s putting the rest of the party to shame by running an aggressive campaign trying to sell himself and his agenda to independents and core conservatives alike.

McCain is selling himself to fence-sitters (so-called "centrists" or "moderates") and "Hillary Democrats." He has nothing but contempt for core conservatives, and his strategy is to attempt to win this election WITHOUT the conservatives. I don't know what this author was smoking.

[TomGuy]

get busy working to elect as many conservative Republicans as possible to Washington in order to influence the future of our country.

Pie-in-the-sky.

My state has one Dem Senator up for November. There is a high probability that he will will re-election easily, as no substantial opposition political figure has arisen to challenge him.

The local district has the only GOP Congress-person from the state. All other positions are empty or are/were held by Democrats. That GOP Congress-person just voted with the Dems and many of his fellow Pubbies for this: House passes bill to sue OPEC over oil prices.

Disgusting!

It doesn't seem to matter who we elect -- they all turn in to the same politicial monsters as soon as they get to Washington.

[lexusppd]

-“There’s nothing I can do that will make any difference in what will happen to me, so I might as well wait until they do it to me!“

Sounds like more then a few people on this forum, doesn't it?

[kabar]

John McCain may not be many conservatives’ favorite candidate, but he’s putting the rest of the party to shame by running an aggressive campaign trying to sell himself and his agenda to independents and core conservatives alike.

What is this guy smoking? First, you can't do both, i.e., appeal to independents and core conservatives. Second, McCain is not trying to appeal to core conservatives, and finally, he is moving further and further to the Left in search of votes under the assumption that Reps have no where to go. For exa,mple, his stances on amnesty and global warming are liberal, not conservative.

RAMM says NO to McCain

[laotzu]

[Don Corleone]

Newt may have had some faults but the “Contract With America” brought in huge dividends. We need a new contract loudly proclaimed. Sadly the Repubs all have lockjaw when it comes to conservative principles.

[Daveinyork]

By “us” do you mean Republicans, or Conservatives?

[Free Vulcan]

We have two great candidates running in my district in Iowa trying to unseat loony liberals Loebsack and Harkin. I’m working my butt off for them. If the grassroots works we can win seats.

[mountainbunny]

Uniting the party behind a “Contract with America” worked in 1984 because it gave Republicans a focus they could communicate that went beyond any candidate. Many independents found that they were actually “Republicans” but didn't know it. Parties ebb and flow, people come and go, but principles last!

First, the Contract with America was in 1994, not 1984.

Second, according to the Cato Institute's Edward H. Crane:
My colleagues Stephen Moore and Stephen Slivinski found that the combined budgets of the 95 major programs that the Contract with America promised to eliminate have increased by 13%. Republican congressional candidates are frightened to be associated with George W. Bush's sensible proposal to allow Americans to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in real assets.

See: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4463

So, what was so successful about it the first time that it now bears repeating?

[Condor51]

There’s nothing I can do that will make any difference in what will happen to me, so I might as well wait until they do it to me!“ Some Republicans are settling for an early pity party and hoping that the Democrats will falter and hand the GOP a November happy accident!

Oh yeah, well Mr Terry Paulson, here's a clue. This is how bad it is in IL.

Come November 'senator' DICK Turban Durbin is up for reelection and should be as easy to beat as a rented mule for all the slanderous, traitorous and seditious statements that (blanker) has made against our Military and America in general.

So what does the IL GOP do in looking this gift horse in the mouth. They find a complete NOBODY. Someone no one's ever heard of, and who has never ran for any office, not even a Homeowner Association as his opponent. He's a nice guy, an MD and a family man but has zero, nada, NO political experience what so ever. Hell I couldn't even remember his name and had to look it up -- its 'Steve Sauerberg, MD' and I just VOTED for this guy in the primary, that's how 'memorable' he is. /s

Jeezus H, if this was a boxing match the IL GOP would be investigated for taking a dive!!!

So excuuuuuuuuse me Terry while I have a pity party. All IS lost in IL and there's not a dam thing I can do about it. My vote means less than nothing.