Posted on 11/04/2008 7:55:15 PM PST by CWW
I have been a Freeper fo over 10 years, and here are my 2 cents for what it's worth.
--WHY REPUBLICANS LOST –
1. Weak Candidate – C’mon, be serious. If it weren’t for Palin, it would have been a worse bloodbath than it is.
2. Poorly Run Campaign – McCain offered no alternative plan and chose the gentleman’s course by unilaterally disarming on the most important issues, e.g., Rev. Wright, Obama’s radical abortion position, immigration, Cap and Trade/Global Warming, Campaign Finance, etc.
3. Spendthrift Congressional Republicans -- squandered their capital by spending like drunken sailors and by supporting President Bush on liberal spending programs like No-Child Left Behind, Prescription Drugs, Immigration, etc. They also alienated conservatives by compromising on judicial appointments.
4. Unilateral Disarmament -- by voting for McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform, which Bush signed. McCain Was Hoisted On His Own Petard!! 5. Failure of President Bush to Use Bully Pulpit to Sell War and Explain It’s Relevancy to Peace & Stability.
6. Economic Collapse on Republican Party’s Watch -- the signs were there, but the public was kept in the dark. Blame at the 11th hour on Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, et al. was too little, too late.
7. To Much Compromise on Important Issues to Support President Bush – Campaign Finance Reform, Immigration, Prescription Drug Boondoggle, No-Child Left Behind, etc.
8. Infighting Among Conservatives-- Evangelicals split there vote in the primary between Romney and Huckaby. With all of his faults, Romney would have run circles around Obama on economic policy – the very issue that decided the election.
9. Biased Media – Unbelievably bias, and this will not change – EVER.
Some of these factors were not within the party’s control. But many were, e.g., controlling spending, and running an aggressive campaign with a positive theme, etc.
The fight for the control of the Republican Party is over. The moderate Gerald Ford-Country Club Wing has lost. They could not convince Reagan Democrats to cross over despite the groveling and “reaching across the isle”.
HOW TO WIN NEXT TIME:
1. Stand for Something Besides Your Personal Re-Election, Dammit!!
2. Don’t be afraid to take unpopular positions if they are the right positions. People will follow a leader. 3. Create a conservative platform and require candidates to take the pledge to earn party support.
4. Recruit conservative candidates who have lived in the real world and held real jobs. No more party insiders. Recruit more conservative women!!
5. Use every opportunity possible to hold democrats accountable for every vote, every failed policy and every tidbit of bad news.
6. Shun liberal Republicans and liberal candidates.
7. Revitalize the grass roots conservative base by opposing liberal democrat policies at every turn.
8. Adopt a “No More Pork” Pledge. 9. Oppose ALL spending increases except for Defense.
10. Introduce tax cut bills for small businesses over and over and over.
11. Oppose income redistribution to people who don’t pay income taxes. 12. Stand firm on immigration and securing our borders.
13. Oppose policies that weaken the family -- gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia, etc.
14. Develop more alternative forms of media to deliver the conservative message - -More Blogs, more Webinars, More College Republican Clubs, More Rubber-Chicken Dinners to Spread the word, etc. 15. Replace the ENTIRE Republican leadership in the House and Senate. They lost; they should be gone. Period.
This ain’t over.
http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:14:0
According to the official Ohio Secretary of State website — and Jennifer Brunner is a Democrat — 43.19% of all precincts have reported. That’s significantly less than half.
Obama ................. 49.79%
McCain ................ 48.56%
If McCain wins Ohio, he is definitely still alive. All the networks have already called Ohio for Obama, in much the same way they called the election for Kerry in 2004.
We might not have had McCain for our nominee if not for Dems and Ind voting for him in the primaries.
We wouldn’t have McCain if we didn’t let independents and democrats vote in our primary elections. Have only Republicans vote in Republican primaries, and have conservative states go first in the primaries, not Iowa and New Hampshire.
Cut funding for BATFE and DEA, and thereby support limited federal government for a change.
“McCain offered no alternative plan and chose the gentleman’s course by unilaterally disarming”
I agree whole heartedly.
out -> our
I totally agree!
Right now I’m going to eat a grilled chicken sandwich, because I was too upset earlier to eat dinner.
I don’t know what my plans are after that, though.
:)
Good suggestions.
AND NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE A D...D THING UNLESS YOU DEAL WITH VOTER FRAUD!!!
Not every state, but enough could have been lost to Acorn tonight and NOBODY HERE THINKS THAT IS THE MOST CRUCIAL ISSUE.
what difference does all those great changes make, if you lose at the polls to voter Fraud!!
Also, McCain lost because of McCain Feingolod!
He played rules by his law and lost.
Republicans hated the law then and should hate it even more now.
How about the worst economic meltdown since the 1930’s, two botched wars, and out of control deficit spending, all on a Republican President’s watch? If you’re truly serious about the root of this loss, look hard at these factors.
You beat me to it. Close all the primaries to registered Republicans only. McCain is what we get with open primaries. Let the grass roots conservatives, not milquetoast moderates, decide who would be the strongest candidate and the standard bearer.
Oh, we’ll definitely be back! Led by SARAHCUDA!!!!
Sarah Palin’2012!!!!
This is a very good list, both pro and con. I will come back tomorrow and read it again.
We didn’t learn a damn thing from the Bob Dole campaign. We have got to quit playing the nice guy or we will NEVER win another major election.
There isn’t a whole lot we can do right now. Our first line of defense is with what remains in the Senate and House. The House might not be able to do much to protect the people of this nation, but the Senate needs to stiffen their resolve and block the coming liberal agenda as much as possible. Otherwise, the people have sewn the wind, and as God is my witness, they will reap the whirlwind.
George Bush has spent the last four years ticking off his base.
McCain was a poor candidate for many reasons.
The fact that Obama is being elected is a sign of just how far our country has fallen. There very well might not be a next time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.