Time for New Republican Leadership, Conservatives Say

CNS News ^

[Sub-Driver]

Time for New Republican Leadership, Conservatives Say Wednesday, November 05, 2008 By Susan Jones, Senior Editor

U.S. Capitol (AP Photo) (CNSNews.com) – Voters on Tuesday did not reject conservatism, a longtime conservative activist said. “They rejected Big Government Republicanism in all its forms, including the Bush administration and the Republican leadership in Congress.”

Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said the Republican defeat in 2008 “can and will be laid at the feet of the Big Government corporate Republicans who abandoned the Reagan coalition, massively expanded government, and ignored the needs and values of regular, grassroots Americans. They protected Wall Street and K Street and forgot about Main Street."

According to Viguerie, Republicans will make a comeback only when they return to their conservative roots.

“That process starts with the replacement, with principled conservatives, of all of the Republicans' elected Congressional leaders, as well as most members of the Republican National Committee and most state party officials. It's time for new leaders, from top to bottom."

New leadership

Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) already has announced his intention to step down.

“I have enjoyed every minute as Conference Chairman, he wrote in a Nov. 4 letter to colleagues, “but I believe it is time to step off the leadership ladder and return my focus to crafting public policy solutions for America’s generational challenges – the very reason I ran for Congress in the first place.”

[LTCJ]

Horse. Barn door.

[Round 9]

It makes no sense that if people really want conservatism that they’d vote for a true lefty until a real conservative pops up. Face it, this country is desirous of socialism.

[444Flyer]

How about not campaigning for the opposition as McPain did over the last few weeks by constantly bringing up what a “great president” Commie Obama would make and “don’t be afraid of him” etc. etc. etc..

[kempster]

Maybe we should seek our next candidate in Cuba or Venezuela and we can one-up them on their give-aways.

[CottonBall]

Please. This might make some feel better but it’s time to face facts...this country is loaded with a majority of people who are left of center. It’s staring us in the face but we don’t want to see it. The majority of people in the U.S. want to be taken care of by their govt’. They want socialized medicine, they want to take the “evil” wealthy down, they want to be absolved of their responsibilities by way of abortion and expanded unemployment benefits.

The only way I see conservatives returning to power is through incrementalism. We have to tow the moderate line for awhile and then if we gain some majority, slowly, very slowly enact legislation that removes the public from the govt’ trough.

While I think your premise is right that people voted for socialism last night, I think your solution of incremental return to conservatism won't be necessary. I think the populace is dumbed down enough to not even understand what socialism is. The examples of the last century show that socialism doesn't work and destroyed economies and opportunities. Anyone intelligent enough to look at history would not have voted for Obama last night. Anyway - back to the point - Obama, Pelosi, and Reid will go nuts enacting all their socialist legislation. They'll go beyond the wildest dreams of most liberals and use their new 'power' to its fullest, since anything they propose will just fly through congress and across Obama's desk.

And in the process, they'll wake up the public - who will say 'This isn't what I voted for!'. The free handouts will now show up as promised to everyone to thinks they'll now be on easy street and confiscatory taxes will burden the rest. Not to mention our GDP and DOW.

I think after these socialists are done, conservatism just has to be in the wings - waiting for a chance to step in the spotlight.

[CottonBall]

now = not

promises NOT showing up. That was an important word not to mess up! Darn.

[Prokopton]

And let's get over this Rove crap. He was always way overrated. Find a new “architect” because the house designed by the last one just collapsed.

[Rennes Templar]

“Time for New Republican Leadership”. duh

[Hawk1976]

I say go the other way. They want socialized medicine? Fine they pay for it up fron through immediate higher taxes. They want to give up on the war on terror? Fine, but the next time New York gets hit, do not come knocking on my door, I don’t care. They want to tax the wealthy? Well, the wealthy don’t have to keep their money here or employee the worthless hides. We don’t need to incrementally plan anything, rub their noses in it good and hard and keep doing it until cognition kicks in.

My pessimism about my fellow citizens has been confirmed. They have their man child financed by who knows who and fraud. Now, they will have to govern.

[Hawk1976]

I say go the other way. They want socialized medicine? Fine they pay for it up fron through immediate higher taxes. They want to give up on the war on terror? Fine, but the next time New York gets hit, do not come knocking on my door, I don’t care. They want to tax the wealthy? Well, the wealthy don’t have to keep their money here or employee the worthless hides. We don’t need to incrementally plan anything, rub their noses in it good and hard and keep doing it until cognition kicks in.

My pessimism about my fellow citizens has been confirmed. They have their man child financed by who knows who and fraud. Now, they will have to govern.

[Nephi]

Voters on Tuesday did not reject conservatism, a longtime conservative activist said. “They rejected Big Government Republicanism in all its forms, including the Bush administration and the Republican leadership in Congress.”

More precisely, They rejected neo-conservatism in all its forms, including the Bush administration and the Republican leadership in Congress.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Three words: Alaska Independence Party

[colonel mosby]

Shadegg, Pence, Culberson, McCotter and Cantor...YES !

McCain, Gingrich, Guiliani, Romney, Powell, and anyone endorsed by William Kristol and David Brooks........NO !

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

The country is reliably about 61% center right. The reason 0 won was because McCain’s message was erratic and weak, and because he outspent McCain 6 to 1, and because he ran as a centrist. I wonder how long before buyer’s remorse sets in.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

You mean like Sarah Palin? She’s not a veteran but her son is.

[Pharmboy]

Y’know, you can get a lot done with all that daylight during the summer. And we’ve always had a soft spot on FR for moose...

[John123]

They rejected Big Government Republicanism in all its forms, including the Bush administration and the Republican leadership in Congress

This is exactly why I think we lost the elections... I have a hard time believing that many folks are fooled by Obama... I think it is more like they want Washington FIXED and bit the bitter pill of socialism and anti-business as a ass-backwards hope of change.

And it is really the Republicans damn fault... up to 4 years ago, the Republicans had the WH, and the majority in the House and Senate... but they didn't have the balls to fight the liberals...

I hope we see a revival of true conservatism like in 1994... God... please send down President Reagan... we could really, really use him!

[1Old Pro]

I agree, Republicans have become Dem Lite offering NO clear alternative.

[ebiskit]

FReepers,

I live in Atlanta, GA. Saxby Chambliss really P’Oed the conservatives here with his support of the bailout. If I am not mistaken, he had not voiced much support for the FairTax until his hide was in political trouble. He then shifted to supporting the measure and, imho, it saved his butt. That’s the only reason I voted for him. I would imagine he held his support in his back pocket until he needed to reacquire much needed political capital. Such is senatorial politics.

The overarching point is that concrete, conservative ideas, not personality will win over heart and minds. That being said, it takes an effective communicator to deliver our message cogently so as to cut through party-line static delivered by the Dems and their BM sycophants.

Thankfully, we have found that person in Sarah. I think Newt needs to spend a few weeks in Alaska and give her a much grander perspective of the Republic’s needs. I am taking nothing away from her unbelievable abilities, but her focus has been on Alaska’s issues, what she was hired to do. Once Sarah has distilled the arguments for an effective delivery, she can begin campaigning for 2010 Congressional races, halfway through ‘09. This way, the ground work for 2012 can be grown organically in tandem. This long view of campaigns does not seem to occur on our side and it results in heartbreak and let down.

Her inspirational qualities ‘can’ build an overwhelming machine that can deliver the electoral mandate required to move policy back in the direction of conservative, common sense.

This country has been sliding down hill left ever since FDR. Reagan accomplished a great deal, but we have yet to accomplish those game-changing, Constitutionally sound policies that returns power locally. I feel she can deliver those needs and ensure the Republic for centuries to come.

the Deets

Palin/Jindal ‘012