Editorial: Thin the RINO herd

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | 2008-11-09 | Lowman S. Henry

[rabscuttle385]

Now what?

The Republican Party -- nationally and in Pennsylvania -- lies in tatters. Having lost the White House to Barack Obama, suffered historic losses in congressional elections, been almost shut out in statewide races and experienced further erosion in the state House, there is no doubt the GOP has hit rock bottom.

It is, most significantly, a loss for so-called moderate Republicanism. Party moderates have opined time and again that a more middle-of-the-road presidential candidate could win Pennsylvania. McCain was touted as that candidate. It was a double-digit trouncing.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

It is, most significantly, a loss for so-called moderate Republicanism. Party moderates have opined time and again that a more middle-of-the-road presidential candidate could win Pennsylvania. McCain was touted as that candidate. It was a double-digit trouncing.

CONSERVATIVE VOTING BASE:

EXACT DIAMETRIC OPPOSITE OF CONSERVATIVE VOTING BASE:

One can win in 2012. The other is a proven loser.

Choose accordingly.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

One doesnt know that Africa is a continent..

*Yawn* Long since disproven, @sshat. Try again.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

McCain lost because he ran on a platform that said, "Vote for me, I'm not really a Republican."

It's just a damned shame that that's a hair too long to make it as a sig line! ;)

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Thin hell. Declare open season on the scumbags. - Agreed!

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

FANTASY: "And the social conservatives had their way, they floated McCain/Palin as the team that was going to win the white house."

REALITY: "John McCain was never the candidate of conservative Republicans. His apostasies ranged from trampling free speech rights with McCain-Feingold campaign restrictions to opposing the Bush tax cuts, to supporting illegal immigration."

Nice try, though. Almost. *snort*

[Admin Moderator]

THAT is why Palin lost this election.

Funny, McCain was at the top of the ticket. I've collected all your 'torture' and anti-Palin posts in a to-go bag - they'll gobble them up over at DU

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Thank you!!! ;)

[Admin Moderator]

Pleasure ;)

[WellyP]

(FACT) We have two choices as I see it. One, we can keep our heads in the sand or two, we can understand what is happening and how the NATIONAL electorate has changed. The “consecrative social agenda” may work on the local or State level but it is very unlikely that the RNC can sell that product to more than about 35% of the voting public nationally.

(FACT) We have to handle local and State issues on the local and State levels. Like it or not, we are now a centrist nation. We are slightly to the right some years and slightly to the left other years. A centrist NATIONAL electorate will NEVER elect a “social consecrative” to national office.

(SOLUTION) The RNC MUST state three goals for any future NATIONAL ticket. One, they must show fiscal conservatism, small government and respect for “States Rights”. Two, they must stand for national security, which includes secure boarders and energy independence. And third, they must stand for rule of law. When the right candidates runs, that approach should win NATIONAL elections.

Following the lead of any national ticket and understanding “States Rights”, State and local tickets can adopt a consecrative social agenda that fits their socio-geographic area. That apraoch, with the right canditate running, should also win elections

[rhema]

McCain lost because he ran on a platform that said, "Vote for me, I'm not really a Republican." I voted for Palin, not for him.

You're not alone.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

“consecrative social agenda” may work on the local or State level but [...] A centrist NATIONAL electorate will NEVER elect a “social consecrative” to national office.

People who can't even spell the word "conservative" have nothing worthwhile to offer on the topic of conservatism.

Cripes.

[wagglebee]

Funny, McCain was at the top of the ticket. I've collected all your 'torture' and anti-Palin posts in a to-go bag - they'll gobble them up over at DU

LOL! That's one of the funniest "send offs" I've ever seen.

[Mr. Silverback]

First, no statement that includes the phrase “as I see it” should have the word “FACT” placed before it.

Second, people elected a social conservative to the presidency in the last two elections, and in three of the five elections before before that.

Third, it’s CONSERVATIVE not CONSECRATIVE.

Fourth, it’s clear that what happened Tuesday night had nothing to do with peoplerejecting a social conservative agenda. All over the country, people voted for Obama and then voted for social conservatives down-ticket. My county went red by a wide margin in the last two elections (and, IIRC, hasn’t voted Dem for President since ‘76) and yet we had three Reagan conservative pro-lifers on the ballot win by huge margins. One of them even got twice as many votes as his opponent. Another didn’t even have incumbency helping him, because he’d been specially appointed to the seat only six months ago.

People didn’t vote for a centrist, they voted for what they thought Obama would be, making him the ideal president in their minds. Most of them will be very, very disappointed. And it sure as heck isn’t a reason to stop standing up for what is right.

[Issaquahking]

Thank you!

[Momma Republican]

First of all, it would be useful to know exactly what a RINO is. By that I mean what policies does a politician have to advocate in order to be considered a RINO.

[Momma Republican]

But how do we accomplish all of this?

[Rockitz]

Write the RNC and demand these changes!

[Momma Republican]

I have contacted them many times about this since the primary, but apparently they don’t care what I think. We need a change in leadership, but I’m at a loss as to how we are to bring that change about.