Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why the GOP lost the election.
Old Patriot

Posted on 11/15/2008 6:39:12 AM PST by old patriot

I know that many of you were as disappointed in the last election as I was. But why was the election lost by the GOP? There were a number of factors contributing to this, and early on with the Northern states allowing open primaries for Democrats and Moderates to "cross-over" and vote for "their" candidate of McCain.

Taking nothing away of the man's military service, these early primaries ensured that all we got as a candidate was a Democrat-Light who made a name for himself of "reaching out and across the aisle." And he then went so far as to alienate the conservative base by ignoring their concerns and issues while courting the RINOs (Republican In Name Only) members of the GOP like his life-long friend Phil Gramnesty and potentialy choosing Joe Lieberman as his VP choice.

McCain's full disdain of the GOP and Conservative base was so blatent that many of these same people openly refused to follow the GOP leadership and support McCain as their candidate; and going far as stating that they would vote against him or not vote at all.

But some favorable wind blew away McCain's mental fog and he nominated Sarah Palin, a staunch conservative. This infuriated the Left and the so-called "New-conservatives" within the GOP, but the rank and file loved her Reaganesk views and statements. McCain's campaign came alive, so much so that it threw the Dems off-message and against Palin. And if McCain had had a fixed message, rather than shooting from the hip and keeping certain things "off-limits" for discussion, we very well might have a different president-elect now.

So why did the GOP lose this election? It goes back to the 1949 "Revolt of the Admirals" and the projection of atomic or nuclear power projection.

The Navy lost the conflict with the Air Force referred to as the “revolt of the admirals.” They did not lose the conflict because their doctrine was weak. In point of fact, naval aviation doctrine, and by extension naval doctrine, was sound and based in principles validated in combat. Likewise, they did not lose because Air Force doctrine was particularly sound. Air Force doctrine was neither fully tested nor validated in World War II and contained major flaws in 1949. The Navy did lose the battle because of leadership failures and a lack of appreciation for public perceptions in the changing environment of the post unification military.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/docs/98-166.pdf

And from the above we know that our president-elect's own words that he: "will not weaponize space." This clearly gives an open door issue for the 2010 elections with Russia rattling her swords over missile-interceptors projected for being based in Poland

So how does the GOP win in 2010 in the Congressional races? They must clearly identify a simple message to the American public about what they stand for using clear and concise conservative principles as laid out by Reagan. With clear and firm conservatives in leadership roles and promoting what the CONSERVATIVE message will be, and supported by, the GOP, a new conservative revolution can take place and sweep both houses of congress in 2010.

To fully illustrate where moderate thinking as was shown in this last election will get you, here is a more telling example besides all moderate republicans being voted out of office. I recently Got my Ka-bar tactical folder tanto this week. Ka-Bar is the company famous for their US Marine Corps fighting knife (first made during WWII). Much to my chagrin, my latest Ka-Bar is stamped, "Made in China". Nothing from Ka-bar should ever bear that marking.

And, Nothing from the GOP should ever sound, look or is anything but CONSERVATIVE in nature.

Old Patriot


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2008; anothervanity; bho2008; dnc; elections; epicfail; gop; leadership; marines; mccain; mccainsbetrayal; mccainsfailure; mccainstreason; palin; stupidvanity; vanity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last
Sarah Palin should be the GOP's Ka-bar knife for their up and coming race for a Conservative and GOP take over of both houses of Congress in 2010, but every bit of this message should be "Made In the USA."
1 posted on 11/15/2008 6:39:12 AM PST by old patriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: old patriot

ahhh because McCain was on the ticket, pretty simple really.


2 posted on 11/15/2008 6:40:47 AM PST by svcw (Great selection of gift baskets: http://baskettastic.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: svcw

Really. You can write 150,000 paragraphs on the subject, but the bottom line is we had a candidate with about as much charisma as a grouchy old frog, who seemed one step away from a nursing home.

I’d forgotten about the primaries, though - and how our party “faithful” came up with the bright idea of allowing Democrats to vote in it, so we’d be sure to end up with a candidate that most of us disliked. Now, that’s using your brains, fellas!


3 posted on 11/15/2008 6:46:27 AM PST by Pravious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
I agree with almost everything said here, but would add that the GOP ran a horrible campaign that never struck a vibrant chord in anyone. Sarah was the only breath of fresh air in this election. You knew where she stood and people rallied around her. McCain never made the point where he stood, other than his five word statement on the rights of a fetus. Supporting illegal immigration is another sore point to many conservatives, but McCain never even tried to throw them a bone via a compromise plan.

Until the GOP returns to the smaller gov't and lower taxes positions of the Reagan years and kicks the RINO's out of office, they will see no true conservative support.

4 posted on 11/15/2008 6:48:29 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
Geez, how may times are we going to read about this stuff? One word why we lost: RINOs. Some of you not getting it yet??
5 posted on 11/15/2008 6:50:00 AM PST by brushcop (We remember SSG Harrison Brown, PVT Andrew Simmons B CO 2/69 3ID KIA Iraq OIF IV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
Nonsense. McCain was probably the strongest candidate.The real reason the GOP lost is because it was unresponsive to most people in this country. It had no agenda and no program that related to that majority. Now because of that everyone feels taken. The moderates blame the conservatives and vote Dem and the conservatives blame the moderates.When in reality it was a collective lack of responsiveness to the people. The Bush country clubers ran the party into the ground. We need both moderates and we need conservatives. Anybody who says anything else is smoking crack. you need to develop an agenda that appeals to the majority of the country and is right for the time.
6 posted on 11/15/2008 6:50:50 AM PST by bilhosty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pravious
...how our party “faithful” came up with the bright idea of allowing Democrats to vote in it, so we’d be sure to end up with a candidate that most of us disliked.

Goose...gander. Some Republicans switched over to vote for Obama in the primaries to keep Hillary out of the oval office. That part worked, but I fear we threw the baby out with the bath water.

7 posted on 11/15/2008 6:51:19 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: brushcop
Geez, how may times are we going to read about this stuff? One word why we lost: RINOs.

Exactly! Way back in the 70's I worked with Lugar's campaign as an economic adviser. Now, I don't even recognize what he stands for. He's as much a Democrat as Harry Reid. We need to find new candidates between now and 2012 and throw the RINO trash out the window.

8 posted on 11/15/2008 6:54:16 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: old patriot

Palin/Jindal in 2012!


9 posted on 11/15/2008 6:56:15 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot; ncfool; Free ThinkerNY; river rat; Sub-Driver; NormsRevenge; Clintonfatigued; ...

The GOP must investigate, expose, and insist on prosecution for the millions in illegal campaign contributions that the Messiah got from questionable sources as well as the massive and inexcusable voter fraud. If this doesn’t happen, we will continue to get beat by corruption. We have to organize a team to expose and refute MSM lies and distortions and support alternate sources of getting the truth out. We must find candidates with spine, guts, and fortitude to fight back. McCain ran a poor campaign and “never” challenged the Messiah. Conservatives have got to find candidates that support conservatism and vote out moderates and RINO’s.

Buyers remorse has already started. As the economy tanks, unemployment becomes massive, and our security is threatened, the truth that Liberals and the media have sold us down the river will become reality. We have to direct that anger to Pelosi, Reid, and every DemocRAT in the US Congress. I believe that day will arrive very shortly.


10 posted on 11/15/2008 6:57:59 AM PST by ExTexasRedhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pravious

you also forget the GOP is tech illiterate.

While they have buffoons like Whitless meeting in miami to give backhanded complements to the governor of alaska, the net left has already started organizing for 2010.

Instead we on the GOP have leaders who are 100% clueless because they do not get information beyond the NYT, WSJ, or WaPo.


11 posted on 11/15/2008 6:59:06 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: brushcop

you are so right.

DINO trumped RINO.

Obama ran on CUTTING TAXES and the suckers bought it fair and stupid square.


12 posted on 11/15/2008 7:00:04 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: old patriot

imo....

“I realize that many of you are incredulous. You are thinking that my assertion is a physical impossibility, that no human being could be more personally obnoxious than el Senador Juan McCain. How could you be more obnoxious than a man who screams the foulest obscenities at his colleagues in the Senate; who screams at POW families and makes their women cry? “
Ref
http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/hey-obamatrons-the-yokes-on-you-by-alan-stang/

Why McCain Lost!
http://www.network54.com/Forum/578302/thread/1225618519/last-1225618519/Why+Didn%27t+John+McCain+Oppose+The+Bailout-—


13 posted on 11/15/2008 7:04:14 AM PST by gunnyg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
I was speaking with a client the other day. My line of business precludes me from getting into political arguments with clients. He told me that one of the primary reasons he voted for Obama was because “Obama’s gonna cut my taxes”.

Mind you, this is an intelligent, successful guy.

The liberal MSM dropped the ball as far as any discussion on taxes. No scrutiny as to the impact on Obama’s desire to nearly double capital gains rates, or let the current tax cuts “expire”. No discussion in the MSM as to how people who pay no federal income taxes suddenly have a “tax cut” (welfare check) bestowed upon them. No revelation that people earning $250k+ represent the TOP 2%, not the top 5%.

The list goes on. We already knew that the media was completely in the tank for Obama, so McCain needed to cut through the Obama obfuscation, and explain directly to Americans why John McCain and the Republicans were the party of low taxes, fiscal conservatism, free markets, and maximum liberty.

He had golden opportunities in each debate. He chose to ramble on about “earmarks”, as millions of Americans’ eyes glazed over. He talked about Joe the Plumber (a golden opportunity) and “spreading the wealth”, but never truly articulated a vision. It is frustrating to have watched this take place, then listening to Laura, Rush, Sean, Mark Levin and others clearly and concisely lay out exactly the message that McCain either refused to voice, or was simply incapable of voicing.

14 posted on 11/15/2008 7:04:21 AM PST by Chairman of the Bard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
vs
15 posted on 11/15/2008 7:09:38 AM PST by allmendream (Wealth is EARNED not distributed.... so how could it be Redistributed?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: old patriot
I sympathize completely! You could buy your Kabar made in America, if you were willing to pay twice the price because the thuggery of democrat supported unions demanded three times the wage to do the work to produce a Kabar.

That you can buy a KAbar still is a testament to the company management who realized long ago that buyers are price sensitive. Unions don't give a damn if they run a company out of business, if that company doesn't buckle to union extortionist demands

And those same unions cheat and deceive for the democrats at election time and are about to be rewarded by the criminal enterprise democrat party with federal legislation forcing non-union shops to NOT have sealed ballot voting on unionization.

The incest between criminal union thuggery and demcorat party thuggery is not hidden, if We The People had an actual fourth estate press instead of a fifth column enemy of the people.

16 posted on 11/15/2008 7:11:47 AM PST by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chairman of the Bard

Explanation is possibly the primary area where Mitt Romney would have been a superior nominee. But the treachery of the media must not be under estimated.


17 posted on 11/15/2008 7:14:07 AM PST by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bilhosty
SORRY, but I disagree completely. Ever since the GOP started to redefine itself and conservatism, starting with "compassionate-conservatism", we started to go off-message and lose elections.

The middle-ground or waffling on issues does not a conservative make. If we cannot control immigration effectively, then CLOSE the borders. If we cannot agree that ALL late term abortions should be illegal, and shun Obama's own record of denying human rights to infants that survive abortions, then we have lost ground and our principles.

Until we stand against the subsidizing of the Labor Unions and let the auto-industry fail through bankruptcy, and start putting some Wall-Street types in jail for running their companies in the ground as opposed to giving them exorbitant bonuses and resort trips, then we cannot tell the general public that we have anything to offer than the ones who want to get along and not be divisive

Establish a clear message of strength in national security and immigration enforcement, absolute fiscal responsibility to all firms means allowing them to fail no matter how large, quit trying to get along and start getting ahead with clear and firm ideas, and leave the moderates, wimps, and weak of heart hooked up to their oxygen tents of getting along, then we can grow our party and nation from the ashes of national poles.

The only poles that this new GOP should be concerned with are the stakes of new power that they are going to claim in every "blue" county and state in America. America is RED, WHITE and a very little blue. Amerika is all blue.

Old Patriot

18 posted on 11/15/2008 7:14:52 AM PST by old patriot ((Lived too long.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: old patriot

Idiot vanity number 424 posted on FR.


19 posted on 11/15/2008 7:17:54 AM PST by staytrue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bilhosty

It was McCain’s candidacy that led to a lack of agenda and program. He did not choose to articulate any vision to the country on how we will help people with their problems. That is the candidate’s problem. It was a continued problem for the party because Bush nor any other elected official presented solutions either. Since the 2005 inaugeration speech, Bush was essentially absent in terms of using the bully pulpit.

McCain continued that trend.Even where he had good ideas (his health plan), he completely failed to articulate it. For that reason, I cannot say he was the best candidate out there. Here lost a portion of the base, and failed to bring over the ‘moderates’ and independents that he is famous for reaching. In the end, he didn’t deliver on what was supposedly advantage in this campaign. For that reason, I cannot agree he was the best candidate this year.


20 posted on 11/15/2008 7:21:54 AM PST by ilgipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson