Posted on 11/24/2008 1:50:19 PM PST by lewisglad
"We've gone so far to the social right, particularly in caucus attendees, that unless you meet certain litmus tests you have a very difficult time competing in Iowa," said Doug Gross, the party's 2002 gubernatorial nominee. "I think you'll have some candidates who won't compete here unless they perceive that's somehow changed."
David Roederer, who headed John McCain's Iowa campaign, agreed.
"I would not encourage a moderate to come right now and participate in the caucuses," Roederer said. "It is a danger for the party, and it is a danger for the future of the caucuses."
Or as conservative state Rep. Christopher Rants put it: "Huckabee won the caucuses, but he couldn't go the distance. Maybe some people will bypass Iowa."
Of course, candidates who meet the standard laid down by social conservatives seem eager to swoop into the state. Later this week, 2008 caucus winner Mike Huckabee will hold events in the state as part of a book tour, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has planned appearances a couple of days later.
Both are targeting those social conservatives, a competition that's intensified with the emergence of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Palin was little known in Iowa until last summer, when she was named presidential candidate John McCain's running mate. She drew big crowds at events in several Iowa cities in the last six weeks of the campaign.
"She connected with a lot of people," Roederer said. "The person who has to be the most concerned is Huckabee. He was the only social conservative back then."
In a telephone interview, Huckabee played down speculation that he was starting early in Iowa due to conservative pressure from Palin.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
IOWA DOES NOT HAVE CONSERVATIVES !!!!!!!!! JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE REPUBLICANS DOES NOT MAKE THEM CONSERVATIVES. DAMN THE LIBERAL PRESS!
what about gay marriage?
I don’t see how you can be a social conservative with that kind of caveat. Homosexuality is WRONG, and children should be taught that it’s WRONG.
Being pro-life and pro-traditional marriage is enough for Republicans. The religious right is to Republicans what the Drug War is to big l libertarians - all it does is marginalizes them. Republicans need to start talking about smaller government, a pro-America foreign and trade policy and less spending, and leave the bible-thumping to individuals in their own communities. When the MSM talks about undecided and independent voters, they are clearly talking about libertarian voters disgusted at the choices to choose from.
If anything the Republicans ought to move the New Hampshire primary to latter in the year. And, make it and all other primaries closed ones.
How about we hold primaries in the red states first instead of the Northeast blue states!
I hadn’t even though about homsexuality. I was thinking pre-martial sex with a beautiful woman. And I know that’s not wrong.
Wrong. Very, Very wrong.
Amen! Caucuses (or cauci?) are a breeding ground for special interests and crooks.
Or we could just become the Libertarian party, that is what you want right?
I’d donate money so we could hold closed primaries. Republicans should get to vote in Republican primaries, nobody else. (I didn’t like Operation Chaos for just that reason. If the Democrats want to nominate a far-left socialist, then, well, we know how that turned out...)
And why should Iowa always come first? Can’t we mix it up now and then?
Do you really think Willard would accept the VP spot in 2012?
Soooo... is it possible that you hate either Christians, or Conservatives?
Or both, since many are both?
This is a Conservative site. Are you a real Conservative?
Don’t forget the founding, Conservative principles of this Nation. Don’t be blind to the evil that continues to try to keep legislating THEIR immorality upon the Citizens.
Of course, Iowa does. And, the conservatives there -- albeit in the minority in the state -- are very conservative.
Bullsh**. You’re so clueless about Iowa it’s not worth any more of an answer than that.
well it is also important that parents have private school choice. It is very hard to pay for both private school tuition as well as taxes for public schools.
Then we are in pretty good agreement. And I frankly doubt that "Operation Chaos" amounted to a fart in a hurricane. I see a lot of people BS'ing about "cross-over voting", but I don't think it happens to any significant extent. A lot of hot air gets expended about it, but I have yet to see even ONE semi-legitimate piece of research to say that it has any effect whatsoever.
What evidence is there of that? If anything, religious conservatives were the ONLY winners in the last election, with marriage amendments passing in three states. Polls show a majority opposes abortion in cases except rape, incest and the mother's life being endangered. In fact, one of the few times McCain led in the last three months of the campaign was after the Saddleback forum where abortion was the prominent issue.
Conservatism is a three-legged stool. Sawing off any of the legs will make it impossible for Republicans to be a majority again.
I am a Christian, but if one is a non-Christian and holds the same beliefs as I, then I will ally politically (while still praying for your/their soul)!
How wrong of you to presume; I merely want to eliminate RINOS (as only God can lead someone to believe a certain way, not I).
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.