Allard rates pretty well. Salazar stinks. When Udall gets in it will be much worse.
It is not the principles that are the problem it is the abandonment of these for political expediency that is the problem. They are REPUBLICANS In Name Only - not conservatives in name only. The party supports the following:
1. A pro-life position
2. Strong national defense
3. Fiscal restraint - low taxes and responsible spending
4. Small government
5. The rule of law which includes immigration law
There are others but these certainly are part of the Republican party’s core principles. McCain has acted in direct opposition to #5 in at least 2 areas: free speech and immigration (and he has been rather squishy on 2nd amendment matters). He is opposed to #4 by virtue of his support for environmental laws and regulations that will expand government into every home and business that uses energy. His support for the “Global Warming” hysteria will also put him in opposition to #3 as increased costs of energy (a hidden tax) will result, energy tax hikes are very much a part of the “save the planet” agenda and moves to create “green” industries and technologies will result in increased government spending as efforts are made to subsidize the effort thru grants and funded mandates (Obama has already promised to spend billions on this and McCain has said he generally supports the effort).
There was little reason for any conservative - or even many Republicans - to vote FOR McCain. There was plenty of reason to vote against Obama. And not a few voted FOR Palin. The more numbers come out on this election the more it looks like plain, old-fashioned turnout was the biggest difference. The left turned out in high numbers while turnont on the right was not as good as in 2004. I read one article that said that as many as 5 million people who voted for Bush in 2004 did not vote in 2008. Maybe this would not have won the election for McCain (it depends on where they were voting) but it could well have made a difference in down-ticket races.
I am with Rush on this. Politicians who unashamedly campaign on conserative principles tend to win far more often than they lose. And if they actually try and govern according to these they do fine. It is when they abandon these that they run into trouble. Lurching left in an attempt to expand the “tent” hasn’t worked yet that I can recall.
well I disagree. I don’t advocate tht we lurch left...I advocate a simple thing: if an unbiased conservative measurement gives ANY Senator a rank below 60%; they need to either get back in line or get out of the party.
“unbiased” measurement is the key...we all have our “hot-buttons” so to run an other wise good memeber out for one vote or position is simply self-destructive.
Regan SIGNED abortion legislation...would you run him out of the party like you’re trying to do to McCain?
I think a LOT of people were just plain tired of Republican talk...talk talk..with no discernable action on fiscal restraint (accept for mcCain).the spending thing has made me nuts.
I honestly don’t care if someone drones on about global warming as long as they vote against spending/pork/abortion.
The global warming thing will pass.....and immigration is a really tough issue....so every idea should be heard and hashed out.....
Sounds like you need to focus on YOUR Senators....and let AZ work with McCain.