Posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:10 AM PDT by kellynla
A quick tour through the week’s headlines suggests the Republican Party is beginning to come to terms with the last election and that consensus is emerging among GOP elites that the party needs to move away from discordant social issues.
There was Sen. John McCain's daughter and his campaign manager who last week demanded that their fellow Republicans embrace same-sex marriage. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – the most devoted modernizer among the party's 2012 hopefuls – won approving words from New York Times columnist Frank Rich for his call to downplay divisive values issues. The party’s top elected leaders in Congress, meanwhile, spooked by being attacked as the “party of no,” were recasting themselves as a constructive, respectful opposition to a popular president.
But outside Washington, the reality is very different. Rank-and-file Republicans remain, by all indications, staunchly conservative, and they appear to have no desire to moderate their views. GOP activists and operatives say they hear intense anger at the White House and at the party’s own leaders on familiar issues – taxes, homosexuality, and immigration. Within the party, conservative groups have grown stronger absent the emergence of any organized moderate faction.
There is little appetite for compromise on what many see as core issues, and the road to the presidential nomination lies – as always – through a series of states where the conservative base holds sway, and where the anger appears to be, if anything, particularly intense.
"There is a sense of rebellion brewing," said Katon Dawson, the outgoing South Carolina Republican Party chairman, who cited unexpectedly high attendance at anti-tax “tea parties” last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at dyn.politico.com ...
Maybe so, but I will not vote for a candidate who does not agree with me on social issues. That’s why I liked Palin and hope she runs in 2012.
We could nominate a presidential ticket of Arlen Specter and Susan Collins, and they could openly campaign as “new Republicans” who are socially liberal, and they could lose 50 states. The press would then cite their loss as proof that the GOP needs to move further to the left on social issues.
“But it is a conservative party, and it will be going forward.”
For sure whatever form it takes...
“Moderate”
No sir Mr Orwell I would never be “extreme”. They are taking us down the path to national suicide and destruction and yet they are “moderate”.
It’s always been their party, and for them they are saving it. It’s just that slowly, more conservatives are, due to talk radio and the Internet, bypassing the RNC/GOP and the MSM and talking amongst themselves and ....are just now digesting what the Republican Party is, and has always been, a big government, high tax, popular disparaging elitist, financial merchant money party, first and foremost.
Look how little effect the National Review, most all the party elite had in anointing bland, wishy washy, great hair Mitt, vs the hail Mary lash out choice of McCain. Further the fundamentally threatening to the comfy hundred year government/finance Republicans was Ron Paul.
The GOP/RNC/Washington crew are in deep deep trouble and they know it and want all this Tea Party notions suppressed, stopped on, or at best decapitated with a RNC head grafted on.
Likewise, the vast majority want the border laws enforced, but that's considered “extreme”. The “moderate” position is to ignore both the law and public opinion and allow foreigners to illegally enter our nation and avail themselves of taxpayer-financed goodies.
“Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.”
P.J.O’Rourke
McCain was the man they wanted and he was given to us through the use of Fred Thompson to siphon off votes in South Carolina so McCain could beat Huckabee.
Of course Huckabee and Romney were played off against each other in the South to help McCain win.
I’m not trying to support Huck, Romney, Thompson etc. but trying to comment on how the game was played out to enable McCain to win.
Right now I support Sarah Palin over others but if she starts supporting RINO’s next year with her PAC, I will be changing my support.
LLS
FUGOP. The Founding Fathers would have the present ‘leadership’ tarred and feathered.
Steele is a weak leader.
Amen!
LLS
Correction... he has no leadership abilities at all. :-)
LLS
For a long time, I’ve laughed at the idea of a third party. Unfortunately, all signs now are that the GOP isn’t worth fighting for - a party that stands for nothing is worth nothing.
At church last week, several guys asked me if I knew anything about the Conservative Party. These were guys who probably have voted straight GOP for 20 years...
yea...well I was trying to be “nice” LOL
BTW - I know nothing about the Conservative Party...just think it is significant that people who have long been loyal to the GOP are seriously looking for alternatives.
I can see the GOP is really on top of things. They are just figuring this out. I really think they are done. Hate to say it, but they do not practice what they preach. I blame W for O.
Heck of a brand there..
Rejected
Moo Moo. :-)
I find it amazing how liberals seem to always cast conservatism in such extreme tones. Why is being opposed to gay marriage considered out of the mainstream or divisive when it’s the clear majority opinion of this country? Why is supporting: lower taxes, smaller government, fiscal discipline, less goverment meddling with business, the 2nd ammendment, the rights of the unborn, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a strong national defense, a promise to come to the aid of our allies around the world, a rejection of communism (marketed as socialism by the likes of Chavez and Ortega) and and free trade considered out of the norm? Conservatism does not equal anger, liberals are the angriest, nastiest most divisive people I’ve ever seen.
Thanks so much for the explanation!
I didn’t support Fred Thompson and won’t support Palin for the same reason (unless she does a 180). Both are for comprehensive immigration reform/path to citizenship/amnesty.
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