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Letter: What Does Sen. Specter's Defection Mean to the GOP?
The Wall Street Journal ^ | 2009-05-04

Posted on 05/03/2009 10:55:26 PM PDT by rabscuttle385

(snip)

With regard to Sen. Jim DeMint's comment that it's better to lose with 30 committed conservatives than it is to win with 60 unprincipled opportunists (or, what the media refer to as a "big-tent coalition of moderates"), he correctly reads the tax-day protest tea leaves. The Republican Party can't outspend or be perceived as more moderate than Democrats. Many conservatives and libertarians are prepared to bolt from the Republican Party at a grassroots level unless the GOP recommits to the limited government principles that Mr. Specter embraced only when politically expedient.

The Journal's editors liken a 30-vote minority party to the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Those 300 Spartans all died, but they slowed the advance of a massive number of Persian troops, set the stage for the collapse of that empire, and changed the course of history. If today's choice is 30 Spartans or 70 Specters, go with the Spartans. We'd all no doubt be speaking Aramaic if the fate of western civilization had depended on 300 Specters at Thermopylae.

P.G. Douglas
Darien, Conn.

(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: 111th; conservativeuprising; demint; gopfuture; lettertotheeditor; nomorerinos; rebuilding; rinoextinction; rinopurge; specter; stop0bamanow; wsj
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1 posted on 05/03/2009 10:55:26 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
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To: upchuck
With regard to Sen. Jim DeMint's comment that it's better to lose with 30 committed conservatives than it is to win with 60 unprincipled opportunists (or, what the media refer to as a "big-tent coalition of moderates"), he correctly reads the tax-day protest tea leaves.

He's probably one of about five or six correctly reading the "tea leaves."

2 posted on 05/03/2009 10:56:37 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: rabscuttle385

Change We Can Believe In.


3 posted on 05/03/2009 10:58:09 PM PDT by period end of story (Give me a firm spot, and I will move the world.)
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To: rabscuttle385

It’s a hint that the rest of the RINOs should follow him.


4 posted on 05/03/2009 10:59:20 PM PDT by Outland (Proud Member of The DHS Right-Wing Watch List. Ping me when the revolution starts.)
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To: rabscuttle385

The Dems need a little “moderation”. :)


5 posted on 05/03/2009 11:00:51 PM PDT by Tzimisce (http://groups.myspace.com/nailthemessiah)
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To: rabscuttle385

Yep, the GOP has already lost the Conservatives (and the next time, they will NOT fall for the GOP bull-speeches). The loss of Specter is just a sample of what is to become of the GOP.

Yes, there are those that think we need a bigger tent (the newly elected McCain daughter - ha), well, they will find out (if not immediately) that they would be a permanent minority if they continue to spout that line! I am sure that like many of the Conservatives I stayed at home on election day for McCain!

If they do not offer a Conservative choice (Smaller Government (real - actionable), lower taxes, less Federal government (through Constitutional Convention if necessary), and many other principals to get back in line with the original Constitution, then they will NEVER again regain control - but a third party might...


6 posted on 05/03/2009 11:13:49 PM PDT by Deagle
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To: rabscuttle385

THIS IS SPARTA!

RAWR!


7 posted on 05/03/2009 11:15:17 PM PDT by Danae (Amerikan Unity My Ass)
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To: rabscuttle385

Conservatives don’t have much to lose right now. Might as well clear out the dead wood.


8 posted on 05/03/2009 11:18:26 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( Don't mess with the mockingbird! /\/\ http://tiny.cc/freepthis)
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To: Deagle

Personally I take it as a fantastic sign! Those Trojan horses that infest the GOP will jump ship. Thats GREAT NEWS! We do not need their Dis-ease, quite the opposite, we need the dis-ease free, the ones who are principled on the conservative side, only then can we move forward as a healthy body. Specter leaving is more like the surgical removal of a cancerous tumor. Its best to get the treatment done with and go about living healthy afterwords!


9 posted on 05/03/2009 11:18:38 PM PDT by Danae (Amerikan Unity My Ass)
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To: Danae

YES! Just maybe this will be the time for CHANGE. Could not agree more in the hope that this causes an exodus of the RINOS.


10 posted on 05/03/2009 11:22:03 PM PDT by Deagle
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To: rabscuttle385

One less A-hole to get rid of.


11 posted on 05/03/2009 11:24:09 PM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: Danae

Yes, but please remember that there are few principled politicians anywhere - much less the Republican party. Most are in the game for the power and money (regardless of what they profess). The fact that almost all are millionaires after the first couple years says something that can NOT be disputed. So...getting rid of a few RINOS will not change things... We have to either change the way Washington operates (through a Constitutional Convention) or through the State Legislature (slim chance - since they are corrupt also).

That leaves really only one choice... Convene a Constitutional Convention and remove their power (through money and/or power) or start a third party...and of course, a third party will eventually become just like those in power so it is an ongoing change requirement...


12 posted on 05/03/2009 11:41:16 PM PDT by Deagle
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To: rabscuttle385

Arlen Specter’s sole legitimate claim to fame in his lengthy public life is Ira Einhorn’s extended bail jump.


13 posted on 05/03/2009 11:45:42 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: rabscuttle385; LS

It means the letter next to his name in news articles will be a “D” instead of an “R”. And that’s about it I would say.


14 posted on 05/04/2009 2:58:25 AM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN)
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To: rabscuttle385
First lets get it correct.
This was no defection.
This was a RINO going home.
We don't need them I wish they all would leave.
Then we would be lean and mean. Even though they would have the 60+ dedicated conservatives could keep the bee hive stirred up.
15 posted on 05/04/2009 3:01:57 AM PDT by DeaconRed (Three Things to know about torture: 1-.Red is Positive. 2-.Black is Negative. 3- Nuts must be wet..)
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To: rabscuttle385

The irony is that Speceter and his supporters believe they are the Spartans!


16 posted on 05/04/2009 4:48:46 AM PDT by Theodore R. (GWB is gone: Now the American sheeple can sleep at night!)
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To: cynwoody

No, he has the “single-bullet” theory from the Warren Commission. And he ran for President in 1996 and called himself the candidate with passion in the primary field. Republican voters were not amused that year; too many were re-electing “bill”.


17 posted on 05/04/2009 4:50:15 AM PDT by Theodore R. (GWB is gone: Now the American sheeple can sleep at night!)
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To: Deagle

George Washington understood much of what you are saying, but he had his detractors too who thought he was ungrateful to the French for helping him in the American Revolution. He gave thanks to Louis XVI for the help, not the French Republic, supported by the Jeffersonians of that day.


18 posted on 05/04/2009 4:52:03 AM PDT by Theodore R. (GWB is gone: Now the American sheeple can sleep at night!)
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To: Deagle
through a Constitutional Convention

You gotta be kidding.

The ratified Constitution is just fine as is. We just need to use it.

19 posted on 05/04/2009 4:57:12 AM PDT by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: Deagle

Do you not see the contradiction in your call for a Constitutional Convention to rid us of corrupt liberal and “moderate” politicians? Who do you think would be representing us at such a convention? Who would ratify any proposed changes? The states and the legislatures which you also call corrupt!

Chances are we would end up worse off with the liberals and moderates making changes that take us further away from the original Constitution. What we need are honest people in political offices. With all the temptations to which they are exposed we face basic human nature as it has been since the beginning. That is why the Bible says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Honest and well-intentioned people often get seduced once exposed to the Washington culture.

The oft heard cry of, “Throw them all out and start over!” is just an impractical act of frustration. We have some good conservatives in Congress who need to be supported and the others who need to hear of our displeasure. All politicians need the voters approval more than they need the lobbyists money. A blanket rant against the entire GOP is self-defeating.


20 posted on 05/04/2009 5:24:29 AM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government)
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