Posted on 05/10/2009 9:23:54 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Two major debates face conservative Republicans about the future of the party. The first, rekindled by Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party, is whether the GOP should move furtherfurther leftward. The second is whether conservatives should tone down their advocacy on social issues. History is on the side of outspoken conservatives in both debates.
To learn where to position themselves, some big-government GOP loyalists are going on so-called listening tours. The trouble is, skulking around the country on pandering tours isn't leadership. Politicians, lobbyists and campaign consultants who caused the problem cannot fix it. You can also rebrand damaged goods all you want, but they're still damaged goods, which is why GOP establishment leaders are incapable of understanding the problem -- it's them.
The ascendancy of conservatives to power was done by boat-rockers, not establishment politicians. Barry Goldwater laid the foundation of reducing government to conform to the Constitution. Ronald Reagan demonstrated that the conservative vision of smaller government is one of prosperity. The Gingrich revolution started making congressional leaders the servants of the people, not vice versa.
In each case, the message was reforming the Washington establishment. President Obama's campaign used a variation of that theme. His message of change, while obfuscated, clearly resonated with the grass roots. He remains popular, although polls show his version of change is substantially less so.
The current GOP leadership has no message or vision that appeals to the grass roots. We never hear from them the boat-rocking message of successful conservatives.
...
Democrats have nothing to fear from today's Republican Party leaders. That's why Democrats have taken to targeting Rush Limbaugh and others who aren't in formal leadership positions in the GOP but who forcefully articulate a conservative vision.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The 19th Hole Country Clubbers and the Entitled Party Elite remain at the helm; meanwhile, the grassroots and Conservatives are locked below deck like 3rd and 4th class passengers..
We've seen this act before..
The Titanic sinking was more than just a world famous event, it also came to describe the size and scope of failures.. a failure of titanic proportion.. a titanic misread of public sentiment.. a titanic failure.
The GOP can’t support a moderate like McCain and hope to get elected. We need a Reaganesque leader, someone who has a backbone and calls the Dems out for their march toward socialism.
Message to GOP: Join or Die!
The Democrats are socialists, plain and simple. The best that the GOP can claim is that they’re not quite as socialist as the Democrats. When Obama wants to nationalize health care, what is the GOP response? Not “Hell no!”; it’s “Not so big... Make it a little bit smaller and we’ll be OK with it.” They’re the Dem-lite party.
Time to grab the bell and the wheel and install them on a new ship.
The "leaders" are putting on another magic act, all smoke and mirrors.
“...conservatives should withhold financial support from all GOP national committees and establishment politicians but support principled organizations and candidates. They should run candidates for every party and public office except when there’s a principled incumbent conservative.”
“Conservatives should no longer look to Republican politicians for leadership and should assume the role of leading the opposition to Obama and the Democrats. We believe we have a party and a country to save, and the GOP establishment is in our way. Let the rebellion begin.”
"Full speed ahead!"
Epic fail.
The 19th Hole Country Clubbers and the Entitled Party Elite remain at the helm;
If the public at large believed that, the Republicans would still be in power!
The Republicans are disliked generally because religious conservatives are disliked generally and the public think religious conservatives are in charge of the Republican party.
I'm not saying it's fair. But the perception is that the Republican party is the Christian fundamentalist party.
You got it mate! What’s left of the GOP consists of RINOs and the membership made up of the Chamber of Commerce types wishing not to offend the Demonratz so as to still be able to do business with them. PUKE!
I have switched my registration to “Declined” for the interim and the GOP will not get one thin dime from me for the rest of my life.
Join something conservative; whatever it is.
Leave the GOP as fast a you can. We conservatives will find one an other and eventually form a new party.
There is no difference between the present GOP and the Demonratz.
Staying with the GOP is doing a diservice to this country.
No source, naturally.
Its pretty effing obvious that the R party has been branded by the rest of the nation as the “Republican Christian party”
When Sara Palin loses by 500 EVs in 2012, the idiot wing of our party will finally figure it out and STFU
Open your eyes. Spend a little time with people outside your congregation or outside your assisted living community.
The hostility towards religious conservatives is ubiquitous.
This week I attended a "dinner" for someone who is getting ready to start her re-election campaign as a DA in south Texas. It was a typical "we're going to need your support" type thing of little consequence as she is running basically un-opposed and I went because of a family connection and the free hotdogs.
However, I did get to rub elbows with some of the "little guys who rub elbows with the big players" in the Texas GOP. Among those people was a lot of talk about a rumor about a very well known Texan who is planning to jump onto the national scene for 2012. According to "people who know" he was energized by the TEA Parties and has reached a point in his life that he is ready to make the plunge.
Although I thought it was an exciting rumor I figured it was just a rumor until I got home and called a few friends that know him. They confirmed that he is considering a run at Perry for the Governor's job, but just to get his name out there and to let people know he is serious.
Since it is still all rumor right now I wont post his name, but I'll give you a hint, he is a former Naval Officer who volunteered to serve a year in Vietnam when he was granted a waiver by the Navy to stay state-side, he is an un-apologetic Christian, a Heisman trophy winner, has two Super Bowl rings, six Pro-Bowl appearances, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and would be considered one of the greatest living leaders the State of Texas has ever had.
If the rumor turns out to be true he will energize the Right in a way we haven't seen since Reagan. He is very well spoken and I can't imagine what the press would be able to do with him. He has no skeletons in his closet and aside from traditional rivalries, I don't think there is anybody in this country that would ever speak badly of him. He would appeal to both "Joe Six Pack" as well as all the white collar Americans who will respect him as a leader and a self made business man. And to top it all off, he's a NASCAR owner too. Although it is just rumor, I am excited and ready to start making bumper stickers "#12 in 2012!"
Didn't goldwater lose by 25 points ? Not that it was his fault.
bfl
I love it...I have not given a dime t the party since the Gang of 14...If the elected party could care less about the folk who put them in office, to hell with them. Lets put new folk in who know who is in charge. I am tired of the tail of senior elected republicans trying to wag the dog of the base.
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