[samtheman]

Wow, muawiyah. I’ve never read such an over-analysis of the term RINO. You’re going to have to take that act on the road. Maybe after a couple of decades of speeches around the country you’ll convince one or two other people of your definition of RINO.

In the meantime, “Republican In Name Only” signifies exactly what the rest of us THINK it signifies:

Someone in the Republican Party who is way too liberal to BE in the Republican Party.

Your analysis might be historically correct, but give it a break, man. When people think RINO they think “liberal Republican” and all your analysis isn’t going to change that.

[muawiyah]

Alas for you there are electoral districts where regular Republicans can never win, but a turn-coat Democrat can. We use them to gain legislative control ~ and that means REDISTRICTING, scheduling by-elections, setting the legislative agenda, making committee assignments.

The term never meant someone who was or was not Liberal. We had these people in the days of the Southern Democrats ~ and I assure you they weren't Liberal at all.

Those who forget the past are doomed to misunderstand the language