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Richard Lugar and the End of Moderate Republicanism
Nation ^ | 5-8-12 | Ari Berman

Posted on 05/08/2012 12:38:54 PM PDT by tcrlaf

If Indiana Senator Dick Lugar loses his Republican primary race to Tea Party challenger Richard Mourdock tonight, as polls indicate is likely, his defeat will signal the end of moderate Republican internationalism in the US Senate and the GOP more broadly.

Lugar, a two time chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee best known for his work on arms control and nonproliferation treaties, used to be one of the GOP’s leading figures on foreign policy. Now he’s an outlier.

The Senate Republican caucus was once filled with the likes of Dick Lugar—sensible realists such as Lincoln Chafee, Chuck Hagel, George Voinovich and Olympia Snowe. Now they’re all gone or going, casualties of a Republican party where diplomacy, multilateralism and bipartisanship are dirty words. (A Mourdock ad called Lugar “Obama’s favorite Republican.”)

(Excerpt) Read more at thenation.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: democrats; in2012; indiana; lugar; mourdock; rino; rmsp; teaparty; thenation
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Democrats lamenting the loss of Democrat-voting Republicans. FUGG'em....
1 posted on 05/08/2012 12:38:58 PM PDT by tcrlaf
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To: tcrlaf

Didn’t see them crying over the loss of moderate Democrats when Zell Miller retired...


2 posted on 05/08/2012 12:40:16 PM PDT by kosciusko51 (Enough of "Who is John Galt?" Who is Patrick Henry?)
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To: tcrlaf

Now if we could only get rid of John Boehner...


3 posted on 05/08/2012 12:41:11 PM PDT by TSgt (The only reason I have one in the chamber at all times, is because it is impossible to have two in.)
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To: tcrlaf

As an aside, the Author is one of the leading Daily Kos whackjobs.
“Ari Berman is the author of Herding Donkeys: The Fight to Rebuild the Democratic Party and Reshape American Politics”

He one of the Nutroots Obama Journo-list supporters


4 posted on 05/08/2012 12:41:11 PM PDT by tcrlaf (Election 2012: THE RAPTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS)
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To: tcrlaf
sensible realists such as Lincoln Chafee

I guess the ultimate sensible realist was Neville Chamberlain.

5 posted on 05/08/2012 12:43:02 PM PDT by Argus
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To: tcrlaf

I thought that when Nelson Rockefeller had a fatal heart attack in the library that the end of the era of moderate Republicans was over, yet they keep showing up.


6 posted on 05/08/2012 12:43:43 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Da Bro' Gotsta Go!)
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To: tcrlaf

I thought that when Nelson Rockefeller had a fatal heart attack in the library that the end of the era of moderate Republicans was over, yet they keep showing up.


7 posted on 05/08/2012 12:43:43 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Da Bro' Gotsta Go!)
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To: tcrlaf

I don’t know what this guy is whining about. The GOP is still full to the brim with corrupt, left-wing, pork guzzling RINOs. Housecleaning has scarcely begun. And now they’re working night and day to foist Romney on us.


8 posted on 05/08/2012 12:43:58 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: MIchaelTArchangel

Where did you hear Rockefeller die at a library?

He died in the saddle and his mistress didn’t call the ambulance in time.

But that has nothing to do with this story which is pure unadulterated horse dung. As long as McCain. Lindsey Graham, Hatch and a host of other RINO’s are in the Congress the loss of Lugar is merely a scratch on the surface of republicans who should be Democrats, and should be tossed out on their ear.


9 posted on 05/08/2012 12:49:38 PM PDT by Venturer
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: kosciusko51

[ Didn’t see them crying over the loss of moderate Democrats when Zell Miller retired... ]

We need to put some bumoperstickers on our cars that read: I was a Blue Dog Democrat, but I was Eaten by Obama


11 posted on 05/08/2012 12:50:30 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: tcrlaf

Lugar is Republican dead wood. Period. He’s been clogging up that chair since 1977. It’s time for a new body in that seat. Especially when the person is so desperate to hold onto personal power they beg democrats to save them.


12 posted on 05/08/2012 12:53:12 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: tcrlaf

Dear Senator Lugar,you(and your fellow carreer politicians)are not Part of THE SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


13 posted on 05/08/2012 12:54:37 PM PDT by bandleader
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To: Cicero
[ I don’t know what this guy is whining about. The GOP is still full to the brim with corrupt, left-wing, pork guzzling RINOs. Housecleaning has scarcely begun. And now they’re working night and day to foist Romney on us. ]

Being a bunch of "Moderate Get-A-Longs" is what doomed the WHIG party to the dustbin of history. They couldn't take a defnitve stand on the expansion of slavery to the terrirotires and were a bunch of weak spined morons.

Much like the RINOs can't take a strong stand on lessening the role of government in people lives and businesses.

Photobucket

Millard Mitt Willard Romney Fillmore, the last Republican President.

14 posted on 05/08/2012 12:55:08 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: TSgt

Now if we could only permanently establish term limits.

But why should congresscritters place a limit on how long they can enjoy the many perks that the average American does not have in addition to insider stock market information?


15 posted on 05/08/2012 12:55:46 PM PDT by 353FMG
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To: kosciusko51

Frankly Zell Miller gave the best, or at least one of the best, speeches at the RNC convention back either in 04 or 08.

We need people like Miller (on the right) who have morals and speak plainly, clearly, and unashamedly for conservative principles and standards.


16 posted on 05/08/2012 12:55:53 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: tcrlaf
Did the RATS bemoan the loss of the BLUE DOG Dems?
17 posted on 05/08/2012 12:57:15 PM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: TSgt

Did No Balls Boner have anyone running against him in a primary? That would have been the first step.


18 posted on 05/08/2012 12:58:36 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: MIchaelTArchangel

The longer anyone stays in Washington the more they move to the left. A good Republican who goes to DC becomes “bipartisan” after 20 years.


19 posted on 05/08/2012 1:01:48 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (I like Obamacare because Granny signed the will and I need the cash)
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To: tcrlaf

People like Mourdock, Rubio and Ron Johnson are extremists inside the beltway. They are the majority in pretty much most of the country.


20 posted on 05/08/2012 1:02:02 PM PDT by ilgipper
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