The Vital Republican Center

New York Times ^ | January 12, 2004 | CHRISTIE WHITMAN

[OESY]

A need for reflection: Do we really want to be the majority party?

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[grasshopper2]

The moderates in the New Jersey Republican party are already atarting to try to discredit Bret Schundler. They think Schundler can't win in New Jersey because of his position on abortion, but they know that the people most likely to vote in the primary are conservative pro life Republicans.

Expect to see the rhetoric heat up.

[dirtboy]

On May 5, 1996, when I was halfway through my first term as governor of New Jersey, there was a picture of me on the cover of this newspaper's Sunday magazine, accompanied by the headline, "It's My Party Too." I liked that message so much, I had it framed and hung it in my office in Trenton and, later, Washington.

If the NY Times is praising you, Christie, maybe it's time to re-evaluate what you're doing.

[The Old Hoosier]

What's really funny is that these people are actively working to deny conservatives any say in the GOP, and then they act like the wounded party. Take, for example, Olympia Snowe, John Warner, and others, and the ways they have deliberately hurt conservatives without punishment.

They throw stones, then bandage themselves up.

[The Old Hoosier]

Politics that writes off large parts of the electorate is both counterproductive and short-sighted. Yet both parties seem determined to pursue that course.

My gosh, people who believe in something? I can't believe it!

[NeoCaveman]

Now, almost eight years later, many moderate Republicans feel even less certain of their place in the party. When President Bush, arguably one of the more conservative presidents in recent history, is under attack from the right wing of the party for his proposal regarding immigration and migrant workers, is it any wonder moderates feel out of sync?

Moderates feel taken for granted? I am laughing my arse off.

It doesn't get more moderate than this, at least I hope.

[MEG33]

Oh,No I loved the years in Texas when the general election was virtually over at the end of the democratic primary.I yearn to go back to 130yrs of democratic rule in the house.I want to have my nose against the window yearning to have a Republican represent me.Sure..

I didn't agree with everything my Republican stood for but I sure liked him better than the dem alternative.Now we are in the majority in Texas and next election may get proportional representation in the Congress.

If one loves the purity of being in the minority,perhaps one should join the Green Party,Libertarian Party or the Constitution Party.

[The Old Hoosier]

I would rather lose 10,000 times with Bret Schundler than win once with Christine Todd Whitman.

If you think that's a dumb thing to say, just look at what happens to the party in states where party leaders turn to the left. Look at New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Maine. In these states, the party is either dead or about to die, thanks to its liberal leaders.

Compare these to New Hampshire, Florida, Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. These are not innately conservative states, but the great conservative leaders they have are exciting people, winning people over with their ideas, and winning elections. That's how you expand your voter base--ideas.

That's why Clinton killed the Democrats, because he had none.

[KantianBurke]

Vote for Moderate Republicans. Because SOMEONE has to control those silly conservatives.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The issue was whether the limit set by the previous administration, which had yet to take effect, had gone too far. I also wanted to make sure the regulation was based on sound science and a thorough cost analysis.

But the outcry from Democrats and the environmental lobby was mind-boggling. It set a tone that made sensible discussion of important questions almost impossible.

There are honest environmentalists, but it is also true that environmentalism is a natural home for knee-jerk anticapitalism.

In the end, after careful study, we allowed the stricter regulation to take effect.

"After careful study" you greased the squeaky wheel. It is possible for the outsider to tell whether that squeaky wheel affected the decision, exactly how?

And yet you presume to tell the conservative not to squeak!

[goldstategop]

Christine Whitman claims the last election resulted in a bunch of moderate Republicans being elected. Our governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is to the right of President Bush on spending and taxes. That makes him a moderate to Whitman, right? LMAO. Republican moderates are actually liberals who don't like to admit they are liberals and end up agreeing with the Democrats cause they have no real principles. Which is why voters in Whitman's New Jersey wiped out the moderate GOP there. Who needs two liberal parties when you've got one? The only way Republicans will win is if they win on principle. If we try to copy the Democrats, we're headed for the political graveyard of history. Take Whitman's analysis in the New York Times with a grain of salt.

[republicanwizard]

In New York, the Party is quite strong. Bloomberg is now switching to tax cuts. If he cuts fast enough, he may be safely re-elected. Pataki made a strong stand against raising taxes.

Our Party does have a problem with the abortion issue. I pray, pray for the day when President Bush can appoint three solid conservatives to the bench and end this question for a generation. Then, it would become a personal issue.

Schundler didn't win because he had no control of his mouth. I hope he learns his lesson for the next time.

[Phlap]

Where I live the only things in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead porcupines.

[My2Cents]

Whitman seems to imply that what distinguishes Republican moderates from conservatives is the moderates' support for abortion.

[My2Cents]

The center always dictates the outcome of elections. Clinton captured the center in '92 and '96. Bush split it with Gore in '00. The Democrats are now running off the cliff on the left side of the spectrum, which means that the center will largely gravitate toward Bush, and perhaps the GOP, this election. But, then, I think the "center" has shifted right over the past 20 years, so what wins is a center/right cluster of issues.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Where I live the only things in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead porcupines.

My favorite definition of "middle of the road": The place where one pauses briefly before turning left.

[The Old Hoosier]

In New York, the Party is quite strong. Bloomberg is now switching to tax cuts. If he cuts fast enough, he may be safely re-elected.

Only gerrymandering has saved the State Senate majority. The legislative agenda is decidedly left-wing and further left-wing. Spitzer is a shoo-in for governor in 2006, whether Pataki runs or not, and he probably won't for just that reason. They can't find a credible candidate to challenge freshman Chuck Schumer this year. Felix Grucci's old district in Suffolk is probably permanently lost. Lazio's old district is now solid Democrat. Barring a nuclear explosion in New York City, Bush has absolutely no hope of carrying the state, and even then it would be close, given the trend upstate.

The only GOP victory on the horizon is a possible 2006 defeat of Hillary. And that's only if Rudy runs, and that's only because it's Rudy and it's Hillary, and it will be close anyway.

And if you think Bloomberg is getting re-elected, I know of a bridge up there that would be a great location to buy in advance, for celebrating his victory. I don't think he'll even survive a primary, not even if he switches parties.

[republicanwizard]

Well, polling shows that Pataki would clobber Spitzer. Not only would Pataki easily outraise Spitzer, but there is no way anyone can crack Pataki's solid numbers in the suburbs and the upstate.

Schumer had too much money to be defeated. Only a Wall Street Exec. could have competed with his warchest. Peter King might have done well, but Schumer is quite a hard worker unlike Hillary. Rudy has a free pass to any political office he wants, no matter who currently holds it.

From what I hear, we have a great candidate in the Hempstead district. In Grucci's district, we have a good candidate running to take it back. So add two seats to the GOP column.