Posted on 11/09/2006 9:38:57 PM PST by Logic Times
Rush Limbaugh has it wrong. He stated Wednesday that "[c]onservatism did not lose, Republicanism lost last night. Republicanism, being a political party first, rather than an ideological movement, is what lost last night." (here) This statement a statement echoed by Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and other conservative pundits to whom a nation of shell-shocked conservatives turned for cathartic analysis fails a simple test. If the electorate was demanding conservatism, then why did strong, principled conservatives lose? Incumbent conservatives such as Rick Santorum, George Allen, J.D. Hayworth and Curt Weldon to name a few. Superb conservative newcomers such as Ken Blackwell and Michael Steele.
The actions of the electorate last Tuesday was an indiscriminate firing of Republicans, not a thoughtful weeding out of RINOs. It is true that Republicanism lost on Tuesday, but it lost in all its forms and that included the exact form of strong, clear conservatism that the movement desperately needs.
(Excerpt) Read more at logictimes.com ...
You win the prize.... because you placed your finger on the real problem; dumbed down society, just what the Clinton's envisioned when they were running things down in Arkansas. Bill Hemmer commented this morning Fox was getting more hits on Britney Spears divorce than on the election results.
I was enthused about it. They just failed to sell it to the people properly.
That doesn't mean Conservative ideas are rejected, as most of Rahm's Ramrods were at least superficially conservative in appearance. Now, do you think Nancy will allow a Conservative agenda to pervade her glorious reign as Queen Speaker? I think not.
So... Rahm has sold the American public a bill of goods, that are not really Conservative. It is up to us to not only stridently and vigorously point that out, but to offer the American electorate the real thing once again.
Yeah I'm getting tired of hearing that Republicans have to stop being conservative, because, look at all the conservatives who didn't win.
The conservatives didn't show up to vote because they were angry that the Republican party was completely ignoring them. That's why the Republicans, including the conservative Republicans, lost. It doesn't mean that conservatism is a losing proposition. It means that if you actually try standing up for conservatism, all those people who didn't vote this time will show up and vote for you.
I fear we're about to make the classic mistake of thinking "we'd better become more like our opposition because they beat us". We are never going to be as good Democrats as Democrats are. If you want someone who's just like a Democrat, why not vote for the real thing?
If the election results are such a condemnation of conservatism, someone tell Lincoln Chafee.
Lindsey Graham is thrilled, said the next two years will probably be his best in the Senate.... translation, he can happily caucus with the dems -- if Sean keeps having him on his show then I will tune Sean out once and for all...
I'm as big a critic as any of Hannity but this is totally wrong - Hannity, like Ingraham + Rush & others ripped the congress over & over for any number of things (can't even begin to count) all the while still supporting Republicans as otherwise superior to DemoncRATs (same as myself and other conservatives)
I would add that if the Democrats stood up and opposed the amnesty for illegals, the GOP would face an awfully long dry period too. Luckily there's no chance of that (but you know, if they were paying attention, they might think about it...)
Good summary. Thanks for posting it.
Blackwell ran on "Family Values" in a state where family values weren't an issue (so 90s). His opponent campaigned with education, financial incentives, economy, and government.
Blackwell didn't lose because he needed to be more conservative. Voters rejected him for those very concepts and instead went with someone who identified their core issues (jobs, education, government, economy).
No thanks... I think every Freeper should boycott CNN and MSNBC permanently.
Which is why I hold out hope that in the 250,000 absentee votes they are counting the majority there are elderly and conservative and voted for JD.
Well, YEH, the Minimum Wage Propositions on the ballots, a very smooth move, actually, by the libs. Snakey but effective.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
The biggest problem the REPs have had since Reagan (The Great Communicator) is the ability to present every stand or issue from a position of functional illiteracy. With the exception of the contract w/ America (Newt - The next great communicator) it seems to me that the GOP goes out of its way to always find the most convoluted means with which to communicate issues to the voters.
Newspapers are written to a 3-4th grade level, 65%-70% of adult Americans are somewhat functionally illiterate - can't fill out job applications, etc. 30% of our students never graduate from HS. You can earn a GED if you read on an 8th grade level.
Reagan always new his audience and briefed accordingly- always from the OVAL OFFICE, suit and tie (RESPECT) for the American People, straight to the point, the choices, the choice He believed was best for America and why, charts and graphs, plain language, and who to call as well as how to contact their representative and make their will known.
President Reagan realized WE THE PEOPLE make the decisions THROUGH our elected officials. HE governed through the people on every tough choice, and made sure we were part of the process. He always knew that the people will always make the right choice when given the straight facts and kept informed, He TRUSTED us, and we respected and trusted him and his leadership in return.
Many months ago Rush mentioned this and said it was a big mistake. I agreed 100% with Rush.
I think you will find that instead of being creative, melhman was tuning into Talk Radio and getting his talking points for the campaign. It appears that the GOP ran using an anti-Pelosi scare tactic platform. There's nothing wrong with using this, but they totally left out issues.
The democrat opponents not only ran on the "we need a change" message but also (where it would help) ran on God, Guns and Pro-life.
Mix this all up with already angry conservatives and you have a distaster waiting to happen. And it did.
Democrat Win, Conservative Mandate
You can bet they will lead pushing liberalism
Darn, and I thought Rush was perfect.
(/scar off)
After 18 years and 20,000,000 listeners he must get a few things right.
Rush is right. (That might make a good tagline?)
Since when is this kind of criticism zottable? We are not all Bushbots or Rushbots!
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