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Political Battle Under Way Within GOP, Say Conservative Leaders
cnsnews.com ^ | November 05, 2008 | Fred Lucas

Posted on 11/05/2008 4:59:01 AM PST by kellynla

CNSNews.com) – Facing the most liberal president and Congress in a generation, conservative stalwarts do not blame the GOP’s disastrous election performance solely on Republican nominee John McCain or on President George W. Bush. The ultimate culprit, some say, has been big government Republicanism.

Long-time conservative activist Richard Viguerie thinks the Republican Party’s problem this year is not unlike its problem in previous election cycles.

“Moderate and liberal have not done very well,” Viguerie, the chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, told CNSNews.com. “Both Bushes had problems, and Bush the son nearly destroyed the Republican Party. People are looking for a clear conservative choice.”

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, said this is not the first time Republicans have had a bad election cycle.

“We will get the same advice from the establishment press, which will advise the party to move left,” he said. But when that was tried, it did not work, Norquist told CNSNews.com.

He said Republicans win by running on President Ronald Reagan’s ideas and lose when they move left. He cited President George H. W. Bush’s failed reelection campaign in 1992 after running successfully as a Reagan tax-cutter in 1988, as well as Bob Dole in 1996 who had previously opposed the Reagan tax cuts, and now McCain, who has supported legislation on campaign finance reform and global warming.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: conservatism; conservatives; gop; republicans
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To: Gunder

You missed Tim Kaine (D) Virginia, in 2009, who is term-limited.

Virginia Republicans need to work hard over the next year to win back the Governorship. We also need to work hard to hold our slim majority in the house.

That way we will control redistricting, and keep democrats from building themselves safe congressional seats.


161 posted on 11/05/2008 6:20:09 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: comps4spice

better yet

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005511


162 posted on 11/05/2008 6:20:16 AM PST by bestintxas (It's great in Texas)
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To: paudio
Unfortunately, the campaign was so hectic that they kept changing their messages

Being so tremendously outspent will do that to a campaign. Face it, a lot of this had to do with the $600MM donkey in the room.

163 posted on 11/05/2008 6:20:18 AM PST by Tuxedo (Reboot)
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To: Thane_Banquo
Per wikipedia:

On the first day of their majority, the Republicans promised to hold floor votes on eight reforms of government operations: require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply to Congress; select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse; cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third; limit the terms of all committee chairs; ban the casting of proxy votes in committee; require committee meetings to be open to the public; require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase; and implement a zero base-line budgeting process for the annual Federal Budget.

164 posted on 11/05/2008 6:20:59 AM PST by paudio (Conservatism is a word with various meanings.)
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To: SENTINEL
1. Secure the border.
2. Allow our boys to finish our wars.
3. Prioritize the hunting and killing of those who attack us over all else. (Osama Bin Laden)
4. Prosecute and execute traitors.

If only .....

165 posted on 11/05/2008 6:21:11 AM PST by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Clean_Sweep

” We just had a guy that openly said he is going to take money from the haves and give it to the have-nots. He was elected by the have-nots, and they out number us now. Their numbers are growing everyday they will continue to win at the polls and the demand for your money is going to increase with every new Dem. “

Couple that with the 19-20 year olds who have yet to contribute to society, and vote like it’s American Idol, and we wind up with someone like Obama in troubling times.


166 posted on 11/05/2008 6:21:42 AM PST by patriotspride
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To: kellynla

I think you are right. It was just an anti-Bush, we want change referendum. Yesterday, I spoke to an uber conservative in our area who had been honored by the WH for all of her hard work on behalf of the party and she was thrown for a loop that even her daughter in No. Carolina was chiming the “we need change” chant and voting for Obama. She was pretty shocked by it all. The Obama Hope-nosis reached far and wide.


167 posted on 11/05/2008 6:22:15 AM PST by redgirlinabluestate
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To: Tuxedo

I think it should have been the other way around. When you’re lacking money, focus on 1-2 issues, and keep pounding on them.


168 posted on 11/05/2008 6:22:25 AM PST by paudio (Conservatism is a word with various meanings.)
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To: Skid Marx
You are correct. For all of our bravado and kvetching... we didn't have a candidate in the race. We had...

Mitt the guy with the strange hair that NOBODY could relate to.

Another smooth talking governor from Arkansas (who has the dumbest show on TV right now).

A national hero NY mayor who could have won but was actually a liberal (I thought he had the best chance because he's a grown-up but his politics stink).

Another ancient Viet Nam war hero (decent guy but the base hated him for McCain Feingold which, ultimately destroyed his campaign)

and... some other crazy people who were totally unelectable.

So WHERE was our young, handsome, attractive, modern, appealing, popular, motivating, smooth talking candidate? Nowhere to be found.

It is said that the Republicans eat their young. Its true. Look at all of the hacks on TV. Old, white, rich and irrelevant.

So... we lost, Duh!

169 posted on 11/05/2008 6:22:29 AM PST by April Lexington
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To: SENTINEL

Unforunately, after the election yesterday, all those points just went out the window...


170 posted on 11/05/2008 6:22:33 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: dirtboy

I have arrived at one and only one issue that I believe and know to be the only issue that can truly clear out corruption and strengthen freedom.

http://www.fairtax.org

Every criticism of the above is without merit, save one and only one.

And I arrived at the belief of the above after trying to ignore it several times until it hit me like a thunderbolt why it is the key to restoring the Republic.


171 posted on 11/05/2008 6:24:58 AM PST by Hostage
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To: tillacum

I have emailed Mr. Duncan, RNC chair, and told him to remove my name from all GOP mailing lists.

Next week I plan to reregister as an independent.

With Mr. McCain and most of the other House and Senate Pubbies talking about more bipartisanship I cannot abide the Republican Party any longer.

I will be interested in how they treat Gov. Palin. She is definitely not a Belt-Way insider. Perhaps a truly conservative party could be built around her.

I was a fool. With no true conservative among the Pubbie presidential contenders I had planned to vote conservative, independent or write my name in. Then Mr. McCain chose Gov. Palin. I saw her as fairly conservative person with traditional American values. So, I convinced myself to give it one more try. I actually thought McCain had managed to avoid the taint of the Wall Street and lending institution mess. I actually thought he managed to separate himself from the messy Bush administration.

Well, shame on me. Buy my eyes are wide open now. To those conservatives who warned me McCain was a dead end I applaud your sticking to your guns—even in the face of pretty nasty posts from some FREEPERS. I was wrong. You were right.

This election is over. What did it mean? I think in the end it came down to two things: First, was the the economy issue. Bush was president for 8 years. His final six months in office were a figurative and literal disaster. Bush is a pubbie and so is McCain. No way McCain—or any pubbie candidate—is gonna shake free of that mess. Second, 30-40 years or leftist demrat control of public education came to fruition. If it is true that young people voted in record numbers this year the demrats were the beneficiaries of that vote.

If whatever political entity emerges from this GOP debacle has no answer to the dem’s control of public education, there will be no return to the values that made America great. We are doomed to enjoy all the thrills and chills of your typical communist government. Get used to gray people.

I’m retired so I have free time that I can devote to working toward finding a means for the conservative voice to be heard. It is not likely this task will be accomplished in one or even dozens of election cycles. The left has been very patient with its game plan. Now it is our turn to return the favor.


172 posted on 11/05/2008 6:25:39 AM PST by dools007
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To: patriotspride
Well... there will be a few more have-nots by the end of the week. We are laying off until the smoke clears and we can figure out how to survive as small business people in the New World Order. Its too bad... but... they voted for change and now thats what they are going to get.
173 posted on 11/05/2008 6:25:46 AM PST by April Lexington
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To: redgirlinabluestate

Well after four years of Obama, “change” is all the “daughter in No. Carolina” is gonna have in her purse.

If you were around for Jimmy Carter, expect a rerun...inflation, higher taxes, more spending, higher unemployment and another war in Iran probably.


174 posted on 11/05/2008 6:27:20 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: April Lexington

” So WHERE was our young, handsome, attractive, modern, appealing, popular, motivating, smooth talking candidate? Nowhere to be found.”

Palin / Jindahl...

That’s our future. They are both straight talkers, and fit the gender/race popularity test.


175 posted on 11/05/2008 6:27:50 AM PST by patriotspride
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To: dools007

I’m emailing Mr. Duncan right now and suggesting that he do the honorable thing and resign to make way for new leadership. He’s been feasting on our donations far too long. He lost this thing so he needs to go.

If he were a CEO, the board would have his head about now.

Be a man... Duncan. Resign!


176 posted on 11/05/2008 6:27:51 AM PST by April Lexington
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To: rightwingextremist1776
I'M NOT VOTING FOR ANOTHER RINO....Purge these turncoat scum from the party....or I'll find another party.

Amen - I thought I was too old to say never, but I will never hold my nose and vote for a republican that is not a Conservative. I'll bury cash in the backyard and find work that's not on the books. I'll hide good books in the floorboards for my children and grandchildren. I'll do what I have to do, but I will never again hold my nose and vote for a republican that is not a Conservative.
177 posted on 11/05/2008 6:29:14 AM PST by AD from SpringBay (We deserve the government we allow.)
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To: patriotspride
I like Jindahl and, now that international internet campaign contributions are legal, a billion supporters in India can't hurt!!!
178 posted on 11/05/2008 6:29:25 AM PST by April Lexington
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To: RetiredArmy
In the end, this destroying of McCain/Palin, destruction of the republican party and the conservative movement is George W. Bush's fault and legacy.

Agree absolutely! And I'm sure we both voted for him.

Second Term - SAD, SAD, SAD.

The bully pulpit with power to skewer the Media, and refusal, or inability, to do it.

But I continue to think - a puppet of the globalist CFR.

retiredAF

179 posted on 11/05/2008 6:30:17 AM PST by jnsun (The LEFT: The need to manipulate others because of nothing productive to offer)
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To: kellynla
The ultimate culprit, some say, has been big government Republicanism.

RINOs are destined for extinction. One way or another.

180 posted on 11/05/2008 6:30:28 AM PST by McGruff (It took a Jimma Carta to give us a Ronald Reagan.)
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