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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

I couldn’t agree more.
If I don’t start seeing more minorities and more females, then I will be done. Period.
Jindal and Palin are our best hope, and we need to recruit more like them and support them. I’m tired of seeing the party run by people who have NOTHING in common with me.


61 posted on 11/05/2008 5:26:16 AM PST by mabelkitty (Obama is the ILLEGAL PRESIDENT until I see proof of his American birth)
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative
I feel like they destroyed Sarah.K

Not at all, Sparky! She's been the best part of the whole campaign. I see in her what a conservative should be and I believe she has set that mark.

We start working now for the mid term elections. You can rest assured that Barry and the dems in congress are going roally screw things up in that time. For the last two years that they've had the majority in both houses, they haven't be able to even get out of their own way and their approval rating is sub-toilet. Those factors haven't changed. Just consider Obama and the dem congress as the Keysotne Cops in Panavision.

62 posted on 11/05/2008 5:26:33 AM PST by tbpiper
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To: Gunder

“I’m not sure losing the last remaining New England Republican is anything to feel especially happy about. This party is facing oblivion if it continues to cater solely to white, suburban/rural voters in the South.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2124556/posts?page=81#81

- John


63 posted on 11/05/2008 5:27:04 AM PST by Fishrrman
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To: SE Mom

Katie Couric point blank asked him if Republicans needed to “be more conservative” and he gave some BS answer about “bringing in more youthful voters” and being more appealing to Hispanics, African Americans, and younger voters. He implied that conservatism wasn’t an ideology that could do that, and that Republicans needed to be more “center”.

THE ONLY THING MCCAIN DID RIGHT WAS CHOOSE SARAH PALIN. I thought that from the get go and think it even more, now seeing this side of Pawlenty.


64 posted on 11/05/2008 5:28:20 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" President Ronald W. Reagan! RIP Mr. President)
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To: RetiredArmy

Congress controls the purse strings.


65 posted on 11/05/2008 5:28:27 AM PST by listenhillary (2 legs good, 4 legs baaaad!, ~~ Obama Hussein - You make it, we take it.)
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To: comps4spice
I’m glad I live in Texas. Wonder if we can secede?

They did it before.

66 posted on 11/05/2008 5:29:13 AM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: clamper1797
The Bush handling of the economy during his term of office made this election a foregone conclusion. A full 63% of the voters indicated the top issue in this election was the economy the next highest rated issue drew only a 11% rating. Domestic spending including the new unfunded liability of 8 trillion dollars for the Bush prescription drug program was just another in the endless repudiations of conservative values. Conservatives must utilize the republican party in the future and it means a thoughtful and planned rescue of the party from the RINO leftist establishment that almost perennially takes charge of it's leadership.

Let us begin this day to clean the party up.

67 posted on 11/05/2008 5:29:37 AM PST by brydic1
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To: Texas_shutterbug

I would agree with that, as well.
That is why a hard-left agenda may appear to be inevitable, realistically, almost 80% of the country will kick back on this and drag the states back to red. I’m sure Dem governors like Ted Strickland won’t be really happy about that after he’s been managing as a moderate.


68 posted on 11/05/2008 5:29:44 AM PST by mabelkitty (Obama is the ILLEGAL PRESIDENT until I see proof of his American birth)
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To: rightwingextremist1776

You will see when all the numbers are tabulated that conservatives, regardless of Sarah’s effect did not vote.

Look at McCains totals,,,less than Kerry got last time, look at the close senate races - Colman - Chamblis and others.

When the “republicans” start nominating real REPUBLICANS...only then will you see “us” turn out.

Sarah Palin for all her worth, charm etc....is not the one to hang our hats on. Do I like her...sure do, but she is not presidential material, at least not in 4 years.

Sarah did have an effect...she got me to vote for McCain, but you will see in the numbers a lower than expected Republican turn out...or republican moderates voting for obama


69 posted on 11/05/2008 5:30:32 AM PST by BubbaJunebug
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative

Sarah will emerge as the bright spot of this election. She stood by her conservative principles even though she was running with a liberal in conservative’s clothing.


70 posted on 11/05/2008 5:30:58 AM PST by anton
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To: mabelkitty

Sarah Palin was the only reason I voted for McCain. Until he chose her, I was ready to write in either my original choice from the primaries, OR President Reagan...I hadn’t made up my mind.


71 posted on 11/05/2008 5:31:23 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" President Ronald W. Reagan! RIP Mr. President)
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To: kellynla

Start over. New Party. New name. NO FREAKIN’ MODERATE LIBERALS posing as conservatives!! No more big tents. Tents are for defense, and a defensive posture never wins with any endurance. For now, let the librats implode on themselves and be poised to Attack!


72 posted on 11/05/2008 5:31:33 AM PST by TADSLOS (McCain Courted Socialism and Brought Us Marxism Instead)
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To: RetiredArmy

Wrong.
George “Read My Lips” Bush I.
Jeb is the only Bush worth a vote, in my opinion.


73 posted on 11/05/2008 5:31:39 AM PST by mabelkitty (Obama is the ILLEGAL PRESIDENT until I see proof of his American birth)
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To: mabelkitty

Thank you for saying that. The lily-whiteness of our party is something I wish people discussed more around here. America is a diverse country, getting more so every day. For whatever reason, minorities see the GOP as the enemy, even though many Republicn principles align with their own. The GOP needs to figure this one out in a hurry. The makeup of our party today is not inclusive, it’s not America and it’s not the future.


74 posted on 11/05/2008 5:31:46 AM PST by Gunder
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

“Big spending Republicans can look at November 4th as their handiwork.”

BTTT—this big spending big tent b.s. has to stop.


75 posted on 11/05/2008 5:33:07 AM PST by LibertarianInExile (Looks like the Constitution is gonna be a "living, breathing document" again. Sigh.)
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To: se_ohio_young_conservative

Don’t be demoralized.

The only thing that prevents me from being pleased that we lost if the creepy Hugo Chavez aura that clings to the jerk.

We now have a chance to rebuild a party with real conservatives like Sarah. If McCain had gotten in they would have continued to us for everything and we’d have been sure to go down in flames again in the midterms.

Sarah did us proud. She made this election a race: We would have lost much, much, much worse with another rino as vp. She has catapulted herself into the spotlight and is now one of the favorites for 2012. She made out like a bandit IMHO.


76 posted on 11/05/2008 5:33:14 AM PST by Mad_as_heck (The MSM - America's (domestic) public enemy #1.)
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To: east1234

“It’s to late, 25 million illegals will be granted citizenship before 2010. Conservatism will no longer influence our country.”

I totally agree. It’s why this election hit me so hard. It truely is the death of the America I knew.


77 posted on 11/05/2008 5:33:36 AM PST by brownsfan (Algore makes P.T. Barnum look like a piker.)
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To: comps4spice

If you can figure out how to do it, I’ll move there.


78 posted on 11/05/2008 5:33:55 AM PST by panthermom
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To: mabelkitty

I will NEVER vote for another Bush. I did it four times and got burned four times. No more.


79 posted on 11/05/2008 5:34:53 AM PST by RetiredArmy (America as founded is finished.)
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To: mabelkitty

I think what we need most is a return to the principle of fiscal conservatism. Borrow and spend/tax and spend are both disasters (I’m not sure which is worse). We need a real choice now more than ever


80 posted on 11/05/2008 5:36:03 AM PST by MoreGovLess (The USA has one main political party: the Kleptocrats)
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