Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 281-287 next last
To: kellynla
Ok, let's get the blame game out of the way, then we got work to do. Who's responsible?? We are. We chose to look the other way and vote for anyone with an “R” after their names. We didn't vette Republicans on the basis of their records or their conservative principles. We only looked at the “R” and didn't dig any deeper. We also didn't demand more from the schools when we had the chance and allowed them to keep dumbing our kids down. We didn't cancel our subscriptions to DBM publications fast enough, nor did we stop watching the alphabets for the “news” (aka propaganda.

We can blame the “Republicans” in Congress who sold out their conservative values. We can blame them for having no leadership who was willing to stand toe-to-toe against the Dems and “get in their face”. Going forward, this is something we really have to address. Congressional Republicans MUST be made aware of the fact that the status quo won't cut it anymore. They either develop a steel spine and represent us in Congress, or they can dust off their resumes and start practicing for their next job saying “Welcome to Wal-Mart”. Congress is critical for us to focus on to keep Obama and the moonbat left in check.

Next, I blame Bush. What a horrible president he turned out to be. IMO, history will rank him just above Jimmy Carter. Bush failed conservatives, he failed to LEAD or inspire confidence among Congressional Republicans and he FAILED to control spending or exercise his VETO power often enough. We got snookered by Bush because we didn't want Gore. 20/20 hindsight tells us that we would have been better off today if either Gore had won in ‘00 or Kerry in ‘04. If they had, we wouldn't be talking about president-elect Obama today. Sometimes, we need to be careful what we wish for - today, we got the consequences of wishing too hard without making sure we knew what was in the road ahead of us.

Which takes us to the future. Starting today, we begin recruiting and grooming our candidate for 2012. Let's put EVERYTHING on the table and make sure that the person we select to lead the ticket in 2012 is a solid conservative with solid Reagan conservative principles who is a tough campaigner and won't run a weak, mealymouthed campaign the way that McCain did. Governor Palin comes to mind, but she's just one option, there are many more. Next, we have to start REALLY paying attention to what Congressional Republicans do in the next 2 years. If they cave to the left, if they abandon their conservative principles, if they lack the will, spirit and backbone to carry a battle to the Dems, we need to target that representative for replacement. We can't afford to be doormats for the Dems any longer.

I know we are angry, we're tired and we're “politicked” out. But, today is not the day to sit back and lick our wounds. Today is the day we start planning for the mid-term elections and today is the day we start planning for 2012. Trust me, Obama already is.

So, let's whine about our losses, get the anger off our chests, point the finger of blame at everyone we think deserves it. Then, let's put our game faces on because we have work to do and we have to get to it.

81 posted on 11/05/2008 5:36:04 AM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gunder

I agree. enough of the stereotypical fat southern white guy with the funny hat at the convention.


82 posted on 11/05/2008 5:36:33 AM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

My husband said last night...It’s the end of the world...My reply: It’s not the end of the world. It’s just the end of the world as we know it. Yet RNC/GOP did it to themselves. They did everything they could to demoralize conservatives, and attacked their OWN VP candidate to make sure conservatives knew just how unwelcome they were. The RNC/GOP thought they could win this election without the conservatives. Looks like they did a bang up job that that.


83 posted on 11/05/2008 5:37:00 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" President Ronald W. Reagan! I REALLY Miss YOU!!!!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

Comment #84 Removed by Moderator

To: IMissPresidentReagan

Socialism has been creeping into this country since shortly after WWII. We’ve had and still have elected PROFESSIONAL leaders in office for 20/30/40/ years. Some call themselves democrats and others call themselves republicans we have one who calls himself what this country has crept into, he’s a socialist. Because we’ve become so dependent on government give aways, we’ve elected someone who pretends he loves this country, but from his associates I cannot believe he does. His wife doesn’t.

I doubt the RNC has learned it’s lesson. They did nothing to rebuke lies about Sarah Palin. They sat on their thumbs and let the presstitutes in the screaming media say whatever they wanted and said not one word in her defense. We must purge our party of these courageless people and put some in who’ve been in the real fight to save this country, and not the spineless ones we’ve elected.


85 posted on 11/05/2008 5:37:14 AM PST by tillacum (Next election let's put in some military veterans who really know how to fight for this country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: se_ohio_young_conservative

Take heart. She seems like the kind of woman who can take care of herself. She is not destroyed. If nothing else, she will go back to her state and continue to be a fine leader, fine wife, fine mother, and fine businesswoman. She may never go further or higher, but she did wonders for all the young girls out there who were wondering if they can succeed without selling out in their personal or spiritual lives. That’s tremendous.

Sarah Palin learned a lot on this campaign. Let’s wait and see what she does with that knowledge.


86 posted on 11/05/2008 5:37:37 AM PST by Melian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

mccain would’ve done it too. and it would be “bi-partisan”


87 posted on 11/05/2008 5:38:14 AM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: listenhillary
"Time to declare economic war on the left stream media."

ABSOLUTELY!

Along with institutions of "higher learning."

88 posted on 11/05/2008 5:39:16 AM PST by libsrscum (My flag is flying upside down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

Watch what you say or you’ll be deemed a “Troll”. Trust me, I know!

I happen to think you are spot on.


89 posted on 11/05/2008 5:39:16 AM PST by GOPsterinMA (Campbell: Brown as Bullsh*t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: bronxboy

Did I miss something......................?

Welcome signs on our borders and reparations.


90 posted on 11/05/2008 5:40:23 AM PST by Grateful One
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: 2101comm

I was against them because they were anti-gun and romney was also for socialized health care. When someone is found to be liberal in one area, don’t be surprised that he is liberal in many other areas as well.


91 posted on 11/05/2008 5:41:14 AM PST by ari-freedom (So this is how Liberty dies... with thunderous applause)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

If the Tories can come back in the UK (as they appear to be on the verge of doing), then we can too. Fear not.


92 posted on 11/05/2008 5:41:20 AM PST by Gunder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
We have met the enemy and he is us.we were bereft of ideas. Just like ‘41 Bush his son spent all of his time on foreign affiars and neglected the country. We had no real legislative accomplishments on the domestic front. We did not stand for anything much less anything that was right for the times. The GOP was nothing if not completely UNRESPONSIVE to everyone including their middle class conservative base. they were only interested in tax cuts when 40% of people don't pay taxes. They just ignored the country and the country ignored us. Just like Gerald Ford and just like both Bush's.When the country is stagnant and and adrift by what appears to be complacent republicans just clinging to power for the purpose of clinging to power, we get creamed. will somebody learn from his?
93 posted on 11/05/2008 5:41:22 AM PST by bilhosty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tillacum
. They did nothing to rebuke lies about Sarah Palin. They sat on their thumbs and let the presstitutes in the screaming media say whatever they wanted and said not one word in her defense. We must purge our party of these courageless people and put some in who’ve been in the real fight to save this country, and not the spineless ones we’ve elected.

The RNC/GOP let Sarah be attacked from all sides because they wanted conservatives to know how unwelcome we were. I agree. My $$$ and my energy only goes to fiscal conservatives. We need to stop giving to the RNC, stop rewarding bad behavior because the enemy is scary....the enemy is always going to be scary, but we can no longer compromise our true values to fight off someone only slightly worse.
94 posted on 11/05/2008 5:41:22 AM PST by IMissPresidentReagan ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" President Ronald W. Reagan! I REALLY Miss YOU!!!!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: se_ohio_young_conservative
” I feel absolutely demoralized. I feel like they destroyed Sarah.”

Pull your head ouf of your arse and SNAP OUT OF IT! LOL

You make a lemonade out of a lemon.
Did we quit after LBJ was elected?
Did we quit after Carter was elected?
Did we quit after Clinton was not only elected but reelected?

You take this election and you hit every American over the head with it and as I have already posted, some 20 conservatives were elected to the House yesterday and you build on that and work towards taking a majority in 2010!

Remember “winners never quit and quitters never win!”

95 posted on 11/05/2008 5:41:33 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: se_ohio_young_conservative

They didn’t destroy Sarah. She has got the right stuff.

I have been feeling bad too. I know the idiots are thinking America is theirs; but it isn’t. Millions of Americans that voted did not give their liberty away. And I will venture to say that a much smaller percentage(given to the voter fraud and manipulation)did.

Please believe Americans did not give their liberty away; only a fraction of stupid minded toads did. It’s still there, Obama or not.


96 posted on 11/05/2008 5:42:59 AM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Gunder

“If the Tories can come back in the UK (as they appear to be on the verge of doing), then we can too. Fear not.”

Wow, that’s encouraging... not.
Look how far England had to fall, and how socialist it became, before even a hint of conservatism is tolerated over there.


97 posted on 11/05/2008 5:43:05 AM PST by brownsfan (Algore makes P.T. Barnum look like a piker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
Instead of defining conservatism, we need to push for honest government.

Ironically, that was the tone of Palin's speech when she was chosen. Unfortunately, the campaign was so hectic that they kept changing their messages.

98 posted on 11/05/2008 5:43:38 AM PST by paudio (Conservatism is a word with various meanings.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: rightwingextremist1776

You gave me my new tagline.


99 posted on 11/05/2008 5:44:24 AM PST by Convert from ECUSA (RINO = Big government, blue blood, country club Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

Well, by then there will be anywhere from 12 to 20 million illegal aliens, with millions more on the way, granted permanent legal resident status and voting rights by Obama. 2010 will merely be a rubber stamp of 2008 on steroids.


100 posted on 11/05/2008 5:45:17 AM PST by Enterprise (No Oil for Democrats!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 281-287 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson