"It was the moderates" The cry continues....

[techs]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI...es.election/index.html

CNN) -- A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council told CNN that conservatives need to take back control of the GOP if the party is to return to its winning ways.

"Moderates never beat conservatives. We've seen that in past elections," he said.

Rejecting suggestions that the conservative movement was viewed as being out of touch with the electorate, Perkins says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics.

There was clearly no mandate to shift the country to the left on social issues," Perkins said. "What Tuesday was, was a fact that people wanted change, and it's a rejection of a moderate view."

Perkins' comments come after a post-election conservative conclave met at an undisclosed location in northern Virginia on Thursday.




As I posted previously, Rush Limbaugh blamed the moderates for the loss. Now it looks like the Republicans will rally round that cry.

 

[Kirby]

Uhhh, no shit? Did you think that the hardcore Palin wannabes voted for Obama?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I don't get it for every hardcore republican they lose they only really lose 1 vote since they're not going to vote dem; they'll just not vote. Every moderate they get will be worth 2 votes since there's a more than fair chance they'd vote dem if the reps didn't get them.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: techs
As I posted previously, Rush Limbaugh blamed the moderates for the loss. Now it looks like the Republicans will rally round that cry.

You can be conservative with economic philosophy and moderate on social issues and absolutely clean up. But the error the Repubs have made is that they have been moderate...even liberal on economics (out of control spending!) and nutty conservative on social issues and that has crushed them.

They need someone like me to go in there and smack some heads to realign their priorities :evil:

 

[RightIsWrong]

"Moderates never beat conservatives. We've seen that in past elections," he said.

Apparently, he's been living in a cave the last two election cycles.

 

[jonks]

Boy is he gonna be surprised when the GOP dumps his ilk

 

[dphantom]

I am not sure I would blame moderates. Rather, the conservative message has been lost these last 8 years and needs to go back to Reagan where we are able to attract moderates to a fiscally conservative and socially moderate to conservative stance.

A major reason for Reagans success were "Reagan Democrats". Much of the success of the Democrats in 2006 is seen in their winning traditionally conservative districts running as fiscal conservatives.

We conservatives have failed with 8 years of Bush. We now need to develop a cohesive blueprint that lays out what conservatism really means and provide a convincing argument that it is in the moderates best interest to move center right.

What conservatism is not is moving to the center. That is the very antithesis of consrvative ideals. Rather, our message needs to be compelling to the people that they see the value in our philosophy. Again, that has been lost over the last 8 years of the Bush presidency and indeed is much the fault of the GOP Congress since 2000-06.

Until we find our message again and live by it, we will continue to be a minority party as we were for 40 years until 1994.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
Uhhh, no shit? Did you think that the hardcore Palin wannabes voted for Obama?

they could have easily just stayed home or coalesced around a third party candidate.

he does have a point insofar as that every single GOP moderate who was up for reelection this year got voted out.

 

[m1ldslide1]

http://www.slate.com/id/2203800/entry/2203801/

Interesting debate on slate about who to blame and what direction the party needs to go in now. It's six pages by six different contributors, and a very interesting read.

 

[sandorski]

Those who saw Terry Schiavo as one of their peers, really shouldn't be analyzing anything.

 

[seemingly random]

I wonder if repugs have heard that silly but infinitely sensible phrase "everything in moderation".

 

[AstroManLuca]

Rejecting suggestions that the conservative movement was viewed as being out of touch with the electorate, Perkins says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics.

So basically he's saying that conservative politicians aren't wrong, the VOTERS are wrong. And it's up to him to make sure they see things his way, not the other way around!

:roll:

 

[PingSpike]

My favorite parts of this article:
1) They think getting even more conservative, and thus, appealing to a smaller section of population, will allow them to win more elections. Apparently he just slipped through an interdimensional portal to bizarro land where the guy that gets the least votes wins.
2) The dude in the picture's creepy ass child molester smile. You just know that dude is a fucked up freak.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: techs
...
As I posted previously, Rush Limbaugh blamed the moderates for the loss. Now it looks like the Republicans will rally round that cry.

Good. I hope they reach farrr right and fulfill the predictions of the demise of the republican party.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: techs
A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.

Bullshit. I voted Obama because I want the Republican party to return to its core values. Obama represented those values far better than McCain/Palin.

 

[Arkaign]

The GOP is split. They must make a choice, and build on that choice. They cannot have it both ways any longer.

Either become more progressive and dump the far right / social conservatives, and combine with a small gov't / low spending mantra. (probably win in '12 or '16 depending on Obama's performance)

or

Drop the moderates, and appeal to the far right, continue the big authoritarian / big gov't / big spender mantra. (continue to lose the independents and moderates at the polls, and not have a chance until at LEAST '16).

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: techs
A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.

Bullshit. I voted Obama because I want the Republican party to return to its core values. Obama represented those values far better than McCain/Palin.

I agree. The Republican Party's "core values" are a smaller, more permissive government. The whole religious right thing is a fairly recent phenomenon - as recently as 1976, the deep south went for the Democrat, not the Republican. And besides, social issues rarely come up in government anyway. Government's primary role is to take care of things too big for people to take care of on their own, like the economy. This election was proof that the American people see it that way. The Republicans should de-emphasize their social conservatism and embrace fiscal conservatism, like Reagan did in 1980.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: techs
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI...es.election/index.html

CNN) -- A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council told CNN that conservatives need to take back control of the GOP if the party is to return to its winning ways.

"Moderates never beat conservatives. We've seen that in past elections," he said.

Rejecting suggestions that the conservative movement was viewed as being out of touch with the electorate, Perkins says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics.

There was clearly no mandate to shift the country to the left on social issues," Perkins said. "What Tuesday was, was a fact that people wanted change, and it's a rejection of a moderate view."

Perkins' comments come after a post-election conservative conclave met at an undisclosed location in northern Virginia on Thursday.

As I posted previously, Rush Limbaugh blamed the moderates for the loss. Now it looks like the Republicans will rally round that cry.

Did they wear their white pointy hats too?

Man, there is no fucking way I'd vote for a hardcore conservative. So, if you want to drive away the moderates then go ahead and return to your core values...good luck getting another Republican into the White House though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: techs
A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.

Bullshit. I voted Obama because I want the Republican party to return to its core values. Obama represented those values far better than McCain/Palin.

Obama represented core conservative values?

 

[ParticleMan]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: techs
A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.

Bullshit. I voted Obama because I want the Republican party to return to its core values. Obama represented those values far better than McCain/Palin.

Obama represented core conservative values?

Moreso than the Republicans.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: techs
A conservative leader Friday laid the Republican Party's poor showing at the polls at the feet of moderates who, he argues, led the party away from its core principles.

Bullshit. I voted Obama because I want the Republican party to return to its core values. Obama represented those values far better than McCain/Palin.

Obama represented core conservative values?

I think he's moderate in both social and economic. McCain has not economic values, just defense focused (government increase), and Palin has radically conservative social values. I don't think either of them truly represent Republican's conservative core. I'll choose consistent and flexible moderates over myopic conservatives.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: techs
Title: "It was the moderates" The cry continues....

McCain, being the moderate pro-government Republican that he is, was not conservative enough for me to vote for. I did not vote for him. So yes, he and other moderates are the reason the Republican Party lost the election.

If they want to cling to the Democrat?s ideals, they can join your party.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: techs
Title: "It was the moderates" The cry continues....

McCain, being the moderate pro-government Republican that he is, was not conservative enough for me to vote for. I did not vote for him. So yes, he and other moderates are the reason the Republican Party lost the election.

If they want to cling to the Democrat?s ideals, they can join your party.

Fine. We'll be happy to take John McCain and you can have your Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Strom Thurmond.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: techs
Title: "It was the moderates" The cry continues....

McCain, being the moderate pro-government Republican that he is, was not conservative enough for me to vote for. I did not vote for him. So yes, he and other moderates are the reason the Republican Party lost the election.

If they want to cling to the Democrat?s ideals, they can join your party.

Fine. We'll be happy to take John McCain and you can have your Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Strom Thurmond.

sound like a great idea to me.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: techs
Title: "It was the moderates" The cry continues....

McCain, being the moderate pro-government Republican that he is, was not conservative enough for me to vote for. I did not vote for him. So yes, he and other moderates are the reason the Republican Party lost the election.

If they want to cling to the Democrat?s ideals, they can join your party.

Fine. We'll be happy to take John McCain and you can have your Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Strom Thurmond.

With all due respect to Mrs. Palin, O'Reilly doesn't belong in the same sentence with her.