| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/27/2008 11:16:32 AM | Readyornot57 said:
McCain IS Bush on immigration, the war and the economy.
Southern Lass and all the other Mc Cain supporters....What has been GOOD about the last eight years? Really, has anything been positive? You can point to all of the problems we have and tie them to policies that McCain wants to continue.
And don't bring up Obama, the question is only What has been GOOD about the last eight years?
I prefer McCain on immigration and I don't think that McCain is going to be any different on the war and the economy than Obama would be. McCain will withdraw our troops with honor and dignity when it's time. As for the economy, I've decided that I prefer less government inteference in my life. As a struggling single mom, I've never depended on the government to make things easier for me, short of taking advantage of financial aid so I could go to college. It wasn't easy to make it on my own but if one is willing to work hard, success is possible. Since I had to work hard, why shouldn't everyone else have to do the same? Why allow so many to get by on government handouts? Many need them but a lot more don't.
Frankly, I don't find conservative principles to be so outlandish and wrong anymore. I think we need some of the conservative principles and conservative morality injected back into our lifestyles. I'm FOR prayer in schools. I'm FOR family values. I'm FOR traditional values when it comes to marriage and religion, and I'm for less government inteference and mollycoddling of so many.
If anything, I now find many of the liberal stances I once thought were beneficial to be suffocating and enabling. And I find others of them (like immigration) to be plain out and out irresponsible. While I'm not thrilled with President Bush, I appreciate his strong stance on foreign policy and his "kick ass and take names" approach assures me that no one is going to mess with us. He's not a perfect man by any means, but I have felt safe under his reign for the most part.
I don't feel that our future President, John McCain, is going to be anything like President Bush though. I distinctly sense that McCain is a different animal. I also think that whomever his Vice President turns out to be, that this man/woman will be someone who will be able to care for the country well. I trust McCain's judgment (especially compared to the alternative). And that about sums it up. More than anything else, I feel that I can trust Senator John McCain. I believe he's traditional, honorable, and patriotic. I will feel safe under his leadership.
I didn't arrive at these stances over night either. They have been developing for the last several months as I've compared and contrasted the liberal Democrats and the conservative Republicans. I believe I fall in the middle somewhere on many issues but based upon the two choices I have to decide on for President of the USA, there is no alternative but John McCain for me. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/27/2008 12:36:43 PM | Conservative positions are OK for people who arrive at them through thought and objective concerns. It's not so great when disgruntled supporters of a liberal candidate suddenly grab the first Republican they can find because they don't like how a nomination fight went. McCain is not going to be able to count on voters like that, because there are so few of them. There will be no appreciable crossover from the Dems. to McCain and he knows that.
If a dissident from the Democratic Party is just looking for the candidate who promises the least government interference in your life, then Bob Barr is your guy, followed by Chuck Baldwin.
McCain is in serious trouble in the election. McCain needs to look at emphasizing the Christian base and heritage which is common to most Republicans more---that is his best hope for a core constituency. McCain needs to look at the immigration issue far differently than he has been if he wants solid Republican support. He has been seen by the Republicans as completely ineffective on the issue. His advocacy of domestic drilling and his pro-nuclear stance is a favorable one for the base. Promoting the alternative fuels industry and space exploration as massive industries of the future would bolster a supply-side fiscal orientation. He would need to pick a strong, traditional Conservative who has a record on economic issues. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/27/2008 2:31:34 PM | Here's my take on it. First, the News is going to distort it and make it appear that Middle America is going to swing over to Obama. Nope. Not going to happen. Reasons:
Middle America does not take kindly to babies (in the womb or out), having their necks broken as a means of birth control. No matter how staunch a person is for Roe Vs. Wade, they do NOT like Obama's stand on late term abortions. That, in and of itself is enough to glue the Conservatives together as a dedicated group.
Add in that Obama has flip flopped on the gun ban issue... another strong American tradition of gun ownership... well...
I'd go out on a limb here and say the Nov. election will not be near as close as some 'news' outlets would like us to believe. They're already dissing the accuracy of 'Polls' in the same breath they are touting the 'double digit' lead Obama holds in some (... LA times... like this is not biased? lol).... anyway, the dissing is 'just in case' there is a landslide so they won't look so stupid.
The problem is not will the Rep. party heal itself...because it isn't actually broke/hurting. The News gives the 'impression' it is. It's a ploy to try to tempt people into believing that their own like minded will vote for Obama. It's not hard at all to see what 'they' are trying to do. It's pretty sad that Obama can't stand on his record due to flip flopping... and still refuses the Town Hall meetings, etc. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/27/2008 8:13:16 PM |
The problem is not will the Rep. party heal itself...because it isn't actually broke/hurting.
Yes it is, Padawan. The Republican Party is splintered worse than at any time in recent history. Even in the aftermath of Watergate, there was still a core of Republicans who respected Nixon's basic policies and brilliance. The Republican core is much smaller after Bush's 7 1/2 years and McCain's spotty record on issues like immigration and taxes. Neocons can pretend like the mention of Republican problems is solely an invention of the liberal news outlets, but it really has nothing to do with news spin at all.
McCain himself has admitted that he has a hell of a uniting job to do among Republicans. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/27/2008 8:20:13 PM | ehhhhh prolly not so much....oddly enough, one of my best buds is a fundraiser for the RNC and he hears the same thing over and over from the evangelicals. They aren't real sold on McCain.
When the Family Research Council met in Feb of 2007, only Republicans were there vying for that vote which is interesting because we KNOW there's tons of evangelical Democrats as well but that's another thread. At any rate here's the link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7513872
Key issues for evangelicals include abortion, stem-cell research and gay marriage.
At the time of this meeting McCain was already struggling with some problems with this bunch because: "Preserving the sanctity of marriage is a sticky issue for McCain. Many evangelicals say even though he's got a consistent pro-life voting record, McCain won't get their vote unless he backs a federal ban on same sex marriage. He says it should be regulated by the states. And many here haven't forgotten 2000 when he railed against conservative religious leaders."
It gets even more spesh:
"So after hearing McCain speak in a closed door session, Ricky File's response was skepticism. "He's saying the right things to excite this kind of crowd that we're a part of, but we've observed him too long to fall for it hook, line and sinker," File said."
Unless McCain can somehow back up and align his position with this bunch AND turn back time, the evangelicals are ambivalent about him to say the least. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 6/29/2008 9:55:35 AM |
Unless McCain can somehow back up and align his position with this bunch AND turn back time, the evangelicals are ambivalent about him to say the least.
Agreed. McCain's only hope is to embrace evangelicals and Christian conservatives all-out AND also address the concerns about the economy. He always seems like he wants to hold his nose around evangelicals, and obviously, they pick up on that. Like it or not, that group is McCain's best hope for a base. McCain is too far from the Libertarians or Constitutionalists to get many of their votes, but he can still get most of the traditional Conservatives based on his service to country and low-tax stance. The Iraq War is not helping him; but he's committed to it, and people respect McCain's commitment to see it through whether they agree fully with his position or not.
If he wants to win, McCain has to solidify the support of the Christian conservatives; ably address the economy; and try to increase his support from there. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/5/2008 4:02:24 PM | | I think McCain is going to make a grab for the swing states and dare the southern evangelicals to vote for Obama. He will pick romney and go after Michigan. McCain knows he is an underdog and by going back to the base will not help him win. He needs to win the middle, which has swung to the Democrats. Bush barely won Florida if it were not for Jeb. Kerry lost because he was a northern liberal but Obama can play up the Midwestern roots to appeal to Ohio. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/5/2008 10:07:34 PM | If McCain picks Romney, he is doomed! Romney does not have a good reputation in Massachusetts, and will drag McCain down further. Especially once the nation finds out just how bad Romney was for governor.
I long for the days of progressive Republicans like Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller, and Rep. Silvio O. Conte (R-Mass). Our country must return to progressive values in order to move forward. The right wing mentality is only going to undermine the Republican Party. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/6/2008 10:19:00 AM | Actualy I have found that the Democrate and Republican parties both are "progressive" and "conservitive" in their own ways. The key differents is what issue are they going to be progressive about. For example, the liberals are less progressive when it comes to tearing down old land marks for commercial expansion. People who favor the Republicans are far more "progressive" in that area. The libs are progressive with social issues, while conservitive wish to retain old world family values.
As of late, neither party seem to be a conservitive, when comes to preserving freedom.
People need to be less concerned of whether or not their parties will heal themselfs, instead we should be more concerned about America as a whole. Our current parties replaced the first two political parties when they no longer served "We The People". The Federalist and non Federalist parties were the first, now our current ones may need replacement too.
The only thing that matters, is whether or not we save America. JFK basicly said, America isn't worth saving, if we can't save our American values. If America loses it's identity by trying to be like every other country, then nothing will make us special. Our political parties don't make America...we do.
Save America...don't worry about party control, worry about your control. We are America, and as one of the people, I don't feel either party repersents me. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/7/2008 5:51:36 PM | I wouldn't call McCain "distinguished." Look back to the "Keating Five" scandal, esp. the footage of him cussing out congress. It's all over youtube if you look it up.
I think the Republican Party is going to be done for in the years to come. They're out of touch with the American public and they failed to keep their end of the bargain when they promised America in the 90's they were going to fix our tax system and support the middle class. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/7/2008 6:18:02 PM |  Think McCain will win at this rate since Obama does not want to debate not too concered. The GOP has a problem that can be corrected its economic wing likes cheaper labor of immigrants, but the social and nationalistic wing see it as a threat to its way of life. Its not Evangelicals verse the Country Club republicans that are problem its the nationalistic and millitary wing of the party. The platform gonna need modification in the long term, and may need to lose a wing of the party to rebuild the base to reflect the times. Republican party base is growing more with people creating and building durable goods, and the democrats are into creating and making intanigle goods. It means the plaform needs adjust to reflect those economic and soical interests. The problem is Republicans should not be in bed with wall street scam artists, nor should they allow the democarts to reduce millitary spending nor penalize oil companies.  Remember liberal elites just need oil tycoons from Texas to make Barrack trip to the white house a little harder. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/7/2008 6:57:53 PM | | Omega hit the nail on the head. The Republicans are pretty much done for and are a group of the past rather than the future. The number of Republicans has declined of late, as well. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/7/2008 8:23:42 PM | I think that we need three or four major political parties. Most European countries have more than three, and they have 70+% voter turnout. As for the Republican National Party, I think that it's become a major drag on the local party efforts. It's tragic because there are so many good Republicans serving in state legislatures and local positions. They are doing all of the heavy lifting, yet they get no credit for their efforts.
Will the Republican Party heal itself? If so, it will have to come from the grass roots up, not the top down. There are a couple of good Republicans in Congress, but by in large, the GOP has become as authoritarian as the opposition--in some ways more so. Independent conservatives and libertarians are now leary of the national GOP and much less willing to vote for this political machine. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/8/2008 9:24:45 AM | That's true, maxx. There are a few good R's at the local level who have the integrity to vote their conscience instead of the party line. I remember voting for a liberal Republican attorney general candidate against a conservative Democrat. There are a few local R's I would vote for if I lived in their districts, such as a city councilor who lives in the next town over. Our District Attorney has been doing a great job for a long time, and happens to be a moderate Republican. I've voted for her, and will do so again. She has run unopposed for years because she is very good and does alot to help crime victims.
Gov. Bill Weld did a fine job as governor of Mass. His socially liberal and fiscally conservative ideas were helpful to the state, and he is missed. However we are now blessed to have Gov. Patrick at the helm. He is doing a great job and working hard to draw more businesses into the state. Sadly, Mitt Romney did a poor job and made a real mess of things. The more conservative the politician the more baloney they are full of!!
I'll vote for a liberal Republican ANY day over a conservative Democrat--electing progressives is more important than the party line. We liberals must stand together whether we are D's or R's or I's. Go get 'em!!
GO OBAMA!! | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/8/2008 2:48:45 PM |
People need to be less concerned of whether or not their parties will heal themselves. Instead, we should be more concerned about America as a whole. Our current parties replaced the first two political parties when they no longer served "We The People". The Federalist and non Federalist parties were the first, now our current ones may need replacement too.
That's a worthy long-term goal; but for the short term, we need to be concerned about both parties healing their internal rifts and addressing the economy, foreign debt, and the energy challenge. Political parties are most effective when they have a committed, loyal base and a clear set of goals. Parties in flux with appreciable numbers of swing voters make for stagnation.
I think that we need three or four major political parties. Most European countries have more than three, and they have 70+% voter turnout.
I agree that 3 or 4 strong parties would be more inclusive and effective than just two dominant parties. The challenge in America is that every time a viable 3rd party comes along, it is built around a strong personality more than a cohesive set of goals. The Bull Moose Party of 1912, the American Independent Party of 1968, and the Reform Party of 1992 and 1996 were all built around powerful political demagogues. Third parties in America have invariably fallen apart when the demagogue of the moment proved unelectable.
A strong, competitive third party in America will require a selfless leader who can build the party up to national prominence and also build support behind a number of candidates at all levels---not just for himself as a Presidential candidate. That leader needs to promote the party and not just himself or herself. A third party in America will have to have some flexibility to attract a large base, but still be founded on readily identifiable, core issues which don't change. Such a party would also have to have a very strong, long-term, fundraising apparatus which supersedes individual election cycles. As the demographics in the U.S. continue to rapidly change over the next 30 years, such a viable third-party will become more likely. However, it's not likely in the next 4 to 8 years.
Back to the topic---the Republicans are in much more trouble as a party than the Democrats are. They are continuing a slow dissolution which started during the Bush "41" term in 1989 and which has not abated. Until and unless the ideological fault line between fundamentalists/evangelicals and secular conservatives can be mended, it's doubtful that the Republicans will ever go back to the strength of the Reagan days. It will be interesting to follow McCain and see how he tries to pull it off. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 7/9/2008 3:48:08 PM | Gizmo,
Obama is not into the idea of the "town hall meetings" that McCain wants to do because of how many McCain wants to do along with the scheduling issues.
Also, Obama is ahead of McCain. McCain seems to be slipping in the polls each week. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/27/2008 11:33:35 PM | | McCain has apparently selected his V.P. running mate. He will notify that individual on Thursday and then reveal the choice to the public at 11:00 am Friday. Obviously, a good choice on McCain's part can go a long way toward bringing together dissident Republicans. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/27/2008 11:54:46 PM | | It's Romney. I mean the guy is already making VP speeches for Mccain all over the place and he is strong where McCain is week. Plus he is one of the best attack dogs out there for the rep party right now. If Romeny isn't the VP I would be utterly shocked. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 12:06:44 AM | Purple
It's pretty sad that Obama can't stand on his record due to flip flopping... and still refuses the Town Hall meetings, etc.
Obama would get ripped apart at this time if he did and knows it. He has no solid positions to fall back on when under pressure except some vague thing about representing change. That's alright though as 'change' is an abstract thought and, if he solidifies it too soon, he becomes a target rather than an idea. It's the timing that is important here at this point as he still has not figured out exactly what that change will be other than him in charge while selecting a VP who is still the same after thirty odd years and certainly does not represent change. Kerry botched it last election by waiting too long to become solid as election day, many people didn't know him or his positions enough to trust him. Obama's change needs to be broadcast well before end September.
Say Purple, wondering if you know, are the Evangelicals a voting block? Who is their head and how do they enforce their members voting choices? And, how do I contact their headquarters? How about the 'Christian Right,' are they housed in the same office complex as the 'Christian Left' or 'Christian Libertarians?' | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 2:50:21 AM |
Obama would get ripped apart at this time if he did and knows it. He has no solid positions to fall back on when under pressure except some vague thing about representing change.
You know thats a verifiable mistruth that is being propogated by the Republican party.
For a detailed break down of his policy platform, please reference:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
Say Purple, wondering if you know, are the Evangelicals a voting block?
Yes. McCain sucked up to one of their Leaders, Hagee, who is an anti-catholic, anti-muslim historically anti semetic who thinks that humans rode dinosaurs 6 thousand years ago. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 3:16:22 AM | This isn't about the rep healing you got that backwards it's about the dem trying to heal and come together in which you still got 30+% of conservative dems that are not still to going to vote for Obama.
The Rep are in a good spot right now, they were suppose to be 15% down right now to the dems and now it's basicly at a dead lock. It's the dems that are heading towards the perfect storm and the 30+% of conservative dems is that perfect storm. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 3:20:36 AM |
The Rep are in a good spot right now, they were suppose to be 15% down right now to the dems and now it's basicly at a dead lock. It's the dems that are heading towards the perfect storm and the 30+% of conservative dems is that perfect storm
It may well happen, you may get a Republican president running on a platform and legacy of bad economy and unjusty costly wars. Primarily because the Republicans have succesfully tared Obama as a crypto muslim/liberal, despite their not being any major policy differences betwen Clinton and Obama.
I'll give the Republican party credit, they're may be three groups within it that absolutely despise each other, but hatred of progressive thought brings them together.
You do notice that nobody is predicting Republican gains in the house or senate though right? | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 4:06:20 AM |
Unless they are interested in voting for a wild card that associates himself with some of the most radical of radicals
Actually associating oneself with radicals is not as bad as being a radical group like Bush/Cheney and company,oops I should have said companies, no make that big companies.
This the most radical group ever. They have treated the constitution as "just a piece of paper" and successfully darted the rule of law and committed war crimes. They have created treasonous acts against our constitution and sent our soldiers to win a war and refuse to define winning and put each and every american into $40,000.00 more in debt with that debt to be paid from our taxes and out children's taxes.
They promote viagra and thwart birth control, insuring there are enough babies to grow up in poor economic environments where becoming a soldier becomes the most viable option to escape poverty. All the while, for a place to sell expensive weapons, drugs, oil and beer.
What is it that republicans are conserving for? The right to spend more taxpayer money on guns, drugs, oil and beer? | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 4:20:43 AM | Yeah but that's 4 years from now charles. We will have to wait to see first who is in office and second if it is Mccain it's going to be based on what he has done in those 4 years and not now, because those votes are locked for McCain just about now. He would have to screw up big time to lose them.
I wouldn't see why not to at least regain one majority back. I mean, hell last time i checked the Dems in the house and senate have gotten worse approval ratings then the prez does now. | |
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| Will the Republican Party Heal Itself In Time?
Posted: 8/28/2008 8:17:52 AM |
The Republicans are in a good spot right now, they were suppose to be 15% down right now to the dems and now it's basicly at a dead lock.
McCain himself is in a good spot in the Presidential race, doing better than expected; but, I wouldn't say the Republicans as a party are in great shape. There's a huge, ideological divide over issues like abortion in the Republican Party. The schism between Christian and secular Republicans is huge.
McCain is doing his best to bridge the gap; but we'll have to see what happens. | |
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