Posted on 11/07/2006 10:43:24 PM PST by jmaroneps37
It is a simple axium that "If you think you are a whe inner, you might be right, but if you think you are a loser you will probably be right."
This said, no matter how bad things looked over the past many months, I never allowed my doubts to overcome my essays. I was not a candidate. I did not see any value in saying defeatist things. Being "realistic" was not a chioce for me. My doubts were real to be sure. The poll of Freepers that showed just a 79% support rate for the GOP gave me plenty of reason to believe the breast beating crowd would stab America in the back. Yes I justr said that. When you thumb suckers finally stop kicking the floor and look up you will see that your "Oh so self satisfying tantrum" has now put every one of our ground troops in genuine and immediate danger from the Iraqis who will now turn on them and do so to suck up to the terrorists that they now beleve will win. I deeply fear that as soon as this weekend the difference will be felt and seen on the ground in Iraq. You who stayed home and you who voted Democrat will have to face this reality when you stop kicking the floor. We've heard you. You've done the damage you so dearly wanted to do so you could be noticed, now the ball is in your court. When the impeachment investigations start and stop America's president from working to keep us safe it will be your mess. When Charlie Rangel stops funding the war, it will be our pain caused by your thumb sucking tantrum. When our secrets are leaked at an alarming rate, it will be our pain caused by your thumb sucking. I'll listen to any reasonable argument, but please keep your righteous brest beating indignation to yourself. We've heard you. Now we all have to feel the pains you have brought on all of us.
I totally agree with you.
Any freeper who did not vote today or voted dem is ridiculous.
Sad to say, I agree. The children won tonight. Those that want to be coddled by government from cradle to grave won. The worst part? Bush sees a silver lining. He looks forward now to passing comprehensive immigration "reform." Yes, that's EXACTLY what he said. With Republican leadership like this, we deserved to lose!
Well put.
Was the GOP really abandoned by the base? Or independents? I don't think we know enough to say either way right now.
Not really. Just a stroll down memory lane.
I totally agree! I will never vote for a Democrat, and didn't in this election. I voted straight ticket Reepublican like always. Many people voted today not knowing the issues or knowing who Nancy Pelosi is and what she stands for. I do not like the fact that those who are uneducated about the issues and the candidates just screwed with my security in this country.
also remember too-
Do you REALLY think the dems will come
" Charging out of the gate " now?? Ina few weeks? Months??
I think not.
There is STILL 2008 to think about!
There is STILL the other two " Pull out the Troops " Votes that only the 18 desm voted FOR! ( whether for THIS election or not--) and IF the VOTE came up again in the next weeks/months--they STILL have to worry about LOOKING like Cowards-for the 2008 race!
Although the Republicans ( notice I did NOT say "Conservatives") in the Houses NOW might have harder fights and battles--THAT ONLY MEANS there better be MORE UNITY than the Crap we saw the last years!!-with RINOS voting DEM!!--ROVE BETTER GET HIS HOUSE IN ORDER!!
And it ALSO means--that the Dems did NOT necessarily "WIN" as Much as they "SAY" they did--or as much as they PROMISED their "base" either!
The DEMS WILL BE AS CLOSELY WATCHED from now on too to "Achieve" for "ALL AMERICA" as they did PROMISE!!
Cause THEY have their EYE on REAL POWER!-The 08' PRESIDENCY!!
Dont dump it on the voters. The Republicans in Washington lost big time because they built bridges to nowhere, spent money like drunken Dems, didnt do squat about making tax cuts permanent or safeguarding our borders. All they did during the two or three days a week they were doing the people's business was bring up symbolic votes on flag burning and suppport of marriage. Name two significant things that the congress accomplished during the past two years? Maybe that's why they lost? I voted. You might take your anger out on the people like LS who kept feeding us with bullshit about how we were going to gain seats. Yeah right.
NO
As long as the left wing press is free to "report" on any such war, they will sabotage the efforts, eventually.
I don't get it.
People who make this kind of argument are the sames one in the past who called Pat Buchanan-supporters and people like Bruce Bartlett; "irrelevent" and "0.5%ers/half-percenters." And now these "real conservatives" cost the GOP the election according to these same people?
Either people lie about the Buchanan/Paleoconservative's size or they lie about them costing the GOP the election in 2006. Both can't be true.
I don't know why, but some Democrats like to come here. They vote in our polls and so sometimes there appears to be a signification defection taking place. I don't believe that to be true.
I also don't believe that many Republican people who take the time to come here are going to stay home or vote for Democrats.
This evening is a big disappointment to all of us. Even those who thought this administration was making some critical errors, didn't want to see us lose like this. It's too important for us as a nation not to.
Now, is it just possible that terrible policies caused some of this? I think it is. Does that mean all policy was bad? Of course not. Bush and by extension the House and Senate did some good things. Still, I have been very disappointed in some things that were done, and still others that didn't get done.
One of two things will happen as a result of this election. The R leadership will decide that it was too far to the right, and move further left to broaden appeal. The Democrats are praying this will happen. The other option, is for the Republicans to do some soul searching and renew their vows to conservatism. The Dems would hate this.
The Dems would hate the latter, because every time great gains are made by the Republicans, it is when they voice solid ideals and do their best to implement them.
If the Republicans do in fact try to reach out to the Democrats, the party is dead. For my taste, the party had moved so far left it was already embarassing to defend on a number of issues.
I'd like a party that would value my values. After tonight, they may be more receptive. If so, I think the party will right itself. If it isn't more receptive, I don't know what would pull this nation through, because that type of Republican party would be incapapble.
You forget that the "Fairness Doctrine" legislation will only destroy all conservative talk radio and all conservative websites. The leftists will keep bringing this legislation back over and over until it eventually passes.
I don't think they threw a tantrum. They just spewed all their hatred of America and it's military.
We all do
good night
I was remembering when Peter Jennings mumbled that famous remark about the Republican takeover in 1994. Such sentiments won't be spoken today as the mediots agree with democrat control.
Don't give up hope. Two years is a long while and things happen.
Truth be told, I think conservatism in the US is pretty much dead...well, maybe not dead, but leaderless and in turmoil. Tomorrow, the 2008 presidential race begins in earnest, and there are no bona fide conservatives who stand a chance of winning the GOP nomination. We can talk about how the backstabbing "true believers" abandoned the GOP, but the truth is the conservative movement in this country is lifeless and exhausted. And, I blame the Republican congress for killing conservatism -- for having the majority for the past 6 years and not doing anything with it, and also Pres. Bush, who while being a very decent man, is not an ideological conservative and hasn't led as one. We need new leadership, a new vision, and a renewed agenda.
LOL, look you can't expect folks who have convinced themselves that Bush can't do anything wrong, that this could possibly be partly his and the House and the Senate leadership's fault.
There's enough blame to go around. Lord knows I couldn't find the spark of drive to go out and fight for this team. Every time I voiced a concern over an issue, I was the lepper who came to dinner. That just didn't say to me, "Go out there and fight for me...", even if I think you're an idiot.
Well, I voted. That was more than some of them deserved.
For years Congress spent like Democrats and, given the chance of choosing between a Democrat and a Democrat the poeple chose Democrats. I'm going to bed now, maybe by the time I wake up some miracle will have occurred and we will still control the Senate. If not then the only hope for the Republicans is to learn how to be obstructionist like the Dems were when they were the minority. Trying to get along has always cost them yet they never seem to learn. My state (GA) bucked the trend, the Repubs clobbered the Dems in every major race so we did our part.
You've got that right. I saw on Drudge, "Here Come The Democrats!" At least someone besides the Islamofascists is happy tonight .
I think the left sees the election of Republipussycans as blood in the water. It's just another shift to the left, albeit a slower death.
We even had to fight with our own people to stop the reinstatement of the Assault Weapons Ban..Why was that?
Why did we have to rassle with republicans to get immigration reform?
Did we give conservatives anything to vote FOR?
Two things killed us: 1. Iraq, or more precisely, the fact that we haven't won in Iraq (or, alternatively, that we didn't declare victory and leave). 2. The price of a gallon of gasoline (hence the "bad economy" spin of the DNC and the MSM).
You have no idea how many times I've tried to drive that point home on this forum.
Given the opportunity to vote for a full-blown Democrat or a Republican pretender, why would any Democrat vote for the pretender?
Sadly, this concept hasn't been well recieved, or for that matter even comprehended by outward appearances.
The cartoon says it all. Too bad the RNC didn't find a way to say everything that's on the paper (too busy reading Webb's dirty books).
Something in the basic approach has to change. The Bush idea of trying to treat dems like the other branch of the family while they clearly treat us as the enemy is obviously not any sort of a formula for success.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Notice how they didn't responded to what I wrote. Wonder why....
My2Cents wrote: "Truth be told, I think conservatism in the US is pretty much dead...well, maybe not dead, but leaderless and in turmoil."
I hope that's not true, but I fear you are correct. Our fearless Republican leaders have spent the last 6 years running away from the conservatives who elected them. Don't they realize they cannot out pander the Dems? No, we are a nation of far too many children who look to government as the solution to every ill. I am 100% certain they are wrong (and I am 100% certain it will lead to no good in the long term), but like other FReepers, I am a distinct minority. The Republicans didn't deserve our votes (even though I voted for them), but to hand this nation over to the Democrats is amazingly foolish. Yet, that's what the American people just did.
Wait until you see how spending like drunken sailors can be. You will shortly with Pelosi. Who gave you the tax cuts? Republicans. Who is going to take it way donks. Borders, what bordes Pelosi and her ilk will say. Blaming the GOP about everything is what cost us this election period. You can thank Michelle Malkin, Rich Lowery, Bill Kristol and idiots like that for constantly harping on the GOP, thus some voters felt the donks would be better. It is going to be a nightmare now.
1) We have been mucking around in Iraq longer than it took us to win WWII. The politically correct approach to winning a war will not work. I can sum up the Iraq war - Muqtada al-Sadr! The fact that he and his Mahdi Army are roaming the streets speaks to the policy failure in Iraq. Bad guys need to be killed, not counseled. Our military has been brilliant and displaced the Saddam regime, but we have not won the war. Iran and Syria openly supply and support the insurgents and we have done nothing to make those two regimes accountable for American deaths.
2) Spending and government growth are way out of control. So we got a token tax cut. If a small one was good, a big one would have been better. Tax cuts were limited by the uncontrolled spending. If government growth and spending would have been properly managed even larger tax cuts would have been possible. I for one and not going to be thankful that the government is only taking 50% of my income.
3) Our country and certain western states have been invaded and colonized by Mexico and the president has turned a deaf ear to it in hopes of getting the (illegal?) Hispanic vote. Illegal immigration alone is enough reason to have fired anyone/everyone! The western states are bankrupt, health care has collapsed, law enforcement is under siege, and security is a nightmare!
4) Polls over principle governing. The party has consistently worked against strong conservatives in the interest of RINO's and "moderates". Can anyone explain the insane support of Arlen Spectre and a host of conservatives that the GOP leadership has crapped on.
This election was not a rejection of conservative principles, it was firing an incompetent work force.
More like, being abandoned by factions of the Republican party that will give any quarter to otherwise loyal conservatives on some very deeply held and heartfelt issues.
When a large block of voters tells you that you should, for example, "control the border or else" you had best believe them.
I voted for a democrat candidate for the second time in my life. The first time was for the late Bob Casey many years ago.
FlyVet wrote: "And there are many on this forum who think it's the fault of those of us who didn't vote for more-of-the-same, get-myself-reelected, "moderate" "Republicans" in the primaries."
If there is ANYTHING positive about tonight it's Chaffee and DeWine goin' down in flames. Shoot, I would have voted for them simply to try and preserve adults in charge of Washington, but if we are going to lose, better to lose some RINOs in the process.
Therefore, I can't get too terribly upset about the results tonight. Yeah, I hate the fact leftists are in charge. But it was high time the Republican party realized conservatives were actually serious about the need for them to stay true to principle. This housecleaning isn't as bad as some of the more emotional tantrums tonight may lead one to believe. It's fairly common, in fact, for just what happened Tuesday to happen in a sixth-year midterm election. Nothing out of the ordinary. No "paradigm shift in American politics", no "death of the Republican party", etc.
That said, I didn't even get a chance to vote for a nationwide elected office. There were none in my state. The gubernatorial candidate for whom I voted was the conservative Republican, and he promptly lost. Big.
"
Any freeper who did not vote today or voted dem is ridiculous. "
I stood out in the rain (WITHOUT an umbrella) third in line waiting for the polls to open this morning to do my part.
I can now say that I'm thoroughly disgusted with those who have chosen to gamble with all our security and have fallen for and believe the lies of the left and there partners in crime, the MSM.
Add to that those who felt the current crop of politico's needed to be sent some kind of message, and those who just flat out didn't vote.
UNBELIEVABLE, that ultra San Fran wackjob liberal Nancy Pelosi is going to take charge of the house. God help us!
I doubt if, in the key states, the "base" walked away. I know I threatened it in my passionate feelings of how badly the Republicans squandered so many opportunities by abandoning their conservative principles. But I did vote, and in a district my Independent (these days) vote for the R's was meaningless (Cameron County in South Texas). And I believe most "old school" conservatives found themselves back in the booths once again voting "against" rather than voting "for" as I did. For most of us "old school" conservatives deeply believe that voting is more a resposibility in our Republic than a right.
I think you are seriously underestimating the effects of the relentless and insidious anti-Bush/Conservative/Christian/'Straight'/gunowner/war/military/Iraq/'call a terrorist a friggin' terrorist for Pete's sake' agitprop bombardment of the general population by the alphabet media over the past years.
Maybe there are a few Republicans who have grown seriously disgusted with the border and immigration issues, maybe even enough to not vote. I am not one, although I admit I am disgusted.
It has been a full-court press since President Bush was elected. NOW, the Democrats have to put up or shut up.
SO hold your breath until you turn blue. Please. If we were blue in the face it was from stating our position, trying to get action based upon those views, not from holding our breath in a tantrum.
The larger question is can a true conservative win the day?
The cartoon above really says a bunch about America and Americans at large.
Conservatism is dead, huh?
Glad to see the stalwarts are out in force tonight.
I have no problem with Duncan Hunter's positions, but he'll be a blip among Republican prospects. He's no Ronald Reagan. And frankly, I don't think we'll see another "Reagan" in our lifetime. The Republican Party will revert back to being more like it was during the Eisenhower years.
I agree ... and I also throw in the 3rd party voters too. They are just as much to blame for giving Congress to the socialists.
jrooney wrote: "You can thank Michelle Malkin, Rich Lowery, Bill Kristol and idiots like that for constantly harping on the GOP, thus some voters felt the donks would be better. It is going to be a nightmare now."
You can't seriously blame Michelle and others for the Republican loss. They did it to themselves by #1 acting like big government socialists and #2 not selling the Iraq war to Americans. Bush himself as much as admitted he was having a hard time proving the war was going well. Well, what is the president if not the cheerleader who rallies the nation behind him (much like Reagan). Hey, I don't think Iraq is nearly as bad as the MSM states, but the typical citizen thinks we are LOSING. Who do we blame? Our leadership who failed to win the fight for public opinion on the war. Still, they might have had a chance if they had rallied the base to vote. Too bad it's hard voting for leadership that does NOT share your own values. Yes, many FReepers sucked it up and placed their votes for the party, even though they knew it didn't really EARN their votes. But FReepers are not your typical citizens, and we know who got the most votes.
Not dead, but ineffective as a political movement. And it isn't just tonight...I've been talking about the death of "Reagan-style" conservativism for about two years now. Conservatives today remind me of the conservatives of the 1940s and 1950s -- no positive message, and a decided minority within the electorate. The Reagan Revolution is dead. Time for new leadership, but I see none on the horizon.
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