PSYCHO-FREEP wrote: “The country IS AND HAS changed drastically, but not in the way you think. Conservatives are now a very unpopular minority and the for the Democrats, the election in ‘08 is theirs to lose.
The entire image of Conservatism has become unappealing to the American Public. There are many reasons why, and in order to understand what it is that has made this trend occur, we must first look at what image we are projecting to the public, and why we are being seen in such a bad way.”
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PSYCHO-FREEP, thank you for providing a classic example of why so many FReepers are hostile to Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy. Even more so than Rudy himself, it is his supporters and apologists who are creating so much ill will for him because you come on FR, and without any supporting documentation or data, you try to tell us things that JUST AREN’T TRUE.
1. Conservatives are NOT a minority. According to the most recent Battleground Poll, Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans described themselves as “conservative” or “very conservative” and thirty-four percent (34%) of Americans described themselves as “liberal” or “very liberal.” These numbers have not varied by more than two percent (2%) either way in the LAST SEVEN Battleground Polls beginning in April 2002.
2. Conservatives are NOT unpopular. The gap between conservatives and liberals is wider than it has been in any of the last seven Battleground Polls over the last four-and-a-half years. Liberals have never been more unpopular than now and conservatives never more popular than now.
The Battleground Poll is the most intensively researched bipartisan poll in America, the only poll that openly reveals all its internal questions, the most accurate poll.
3. Why, then, did the Republicans take such a beating in the Fall, 2006 elections? Because the GOP was largely perceived by the voters as having ABANDONED ITS CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES. Big spending, corruption and a failure to conduct the war in the Middle East effectively were the reasons for the Republicans’ downfall.
The ‘Rats ran the most conservative candidates they could find who could still be called Democrats. Many of them campaigned on such issues as integrity, fiscal responsibility, the RKBA and traditional family values (pro-life and anti-gay marriage).
What conservatives need to do is to take back control of the Republican Party from the moderates and liberals who are running the GOP into the ground. They have taken away the things which make the Republican Party different from the ‘Rat Party.
The great majority of FReepers have have enough of the Rudynistas whizzing on our legs and telling us that it’s raining!
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/10/10/the-greatest-news-yet-in-the-battleground-poll/
And there is a reason Lieberman beat Lamont. Americans are basically conservative IMO - though not in the vein of Buchanan, or other righties of that sort. They tend to vote for the sane middle of the conservative spectrum, a la Reagan, and IMO, Rudy. I think Fred Thompson will be seen that way too, if he gets into it. On the right, but not heavy on the moralizing, or rigid.
In other words, amiable, as Reagan was. Not strident in his views or demeanor. That goes a long way with the American people.
34% of registered voters are committed to vote GOP.
44% of registered voters are committed to vote Democrat.
The remainder, 22% are independent/swing. (moderate)
The elections in ‘06 pretty much illustrated the trend pointed out in this poll. The margin of victory for the Dems, was around 10%. The same margin exists in this poll.
But the proof will still be revealed in the coming months. The isolated opinions expressed on this forum, are still way off the chart in regards to mainstream America. The polls consistently support that theory.
HEAR HEAR
GREAT POST!!!!
We do NOT need TWO political parties to the 'left-of-center'. Only a liberal would EVER dream of our country degrading to that level.