Rallying, unifying disgruntled GOP will be a huge task

Chron.com ^ | June 16, 2007 | E.J. DIONNE JR

[RJL]

Rallying, unifying disgruntled GOP will be a huge task

Not to worry, we're unified, 85% of Republicans oppose Bush's "comprehensive" immigration reform.

The problem for the Republican "leadership" is that our strong unity is not with them.

[goldfinch]

Also, our leaders know that the Mexicans and any other illegal won’t vote along either party lines.

Please explain. I expect them to vote straight Democrat.

[goldfinch]

Also, our leaders know that the Mexicans and any other illegal won’t vote along either party lines.

Please explain. I expect them to vote straight Democrat.

[iopscusa]

I too think this is the larger story: conservatives have invigorated by their battle against the RINO liberal attempt to sell out the country....even if the GOP elites are on their political deathbed, the conservative movement in America is very much alive and fighting on its feet.

We must keep our eyes on the prize, saving this unique and great country that has done more for indiviual freedom, the rule of law and peace than any other secular entity in the history of man!

[jmaroneps37]

If france can pull herself to the right, WE can. This fight will help us unite and be ready for 08.

[Joe Boucher]

In spite of President Bush and Senator Mel Martinez (the head of the G.O.P. and my senator) trying to kill the party with this amnesty b.s. the conservatives are united.

[Thermalseeker]

An out of touch bunch of elitists is the best way to describe the Senate.

I don't think it'll be hard at all to rally the true conservatives. It'll go something like this:

Fred steps up to the podium. Fred says "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you elect me to be your President, 10 minutes after I am sworn in, under my authority as Commander in Chief and under the obligations to secure the blessings of Liberty afforded me by the Constitution of the United States of America, I will sign an executive order that will speed up construction of the border fence, a complete border fence from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, insuring completion by June of 2009. Further, I will order that 40,000 fully armed National Guard troops be put on the border until the fence is completed and the border is secure. I will demand that the Department of Justice enforce all laws pertaining to illegal immigration and employment of illegal aliens currently on the books. Failure by the DOJ in this regard will not be tollerated. Anyone arrested and detained who has been determined to have entered this country illegally or anyone legally in this country who does not have full citizenship that has been convicted of a felony will automatically be removed from ANY consideration of citizenship to the USA and as such will be deported to their native country immediately".

That would pretty much rally me....

[Caipirabob]

Both the Democrats and Republicans have become the "Mexicrat" party.

[LibLieSlayer]

Tried all that in 92. No thanks... I’ll fight the satanic dim hoard now. I love Victory... 8 years of another ‘toon and there will be nothing left of the America that I love.

LLS

[Aria]

Fred is a Republican. Bush has turned out to be a huge back stabber - i.e. Democrat.

[Aria]

If france can pull herself to the right, WE can. This fight will help us unite and be ready for 08.

Excellent point. If we reach the point were most people from either party have had enough then we might find a lot of Thompson Democrats.

[expatguy]

Im afraid there will be no rally among conservatives ~ this it where many of us draw the line FRiend.

Latest from Southeast Asia

The Making of an Al Qaeda Operative

Please read and feel free to pass the link along - this is something that needs to be read by everyone.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Rallying, unifying disgruntled GOP will be a huge task"

No it won't. Because we desperately want to be rallied. We're no worse off than right after Gerry Ford's defeat by Carter. Then, as now, it was a defeat not of conservatism but of the RINOS (e.g., Rockefellerites), not least because people chose not to vote.

It was a vital component of Reagan's optimism that he saw that and acted on it.

Besides, it's not just about rallying Republicans. Only about a quarter of the folks who could vote do. Folks came out to vote for Reagan, and folks crossed party lines to vote for Reagan. The prescription, then, is not to just unite Republicans but to inspire and motivate common-sense folks across the spectrum. That was Reagan's special sauce.

[The Pack Knight]

I find it interesting that Dionne handicaps Republica candidates based on their identification with the war. Does the writer really think we're going to nominate a candidate who doesn't support victory in Iraq?

The Democrats read a strong antiwar sentiment in the public, as evidenced by the complete lack of pro-victory Democrat candidates this time around. Even Hillary has flipped to the pro-retreat position.

Let us not decieve ourselves; unless by some perverse fluke Ron Paul is the nominee, any candidate we put forth will be associated with the war. The Democrats and their media allies will make certain of that. Regardless of what other issues there are, the next election will very much be about foreign policy, and whoever we nominate had best convince the voters that he'll make the right decisions.

Furthermore, there will be no abandoning Iraq as "Bush's War". While the specific conduct of the war might be criticized from our side, the basic overall strategy of treating Islamic terrorism as primarily a military, rather than political or criminal, threat, as well as the doctrine of aggressive preemption of critical threats, will have to be defended during the 2008 election.

I just thought it bore repeating that, while domestic issues are dominating the primaries, the general election will almost certainly be centered on national security, particularly on the war. We had best nominate a candidate who can articulate a clear and unequivocal position and strategy, at least in general terms, and can inspire the trust in his competence to execute that strategy.

Who that is remains to be seen. We all have our opinions on the subject, but I do hope the GOP candidates deal with Iraq and the wider war more thoroughly before the nomination. It would be a shame if the first time our nominee really had to answer tough foreign policy questions was during the general election.

[no dems]

Chron.com, huh? O.K. Freepers, this is a...

Houston Chronical Bias Alert!!!