Just When It Couldn't Look Worse, Republicans Face 'Political Exodus'

IBD ^ | February 12, 2008 | Sean Higgins

[Kaslin]

When asked about the 29 Republican-held seats that will go up for grabs this fall, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., gently corrected this reporter.

"As of today," Cole said at a breakfast briefing for reporters. He didn't say that further retirements are expected, but he wasn't exactly ruling them out, either.

Cole then recalled how one unnamed GOP leader recently said to him: "Cole, you and I better get out of here before all of the good jobs are gone."

It was a joke. Sort of.

One election cycle as the minority party and Republicans are stampeding to the exits. While at least five of them are trying for higher offices, most are opting to simply quit. They are one retirement away from the record number.

Cole put the best face on the situation Tuesday, telling reporters he did not take the job to preside over the "dismantling" of the party. There's no reason why the GOP can't beat the odds this fall, he said.

"The biggest problem I have, and the Republican Party has, is morale," Cole said. "We went through the worst defeat since Watergate (in 2006), and yet there are still 10 more (GOP House) seats than Ronald Reagan had on his best day."

On Monday, Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., a contender for GOP leader in 2006, became the latest Republican to drop out. By contrast, the Democrats have a mere five open seats going into the fall election

[Kaslin]

This is why it is important not to sit the election out in November as some freepers are planning to do.

There is more at stake for us then just the White House. All 435 members of the House are up for reelection plus a good number of Republicans.

If we do not get the majority back, we will not see it for decades to come

[ripcasc]

You are right because in 2010 the Dems if they still control Congress and redraw the districts and it will be YEARS before Republicans can take back the Congress.

[sarasota]

You are so right. After hearing Obama’s victory speech tonight, is this the guy we want to win the election? Or Hillary? What is going on here?

[donna]

They spent themselves into exhaustion.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Right. Notwithstanding who wins the top spot, we need a credible bulwark against the inevitable leftist assault if the Senate reached 60. If you cannot mark for McLame, show up and mark for your Senator or Representative, and reload for 2010.

[elizabetty]

Many of us will vote, just not for POTUS or we will write in a POTUS selection and support the down ticket conservatives.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Those lines are drawn by the state legislatures. Which is why it’s critical to show up and cast votes for down-ballot candidates.

[Cicero]

I think we all plan to vote on the other lines. Just not for McCain.

But I’m afraid a lot of people will just stay home. Too bad, but that seems to be what the RNC is asking for. I will certainly go to the polls, but I will NOT vote for that madman McCain.

Others, however, will be too discouraged to vote at all. Ten million extra Republicans turned out in 2004. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all stay home in 2008, and probably a fair number of regular voters as well.

Nothing we can do about that. We can vote, but they won’t. The RNC is bringing it on itself. I believe some of them were fired after 2006, and I hope they fire the rest of them after the next fiasco.

[SoConPubbie]

This is why it is important not to sit the election out in November as some freepers are planning to do.

I think you have it wrong.

We are not sitting out the downstream races, just writing somebody in besides John "Traitor to the Conservative cause" McAmnesty.

Everything I have seen on FreeRepublic is that we are energized to vote for CONSERVATIVE GOP members and make sure we have a Veto Proof minority or majority in both houses comprised of as many conservatives as we can vote in.

[DeweyCA]

It is the STATE legislatures that re-draw the legislative districts. That will happen AFTER the census, so the 2012 elections will be the first elections that will be effected.

[SoConPubbie]

If we do not get the majority back, we will not see it for decades to come

If Juan McAmnesty actually wins, this prediction of yours, after he grants Amnesty, is a sure bet!

[Travis McGee]

This "political exodus" is what happens when open border RINOs are elected, refuse to stop the invasion, and then nominate another open border RINO to complete the destruction of American sovereignty. Patriotic conservatives eventually shrug, and walk away from the Republican party as useless.

Take a lesson, RINOs. Learn from this coming disaster, Republicans.

This is the man John McCain chose to be his "Hispanic Outreach Director." Hernandez is a certified traitor. Born in Dallas, he decided as an adult to become a dual-national Mexican citizen. His last "real" job was serving on Mexican President Vicente Fox's cabinet as his "American Reconquista Director." After that gig ran out, he worked (sic) for George Soros funded internationalist foundations, like the one that published his new book.

The "New American Pioneers" proclaimed in his book are the illegal alien invaders he urges to become settlers in the USA. Hernandez believes all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the USA should become dual citizens and consider themselves Mexicans first, "to the 8th generation." He believes there should be no border at all between Mexico and the USA, ever.

And this is the man McCain chose for his "Hispanic Outreach Director." In the past week McCain was asked about this choice, and he said he chose Hernandez because he agrees with his positions. If so, McCain is supporting invasion and reconquista.

Then I read our Constitution, Article 4 Section 4, where it says the federal government MUST protect the states from invasion, and I can only conclude one thing: John McCain is our new Benedict Arnold.

"In his own words: McCain’s radical Hispanic outreach director Juan Hernandez on youtube"

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/27/in-his-own-words-mccains-hispanic-outreach-director-preaches-open-borders/

[jrp]

Typical conservative: I agree with Republican candidate X on everything except issue Y. Therefore, I will stay home on election day and pout.

[padre35]

The guy has a Che’ Flag at one of his Campaign HQ’s, this is the guy we will let handle the WOT and Iraq?

As for the Repubs jumping ship, no surprise, one of the problems is the DC repubs are very very short sighted, they have no bench, and no crackerjack Leadership team that identifies potential candidates in those districts.

Heck, even Shedegg is retiring, and he is a very good Rep.

[Chucktallica101]

If we have an all democrat legislative, executive, and judical branch, then we’re going to be enslaved forever. It will be 1000 years of darkness and back to the Middle Ages for sure.

[acapesket]

We’re screwed. Face it.
Fight back.. No GUTS NO GLORY!
We don’t necessarily need to pull for McCain. the 6 or 7 Real Demoncrats will attempt in a conciliatory way to help us..
The rest of the Hillary/Britney idiots will swoon for the new black Emperor with no clothes on..
I am not being racist//just truthful.. Check out Deval Patrick Gov. D MA. His slogan was “Yes, We Can!”
Nobody knows what that means but the Moon Bats Ate it up...
people are leaving the State in Droves.
BDS needs a new Home

[Clintonfatigued]

Good point.

There will be more retirements in GOP ranks. But given the quality of the leadership they’ve offered lately, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

never said I was going to sit it out.... but ill be damned if im going to pull the lever for mcCain Obama or Hitlery.

[Natural Law]

It would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Those who hijacked the Republican Party are finding out that all they have left is some letterhead stationary and nonresponse donor lists. The serfs they thought the got have gone AWOL.

[pnh102]

This is why it is important not to sit the election out in November as some freepers are planning to do.

Well we are not going to boycott Congressional, state and other local elections just because we can't stand the current GOP presidential field. I agree with you that Congress and the state-level elections are conservatives' last stand at this point.