Future of GOP and Moderate Republicans Uncertain [GOP "Struggling To Find Its Identity"]

NYTimes ^ | November 01st, 2009

[Steelfish]

Future of GOP and Moderate Republicans Uncertain

ASSOCIATED PRESS November 1, 2009

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- In a Republican Party struggling to find its identity, the surprise withdrawal of the chosen GOP candidate for a New York congressional race -- forced by a rising conservative upstart -- renews a lingering national debate: Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party?

The question became even more relevant Sunday when the ex-candidate, state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, threw her support behind the Democrat in the race rather than the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

The GOP leadership insisted on Sunday political TV talk shows the party is strong and inclusive while Democrats described a Republican party out of touch with the people.

''We accept moderates in our party, and we want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans,'' said Republican House Leader John Boehner in an interview on CNN's ''State of the Union.''

But in New York's rural 23rd Congressional District, the message was clear early: Scozzafava was too moderate; some even used the dreaded ''L'' word -- liberal. Her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens over Conservative Doug Hoffman only reinforced that perception.

[K-oneTexas]

It’s leadership left the voters down last year in the Primaries and for some time before that. The leadership still hasn’t founds it way or it’s calling.

It needs to very soon of face the inevitable sight of it’s carcass lying along the road as another comes and takes its place.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

The MSM has spoken and we the sheeple are supposed to follow..well get bent newcomentator guy. Hoffman represents the heart and soul of the GOP so get over it...

[Chet 99]

Scoffaza wasn’t a moderate. She’s a liberal Democrat pretending to be a Republican - and I suspect she’ll drop that pretense fairly soon.

[Patrick1]

The future as far as Tuesday is concerned looks pretty good.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Bull. It’s wheat/chaff, sheep/goats time. Let the sorting out process continue.

[pepsi_junkie]

So the squishie crypto-liberals tried to take over the GOP and are ticked off that the conservatives won’t just fall into line anymore? Let’s see, two crushing electoral defeats and the most liberal administration and congress in the history of the nation, sure, let’s stay the course and keep putting our hops in “moderates” and RINOs. Good idea.

[elkfersupper]

The future of moderates in the GOP is the same as chickens in the barnyard.

They may be here tomorrow and they may not.

[rabscuttle385]

Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party?

A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs
which must not be compromised to political expediency
or simply to swell its numbers.
RONALD W. REAGAN

We don't intend to turn the Republican Party
over to the traitors in the battle just ended.
We will have no more of those candidates
who are pledged to the same goals
as our opposition and who seek our support.
Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates
wouldn’t make any sense at all.
RONALD W. REAGAN

[Carbonsteel]

Put simply, the Republicans are trying to decide if they wants to go all out socialist. They are at the same cross roads the Dems were at 15-20 years ago.

[pointsal]

The Republican identity...Well, let me help Steele & Company. Start with the "big tent" and "the get along" habits of Dole, Hatch, Gingrich, Romney, etc.

At every (repeat every) damned opportunity these fools have sucked up to the left. For what good purpose, the suckers have gotten screwed EVERY time!

If the candidates are RINOS and DIABLOS well call them out. It's time the $*it or get off the pot!

[FrankR]

The 'identity' of any organization is defined by its leaders...currently the GOP has none...

It's like an old joke by Brother Dave Gardner...

The difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is, drunks don't have to attend all those danged meetings.

[Deagle]

Heh... Don’t ya just love the MSM’s idea of a moderate? Geez, if their attitudes prevailed, only Democrats and the far left would ever win elections.

My idea of a moderate is someone who still believes in the Constitution, limited government, limited taxes, and has a few beliefs socially that might contradict the liberals.

Their idea of a moderate is someone who believes like most liberal Democrats but wants to slow down the growth of government just enough to pass for a moderate. NY Times, go away - please, surely you can’t continue this charade without funding...

[Paladin2]

“Moderates” are more than welcome to vote for conservatives.

[muawiyah]

Fur shur if there’s a new rooster around we know what will happen next! Bwak bwak bwak bwak!!!!! Squawk squawk squawk.

[BornToBeAmerican]

I am so sad the President Regan was never my President. Likewise, I am deeply saddened that I never “knew” this great man at all.

Thank God that his words and wisdom resonate so loud and clear still

[sirchtruth]

Here's the deal. Moderates/rino's are either going to do one of three things:

1: Concede Power to conservatives.
2: Leave the Republican Party.
3: Get their smarmy asses kicked out of the Republican Party.

These are your choices moderate's and rino's. There will be no compromise!

[ALPAPilot]

We accept moderates in our party, and we want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans

Conservatives are those who support the Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, and mutually pledge to each other their Lives, their Fortunes, and their sacred Honor.

Moderates are those who would otherwise be conservative but leave their firearm at home occasionally.

[londonfog]

They are panicked. They see the tsunami of conservatism and will try stigmatization and slander . They are shaking in their loafers. The good news is that no one reads the Times. No one watched the networks except the feeble minded. This is the Limbaugh nation. This is the Savage nation and its pissed off and moving towards them .
Stop “winner take all” primaries in OUR party and we crush the rinos. Zero tolerance for “winner take all”!!!

[rabscuttle385]

These are your choices moderate's and rino's. There will be no compromise!

RINOs that resist conversion or removal will be shown no quarter!

[Free_SJersey]

Saying Dede is a moderate is like saying Hitler made some minor governance missteps.

[org.whodat]

Her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens over Conservative Doug Hoffman only reinforced confirms that perception.

[Deagle]

Heh, I get hammered for saying this since it is so a cliche but loveable...ha

You betcha!

[EternalVigilance]

GOP "Struggling To Find Its Identity"

True leaders know who they are and what they believe, and courageously fight for it without wavering.

Never look for leadership from those that don't even know what they are.

[SmokingJoe]

ROFL!
A pretty weak., pathretic hit job on conservatves and the GOP by the ever shrinking New York Slimes. so what's new?
Dede Scozzafava is “moderate” like Joseph Stalin is moderate. Heck, even Stalin never backed gay marriage.

[SmokingJoe]

Gingrich from the article :”He told The Associated Press he was disappointed, and ‘’deeply upset’’ that Scozzafava endorsed Owens.

‘’How could she have accepted all that support?’’ he said, adding later: ‘’I'm very, very let down because she told everybody she was a Republican, and she said she was a loyal Republican.’’”

Oh brother.
How can a guy, that is supposed to be so smart, astute and street wise, be so damn naive and stupid?
Hey, Newt, the ordinary conservative man in the street saw this coming long ago, predicted it, and is not in the least surprised she switched. Heck posters on FR have been predicting for weeks, that she'll switch if she won and went to Washington.

[madamemayhem]

every time i read one of the threads about the gop needing leadership, being lost, should be embracing moderates, or all the “big tent” crap i think of this quote from rudyard kipling:
body and spirit i surrendered whole
to harsh task masters
and gained a soul.
i can’t figure out why i think this.

[SmokingJoe]

“And Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said Republican leadership is ‘’becoming more and more extreme and more and more marginalized.’’

Reality:
“CNN, Rasmussen, Harris polls: Public disagrees with Obama on pretty much everything”
CNN:

51% disagree with the messiah, 48% do:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/20/cnn-poll-half-the-country-disagrees-with-obama-on-issues/

RASMUSSEN:

The messiah loses on 10 out of 10 issues. GOP increased its lead in 9 out of 10 categories since last month. But particularly note the Health Care, Social Security, Economy, and Taxes numbers. Does the Democratic Party feel like demonizing their opponents on health care rationing some more?

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/scoreboards/by_the_numbers2/by_the_numbers

HARRIS INTERACTIVE POLL:

Majorities of Americans give the messiah Negative Ratings on his Handling of 12 Major issues.

Among the lowest are unemployment, the federal deficit and the war in Afghanistan.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366964/posts

Jarret and Axelrod need to get off the crack.

[sirchtruth]

RINOs that resist conversion or removal will be shown no quarter!

NONE! Sounds like you're just as ready to take out the TRASH as I am!

[jeltz25]

This idea that the GOP is kicking out moderates is absurd. The party hasn’t kicked out any moderates, they’ve all been defeated in elections.

People like Shays, Chafee, Smith in OR, Coleman in MN, a whole bunch of congressmen, etc...

If you feel like voting for a moderate you may as well vote for the democrat. Why go 50% when you can get the whole thing?

And, honestly, is it even really worth it to have power if you’re always constrained by these moderates? Even when Bush had majorities he couldn’t get anything done because people like Chafee, Specter, Snowe, McCain and others would stop it. What good was being in the majority?

Moderates turned away from the GOP, to the extent they did, because the economy absolutely sucked, the Iraq War was hugely unpopular and thousands were dead and wounded, and because Bush was the most unpopular President in US history. The same reasons moderates/independets always turn against the incumbent paryt, a bad economy and unpopular war or foreign situation(like the Iran hostage crisis under Carter).

In 2010 and 2012 they’ll turn against the dems if unemployment is still at 10% or higher, if the economy still stinks, if casualties contiue to rise in Afghanistan, the deficit continues to grow, etc...

The media will be shocked and surprised, and but it will just be the normal cycle of politics that happens.

[Victoria Delsoul]

My friends, the time has come to start acting to bring about the great conservative majority party we know is waiting to be created.

And just to set the record straight, let me say this about our friends who are now Republicans but who do not identify themselves as conservatives: I want the record to show that I do not view the new revitalized Republican Party as one based on a principle of exclusion. After all, you do not get to be a majority party by searching for groups you won’t associate or work with. If we truly believe in our principles, we should sit down and talk. Talk with anyone, anywhere, at any time if it means talking about the principles for the Republican Party. Conservatism is not a narrow ideology, nor is it the exclusive property of conservative activists.

~ Ronald Reagan: The New Republican Party, 1977

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Moderate/closet liberal.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Oh but he is your President and ours.

[jch10]

“
“Moderates” are more than welcome to vote for conservatives” but don’t think you can run for office.

[Clintonfatigued]

How many times does this have to be pointed out? Dierdre Scozzafava is no moderate- she’s a liberal.

[SaraJohnson]

Liberals made up the “moderate” label when they became such a small minority as a wedge inserted into the Republican base.

Then they define moderate as liberal and take pot shots at conservatives in the voice of moderates. Moderates, being less informed middle of the roaders, are easily manipulated. Think Meg McCain. Poor dear does not know which end is up on anything to do with anything major in life or the country. All she can do is feel like the left wing media tells her to feel.

[firebrand]

This is a whack article, full of misstatements of fact and conclusions that are a55 backwards.

[Steelfish]

Reagan carried 49 states including CA, NY and MA.

Is it really possible for any true Reagan-type conservative to carry these states today? Sarah Palin or anyone? I fear the country has changed so much (thanks to the secular and Marxist public school indoctrination) that this is now either an absolute impossibility or a virtual impossibility.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Is it really possible for any true Reagan-type conservative to carry these states today? Sarah Palin or anyone? I fear the country has changed so much (thanks to the secular and Marxist public school indoctrination) that this is now either an absolute impossibility or a virtual impossibility.

Absolutely, with the exception of perhaps California and New York, America is hungry for conservatism. We just need a coherent voice that inspires trust and confidence, and can articulate the conservative core values embodied in our constitution and take our country back from the clutches of communism propagated by the Obama administration.

People need to be awakened, and need to be told about conservatism.  Most young people, for instance, mostly know about liberalism, and unless they come from a conservative family they have no way of knowing a compelling case for conservatism. They won't find it in the schools, colleges, or from the mainstream media.

Conservative voices like Rush, Hannity, Levin, and others do a great service to our nation, and we need many more voices like them. I believe however, that deep in the hearts of many people there is a hunger for economic and social freedom. If people were given a choice, I believe that most will choose capitalism and conservatism.

No question that you'll aways find leeches, but I think those types are in the minority.

[Steelfish]

California and NY are big states. Between them they have 1/7 of the entire population. The problem here is that in addition to the public school indoctrination, we have witnessed a tsunami change in demographics with millions having no clue on the history and traditions of our nation and with religious backgrounds that are at complete odds with the Judeo-Christian heritage of the nation. I hope and pray this trend will be reversed but I must recognize the reality of the current sad state of these United States.