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The 3.6 Percent Republicans (this is depressing)
The Weekly Standard ^ | 02/11/2008 | John J. DiIulio Jr.

Posted on 02/07/2008 7:01:12 AM PST by pwatson

Most leading conservative writers, radio hosts, and activists would probably concur that their liberal counterparts have never really connected with average Americans. Personalities on the right sell more books and get higher radio and television ratings. And until recently, conservatives seemed to be on an electoral politics roll begun in 1994 when the GOP retook the House. Within Republican ranks, for all the talk about crack-ups and implosions, the Reagan legacy still bridges divides between libertarians, social and religious conservatives, and national security conservatives.

By comparison, the left often draws flies. Win, lose, or draw, Democrats are prone to eat their own. Post-FDR, the last time that staunch liberals saw their favorite candidate elected president was never. In fact, the only time Democrats actually nominated a candidate who toed the liberal intelli-gentsia's line was 1972. George McGovern, who recently called for President Bush's impeachment (cue applause in Cambridge, Mass.), got 38 percent of the national vote.

But what is true for the liberal goose is true for the conservative gander. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan liked to quip, people are entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. John McCain is more conservative on more issues than average Americans are. By every standard measure (voting record and ratings, positions on major issues), McCain is conservative. Unlike his critics on the right, however, he is no ideological purist; he is conservative, but he is not what the pollsters call "very conservative." That is one obvious reason why he has such wide appeal. For even in our decidedly right-leaning mass electorate, few Americans, including few Republicans, answer to "very conservative."

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: election
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To: RabidBartender
If they hadn't chased us out at closing time I'd still be at the bar where I watched Sunday's SB.

John McCain as POTUS.

That's reason enough to switch to hard liquor.

21 posted on 02/07/2008 7:10:56 AM PST by Reaganite1984
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To: pwatson

My (partly) tongue-in-cheek prediction is that if Hillary loses the Dem nomination, the Weekly Standard will begin a full-court press for McCain to name her as his VP, or, better yet (in their view), step aside and let Hillary have the Republican nomination. After all, we need moderates, and she would stop Obama from winning. And any conservative who doesn’t go along is a whiner and should just shut up.

Yes, there are differences between hillary and McCain, but I’m illustrating a point.

The debate we are having is how far away from conservative principles can a Republican nominee (or probable nominee) stray before conservatives stop voting for him (or her)?

Some people have reached that point already. Others have not.

We’ll know a lot more - about the Republican Party, and about ourselves as conservatives - by November.

But it’s quite a risk to take, I’d say, flipping the bird to the party’s base at a time like this.

Maybe some Republicans don’t want to win if it means shaking up their comfortable Beltway existence, even as a minority? I don’t know.


22 posted on 02/07/2008 7:11:32 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: moderate_conservative

 

 

23 posted on 02/07/2008 7:12:25 AM PST by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: Ptaz
If McCain is a conservative, I’m a fashion runway model.
LOL!....Well, according to Sinister Juan McCranky...WE, ALL ARE . (Can't We All, (just) Get Along, Folks.....even while, I repudiate screw you.).....even if we look like Helen Thomas. :D
24 posted on 02/07/2008 7:13:30 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (just b/c your paranoid, don't mean "they" aren't out to get you...OURs' hopes were dashed by CINOs :)
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To: DM1

So you condone gang of 14 tactics on judge appointments and continuous backstabbing of the conservative base and uncontrolled anger bursts?


25 posted on 02/07/2008 7:14:16 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: All

We may not agree with everything he says, but overall, it’s a sobering reality... I agree with most of the article, unfortunately.


26 posted on 02/07/2008 7:14:22 AM PST by NYC Republican (Romney/Barbour -the ONLY one to stop Huck, McCain, Rudy and Hillary!)
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To: DM1

Oh I forgot the big one, AMNESTY.


27 posted on 02/07/2008 7:14:44 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Yosemitest

One cannot always wait for the perfect candidate, but McCain is so wide of the mark for me that I can’t see myself supporting him, ever.

If we abandon our principles - on the border, taxes, civil rights for terrorists, judges, and all the rest - then we have given up the game. We will never be taken seriously again. For years, in any ideological argument, the other side will say “well, you’re a hypocrite - you can’t believe the issue (whatever one is being argued about) is that important if you supported McCain in 2008.

Support McCain this time, and give up all moral authority on conservative principles for all time?

And for what? No, Hillary and Obama sicken me, but I think McCain is also not fit for the job and would be bad for the country.

No thanks.


28 posted on 02/07/2008 7:16:42 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: RabidBartender
Either that, or I’m still drinking from Tuesday night...well, depends, who ya slept with last night....*HIC!* Ted "Swimmer" Kenned(runk)y
29 posted on 02/07/2008 7:18:08 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (just b/c your paranoid, don't mean "they" aren't out to get you...OURs' hopes were dashed by CINOs :)
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To: pwatson

“For even in our decidedly right-leaning mass electorate, few Americans, including few Republicans, answer to “very conservative.”.... Oh really???? I want closed borders, reduced taxes, less government, illegals deported, Gitmo to stay open, aggressive pursuit of Muslim terrorists and the death penalty for any murder....To me, this is just conservative. To a liberal, it’s radical. T.S.!


30 posted on 02/07/2008 7:19:04 AM PST by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: Incorrigible

That’s great. I just emailed that to several friends and family.


31 posted on 02/07/2008 7:20:21 AM PST by tnlibertarian
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To: moderate_conservative

“He” and “her” are one in the same. Cut from the same cloth, only “he” has more loose threads to unravel in the campaign. She will use and abuse him in the general election, with or without conservatives supporting him. McCain is the liberals foundation for their tidal wave win. He’ll be easy to spot in November. Look for the drowned elephant laying on his left side, washed up on the beach.


32 posted on 02/07/2008 7:20:30 AM PST by TADSLOS (Conservatism means never having to say "I voted for John McCain for the sake of the GOP")
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To: All
You are only asked to vote — that’s your duty. IF you are truly going to vote your conscience — then you must write in your candidate. That’s what most of the truly conservative in my area are going to do and then vote the rest of the ticket for the GOP.

We still have write-in privileges — that hasn’t been taken away, yet.

33 posted on 02/07/2008 7:22:05 AM PST by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: Resolute Conservative

in terms of backstabbing i assume you mean Amnesty and McCain Feingold - both of which i cannot stand and do not condone. the “gang of 14” did achieve two SCOTUS appointments - Roberts and Alito - so it was not all bad.
i am no McCain fan but again my rationale is do i want someone who i agree with over 60% or 8%
and if you wonder where i get those numbers i will repost:

McCain ACU lifetime rank 82 2006 65
Hill 9 and 12
Bama 8 and 8

http://www.conservative.org/

http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm


34 posted on 02/07/2008 7:22:09 AM PST by DM1
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To: pwatson
McCain is a Consensus-tive, not a Conservative.
35 posted on 02/07/2008 7:22:49 AM PST by syriacus (McCain promises to transfer all Gitmo prisoners to Ft. Leavenworth on his first day as president.)
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To: TADSLOS
If we’re a mere 3.6% of the voting block then why is McCain going to CPAC to make peace? Why make such a fuss about such a small minority?

Regardless of whether or not DiIulio's counting is accurate, Bush's margin of victory over Kerry was just 2.4%.

36 posted on 02/07/2008 7:23:26 AM PST by SpringheelJack
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To: pwatson
The exception would be the fast-growing evangelical Latino population represented by groups like Esperanza USA, and encompassing Latino churches and fraternal organizations by the thousands.

They will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee - but for Hillary if she is.

37 posted on 02/07/2008 7:25:08 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("Wise men don't need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: DM1
McCain ACU lifetime rank 82 2006 65

I think he's trending to the Left.

But I am not certain.

What is his average since 2000?

38 posted on 02/07/2008 7:25:57 AM PST by syriacus (McCain promises to transfer all Gitmo prisoners to Ft. Leavenworth on his first day as president.)
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To: Yosemitest
Conservatives care about the United States so much ... that they're willing to DEFEAT McCain to save the nation!!!

Or do something desperate and pretend Mitt Romney is a conservative.

39 posted on 02/07/2008 7:29:49 AM PST by CommerceComet (Mitt Romney: Boldly telling the audience whatever it wants to hear.)
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To: SpringheelJack
Regardless of whether or not DiIulio's counting is accurate, Bush's margin of victory over Kerry was just 2.4%.

Bingo. McCain has the slimmest of chances of winning in the general election against either Hillary or Obama at this point and will probably be trampled, but in any event he can't even begin to start a campaign without conservatives supporting him. We need to stand our ground and either force the GOP to find a more conservative candidate or break free of this clown posse.

40 posted on 02/07/2008 7:31:34 AM PST by TADSLOS (Conservatism means never having to say "I voted for John McCain for the sake of the GOP")
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