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The Battle for the Soul of the Republican Party
The American Reformation Project ^ | July 10, 2002 | David T. Pyne

Posted on 07/14/2002 10:30:52 AM PDT by rightwing2

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To: rightwing2
Thanks for the ping to this bit of stupidity.

Smith... is under siege by a man who can only be described as a young “mushy moderate” upstart, Rep. John Sununu, Jr. This is by far the most interesting GOP primary race in that Smith, a Senate incumbent so staunchly conservative that he briefly left the Republican Party denouncing it for abandoning conservative principles, is facing a moderate congressman who is the son of former governor and chief of staff to President George H. W. Bush, John Sununu, a man who is the very definition of political centrism and political pragmatism.

The voters of New Hampshire will decide the fate of the loony senior Senator Bob Smith. It is very likely that they will decide rightfully that they can trade an insane conservative for a sane one. Oh, and to paint Sununu with the same brush as his dad is ridiculous fallacy. We know that Reagan wasn't a fall-down drunk, though his father was. Only this idiot would call Sununu a mushy moderate-- though I would call Smith a delusional, possibly senile grumpy old man (which is how Shaheen will paint him, as well). I don't like loose cannons. Having McCain in the party is way enough for me.

Smith is abrasive and isn't any kind of advocate for the cause of conservatism. I don't think he's persuaded anyone to his side because he's completely unpersuasive because of his personality. Sununu will win this primary or else the seat will be lost to Shaheen-- the chick that Gore thought would make a decent vice-president. Put her in the senate and she'll be back on the short list in 2004 or 2008. We New Hampshirites will take this opportunity to unplug her political career before she gets like Clintoon and never goes away.

21 posted on 07/14/2002 11:46:05 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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To: rightwing2
Social conservatives will not - and should not - support RINOs just "because they're Republican."

Don't support a GOP elite that doesn't support us. Make clear to the country-clubbers that without us they can go home.

22 posted on 07/14/2002 11:53:49 AM PDT by glc1173@aol.com
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To: glc1173@aol.com
Reference BUMP!
23 posted on 07/14/2002 12:05:26 PM PDT by Bigun
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To: GraniteStateConservative
Guess what? As a NH resident, and voter...I WILL NOT VOTE FOR SUNUNU!

Anyone with an (R) after their name getting money from Islamazis or any Muslime groups is a TRAITOR! We all know the Demonrats are, but I will not tolerate this crap in MY STATE!

Loony or not, Smith is no TRAITOR...also I will not allow the Bush-1 connections to get more footholds.

Shaheen won't get the win, no matter what. Besides, Sununu isn't, to my knowledge, supporting Gordon Humphrey for Govenor after he was screwed by Shaheen, without any support or rebuttal in the last gubenatorial round!

Guess where Sununu stands in regards to the Claremont decision...hint, it ain't on the CONSTITUTIONAL side...

Screw the Bush-bots here...I am a CONSERVATIVE first. I have had ENOUGH of holding my nose for RINO'S that get W's support over good CONSERVATIVES.

It's YOUR TURN, you moderate/libs! YOU hold your nose, and support CONSERVATIVES in a time of WAR! Show me YOU are team players, or be labeled as the TRAITORS I suspect you are!

24 posted on 07/14/2002 12:09:25 PM PDT by Itzlzha
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To: Itzlzha
Shaheen won't get the win, no matter what.

You're optimistic!

25 posted on 07/14/2002 12:16:35 PM PDT by RJCogburn
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To: GraniteStateConservative
If I was a New Hampshireite, I would vote for Sununu should he win the primary. I am a conservative but I do it out of loyality to the Republican party and because Sununu is clearly better than ultra liberal Shaheen. Quite simply, we must stop Shaheen.

But would I vote for Sununu based on his OWN merits? Absoluetly NOT. If he was running unopposed in the general I'd probably skip over his name on the ballot. Actually, if his last wasn't "Sununu" he'd probably wouldn't get elected dog catcher. And if I had to vote based on the way his "supporters" have been acting on this forum, I wouldn't vote for Sununu at all. You have done everything to smear one the best Senators in the ENTIRE country-- YOUR Senator-- simply because his approval ratings are low.

You claim Smith and his supporters have unfairly claimed Sununu is pro-Palestinian. That's not an unfair attack. It's a FACT. All one needs to do is look at his voting record. Almost no members of congress voted to support a Palestine state without a guarantee Israel would stay intact. But Sununu did. There are dozens of pro-Palestinian and pro-Muslim votes he's made over the years that no one in right mind would support. He takes money from Arab groups linked to terrorists (and I'm not making an idiotic statement that Sununu is pro-terrorist, I'm simply saying he doesn't bother to see if he's ACCIDENTALLY associating with pro-terrorists groups) Smith was one of the biggest speakers at the Pro-Israel rally. Sununu was no where to be found.

On the other hand, Sununu supporters HAVE engaged in unfair attacks to go after Smith personally instead of his record. Half of what the "conservative" Sununu supporters say sounds identical to the stuff posted at D.U. underground. Smith is a "bozo, a bumbler, a stupid jerk with a bad hairpiece, a fool, an embarrassment" and anything else you can claim to make him look bad. You CAN'T attack him on his voting record because the ONLY "liberal" vote you have EVER located is his anti-ANWR vote. You're desperate to smear a good conservative. Sununu supporters will make up flat out lies like "Smith joined a 3rd party and tried to help Gore win". (incidentially, Smith ADMITTED he was wrong to BRIEFLY become an independent-- but Sununu Sr. NEVER admitted said he was wrong to support RINO Souter, the WORST "Republican" on the Supreme Court) I believe at this point that Smith would lose a general election -- but NOT because of Shaheen. It's because the "conservative" Sununu supporters will attack Smith out of spite rather than get on board and be proven wrong about his "electablity". Many Sununu supporters would actaully take Shaheen over Smith. It's sickening.

IMO, your desperate attack on Smith the other week was the lowest you can get. NO Smith supporter went after Sununu for voting for the bloated Republican-sponcered "prescripition drug coverage" bill, because almost EVERY Republican voted for it. It would be a waste of time to even criticize Sununu because everyone caved on this one. But you were gleefully pointing out SMITH had stuff on his website point to his support for drugs for seniors. I guess you think it's OKAY for Sununu to vote for it but NOT Smith. Your hypocrisy was simply amazing, and simply unethical. I, at least, have NEVER attacked a "moderate" for voting for something that the guy I am supporting ALSO voted for.

And I'm tired of hearing about all your experts in New Hampshire. Sununu supporters sound like the chorus of Monicagate supporters with their devotion to "the polls". Your "experts" told us Buchanan would never carry N.H., neither would McCain, and Swett was elected senator in 1996. They've tried this goofy stuff in other states with utter failture.

The GOP establishment is utterly clueless with who is the "best bet" to win in every state. "Riordan will be a shoo-in! He's mayor of the 2nd largest city in the nation! Simon can't win!! Vote Riordan or you'll GIVE the election to Davis!" remember that? How about this one? "Jim Ryan got the largest vote total of any statewide Republican candidate in Illinois during the 1998 election. He's the only one elected to two terms. He's a shoo-in it to beat Blagojevic and the ONLY one who can do it! Read the polls! He's not corrupt. He's so much better than that GOOFY, RIGHT-WING UNKNOWN O'MALLEY NUT, who is UNFAIRLY claiming members of Jim Ryan's leadership team might be under federal investigation soon. O'Malley is a wacko who says Ryan can't win just to be mean!" Now, have you seen what's going on in Illinois lately? Let me just summarize: every "false" statement O'Malley made came to pass, Jim Ryan is way behind Blagojevic...meanwhile, my lame duck state Senator is STILL the most popular (and probably the most conservative) elected official in COOK county, and being seriously considered for IL party chairman in a desperate attempt to unify the party and show votes the leader of the party is NOT corrupt.

Your attacks on Smith just make him so more principled. It's all been done before. The GOP establishment in 1980 told Illinois voters that Reagan was a "dumb, has been grade-B actor" who would destroy the party's "only" chance to beat Carter. Now, Reagan is originally from Illinois. The Illinois GOP establishment, including the governor at that time, pushed Ford over Reagan in 1976 and RINO Congressman John Anderson in 1980. (He was the "only" Republican who could win "liberal" Illinois) In fact, Anderson ran AGAINST Reagan as an independent in 1980 out of spite (you know, sort of like the stuff you falsely claim Smith did) Here's my response to the GOP establishment:

ILLINOIS VOTE TOTALS

Ronald Reagan 2,358,049 votes-- 49.65%
Jimmy Carter 1,981,413 votes-- 41.72%
John Anderson 346,754 votes-- 7.30%

It's that simple. But though you call yourself "Conservative", you won't even check to see if your "front runner" for Governor is pro-abortion or not (I'm SUPPOSED to believe New Hampshire voters are "conservative" but DON'T CARE where a candidate stands on social issues -- which is really odd considering virtually all of your elected officials are pro-life and even your 'RAT governor is a moderate on it). It's not like being pro-life would damage his campaign. Sorry, if that were true New Hampshire would be called New York. "Conservative" voters are majority pro-life. Smith is one the best pro-life champions in the Senate, and you hate him. All you have to do is see if Benson supports this issue (not even champion it, just MENTION it) and pro-lifers, which are a HUGE share of the Republican base, will rally around and promote his candidacy.

If you're so conservative, try standing for a conservative issue for a change. It's that simple.

26 posted on 07/14/2002 1:31:39 PM PDT by BillyBoy
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To: rightwing2
Let's not forget about Tom Ridge, Bush's notoriously RINO pick for Reichsfuhrer, and his dalliance with Christine Todd-Whitman, who's never met an abortion she didn't like.

Then there's Colin Powell and Norman Mineta ...

27 posted on 07/14/2002 1:34:33 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: BillyBoy
IMO, your desperate attack on Smith the other week was the lowest you can get. NO Smith supporter went after Sununu for voting for the bloated Republican-sponcered "prescripition drug coverage" bill, because almost EVERY Republican voted for it. It would be a waste of time to even criticize Sununu because everyone caved on this one. But you were gleefully pointing out SMITH had stuff on his website point to his support for drugs for seniors. I guess you think it's OKAY for Sununu to vote for it but NOT Smith. Your hypocrisy was simply amazing, and simply unethical. I, at least, have NEVER attacked a "moderate" for voting for something that the guy I am supporting ALSO voted for.

My point was that many here at FR believe that Smith is the Ron Paul of the senate-- as purely conservative as the driven snow, so to speak. I am tired of the people who call Sununu a RINO and believe that Smith can do no wrong. I am not against Smith's support for a prescription drug benefit-- it shows some grasp of political realities. Many of his supporters here at FR don't acknowledge political realities.

28 posted on 07/14/2002 1:52:11 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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To: rightwing2
Bush is building a neo-nazi wing of the republican party. The jews of the future will be the conservatives and christians.
29 posted on 07/14/2002 1:55:11 PM PDT by gunshy
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To: BillyBoy
Your "experts" told us Buchanan would never carry N.H., neither would McCain, and Swett was elected senator in 1996. They've tried this goofy stuff in other states with utter failture.

Most experts believed that Buchanan would win the primary in 1992, most experts believed McCain would win the primary in 2000, and most experts believed the Swett-Smith race would be close. Buchanan out-worked Bush 41, McCain out-worked Bush 43 and Swett was a credible candidate and only lost by three points. I don't know what you're talking about.

30 posted on 07/14/2002 1:56:31 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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To: rightwing2
There's plenty to dislike about all the RINOs referred to in the article but the author seems unable to find anything beyond the fact they're not Pro-Life. To many voters, including me, the subject of abortion shouldn't be a government issue at all. The real government issues, taxes, spending, adherence to the constitution and the limits it imposes on the federal government, military and foreign policy are the issues which dominate discussion in the candidate meetings I've been involved in.
31 posted on 07/14/2002 1:58:43 PM PDT by caltrop
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To: rightwing2
I have news for you.

There has long been a battle for the soul of the Republican Party.

It's been going on for years.

It is mainly defined by the pro-life agenda.

While the GOP is killing one another over every other issue, the dems have been building a base that believes they are all victims.

As a result, it has become very easy to be a democrat.

You are not implying that this is new, are you?

32 posted on 07/14/2002 2:00:40 PM PDT by AlGone2001
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To: BillyBoy
Your attacks on Smith just make him so more principled. It's all been done before. The GOP establishment in 1980 told Illinois voters that Reagan was a "dumb, has been grade-B actor" who would destroy the party's "only" chance to beat Carter. Now, Reagan is originally from Illinois. The Illinois GOP establishment, including the governor at that time, pushed Ford over Reagan in 1976 and RINO Congressman John Anderson in 1980. (He was the "only" Republican who could win "liberal" Illinois) In fact, Anderson ran AGAINST Reagan as an independent in 1980 out of spite (you know, sort of like the stuff you falsely claim Smith did) Here's my response to the GOP establishment:

John Sununu has said he will urge his supporters to unite behind Smith and that he will work hard to get Smith elected if he loses the primary. All we hear from Smith on that front is the chirping of crickets. I hope Smith doesn't go thermo-nuclear after the primary should he lose, but it is possible. He has a history of erratic behavior. Sununu does not.

33 posted on 07/14/2002 2:01:16 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative
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To: RJCogburn
There are more issues that make one a 'conservative' besides the abortion issue. This article seems concerned just with that one issue.

No this article is concerned with the full gammit of social issues for which Bush supported leftwing extremist Gerald Parsky is a champion for the extreme social left and an enemy of conservatism across the board.
34 posted on 07/14/2002 2:59:25 PM PDT by rightwing2
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To: GraniteStateConservative
The voters of New Hampshire will decide the fate of the loony senior Senator Bob Smith. It is very likely that they will decide rightfully that they can trade an insane conservative for a sane one...Only this idiot would call Sununu a mushy moderate-- though I would call Smith a delusional, possibly senile grumpy old man (which is how Shaheen will paint him, as well). I don't like loose cannons. Having McCain in the party is way enough for me. Smith is abrasive and isn't any kind of advocate for the cause of conservatism.

Smith is by far the greatest champion of the conservative cause now in the US Senate and has been for virtually his entire tenure in the Senate. Only Jesse Helms has a record that even rivals his in terms of supporting and defending the conservative cause even when none of his other Republican compatriots would. For you to suggest otherwise and to insinuate even for a minute that Rep. John Sununu is some kind, any kind of "conservative" based on his pathetic 40% Conservative Index just goes to prove that you are a complete and total McCainiac RINO wacko trying to spread disinformation to defeat the finest conservative that has graced the United States Senate in years. Go right ahead and keep peddling your RINO disinformation smears to elect your mushy moderate Congressman, but don't expect any conservatives to believe any of it, even for a moment.
35 posted on 07/14/2002 3:09:00 PM PDT by rightwing2
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To: BillyBoy
You claim Smith and his supporters have unfairly claimed Sununu is pro-Palestinian. That's not an unfair attack. It's a FACT. All one needs to do is look at his voting record. Almost no members of congress voted to support a Palestine state without a guarantee Israel would stay intact. But Sununu did. There are dozens of pro-Palestinian and pro-Muslim votes he's made over the years that no one in right mind would support. He takes money from Arab groups linked to terrorists (and I'm not making an idiotic statement that Sununu is pro-terrorist, I'm simply saying he doesn't bother to see if he's ACCIDENTALLY associating with pro-terrorists groups) Smith was one of the biggest speakers at the Pro-Israel rally. Sununu was no where to be found...You CAN'T attack him on his voting record because the ONLY "liberal" vote you have EVER located is his anti-ANWR vote. You're desperate to smear a good conservative.

I agree with everything you posted here except for one--I would not be caught dead voting for RINO PLO terrorist/illegal immigration poster boy Sununu. He stands opposed to our national security and war on terrorism almost across the board as you pointed out, independent of his lying smear attacks against conservative hero, Sen. Robert Smith.
36 posted on 07/14/2002 3:16:46 PM PDT by rightwing2
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To: rightwing2
The "Battle" is already over, it is just that many conservatives refuse to see they have been betrayed. Enlightenment will come, hopefully sooner rather than later.

http://www.constitutionparty.com

37 posted on 07/14/2002 3:29:56 PM PDT by Ahban
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To: gunshy
Bush is building a neo-nazi wing of the republican party. The jews of the future will be the conservatives and christians.

This gets my vote for the dumbest post of the day.

Oh, and the dumbest of the year.

38 posted on 07/14/2002 3:35:13 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: rightwing2
An example of this battle is going on in Arizona's 8th District. A serious challenge to incumbent RINO Jim Kolbe is being mounted by conservative candidate Jim Behnke.

In the same district, conservative Republicans recently ousted a number of RINOs from local party leadership and have taken over the Party here. The ousted RINO chairman, O.O. Leinenger, was so mad that he quit the party and re-registered as an independent and donated money to Democrat candidates. A few months ago he registered again as a Republican so that he could cause mischief and sabotage conservative Republicans in the Primary elections. In fact, he just took 5 candidates for Precinct Committeeman to court and challenged their petitions. The Democrat judge was happy to throw out 3 of the candidates' petitions (taking them off the ballot) while several Democrat Party bigwigs yucked it up in the back of the courtroom. To add further insult and damage to the Republican Party, Leinenger was quoted in the local paper as saying that the current party leadership was "to the right of Genghis Khan" and not unlike "BirchSocietyism". He is doing everything he can now to reinstall his leftist RINO regime back in to party leadership.

Posted wirelessly from my PocketPC.

39 posted on 07/14/2002 3:44:29 PM PDT by Spiff
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To: rightwing2
Smith is by far the greatest champion of the conservative cause now in the US Senate and has been for virtually his entire tenure in the Senate.

So it doesn't bother you that Smith crawled on his ample belly back to the Republican party to get John Chafee's committee chairmanship before his body was cold?

That told me all I needed to know about Bob Smith's "principle".

I don't know what "Conservative Index" you're referencing, but John Sununu is rated at 94% on the American Conservative Union website.

That's a higher lifetime rating than Bob Smith has.

40 posted on 07/14/2002 3:45:42 PM PDT by sinkspur
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