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GOP: from big tent to small umbrella
Certainly part of the reason relatively few Americans prefer the Republican label is the party's ruthless efficiency in chasing moderates out of its ranks. Unless you tightly adhere to the GOP's hard-right social views and no-taxes-under-any-circumstances orthodoxy, well, you'd probably be wise to do your shopping elsewhere, like Pennsylvania's formerly Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.
A recently proposed "purity test" by members of the Republican National Committee seems expressly devised to turn the party's once-big tent into something that more closely resembles a child's umbrella. Invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, who's become a kind of secular saint to conservatives, the "Resolution of Reagan's Unity Principle for Support of Candidates" lays out 10 areas that Republicans should support, including "market-based" health-care reform, lower taxes, opposition to cap-and-trade legislation and retention of the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act.
Under the proposal, GOP candidates will receive financial backing and support from the Republican National Committee only if they support eight of the 10 points. Support six of the 10 or seven of the 10? Better get used to being tarred as a RINO - a Republican in name only.
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Any thriving political party is a sometimes-uneasy coalition that includes a diverse mix of interests and priorities. If Republicans think they'll be able to win their way back to majority status with a rigid, one-size-fits-all conservatism, they're probably going to face more wrenching defeats in upcoming elections.
Hmmm : 12/1/2009
And the Democrat party is somehow any better? If you're not a non-working, non-tax paying American cultural deviating shyster, you don't rate either? So, who's representing the American people? I don't believe either one of those parties is representing the majority of regular Americans anymore and none of those who have been and/or currently in office are either. Of course, if the medias keep selling their souls - where else do the people get the majority of their information? Seems like a vicious circle to me.
Don't forget : 12/1/2009
Reagan also cut and run from Lebanon. Which was probably the right move. I wonder what today's Cheney's, Rove's or McCain's would have to say about that.
GOP : 12/1/2009
Two interest. Party first, corporatism second.
more of the same... : 12/2/2009
Gee, another anti-republican editorial by the O-R. 2 in one day this time - way to show how unbiased your paper is. How unique - get some new material and quit dragging the same old stuff from the blogs onto the editorial page.
Luv the O-R : 12/2/2009
More anti- republican op-eds, please. What a refreshing change after 8 years of fawning and boot licking.
A small tent : 12/3/2009
full of BIG IDEAS like the ten points is a great idea. If you have a small tent, but big ideas, people will be attracted, and put their tent next to yours. The single tent becomes a tent city. The problem with the GOP is that the way and basic principles were lost after taking power, and that is why the membership has dropped. The 10 principles is a good foundation upon which to rebuild.
The face of the Party has change and so has what there about : 12/4/2009
Some of the problem for the Republicans, the faces of the Party like Ronald Reagan, Colin Powell, and George Will have been replaced with Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
Colin Powell? : 12/6/2009
McCain should have been his dream candidate, a rino that constantly fought against conservatives until he needed their votes. No, Powell supported Obama instead. Probably saw it as the same affirmative action that helped his own career. The bunch that went on the spending spree within the party are the ones that drove Reagan out, except when they needeed to invoke his name to try to get the conservative base's attention. Bachman, Limbaugh, Quinn and others ARE the face of the ghost of Republicans' past!
Whoop-de-doo : 12/6/2009
And you think that the face of the Democrats is pretty? LOL OMGosh, you HAVE to be kidding, right? Never seen so many UGLY communists in one bunch before in my entire life.
Republicans Are Scum : 12/7/2009
...past and present.
Bachman, Limbaugh, Quinn and others ARE the face of the ghost of Republicans' past! : 12/7/2009
Do you mind elaborating please?
Joe is this your view of Colin Powell? : 12/7/2009
"Probably saw it as the same affirmative action that helped his own career. "
Bachman , Limbaugh et al : 12/8/2009
Are the voice of the Ghost of Republicans past. The voices of smaller government, more freedom, states rights, lower taxes. Colin Powell, yes, it is my view. He's over rated, and shows more Dem tendancies just like McCain (by the way, speaking of McCain, there was a medical miracle the other day, he found his backbone! ).
Joe “The Ghost Whisperer” Furjanic : 12/9/2009
You might be right about that Joe F. The likes of Bachmann, Beck, Limbaugh, Palin and others have tapped into a particular ideology. It’s not necessarily about small government, freedom, states right, and less taxes. They have been speaking to the malice antigovernment movement, the conspiracy theorists, anti-immigration faction, and those with supremacist attitudes. The radical views and fears of the far-right are now directed at an enemy, Barack Obama. The ostensibly mainstream politicians and media pundits have helped to spread the antigovernment, conspiracy, anti-immigration, and supremacy propaganda. The Timothy McVeigh’s, Orly Taitz’s, Tom Tancredo’s, and Tom Metzger’s are veiling themselves in conservatism. Are the Bachmann’s, Beck’s, Limbaugh’s, and Palin’s the ghosts of Ronald Reagan or the ghosts of domestic terrorists, the lunatic fringe, bigots and racist?
QSL : 12/9/2009
In Amateur Radio, QSL means 'confirmation.' In your case, ther is definately NO Qsl on your last rant. You like many other posters on here are lying by omission. You say "anti-immigration," when in fact, the sentiment by most of us you call far-right fringe is anti - ILLEGAL immigration. Amazing how that one little word, ILLEGAL always seems to get omitted from the leftists like you when you try to paint what used to be centrist American as far right. Get that right, then we'll discuss the rest. QSL?
Are you an illegal alien QSL? Got family that is? : 12/10/2009
ILLEGAL foreigners should NEVER have ANY rights, let alone Constitutional - as they are NOT and NEVER will be citizens - by their own stance in the situation. Many of them do NOT want to be citizens - they want to "take back" what they think is theirs from multi-generations ago. Wars are fought over such things. Many people die over such things. Getting rid of the problem means shipping these people back to where they come from and if they want to come in LEGALLY, then let them try. As for jobs, haven't most of ours went out of country already - so why are they here? American inquiring minds want to know.
the gop is : 12/10/2009
actually now a minority party to the tea-bag wing. They are in the dustbin of history.
QSL : 12/11/2009
My family immigrated here 4 generations ago, but they did it LEGALLY ! They didn't sneak across the border and steal jobs from Americans. They came here, learned the English language, assimilated into the American culture, and became Americans (no hyphen either) !
Joe F - Immigration : 12/12/2009
First of all Joe F you’re in no position to comment on someone ranting. There is illegal immigration, I understand that, what you don’t understand (well maybe you might just playing dumb) are those who are against any immigration. I didn’t omit the word illegal because I wasn’t talking about illegal immigration I was speaking about the so called “real America” and “real Americans” that believe that the only true Americans are white Americans. If you don’t fall into that crowd, then you can un-bunch your panties. The truth of the matter those that have that ideology tend to be far-right in their politics, generally vote republican and often veil them self in the conservative moment. When Beck, Limbaugh and Palin speak the rhetoric is reaching those with a particular mind set. You can skate around it all you want Joe F, the prejudiced, bigoted, and racist American can be found in the far-right of the Republican Party.
rs : 12/12/2009
I wasn’t talking about illegal immigrations. If my post to Joe F is posted by the OR refer to that for my explanation.
No QSL : 12/13/2009
Unconfirmed as usual. The wacko left ALWAYS intentionally leaves out the ILLEGAL part. I'm not sure if you're that far to the left, but I think you could be heading that way. Second, I don't wear panties, I go commando ! LOL I'd like to know, though, just for a reference point, what is the far right part of what Limbaugh, Beck and Palin say, and how can you say that the bigots are all republicans. Remember, Robery Byrd and Al Gore Sr. lead the filibuster of the civil rights act. Hardly right wing republicans !
QSL : 12/13/2009
Just for the written record here, Where DO you stand in ILLEGAL immigrants ?
QSL, : 12/15/2009
Where do you stand on ILLEGAL immigration and ILLEGAL immigrants?
Facts Please : 12/17/2009
The number of people who identify themselves as Republican has held steady for 3 months at approx. 33%. Those identifying themselves as Democrat at approx. 36%. That's all four of the major polling agencies. Your stats are just about as valid your opinion.
Rober Byrd and Al Gore Sr???????? : 12/17/2009
Byrd and Gore, Jr., I’m talking 2009 not 1968. By the way most of those Dixiecrats ended up in the Grand Ole Party. I didn’t say, “that the bigots are all republicans”, I’m not naive to think that the Republican Party is 100% full of prejudice, bigoted and racists, nor I’m naive to think that the Democrat Party is 100% free of prejudice, bigoted and racists individuals. What I said Joe F, “the prejudiced, bigoted, and racist American can be found in the far-right of the Republican Party”. Do you really believe that individuals who are members of hate groups like Ku Klux Clan, Skinheads, Aryan Nation, or any other white supremacy group are registering with the Democrat Party? They’re voting for Republicans and identify themselves with the far right of Republican Party. Who do you think has their ear it’s ilk of Fox News, Palin, Limbaugh, Beck. Also let’s get the facts about the civil rights legislation correct. You and Cady seem to like to throw that out all the time. The fact is it wasn’t about Democrat or Republican it was about North and South. The majority of Democrats and Republicans voted for the legislation, nearly all where from the North. Those voting against it were made up of mostly southerners both Democrat and Republican.
