Here's why the Republicans are on the outside looking in

[Griswold]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...say-americans/

A combined 37% of conservatives say that Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck is the most influential conservative among us today.

Think about those astounding numbers for a minute. Almost four out of every 10 conservatives think that a couple of pop culture icons are the most influential among their ranks.

Is it any wonder that in Washington, Republicans are on the outside looking in? If it's true that Republicans cannot win without conservatives—and it is true—then the GOP has a serious issue here.

Whether you like or dislike Limbaugh and Beck isn't the issue. The issue is that while the left can easily identify influential liberals—Obama, Pelosi, etc.—who are at the forefront of policy making and prepared to be elected to key positions, there are no politicians out there for conservatives to rally around. Instead, their brightest hope is a couple of guys who take to the air waves to rant and rave and have no real positive impact on politics. (I know someone will disagree with me on this last statement, but I'll just point out that Limbaugh was enjoying his biggest success and Beck was rising to fame while the Democrats were sweeping to power; neither could do anything to stop the tidal wave.)

Compounding the problem is that Nos. 3 and 4 on the list of influential conservatives—Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney, at 10% each—are each about as electable as a paper weight. There are a lot of things that I admire about Palin, and I'm actually a fan of Cheney's conservative credentials. But the devil will be ice-skating when either of them are elected to the White House.

Talk about a state of disarray!

This isn't to say that Limbaugh (or Beck) isn't the most influential conservative out there. It's just to say that if either of these guys are conservatives' best foot forward, conservatism has a major problem and is in serious need of rebranding.

We're more than a year removed from the 2008 elections that widened Democrat control of Congress and ushered in a new era of presidential politics. From health care to bailouts, this first year has brought forth a plethora of staggering government expansions and spending measures. If there isn't a Republican out there by now for conservatives to unite behind, when? And from where will he or she come? Where is the Bobby Jindal? The Tim Pawlenty? The Mark Sanford? (Wait; don't answer that last one.)

Republicans and conservatives have railed against the cap & trade and reform initiatives as out-of-touch with the views of Americans, and point towards 2010 as the start of a right-wing comeback. Yet, less than 12 months before the midterms, conservatives are still taking their marching orders from folks like Limbaugh? Beck?

This isn't intended as a slam on Limbaugh or Beck. If you want to listen to them, please, be my guest. But I assure you that if the situations were reversed, the liberals wouldn't be rallying behind Michael Moore or Al Franken. The liberals put forth policy-makers who could get things done and rode the coattails of those folks all the way to the mainstream. If it hadn't been for the debacle that was the Bush presidency, Nancy Pelosi wouldn't be a household name today.

The other side of the political spectrum says that we shouldn't waste a good crisis. Well, we're in the midst of a single-party reign that most conservatives would agree is a crisis. Can the right take advantage of it? If what we've seen so far is any indication, the answer is no.

If what we've seen so far is any indication, Washington is going to remain firmly in the grasp of the left for a while to come.

[kevin1]

The GOP is indeed adrift, they desperately need to field some strong candidates if they want any hope of retaking DC.

[nodog]

I think you got it figured right.

[Fieldmouse]

I'm sitting here laughing my arse off at this. We are years away from the next presidential election yet you want it to begin yesterday. That's just too funny. I personally was sick of the extended election we just went through.

Also, weren't you on recorded not many months back claiming a conservative would never get elected in this country for President? I think I can remember going a few rounds with you on this. So what do you care anyway? Your not a conservative but a fickle voter who calls himself and independent.If I'm mistaken, I apologize.

However, we Conservative Republicans are in the process of party cleaning and gearing up for the 2010 election. We're trying to reclaim our party on the local level away from the fickle politicians who use the party name only to get elected. The 2010 election isn't a national election. The 2010 is a local election with national implications. Right now from our vantage point, Republicans have a great chance of sweeping both Houses and gaining control of the purse strings. That will be all for not if we screw up and send RINOs to DC.

So you just sit back on cruise control. Don't worry about us Conservative Republicans. We are making many strides and a lot of in roads towards winning in 2010. The only thing you need to do, which is your norm, is to get involved on election day.

[falcon]

What Griswold said.

[DeerandbearhoG]

EDIT: griswold I hate to be rude this early in the AM but you are the biggest closet liberal ive ever read posts by. w/ all due respect of course do you think anyone buys your concern about the repulican party? you may throw a jab at obama here and there(altough i cant recall 1) but the majority of the stuff ive read by you is anti republican and conservative so let the real conservatives worry about republicans getting in office and go back and kneel bfore your obama/pelosi/reed/shrine.




The knee jerk reaction is to blame the party or the candidates but I think the reason the dems are in power is the simple fact that the american voters in large, are complete morons. most people who vote have no grasp of the issues and couldnt even tell you whos currently the speaker of the house, or even the vice president (wish I could forget) . Most people get their political info from comedy shows and local liberal news outlets. Lets be honest ,the dem are good at 2 things, promising entilitments to bottom feeders and demonizeing success , they are capitalizing on the degradation of society. no wonder republicans, are so not appealing these days.


o

[DeerandbearhoG]

Originally Posted by falcon

What Griswold said.

What fieldmouse said.

[Griswold]

Originally Posted by Fieldmouse

Also, weren't you on recorded not many months back claiming a conservative would never get elected in this country for President?

No, I am not on record making any such claim, or saying anything remotely similar to that. Perhaps you're remembering my comments about hardcore social conservatives like Mike Huckabee not being electable in the current politial climate. I'm as conservative as any one man can be. But if it makes you feel better to say I'm fickle or that my viewpoints aren't consistent and always change, or whatever, feel free to say what you like about me.

It doesn't change the fact, however, that the GOP is lost in the wilderness and shows no signs of getting back on the beaten path to the promised land. Seriously: Their first major step to get back on track was electing Michael Steele as party chairman. That alone speaks volumes.

And, BTW, no one mentioned the 2012 presidential election.

As for efforts to get the GOP back to its roots, more power to you. I hope Republicans take this initiative and are successful with it. But you'll pardon me if I don't hold my breath.

[The Rev]

What Fieldmouse said x 2

[Griswold]

[quote=DeerandbearhoG;3516071]EDIT: griswold I hate to be rude this early in the AM
[quote]

That's okay. I'm used to it from you.

but you are the biggest closet liberal ive ever read posts by.

There ya go. Someone disagrees with you, so paint them as a liberal. Such an original tactic, especially around here.

do you think anyone buys your concern about the repulican party?

Newsflash: I'm not concerned with the Republican Party. I'm not concerned with the Democrat Party. If the GOP folded today, I wouldn't shed a tear. I concern myself with ideologies, and vote for the candidate who most closely aligns himself with my beliefs, regardless of which letter follows his name. If I were to align myself with a party, it would be the Constitution Party.

you may throw a jab at obama here and there(altough i cant recall 1) but the majority of the stuff ive read by you is anti republican and conservative.

LOL. Anti-conservative? Really? Show me. I think my stance on Obama is pretty clear. Hell, I thought I made it pretty clear in this very post. Do you want me to take a paper and crayon and draw it out for you?

I was getting ready to compliment you on a thoughtful, well-reasoned post, even though I disagree with it. Then you came back and added this real winner of a paragraph and reminded me that I'm still dealing with Deerandbearhog.