Comments on: Electing Moderate Dems Could Benefit Conservatives

By: sinz54

sinz54 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:26:31 +0000

joemarier: I don’t think Republicans should write off the Northeast. I am asking whether or not conservatives, as separate and distinct from Republicans, should write off the Northeast
Conservatives don’t like to hear this,

but their fortunes are tied to the fortunes of the GOP. Conservatives cannot be “separate and distinct from Republicans,” unless they want conservatism to remain an impotent minority view in the nation. We have a two-party system. Wins by third-party or independent candidates aren’t unheard of, but they’re so rare as to be insignificant in the greater scheme of things.

The only way for ANYTHING conservative to be done in this country is with a Republican majority. It is inconceivable it could get done any other way.

Conservatives are the bedrock base of the GOP. If they walk out of the Northeast and Pacific coast, and refuse to support GOP candidates there who they regard as insufficiently conservative, then those Republicans cannot win. And the GOP will find it much more difficult, if not impossible, to win a majority in Congress.

A small cadre of conservative representatives in Congress may make conservatives like you feel good, but they won’t be anything but spoilers.

The motto of New Majority is “Building a conservatism that can win again.” And in a diverse country like America, winning requires building a coalition with others on whatever shared interests can be found.

Conservatives should be reminded that one reason that Reagan, a staunch conservative, swept every area of the nation in 1980 was that moderate and liberal Republicans like Jacob Javits campaigned vigorously for him in states like New York.

And that moderate Republicans in Congress can be kept in line by their House and Senate leadership. Even on health care, the ONLY Republican who defected was Snowe. The hated McCain did not.

By: joedee1969

joedee1969 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:25:36 +0000

Blue Dogs and Middle of the road Republicans should start there own party as far as I’m concerned:

http://americaspeaksink.com/2009/10/stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/

By: joemarier

joemarier — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:08:20 +0000

That’s not, actually, what I’m saying. I don’t think Republicans should write off the Northeast. I am asking whether or not conservatives, as separate and distinct from Republicans, should write off the Northeast, and whether and how Dede should make the case to cut into Hoffman’s support. It’s analysis, not advocacy.

By: sinz54

sinz54 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:26 +0000

I see! You’re saying it’s better for Republicans to just write off the Northeast rather than have liberal Republicans win there.

Jacob Javits and Ed Brooke must be spinning in their graves.

The Dems have refused to write off any state as hopeless. They ran relatively conservative “Blue Dog” candidates in the South and West. Daily KOS thought that was fine, even though Daily KOS disagreed with these Blue Dogs on a number of issues.

If the Dems can run Blue Dogs in the South and West, why can’t the GOP run relatively liberal “Yellow Dogs” in the Northeast and the Pacific Coast?

The more ideologically pure the party, the smaller it will be.