It appears as if the right is just falling apart.

[Dan]

Romney was a moderate until he figured out he had to pander to the right leaning special interests to garner support in the primaries. It's funny how many people are on board with fiscal conservative/socially moderate but it gets no traction within the party.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I pretty much agree with this. The moment the GOP embraces true political conservatism (including not trying to tell others how to live through federal legislation and not spreading democracy through military might), they will steal away a majority of left-leaning moderates and render the Dems virtually sterile, at least for a few election cycles.

Like it or not, we aren't going to make the country (ie. people) more socially conservative through government. That can only happen at home.

Personally, I believe our culture is already headed for the cliff and there's very little hope of turning it around. I'd rather step to the side and try and pull a few out of the herd than to get run over trying to stop the whole group, saving none.

I'm with you Royal.

As a lifelong Republican, I feel that the party lost its way a bit under Bush II. That administration was anything but fiscally conservative. Not only that, but all of the social issues were made more important than the fiscal issues. There was a feeling that unless you fell in line on the social issues, you weren't welcome in the party.

The Reagan revolution was all about fiscal conservatism. Yes, he was pro-life, pro God, socially conservative, etc., but he didn't use every single speaking opportunity to remind everybody or push those issues. Instead he continued to focus on economic themes and a sense of fairness.

The biggest long term barrier for Republican stability is the immigration issue. Jack Kemp, in the late 1980's, once quipped that unless Republicans reevaluate their stance on immigration, an entire demographic group will be forever conditioned to vote against Republicans. He even took the controversial stance of comparing the issue to civil rights and how it forever linked African Americans with Democrats. Ultimately, his theme is dead on. This country is becoming more and more Hispanic and we can't risk alienating that group (outside of the Cubans) forever.

Lee Atwater always referred to the GOP as the "Big Tent" where everyone should feel welcome. He laughed at liberals who required potential followers to follow lockstep on welfare, great society type of programs, etc. Unfortunately, that Big Tent has been made significantly smaller in the last decade. We don't need to move away from core principals --- we just can't make them absolute litmus tests for membership. The majority of the electorate still views themselves as fiscally conservative but feels that the Republican party doesn't want them if the don't agree on every single issue on the social agenda.

[GoShockers89]

This page is becoming uncharacteristically logical.

[shoxlax]

Well, you were right about one thing...

Anyway, Republicans can continue down the path they've been walking for the last 12 years and have zero shot against Clinton in 2016, or they can compromise because they now realize REAL AMERICANS still blame the Republican Party for the slide this country has been in for the last 12 years. But in all honesty, I don't think any Republican is going to beat Clinton.

Obama owns the last three years at least. He made promise after promise that we would see this and that after his first three years relating to domestic affairs and he hasn't delivered on one of them, except Obama Care.

[shoxlax]

Here's the other thing that bugs me. From the time I was little enough to crap in a diaper in the mid sixties, I was taught by my mom (actually a bleeding heart liberal) that "race doesn't matter". I have done my best to abide by those principals and truly feel I look at the inside of someone before judging them. Yet, when I see Obama getting 90+ per cent of the black vote when most of his race is worse off than they were four years ago, I truly think to some "race does matter". I get the 2008 election where you vote for the most identifiable candidate but now he has a track record that is not favorable.

[shoxlax]

I'm with you Royal.

As a lifelong Republican, I feel that the party lost its way a bit under Bush II. That administration was anything but fiscally conservative. Not only that, but all of the social issues were made more important than the fiscal issues. There was a feeling that unless you fell in line on the social issues, you weren't welcome in the party.

The Reagan revolution was all about fiscal conservatism. Yes, he was pro-life, pro God, socially conservative, etc., but he didn't use every single speaking opportunity to remind everybody or push those issues. Instead he continued to focus on economic themes and a sense of fairness.

The biggest long term barrier for Republican stability is the immigration issue. Jack Kemp, in the late 1980's, once quipped that unless Republicans reevaluate their stance on immigration, an entire demographic group will be forever conditioned to vote against Republicans. He even took the controversial stance of comparing the issue to civil rights and how it forever linked African Americans with Democrats. Ultimately, his theme is dead on. This country is becoming more and more Hispanic and we can't risk alienating that group (outside of the Cubans) forever.

Lee Atwater always referred to the GOP as the "Big Tent" where everyone should feel welcome. He laughed at liberals who required potential followers to follow lockstep on welfare, great society type of programs, etc. Unfortunately, that Big Tent has been made significantly smaller in the last decade. We don't need to move away from core principals --- we just can't make them absolute litmus tests for membership. The majority of the electorate still views themselves as fiscally conservative but feels that the Republican party doesn't want them if the don't agree on every single issue on the social agenda.

Dare I say it, you just described the Nicolas Sarkozy model of success.

[shoxlax]

Look at all the turd stains on the ballot and how many votes they sucked away from the two candidates:

http://www.google.com/elections/ed/us/results

Johnson have 1.1 million votes? Are you friggin kidding me? Roseann Barr?

[Ixiah]

I think Romney seriously hurt himself in two ways:

• Choice of Ryan. Ryan did not bring him Wisconsin and associated Romney with a man that wants to end social security. Old people vote! Just to give one statistic on how many are now dependent on that program - 46% of single people 65+ receive 90%+ of their income from social security. There is a reason why its called the third rail of politics.

• Doubling down on the auto bailout - like it or not the auto bailout has worked in the short term at least and in a state like Ohio which is heavily dependent on the auto industry it was the wrong side of the issue to be on.

[martymoose]

Obama owns the last three years at least. He made promise after promise that we would see this and that after his first three years relating to domestic affairs and he hasn't delivered on one of them, except Obama Care.

That may be true, but it doesn't change what Real Americans believe. Fox News anchors were acting pretty shocked yesterday when they reported more that 50% of exit polls were showing people still blame Bush for the economy....that high of a number would have to include Dems, Republicans and Independents.

[moshock]

IMHO, the GOP needs to pull their head out of their arses and get back to the conservative principles that rescued this country in the 80's. McCain is one of the most liberal Republicans in our party. Romney was not far behind. I voted for both but had to hold my nose while filling out my ballot.

I have a few questions for the head of the GOP:

Why did we nominate a man who couldn't even win his own state (Mass)
Why did he pick Ryan who couldn't win bring his own state with him (Wisconsin)
Why are we moving to the left with our candidates (proponents of abortions, government healthcare, etc)
Why did we pick a Morman (disclaimer: nothing wrong with Mormons, but some Christians won't vote for them)

We need new leadership with conservative values. I won't donate another dime until that happens

[wu_shizzle]

Marco Rubio will be the next President.

I don't see the right "falling apart".

[RoyalShock]

Those who talk about Reagan's fiscal conservatism should take a look at what happened to federal spending during his administration. The numbers I saw a couple of years ago shocked me. If I recall them correctly, DC spending accelerated under Reagan.

[shoxlax]

That may be true, but it doesn't change what Real Americans believe. Fox News anchors were acting pretty shocked yesterday when they reported more that 50% of exit polls were showing people still blame Bush for the economy....that high of a number would have to include Dems, Republicans and Independents.

What is this real Americans garbage you keep referring to? 70 per cent of the military voted for Romney. Are they not real Americans? And the 50% number would not necessarily include Republicans and all Independents.

The fact of the matter is we were supposed to have 5.6% unemployment, a deficit cut in half and a balanced budget. If people are too ignorant to see that none of that happened then there is no hope for them.

Its amazing to me anybody that lives in Wichita could vote for the guy considering his shots at the corporate jet industry and how that could impact the welfare of this town.

Enjoy the country you will receive for your kids and grandkids.

[BostonWu]

The focus for the GOP has to be on the Latino vote. The national demographics are only heading in one direction and it ain't going back. Not too long ago Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico were red. Unless republicans figure out the Latino vote then it won't be long before Texas joins that list. If they figure out immigration and bring Rubio to the party then they'll win in 2016.

[Kung Wu]

I'm thinking that in four years the American media will be gushing over getting to elect the first woman candidate, just like they were gushing over getting to elect the first black candidate. Make no mistake, the media will protect her from herself and completely ignore her opponent regardless of what color or sex the opponent is. The GOP has to overcome THAT in order to win in four years.