For many years, I have taken the pulse of groups of people around me.
Some are moderate Republicans. Some are independents. Some are moderate Democrats.
They are a strong bellweather for elections.
Almost all of them were on board for Bush in 2000.
The first inclinations that they were upset with Republicans was during the increases in spending during the early part of the Bush administration.
Most of them were ready to jump ship during the amnesty fiasco during the summer of 2005.
All but one of the ten voted for Obama with the final nail in the coffin being the TARP bill that Bush signed.
Most of them are back. Chomping at the bit to vote against the Democrats in 2010.
But the vote comes with a caveat.
They don’t want Republicans to SCREW IT UP AGAIN OR ELSE.
While the polling, excitement, victories in VA/NJ are great, they are only an opportunity.
To ensure a real return to power, the Republicans have to be READY TO GOVERN AS CONSERVATIVES.
That means cutting pork even in your own districts.
It means returning to the time of Reagan on earmarks.
It means cutting regulations so that businesses can start up more easily.
Most of all, it means embracing limited government.
And the real key will be WHO we elect as President. When I look for someone to support in 2012 with my tme and my energy and my money, it won’t be the best looking or the most conservative on every area (even though I am conservative in 95% of the areas), it will be who is dedicated to the idea of the smallest government possible …. and they better have the proof to back it up.
Because the next time the GOP gets control of the government and they DONT govern like conservatives — the moderates are going to be gone for a long time.
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Daniel Horowitz
Jake Walker
I'm not sure I trust your focus group
nycenterright Tuesday, November 10th at 2:36PM EST (link)“They are a strong bellweather for elections.
Almost all of them were on board for Bush in 2000.”
Almost all of them? Bush lost the national popular vote and won the electoral college by eeking out a .0092% win in Florida. But “almost all” of these moderates and centrists supported him. That does not make me feel particularly confident about 2012 when you say that “Most of them are back.”
I'm sure you have heard about Luntz and Luntz's dunces
Scope (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 2:53PM EST (link)You start out saying that your bellweather group is made of up Moderate Republicans, Independents and Moderate Dems, yet, you claim that they will come back to the fold only if we insure a Conservative candidate, and keep them on a short leash while governing. So in other words, you and your shankappotumuses only care about fiscal issues, and that’s it, or we are all taking a hike again? Do I have that right?
I'm sure you have heard about Luntz and Luntz's dunces
Scope (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 2:53PM EST (link)You start out saying that your bellweather group is made of up Moderate Republicans, Independents and Moderate Dems, yet, you claim that they will come back to the fold only if we insure a Conservative candidate, and keep them on a short leash while governing. So in other words, you and your shankappotumuses only care about fiscal issues, and that’s it, or we are all taking a hike again? Do I have that right?
"Republicans have to be READY TO GOVERN AS CONSERVATIVES."
ColdWarrior (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 3:19PM EST (link)Agreed.
The best way for those of us who are conservatives, and Republicans, to help ensure that conservative Republicans get elected in the upcoming elections by becoming “players” in the Republican Party itself at the grass roots level of the political ball game — as precinct committeemen.
If you and your acquaintances are worried about the outcome of the pending Debtocrat socialist legislative efforts, and want to make sure the Republican Party’s candidates for office in the 2010 general elections will be conservatives who won the primary contests, I submit the most effective way they could spend their time and money would be to sign up NOW to become voting members of the party — precinct committeemen.
As you may know, HALF of these slots nationwide in the Republican Party were vacant in 2008. The half that were filled were split about 50-50 between moderates/liberals and conservatives. Fill up the empty 50 per cent with conservatives and — presto! — you’ve got a 75-25 advantage for conservatives.
It’s easy to become a precinct committeeman. Each state has different rules. I hope you’ll become one if you’re not one already. And that you’ll recruit your conservative friends to do the same.
Thank you.
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
ColdWarrior- I admire your hard work
Scope (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 3:59PM EST (link)and respect you for your diligence in getting more people active at the local level. There are some districts that are hard to impossible to penetrate. The Republican party Chair., and the others that he has working for him, here in my district have been doing what they are doing forever. They are all older, and some more than a little older. They have controlled everything exactly as they have wanted it to be, and want no interrefence from any outsiders. Our City Council only just decided to get rid of 2 pieces of dead wood this election cycle, after they had held the positions for 16 and 18 years. There is no website, there is no meeting place except at the chair’s home, there are no ads articles in the weekly newspaper talking about anything Republican. The next district over had to post the election results for here last Wednesday. We have one choice for telephone service, and we have one grocery store. I love the rural life, but, one must give up some things to have it. I plan on working in the district next to me to help unseat Perriello (D) in 2010, however, not living in that district my involvement is limited with the Republican party there. Depending on who the R candidate is, my time will be best spent on working for the candidates campaign directly. I’m sure there are others in my position.
Scope, thanks for the feedback
ColdWarrior (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 4:44PM EST (link)Yes, I realize every locale has its own special challenges. Back in my hometown in WI, all three of the local grocery stores are gone — you either go to the single convenience store that replaced them or drive 15 miles to the next town that is big enough to support a “real” supermarket. I still remember the “party line” telephones and the phone company’s switchboard (got to see it one time when the local phone company moved to a new “modern” facility when the rotary phones came into being).
And most of the youth simply move away. Like I did. Despite the spectacular beauty, the relative lack of crime, the wildlife, etc. Things young people don’t really care much about.
I don’t want to just cross my fingers and hope for change. Here in Maricopa County, I know the McCain moderates are trying to wrest control of the Party leadership from the conservatives who hold those positions. They’re doing that by recruiting PCs. But we conservatives are going into the 912/Tea Party/town hall protests and finding recruits there. I believe we are out-recruiting the moderates. I just recruited another lady today — on Nov. 5, I handed out my flyers for about twenty minutes inside and outside Harry “I love socialized medicine” Mitchell’s office with my daughter. Doing it inside his office was fun — his staffers were getting yelled at by irate constituents and at the same time I’m running up to each one of them and shoving my flyer into their hands, going, “Are you conservative? Then you’ve got to get involved where it matters, in party politics, and become a precinct committeeman — here, read this!’ Another civics lesson for my daughter, and maybe a few more conservative PCs got recruited for the Party. There aren’t any “McCain moderates” at these protests. At least I have yet to meet one.
I be interested to know how your county compares to the national average in terms of percentage of PC slots filled?
What county are you in?
Thanks again.
ColdWarrior
www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
OMG ColdWarrior- You have successfully fought
Scope (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 8:17PM EST (link)what I am now facing in my district. These local GOP people are only about 11th comandment Reblicans. Anything with an R behind their name will do. Unfortunately, I live in Eric Cantors 7th district, Orange County Virginia. Is he currently better than any current Democrat, yep. There are local websites that are all more than a little dissasified with Cantor, but, he will never get a viable challenger. This is another McCain is great district. How could I possibly back a Republican candidate that I have problems with. That is why I am going to the next district over to fight to replace a Liberal that I have much more of a problem with. Again, and I think you would agree, the fight has to be to defeat the worst Democrats in office now. Periello is one of the most vulnerable democrats in the house now. Do you not think that that is the better place to be, at tis time? I can’t fight Cantor, as much as I would like to.
Exactly how is Eric Cantor not conservative enough?
mikerazar (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 11:26PM EST (link)As far as I can tell, he is a fiscal conservative, supports a strong military and is fiercely patriotic. He is a staunch supporter of Israel and understands the threat of Islamo-fascism and terrorism. He strongly favors free market solutions in health care, energy policy, and everything else. He is fiercely pro-life. As minority whip, he has held the party together on most issues.
What more do you want? I live in Melissa Bean’s district. She is a “blue dog” democrat, but somehow finds a way to obey Nancy Pelosi on every vote. I wish all I had to do is quibble on minor points. You are lucky.
We have a nation to save, people.
Scope, I think you're on the right track.
ColdWarrior (Diary) Wednesday, November 11th at 12:39AM EST (link)The web site is not displaying this entire window so I can’t
see what I’m typing unless I hit the Enter key so this may appear
“choppy.” Cantor could be better. No fire in the belly. No
“leadership” as the whip, in my opinion. I believe Boehner and
he should be using this healthcare debate to educate the
electorate. They should be making CONSTITUTIONAL arguments
against it in the first instance. They don’t. The should be calling
Teleprompter Child out on his LIES. They don’t. They should be
calling this what it is: SOCIALISM. They don’t. The American
conservatives would rally round them. But they are too timid. Keith
Overbite might call them a name.
And they should be IMPLORING conservatives to come into the
Party as PCs. They won’t. Because they FEAR a conservative
resurgence in the Party voting ranks.
So, I’ll keep recruiting. Went to my legislative district meeting
tonight. Several new PCs I recruited were there. Recruited one at the meeting. And a great candidate told me he met recently with
Cantor, Boehner and Pence last week. Bottom line: they aren’t
the cavalry — WE ARE.
His name’s Jim Ward. Impressive. Businessman. Not a politician. www.votejimward.com
What I liked: he said he’s terrified of what Teleprompter Child and his socialist minions (my words, not his, but he did say “terrified”) are doing to the future of this country.
I will probably support him, although we have two other good conservatives running. Need to do more evaluation, but will do it soon. Then I will rally as many PCs I know to join me.
Thanks for all you are doing.
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
ColdWarrior- I admire your hard work
Scope (Diary) Tuesday, November 10th at 3:59PM EST (link)and respect you for your diligence in getting more people active at the local level. There are some districts that are hard to impossible to penetrate. The Republican party Chair., and the others that he has working for him, here in my district have been doing what they are doing forever. They are all older, and some more than a little older. They have controlled everything exactly as they have wanted it to be, and want no interrefence from any outsiders. Our City Council only just decided to get rid of 2 pieces of dead wood this election cycle, after they had held the positions for 16 and 18 years. There is no website, there is no meeting place except at the chair’s home, there are no ads articles in the weekly newspaper talking about anything Republican. The next district over had to post the election results for here last Wednesday. We have one choice for telephone service, and we have one grocery store. I love the rural life, but, one must give up some things to have it. I plan on working in the district next to me to help unseat Perriello (D) in 2010, however, not living in that district my involvement is limited with the Republican party there. Depending on who the R candidate is, my time will be best spent on working for the candidates campaign directly. I’m sure there are others in my position.
The republicans will have to do far more than merely govern as conservatives...
Dave Tuesday, November 10th at 10:22PM EST (link)…they are going to have to do something they were utterly unwilling to do between 1994 and 2006: begin repealing and reversing the hideous socialist policies that are currently in place.
That means they must reverse pretty much everything Obama has done, as well as much of the lunacy brought about by Clinton and GWB, too.
Merely slowing or even halting this nation’s leftward regression will not be enough this time, as there is already enough entitlement and other lefty lunacy on the books to wreck this country already.
All ObamaCare, Crap & Tax, and whatever other hideous tax increases that we all know are coming will accomplish is to accelerate our speed over the cliff.
Of course, this assumes they will take enough of the Congress in 2012 to be in a position to do any of the above, and I am not counting that chicken until it hatches.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.