New Jersey, Virginia, New York Races Show Republican Need to Expand the Tent
By Mary Kate Cary, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
It's pretty clear what's going to happen in next week's gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey and the Congressional special election in New York's 23rd district—both parties will start passing out blame for defeats by the time the polls close Tuesday.
The Virginia race in particular gives the GOP an opportunity to redefine itself. Bob McDonnell shunned the far-right angry rhetoric and stuck to kitchen-table issues—like jobs, taxes, and transportation—that conservatives, moderates, and independents wanted to hear about. The latest Gallup poll this week shows that many of those same independent voters nationally have started to move to the right, and between now and the midterm elections the Republican Party has an opportunity to keep that momentum from the Virginia race going if it sticks with McDonnell's winning strategy.
David Frum predicts a win in Virginia, and then takes a look at the other races:
"What lessons will Republicans draw? You might think that the impending defeats in New York and New Jersey would drive home the need to broaden the Republican coalition. A candidate like [Conservative Party nominee Doug] Hoffman would have been the better candidate for New York's 23rd CD; a candidate like [independent Chris] Daggett the better candidate for suburban New Jersey. Republicans have to find ways to accommodate both types of candidates and both kinds of constituencies. But the risk is that the party will draw a very different conclusion. From the New York experience, Republicans will be tempted to draw the lesson: Always nominate the more conservative candidate. From New Jersey: We need to drive pro-environmental fiscal moderates out of our party and into the Democratic Party where they belong!"
"We need more voices," House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican, told Politico last week. "Our party's challenge has been that we need to be more inclusive—we need to attract the middle again. ... When one party controls all the levers of power in Washington, they're going to try and villainize whoever they can on our side. It gives us an opportunity now to try and harness the energy and point it in a positive direction, so that we can attract the middle of the country to the common-sense conservative views that we have been about as a party." That's the lesson I hope everyone draws on Tuesday.
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Tags: New Jersey | New York | Virginia | Republicans
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Where are the real American Statesmen?
We need men like this in our Congress or Senate......
Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!
Primeme Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia said this:
"Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..
Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:
'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society ... Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us...'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Absurd Article
This article is absurd. In new Jersey the Democrat will get 40%, the Republican 40% the conservative 20%, and if the conservative was not running, it would be a Republican landslide in one of the most liberal states.
In the New York Special election, same thing. The Republican(s) will get 60%.
If the Democrat wins in either election, it will be because the US (except for Georgia)does not have run-off elections if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. They will not receive a majority of the votes, as Bill Clinton never did.
Otherwise, with run-offs, everything this time around would be a Republican landslide.
So, the delusional writer of this article takes this as evidence that the Republicans must now compromise their positions.
Absurd.
Same failed answer
The problem with Republicans like Mary Cate Cary is that she believes the party should be more like Democrats to win elections. This not a new thought. Numerous Republican candidates have lost elections using this strategy. Most recently John McCain was the "big tent" poster boy. How'd he do? Her boss (George W.) should have won easily against the buffoons he ran against, but instead gained office by razor thin margins with this philosophy. Also many in the last Republican majority in Congress lost their jobs trying to be more like Democrats.
No, Republicans must return to a platform of conservative principles that defend the U.S. Constitution.
Why would Americans vote for a Republican acting like a Democrat when they can vote for a real Democrat? As we have learned they don't.
Republicans must stand for conservative principles in contrast to the Socialism of the Democrats. Americans can then choose the kind of country they wish to live in.
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