CNN

[...] I can't understand this dynasty/legacy mentality of some politicians and their children. Just what is it that makes Chelsea Clinton or Meghan McCain think they are the voice of their parents' political parties? I can only wonder that maybe they believe they are heirs to nobles in some gotti kingdom of politics. Whatever the case may be, Meghan McCain cries for the limelight again. [...]

As a republican I am starting to agree with her more and more

The Republicans need to come clean with the truth about themselves and mean it. Everyone else knows what it is but them. Their actions says a lot more to the citizens of this country more than what we hear them say.

In addition to the GOP's hypocrisy of claiming fiscal responsibility while discretionary spending exploded and the asinine attempt to manufacture the Neocon fantasy of an oxymoronic Islamic Democracy in Iraq, Bush's administration and Palin's nomination both indicated that the intellectual foundations of conservatism were sacrificed to appease a simple-minded religious base eager to explore theocratic rule. Spector's defection betrays just how far-right the GOP has moved in its appeasement of religious social conservatives.

I left the Republican party simply because I don't want every foreign and domestic policy issue engaged with the same absolute certainty applied to the religious right's core metaphysical concerns regarding a woman's reproductive tract and regarding who marries who under civil law. After failing in their claimed fiscal responsibility and prudent application of the military, these wedge social issues are all the GOP has left and do not provide an appealing choice for moderates or Independents who value pragmatic reason over inflamed emotions.

I have voted Republican since Eisenhower was elected. The party has gotten my last vote unless it changes. Today's republicans are very southern, very religious, very white male, very big business and very very right. They should have learned from this last election that does not sit well with the American public. At one time Republicans in office meant fiscal conservationism. The last Bush term(s) wrote an end to that. Ah yes it's time for a change, a change in the Republican party. Top to bottom.

excellent – less government, lower taxes, national security, etc. think w grew the govt, lowered taxes while increasing spending, and grew the love for good 'ol usa around the world (NOT, on that last one).

GOP is out to sea! they just held their first 'town hall' meeting in arlington, va, a location selected to get 'outside' dc and hear what the american people think. brain surgeons, all. first, arlington is adjacent to dc, ~2-miles away. second, no one here voted for mccain – about 80-20 obama.... third, they held their 'town hall' in a pizza joint (small business, ha!) without announcing squat as to when/where. so much for the hearing what the public thinks. (they also have down-selected what topics are on the agenda for possible discussion – remember gop has already decided its stance on most issues – religion, guns, gays, choice, death, war, taxes, health care, and so on. so today, cantor, bush, and romney (mccain and jindal were no-shows, and apparently nobody thought to invite gop leaders palin and rush?) heard from a hand picked crowd of gop supporters at a restaurant in arlington, just like w favored (shush opposition, it's easier...) the new gop, same as the old gop!

maghan mccain herself should not attack her own party members if she want to see the GOP BACK TO POWER. i think she is more in the business of building her own popularity. if that's the case she should shut-up.

As a moderate Republican 40-something, I like Meghan McCain. The last 10 years or so I have watched the Republican Party become something that I can't align myself with. The Rove mentality of say whaever it takes to make your opponent look bad has totally turned me off. And the notion you must be Republican if you're Christian is highly offensive. I can't say I agree with Democrats all the time, but they offend me less. If the new strategy is more of the same stuff, it won't work for me. Focus less on making Democrats look bad and more on solving problems. I'm sick of the politics as a sport mentality. It's not a game. We have real problems that need real solutions. The fact that the focus is on how to regain the ability to win elections just shows they don't get it.

Sorry Meghan, but you are just a 'dirty moderate.' Just like Spector the Defector, nobody likes a traitor. Not even Dems!

They'll use you for a while, then send you off to never-never land to hang out with...what's his name...,oh yeah, Scott McClellan.

Now go away and live off your mommy's millions.

Why is anyone giving this girl any attention at all? And what exactly are her qualifications, that she is related to a politician?

Really – she has no idea what conservatives or Republicans should do as her life experience is so small, and her world view is so narrow.

Please stop giving this little girl any attention.

Give it up Meghan. The GOP doesn't want anybody who isn't a right wing-nut lunatic Christian. There needs to ba e new party, a progressive party for free thinkers who don't buy into the GOP dirty wars on everything.

While she may not be a "dirty moderate" she is still a "dirty republican". I don't know whether it is funny or sad that they actually think they can rebuild their party by all of the sudden embracing inclusion. Inclusion of people that wouldn't give them the time of day.....and rightfully never will. Slow death spiral for the GOP, slow for them, painful to the rest of us....in our ears.

Inclusiveness and grey boundaries may be fine but not in excess. Over diluted jello is an unappeasing "thing".
Why is CNN now doing so many different angles of the same story on the GOP? Is it because some news outlets stated Obama coverage was over saturated?
We never need to wait for the "educated" extremists to show their lack of common sense in attacking others for doing the same acts the extremists promoted in the past.

Meghan, Meghan, Meghan We do not wish you would go away because you are a moderate. We wish you would go away because you are an embarrassment and the only reason you are so popular on the media trail is because they are laughing AT you. Many of us reluctantly supported your father because we KNEW that Obama would do just what he is doing, spending the country into ruin. Just in case you hadn't heard, many Democrats, including our President, don't support Gay marriage. So please, get over yourself, get a real job or go serve on one of your mother's boards, anything just quit commenting! You are not persuasive to reasonable young people. The ones you MIGHT appeal to are not old enough to vote but might enjoy a Hannah Montana or Jonas Brothers concert with you.

im sorry. i am a 19 year old republican and Meghan McCain, you dont speak for me. i wish you would go away honestly and stop saying that you are the one who stands up for the young GOP. not all of us wanted John Kerry in office like you. if you would talk to other young people who aren;t so liberal minded you would know that not everyone likes, agrees, or really wants you to talk for them.

Certainly you are not, but as a long as you chose to stay within religious fundamentalist party this is how you will be treated by its members. The only solution I see here is to either join Libertarians of start you own conservative party without religious overtones.

I'm sorry but she does not represent the GOP party and has nothing to offer us in the future. Take your millions and go home. I am tired of her judging people she doesn't even know. Her Father is loosing respect that he has earned. She has never held a job. Please don't give her anymore attention.

Nice group of Old Guard Repubs. Why is Meghan not on the council?

Meg, I like the fight you got in ya. But if when you are said and done, all that comes out of the Republicans mouth is "Low taxes for rich people, NOTHING/NADA/ZILCH for poor people (don't educate them, don't make sure they live, don't keep them safe...KILL THEM), small government (but hey, elect me....cuz I'm a hypocrite who wants small government but wants to be paid by the government)...and Make all of the bible into laws forced down the throats of all citizens, cuz SCREW their own religions! We hate gays, kill em all!"...

You know, if your party keeps on spouting off the same retarded flat earth policies, then you are a lost cause. But if you are truly asking your party to change it's moronic logic, then kudos to you. But frankly, if you are going to ask them to be more center, more patriotic and more for the people..then we already have a party for that...it's called democrats!

I'm a little worried. Moderate republicans are coming out of the woodwork. But we've all seen "compassionate conservatism" when it gets it's hands on power. Sorry Meghan, I love you, but I truly fear your party. I'm hoping they don't listen to you.

She is really an amazing person for only 24, her political instincts and communication skills are uncanny. Predictions: I expect she'll be a senator or governor by the time she's 30. Probably president by 40, and btw that will make her the first republican president since Bush. I'm figuring on 8 really good years with Obama, then 8 middling years with a lesser dem. It will take 16 years for the repubs to remake themselves in the image of Rockefeller/Buckley and purge the religious fundamentalists, racists, neo-cons, and wackos.

Dump the American Taliban!~

No, Meghan we do not need to stand on politics as your Dad has, we need to stand on principals. Personally, I would like to see your father spend less time in Washington and more time with his family – ELSEWHERE.

I have a feeling CNN is trying to make this McCain girl relevant at all cost. Can anyone tell me what her achievement(s) is/are?
CNN... this is not news-worthy.

Honey, you're not a dirty moderate.

But you're not a conservative either.

That's why your dad lost, and why CNN wants to harp on the GOPs changing image.

They (CNN) are afraid of conservatives because we win against the liberals everytime we have an honest debate.

Name a conservative policy in the last 16 years.

Go ahead. Just try, honey.

Get a clue poor little Meghan there is no tolerance in the GOP for anyone except right wing extremists who want a tax free society for the super rich with an all powerful racist sexist gay free theocracy.

Meghan McCain seems to be the only rational voice for the republican party. You Rock

Meghan McCain may be a "graduate of Columbia University" (as if somehow that lends authority to the garbage that she spews), but she is inarticulate, can't write, and has no brain. She mistakenly believes that the GOP's problem is that "the Democrats package their message better." It's not about "packaging" a message, Meghan. It's that the American people have heard the message of the Republicans - the "old principles" of reducing help to those in need, tax cuts for the wealthy (such as herself), and the need for torture "to keep us safe" - and they repudiate it. Instead, they embrace Democratic principles: that we are a nation of "we" not "me," the importance of social safety nets (including a “public option” for health insurance and ultimately “single payer”) as well as rebuilding the middle class (which has been destroyed under Republican rule), and ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share of the taxes. The differences between these two messages are profound, and Americans' commitment to the Democratic message has nothing to do with superficial "packaging." The American people made their choice in November: we embrace the Democratic message of honoring our social contract with one another, and reject the Republican "trickle down" message of tax cuts for the wealthy while shredding the social contract and destroying our country in the process. Look where Republican rule has brought us: to the brink of ruin. You can put lipstick on the "old principles" of the GOP and pin a big fat bow on it, but it's still a stinkin' pig.

Thank you Meghan McCain! As a moderate Republican you truly are speaking my thoughts! I am so glad to know that there are other Republicans thinking just like me. I feel that if there were more Republicans like Meghan the party would be able to rebuild itself nicely.

How about a NEW McCain for public office! She'd have my vote!

I would prefer not to have to look at her at all.

The fortunes of the Republican Party will continue dwindle, and should rightly be so, as long as the bigots, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and their likes are the media personalities and mouthpiece of the Party.

Their inflammatory and fear mongering message will only find acceptance and get solidarity with people endowed with less intelligence.

You don't build a party by attracting goons.

As a member of a party that suffered when orthodoxy was stressed over a big tent and results, I can tell you the Republicans have a long way to go before they broaden the base of their party. The choice is simple: adapt your philosphy to the conditions as they exist now, rather than trying to force the conditions to change to suit your beliefs.

The Republicans grew when they stressed economic freedom through lower taxes: unfortunately they grew the size of government instead of reducing it. Their other strong suits, foreign policy and defense, have been frittered away on a foreign policy crafted on the assumption that everyone was waiting for us to show up and everything would just be hunky-dory: we never thought that some people might object to us showing up and imposing our values in places that did not want them. The Republicans have no street cred until they have some genuine leaders emerge, and there is no around who currently fits the bill. Jeb Bush: wrong last name. Eric Cantor? Looks like the president of the Chess Club, not a congressional leader. Palin, Pawlenty, Romney? Not a chance. Romney made his millions by using his father's connections to get his venture capital business going, where he thrived on putting people out of work. Palin, we know too much about her. Pawlenty would have a chance, but the last candidate from his state for President lost 49 states in the General Election.

They have lost until 2016, and they had better hope the American people have amnesia even then.

Thanks. But the umbrella is why your Dad got his but kicked.

I think that McCain's daughter has said a lot of things that make sense. What I don't understand is which part of the GOP she actually is able to identify herself with.

The unspoken, biggest trouble with the GOP is that under Bush, it allowed fascist practices and fascist thinking be forced upon the American people. By doing that, it has soiled itself in way that is hard to ever repair. It is now the party of the right wing political and christian extremists. In all other corners of the world, such a party is called a neofascist party. This is what the GOP has reduced itself to, and to have sunk to such lows makes the GOP a shame for America.

Maybe the brand should be dropped, and conservatives should form a new party. The GOP is now the American neofascist party. Any political party should have the moral integrity not to make pacts with right wing extremists. By making a pact with the devil for getting votes, the GOP has sold its soul.

The republicans are just a smidgen closer to reality. At this point they need to stop criticizing and complaining about everything Obama does, stop being obstructionist, and explain thoroughly what they mean by smaller government, lower taxes, and national security.

Those are catch phrases that they have spouted for years and they are very vague. The republicans never have really defined what that means. As an independent I would like to know what they mean by smaller government, what would they cut out, and I would like to know what does lower taxes mean, what will they be getting rid of, in order to accomplish lower taxes?

They need to be very, very clear and give specifics as to what they mean, what is their definition of smaller government and lower taxes and how to they intend to accomplish that?

This is exactly what I've been saying all along. In addition to reaching out to the younger generation, the GOP needs to break away from the radical Neo-cons and religious fundamentalists who have hijacked the party. Small government. Fiscal responsibility....those are the core principals the Republican Party has neglected and that's why they in this predicament.

Also, toning down on the social issues wouldn't hurt either. They need to move on with the 21st century.

Megan McCain does not represent the roots of the Republican Party. It is people like her in the party that will encourage the conservatives to flee to a third party. Megan is a Democrat disguised as a Republican.
If she wants to save the Republican Party then do what Specter did, "leave".

Meghan it seems like some of the Old Guys in the Party are getting together to start over again and they consider including you young people again. I think it was Cantor, Romney, Jeb Bush and others. Meghan. Somebody got to try telling these guys that their time is over and their ideas are outdated. Democrats tried telling them in the last election and I guess they still didn't get it.

Good Luck Meghan. You got your work cut out for you with that bunch of nuts.

Its one thing to have a bunch of townhall meetings but if the Republicans are seeking to rebrand themselves by talking to the same choir then their efforts will be for naught. It will just be a continuation of the 2008 campaign at best or an exploratory committee for Jeb Bush 2012.

The Republicans can start rebranding themselves by getting rid of the conservative label. Americans by nature are middle of the road. The current economic downturn has more and more Americans thinking in terms of practicality. Republicans need to hone in on this characteristic and reimage themselves as promoting a new kind of pragmatism. Only then will Republicans be able to start leveling the playing field and start pulling American politics to the middle.

Yes. Forget this nonsense about appealing to "the base." That tactic is baseless when it comes to American socio-political culture. The battle is for commonsense. The battle is for the middle. Let the gun-toting, country music-loving fringe break off and form their own party along with the white supremacists and other social outcasts who tout themselves as conservatives and neocons. We don't need them.

I think that if the Republican party doesn't want to fall into obscurity they need to get with the times and not be so black and white with issues facing Americans. Most Americans are moderate overall and I think the Democrats are the party that really recognizes that right now and they are building off it. Issues like are abortion and gay marriage are personal decisions and quite frankly true conservatives would recognize that and not try to get the government to intervene.

They don't want you in the Republican Party, sorry lass.

Try Independent, Libertarian, Democrat, whatever. The Republicans don't want your company. Don't give it to them.

I voted for Obama, thinking McCain was too far right. WOW!!! I have come to look at McCain as one of the few people in the Republican Party that I could actually have a conversation with. If the true Conservatives have their way in the party, it will be a shame for the US – we need two robust parties that debate issues, not the Democrats and the Wackos. Senator McCain, you are a man of stature. Your most important job is to keep your party from becoming the party of the few "true believers".

Meghan, you need to leave the GOP.

You are really a democrat, you are staying with the republicans because someone has told you that you are a republican.

With all due respect – and believe me, – I respect you and your courage and voice - grow up. You are not like them.

Leave - join the rest of us - in diversity - to take our beloved country back & rebuild it – in all its glory.

The Republican Party has not been moderate or inclusive for decades! They are so stuck in their right wing bigotry they don't bother to actually read teh Constitution and think about issues before they scream about how important it is to cut taxes on the rich and cut services for the poor while restricting women's rights as much as possible.

The Republican Party has to decide if it wants to remain a church (despite Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson's statement that it is not) or to revert to being a political party.

You're cute Megan and I even like you BUT, I gave up on the Republican party a very long time ago and there is NO way I am coming back.

can she just go away.......really.....

I am a Democrat, but I can't say a fully pledged Democrat. I find that even in policies that I disagree with most Democrats in...there is at least an acknowledgment and an acceptance of the differences. Thousands in my position have therefore become inclusive and welcomed by the Democratic party in spite of our disagreements.

Republicans can either learn from this lesson or continue down the path of "you're not 100% with us, then you must be against us."

I give credit to Ms. McCain because unlike Senator Specter, she loves her party so much that she will stick through thick and thin....tells the party what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear....and gives it tough love.

I know far too many young, moderate republicans that were more than happy to vote for Obama when faced with the GOP's choice of John McCain and his too far right message. I find it ironic that Sen. McCain is now sitting on the GOP's new council planning the parties rebuilding, playing the part of the moderate once again. Moderate must be the new black this season.

Megan remember you also changed your voting to republican after being an independant. I guess you forgot about that. The republicans will always be the "good old boys club". After all the comments and videos that the republicans have put about minorities why should minorities even look the repubs. way.

We really do need a moderate third party in American politics, one with people like McCain, newly Democratic Alan Specter, currently independent Joseph Liberman, and others with views like theirs. If enough big-name moderates from both current major parties join on, it could make a serious dent into the two-party system that the US has had since its inception.

Moderate Republicans are those that tend to overlook the conservative rank and file and their views. You so called moderates are expecting the party to reach across the isle on issues, the Dem's do not have those expectations of themselves. Why support moderates in the party, why vote for a moderate Republican, when you can vote for the real deal a Democrat. Dirty would be the wrong term, Democrat lite would be best.

As a libertarian Republican I support Meghan and her efforts to expand the Party.

There's a big difference here with the Arlen Specter situation. Specter was a Liberal, not a Moderate.

The GOP is made up of 3 wings: Conservatives (the biggest), Moderates and Libertarians. We can't survive without one of those 3.

But we can survive just fine without Liberal Republicans. I say purge the remaining Liberals in the GOP, and keep the Mods, boost the enthusiasm of the Conservs, and invite more Libertarian Party folks into the Big Tent.

It is not the image the GOP needs to revamp, it is their practices. The GOP abandoned its core conservative values of responsible spending and non-interventionism during the Bush years, and now they only give lip-service about it against democrats all the while still spending that taxpayer money. They talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. All those GOP governors say they are going to reject stimulus money, when in fact they refused less than 5% of it.
We need to get the party back to real conservatism. This isn't about image. Playing the image while giving up the principle is what got the GOP into this hole in the first place.

The party of NO*** now decide not to underestimate the people of America and listen to the people of America ***We don't wont hear your spin Too late!!!

If the GOP got rid of Limbaugh, Beck, et al. they would have a chance ... but, after Specter defected last week, Limbaugh said to to McCain and his daughter with him. Nice.

The Limbaugh disciples, which includes many Repubs in the House, simply don't realize they are almost guaranteeing Democratic majority for the foreseeable future with their hard-line extremist rhetoric that only 20% of the country identifies with.

The GOP will move left toward the center and they'll pick up supporters. We have big debt and deficit. If the democrats don't address that by both cutting spending and raising taxes they'll lose support to the GOP. The GOP will scream about the dems raising taxes, but of course they are already crying wolf and saying taxes have gone up already, when they have gone down. So, they really don't have any credibility.

Cantor already said he thinks the tax base should increase. That is, he said he wants to raise taxes, but no one has asked him about it. The GOP and the democrats already agree we need to cut spending and raise taxes. The GOP just wanted to not do anything about the recession and take their chances on a depression, Obama didn't want to take that risk, instead he risked that we will go bankrupt later if we don't address the spending issue in the future.

A very sensible comment indeed. Refreshing. It's about time.

"...but we have to also have a new set of ideas and policies to implement and bring our principles into the 21st century,” [Sn. McCain] said.

Dear Senator McCain: The problem with the Republican Party is that it's "base" is primarily composed of people that believe the hieght of civilization occured in 1611. This is the same block of voters that you attempted to appeal to when you selected Gov. Palin as your running mate, so you know full well what I mean.

I'm all for fiscal conservatism; but so long as your party remains married to the far right, I'll never be able to vote for any of your candidates. Barry Goldwater warned y'all about this in 1994 (The Washington Post. July 28), but the party was too busy trying to paint him and Sn. Dole as liberals to realize how prophetic his statements were.

I just lost all my respect for Mitt Romney to throw in with McCain and that boob daughter of his. I was a Mitt gal – not any more. They have turned into a bunch of panderers.

Ms. McCain makes a lot of sense. I hope reporters emphasize her education more. She is obviously quite intelligent. As a life long Democrat I strongly believe that we need at least 2 strong political parties to keep each other in check and provide balance. I am glad to see the more moderate Republicans finding their voice.

I totally agree with Meghan McCain. She is right on target. I was such a big GOP fan until the party got taken over by the extreme right that accuses the left of being so awful... when they are just as bad.

It's time for the Republicans to understand that Rush Limbaugh needs to shove a sock in it. It's time to have some real people with real solutions who can say them without insulting others.

you know meagan, there is a party that is already relevant,forward looking and inclusive. they're called democrats and you don't have to pass any litmus test or face ridicule for having a social conscience.

I really wonder if Meghan knows what her Republican party's platform is.

Or does she just get a warm fuzzy feeling in her tummy when she thinks, "I am a Republican!"

No! Just another stinking republican.

I wish the GOP would listen to this women. Then maybe I could return to my party. She is wise beyond her years. I don't want the party of fear and hate we have now.

I cannot imagine the Republicans trying to restart their party by allowing a Bush anywhere near them. I'm guessing that they STILL don't get it. The Bush the younger is directly responsible for the mess we're in. The Republican party needs to retool completely or they will never be trusted again.

Oddly enough, if they wait long enough, America will cycle back to being self-destructive and they will be reelected again. This will last until they screw up again – and they will. Just remember, the Republican party does not have a God-given right to govern America.

i'm a democrat and voted for obama
but, i have to admit, i really like meghan mccain
she is the first republican to actually say something sensible
the rest had better take cue from her...

I'm a Democrat Obama Supporter, but I love Meghan McCain.

The "original" Republican party got taken over by the extremists, and now the originals are asking the extremists to be more inclusive. This is not going to work, Meghan. What you have to do is kick the extremists out–let them go find some other party to destroy or start their own, but they shouldn't be a part of the Republican party. Get rid of all those irrational, one-issue, ethics-be-darned people, then rebuild.

I appreciate the sentiment but if the Republican's fundamental ideas are flawed, what's the point?

Meghan McCain should ask herself why she's a Republican to begin with. Is it merely because of the belief system of her very wealthy family? If so, she has some growing up to do...

Meghan,

Your idea of an inclusive party is fantastic! Let's start with the basic commonality - over 95% of us adults have touched ourselves! So, let's call our new party, the "touch" party. Most other ("moral/ideological") issues will fall in place accordingly!

Cheers!

yeah meghan,i feel you!Unless the Gopers wants to go under,they need to Re-brand.Its more like they are forcing ideology on the people,rather than carrying the people along in their scheme

I couldn't agree more with these statements. I consider myself a moderate Republican, and it's hard to find your inspiration in a party you support, when it is going off dangerously to the right. The GOP has sadly fallen out of touch with mainstream issues – something the Obama camp has a firm grip on. It's hard to be a young republican these days, when you feel like an outcast. I continue to be hopeful for the party and look forward to emerging leadership in the coming years...

Why does anyone care what this little pipsqueak says? Why is it that any time I click on Political Ticker, I'm being told what this 24 year old chippie is doing, saying, thinking, eating, etc.? Who.cares? She's famous because her dad ran for president and lost a million times. Oh, and she's blond and hot. She has zero credibility. Post some real political news, CNN, rather than what the Paris Hilton of politics is doing.

Meghan, I'm sorry, but what you're seeing here is the end product of the Southern Strategy. No amount of twittering or town halls will make people forget the callousness and divisiveness that was behind the rise and eventual fall of the GOP.

There might be a few Republican moderates here and there, but by and large the GOP has been reduced to its ugliest, angriest, and most hateful core. If you doubt this just look at footage from the Tea Parties or from your dad's campaign. This is not a group I or most of my fellow 20 something want to associate with.

I doubt that the GOP is smart enough to take any advice, but I think you should listen to Ms. McCain. You are absolutely not going to survive if you keep doing the same old things over and over again. I hope that the 'change' the GOP is trying to make is not the same old shuck & jive they usually pull. This is not going to work.

In the meantime, I hope Meghan McCain can start a more moderate faction of the Republican party and let the right wing nuts and Rush, Ann, et al. have the old party. Lose the hard line dogma or forget being a viable party ever again.

This is a message for Meghan McCain---politics is not for you so go out and find a play mate please.

I really don't agree with a large chunk of Meghan McCain's political opinions, but I have to give her a ton of credit for standing up for herself, her family, for her ideals, and for the party that she believes in.

More power to you, Meghan! If you're the voice of the moderate GOP in years to come, the maybe the nation's political scene won't be so vitriolic and divisive.

It's got absolutely nothing to do with re-packaging your message. The Republican party DOES NOT REPRESENT the people who send them to Washington. They do what is best for themselves and the lobbyists who OWN them. The American people are fed up with their bowing to the people with money and sticking it to us under the guise of Pro-life and lower taxes mantras. GOOD RIDDANCE.

The only RINO’s are the religious zealots who have infected the Republican Party for years, eating away at the frame work of the party until the entire structure has collapsed .
Ronald Regan had it right let “Moral Majority” think they had power but always keep them at arm’s length so that they felt included.
Then came the idiot man-child Gorge W Bush, who was anything but a true Republican spending the budget surplus long before 9/11 and hiding behind that fact as he spent even more money on two wars and never bringing to justice the monster that orchestrated the attack in the first place. RIP GOP … I’ll be back when Barry Goldwater is resurrected and infused into the “new” GOP

People (of ALL political stripes) who want to find reason, inclusion, fairness and respect – the REAL "Big Tent" people might be better served to start a new party.
If you think of the name "Republican" or "Democrat" as property, and regard the property more highly than your values, you may well lose both.

It's not the party name that won the election for Obama, it was the values of the hopeless/useless previous "REPUBLICAN" administration and the theoretical VALUES of the PEOPLE expressed by the current administration that put him in office.
It won't be the party banner that wins the day with hopeful youth, it will be ideas, before they become one thing or another.

I'll say again, I would have voted for John McCain in 2000. If he had gone Independent after Bush "whacked" him, I would have campaigned for McCain... He was a people's candidate then. In 2008 he seemed like a partisan hack (I'm sorry to say) – till he made his magnificent concession speech. At that point I thought he might have been a Stealth People's Candidate – too late.

The GOP don't get it. Americans are finished with the Bushes and as long there is Jeb Bush hanging his mouth around the Party it spells dooms day for the Racial bandits . I personally think The Republican Party is finished.Cantor,Pawlenty,McCain,Steele Romney,Palin ,Limbaugh and Jindal can all sail away on a permanent vacation because no one in their right mind will listen to them.

The Republicans are the Whigs of 2009. Before the old white guys cede control to moderates, the sun will rise in the west and pigs will fly.

It's time to think about doing what moderates to the right of center did in the 1850's, Meghan.

I'm a lifelong yellow dog Democrat, but I don't want to see my party unopposed.

You have had your 15 minutes of fame due to your father serving as a Senator and running for President. Now go away. Your comments are silly, no one cares. Please go away.

It really ought to be, "Get rid of the dirty extremists," as in religious extremists who think it acceptable to try to force society to conform to their religious views, national extremists who think it acceptable to try to force the world to conform to their perception of American interests.

The common element, of course, is a willingness to force their expectations on everyone else. This, unfortunately, they have in common with the Democratic Party. The only difference is in what the respective parties want to force people to do.

I'd much rather she a woman like Meghan McCain run for high office instead of someone like Sarah Palin. The GOP is overrun by right-wingers like Palin who only reduce the party's effectiveness and leadership. More GOP moderates need to take control over the neo-cons of the Republican party or they will continue to spiral downward and splinter into ruins.

Why does anybody care what this person thinks

Can we get some specifics from Ms. McCain. It is all good and nice to give advise but she has to explain what she meant by " the GOP needs to reach out to 20's". In what way, what can they( GOP) do to reach this generation?

We do not look at the Republicans as dirty moderates, you Republicans brought that on, all by yourselves with your underhanded campaigning and your obnoxious and ridiculous campaign ads. The Republicans underestimated the intelligence of the American people, some of the American people may be ignorant about some things because they do not know what is going on at the time, but we Americans are not dumb. I can say that I was disappointed at the presentation that was brought on by the people that stood behind John McCain, such as Guiliani, Fred Thompson and others etc. I always liked John McCain, I did not like him at all when he was running for POTUS. I can say that I do like Megan McCain her father should have been looking eye to eye with his daughter Megan McCain when he was running for POTUS instead of the people who helped him not to win. 3 cheers for Megan

My question is, what is she attached to? The Republican label? Or does she really love the extreme social and fiscal right-wingers so much that she wants to be under the same umbrella with them? Why does she need for Rush Limbaugh to accept her?

Maybe this is a great opportunity for a third party to be spun off from the folks more towards the center of both Dem and Rep. Whig party anyone?

someone shut her up...she's only slightly more experienced than Barack OBama....

This chick is a moron and needs to get herself a husband and a life.

Meghan,

I like your courage, but you start getting on my nerve. Every week you've got something to say. You need to stay away from the Media sometime.

Ah, but it is the message. People under 70 tend to be much less paranoid about national security, gays, non-whites etc. Fear and hatred make a bad message.

Wow. Meghan McCAIn as the voice of the GOP.

Move over Rush and Sarah.

Well said Ms. McCain. As a moderate independent who left the GOP when Barry Goldwater warned them not to hitch their wagon to the religious right, you have spoken for many of us. This is the number one reason I voted for your father in 2000 and 2008 - common sense Republicanism, in the style of our Greatest Presidents, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

They're NOT dirty moderates. They're filthy extremists, and cannot represent the working class while looking like Hollywood wannabes. The new faces the same old party presents are still the class segregating elitists as the aristocrats they replace. No one tries to speak to the worker, because the worker empowers his greatest enemy, who is those that use him. It is the task of the worker to seek the parasitical balance which appears the least despoiling.

Please Please go away with Spector....people like you and your daddy are why we are in the mess we are in. Please become a DEM., Miss McCain and stop being a RINO.

Mehgan McCain talks about packaging it better than the Dems,Well I got news for you Mehgan it is about whos right and whos wrong.This whole world is about right and wrong .And the republicans are all wrong until we make it fair for everyone to have opportunity to live a comfortable life not just the rich no matter what age range you are

The Republicans took a drunk, woman chasing, coke snorting, KKK Imperial Grand Wizzard .,stumblebum, out of Texas, wrapped him in the American flag...Hosed him down with Holy Water and sold him to the country . And let him destroy the country and caused much hate in this world...and now they cant figure out why they are where they are.

Next they bring in a 1/2 baked old man who picks a BIMBO from Alaska to be his VP and looses and they still cant figure it out.

The Republican Party is finished for many years...So go on back to your midnight rides and white sheets and SHUT UP.

why do you post stuff from this woman? i figure it is to get the liberals on this site all fired up about meg when she trashes the GOP.

nobody is kicking the moderates out of the party!!

It's not about packaging sweetheart. Rove was a genius as far as that was concerned. It's about the all too real results of the last 8 years of republican rule. And it's more than that.

Bush was a moron because he really believed what was in fact always a BS justification for greed that defined the republican philosophy of governing. Reagan managed to snow people by conflating greed with optimism but Bush took it seriously and to its logical conclusion which in fact just rushed the inevitable result of Reaganomics which is the largest division in wealth and class this country's ever known.

Bottom line, the Republicans got to actually live their dream and everyone saw it for what it was. So go ahead and do your best to repackage greed. I'm sure eventually people will get complacent enough to buy it, but not until they've forgotten just how bad things were under Republicans.

Democrats are human and have their share of bad apple but their overall message is one of a more just and humane society. You still need a gifted messenger, but it sure helps when the message itself happens to be right.

A real simple piece of advice my mother gave me........"if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".

wow Meghan McCain is actually sounding like a voice of leadership for the Republican Party. to bad the religious zealots will burn her at the cross

Boy, someone at CNN has a very troubling fascination (obsession?) with this irrelevant woman.

I've never voted for a Republican before. But, if Meghan McCain ran for President I'd vote for her.

Did CNN make a deal to put this chick on the ticker every day?? Why is this news? Put her on here some, but she is on here more than Obama or her dad. Please.

The Republican party needs to speak to our generation by sticking to its principles and showing it can, and will be the party of integrity and honesty for America. Megan McCain simply needs to go home, we don't want her anymore. The Republican party is speaking just fine to myself and many of my young-20's friends.

Megan McCain, stop trying to ruin my party, the only reason anyone cares about what you think is because your last name is McCain. Your right, younger republicans don't have much of a voice. That's because you are too busy stealing it with your last name and liberal propaganda. Be a moderate, fine, just do it somewhere else.

I agree their not dirty, just stupid.

"“I think we go back to old principles — and that’s less government, lower taxes, national security, etc. but we have to also have a new set of ideas and policies to implement and bring our principles into the 21st century,” he said."

Less taxes for whom? The ultra rich?

National security? For what purpose? Two wars? How many more wars do they want?

The GOP has confined itself as being run by the religious wing of the party– and has decided to take on as their 'death ride', the defence of tax shelters for multi-billionaires.

Where is Teddy Roosevelt, when you need him?

Sounds like Meghan better join the Democrats. If the Republicans abandon the social conservatives, they are doomed.

Hey Did you see the crap that Bush's brother is pedaling on the other article? The phrase socialist did not stick to Obama, the idiots even tried communist a few times to no avail well now it has come to this:

"We are the party of the revolutionaries, they [Democrats] are the party of the monarchists,"

Monarchists? Monarchists? My party came from the ideas of Jefferson and Jackson. The GOP complain one week that Obama didn't grovel sufficiantly for the Queen of England and the next week we are a bunch of Monarchists. They are showing again that they think the American voter is too stupid to even know what "monarchist" means and so won't question it.

I think the rise and fall of Sarah Palin has proven that , when the American voter pays attenetion (God pray we keep it up) we can tell the difference between shinola and sh&%.

Can anyone tell me why on earth it matters what "she" says?! Who cares?!

Sorry, but according to the loudest voices in the GOP, you and your father are "dirty moderates." Did you catch Ann Coulter on Larry King Live last night? She hates you and your father. So does Rush Limbaugh. So do people like Cantor and Boehner. And you can bet that Sarah Palin isn't too happy, either. Don't go down with the ship, Meghan. Become an independent or form your own party. The GOP "elephant" is on its way to becoming sun-bleached tusks in the desert sand of politics.

YES, the GOP needs to be more inclusive

If the Republican party has a future, Meghan is it. If you look up "fail" in the dictionary, Rush Limbaugh's picture is next to it.

This might be a bit of a digression, but I'll go along with it anyway:

I'm from Sweden and I have been following and reading about American politics closely due to, and since, the Barack Obama election. Ms McCain's comment "I just wish that moderates like myself — more moderate Republicans and more socially liberal Republicans..." confuses me. The Republican Party is a conservative party, why would you be involved there if you are a social liberal or a moderate? Then you should be in either the social liberal wing or the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, am I not right? The Republican Party is what it is. Let it stand for it's conservative values and fall along with them. Then when the Democratic Party is overwhelmingly big and has no real competition you can split it into "The Social Liberal Democratic Party", with President Obama as its frontrunner, and then "the Moderate Democratic Party", with Secretary Clinton as its frontrunner.

That's my two cents!

I am proud of Megan McCain and her speaking out to the GOP.
She makes more sense than the tired old white men who make up the majority of the party. I think the old timers will have to move to the center where Mc Cain is: too many of the old timers consider any one who is not a REP, un-American, Godless, and immoral because they do not agree with their philosophy. I think the spirit of negativity has put them in their current position. BAD!
Wake up old white guys and listen to the new kid on the block!

I think the real problem is that the Republican party needs to actually have a message. Its not about packaging, who cares what the jar looks like, its about what they stand for. What do the Republicans stand for, seriously? Because there are a lot of Republicans saying a lot of different things. whats the real Repub message?

as long as the republican party was able to fool moderates and independents into thinking that republicans produced policies that economically benefited them, the republicans continued to rack up political victories from the 1980's onward. however when it finally became clear that the republican policies benefited the rich and nobody else (tinkle down economics), the indies and moderates abandoned the republican party in droves. the indies and mods never cared about the social issues the gop base held dear therefore there is no longer anything to draw the interest of anybody other than those who are the base of the party. we may be seeing a long term marginalization(and regionalization) of the republicans for the forseeable future.

Probably the last thing the republican party needs is 2 democrats by the names of john and megan mccain.

You're not 'dirty moderates,' you're still 'dirty Republicans' – the ones responsible for supporting the disastrous ideals, policies and hate of the Bush Reich. Until Republicans can act like adults and discuss issues civilly with Democrats, you'll always be the ones remembered for destroying our economy, selling out the middle class with tax breaks to the rich, starting a false war and throwing our national honor under the bus.

I have a dream!

Unfortunately, the GOP is not in my dream!

Sorry Meaghan!

However MM and others are wrong about one thing: it isn't the 'packaging' that needs fixing, it's the product. Nobody is buying what the GOP is trying to hawk, since it has resulted in the royal mess we on Main St. have to deal with every day. And Repubs' refusal to apologize for, or even to own up to, their colossal blunders is infuriating. It was in just such a towering anger that I voted the last 2 cycles, and if Rs want to have any hope of reclaiming the mass of independent voters like me, they'd better rejoin reality!

I am a staunch Democrat who believes that Meghan McCain is a wonderful young person. I understand that she is a Republican because of her family background, and likely, she believes in some of the Republican platitudes. However, she is incorrect when she states that the problem with Republicans is just the packaging of their message. It is their message, and their conduct, that has led the Republicans to such lowly disgrace and the utter contempt they are now viewed by most Americans. Also, Romney's comment that this new Republican organization he is working with is dedicated to listening to the American people, or that right-wing extremist Rep. Cantor and his fellow Republicans are intent on doing any other than dictate to the American people is complete fantasy.

There is something I don't understand. Why does anyone care what Megan McCain has to say? Who the heck is she? Yes, I know she is John McCain's daughter but really, WHO IS SHE? She is not overly bright and has accomplished nothing. For some reason, CNN feels compelled to quote her on an almost daily basis. Sure, it's better than hearing what Ann Coulter has to say but I just don't get CNN's facination with Ms. McCain. I know high school students who are more intellectual and interesting that she is.

Just because the GOP can spell "T-W-I-T-T-E-R" doesn't mean that they have a message that will appeal to young voters.

1.) Republicans are too quick to slam Mexicans for the Swine Flu. My point, they vilify groups that are not in the "MAJORITY". Young voters have true friends in those groups that they've grown up with. You won't convince Meghan that a dark skinned, "big" black man is a physical threat to her. She knows better from experience ... she studied with him at Columbia.

2.) Republicans lie about the reason for wars sending young people off to die unnecessarily under false pretenses.

3.) Republicans conduct deficit spending, threatening Social Security and leaving an increasing National Debt tab for young people to pay off.

I could go on but you get the point ... right ...

Your wasting your breath Meghan, the problem with the GOP is that they don't accept anything other than a "My way or the Highway" philosophy. Look at the Bush years, they did nothing to better America but instead spent the entire administration shoving their ideology down everyone's throats. We may never be able to dig out their infiltration into every facet of American life.

The Republicans are narrow minded, backward thinking washed up mulla's.

Is Meghan a true Republican? Since the election, all her fights has been targeting republicans and not dems. Both parties have people with extreme views. Why is she more concern about fighting social conservatives instead of trying to enlarge the moderate win of the republican party. If you're a true republican, I'm sure, you have more things in common with social conservatives then democrats. Stop fighting your own members and focus on building the moderate wing of the party. Your Dad lost as a moderate. Bush won two elections.

The GOP has been hijacked by Rush Liimbaugh. Politically Rush is a sociopath. He doesn't care about winning. He embraces the Nazi purification process and has doomed the GOP to many more years in the political wilderness.

Is this woman going to try to be our first woman president or something? Why is her opinion so important to CNN? Tune in tomorrow for another episode of " As The Dumbing Down Of America Continues"!

The hard right.....that's some hardheaded people. If you don't 100% agree with them they want nothing to do with you.

MM is right about needing to be more inclusive. They need to move away from their lunatic fringe, and more toward the middle to do this. As a moderate, centrist, independent, until a few years ago my voting record was basically 50-50. I watched as the GOP slid off to the right wing, blinded to reality by the reactionary ideological playbook and sneering arrogant attitude of the neocons who hijacked it. They continuously persisted in failed policies, even when the writing was clearly on the wall (remember "stay the course"?) in the belief that it was reality's job to conform to their ideology, rather than the other way around. And burying their collective heads in the sand when that didn't materialize. I'm sorry but a party so totally unable to change and adapt as the GOP seems to be deserves to go the way of the dinosaurs....

Get rid of rush,and sarah and all the rasict america is no more a white mans country

Shes right..... followers of the GOP need to understand unless the party is more accepting of things and moved to the 20th century good luck getting anything passed with the democrat majority.... but realistically.. its time moderate dems and moderate republicans broke from our partys.... In our current system of no term limits are party system is controlled from eithier the far left or far right...

Good luck Meghan. I hope you can turn your party around. Maybe the young generation replacing the old generation might just do the tricks. I think young people are more open minded because they grow up in a more diversified culture.

My advice to Republicans – you might not like what Meghan has to say, but don't put her down, she might just pull in moderates for you. I don't think Michael Steele can do the job after the way he 'bows down' to Rush Limbaugh.

We can have different ideas. We don't have to be mean and nasty about it.

Meghan is absolutely right. I was a member of the GOP until it started to shift to the right back in 1992. It was clear that there was no room for moderates in the GOP at that time. If I believed that a woman had a right to choose what happened to her body, I had to leave the party I had belonged to and voted for since 1964. So I did what I had to and didn't look back as my former party became more and more "RIGHT" and left me and others like me in the dust. This party has become more and more divisive and pandered to the right wing evangelical which has unfortunately become its "base". As long as the base of the GOP is so right, the GOP is doomed to become more and more irrelevant; those in the party who say it will become their turn in 2010 are fooling themselves – until they make significant changes in their message and mean it, they will become continue to sink into oblivion. How sad!

Go get'em Meghan. The left wishes to censure American feedback. Only their own affirmatives being let through. Is this America, or a one-party censor state? CNN, this is your test. There are lots of other venes besides you.

She's the only Republican with cajones enough to tell King Rush and Queen Ann (Coulter) to shut up.

Maybe that's what's wrong with these old white men. They can't do anything unless they have the US Military at their beck and call.

Maybe that's what's wrong.

I never thought I Would like a MCCain, but this Meghan girl is speaking to me

Hey Meghan, you are not only speaking for a lot of young people who are not being spoken but for you are speaking for a lot of older people too. Keep up the good work! This long time democratic voter is listening....

these are the kinds of voices that the GOP need to turn to to rebuil itself and reconnect with the american voter. the truth is that most people who view themselves as more republican than democart are, as ms. mccain described, fiscally conservative, but social more liberal. what is trully sad is that even some democrats who consider themselves moderate, are the same way. if the GOP expects to have a future, what the lesson they need to learn from the success of the democrats is that americans really live in the middle, not on the extreme fringes of the political spectrum. what was that saying again... out of the mouths of babes.

Meghan Mccain is cool, smart and the leader of the GOP! CNN get rid of john king reading the post on the change to reality, this guy is beyond biased and it will lead to YOUR demise!!

Republicans can go all the country and listen, but they still don't have any good ideas in how to fix this country. All they can come with is how to get big tax cuts for the wealhty and to hell with the middle class and the poor. All they know is to how lie and hope the american people will buy it so they can get back into office and then lie about how the other side is treating you bad. The last time they came up with big tax cuts it would cost the american people another two Trillions dollars out our wallat. To hell with the republicans they don't care about us.

the problem with republicans is that they come off as prudish, intolerant old fuddy-duddy types. you know... basicllally like your goodie two shoes dorks and old people that are out of touch.

Americans first of all have a trust issue with the Republicans after George W. Bush's 8 years of a total disaster that was backed by Republicans who just said "yes". Secondly, the Republicans have the nerve and audacity to be angry with Americans because we said "no" to them when we joyously voted for Obama. It will take more than the "McCain" family to turn things around because he picked Sarah Palin knowing that she had a problem with "some parts of America being "unAmerican", she said it, not me.

McCain and the other so called moderates in the Republican party are fools to think the so called conservatives are about to truly include them in their pup tent.

Moderates aren't dirty. They are simply lacking in a real sense of social existence. Pro abortion is not moderate. Putting the rights of gays, minorities, women above those of others is not moderate.

There is no middle of the road. Try it in your car.

If you want to be a socialist (not socialite, megan), just say so.

Don't worry Meghan… I don't consider you a dirty moderate… I see you for who you really are… a dirty liberal.

She is a disgrace to the Republican party, if this past election showed anything it's that the GOP should go further to the Right, which is evidenced by the fact that Ron Paul got so much of the young conservative vote in the primaries. If the GOP goes to the center, then the two party system will look more like a one-party system. If the GOP doesn’t pick a quality candidate in 2012, then I will be voting 3rd Party.

Don't worry Meghan... I don't consider you a dirty moderate... I see you for who you really are... a dirty liberal.

She is a disgrace to the Republican party, if this past election showed anything it's that the GOP should go further to the Right, which is evidenced by the fact that Ron Paul ... Read Moregot so much of the young conservative vote in the primaries. If the GOP goes to the center, then the two party system will look more like a one-party system. If the GOP doesn’t pick a quality candidate in 2012, then I will be voting 3rd Party.

If you walk atlk and sound like a Demo.you are one deary! We don't need Mccains to tell conservatives anything. Go to the abortionist and perverted lifestyles and embraced their values.

Megan is worried her trust fund may be taxed! She is a joke, the right wing wack O's are killing your party and without them you won't win! I would rather pay higher taxes then ever have another wack job like Bush be president! Bush was a major embarassment! Bush is responsible for the mess we are in! Bush made up a fake war and tortured people to justify his fake war! You father is the same as Bush, I thought he might be different until he brought that crazy Palin on board! Your party spews hate and intolerance!

I label myself a Democrat, and thus don't agree with more than a few of Meghan's positions on issues that matter... but that's okay! It is so refreshing to see a Republican who lives in the REAL world and understands that REAL people care about the REAL issues that affect their daily REAL lives and doesn't subscribe to the homophobic, xenophobic us-versus-them mentality that dominates modern GOP thinking. A person like Meghan is someone I can respectfully disagree with on certain approaches to policy but at the end of the day could probably work together with to move America forward. I just hope that as she ages, she doesn't devolve into the neolithic type of person that typifies today's Republican party.

If you believe in abortion, gay marriage, not enforcing borders, not producing our own energy, not protecting our homeland, raising taxes on the employers, not killing child rapists, killers or anyone else who deserves capital punishment, prosecuting our own citizens instead of known terrorist you probably should join the Democratic party Meghan. Man how could anyone win an election with that laundry list but Obama did. It just goes to show what kind of sewer this nation has become.

Once again, we get another Meghan McCain post here. I think CNN has a new rule that there must be a Meghan McCain post every two days. Geez.

I'm sorry I ever thought badly of McCain the Younger. While Cantor and JEB BUSH!! are spouting about a New America, but still only defining themselves as "not Obama" and Boner is running ominous Rovian adds Meghan is doing it – defining a renewed Republican party.

Poor Meghan McCain, she is thoughful, intelligent, seems to have a good heart... Her problem is that she is trying to reform the republican party into a modern, dynamic party that respects diverse viewpoints and moderate members and marginalize the right-wing extremists and born-again theocrats...

The problem with that is the republican party is MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. The lunatic far-right fringe has taken over the party along with the christian right, and they are actively taking the party *farther to the right* and over the cliff. They have NO realistic platform or pragmatic ideas to solve America's problems.

he should spearhead a movement to start a new progressive libertarian party that is a moderate alternative to both partties..

american dream,u.s.a =greed. human nature = sel fish, hate, lovers of pleasures than lover of our god yahweh ben yahweh.

Here's a thought, why not just split into two parties. Having multiple major parties is a much better system anyhow.

parties of the privileged however hard obama tries.one represents oil and weapon industries another characters like walmart and GM

I have to admit that I have a hard time distinguishing between a socially liberal Republican and your general run of the mill Democrat. Does that mean you are for lowering taxes and less government intervention but yet support Abortion on Demand, Gay Marriages, etc..... I think we need a two party system, but what Meghan McCain and Arlen Specter represents is simply another extension of the Democrat Party. Give the people a choice. If you want bigger Government, Higher taxes, abortion rights, gay marriages, and less money spent on the military, then vote Democrat. Otherwise vote Republican. It's that simple.

Once again, Princess Meghan McCain speaks common sense. This wil surely anger Emperor Limbuagh, Darth Vader, and their gun waving brigade of loyal stormtroopers. I can't wait until the Old Republican Empire is defeated by the conservatively moderate voices so that the New Republican party can start making a positive impact on the country.

No one wins by deluting the party. Stand for what you believe and choose what fits you best. Asking others to change to get votes, or changing to get a vote, will end up bitting you. It is like asking if you want to speak English in America. Not a good Idea at all.

I think that republicans have just the ideas to lead us back to the 20th century.

Bob Barr “lack of any coherent philosophy, vision or leadership.”

Describing the Republican Party!!! AMEN brother!!!

This child needs to learn that flowery words do not mean a person is anything other than a liar (regardless of party).

I don't necessarily agree with her politics, but I think she is dead on with what Republicans need to do. If they want to try to only court Evangelical christians and other hard core right-wingers, then they will lose every election they are in.

I voted Republican starting in 1974 when I first became a voter. The Republicans have moved so far to the ultra right Christians that in the last two elections I have voted for a straight Democratic ticket. The Republicans have left moderates like me with no choice. I am fiscal conservative, socially liberal, and Christian. I am very concerned about ultra right Christians attempting to force their version of Christianity on the rest of us. I do not believe in creationism. I am a Christian just not a bible thumper. As I see it there is very little difference between ultra right Christians with their version of Christianity and any other religion that is attempting to force their religion on the rest of the world. I believe in God not religion. The Democrats while not perfect by any means are at least an inclusive party. I have not changed in all the time I have been a voter. The Republicans as a party have abandoned anyone not ultra right.

How can someone like John McCain have a great daughter like Maghan???

I left the Republican Party last year, and voted for Obama precisely because I felt the Republican Party no longer welcomes moderates. This so called National Council for a New America is made of of a few Has-Beens. If they wish for the revival of the Party, they should step aside, and allow the young Representatives and Senators lead the Party. It is shameful of Romney to call theselves Revolutionaries and Democracts monarchists. Inciting a revolution is unpatriotic, and will backfire. Republicans are in the pocket of Big Business, and have never cared about the ordinary people. If anything, the Republicans are the monarchists. Shame on them for ruining the country for the past eight years. No one in their right mind would ever trust these idiots.

Meghan, you are dreaming! GOP will never be inclusive. There is no room for compromise once a group of people become fundamentalist. That is the nature of the beast. This is not the GOP of Lincoln, Eisenhower or even Reagan. If any one of them were around today, they be ridiculed and pushed aside by the current leadership. You are wasting your time.

Go for it Meghan McCain!

Lord knows these old white men running the Republican Party seem to have NO clue as to what would benefit America. Their focus is or appears to be on getting reelected and Party Party Party.

Probably the smartest republican for miles. At least strategically!

Meghan McCain is the only Republican I can think of that I would vote for. The rest are way too far right, and very hypocritical. "Fiscal responsiblity" WHAT?! They spend like drunken sailors. "Christian values" WHAT?! Like unneccessary war and torturing prisoners? Get real. "National Security" WHAT?! Securing our nation by making enemies everywhere they can? Come on people.

Megan, the Democratic party is not some sort of united front. They've been the umbrella party going back some 30 years. Even today, the Democrats in Congress don't agree on much, and the platforms that are passing without the Republican support are actually fairly moderate and encompassing pieces of legislation. The wide-range of views the Democrats represent is going unheralded. So, we'd be glad to have you if you'd like to take a page from your friend Arlen Spector's career. Republicans have scorned "moderation" for the last 10 years! This is not new, you're just complaining because it's finally caught up to your party in the form of losing seats.

Not 1 in a 100 republicans want Miss McCain speaking on their behalf. She was not chosen to do so, she is not qualified to do so, and she does not share the values the vast majority of republicans share. She is clearly being targeted by the liberal media to serve as a hopeful nail in the coffin of conservatism in our country.

This is an extremely important message to all Republicans. The past couple have months have shown an extremely ugly side to the GOP, radicalizing and polarizing not only the two parties, but themselves. The fact that someone like Arlen Specter couldn't even feel safe in his own party proves this point. The policies of the entire party seem like they're being created by a small minority, and the rest of the party is going along because it's being touted by an (R). Unfortunately, the further right the party goes, the more voters it leaves behind.

Meghan looks great. sarah palin is an christian radical who wants victims of rape who get pregnant to have to be pregnant and then have the baby.. she is a nutcase and that is why mccain lost. the problem is that Meghan's father was ok with maybe having sarah palin as the potential president of the united states – that is why the republican party is going down the drain.. all the other speculation is pointless – picking sarah palin to gain support of the base, which they never needed to do (what were they going to do – vote for obama – in the end they would have gone out and voted against obama no matter who mccain picked). he should have picked romney and frankly, would have probably won. mccain lost because of palin and is continuing to lose because of other nuts like palin the in party. i was watching c-span and all the republican reps asked hilary clinton (secretary of state) about was abortion in china and abortion in africa and abortion here... they need to seriously shut up – they are men and need to shut up and sarah palin needs to shut up also.
what would a woman rather have- water boarding or getting raped and then being pregant and giving birth to that baby.. um, what is torture sarah palin?

There's no such thing as a "dirty moderate"; that being said, those who say otherwise aren't moderate at all just dirty! Meghan McCain is the future (if there is one) of the actually conservative bunch, who, though never really "Grand" were the "Old Party!" (As in Tories re-invented after they lost the american revolution the first time!)

Megan McCain is right, but the other Republicans are not listening. They are still using slash and burn tactics while not offering other solutions. They are truly the 'Party of No'. Their constant complaining about Obama's policies, and yet what do they have to offer? If the GOP still adheres to the way of Limbaugh, Coulter, Ingraham and Malkin, they will never recover.

As an Independent who's quite satisfied with his vote for Obama; Meghan McCain appears to be the only Republican who holds my interest to still consider the R-party a viable group of progressive thinkers.

Megan, you just do not understand. In order to get any kind of recognition, you will need a third party. Let me know when you do it and i will be there. Socially liberal, fically conservative.

"We need to inspire 20-somethings, which is something the Obama campaign did very well,” said Ms. McCain.

The Dems did not inspire 20-somethings, they hoodwinked them and will continue to do the same for years to come. The Repubs need to offer the electorate something different - like fiscal responsibility, individual responsibility, pro-life, abiding the law and Constitution.

Meghan McCain possibly testing the waters for an eventual public office position? Good for her. She's young and young is the Republicans weakness. Even if she's just a spokeswoman, I think she's capable of bringing a lot to the table.

Ms. McCain needs to distinguish between socially liberal views and moral conviction. Instead, she lashes out against anybody who is against gay marriage, labeling them right wing fundamentalists. Well, given the choice to obey God or follow Meghan, McCain loses.

There are many more important issues that require study and thought. Meghan has a lot of work to do. Most of all, study the foundations of our country.

She should join the dems if she can't respect other views.

As long as the Republican party has people like Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity as their spokesmen, they are doomed. They are way to the right and perceived as racist and rightfully so. Rush can get on the radio and mock the way minorities speak and thinks it doesn't hurt and call it parody but it really offends people and Hannitry just can seem so uppity and misrepresent what people say to make his point. Good luck with them Republicans.

Its pretty funny that this young girl is smarter than the republican leadership. Many people actually agree with republican fiscal and defense policies but are completely turned off by their backwards 1950's "Leave it to Beaver" social policies. Whether they like it or not younger generations are not in line with them on any of these issues, and thats not going to change, its actually going to increase. Most people find it hypocritical that the party that wants less government "intrusion" on people lives push social policies that do just that. If they'd be willing to stay out of personal affairs as well as financial ones they'd have a fighting chance, and would pick up my vote as well as countless others.

The Republican Right are nut cases!!!! They pan to a very small group of people but want the entire Republican party to adopt their craziness. We all don't fit into small, convenient boxes that they want us to conform too. We are diverse group of US Citizens and the diversity needs to be understood and embraced.
You go Meghan and teach them a lesson!!!!

Can people please stopping automatically adopting their parents political ideologies and please do the correct research on both political parties before you choose one, miss. McCain you are obviously not a republican sooo stop trying..... Take a play from Arlen's playbook can come back from the dark side….

Meghan McCain possible testing the waters for an eventual public office seat? Good for her.

Give me more Republicans like Meghan and I'd come back to the Republican party. But there is no way I'll march with a party that refuses to give two consenting adult Americans the right to marry. However, I've always been a fiscal conservative who strongly supports less government intervention in our lives. Thats the Reagan Republican ideal and today's Republicans skew so social conservative they are willing to trade freedom from government intervention for imposing their morals on those around them.

Reading this article made me wonder..... Hmmmm.... twitter nor facebook made me vote the other way. That is not how Obama won the election. It's because he supports my ideals. He is not a conservative christian ideologue that, as we have recently found out, believes torturing their humankind is OK. The Republican party is bad for anyone other than white suburbanites or those that live vicariously through the ultra (nouveau) rich.

Is anyone listening to her??

–And it’s not that I think that our message is neither good nor bad — I just think it’s that the Democrats package their message better-

What a difference a decade makes. In 2000, this was exactly what Dems were saying about Republicans, that the Dem message was all over the map and the GOP had a very specific focus. (of course that focus was the culture wars, which like anything that revolves around shock and fear eventually wears itself out).

I suppose the Iraq and Afghan US dead and wounded count is no longer of interest as CNN no longer informs of us who was killed and wounded..or is it no longer polticaly correct to count under Obahama ??? CNN's bias is obvious.

These moderate Republicans that actually get it should join the Libertarian party. Liberty... Smaller government, fiscally conservative, free market, but socially moderate/liberal. A strong third party would be beneficial.

The fringe neo-con, government out of my paycheck but into my bedroom, evolution in science class, drill baby drill, anti-stem cell, fear mongering, preemptive strike, global warming denying old white men can wallow in their own mier.

The Dems are now the "Big Tent" party. Meghan: It's fairly obvious your not radical enough for your fellow Republicans; they want you out. You'd be quite welcome amongst the Democrats. Think about it, we would LOVE to have you!

I don't think Mitt Romney or Cantor want to know what people think I think they just want to oppose any democrat Idea..The republican Part needs to either be rebuilt from the bottom up or a third party needs to enter the arena.The Republican party is going so far right they are allmost like the extreamist that attacked us.That is not a good thing going forward

One way that something might get done in Washington is if moderates (centrists) from both sides make it happen.

The Conservative Right is poison not only to their 'party' but to the country as a whole. Never will the United States be ruled by an American theoretical bastardization of European Christianity.

The far left needs to realize that controlled power will keep this country safe. Intellectual dialog with foreign powers is essential just as much as it is most successful if there remains no doubt as to the arsenal behind it.

Bush failed in the manner that he shot first, hit the wrong target and asked the wrong questions to the wrong people later.

I only wish the GOP was more like this girl and not the pseudo christian religious American Taliban that it has become. Its not that moderates are "dirty" its the false religious overtones that ruined the party...

As long as pundits like O'Reilly, Hannity, Beck, Ingram, Malkin, and Limbaugh continue to mislead and incite their listeners, there will always he that element of the party that will never be mainstream. Then there is the so-called intellects(Krauthamer and Kristol etc) that harm the party. Finally, as long as the "out of touch" relics (Gingrich, Delay, and Rove etc) continue to try to bring back their failed policies the GOP will bever get out of the rut they are in. All in all, they have a lot of homework to do.

I wish them well and if they do get their act together, I hope they also bring real compassion to their party and get rid of the mean-spiritedness and name calling.

This meeting of 'new ideas' would have been wise to have Meghan as their speaker....she has much to say...maybe not want you want to hear but it is what you need to hear. Better get it right soon...lots of us are getting off the boat is ideas can't materialize...either that or get out of politics and let the young ones in....

It's not about "packaging the message" it's about telling the truth...something neither Republicans nor Democrats have been very good at. Unfortunately, many Americans aren't really interested in knowing the truth.

If the GOP really wants to rebuild itself and to have itself taken seriously, it should really start by booting out the neocons who aren't even conservatives. Limited government, lower taxes, and a focus of individual liberties and responsibilities is what the Republican was supposed to stand for. Ever since the neocons took over the party, the only thing that you are left with is a party of hippocrates. Bush is a prime example – he was a member of the Republican Party, yet he grew the size, cost, and scope of the national government larger than any Democratic president has since FDR.

Sometimes I wonder if would be better if the true conservatives just abandon the neocons of the GOP and form a completely new party altogether or join the Libertarian Party (since the LP stands for a lot of what the GOP should've stood for).

It appears John McCain is starting to get some of his B–ls back by sitting by the side of his daughter. Now to get the other one back, he needs to take a good shot at Limbough for the one Rush threw at him.
Go for it Maverick if you have the B–ls.

Not going to happen Meghan. Wake up and smell the coffee!! Arlen has been thrown under the bus. Mr Fat Limbaugh has thrown you and your father under the bus. Mr Steele doesn't care much about socially liberal republicans. The party of "NO" is throwing down the gauntlet and throwing people out! Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Beck they are the new leaders of the Republican Party. Their logic is anyone who would dare disagree with them on any issue or policy gets excommunicated!! or worse. Truth is the republican party has been evolving since Ross Perot ran in 1992. Many former republicans are now independants, because they realize the selfishness and greed that now runs rampant in the republican party. It's a shame and to know that this is the was the Party of Lincoln , whom freed the salves.

LOL Republicans... you're fighting amongst yourselves, you don't have any ideas except some very old, very bad ones, and the only power you have in our national government is that you appointed 7 out of the 9 current Supreme Court justices... quit while you're ahead, you are going the way of the Federalist Party and the Whig Party.

The Democratic party is the moderate party sista. It's time to get over it and wonder if you youself even are a Republican. Just because daddy belongs to a certain party, doesn't mean you have to too.

Meghan McCain makes sense! The conservatives have destroyed America and the republica party. Good ridance to them. Meghan should be chairwoman of the RNC!

Go and beat this Muslim President Hussein Obama. Shame on us who voted for this guy, coz he is only good in talking, only talking, nothing more than good talking. America need someone who talk less but do MORE.

MITT ROMMEY OR SARAH PALIN IS GOOD FOR THAT JOB, being the right person to be PRESIDENT.

Please dont hide my comment, be fair CNN, your always covering and protecting this Muslim President. This guy is a nuts.

Still nothing of substance . . . Flag waving is not a program. There is nothing left of the Republican Party as moderate Repubs have already been shouted down by religious fanatics.

Pssst, Meghan. Over here. Here's a little heads-up. The Republican party doesn't like you or your daddy. The Tea Parties, Rush's chants of failure for the President, Sean Hannity's rants on Fox News, etc ... they aren't really working. So much for a comeback. Time to join the winning team.

I hear what Meghan is saying. It's just her tone that sounds like she's abandoning her party by always applauding the Obama's campaign. The reason why the younger generation lean left is because most don't understand how gov't works yet. When I was in college, I didn't give a rats about politics. The media advertised Obama as the young face of the future. If I was young and naive, I would've voted for Obama, but I did my research and voted for her dad because of Palin.

Her dad was the old man who the Obama camp called McBush or McSame. It was her dad's campaign who brought about smears (or maybe it was the Obama campaign pretending to be the McCain staffers) everyday on Palin that dragged the ticket down.

Meghan also says that the GOP should not focus on social agendas (and I agreed wit her), but now she's coming out as a hardcore promoter of gay marriage, which is a social agenda.

If this is the only way for her to extend her 15 minutes of fame, then whatever.

I'm a right-leaning Democrat who will register as an Independent in the next election cycle. I am neither for or against gay marriage. I believe in fiscal conservatism.

The Rubs are too stupid to see how correct this woman is.

The radical right has hijacked the Rub party, but just because they call themselves conservative does not mean they are.

This is now the party of opposition, anything they say is the truth, is a lie, anything they say is good is bad, anything they say is bad, is good.

An inclusive party? What? So inclusive means spending like drunken sailors only when there is an (R) in front of the representative. Me, several of my fellow workers and their families did not even vote last time because of the failures to shift this government to a smaller government. The weight of our governing body is crashing the workers and what savings they have. States with (D)'s running them have been failing for years. Now that (D)'s can print money.. we as a nation have a day of reckoning within the next several years.

I have a suggestion (a real one) for the GOP in remaking their image. I've noticed in their speeches and also in the posts of many Republican bloggers the tendency to call someone a 'true American' or 'Patriot'. I think they should quit with that. No one has any place deciding what a 'true American' is or telling someone else they are unpatriotic or not a 'good' American citizen. I'm a lifelong Democrat and am getting really sick of Americans telling other Americans they are not 'good' or 'patriotic' citizens, meanwhile, they are against everything, for nothing (but themselves) and very negative all the time. Nothing is good, everything is bad and it's all because we have a Black President. They don't want to help the poor, but helping the rich is great. I'm just plain sick and tired of it. Don't call me a traitor or tell me you are more 'American' than I. You have no right.

Go and beat this Muslim President Hussein OBAMA. Shame on us American, to have this President, coz he is only good in talking, that's all, talking. nothing more.

MITT ROMMEY is the right man to be President, or SARAH PALIN.

I sincerely applaud Meghan's efforts and statements about the Republican party. For some time, it seems that the GOP has received tremendous, negative criticism for leaning "too right" – where there is little to no middle ground for moderation of any sort. Being a Libertarian myself, I can emphasize with her struggles in a political system that clearly favors right and left wings. While I don't favor the Sen. McCain personally, I believe that his daughter's statements regarding reaching a younger generation are right on. I recently voted in my first election, and I found quickly that the 18-24 year-old voting group was of least importance compared to other demographics. However, I feel that this past 2008 campaign in particular aroused more political involvement by my peers than any before it, due in most part to Obama's methods of engagement.

Let's start with some Republican leaders who don't kneel before Rush Limbaugh, who don't pander to the illiterati and the religious nutballs, who don't obstruct every ounce of progress in this country.

At least Meghan McCain can do a little thinking for herself, unlike so many in the GOP. Maybe one of these days, she'll reach true enlightenment and think herself right out of the GOP altogether. Meantime, she's still hot as all get-out!

Ok, I've prepared myself because here comes the same old nasty comments from the left. Not sure why I even take the time to read them because it's always the same. Guess I just need a good laugh.

I hope she gets into politics and runs for office. Chances are she'll probably loose against a Democrat. And if she wins, it's better for the country than another Limbaugh-esque Republican. Although still annoying, she does spout off all that Reganomic psychobabble like the rest of em, Meghan is just a smidge more tolerable than lets say- I don't know- the Palins!!!

Enough Mehgan. You keep on mouthing. It is time to be quiet. You are getting ready to mess up. Stop now.

Meghan tells it like it is, but with the old Republican guard I doubt if her words will given much thought.

It will take another big defeat in the mid term elections for the Republicans to wake up. They are out of touch with the American people.

It's about more than packaging.

Why Cantor and Co. are out there in campaign mode having town hall meetings with no new ideas in tow is a mystery.

Shame...

I tend to support the Democrats, but I like Meghan. She has a great views and ideas that other Republicans should listen to. And to those who think Meghan has "had her 15 minutes of fame", she hasn't. I expect to see her for a while yet.

Please listen to this young woman... she speaks the truth... without moderate Republicans ... and only the right wing standing in front of the mics... you are killing your party..

Meghan you remind me of a girl called PollyAnna...lol. News flash...18-somethings on up found inspiration in President Obama and, continue to believe in him and the plans he has for bringing America back from the brink of disaster caused by the Republican/Conservative mentality. As for the GOP changing its image, it only brings to mind that old saying: A wolf in sheeps clothing. Senator McCain...you and the rest of your party of NO are not living in the 21st century....back to old principles....spare me.

I think it is going to be difficult for the Republican Party to come back into power because of people such as radio talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh, who have taken the party too far to the right. In fact I have said for the past few years that talk show hosts such as Rush is the best thing to come along for the Democratic Party since ice tea. There is an old saying, "If you eat too much food, you will eventually get full". This is where I believe America is at at this time for the Republican Party. They are tired of the hating and are looking for solutions to real problems.

The republican party needs more Meghan McCains and more John McCains (pre-2008 Presidential Candidate McCain that is). Those are the people that I can connect with. The republican party today is something that I regard as narrow in view, and politicizes social mores rather than the issues that matter to government. Small government is a good message, something that I can go for. But expanding the government and military in the name of 'small government,' legislating and institutionalizing "Christian Values" (and a very narrowly defined and quite exclusive version of Christian values) in the name of 'conservatism,' and pandering to s very exclusive group of majority white, christian, heterosexual, gun owning, rural middle class and business elites, is something that i cannot support. Where did the Rockefeller Republicans go? The socially liberal, small government Republicans. John McCain was once one, and the other defected to the Democrats. I just hope that people like you, Meghan, can get the party that I once respected back on track again.

Why not switch over to the Democrats like Specter did? Democrats have no problems with the fiscal conservative members of the party. It is clear that the Republicans are taking in water and they have installed the bilges backwards. Stop wasting your energy and let the wingnuts be.

The Republicans need to know a few things:
1. It is not an all white America
2. Bushism, limbaughism, TPTism, Palinsm, if that's the type of people they are trying to captivate, go ahead and captivate those people, but get used to being the minority party for years to come.

They need to watch themselves and hear themselves speak and make fake arguments against all those who are just "the other party" or simply non-white. They have the Taliban type of mentality. They need people like cindy mccain with some exposure to other cultures, people and views. Jebb Bush??? come'on! AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S A BUSH! WHICH WAR IS HE GOING TO TAKE US ON NEXT?

Meghan McCain , like her father don`t seem to understand the fact that , the democractic party has respect , and truly care about the American people . The GOP continues to have " wedge issues ", that tend to devide the country........ namely with phrase`s like , " real americans "....... " good america "..... The republicans elected to the congress, and the senate feel their only obligation is to the wall street crowd, and the very rich . Even their faithful followers of the not to far past , such as those who in the 08` elections switched from republican to democrat , have wised up and realized the fact that they were just being used like " zombies " by the republicans .
The republicans will be lost and in the " wilderness " for years to come .

I respect this girl, she seems to say all the right things. It's a shame she's on the wrong side of the fence. I guess if the Republican party was truly in tune with what they used to be, it would be a tough choice to make for average Americans and that seem to be what she's aiming for. Unfortunately the core of her party is slipping more and more to the right, alienating their own. I'm a democrat but I recognize the need for two or more partiies in this country, but if the GOP is about 'purity' and 'sticking to their guns' with little regard for differring opinions, imo, they're doomed.

The same tired old men with their same tired old ideas.
The Repubs need to put Meghan in charge.

Meghan – you dont sound like a Republican moderate to me – those are long extinct creatures who were shunned by their intolerant leaders. You sound like a Clinton democrat: pro-business, socially liberal and fiscally conservative (remember Clinton balanced the budget...no Republican has done that in nearly 100 years). Come out of the political closet and declare you are a democrat – the party with the only big tent these days.

A wonderful idea, but there's a problem that the privileged people, such as ms. McCain here, tend to overlook:

There is absolutely no fiscal or economic reason any non-privileged person should ever vote for a republican. Ever. The republican party has got to make things about social agendas that conflict with the democratic social agendas, or they lose their socially conservative base: which is the vast majority of their base.

Of course this could be slightly wrong. A growing trend in the conservative media is to tell the poor to pretend they were rich and think of how unfortunate it would be to have higher taxes as a result. Even though the vast majority of those who jump on this argument will never have this problem, somehow the poor conservative base becomes just as riled up over it as they did over seeing dudes kissing in 2004.

Good luck with that Meghan, as your party has been hijacked for the foreseeable, mostly by those using a thin veneer of phony patriotism in an attempt to mask their own racism/elitism.

Meghan McCain 2016!

And of course CNN could not make it through an entire day without doing a fluff piece on Meghan "Air-Head" McCain–the democrats' useful idiot.

This ditz does not speak for ANY FACTION of the republican party. She is a closet democrat, just like her dad. This is why CNN is trying sooooo hard to make her a star, even though nobody with any intelligence cares what she has to say. She probably voted for Obama.........just like her dad. There's absolutely no reason why she should be in the news. She's kind of like the Paris Hilton of the political world.

If Romney is on this panel then there is really no chance for change in the GOP (gray old party) ! Meghan, to end your frustration, come on over to the Democrats...

She's right, of course; but the "purify the Party" extreme reich (sic) wing fanatics will have NONE of it. THEY think they can win back Congress and the White House by becoming MORE fanatical and MORE reich (sic) wing, not LESS. They need to do the math. Only about 21% of Americans CONSIDER themselves Republicans; if EVERY voter who considers himself/herself an "evangelical" votes the straight Republican ticket, that's still only 35% of Americans. You don't win elections with 35%. The INDEPENDENT Party is probably the Party of the future. Whether or not it REPLACES the Republican Party is up to the Republicans. They can't win without moderates and independents, and moderates and independents are having NONE of the vitrolic reich (sic) wing of the Party as typified by Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, Concerned Big Hairs for America, Quackers Wild-Man (sic), etc. The quicker the Republicans DUMP the above, the quicker they can start back on the road to becoming a RELEVANT, LOYAL opposition party, and not a bunch of hysterical homophobic, xenophobic, racist, misogynist neo-fascist oligarchs whose automatic answer to everything is "NO."

The only thing Boehner, Kantor, McConnell, Romney, Kyle, Gingrich, et al, can do is get out of the way as in retire.

No one believes skunks can change their stripes. Their credibility is gone. They have nothing to show for the last 30 years.

The longer they hang on, the longer it will take to rebuild, as it is it will take 20-30 years.

Meghan McCain......your 15 minutes are up!!!!!!!!!!

Go get 'em Meghan! If they're smart (and, arguably they aren't), they'll start listening to the young Republicans like you. You (people of your generation) are their ONLY hope! You are a breath of fresh air. I wish you were just a few years older, but maybe you could run for office very soon. America needs leaders like you who are unafraid.

Rush Limbaugh, Shane Hannity and Newt Gingrich are too old and arrogant to understand McCain's ideas. The party will continue to die. It's unfortunate that these old heads don't see the society changing. If the can't even understand the society's transformation, what kind of solution can they offer? Some of the republican views are just too old. They can't stand anymore.

he Republicans are spitting into the wind on this one. To put it simply: the current demographic trends in this country do not bode well for the Republican party.

i.e. increasing urbanization, an increasingly higher educated population and the increasingly bifurcated class structure (more have-nots vs super-wealthy) are all demographic factors that trend towards the Democratic electorate.

This simply means that the number of likely Democratic leaning voters is increasing. The only demographic trend in the Repubs favor is the aging baby boomers (older trends towards a conservative political views). Yay, more generational warfare.

McCain needs to get over it, he lost, there is a reason he lost by a landslide, Republicans in general just need to come to grips with the fact that America in general is disgusted with being treated badly by the rich,greedy, selfish Republican party, enough is enough. Support your President Barrack Obama or just leave this country and don't return.

Mr. Bush, I think the people of America were listening when they elected Barack Obama. Every time you turn on the news there is another Republican saying things no one wants to hear, silly attacks, comments that aren't factual, they same ole same ole nonsense. You want to start listening? cool. Before you do that sir, get those fools off the air and maybe you'll have a fighting chance. Start with Bachmann

I know Meghan is committed to the Republican party, from her recent "Red 'til I'm dead, baby!" Twitter response, but I'm afraid that she'll eventually have to jump to the Democratic party if she's really going to find the moderation she seeks. Today's Republican party just isn't open to new ideas or social moderation. They're primarily concerned with limiting your rights, meddling in your life... and, what's more, they don't really have a good record on smaller government, lower taxes (except for the extremely wealthy), fiscal responsibility, or national security. That's been a lot of talk without any action to back it up. Meghan's a good soul and she's making a noble try, but these seeds she's planting just aren't falling on fertile ground. Too few Republicans are open to moderate ideas.

Who is this person and why does anyone care what she says? She went to Columbia U, so what? Her dad is John McCain? So what? Her resume looks a lot like the last Bush got before he got elected and do you want to go down that road again? Please go away kid, this country needs to wake up and realize that we are falling deeper into an oligarchy, she is a prime example of this.

Doesn't she get that Democrats are using her to bash Republicans?

The Republicans don't need a bunch of liberals with R's next to their name. The Republican party needs to work extremely hard to get back the trust of the Amercian people that they will be responsible with their money.

why do we have to hear about every thought this woman has!

Despite the fact that I'm a democrat that voted for Obama, I like Meghan McCain, I really do–even follow her on Twitter! But I think that at this point, she's beginning to become a tad bit redundant and ineffective. Whether she hopes for a political future or not, she has great potential to really help the GOP address its problems. However, the GOP will NEVER resurface as a competing party until they come up with some valid competing ideas. At this point, Meghan is saying what everyone else knows: the GOP is too exclusive and not attractive to anyone but the far right. This is the problem... but no one (Meghan included) is doing anything to offer a solution.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. She's done that–although some GOP haven't–the next step though, is to crank out some GOOD ideas. That remains to be seen.

Yes, you're th common sense GOP. Call yourself common sense

Meghan you got vote when ever you wanna run for office.l am tired of these old white forks who spread hate and divisions every day.l hope the Republican Party would be viable one day.

For people who like Meghan McCain's social views, why should they hope the GOP moves toward the center? They can already get those policies with the Democrats, without all the rest of the GOP's economic, religious, and isolationist garbage.

John McCain, and worse yet Meghan McCain are the reasons I no longer call myself a Republican – I am a conservative. If Meghan McCain thinks she speaks for the Republican party, I can assure you she doesn't speak for me. She and her father are RINOs and should both declare their allegence to the Democrat party.

She's right. Simple choice for Republicans- separate yourselves from extremists like Limbaugh, Hannity, Coultur, etc, or die. Those dead enders were crucial in the years that Lee Atwater and Karl Rove et al were using the "smears, fears, and queers" strategy to take power, but now that the neo-con/radical evangelist alliance has in fact brought the nation to the brink of ruin the old strategies will never again attract 51 percent of voters. A more moderated, reasoned, and truly patriotic conservatism is the only way forward for the Republican Party.

Im sorry but McCain is not a moderate Republican. She is a liberal democrat. She only became a republican in 2008 when her dad was running for president with the republican nomination, duh. If she wants to speak out on issues thats fine but be a democrat or an independent dont claim to be a republican who is "progressive". This is coming from an independent who can see what is going on.

What are they going to communicate? That it's ok to torture people? That anyone who doesn't agree with their religious views is not worthy of the basic rights guaranteed by the constitution? That the state should preclude people from enjoying the benefits of civil partnerships like marriage because they happen to not share the same sexual orientation as the majority of Republicans? What exactly is this message the Republicans are so eager to share?

I thought you were talking about someone who really matters, like maybe John. But you're talking about this spoiled child who has never had a job - again.

I wonder if this attempt will finally get me past the censors. I don't know why I waste my time typing in here. It wouldn't hurt quite so bad if some of the crap that makes it wasn't so bad.

Interesting that young Meghan McCain is the one with the wisdom in the GOP today. She is dead right when she says that the party must include moderates and be inclusive in its message. Will anyone in the Republican leadership listen to her? That remains doubtful. The GOP is in the process of imploding.as moderates are purged from the party ranks. Soon the doctrinaire conservative base will have what it wants,,,an ideological strait jacket on its members. You would have thought the Republicans would have learned some important lessons from 2006 and 2008. The ass kickings they got from the voters should have been a wake up call. Like the Democrats, the GOP cannot win elections with moderates and independents...voters who despise the Republican right. Latino voters, the largest growing sector of the population, are flocking to the Dems. With a 79 seat majority in the House... a soon to be 60 seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate...and a popular President Obama in the White House, the Republicans are moving quickly to permanent minority status...

"I just think it’s that the Democrats package their message better".

That's just half of it Toots. They also have a message and a plan for the 21st century America and until you and your GOP "dirty moderates" ferret out the 20% of the hateful, bigoted, anti-middle class rethuglicants from the party you won't have one that anyone will vote for – unless your a wacko still living in the 50's....

Until the GOP gets rid of stuff like Coulter and Limbaugh people will think of them as worst. The take a simple article and twist and turn and lie about the contents. When you go and read it, the information is entirely different from what they are shilling it to be.

Those of the kinds of things that most of real America have come to hate. Cheney and his greed and hate spewing is a perfect example of the GOP.

Meghan, Meghan, Meghan......Nobody (at least not me) is calling you "dirty". You're not dirty at all.

You're just worthless. Big difference.

Young and smart Cookie with a very attractive package. Such a refreshing change from the crusty old goats.

Good riddance. The party has been destroyed because of this kind of thinking. You and your RINO father can follow Arlen Sphincter out the door. Don't let it slam on your way out. Its exactly because of compromising, appeasing Republicats like you that the GOP has lost its way. America wants a clear choice. Liberal progresssives vs. Conservatives. Not Democratic-lite.

She does have a point. For the republican party to survive the far right needs to compromise a bit. It doesnt have to cave to the moderates but it does have to accept more opinions without degrading them. However I dont see that happening yet.

Maybe you think there is room for you in the party of Limbaugh – Hanity and Gingrich but there is not. If you are not a nut case there is no room at the INN. Better jump ship or prepare to boarded out.

I consider myself a middle grounds moderate conservative on many topics, but also liberal with others. Thats why I have no party affiliation. I voted for Obama and I think he is doing a great job, but that doesn't mean I will never vote for a Republican again. I don't like the hatred that stems from far right wing, racists, and the completely illogical groups that currently own the party. If the Republican party moves back from the distant right to take up some of the middle ground the Democrats own, and they get their **** in gear with things, and listen to this smart young girl about some pointers to help them win back the fight, then they have a decent shot in 2016. Keep up the good work Meghan.

Meghan McCain do really think us Republicans think of you as one of us? We really don't care if you go to the other side. All your comments are posted on CNN and MSNBC tells me all I need to know. As far as I am concerned I wish you would register as a Democrat. I still love your father as a war hero. Dave Phillips

A little late coming out of the gate, but it's a start.

You and the other moderate republicans look like sad little dogs laying next to the dead and rotting corpse of the republican party sadly waiting for your former master to rise and play with you again. Why not cut your losses and join the independant party that has very similar platforms to your previous party minus the hatred, racism, and greed (so far) and bring something new and wholly good into the world and let the neocons, rush, coulter, and the chronically stupid wither away while the wealthy who are smart enough to know the direction of the wind run for the democratic party and begin thier cancerous destructive practices there. America will need you in a few years and good men (and women) deserve much better than your likely to get from what's left of that train wreck that was the Republican Reich.

Kick Micheal Steele out of the RNC leadership and replace him with this girl. She will make some heads swim.

They still don't get it. We don't want rightist Republicans OR populist Republicans, which is what "moderates" are.
We want constitutionist, classical conservatives.

Hey, I like Meghan McCain. She's thoughtful, articulate, and I really wish the Republican Party had more folks like her and less folks like Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh...But! I think she's making a big mistake arguing that the Republican Party's problems are solvable by simply rebranding itself. It kinda smacks of dishonesty when Republicans talk like that these days. Almost like, "we don't have to change anything, just trick people into thinking that we have". It almost seems like they think the majority of the American people are stupid.

And she needs to realize that the Republican Party has to answer to the very same groups of people whom it has presented as bogeymen for the last 40 years. Because now they're becoming larger and larger and they remember that the Republican Party has never stuck up for them when it counts. Why not start with supporting gay marriage? There's a civil libertarian, traditionally conservative argument to make in favor of it, and it would be a real differentiation between the Democrats' hand-wringing and lack of real support. Of course, they'll never do that, as that would piss off the wacko Christian contingent they've built their whole platform on. If Meghan McCain wants things to be different, she has to acknowledge that homophobia, xenophobia, racism, and elitism have been the tenants of the Republican Party and that it does not jibe with most Americans' values.

I wish more people on both sides of the aisle had the pragmatic, common-sense view of the poliical landscape. Meghan is right on the money. Americans are tired of extremists, no matter where they come from. If you are so far to the edge of the political spectrum that the center looks like radicalism for the other side, you need to get a grip. You're quickly becoming irrelevant.

She makes sense but you cannot start twittering and think all young people will join RNC. They have to change their position on key things.

It's not going to happen, Meghan....... sorry. Your political elders appear to be deeply entrenched from the mid-20th century. Therein lies the problems – no imagination, no answers nor intellectual curiosity, but a great deal of "me", self-importance and self-righteousness. I see potential for you and, as an Independent leaning left (who voted for Obama), please know I admire your tenacity and forthrightness. After you have passed the age of 30, somewhere in mid-30's, don't be surprised if you go Democrat as I did. Life experience changes perspective and different light bulbs tend to go on. I'll be watching you b/c I think you are smart and your enlightenment is about to begin. Keep moving forward please. Best wishes!!!!

She is right.

If Meghan McCain's last name weren't McCain, would anybody beyond earshot give a rip what she says or thinks? And if she were spouting conservative positions the Obama-worshipping media would take no notice of her, at all.

She and her father belong in the Democrat party. Their philosophies are much closer to it than the traditional Republican positions Meghan McCain mentions in passing. She has apparently learned that lesson from her father: it's necessary to pay occasional lip service to conservative ideals, without ever having to walk the walk. Specter showed them the path to Enlightenment, and they should take it. The Republican party would be far better off without "supporters" like the McCains.

Unfortunately, it IS the message.

If the Republican party wants to attract "20-somethings" as Ms. McCain suggests, they need to look at all the polling data and realize that the demographic she is talking about does not hold their view on the economy, gay rights, tax cuts for the wealthy, abortion, unregulated markets, the "war on terror", Cuba, the financial crisis, privacy, immigration, and a host of other issues.

The voters didn't reject your candidates because they weren't packaged correctly...they rejected your platform, which was basically the same as the previous 8 years (which even Republicans now admit were a dismal failure).

Perhaps the Republican party would be better served to split into two separate parties. The quirky and unnatural coalition patched together by Reagan in 1980 has finally bitten them on the behind.

Hey Ms. McCain if the GOP kicks you and your father out, maybe you should start a 3rd Party!

the mccains are really liberal democrats in republican coats. they should change their party. john should retire since he, by selecting palin, handed the presidency to obama. meghan should just go away and complete her ambition of being a designer or clothing or whatever. if meghan, gingrich, jeb bush, palin, rush lambaugh continue to speak for all republicans, it will ensure an obama victory next election.

Sorry, Meghan, but the problem is the party of NO is an umbrella, it needs to be a tent a Big Top tent.

You are correct though, that the rabid right does look down on moderates and none, other than you, are fighting back, so good luck, as youth is always optimistic!

With time you will tire of the hopeless battle and end up switching sides like the other moderate Specter. The rabid right neo-cons hate moderates they are RINO remember? The "new" NCAC was being protested by the rabid right during the unveiling of the "new" GOP.
So, in time you will leave and allow them to continue to drink the Greedy Old People's prune juice!

Lots of luck getting the repub platform to appeal to 20 somethings. The party of NO has proven time and again, they would save a 4 cell zygote, but very quickly ship the 20 somethings of to be killed in their war machine used to spread their version of "christianity" and democracy to the entire world!

So I should become pro-choice in order to satisfy Ms. McCain and others? Sorry toots. I'm not gonna budge on that one. Ms. "Socially liberal" is the one who's not being inclusive. Besides, I'm 21. Thus, my youth trumps hers.

Meghan........we don't look at you like a "dirty moderate", we look at you like a "dirty democrat".

The republicans should change their symbol from the elephant to the dodo bird.

The honest truth about Megan McCain is that she is a somebody because of her dad. She has done nothing to earn the respect of the GOP on her own. You can't just tell the party to change, if you haven't done anything to build it, other then being born in the right family. All she will accomplish is further dividing the party on controversial issues rather then uniting it!

Meghan youre a great lady , and great personality ........ Come to the other side sister, the GOP/REPUBLICAN Party is dead and will have no affect on National policy or pretty much anything for a very long time, they mean nothing ....... You have great IDEAS and great Ideas that the DEMOCRATS would more than welcome ........... We respect womens choices and voices ...........

Here is the problem for the GOP.

There are a ton of financially conservative people out there but are socially moderate...even liberal.

The GOP is so worried about the appeasing the religous right, they are missing out on the silent majority. Most US citizens are moderate but don't wear god on the forehead. Here is my thought process, I am a republican but I don't care if 2 dudes want to get married, if its against the bible, God will deal with them later.

We are not the GOD party, lets worry about accountability, low taxes, and strong military.

Evidently Meghan McCain has some friends at CNN since it seems to be the only news organization that is continually going out of the way to put her in the spot light. Her and her father are no longer a factor so it makes no sense this continual McCain coverage other than CNN having an agenda.

You can put lipstick on a pig and its still a pig! Look the problem with the republicans is that no matter HOW they try to dress up their message its NOT going to sale. You cant say "come to the dark side of hate and fear and NO ideas" and expect people to be drawn to it no matter HOW you package it. Obamas message was clear, no more torture, no more occupation of Iraq, no more spending BILLIONS and BILLIONS in other countries to gain control of oil. He said lets start rebuilding America and make people like us again ,and become the country we USED to be. Sorry but the republicans are not trying to change ANYTHING bush did, they are just trying to put a big bow on it...Sorry to little too late, America woke up, and the republicans are done!!!

That would be great except the extream right ring of the party it there way or the high-way!

I will never vote Republican again until the extream right wing of the party leave.

Recently on slow CSPAN days I have tuned into Rush Limbaugh's and Sean Hannity's radio shows.

I was dumfounded. Limbaugh is a seething perveyor of not only flat out untruths ... he seems to be just LOOKING for ways to pump up hatred.

Hannity is no better. This must be some kind of game to capture an illiterate, frustrated demographic for the sake of advertising revenue ... it certainly isn't anything intellectually grounded.

I am beginning to think Limbaugh's license to broadcast should be revoked for outright subversion.

"Meghan McCain, daughter of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said the GOP is going to have to become more inclusive if it wants to rebuild."

Yeah, we tried that by nominating your dad. We saw how well that worked.

Miss Mcain is saying aloud the embarrassing truth the conventional republican is thinking. The thing is what she's doing has the potential to further split the party, because it clarifies the true face of the party to a considerable section of both existing and potential republicans, young and middle age.
And I'll be honest by saying that I think its great because I'm enjoying every second of it !

I agree totally with her message with one exception. The GOP also has lost touch with moderates of all ages. It is so sad that the GOP – Greedy Old Party, and the DNC – Don't need cash, have all but forgotten the moderates. I am so disappointed in both parties. The Democrats for let's spend and worry about things later to the GOP living in the past, and for both parties pandering to the left and the right during the election process. If this is the best our system can do, then we are doomed because we cannot afford to spend like there is no tomorrow, nor can we just say let's let the market work itself out.

I wish someone would realize that we need a party that will reign in the spending on pork, and spend only on things that actually do something for all of us. Switching power sources is good, but why has there been no new refineries built in the US since the 1980s? Problem is that some people look for easy answers to tough questions.

CNN, please cover why both parties are failures with the public. If you think the public is happy with the way things are going in the US, why are 80% against the bailouts, yet 90% of Congress and the Pres are for it? There is a definite disconnect here and it does take a rocket scientist to figure out the news media is missing the point.

Amen, if they are ever going to rebuild they need to not drive away their young and moderate members and get away from these big government issues like regulating peoples' private lives.

The War in Iraq was a huge mistake. "Staying the Course" was worse. Year after year, the Bush Administration refused to make any adjustments at all, and the Republican congress rubber stamped this blunder, over and over again. Try as they may though, Republicans seen hard-wired to this mentality. Until that changes, their parties' ideas will not get a fair hearing, no matter how good they may be. And, make no mistake, it would benefit our country to have a diversity of ideas. We do need that. But coming from Newt Gingrich, or Rush Limbaugh – seriously? Meghan is right – get over these dudes, get in the 21st Century.

No John, it's not the principles...it's the part of the message you don't say...lets take the Less Taxes thing...your all for taxes as long as the taxes go toward serving the wealthy rather than the starving. In your party people who get down to starving should just go ahead and die so they don't "inconvenience" the "real americans"(i.e. those running mega corporations and wealthy enough to be generous with donations or stupid enough not to realize the translation set forth here) If you people would just admit that what you really define as good or bad can be smelted down to MONEY period at least we could give you credit for being honest. You will gladly spend a trillion dollars blowing up a country that is no threat to us if you think it's going to make huge profits for your portfolio, but spending the same amount on bridges and schools is a "waste of taxpayer dollars".

Get over it Meghan. You might as well be a liberal and feel good about yourself and your country. The republican machine is doomed to utter failure and rightly so. They have gutted the self respect of Americans and should just hit the road and not come back.

Megan, don't worry, John King is doing the republican job!

Although I don't agree with her politics, I do admire her willingness to speak her mind about what she thinks about her party. It is time for both parties to stop talking and do a whole lot more listening.

There are NO moderate in the real Republican Party. Real Republicans don't tolerate "moderation." Only radical, extremists need apply.

The republican party is inclusive but it will not sell out its core values to appease the lib media.

Republicans have to continue to tell the truth about Obama and the current day Democratic party. If a RINO is being dishonest about Obama and not staying true to the tradition of integrity, they will be called out, its as simple as that.

We don't want to believe the truth about Obama, we want to be wrong, but the truth is the truth and someone needs to say it. The media will not, not when they talk about Obama giving them thrills up their legs. The republicans will reap the benefits as good hearted, decent, honest, fair Americans begin to see the truth and accept the fact that Obama and his administration are national socialists. Be sure the right will never target our military as terrorists, or fly a plane low in NYC with 2 fighter jets trailing it to scare people and test them for what we will soon learn it was truly about. NO, republicans are the party of NO, no socialism, no class warfare, no lies, no theft of others money. Republican will continue to be the party for the best of America as it has always been. All givers welcome, not greedy lib takers who angrily demand that others hard earned wealth is theirs.

I would be interested in what an inclusive GOP would look like. I've always wondered how the moderates manage to co-exist in a party that has for the past several decades pandered to such extremists.

Meghan you are irrelevant and inconsequential to the nation. Please just go away

Seems simple, Meghan, just become a Democrat.

Till Micheal Steele would stop calling My President names!

Meghan McCain seems like the only Republican (whom has been in the media spotlight lately) that truly believes in the convictions she professes to hold. She articulates her thoughts in coherent, concise sentences and I believe she could well be a great politician one day soon. However, her air of authenticity has already been tainted by members of her own party and that may have a negative effect on her political ambitions. Nevertheless, I think she is a breath of fresh air in a party that is searching to find it's direction and reaffirm it's role in American politics. – Independent from Florida

Her words go in circles ...

Like a High School kid in diapers ...

I greatly appreciate her efforts to represent a new Republican party

But she needs to get through puberty to be respected...

Don't give up girl ...

Perfect way for the Republicans to remake themselves and turn the country around, by attacking Meghan McCain and asking her to leave. You know it's bad when Karl Rove is stalking her for ideas.

Meghan McCain does not represent America. No matter how you "package" her, she does not represent most of America. Sorry. It will take more than that to rebuild the republicans. Like better ideas that WORK for all Americans, not just the rich. Like tolerance of all Americans, not just the rich and straight. I'm wondering if they can even do it.

Megan, I just need an apology from your party that is all I am asking for........
It is a party of the highest corrupt, plus they control American media!

I am a committed democrat, but I think that what Megan McCain is doing is both meaningful and beneficial. Much of the slander against Ms. McCain has come from conservatives and not the liberals. Much of the vitriol against her has been excessive, unnecessary, irrelevant, and just plain wrong. If Megan McCain's inclusive approach could only get more traction and support this would accomplish a lot of good things for both the democrats and republicans at the same time. There would be improved voter turnout and civil involvement in our legislative and governance process.

Republicans have been overexposed of their lies and deception....

They are done!

They should come forward and apologize to American people of illegal war and lies plus bringing our economy down!!

She is starting to get on my nerves. What the hell is she Palin sister. This woman needs to get a life at her age. She is starting to act like a tention hog.

Meghan is right.
The days of Karl Rove the Creep, Gingrich, Cantor, Coulter and those extremists are over. They just don't get it.

The Bush tactics don't work anymore. People are fed up with the hate and hypocrisy of the GOP.

Meghan is a breath of fresh air! However, the GOP is not an inclusive Party, she would do better as a Democrat or an Independent.

Right on Megan! The "old principles" never worked in a modern society.
Ms McCain should become a Libertarian.

It isn't that your not "packaging" your message...it is your message.

I am having a headache.....

Meghan McCain is going to be a superstar for years to come. She's intelligent, outspoken, and easy on the eyes. If that offends, too bad, looks matter when you choose a life in the public eye. My only issue with her is her refusal to talk about Sarah Palin. It's lame that she won't do this. People seem to respect her political and social opinions, if she chooses this line of work she can't pick and choose what people and issues she discusses. As a 32 year old Democrat that respects her opinion, I'd like to know.

Meghan seems like a bright, outgoing, intelligent individual. Why would such a person bother to try changing a party which seems completely diametrically opposed to her core beliefs? Why not just become a devoted Democrat?? Its a wonder.

Meghan:
I don't look at you as dirty moderate, i look toward you and see nothing. Like others of your mindset you are a disgusting waste of humanity, why don't you follow that garbage called Arlen Specter?
I expect and day now to find that your daddy and Olympia Snow will follow.Get all those tingly for the obama in one basket.

Meghan, I'm sorry but for moderates such as you there is no place in Rush Limbaughs and Sarah Palins GOP. Not for a long time now. It's OK though. Keep up the good fight for the sake of all Americans.

As a registered independent, looking for answers from both major parties, I have seen so-called conservatives (Bush, Chaney and Co) involve us in a major unneeded war in Iraq and spend money and increase the size of the government like never before. I'm looking at action not words!

I agree . I don't generally tend to vote for Republican issues and I took great pleasure in helping to get Barack Obama elected. I do however feel that by purging their party of anyone that doesn't do exactly as Rush Limbaugh say will only hurt them in the end. I believe there should have been more fiscal conservatism , but not at the expense of breaking society and the economy down the way it was over the past 8 years. The truth is Oprah doesn't need a tax break as much as a regular person does.

Whoa, a republican that 'gets it' enough to realize the way to getting the voters back isn't to go more hardcore with the ideas and practices the public has rejected the last two elections and continues to reject but to do some soul-searching and find new ways and new ideas that don't feed into the common (and far too often correct) perception that republicans are all about hate and fear.

If moderates are ever allowed in the party again, I would be able to consider voting for a republican again.

I'm a Democrat but Meghan McCain is dead-on in her analysis of the GOP problem. The future of the party does not lie with unappealing zealots like Rush, Newt, Anne, etc. The future of theparty must include appealing figures who don't speak with venom and hatred.

Amen. As an ardent Obama supporter, I'd prefer to have a difficult choice come ellection time. Republicans need to get their act together so we have a better discourse in politics.

repackage your message? don't you think 'fear' and 'self righteousness" will work anymore?

Moderates,we don't need no stinkin' moderates.Oh wait a minute,that was badges........