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Old-fashioned Republican conservatives should reject efforts to create a Leave-it-to-Beaver nation that never really existed in the first place with that "family values" claptrap. If the GOP wants tosurvive, it should returns t oits original liberarian roots: smaller government, fewer taxes, less government intrusion into citizens' lives, free market economy, and minding our own business overseas whenever absolutely possible. Or disaffected GOP members can join the Libertarian Party, which already advocates for these fine American principles.

You are so right "in the middle." Those bad guys at FOX News are just so extreme (I never watch FOX News personally, but Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow told me) it's ridiculous.... I mean, just the other day I heard from a friend who heard from an enemy that Glenn Beck was talking about people in America needing to take personal responsibility in this recession. Can you believe the nerve of that guy? And that Hannity guy, from what the Huffington Post says, actually has the gall to criticize and question President Obama. This was even going on during the election–I seem to recall those right-wing nutjob traitors blasting Obama because of his pastor's passionate and truthful speeches about the historically oppressive practices of the US government. I mean, come on, why else would a person go to church? This treasonous, hateful behavior has got to be stopped comrades, and I'm hopeful that the new Hate Crimes Bill will change all that and expose the naysayers for the racists they are!

Rush is right; the Party needs purged of people with NO principles. They belong in the Dem party...anything goes there, even BJs in the Oval Office.

Somehow the inner cities and local suburbs of Philly and Pittsburgh have been showing mode influence in voting outcomes over the last several elections. It is amazing that as the knowledge of American History and current political events has steadily declined in our schools, there somehow had been an increased turnout at the polls in the areas hit hardest by the lack of that education.

Interestingly enough, the autopsies reveal that liberals, either republican or dumbocrat, share one thing in common.....there is no backbone to be found.

All that must be done to save this party, will most certainly NOT be done. The GOP platform is wrong and party leaders will not admit this, nor will they do anything to correct it.
Another terrible problem with republicans and conservatives in general, They totally misrepresent the liberal's position.

Example: Mississippi Mike said, "Liberals are for big government, weak military, submissive foreign policy, dividing opportunities up along the lines of race and gender, and a socialist economy. "

He really believes that's what liberals want I am baffled when I read things like this...and speechless. One does not want to justify such ignorance with a response, but it is so rampant among conservatives that this issue should be addressed

No, we don't want weak military
No, we don't want submissive foreign policy
and that last part is just too stupid and ignorant to address.

Republicans in Pennsylvania can choose who they want to represent their party. Just like Republicans and Democrats in any of the 50 states.
Specter voted for the wastful, misguided, pork filled spendulus bill against the will of a majority of his constituants. It's their right to replace him if they so choose. And Specter did not have to change parties. He could have accepted his fate and retired at the end of his term.
I think it is funny that so many Democrats seem concerned that the moderate Republicans may be leaving the Republican party. Seems like that would be good for the Democrats if the Republican party shrunk.
The fact is Democrats hate moderate Republicans. McCain was about as moderate as any Republican can get and Democrats spewed hate at him during the election.
Republicans just need to let voters get a full load of unfettered Democrat policy. Once they stop puking over the out of control spending and massive deficit growth, it won't matter if the Republican on the ballet in 2010 and 2012 is a moderate or conservative. Voters will just vote Republican to get the spend crazy Democrats out of office.

The Republican party at its core has very sound, smart ideals. It is why I count myself in its ranks. However, a few hate-mongering, message-blurring media voices have tainted those core values. Don't think that all Republicans are lockstep behind Rush and Coulter. I'm a Republican because I believe in small government, and think that we should be responsible for ourselves...the government has no obligation to take care of us.

Specter knew he would not be elected to the senate
as a republican ,which was the main reason he
decided to switch parties. I doubt he had the welfare of
the U.S.A. or the people in mind.

He betrayed the trust of the people for pork.

There are many of you who have developed the Democratic skill of putting into a box and labeling individuals. You say: "Republicans are bigoted and smear and ignorant. Republicans hate these groups and these type of people." All the while ignoring the fact that what you claim the Republicans do, you yourself are guilty of. Face the truth, this is what the Democrat party has turned you into: a walking, talking, breathing double-standard. Open your eyes, ears and your mind.

We've heard it all before, liberals...... you thought we were dead after the 1992 elections as well. The simple fact is that fiscal conservatism and social progressivism can no longer exist together.... one cancels out the other. Conservatism has not changed significantly.... it still stands for traditional values, personal accountability, and moral responsibility. Social Progressivism, on the other hand, has morphed in to zealotry and hatred of anything that is traditional or responsible.

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We are obsessed in this country with Democrat's, Republican's, Right Wing, Liberals on and on. We are Americans and you can't put a label on this essential fact. We American's have been divided over these labels for many years now and it's time to wise up and grow up to the fact that no matter which label you put on us American's we are in the same boat, "In Trouble". When we are scraped off the road ways after car accidents or our houses are on fire we are not asked by the police or the EMT worker or the fire Department if we are Republican or Democrat or Christian they help because we are all American People ! Let's give up this labeling and call ourselves American's. ****************************************************************

Ironically, all the Republicans who attempt to brand Obama as a "fascist" (or any other gratuitous epithet) end up being fascists themselves.

* Don't debate any leading Republican! Trust what he says – because he's saying it! If you question him, you're not with him!
* Science is wrong! And even when we're presented with empirical data, "it's suspect!"

Demagoguery will only get you so far. But keep trying – it's fun to see Rush, Hannity and other leading Republican figures insult everyone just because they have no ideas.

Colin Powell isn't a Republican? Really? Then who, precisely, IS the leader of the party? Sarah Palin? Good luck with that – you'll set the record for the largest loss in US history.

Republican has no creditibility. Small government? Remember who was the guy that doubled our national debt for last 8 years? Weak Military? How do you create strong military without strong economy? Like Old Soviet Unions? Personal freedom? Then explain to me why GOP show more interests in bedroom stuff.

The leader of the Republican party, Rush Limbaugh, wants to throw Colin Powell under the bus for not toeing Rush's particluar agenda.

Just because the man was smart enough and brave enough to oppose the folly in Iraq prior to Bush sending in troops, he is ostracized.

With all the current challenges facing the US, you would think that being correct in your analysis would be praised, not demeaned.

First off, Rush, Hannity and Glen Beck do not "represent" the republican party. They are radio and tv personalities that are exercising their right to free speech and more power to them. I'd rather listen to them than listen to the media slobber all over the president's feet. Secondly, anyone with half a brain knows that Specter cannot win re-election as a republican because no one is going to vote for him and he knows it and he's said it himself. He thought that if he changed parties, he would be able to keep his job and would win re-election. He did it for personal gain, not because he believes Dems are better than repubs and not because he thinks the GOP has changed for the worse. It's as plain as the nose on your face that Arlen Specter panicked, jumped ship and is now up a creek without a paddle. He's STILL going to lose re-election because everyone in Congress knows he cannot be counted on. Third, just because you are a republican or conservative or whatever does NOT mean you are a southern racist, bigoted, segregating, neo-nazi loving goon. If that were the case, you wouldn't see blacks and hispanics here in the south being voted in by the people of the south. All of you people need to open your minds and your eyes. Dems trash ANY conservative they can but when John Edwards cheats on his dying wife and fathers an illegitimate child, none of them say a word. It's a ridiculous double standard and it's disgusting. I am so glad I'm an independent because I would never want to be lumped in with ANY of you people.

For some nonpartisan answers to these questions, with particular respect to PA, read "Divided America" by Earl and Merle Black and "The Way We'll Be" by John Zogby. Both books, written before the 2008 election point out the trends that have caused the country to embrace Obama and reject Rush and Newt. Understanding these trends will help the winners in 2010 and 2012 and doom those who do not. The Republicans were all but dead in 1977, but the Democrats misread the signals condemning them to only 8 of 28 years in the White House from 1981-2008. How each party is able to understand and use the lessons provided by the Black twins and Zogby will determine the fates of the two parties.

The Republican Party grew up in support of the "Republic". It was also known to support the maintenance and preservation of the "republic."

What has it become?

It is the party of Division and Hate. Republicans talk of wanting the Government to fail, of seceding from the Union, of standing for Principles
that are full of fear mongering and racial hatred.

I vote to create the National State of Lamballs, in the former Gitmo.
Deport all of them and let them hate as much as they want.

As long as all of you Republicans bow down to Rush Limbaugh, your party will fail. You have a leader that is the most disgusting person in America. One that imitates crippled people like Michael J. Fox. Rush is a sick dog, and you people are afraid of him. You have no respect from anyone in this country and you will lose many more races next year. Just keep cowering Republicans. Thank you RUSH!!

Those that are socially liberal but not fiscally conservative are living on a razor's edge. "Yes, we need all of these wonderful social programs, but we can't afford to pay for them!!"

In contrast a liberal Democrat offers the same programs, and has no qualms in taxing their way into affording it. Moreover, they do it in a way that appeals to most, by playing people against each other...in this case, based on socioeconomic class.

That's not much of a choice. It's Coke versus Diet Coke. If half of Americans want a glass of water, and the other half want a glass of Coke, becoming Diet Coke is not the solution.

McCain lost the election.. Palin brought him 57 Million votes.. Hmmm. I think I will go with the conservatives rather than the RINOs.. See ya later Collins and Snowe.. who needs ya.

This is bad news each party needs more than one view.

The Republican party will not listen. People you are right, Rush, Hannity, and other tv and radio personality are the death of the Republican party. I know FOX News is capitalizing on this as there 2nd quarter profits come in, but the Republican party need to distant themselves from those folks. They are too extreme and it scares people to be involved with them. America is changing and so should the Republican mindset. They have too much of a negative tag on them right now.. Collin Powell was right, too bad they just will not listen.

Spector left the republican party for his own reasons and that being he wanted to get elected again and he knew that as a republican his chance was slim to none especially since his own party is planning to run another republican against him. (That;s loyalty for you) So he asked Obama to work for his campaign and Reid and Obama agreed if he came into the Dem. party. Now he is saying that he hopes the republican candidate wins against Franken. What did he expect ....where is his loyalty to either party? If he is in favor of republicans winning elections, he should stay in the republican party and take what he gets. He cannot join the Democrats and take their support and give back none. As for his voting he can vote on any issue the way he believes but I wonder just what does he believe? He cannot have it both ways and it is time for him to choose. If he does not make up his mind....he may find himself with no party as I feel the democrats should throw him out after his remark. He shows no loyalty to either party.

Too bad Rethugs. You keep thinking like that and your Party will never recover. You are just too divisive and hateful, fear-mongering all the time. The people who represent you are spiteful, angry demagogues and Americans don't want that. We want to have peace in the world and not be feared, and hated. You call it respect, we call it anger. The idealogical differences between Dems. and Reps. is so dramatic, I don't think we can ever reach middle ground. You guys need to totally rethink your attitudes or you will be left in the dust or cease to exist altogether.

I will take any Rpublican any day over the brand of liberal Socialism that Obama is preaching and practicing. Barack's radical strategy will throw this country into civil war, class war, and a depression that will sink us as a nation. Under Obama, the capitalistic foundation upon which this great nation was built will crack and crumble under the weight of all the entitlements Obama wants to dole out to those that will not work, and will not learn, and will not contribute to society. Going on right now in this country is a silent coup d'etat born in Obama's oval office which seeks to overthrow the free capital markets in exchange for government control socialism – modeled after Cuba, and with Barack as the US version of Fidel Castro – Imperial Comrade Obama with a bunch of Czar's reporting to him.

wow you can be a conservative blue dog Democrat but to be a liberal Republican is an oxymoron. Even if a GOPer were to be somewhat on the liberal side party head Rush Limbaugh would declare them to be not REAL Republicans and demand that they leave his party. I guess to be a REAL Republican you have to be mean, divisive, intolerant, perhaps somewhat racist, and oh by the way also pious. Now THAT'S an oxymoron if I ever saw one.

As someone that was raised in the most Republican center of Pennsylvania and once belonged to the GOP, I can think of nothing better to explain my departure than to quote from the "Declaration of Conscience" speech of Senator Margaret Chase Smith:

"I don’t want to see the Republican Party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny—Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear."

The Republicans started as a party of Lincoln who in the midst of the crisis and fear of the Civil War started efforts for a railroad across the US, founded the National Academy of Science, started the Land Grant system and other things that recognized the power of science, education, and technology to better the nation. Also it was the party of Teddy Roosevelt that started the Park Service and saw that environmental preservation was important.

Now the "base" of party has increasingly become science-denying, environment-destroying, technophobic, homophobic, xenophobic, bible-thumping, ignoramuses. Those that are not ignoramuses deliberately make Fear, ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear their method of acquiring power and appealing to the dwindling GOP "base."

I think denial is the problem for Republicans. Just look at the people posting on here and you can see it.

Unfortunately, the extremist Republicans are destroying the party. And yes, they are extremists. Look up fascism in the dictionary.

The Republicans will not be able to win National election again as long as they allow racists like Rush, Insannity and Glenn Bleckkk to represent them. Period.

I hope many of you read these posts. They suggest to the Republican party that their views are ancient and they need to adjust their beliefs in order to attract voters. Wake up! I cannot believe that any of you would suggest to people that they change their beliefs. What happened to principles? What happened to standing for something in which you believe? Thank goodness some in the Republican party still do this. This is how you want the Democrat party to be? Changing their stance to gain votes? Contrary to what many tell you – many Republicans don't hate women, or blacks, or gays. The Republican platform is to give INDIVIDUALS a chance to succeed without government telling them how. Come-on, don't believe everything MSNBC tells you.

The Republican Party is the CANCER within itself and it continues to spread with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulture, Eric Cantor, Lindsey Graham, John Boehner, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Jeb Bush. These are the fatal cancer within the Republican Party.

It's NOT surprising this whole tea party – re-branding has BACKFIRED big time in their faces. NO ONE is buying this garbage. The RNC and the GOP lack serious credibility. They keep highlighting the same OLD and TIRED faces as "new faces", what a joke. Americans are SICK of the GOP "White Only Segregated" mentality and "Dinosaur legacy.

Yeah the republicans are such extremists. I mean the guy they ran for president has worked closely with an extremist who tried to blow up the white house. He attended a church with a racist radical pastor and took his young children there every week to be taught hate. His wife wrote a paper in college saying she would never help anyone who didn't have the same skin tone as her. He also has stated that the constitution is flawed and needs to be re-written.

It isn't so much that the Republican party "problems" caused Specter to leave; it's simply his greed in looking ahead to be re-elected and his opinion that he should be part of the current in-crowd (Democrats) to do so. That, to me, is a pitiful reason for changing parties, beliefs, views. Be true to your committments and stand up like a man – be re-elected on that and not who is in control now. Very sad !

Pennsylvania has voted democratically the last few elections I checked out. A GOP candidate has as much of a chance of winning than the Knicks stand to beat the Lakers.

As long as the party leadership kowtows to the "ideological purists" of the far FAR right, the Republican party will continue to degenerate.
Good men and women are being demonized by anti-American, self serving neo-fascists disguised as conservatives.
Too bad. My ol' dad would turn in his grave to see what has become of his party.

The main problem with the Republican party right now is that they are in denial. Listen to Romney, Cantor, Limbaugh, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and the other followers. They think that the political cycle will just automatically bring voters back to them. As if they don't have to rebrand, come up with new ideas, etc. That people are so naive that they would vote Republican just b/c they want the other party out- even if that party ends up successful. The economies picking up slowly. What will they do next? Wish for a terrorist attack? Come on. People vote based on which party has the best ideas. Another disaster is their believe that the GOP should go back to its social conservative roots. However, most voters they need- women, young voters, ethnic minorities, the gay community, etc. don't agree with these ancient views. Or at least believe the gov't has no right dictating our private lives. In order to become a viable party again, the GOP must allow liberal Republicans into the party or prepare to stay extinct.

I think they should hold a formal autopsy of the GOP in Roswell, NM.

The likes of Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Rove, Gingrich, Palin, and Limbaugh cannot be from this planet.

That is why I love Rush and Coulter.. is great.. they are fantastic.. with people like that the republicans will be history..

Fantastic Job you two,, and it cost the Democrats ""Nothing""

Great...

You can't be a liberal and a Republican. Liberals are for big government, weak military, submissive foreign policy, dividing opportunities up along the lines of race and gender, and a socialist economy. Those are the exact things the Republican party was created to fight.