(CNN) - Days after national Republicans launched a new campaign to broaden the party's outreach, former upstart presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says the GOP is at risk of becoming "irrelevant as the Whigs."
In an interview with the California newspaper The Visalia Times-Delta, Huckabee said the GOP would only further decline in influence should it alienate social conservatives - largely considered the most energetic and loyal faction of the party.
"Throw the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people overboard and the Republican party will be as irrelevant as the Whigs," he said in reference to the American political party that largely disbanded in the mid 1800s.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party," he said in the interview published Thursday.
Huckabee's comments come the same day former Vice President Dick Cheney warned his party's leaders not to moderate their views as they launch an effort to regain control in the nation's Capitol.
"The idea that we ought to moderate basically means we ought to fundamentally change our philosophy," Cheney also said. "I for one am not prepared to do that, and I think most of us aren’t," he told conservative talk-radio host Scott Hennen.
The comments come after longtime Republican Sen. Arlen Specter formally left the GOP, igniting a fierce debate among Republicans over what type of candidates the party should embrace going forward.
On Saturday, three prominent GOP leaders - Rep. Eric Cantor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney - kicked off a campaign to reshape their party's image, gathering at a restaurant in northern Virginia for the first of a series of town hall meetings. The goal of the initiative, called the National Council for a New America, is to connect Republican leaders with voters across the country to help get the party's electoral fortunes back on track.
But in the interview Thursday, Huckabee said it's too early for the GOP to look for a leader.
"I'm frustrated with all these people who are jockeying for the position to be the 'leader,'" he said. "It's almost like we're worried about who's going to be the drum major and we don't have a piece of music yet."
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Could become?
Could?
Has!
Because they are not screeming they are irrelevant....
Excuse Me Mr. Huckabee,
You ARE irrelevant and so is your party. Pardon me while I put some spicy mustard on my cheeseburger.
He is correct about the Republicans being irrelevant, but he is wrong in his reasoning. If the GOP keeps pandering to the “Social Conservatives” I.E. southern white racists, his very solution will drive the party into extinction.
We can only hope he succeeds.
Too late for the warning Huckabee; they already are.
You mean they aren't already?? LOL
I feel bad for the GOP. They risk a further exodus to the Dem's if they keep moving towards these Socially conservative issues yet risk alienating the social conservatives if they don't do just that. Huh, so we'll finally have a 3 party system with the Dem's controlling mostly everything.
All I have to say is that if the GOP does move further to the right then they will never hold significant influence in the US again.
Wonder if Limbaugh will suggest that Huckabee too leave the republican party and become a democrat!!
Mike, it's the social conservatives that are throwing us moderates out of the party, not the other way around. If all you want is social conservatives, then you will become Whigs.
I hope republicans listen carefully to the latest rant of Huckabee's. Please keep emphasizing outdated, discredited social issues that will repel everybody but the most extreme faction of the GOP. That way the party will become pure and shrink to the point of irrelevancy – brilliant!
haha who knew Huckabee would actually say something so intelligent?? I didnt really care for his strict ways in Arkansas but he is right on the money there!
Huckabee is absolutely right! The Republican party has become a caricature of itself. It's old white men sitting in a wood paneled room drinking brandy and smoking cigars while cursing the progress made in this country against the same attitudes that kept the party going for so long. It's not surprising that Cheney wants nothing to change......just look at him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"could become" irrelevant?
It appears to me that they already are.
I don't think Huckabee is the one to show them the way home.
Social conservatives are about all they have left – they need to expand their base, not restrict it as they have already done.
too late!
Well, it is currently the party of gun toting, Bible thumping illiterates, so the grey-haired old men at the country club would be quite a step up.
The GOP is already irrelevant.
1. Pro-life? You mean anti-abortion. You can't simultaneously say less government, then say, "Oh, by the way, we are going to tell you what your wife can and can't do with her body." Huckabee and like-minds only care for the baby before it's born. After that, pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
2. Social conservatives? People are losing their jobs, their healthcare, their homes, all of which tear at the family structure. Plus, no one cares who's marrying who when these things are occurring. Is only talking about abortion going to solve the pressing problems of the country?
The thing is Mike, the GOP has long talked a loud game about "We're the moral party of God," then turned around and be caught in bathrooms, stripclubs, in another person's bedroom, baby out of wedlock, etc. Just ask John McCain, Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Bob Barr, Sarah Palin
Huckabee, talking about these social issues isn't going the GOP anywhere anymore. Everybody now sees it as the party of hypocrites and unworthy of relevance, hence it's 35% to 20% in party identification. If you want to rant about social issues Mike, stay in church (even there that's insufficient).
Fine. Alienate the moderates, the members of the party who are fiscal conservatives and advocates of limited government but who do not subscribe to the Christian Right social agenda (is this group limited to old men at the country club sipping brandy?). Keep on keeping on with the current trajectory and the party will become a strictly regional one with narrow appeal to any who are not white, Southern, and evangelical Christian. Talk about irrelevant.
UNDERSTATEMENT!
Circa 1965 til now only the UK has the decency to not allow
right-wing nutz into their Country posioning the public
with their autistic blurr of the marriage of Church n State
just to name one thing!
Fix that first and you may have a chance to get back
in the game!
I think he has that totally backwards. Keep it up HIS way and they will become irrelevant like the Whigs. Right now, they are just irrelevant.
He's right. You fools had better listen.
What an idiot. Doesn't he understand that the main reason so many have turned against the Republican party is because of their insistance in imposing their sect of evangelical dogma on everyone else. I've never been a Republican, but at least I had respect for the traditional Republicans who believed that government should stay out of the lives of individuals and that religion was a matter of personal privacy.
What makes me and a LOT of moderates from both parties angry is the mentality that if you don't accept the extreme right agenda, you are anti-life and anti-family. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
When will the Republican party understand that the overwhelming majority of America is pro-life and pro family. However, we think that being pro-life does not end at birth, it starts there and we believe more in deeds than in empty WORDS as far as family goes.
Keep on with your purging Republicans, more and more people are leaving you. I doubt you will garner 18% before long. Then you WILL be irrelevant.
To me, or any other person with a brain they already are.
Conservatism will NEVER become irrelevant. It is the only thing that actually works!
Obama is turning the US into an impoverished Third World country.
The Republicans became irrelevant when they couldn't play fair against the black guy. Huckleberry's as guilty as the rest of them. I pay them no more attention than I do the chirping of birds.
...Gosh, it's like watching an anthill being scuffed. Just desserts,
indeed , for the highjackers of the GOP. Remember when they were
so nauseatingly arrogant? Our tattered democracy has proven itself
to be beautiful in spite of it all.
The key is true fiscal conservatism. Start a process to get rid of all the unconstitutional spending like social security, medicare, education, etc. and this country can get back on track. We could cut out 75% of federal taxes if our lawmakers would simply follow the constitution. This will take years, but it needs to be transferred back to the state level where multiple ideas can be implemented and competition can be used to produce the best results. Lets spread the eggs out instead of putting them all in Washington's greedy basket.
I would have to add that the Republican party is already somewhat irrelevant.....
Due to the fact that people like Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter, Sean Hatenaty and fox news has become the IMAGE OF REPUBLICANS...
Republicansism has become synonomus with WHITE SUPREMACY.......
They might as well just have OPRAH WINFREY host a show for them, and have her give gifts to all the REPUBLICANS.....
I can see OPRAH now telling the REPUBLICANS, we have gifts for everyone......
WHITE HOODS AND SHEETS FOR ALL YOU REPUBLIKLANS.....
This is why the republican party is becoming irrelevant, just because of the people he is referring too. They are the right wing conservative evangelicals that have poisoned the tone of this great country with their divisiveness, their blatant racism, their desire to legislate through religion, and their desire to diminish the rights of other Americans through their bible thumping. They have become the party of hate and anger, and the defacto leaders of the party are responsible. They will never again see the White House if they continue on their current path of destruction.
Since abortion is being brought up, I've started a new interesting idea. I get really fat (say 500lbs). I do some liposuction so I've got some spare room where my stomach fat used to be. I then sow up some human being in there (get pregnant), to then kill that person. Is that legal? Seems like an abortion to me.
The religious extremists are a big reason the GOP has become irrelevant.
I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian home, and let me tell you, limited government is the last thing these groups want. They want a Christian version of Iran. A Christian theocracy.
But it's incoherent to push a libertarian philosophy, and at the same time, shove your religious opinions down everyone's neck. It's a big farce. They don't even pretend to be fiscal conservatives anymore, except for photo ops.
The GOP is irrelevant. They need to split into the fundamentalist Christian party, and a libertarian party.
Huckabee is right. Well, they are already irrelevant!
Let them go further right (Dick) as if that wasn't bad enough and fall straight through the cliff. We will all be better off.
Huckabee, wouldn’t you be glad to become the leader of it fragmented Christian fraction (AKA: useful idiots)?
Help me on this one, how low should one IQ be to still claim republican membership?
Could? Should. MUST!
Religious zealots should start their own party. If they have so much energy and charisma, what do they need moderate republicans for? I would vote for Republicans if they stopped espousing homophobia, and negative controlling laws that restrict our liberties.
Jon, you an idiot and very naive.
Would someone please share with Mr.Huckabee that he is a little behind the curve in his observations on the future "relevance" of the republican party!
Yes people are leaving the GOP. What is not getting mentioned. Is that people are also leaving the dems. The only party that is actually growing is the Independant Party. People on both sides have had enough of this insane spending and politicans not watching out for the United States.
Another Republican preaching to the choir of social conservatives! You don't win converts and grow the party by preaching to the choir! Wake up Republicans and realize that the majority of Americans are not social conservatives any more.
Party that believes that abortion, gay marriage and owning as many guns is possible are the ONLY issues the whole world is concerned with, is already irrelevant!
Days after national Republicans launched a new campaign to broaden the party's outreach, former upstart presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says the GOP is at risk of becoming "irrelevant as the Whigs."
Sorry Huch old boy, too late!!!! LMAO!!!!
Huckaby certainly is an expert in irrelevance.
Very true Mr. Huckabee if they become the democrats-lite party they will be nothing. They need to be the conservative party once again.
Traditional family values and small unintrusive Federal Government is still a strong selling point to so many people.
Jerry, I just saw eight years of conservatism not working, and so did everyone else in America. It's over. We've all gone back to being Christian Capitalists. You should try it, especially the love your neighbor part.
BOTH parties need to realize that the extremists in their parties are the biggest threat. The nation has moved closer to the center or even center left, and the parties should grow with their constituents and the needs of the people, not outdated ideologies!
Sounds like a good plan to me...
@David in Dallas May 8th, 2009 4:32 pm ET
What an idiot. Doesn't he understand that the main reason so many have turned against the Republican party is because of their insistance in imposing their sect of evangelical dogma on everyone else.
------–
I think YOU are the true idiot. Mr Huckabee sent an entire class of young minority students to attend the inauguration of President Obama. No "imposition" there...... I seriously doubt any left wing liberal would have done the same had the shoe been on the other foot.
Huckabee is a DECENT MAN. You paint him with your brush of liberal vitriol.
They are already irrelevant. Thats why they were kicked out of power and will stay out for at least a decade...
I do not blame political parties when you have a lot of unintelligent voters who are the majority of the population.
The are already irrilevand, and they should take Nancy Pelosi along with them.
tigerakabj pretty much summed it up.
What neither party realizes is that the majority of people fall somewhere in the middle. If the moderates from both parties created their own party, the other two would just be radical fringe options and wouldn't get elected beyond their localities.
Thanks, Mike, for removing any doubt as to what the Republican party is:
a scheme to dupe the dumbest Americans into voting against their own interests in order to get as much money into the already-bloated pockets of the entrenched plutocracy.
The social conservatives that Huckabee is saying are indispensable to the party are the very same group of people that alienate everyone else with their xenophobia, hatred, superstitious beliefs, and all-around repulsiveness. Go ahead, let them continue to be the face of the GOP. By the end of the year you'll be talking about "the good ol days" when a whopping 21% of Americans identified themselves as Republicans.
To Death of America by Obama-
Please do not breed.
Too late, they became irrelevant during Georgie's Reign of Terror!!!
Hey Huckster, the GOP is already there. When they offer no new ideas and say no to everything, the GOP becomes irrelevant.
Top notch advice from both Huckabee and Cheney!
Wrap those flags tighter around you and hold that bible closer to your chest.
That is just the ticket.
America has been looking for a good 'christian' party to step in...
It's all cyclical. Whether it's the economy or politics. Leave it alone and they will change on their own. Today it's big government, lots of spending, and the Dems. Once America has had it's fill of that, it will be small government, tax cut,s and Republicans. Be patient.
HA! Huckabee who? Speaking of irrelvevant, pie is good.
The Republican Party is not irrelevant....Yet.
If they would just follow the TRUE Republican belief of Lower Taxes, Fiscal Responsibility, Strong Military (hopefully, not have to use it) and less regulation and Limited Government then the Party would be the party of choice for most Americans.
Get off the Abortion train...That is NOT the federal Government's problem, that is an issue to be dealt with on the local levels.
I think the majority of Americans are conservative to a point...Some more than others, but we ALL want the beliefs mentioned above.
We also, need to get away from the social policies that reward the lazy and punish the hard workers. However, I think some social policies are great, ONLY if used in a non-biased way...Again, reward the hard workers.
Whaddya mean "could become" Mikey?
Huckabee, Limbaugh & Steele have been so entertaining! Who said politics is boring? This is good stuff. Can't wait to see all the repulicans turn on each other and have a big fist fight live on CNN!!!
I could say the obvious "could?" but I think we are past that. I mean you have Hannity and Ingram talking about the condament choice of Obama while the GOP leadership say one thing one day and come back to say the opposit the next. Then there is Beck over there like it slooney toons hour and some movement that leads most to think of high school locker room talk. I mean is this for real? Are we living in the age of idiocracy?
Hey Mike,
Call the priest, republicans are coming for confession. Wake up from your slumber Mike, your GOP is already irrelevant and will stay that way for a long, long time.
woow....hunkabee...your ranting is begining to bore us...just like rush, boner, palin's and foxnoise...jargin at it's best kept to themselves.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party," he said in the interview published Thursday."
I thought that was the entire Republican party? Truthfully, America is very tired of the hypocritical "you can have all the individual freedom you want as long as you do it our way" attitude from the social conservatives.
Fiscal conservatism is OK as long as it isn't tainted with a holier than thou attitude that you get from 99% of Republicans. Even as a life long Democrat, I don't want to see the Republicans fail.
I just want to see them grow up.
He ought to know: he already is irrelevant.
Jerry must have a short memory. Former President Bush and
a republican lead congress has almost ran the county into the ground.
I'm not as worried about gays and some of the other social issues, because the issues have is little or no effect on my daily life. I have no interest in trying to tell others how to run their lives. Just let people make the on moral decisions. The social issues isn't the biggest for with republicans. The problem is the complete failure in running our country.
Jerry Wrote: Conservatism will NEVER become irrelevant. It is the only thing that actually works!
Yeah it makes all kinds of things work. Things like Illegal wars, wrecking the world economy, trampling the constitution, polarizing the nation..... Need I go on? Keep alienating the centrists, republicans, you're doing our work for us. Have a nice day!
In my opinion–Huckabee is a fool.Someone needs to smack that silly grin off his face.
The Republicans were voted out because they ARE irrelevant. And incompetent, narrow-minded and condone torture, something truly un-American!
This probably won't get posted unless I actually say it won't get posted because CNN is too liberal, but now they might because I said they won't...unreal!!!
To the moron that wrote the wonderful paragraph below: ARE YOU SERIOUS? Yes ANTI-ABORTION....why is that so alien to you baby killers. If you are pro -choice you are, plain and simple pro-baby murder. How is that not the case? Let's say a woman gives birth to a pre-mature baby at 20 weeks and it is still alive....if you stab that baby in the head with a coat hanger until it bleeds to death is that murder or choice? Can someone please explain this to me? Further, conservatives don't say a child has to pick themselves up by the bootstraps, that is their parents job!!!! Of course when you are hooked on drugs and have more babies so you can get a bigger welfare check, why would the parents help their own children, right? Oh and by the way...I don't go to church or believe in god, just common sense...you baffoon.
1. Pro-life? You mean anti-abortion. You can't simultaneously say less government, then say, "Oh, by the way, we are going to tell you what your wife can and can't do with her body." Huckabee and like-minds only care for the baby before it's born. After that, pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
COULD become irrelevant..???? They ARE irrelevant!
Good for Governor Huckabee! If there is to be face for the Conservative Movement in the Republican Party, it should be yours. You are sincere, genuine and intelligent with loads of experience. Plus, you had it right when you predicted in the last campaign at a debate that the Republicans can't just negate others ideas or they will lose. You said they would have to come up with good ideas of their own for people to get behind and you were absolutely right. The Republicans NEVER did come up with good ideas and stayed with negating others' ideas and ended up with rallies bashing everybody and being critical of everything, with no alternative ideas to resolve any of the problems the country is facing. They still aren't offering an options, other than ones that have already failed miserably.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party," he said in the interview published Thursday."
Isn't that what the party already consists of?
GOP can become irrelevany??? Guess what Mr. Huckabee, GOP IS ALREADY IRRELEVANT...hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhah
Who are all these AM-Talk listening fools who insist Obama is turning things bad now? How could things possibly get any worse than Georgy boys screw-ups?
And why is being progressive or an altruist so evil to these old men? Are they that mired in their own political process they can't remember their 'values'?
How come no one can seem to decode the paradox of the 'limited government' argument, coupled with this need to regulate 'opposite marriage', censor the internet and the airwaves, and expand the power of the executive to unprecedented territory?
And how does Romney honestly believe the feces he spews? Did he seem to forget his father's legacy? Or did he just happen to forget how rich he was? Last I checked, the GOP is the monarchy, the GOP are no better than King George himself, snubbing their noses at that which never furthered their own interests.
Repubs lose election after election because the American electorate views conservative governance and ideals as dismal failures – too freakishly Right Wing. The response from the incredible shrinking Republican Party? They want to move to the Right to placate the religious extremists who currently are their base. Go figure.
To little to late! With the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Shawn Hannity, & Glen Beck speaking for the part y, what little credibiltiy they had is gone. Then you have Governors like Rick Perry of Texas talking about session, (God help me I live in Texas, I may have to move) the party of NO is a joke. Additionally, the party of NO has the most despised man in America speaking after 8 years of being in an "undisclosed location". How many ways can this party self distruct?
too late, buddy!
Yep.. the Repubs are screwed... go moderate and lose your most fanatical base.. don't go moderate and lose the majority of Americans..
It's a no win for the future Whigs.
"The key is true fiscal conservatism. Start a process to get rid of all the unconstitutional spending like social security, medicare, education, etc. and this country can get back on track."
This is HILARIOUSLY revealing. All of those programs are popular, and this wingnut plan is a *perfect* way to end the Republican Party. That effect is something I can applaud.
Could become irrelevant? I thought they were, already!
We need two strong parties in which anyone can feel at home. As an African Ameircan, I feel about at home in the Republican party as a turkey on Thanksgiving Day. It's unfortunatant since one of my heros, Abraham Lincoln, was a Republican.
What the super conservatives don't get is that THEY are the reason for the GOPs problems. If they want to push their extreme agenda they should form their own party. Then they'll fully understand what "irrelevant" means.
The Republicans need to put down the bible, get there hands out of marrage and abortion. I think the US need some of their views to keep balance in governmen, but the for mentioned issues will make America turn there back on them more and more.
Was the reason Lamebaugh did not support Barack Obama, his race(hint, hint)
"Start a process to get rid of all the unconstitutional spending like social security, medicare, education, etc. and this country can get back on track. We could cut out 75% of federal taxes if our lawmakers would simply follow the constitution."
Well, that's where bush and cheney were headed. cut all social programs and ramp up on "defense" spending and no bid contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. So what are the elderly going to do when their pensions are gone and they have no money? How are the children, the future of our country going to get educated, the private sector and religious groups that can discriminate and where costs will prohibit all those but the rich from being educated? And as far as Medicare is concerned, it is fine for congress to have single pay government run health care, but the elderly can just die. And maybe we should ot have roads, and bridges and air terminals and air traffic control, FDA, FEMA, SEC, FBI and all of the agencies that protect our citizens? Let's go back to the stone age where everyone is for himself. Yeah, that's a good idea. NOT!
The GOP is irrelevant
Social conservatism is part of the reason the party already HAS become irrelevant - you've alienated most of the country through such radicalism!
God, they really don't get it do they? COULD be irrelevant? If they follow his and Cheney's advice, they will be more irrelevant than they already are, and that's pretty bad.
"Huckabee said the GOP would only further decline in influence should it alienate social conservatives — largely considered the most energetic and loyal faction of the party.,,"
************** and that is about 20% of the American public ? Just how many energetic and loyal social conservatives are there and how many are under the age of 65? Go ahead and keep them, alienate the rest of the the voters and remain a small, regional party, This is from a man who named the first three pheasants he shot after his primary challengers!
Mike Huckabee = CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!
Could become irrelevant? They already ARE irrelevant no matter how much their fundamentalist Christian followers scream otherwise.
They already are...
I don't see a real battle in the Republican party over moderate vs conservative social issues.
Spectre was shoved out for a vote on the big spending stimulus bill, not his social moderate values.
If you look at the votes in Congress, the Republican party is united in voting against the Obama out of control spending policies. Moderate and conservative Republicans in congress appear to be very united.
The Democrats are trying to create a rift in the Republican party between the moderates and conservatives. This is because they can see the Republican party has once again found its conservative voice on limited goverment, low taxes, personal rights and resposniblity, and fiscal resposniblity. Polls show Americans do not want big government and higer taxes and are very concerned about the Obama out of control spending and deficits. There are no Republican votes supporting this out of control spending, just Democrats.
The Republicans will run on their conservative roots values again in 2010 and 2012. This will be a very stark contrast with the Democrats spend crazy liberal policies and will hit the Democrats where they are weakest. The Democrats are desperate for the Republican party to move to the left. They need to get the Republican moderates to vote with them and to make the Republican party to be more moderate to give them cover with the voters.
In 2010 and 2012 voters will not care much about the Republican conservative social values. The number one issue will be the economy, taxes and the deficits. And the conservative Republican positions on these issues will be more attractive than the liberal Democrats.
To the knuckleheads that say conservatism is the only thing that works
Maybe it works for you, I don't want a bunch of Morons telling me what I can and can't do. Mike Huckleberry Hound your party is already irrelevant keep going right and right out of any relevancy bye bye.
Drum major or not, the music remains the same right now: a dirge!
Will be irrelevent??? The are! I think the Constitution Party will win more seats than them in 2010.
I happen to be one of those 50 year guys smoking cigars at the country club but also am also Christian & pro-life fiscal and social conservative. I agree if they aleniate the Christians for all the moonbat liberals that leave comments here at CNN the GOP is done. The only thing Obama has brought for me is more work, less income and less going to charity for fear of taxes. I save and shelter more than ever in business and personal income due to Obama's policies.
too late. already irrelevant.
Huckabee's basically the American version of a mullah.His religious beliefs will be what he follows and he is a fundamentalist.Just like many of our enemies he is the he is a zealot.The fact that a man of higher education and an eloquent speaker truly believes the earth is 9,000 years old is scary.What might he do to a gay person or person of color. How about a non christian? What relations be with the middle east when your closest ally you blame for the death of Jesus and the other part of the middle east is non believers who need to be converted. These people are non-bending, and archaic much the same as the taliban.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party,"
This seems like a pretty accurate discription of the party currently. During the RNC convention, I saw more old farts wearing bow ties than blacks and latinos combined. And that was before the perceived identity crisis.
Huck's right. I vote Republican only because the Republican Party sometimes supports Biblical Christianity. If the Republican Party abandons sound Biblical principles, then I have no reason to support them.
A liberal democrat is better than a liberal republican!
Jerry..Here's a newsflash for you: Bush took care of ruining this country. O-Dog is trying to pick up the pieces, but with americans crying the way you do, he's definitely got his work cut out for him.
Yea, he would know.
I agree with Jon out here. The Republicans should come out STRONG for eliminating or privatization of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Education Assistance, plus all S-Chips spending, unemployment benefits, food stamps, etc. etc.; and returning most or all tax money to the people. The States will be tasked with all those functions.
This will ensure the Republicans will be completely wiped out and eliminated in the 2010 and 2012 elections. And we'll never have to worry about them screwing over the country and its economy again. Because they won't exist.
Great idea. I love it.
News flash Huck. You guys are already irrelevent. Don't you remember Novemner 2008 and 2006
Frankly, I think they are already a group of old men, puffing cigars and sitting at the country club drinking brandy. Even the ones who aren't old are acting like a set of donkeys (asses). They need to put this country first instead of their very large egos. They may not disagree with everything the Democrats do but they need to at least find a middle ground.
To Jon,
Social programs arent the sole causes of government financial troubles. We need to eye how we spend on the military. We need to make sure our companies stay competitive and we need to generate new jobs and grow. The past 8 years of lifeless reforms is what killed us.
Now on the other comments, Huckabee is not relevant, most of the people in this country are pro-family. African American, American Hispanics and Asians sharethe family values of Huckabee.
The GOP "could" become irrelevant? The GOP *is* irrelevant.
Very true Mr. Huckabee if they become the democrats-LITE party they will be nothing. They need to be the conservative party once again.
Traditional family values and small unintrucive Federal Government is still a strong selling point to so many people. Go back to your roots we are not liberal-lites!
Is Huckabee trying to be a stand-up comic now?
Doesn't he realize that his party is already on the way to becoming the Whigs? Doubling down on the wingnut base is not the way to change that.
Of course what do you expect from the man who said (paraphrasing) 'we shouldn't be trying to change the 10 Commandments to fit the Constitution, we should be trying to change the Constitution to fit the 10 Commandments'.
Talibangelicals...in America they wear suits and even purple ties.
Huckabee (and Cheney and Rush) are basically saying that
Republicans must be the party without thoughtful dialog on
divisive topics. If you do not agree with them then you cannot
be in the party, so many of us that grew up Republican have
said good bye! If every issue (abortion, gay marriage,
environmental reform, health care, economic safety net)
is a litmus test, then very few people will be left.
He has it backwards. I'm a fiscal moderate. Sometimes, I'm lean more towards the Democrat side on fiscal issues and sometimes, it's the reverse. I can easily see myself voting for a fiscal conservative. However, I will never vote for a social conservative candidate. That's a deal killer for me.
Jerry, you're comment about Obama turning the U.S. into a third world country is interesting. Do you even know what that term refers to? Do you even know what a second world country is? I think not, because your use of that term is completely incorrect. By definition the United States will never be a third world country; those terms deal with the Cold War and are completely outdated. Please understand the phrases and idioms that you use before you attack our President and display your own ignorance.
The GOP is irrelevant.
Don't blame me!
Remember, Huckabee's comment about Obama having to duck from gunfire ? What the republicans fail to understand is Credibility, They have none. Wise words from the likes of huckabee is a joke. The republicans do and say so many dirty things and then expect the people to forget what they have done and said. Especially Rush, He is totally outrageous, we are all supposed to run to him for guidance? Really you republican should evaluate your leaders because you guys looks old, white, racist, and EVIL . And I know you are all not like that but, it sure does look that way. And it looks like you don't care .
"Huckabee says the GOP must not lose social conservatives."
And this is why the GOP is doomed to fail.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party."
Well, I hate to break it to you, Mike, but I think the GOP has already reached that point!
And, by the way, since when are Democrats NOT pro-family.
I wonder how many Republicans have to say the same thing before the "Party" starts to listen? If only they were even a little bit smarter, it wouldn't have to be so many. Oh Well.
I feel that republicans have isolated themselves BECAUSE of social conservatism. Growing up in the "bible belt" actually pushed me away from the Republican party. Where I am from, Religious Evangelicals and Social conservatives go hand in hand and if you do not believe exactly as they do on religion or politics then you are going to you know where and you are anti american. Maybe if they didnt isolate so many people and didnt cater to the religious extremists they could actually relate to the majority of the population. Or maybe if they stopped TELLING everyone how they are wrong and actually did something PRODUCTIVE then people would trust them as their representatives in government.
What's wrong with the republicans is the hate they spew, their attitude that their way is the only right way, the fact that they would support a vice presidential candidate such as Palin to run with the very old McCain, they can't come up with better ideas than the democrates and they didn't pay attention to what was going on with our country for the last eight years!
Sorry, but it's much too late to talk about becoming irrelevant. And you who talk about fiscal conservatism forgot about the previous 8 year Republican disaster! What a joke of manic borrow and spending for wasteful wars! The rich got richer and the rest of us suffered. Heck of a deal, America. And you guys want to cut Medicare and social security? How many elderly would be homeless? What an example of compassion! NOT! And let's continue to cut education? Great idea so the rest of the world can surpass us? Please!
The GOP, in its present form, is irrelevant. They just don't know it yet.
However, since they are irrelevant, they really don't need to know.
"BECOME irrelevant"!?!?!?! Hackabee sure is missing the boat on this one!
Soooo
the idea is, then, that you keep all the christian concervatives and pro-gun people in the party and throw everyone else to the democrats...
THATS how you make a party "irrelevant"- exclusivity.
Oh Huckleberry. It's "the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people" (read: arrogant theocratic bigots) that MADE the party irrelevant.
I would love to see some fiscal checks and balances occur in government, but they have to stop trying to lump that in with taking away my basic rights as a person in the name of their stunted ideas of "religion" and their attempts to turn us into a dark-ages theocracy.
The GOP will only realize they are irrelevant...after they already are. And they will still be reminiscing about Reagan.
@The Death of America by Obama May 8th, 2009 4:31 pm ET
He's right. You fools had better listen.
+++++++++++++++++++
Yeah, right.... let's see, who has the 67% approval rating? Who can't get 20% of the nation to say they belong to their party? Who is the fool who writes under the handle of Death of America?
foolish Republicans.
A party that uses hatred as its banner to create wedge issue is really turning off a lot of the population. If it wasn't for the southerners who feel that Republicans can bring back slavery while forcing their religion down everyone's throat, the Republican party would already be the Whig party.
Your big tent under Ray-gun is now a two-person pup tent (I started to say two-man tent but I know how that would create all sorts of issues).
"Traditional family values and small unintrusive Federal Government is still a strong selling point to so many people."
Too bad the GOP offers neither. They may talk about "family values and small unintrusive [sic] Federal Government" but then they go out and molest pages, get caught with hookers, have affairs, eavesdrop on Americans, start nation building in Iraq, and keep trying to tell women what to do with their bodies.
To be fair, though, Dems are also just as horny.
Democrats = Equal rights and respect for everyone even if they have differing faiths, beliefs and opinions.
Republicans = Equal rights and respect for everyone who thinks, acts and believes only exactly as we do, and to hell with the evil that is everyone else.
Too late–the GOP is already irrelevant, in large measure due to the efforts of bible-thumping neo-cons like Huckabee who seem to want to append the christian bible to the Constitution.
wealthy: check
old men: check
cigars: check
brandy: check
white: check
racist: check
homophobic: check
misogynist: check
xenophobia: check
downright mean: check
bald-faced liars: check
criminals: check
irrelevant: check and double check
It's HIGHLY unlikely that the American people will trust Rushthglicriminals (sic) with the reins of government for years to come, IF EVER!
Just please keep following Cheney's advice and lessons GOP..
Please....pleas..please.
RushTHUGlicriminals, obviously ... my bad! (g)
Then I guess the party's over..........
"Traditional family values and small unintrucive Federal Government"
Ahem... First off, the words is "non-intrusive". Secondly, if the government is supposed to be "non-intrusive"... why would you suggest it should legislate "family values"?
Huckabee said the GOP would only further decline in influence should it alienate social conservatives — largely considered the most energetic and loyal faction of the party.
Because they have chased all the moderates out and they are the only ones left – ensuring the decline of the GOP into irrelevancy for decades!
Heck of a job – you betcha!
Too late Mike!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a liberal, but I like Mike Huckabee. Maybe he's right, but those social conservatives are frightening lots of Americans out of the GOP. Who knows what will happen with these guys? I'm glad I'm a Democrat.
The simple fact that the Republican party accepts & condones "Limburger" as their de facto leader, and NO ONE has denied it, is why they will continue to loose.
More "Party Purity". Maybe the social conservatives (who want to tell us what we can and cannot do) and the government-is-bad conservatives (who want the government to go away) will tear the party in two, each with their own litmus test for membership. The fact is the strong majority of Americans are socially tolerant and fiscally conservative.
@Jerry
Real conservatism, the kind that actually stays out of your wallet and private life won't become irrelevant. Unfortunately, what Huckabee and the rest of the neo-con crowd have been preaching for a decade isn't real conservatism. It actually comes awfully close to a religious fascism.
So...let me get this straight. Somehow there was a Republican Party before the Religious Right, back in the days of Goldwater, which stood for a smaller government and states' rights. Now we have a GOP that supports the violation of civil liberties, pushes intrusive and religiously-motivated laws into our lives, and calls for interventionist foreign policy...all "big government" kinds of policies. Yet somehow those that think we should return to a small government that minds its own business are breaking from the "core values" of the party and diluting whatever great difference the GOP was supposed to represent. Makes tons of sense to me.
IRRELEVANt? thats an understatement. mr. huckabee.
@Jon May 8th, 2009 4:38 pm ET
Since abortion is being brought up, I've started a new interesting idea. I get really fat (say 500lbs). I do some liposuction so I've got some spare room where my stomach fat used to be. I then sow up some human being in there (get pregnant), to then kill that person. Is that legal? Seems like an abortion to me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HHHmmm, let's try it! You gain 500lbs, get the fat suctioned out , we'll put "the Death of America by Obama" in there, sew you up and off you both. Sound good to me!
Could be irrelevant? Sorry to be the one to tell you Huck, but you and your guys are already there.
Now that was funny...
Oh stop with attacking those of faith....that's irrelevant to chosing a party... The party is needed to survive, or a new one to emerge, but some of the old values are important to keep..a legacy of American values..change doesn't mean compromising virtues (or it shouldn't) .
REALLY??? Mr. Huckabee....... the GOP IS already irrelevant! All one has to do is read the comments posted here daily by the far-right, to 'smell' the fear.
America has shifted to the sane-left-of -center. After EIGHT long years of having our patriotism questioned, being spied and LIED to, having our Nation's economy devastated......... over 4000 Troops killed ........ two flipping wars.......... and a president who sanctioned......... TORTURE !
Are the GOPers still uncertain that America rejected their vile politics?
With leaders like Limbaugh, Hannity-the-hater, Coulter, Bill-O-the-Clown....... do you seriously expect Americans to vote GOP????
Hmm.
It seems as though someone has missed the bus.
Not "could become." It already is irrelevant.
@ Henry Miller........ Well said! The GOP has become the party of the religious-fascists, all you have to do is listen to Coulter, or read some of the comments posted here on the CNN blog........ its scary.
"What's wrong with the republicans is the hate they spew, their attitude that their way is the only right way"
You think your way is the only way, too, Mr. hypocrite.
So, the GOP wants to stay in the wilderness?
Oh well.
Could be irrelevant? The GOP already is. Wake up and smell the roses.
already are irrelevant
They already are. End of story.
it's not a matter of 'if'...nor even 'when'...republicans ARE irrelevant. They offer NOTHING to society other then whining and complaining. They have demonstrated, beyond the shadow of a doubt they are a worthless lot of complainers.
The real question is when will THEY realise they are irrelevant? The educated world already knows it. But then again, they are still working on that idea of the world being 'round'...so we can expect it to take quite a while.
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy."
Make it WHITE gray-haired old men and you've got the party NOW.
@Jon May 8th, 2009 4:38 pm ET
Since abortion is being brought up, I've started a new interesting idea. I get really fat (say 500lbs). I do some liposuction so I've got some spare room where my stomach fat used to be. I then sow up some human being in there (get pregnant), to then kill that person. Is that legal? Seems like an abortion to me.
--------------------–
As long as the operation carries a great deal of risk...then I would be more then happy if you actually tried it out. TWO birds with ONE stone is what I always say!
Here's another thought, if took a gun and shot it in the head as soon as it was born, could we call it 'pro-active' capital punishment and you would be happy?
Could become irrelevant? Ha Ha Ha! What a joke. They ARE already irrelevant. They are over forever. No thinking rational person would ever agree with the party of No. Republicans are prick losers without any brains.
it wont matter who the republican leader is........if this country doesn't get a handle on its 1. energy policy, 2. national defense, 3. spending, and 4.incessant childish bickering, it just won't matter who's in charge.......we will all be boned.....face it, we have an incredible titer of IDIOCY in DC......left vs right.......dem vs repub........liberal vs conservative........those idiots in washington have no clue......most of us just want a chance for our children to be successful and lead happy and productive lives..........
but it ain't going to happen with our current fearless leader.......before you all flame me hear me out....
1. green energy is a great idea and i'm all for it....but we need liquid carbon based fuels for the foreseeable future and our economy will only recover when we all realize that and start developing every domestic oil and gas resource we have, especially natural gas....let the clean coal, solar, wind, etc make their mark but really they're at least a decade away.....meanwhile, china, india, brazil, etc will be cranking out the particulates and CO2 no matter what we do.....
2. we are at war no matter what napolitano says and obama is making us vulnerable....he is putting your family and mine at risk....this fretting over torture would be hilarious if it was a SNL skit but we've been safe for 8 years....something must have been done right......
3. it is laughable that dems complain of bush' s spending and increasing the deficit and then push for spending 10X worse.........
we are hosed if the spending on obama's socialist agenda actually proceeds full steam ahead.......and its clear that obama is incredibly talented at saying one thing and doing another in order to achieve his incredibly misguided agenda
4. let the bickering begin.....
have a nice day
as long as the Republicans continue to let Democrats and media bully them around and determine their (Rep's) fate, they will continue on their path of undetermined future and divided ranks.
hold on to those religious zealot, white toast, haters.... that'll guarantee the republicans a 30 % vote everywhere except those cesspools of hatred, the ever-diminishing red states. there aren't enough alabamas and oklahomas for the republicans to make a dent in the democratic strongholds of california, new york and pennsylvania. i hope tunnel-vision speakers like huckabee and limbaugh keep telling the republicans to do exactly what they've been doing for the past 4 years. that'll keep them out of national politics. by the way, watch for snow and collins to defect from the party too !!!
As a Republican, I would be called moderate, I will never vote for the GOP again, as long as they continue to be the party of 'morality'. I believe in small government and as such there should not be federal laws outlawing gay marriage or abortion or whatever liberal agenda. That should not be a federal law because as we've seen, there are places where the supporters of those 'rights' are in the majority, and by living in a democratic society, the majority vote should rule. Let the states, or even the counties, vote and decide if these 'socially conservative' values are to or not to be allowed. That way there is no cry of foul, if you live in a liberal area and are conservative, around half of the country would be a good fit and vice versa.
Until the GOP returns to fiscal conservativism and drops the social conservative I will continue to vote third party, as it seems that many other 'moderate' Republicans feel the same way. And that Mr. Huckabee is why the Republican party will become irrevalant. I'm not say to throw the social conservatives under the bus, but if they left or quieted down a bit, I would return
The Republican Party is a disgrace to this country...PERIOD. GOP stands for themselves, NOT the rest of this country. And I thought Nixon was a headache...he's nothing compared to the current Washington Republicans!
"Get off the Abortion train…That is NOT the federal Government's problem, that is an issue to be dealt with on the local levels."
Whoever said this showed an amazing lack of understanding of the FACT that the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION applies to EVERYONE IN THIS NATION and the civil right GUARANTEED thereby cannot be treated differently depending on where you live. Anti-choice is anti-constitution.
could become???? isnt already???? wow
Rush answer will be 'become a dmocrat'
So in other words, to remain relevant, the republicans need to become a bunch of spend-thrift, self-serving, irresponsible, pandering morons just like the democrats.
Boy, I'm feeling really good about the future of this country. How about you?
So, let me get this straight. We've got two old white guys claiming that if the Republican party moderates itself and joins the 21st century, aligning itself with younger (lifelong Republican) social moderates like myself, no one will be left but old white guys sitting around a country club. Yeah, right., that makes sense! Get back to the basics, stay out of people's private lives, and maybe the party will grow again!
"Throw the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people overboard and the Republican party will be as irrelevant as the Whigs,"
So Huckabee is saying the GOP should pander to those folks to stay relevant? Too funny. That is the main reason they are irrelevant.
"Throw the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people overboard and the Republican party will be as irrelevant as the Whigs,"
So Huckabee is saying the GOP should pander to those folks to stay relevant? Too funny. That is the main reason they are irrelevant.
If the Republicans would stop listening to idiots like Limbaugh, Hannity and their ilk, and get rid of idiots like Cheney, and prove that they know what middle Americans want and need, then they don't have to give up their "social conservatism". I'm a social conservative, but I'd rather have socialism than have another president like Bush.
It is nice to hear from Huckabee.
He was a very good governor and even got the acclamation of being the best one while he was one.
He was a Republican Governor in an State where most people were Democrats and still he was able to achieve much more than most governors.
How do I know?Well, I spent many hours investigating him before I gave him my support for and worked as a volunteer (no pay) during the primary and even voted for him on November 4 because he was the best candidate.
Most of the charges against him were baseless coming from Democrats and also indirectly by Republicans like McCain and other Republican bums scared stiff of him when he won the Iowa primary.
He is a capable man of wisdom and our country would be in much better condition if he was the president today.
Presently he is an anomaly in his Party and please do not place him with other Republicans like McCain, Romney, Thompson, etc. because to do so it is certainly an offense against the truth.
Could become irrelevant?? that happened awhile ago
I come from a family of conservative Republicans. My parents voted for Goldwater and I was a member of teens for Nixon. But midway during the Reagan administration, the women fell away from the fold and started voting Democratic. My father was the last holdout. More conservative than Cheney, he voted for Obama. How did they lose us? By demonizing us whenever we didn't agree with them 100% of the time. Here's what finally got my father: he's is a decorated WWII hero and when he expressed reservations about the war in Iraq, they called him anti-American. Boy, did that stick in his craw. Almost every boy in his high school gave his life in WWII. Republicans are not better than God. They need humility. Seriously.
Americans can not be fool no more we know where we from and where we are going to its no more a white mans country
Huckaby and Cheney are right on; Republicans should stick to their values. Oh, I forgot; they have no values. Republicans are already irrelevant except in Texas.
Ironically, if the republicans fail to reign in the social conservatives, they will drive away all the social moderates that have really made them a significant party. Business interests don't care about "family values", but they do care about who holds the purse strings.
Lets all hope and pray that the GOP does just go the hell away. All the morons running the conservative GOP (Limbaugh, Cheney) are UnAmerican, and should not be living in this country. We have a democratic president now, if you dont like it then leave! This is America, love it or leave! If you are not with the president then you are against America! ....... God it feels good to use some of there own saying against them now.
lol Huckabee, like the rest of the disgruntled GOP, doesn't get it. Moderating isn't what will doom them.
If they don't abandon this hypocritical and bigoted platform of theirs, then they will be like the Whigs. Seriously, "pro-family"? Who the heck is anti-family? Oh...oh yeah, gay people, I forgot that they're scheming to destroy marriage and family and all. It's things like that behind the GOP's death, Huckabee.
Hulkabee is irrelevant to everyone except the fox news watchers.
...said Mike Huckabee as he combed his gray hair, puffed on his cigar, and sipped his brandy.
I think Democrats are pro family too Gomer\
What will make you irrelevant is spouting crud like this
Huckabee was "called" to be a minister. Then he was "uncalled" and became a politian and governor. So God either made a mistake (wow! ) or Mike isn't as good at listening to God as he thinks he is. And if he was wrong on something like that, how many other things is he wrong about.
I have an issue with politians telling me what God wants done. I think he is in the wrong country-he needs to be in Iran.
The Republican party's march towards irrelavancy when Regan began pandering to the Evangelical devils.
Republican Who? What and don't know who they are.
"Throw the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people overboard and the Republican party will be as irrelevant as the Whigs,"
Ummmmmm, Huck.......You're pretty much there now WITH those groups. In fact, those groups are pretty much the reason you are there.
Just a thought.
Too late Mr Huckabee, they are already irrelevant and have been for quite some time.
The only chance they have to use the right wing media to create stories that put the republicans in a good light but, most of us have already seen through that and Fox News is just as irrelevant as the republican party.
Right diagnosis. Wrong remedy.I nevered liked Ronald Reagan's policies but the guy didn't have a mean bone in his body. He woul not even recognize the GOP of today. Want to be relevent? Act like adults
Seems to me that the "social conservatives" are the ones driving everyone else out of the party. Without the moderates the GOP is a minority party.
If the Republican party had picked Mitt Romney (a man that understands the economy), I think our country would be in much better shape today. The republicans just need MORE leaders that will stand for their fiscal conservative principles.
Those that keep calling the republican party racists and haters are fooling themselves. Although there are nut cases in every group, the majority a good people. (Democrats don't want all of their followers compared to the eco-terrorists that currently burn down buildings and bomb car lots).
As long as the Palin mob remains the most vocal entity of the GOP electorate, then yes, the GOP is in trouble. Them along with Jabba the Rush, Annie the Trannie and co. are poison. Steele would help himself by not embarrassing himself any further with comments like 'Off Da Hook' and his 'mama' references....he sounds like he should be on some failed 70s sitcom.
I wish, but way to drastically lower expectations so that you can say how surprised you are when the party does come back. how frustrating you guys are.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
If the Republicans would stop listening to idiots like Limbaugh, Hannity and their ilk, and get rid of idiots like Cheney, and prove that they know what middle Americans want and need, then they don't have to give up their "social conservatism". I'm a social conservative, but I'd rather have socialism than have another president like Bush.
Jerry May 8th, 2009 4:33 pm ET
"Conservatism will NEVER become irrelevant. It is the only thing that actually works!"
Um, who's watch was it when the economy tanked?
Could become irrelevant? Now that is a laugh... richie, where have you been... they've all been screaming.... screaming NO... no matter what the issue.... didn't you see Rush Limbaugh bounced up and down and flapping his arms like a bird and yelling his stupid blather? Now that was screaming...irrelevance! *LOL*
Huchabee says the GOP is "a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country."
He conveniently...convenient for him...left out that they are also a bunch of religious wackos who want to make sure we all live and worship God the way they think we should!
They "might" become irrelevant???? That happened some time ago and they just found out last Novermber.
Jon May 8th, 2009 4:38 pm ET
"Since abortion is being brought up, I've started a new interesting idea. I get really fat (say 500lbs). I do some liposuction so I've got some spare room where my stomach fat used to be. I then sow up some human being in there (get pregnant), to then kill that person. Is that legal? Seems like an abortion to me."
Seek therapy.
The GOP is split. Hence they are losing members. For me they moved waaayyyy to far left and so I changed parties. No matter what they do now move back toward center or stay for left they will lose members.
Haha... what does he mean, BECOME irrelevant?
It is not government's business to decree who someone can marry. Did you ever hear of the division of Church and State? We certainly have bigger issues you should be focusing on. And by the way-why are you all so negative and defensive all the time? Putting President Obama down every minute of every day is bad politics. And could you tell Cheney to go home to his easy chair. He's old news-bad news at that.
The Republican party certainly is irrelevant .... to the 50 Million USA PEOPLE who have NO HEALTH CARE.... are they NOT...?..Republicans stand up for health care industry and the private insurance industry.. to continue to fill thiri coffers with money.... is he reason...
What planet has he been on, they are already irrelevant, I love how they call the president a socialist, It's always those old fogies that are sucking the system dry who listen to Rush all day, what hypocrites.
Well, may be but with "the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family" religious fundamentalists this party is irrelevant now
Mike Huckabee says the GOP is at risk of becoming "irrelevant as the Whigs."Now you know Rush is going to take you to the wood shed !!!
How about already Already irrelevant!!!!
What neither party understands is that a growing number of us can't identify with either the democrats or the republicans - and independent just doesn't cut it either. To which party should a fiscal conservative/social liberal/anti-big government voter belong? We need new blood in Washington, but it needs to be people who will do the right thing for the country and owe no loyalty to party, campaign donors, lobbyists or the others that get in the way of what is right.
The Republicans party is the party of the white men only. Your party have turn their back on blacks, latins, asian and they think they can win the white house back. Just let Repubicans destroy themself becasue the have become irrelavent to the minority race. The only race that still listen to them his white people and they are keeping tried of them as well. Until you love all races and not just talk that talk you will continue to lose people from your party. Repubicans are like a drug user that contine to use drugs knowing it is killing them. Repubicans continue to move far and far to the right even though they know it is killing them. I want a Repubicans that is on the board to tell me why will any blacks, latins, are asian vote for your party when you keep showing us you don't want to reach out to us by moving to the center.
Despite the confusing headline, Huckabee is actually saying that to prevent from becoming irrelevant, the GOP needs to stay true to its base. He's NOT saying that the base beliefs or the base voters are becoming irrelevant (which is what the headline would lead you to believe) ... he's arguing that the GOP should stay on course.
Could? The GOP is already irrelevant. If you need further proof besides the landslide elections, just look at the profits of News Corp (Fox News and their paper sisters), their profits are Down 99%. Does that say anything, advertisers don't want to associate with the right wing anymore, why advertise to 21% of the people. Having Huckabee join Fix News hasn't helped either, 21% is 21% no matter how you slice it. Then there's Hannity and O'Rilley. What a line up! Well a line up of irrelevant idiots.
Mike Knucklehead better wake up and smell the hemlock.
GOP, The party of the bullies, liars, hypocrites, arrogants, has been irrelevant for years. Rush Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Gingrich, Cheney, and O'reilley have done such a great job in destroying the party. With these haters, there is NO HOPE.
Let me say it again. 21% of the American people support you, Mr. Huckabee. 21%!!! You have an uphill climb with most voters and yet you still think America identifies with social conservative Republicans? I, and I know many others too, who would never put an X by any Republican candidates name because of the hold the so-called 'Christian' Republicans have on that party. Mr. Huckabee, you already are irrelevant, honey.
I've got news for this hate filled, Bibled banging bigot -Republicans already are irrelevant. Due in no small part to this idiot's hate filled rantings.
Huckabee and the retro repugs are irrelevant.
Let's not plan to have Huckabee as our next President. He would twist the constitution and make it a religious anomaly.
I was a fourth generation Republican. I never even knew a Democrat when I was growing up in central California, but the big R party that I remember doesn't exist anymore. Reagan was the first and last Republican president that I voted for, because ever since 1980 the GOP has continuously moved away from the party of personal liberties and fiscal conservatism and moved toward social/religious intolerance, limited personal choice, government authoritarianism, and fiscal policies that only benefit the richest among us. The Grand Old Party so proudly supported by my father and grandfather has become completely irrelevant.
Of course Huckabee doesn't want to alienate the anti-choice, anti-tolerance faction of the GOP... and as long as the Republicans continue to focus on and cater to the far right, they're going to alienate everyone else. Ironic that in Huckabee's fear-mongering, he's now advising the action that will make the GOP irrelavent faster than anything else!
For all the libs saying that the republicans are irrelevant,were the democrats irrelevant when they were in the minority in the house and senate,and when Bush was in the white house?
\You people seem to have short memories.
People are going to realise pretty quick that Obama is spending the country into bankruptcy,and that democrats have held the majority in congress and the senate for more than 2 years(in other words,the whole time during the economic meltdown!)
Economic meltdown co-inciding with democrats being in power in both houses,coincidence? i think not!
Nice try, Republicans, you are using a lot of energy to say to Americans
you are not going to be what you have been saying you are. Sorry, we have lived the code of the Republican Party so we are well experienced with who you are and what you stand for. We are burned out on it.
Could become? Too late buddy.
They already are, where have you been Huckabee? Oh yeah, you've been doing the network show circuit! Too-schay....
"They'll basically be a party of gray-haired old men sitting around the country club puffing cigars, sipping brandy and wondering whatever happened to the country. That will be the end of the party,"
Oh wow...do you promise?! What an amazing day that would be!
Irrelevancy for today's republican party would be a blessing given its current crop of "conservatives."
The irony of this article is that Huckabee embodies the very irrelevancy he is talking about.
When I saw this headline, I thought Huckabee was going to say that the GOP would become irrelevant if we defined ourselves as a party of evangelical white Southerners. Now that would be news.
The GOP needs to seize the initiative and pursue an innovation platform. It is a big and dangerous world out there and only countries that really understand how to wield geopolitical power and harness the extraordinary power markets will survive. Instead, we spend our time yelling at one another about trivia intended to get the base excited, regardless of what it means to the country. Do we have any grown ups in the party any more?
I guess we will avoid the fate of the Whigs and settle for the fate of the Know-Nothings.
GOP irrelevant ??? Gee, Mike...then they'd be just like YOU!!!
So in other words, the only thing left of the GOP now is the social conservatives. That means they are already irrelevant.
Hey Huckster and your ilk, quit saying that only social conservatives are pro-life and pro-family. There are millions of hapilly-married liberals with kids and great moral values, thank you very much.
It makes me mad whenever they're trying to paint Dems or liberals as Godless, enjoying abortions and divorced...
If I were going to have a child that looked like this Gomer,guess what?
Huckabee is still right there with them. These comments like "the pro-life and pro-family party" are just indicative of the GOP bases true feelings about everyone who doesn't agree with them on every issue. The Independents and Democrats are NOT anti-life and anti-family! Does the GOP really think that they love their family and freedoms more than everyone else? If you want to get into a big government vs small government debate, the GOP is MUCH more comfortable and ready to curtail our personal freedoms than the Democrats are. What small government means to the GOP is – Don't put any restrictions on how we can make or hide our money!
Disagree with the "old men" statement. Many social conservatives are concerned about morals, values, financial security, national security, maintaining a safe environment, and protecting the Constitution of the United States of America. They are women and men- of all ages. It used to be that Americans wanted to pass on family values and morals to their children, so they are now trying to reach a younger generation who are missing out these days because of our declining social standards.
Perhaps we can charge women who have miscarages with involentary manslaughter?
just shut up huck, just go preach in your own church, bigot!!!!!
Brilliant observation Governor Huckabee. The GOP doesn't get it. That is why the McCain/Palin ticket got trounced in the general Presidential election. They put Sarah Palin on the ticket instead choosing a more "moderate" VP candidate such as Fred Thompson.
Good luck gaining seats in 2010 taking marching orders from Rush Limbaugh.
The GOP is only socially conservative. Just check the National Debt figures and you will see that they spiked between 1980-1992 and yet again from 2000-2008. The Party of Irrelavance expands the rule of government much more than the Dems. In all honesty, I would love to see a truly fiscally conservative party, but that won't happen for awhile. If Obama can fix the economy (and bring back regulation & accountability to the banking system) in his first term, maybe he can be more fiscally conservative in his second term.
As for Gov. Huckabee, Cheney, and Limbaugh: the more you say "keep social conservatives at the heart of the GOP", the more you will lose elections. At least the likes of Romney and McCain are trying to solve your party's problem.
What do you mean "Could be"? You're so irrelevant you"re superfluous.
The GOP coalition of warmongers ("national-security"), moralists ("family-values") and the greedy ("tax cuts") has fractured - and the discussion is how to reassemble it. But it may well be Humpty-Dumpty and can't be put back together again. Doing so would at a minimum require a unifying and charismatic figure - sort of a GOP Obama or another Reagan - who could knit together these three factions who have such disparate interests. A big obstacle is their inherently contradictory philosophy: a small low-tax government with a huge military force able to start wars at will and an intrusive nanny government that can force pregnant women to have babies whether or not they are able and willing to bear them.
Ok Mike is going to make Rush have a major Cordinary if he finds out his dear party is going to become irrelevant.....
Hey cheer up then you guys could all return to relaxing..like your Great leader Bush is doing right now......got to give it to Republicans they don't get it!!!!
"COULD BECOME"????? Too late for that warning.....already is
The Republicans don't really need to DO anything.
Just sit back for 8 years and watch the Democrats govern as the majority party in this country.
That ought to do it.
GOP, you will never get me back until you put the social conservatives back in the box we used to keep them in. They ruined the party. Those of us that leftn left in discust and anger.