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By W. James Antle, III from the July 2009 - August 2009 issue

Republican primary voters must decide whether to play it moderately safe. From the July-August issue.

Sen. John Cornyn’s Facebook friends aren’t in a very friendly mood. The Texas Republican’s page on the popular social networking website has been filled with comments like this one from a Florida real estate broker: “As soon as I read of your endorsement of Charlie Crist, I sent in a donation to the Marco Rubio campaign.”

A new Facebook group has since cropped up challenging members to give “not one penny” to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), of which Cornyn is chairman. The online group’s description says: “First they supported Chafee. Then they supported Specter. Now they support Crist.” Its organizer and “admin” is Erick Erickson of the popular conservative blog RedState.

This isn’t just a story of how cutting-edge technologies can cut both ways. Cornyn has found himself caught up in the struggle between conservatives and moderates over the Republican Party’s future. Several primaries in upcoming races will feature party-backed moderate candidates facing off against strong conservative challengers. The showdown brewing between Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio for Republican Mel Martinez’s U.S. Senate seat is just the latest front in this ongoing battle.

Cornyn’s decision to weigh in on behalf of Crist can be explained by a headline that appeared in the Hill in February: “Florida Senate poll shows Crist annihilating field.” The numbers haven’t changed much since then. A Mason-Dixon poll taken in May shows Crist leading Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek 55 percent to 24 percent and Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber 57 percent to 22 percent. Rep. Ron Klein, a Democrat who has twice won in a Republican-leaning district, is considered somewhat less likely to run. Crist last led him by 34 points. Rubio doesn’t fare much better than the Democrats. Mason-Dixon shows Crist clobbering him 53 percent to 18 percent, with 29 percent undecided.

But head-to-head matchups show Rubio would be competitive if he managed to make it to the general election. “Rubio could win but he’d need our help,” says a Senate Republican staffer. “Crist would be the overwhelming favorite and we wouldn’t have to lift a finger.” The idea is to keep the Florida Senate seat safe while Republicans—already a beleaguered minority—have to defend more ground than the Democrats.

Except that the GOP also needs to repair its image and offer a bold contrast. Many conservatives believe that a Senator Rubio would do that more effectively than a Senator Crist. “Rubio is everything older Republicans like Crist should be encouraging,” argued Dan McLaughlin on RedState. “He’s young but already experienced as a leader, he’s telegenic and a good speaker, he’s conservative, and yes, he’s Latino, a demographic that a more inclusive Republican party would be reaching out to, not spurning.”

The conservative Hispanic Leadership Fund had a similar reaction. “We are highly disappointed that the Republican establishment would slam the door on Marco Rubio, who is the kind of candidate that the GOP should be eagerly supporting,” read a statement from the group. “We have heard a lot of talk about how the party wants to find qualified Hispanic candidates to run for office but in the end we see once again that this is nothing but lip-service.”

Conservatives have gotten angry with the NRSC before. Despite the recent focus on the Club for Growth, the NRSC has intervened in competitive Republican primaries and helped rescue moderate-to-liberal incumbents from conservative challengers. The NRSC—along with then Sen. Rick Santorum and then President George W. Bush—came to the aid of Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania five years ago, helping him narrowly beat back a strong primary challenge from Pat Toomey. When it looked like they would be unable to defeat Toomey a second time, Specter switched parties and put the Democrats on a path to a 60-seat, filibuster-proof supermajority.

The NRSC also helped bail out Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, the most liberal Republican senator, when Cranston mayor Steve Laffey challenged him from the right in 2006. Chafee was not just pro-choice. He routinely voted against Republican positions almost across the board, with National Journal ranking him to the left not only of Specter but also of Democrats Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. In 2005, Chafee scored 12 out of 100 in the American Conservative Union’s rankings—the same as Hillary Clinton and a point worse than Russ Feingold.

Given this voting record, if Chafee had held on to his Senate seat—giving the GOP 50 senators in 2007–08 plus Vice President Dick Cheney’s tie-breaking vote—Republicans would not have had effective control of the chamber. They would have had to bargain with a liberal Northeastern senator to pass anything. And given what ended up happening with Specter this year and Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords in 2001, Republicans might not have been able to maintain nominal control, either. Chafee ended up leaving the party after the 2006 election, even though he won both his primary and 94 percent of Republican votes in November.

But at least Chafee was an incumbent with some chance of winning, while Laffey was a near-certain loser. (The more conservative Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri was able to win reelection in Rhode Island that year, but he wasn’t asking to be sent to Washington to vote with George W. Bush.) In 2004, Toomey was a weaker general-election candidate than Specter but no sure pushover: he’d thrice been elected to the House in a swing district that voted for Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

Specter-Toomey is a good model for some of the primary fights Republicans will be facing this year: either the moderate or the conservative could win, but the moderate has stronger poll numbers right now. The first such race was decided in June. New Jersey Republicans faced a choice between moderate former U.S. attorney Chris Christie and conservative former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan.

The incumbent Democrat, Gov. Jon Corzine, is very vulnerable and could conceivably be beaten by any credible Republican challenger. A May Quinnipiac poll showed Christie leading Corzine 45 percent to 38 percent while Lonegan bested the sitting governor 42 percent to 40 percent (within the margin of error, though Lonegan has led Christie by as many as eight points). A story in Philadelphia’s The Bulletin described the Republicans’ dilemma well. One side has “seen the governor’s weakness as an opportunity to elect a strong economic conservative” in an “eminently populist and union-heavy state.” But “the prospect of beating an incumbent Democrat draws many Republicans to the reputedly more electable Mr. Christie.”

Connecticut Republicans still have this question ahead of them. A Quinnipiac poll showed former Rep. Rob Simmons mopping the floor with Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd by 50 percent to 34 percent. But Simmons is a quintessential moderate Republican, with a 55 lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. The same poll showed more conservative state Sen. Sam Caligiuri edging Dodd 41 percent to 37 percent. Should the GOP take what might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to possibly elect a more reliable conservative in a typically Demo cratic state, even though it means a tougher race? Or should they nominate the candidate with the best current numbers, going for what could be an easy win? (If Dodd remains this weak, Connecticut Democrats may decide to take matters in their own hands during their primary.)

Then there is Pennsylvania again. The political climate so far looks tougher for Toomey than in 2004 and the Republican establishment, without any seats to spare this time, seems no more eager to have him as the nominee. But Specter has already cleared the primary field and flipped the Senate seat Democratic. Former Gov. Tom Ridge, another moderate Republican, has decided to take a pass on the race. Maybe Rep. Jim Gerlach will eventually decide to challenge Toomey from the left. Right now, the GOP’s only other option is Peg Luksik, a paleoconservative who is to Toomey’s right.

Overall, Republicans have to be happy that their candidate recruitment is going so well absent unmistakable signs that 2010 is going to be the GOP’s year. Whatever outside groups like the NRSC and the Club for Growth do, the ultimate decision-making power belongs to Republican primary voters. But the competition between moderates and conservatives within the party isn’t going away. If anything, it is intensifying.

About the Author

W. James Antle, III is associate editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Jimantle.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment

Siegfried X| 7.10.09 @ 6:22AM

"Whatever outside groups like the NRSC and the Club for Growth do, the ultimate decision-making power belongs to Republican primary voters."

That is true only if a conservative runs. In other words voters can only choose if a conservative swims upstream by fighting his party's leadership like Cornyn to get on the ballot.

It is misleading to call the NRSC an "outside group". It is the offical national Republican senatorial committee, with a special status granted by law. It is run by the ultimate INSIDERS, Republican Senators.

Big J| 7.10.09 @ 7:12AM

I have to admit, X has a point.

I was infuriated when Cornyn tossed his support for Crist. I immediately contacted his office (apparently, not the only one), and within a couple of days he withdrew his support.

Cornyn has leaned right of center for the most part, but he remains a perfect example of all that is broken with the political system.

He's still a part of the "establishment", the good 'ole boy network that scoffs at the voters, makes the back, smoke-filled room deals, and basically runs the show.

Another endorsement on term limits.

Sean| 7.10.09 @ 9:09AM

Peter Schiff is creating an exploratory committee to to run against Chris Dodd. Look for the establishment to back his opponent in the primary if he should run. Peter Schiff would be the most small government conservative ever elected to the Senate in recent times.

Grant Johnson| 7.10.09 @ 9:21AM

If we are going to return to any kind of sanity in government, we must eliminate this party meddling in the primaries.
Primaries MUST be when the party listens to its members, not when it dictates to them.
We are outraged when the Iranian authorities "fix" their mockery of elections. Why should we accept the Republican Party doing effectively the same thing in our primaries?

Siegfried X| 7.10.09 @ 9:25AM

Cornyn's job as the NRSC head is to elect Republican senators. Period. He is not allowed to inject his own personal political views (conservative). Instead his sworn duty is to elect as many senators as possible, regardless of what they believe.

Siegfried X| 7.10.09 @ 9:33AM

"Why should we accept the Republican Party doing effectively the same thing in our primaries? "

Exactly. Like the presidential nomination last year. Unlike the Democrats, we have winner-take-all primaries. That includes large states, many of which always vote Democratic anyway. McCain got 30% of the vote in some states, yet got 90% of the delegates. That rigged the system so a RINO like Giuliani or McCain would win.

If instead delegates had been passed out proportional to voting, like the Democrats did, the contest would have gone on much longer. In fact Romney would have been leading in delegates on the day that in the real world he dropped out and conceded to McCain.

Sooner or later one of two things will happen: either the RINO leadership stops rigging the primaries, or lots of conservatives stay home on general election day. Polls so it is already happening, with many people, men especially, dropping out of the Republican party to become independents. The population that declares as Republican is down to 21%, the lowest in over 25 years.

William| 7.10.09 @ 10:19AM

It is past time to ditch the Republican Club. They are accomodationist Quislings at EVERY CRITICAL TURN, and have always been.

RINO is a bit of a misnomer. The sad sacks known by that moniker actually ARE the core of the Republican Club. We conservatives have been spun the same way that minorities have in the Democratic Party.

George Herbert Walker Bush is a classic GOP creature. Ronald Reagan was an outsider who broke in with our help. Remember - it was GHWB who coined the term "voodoo economics".

False friends do more damage than avowed enemies. Getting punched in the gut is surviveable. Getting a dagger between the shoulderblades is not.

Hermit| 7.10.09 @ 10:37AM

We have more votes in the primaries than does the NRSC, we can veto their actions and endorsements.

We conservatives are by far the most active voting bloc during the primaries. Moderates are the ones who hardly know who is running until just before the general election.

The RNC, NRSC, and NRCC, should be brought to heal by denying them contributions. I know they are hearing that quite frequently at least according to the calls I receive soliciting funds. Every call since the election I have told them unless and until they consistently support conservative candidates I will not contribute.

Michael Tomlinson| 7.10.09 @ 11:28AM

Ultimately, it will be GOP voters in the state primaries who will decide who represents the party in the general election. While I hope for a Rubio victory in Florida and as a Texan think Senator Cornyn (a conservative) jumped too soon for Crist I'll stand by what Florida Republicans say – if they choose Crist that is their prerogative.

If self-described "conservatives" actually believe in state's rights as Ronald Reagan did then they should have faith in the people of those states to nominate and vote for the candidate that best represents them. I may think the voters of the northeast are unwise, but they have every right to vote for the most pathetic Democrat to represent them that they can. I just get irritated when they bitch and moan about tax increases and massive unemployment when they voted for it. Even in the northeast a RINO is better than a Democrat.

After observing and decrying the conservative crackup that led to a Democrat Congress and "President" Obama I'm still mystified at the absurdity of those who think losing is winning or having more Democrats in elected office is a good thing. As bad as Crist might be he's still better than any faux/sham/lying "conservative" (i.e., liberal) blue dog Democrat or honest liberal polecat with a D after his name.

Bud| 7.10.09 @ 11:50AM

Commenter Tomlinson writes, "If self-described 'conservatives' actually believe in state's rights as Ronald Reagan did then they should have faith in the people of those states to nominate and vote for the candidate that best represents them."

I endorse this view, with a major proviso: States Rights are a practical nonentity at this time. Take a look at the actual behavior of the Federal Government and the jurisprudence surrounding Amendments IX and X. The inescapable conclusion is that the States have been turned into administrative assistants to the Feds.

At this juncture, States Rights are a legal fiction until the States work up the gumption to actually enforce their contractual oversight of the Federal government.

Until that happens, the actions of voters in other States end up having unsavory consequences for all of us.

Bud| 7.10.09 @ 11:50AM

At this juncture, States Rights are a legal fiction until the States work up the gumption to actually enforce their contractual oversight of the Federal government.

Until that happens, the actions of voters in other States end up having unsavory consequences for all of us.

Old Texican| 7.10.09 @ 12:04PM

Believe me!

Senator Cornyn has gotten the message...LOUD AND CLEAR! from we Texans.

I mailed him a concise 9 line letter...6 weeks ago.
I got a reply two days ago.

Usually I get a form letter AND e-mail BACK within three days.

Talking to one of his office staff here locally, I discovered that he has been absolutely bombarded over the last couple of months, snail mail AND electronic mail.

He knows now that we Texans might very well fire him unless he ties on his (political) six gun.

Good! We will. Texans are out of patience.

Siegfried X| 7.10.09 @ 12:06PM

My strategy is simple: I only vote for good candidates, conservatives. I never vote for the lesser of two evils.

I look to the Republican column first -- if there is not a real conservative there, then I look to third parties. If there are no conservatives, then I leave that spot on the ballot blank. If I get outvoted and we end up with a liberal, either (R) or (D), then that's democracy -- I only get one vote. I only vote for conservatives, so no one can blame me if the other voters elect liberals.

I also make sure that every dollar I spend on contributions or media subscriptions only goes to conservatives. That means I contribute directly to conservative candidates, never to the RNC, NRSC, etc. Those organizations give much of the money to liberal Republicans.

Rhonda Tomlinson| 7.10.09 @ 12:26PM

As long as "conservatives" believe that there is actually such a species as the "conservative Democrat" or pick the third party route, they will continue to empower Liberals! Just watch their voting records when every vote counts!

George Bruce| 7.10.09 @ 12:39PM

We need some fresh blood in the Republican party. Candidates like Marco Rubio are precisely what is needed. It is time for the old guard to step aside, for the good of the Party and the Country.

Michael Tomlinson| 7.10.09 @ 12:55PM

Bud, states rights may be taking a beating, but it is not a fiction. Governors like Perry and Jindal are standing up for the principle. As things go from worse to worse under Obama there will be more calls for it in sane Red States and even some former Red States that swallowed the Obama BS.

A Writer| 7.10.09 @ 1:58PM

William,

I so agree! For the longest time I've thought that the acronym RINO should be replaced with CINO (Conservative in Name Only) or CIRO (Conservative in Rhetoric Only).

I too believe that RINO's are, in reality, Republicans first and conservatives only when they need conservative support.

Otherwise, they are as quick as Democrats to denounce the conservative movement and only change their minds when someone points out to them that they cannot win by being solely Democrat-light.

A Writer| 7.10.09 @ 2:16PM

Bud,

I agree that our federal system of separation of powers between the states and the national government has broken down.

Trying to remember my history studies, I looked up something on Wikipedia:

" Magna Carta influenced the development of the common law and many constitutional documents, including the United States Constitution. ... Magna Carta was the first document forced onto an English King by a group of his subjects (the barons) in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges."

Would that our "barons" (state governors) would stand up to the national government and force upon it a new Magna Carta that would limit its powers and protect their (and our) rights and privileges.

Ran| 7.10.09 @ 2:30PM

Mr. Antle,
Center Stage or Center Stooge?

Pardon please my veering off-topic when I state strong tangential disagreement with the point "Cornyn has found himself caught up in the struggle between conservatives and moderates over the Republican Party’s future."

The current struggle can be viewed as between two rival groups: A resurgent libertarian-conservative element in the base with significant New Media support, and; An elitist leadership viewed by the base, not as "moderate," but as mediocre... Uncommitted, weak, squishy to compromise with the Statist mob.

Indeed, the term "moderate" is the Left's reference for those in the Republican party who compromise their core values to achieve "progress." The term is a back-handed slap at conservatives in which those who hold to their conservative values are somehow "extreme." We get into these discussions and our first error is to adopt the premises of the Left... In this case, that it's a struggle between [extremist] Conservatives and [reasonable] Moderates.

The Left's evaluation of "moderate" is in fact upside-down: It is the Conservative dedicated to a position of Ordered Liberty that holds a balance between Statist authoritarianism on the one extreme and libertine anarchy on the other. There isn't anything particularly "moderate" about selling out one's principles in favor of Statist agendae. Mediocre, uncommitted, yes; Weak, squishy, even dangerous, at times yes.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my view that the struggle for the future of the Republican Party is between dedicated Conservatives and Libertarians on the one hand an a pack of effete statist-friendly mediocrities on the other.

It is my view that Republican Mediocrities are exemplified by the likes of McCain, Huckabee and Gingrich. Likewise, Conservative Mediocrities are abundant in TAS' competition... The sort NPR or the New York Times would anoint as "moderate Conservative commentator."

Old Texican| 7.10.09 @ 3:57PM

Guys,
NO, NO, NO, NO!

Third party votes are thrown in a trash can...simple!
WE must take over the REPUBLICAN PARTY!

How in the hell do you guys expect to reverse the course of the entire country...if we can't even reverse the course of the Republican Party?

Going off into splinter groups only guarantees "defeat in detail".............c'mon guys get your heads out.
FIRST...we get the Party, with sweetness or the whip, and then we go after the communists.

If we can't do that..........."unintended consequences" engulf us all.

Ran| 7.10.09 @ 4:11PM

Tex... With ya, man.

Re-take the Party and re-take the Constitution, in that order. Otherwise the statist minority will defeat us by divide and conquer.

Old Texican| 7.10.09 @ 4:21PM

Ran
There we are! ...right in these days.

Siegfried X| 7.10.09 @ 4:24PM

"WE must take over the REPUBLICAN PARTY!"

Agreed. That's what the primaries are for.

Third party votes are thrown in a trash can...simple!

Third party votes are very important. If I vote third party conservative, I am sending a message that the Republican party lost my vote because the candidate wasn't conservative enough. My one vote will never decide an election anyway, so all my vote ever does is send a message.

On the other hand, if I vote for a RINO, it shows the liberal Republican leadership that they don't need to negotiate with me because I'll always cave in at the end, "hold my nose", and vote for the liberal Republican. They can rig the primaries so that RINOs always win.

Liberal Republicans are much tougher and won't cave in that way. A few weeks ago Colin Powell talked on television about how he voted for Obama, and he considers it normal to vote Democratic when he doesn't like the Republican candidate. Conservatives can only win the war within the party if they are as tough as liberal Republicans and willing to vote against the Republican Party (vote conservative).

A good example of third party votes being important was Ralph Nader in the 2000 election. Nader got 2.7% of the vote, mostly from left-wing Democrats. That vote shift, Gore to Nader, may have been what made Bush president.

I have heard the same thing for 20 years now, each election, to hold my nose and vote for the RINO because some day conservatives will retake control of the party. All that has happened is that the RINOs got more control, and the candidates got more liberal, ending up with John McCain, Ted Kennedy's favorite Republican.

Old Texican| 7.10.09 @ 4:58PM

Siegfried
We already have the vehicle...duh!

Do your dance in the primary where you live. Scream and hollar a lot...and go door to door if your area can produce a conservative.

In national elections...vote REPUB...then you and I together can go sit on their steps together and make their life hell! (grin)

Third party votes are like a fart in a crowd. They feel wonderful, but pith off everyone and change nothing.

Ran| 7.10.09 @ 5:02PM

"They can rig the primaries so that RINOs always win." Sieg... that is, unless we make it a personal effort so show-up at Republican meetings and "diamond" the room with a few conservative friends. Then post lawn signs. Sticker the bumper. Swamp the PTA. Join the NRA. Subscribe to TAS, send money to other campaigns featuring solid conservative & libertarian thinking Republicans.

The way Conservative re-take the party is to ignore the squish pundits and get active. There is no rule stating that we need accept the squishes they promote.

We, as conservatives, hold a huge psychological advantage: Statists and fools always hope someone else will do the heavy lifting. Even a minority of motivated libertarians and conservatives pushing a local district Republican Party can have a huge influence.

It's there. Make it happen. Take it.

Laughing Liberal| 7.10.09 @ 5:05PM

Submarining the campaign of a sure winner in Florida over ididotic litmus tests for ideological purity? Inane talk of forming a third party that represents an even smaller sliver of the electorate than Repugnantones already control? Saying NEWT GINGRICH isn't conservative enough?

Brilliant campaign strategies like the ones advocated in this forum have reduced your party (and quite deservedly so), to absolute rubble.

Keep up the good work guys! At this rate there will be Chuck-E-Cheeses on Mars before you win an election ever again.

Thanks for the laughs!

Ran| 7.10.09 @ 5:11PM

Hey, Tex... We think along the same lines. I hope to meet you one day at the ready line sending some .308 into 10-rings. I gotta run, it's almost Shabbos. Great week-end, sir. Cheers!

lwssdd| 7.10.09 @ 6:24PM

It would be interesting to know what Sen. Chambliss's voting record is after this last election. He was what one would consider a moderate; and the conservative base came to his rescue in the run off election to save his seat. Did he learn his lesson or is he still acting like a dem light (_!_)?

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 7.11.09 @ 12:37AM

“Rubio could win but he’d need our help,” says a Senate Republican staffer. “Crist would be the overwhelming favorite and we wouldn’t have to lift a finger.” The idea is to keep the Florida Senate seat safe while Republicans—already a beleaguered minority—have to defend more ground than the Democrats.

Note to the Republican Party: please stop playing the prevent defense.

Anthony| 7.11.09 @ 10:53AM

Old Texican is right. We need to take over the Republican Party. Let's stop kidding ourselves here, the RNC and all these phony Congressional/Senate Campaign Committees are there for one purpose TO KEEP THE CAREERISTS IN OFFICE.
Their agenda is not our agenda; our fight is not their fight. They will cave on Sotomayor for purely political reasons. We have no voice in Washington.

Regroupthink| 7.11.09 @ 11:56PM

It is time for the GOP. to compromise. Half a loaf is better than none. The Right Wing has nearly destroyed a once credible and decent party.

Regroupthink| 7.11.09 @ 11:58PM

It is time for the GOP. to compromise. Half a loaf is better than none. The Right Wing has nearly destroyed a once credible and decent party.

Regroupthink| 7.12.09 @ 12:02AM

It is time for the GOP. to compromise. Half a loaf is better than none. The Right Wing has nearly destroyed a once credible and decent party.

Ran| 7.12.09 @ 12:51AM

Hey, groupthink...
1) Try thinking about the "refresh" link before you redundantly post your tripe here. That way we only have to see it once.

2) Republicans were once the party of Ordered Liberty. The problems came with the statist squishes and effete snobs of the Rockefeller ilk, softies such as you.

3) We now outnumber you, oh, 2:1 ... so just relax. It will be good for you. Promise.

Ed Laskie| 7.12.09 @ 9:26AM

Its time GOP stop pandering to left. If Republicans don't get it together then the pro-life Libertarinians / Federalists will start a new party and let the GOP die.

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.12.09 @ 10:10AM

The process of reclaiming the Republican Party is well under way and it will not occur from this forum or from the RNC. What few consider in the “Palin: phenomenon is peripheral byproduct of her ascendance to “spokesperson.” Having been around enough of the political apparatus over the years I hope you will believe me when I speak of the preponderance of the “yes men” (or “yes women”) within a candidate’s cadre. The average “political consultant” is hired for savvy, of course, but the first item on their resume must be, “how many congeniality awards have you received?” Inherent to the campaign process is this very significant core, a core that will eventually assume appointee status if victorious.
If you do not believe the “carryover” effect of proceeding candidates and the “persona concept cult” explain to me the venom emanating from the McCain debacle. It enumerates the parable of the sour grapes, and certainly does not facilitate any type of party recovery; quite the contrary it facilitates and sustains the opposition.
Palin’s strong point is that she is not reliant on the beltway “recycle or reshuffle” that Republicans have invariably brought back to the fore. Her “persona” is not the “maverick” most referenced. It is one thing to be declared having maverick status because of abandonment of core principles (RINOs) and entirely another thing to buck the trend of one-way compromise and capitulation simply to avoid the partisan label.
Palin has already produced positive conservative goals. The MSM is in absolute denial and the only “consulting” the previous two election cycle “architects of defeat” are participating in is with their shrink.

Gazinya| 7.12.09 @ 12:28PM

I think the conservative party should take a note from the Sarah Palin playbook. Just do it and be at peace and quit worring about 'picking fly poop out of the pepper'. Vote for the conservative and let the liberal Repulicans go to where ever liers, theives, cheats go.

Flower Power| 7.12.09 @ 8:09PM

As long as we cave on our Conservative principles and vote in RINOs we deserve humiliation. Conservatives comprise the vast majority of republican voters--TAKE OUR PARTY BACK NOW!!

Siegfried, if you're such a Conservative why do you spew so many vicious lies about Sarah Palin? Are you a RINO Romney troll?