Relentlessly pushing their ideological stances on abortion rights, race relations, the environment, tax policy, and go-it-alone foreign policy, the conservative extremists are not only violating traditional Republican principles, but are also holding the party back from achieving a true majority. By playing so slavishly to the far-right base, running negative campaigns and marginalizing women, the party has forsaken the much broader base that propelled the "Reagan revolution" and has fueled the country's overheated polarization.

-- Modified on 3/6/2005 4:52:29 PM

is WE KEEP WINNING?!?!?!

When you're side can actually learn how to win an election, then start preaching, until then, go try to work out your own problems, we seem to be the ones in power LOL

How about from false premises?

First, the notion that the President elected by a majority of Americans is a conservative "extremist."  Then, let's discuss the notion that anything conservatives do is "ideological," whereas anything Liberals and/or Democrats and/or Socialists do is not "ideological."  Talk about polarization!  Defining as "extreme" a position on infanticide/abortion that was the law in this country, and before it, English common law, for centuries.  Defining as "extreme" a position on race relations (what you're referring to is somewhat mysterious) that has its roots in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s admonition that people should be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.  Defining as "extreme" market-based answers to environmental problems which also respect constitutionally-protected property rights.  Defining as "extreme" a tax policy premised in the notion that what you earn is yours first, not merely what the Imperial Federal Government allows you to keep.  Defining as a foreign policy what is --- as they define it --- holding American interests as primary and not lodging a veto in the UN, or Paris, or Berlin (and, of course, misrepresenting it as a "go-it-alone" foreign policy simply because the allies we have are not the ones to whom the far Left renders homage).

And then, of course, there's the insanity of suggesting that the far Left should define "traditional Republican principles."  I'm no more interested than listening to how a far Leftie should tell the GOP how to be successful (an end the far Leftie does not desire) than the Deanocrats should be listening to Pat Buchanan, or Tom Delay, or Bob Novak.

And "negative campaigns"?!?!?!  Chris Rock was right about one thing.  GWB deserves credit for being able to win notwithstanding the hate campaign being run against him (witness the rhetoric in the post to which I respond), including Michael Moore's slanderous and lying film in theatres nationwide.

"Marginalizing women"?  Like Condi Rice?  Elaine Chao?  Like women in the Independent Women's Forum?  Women like them?  Is that to whom you are referring?  Or are you referring to the truly marginal, like the nags in NOW, or the radical abortionists in NARAL and Planned Parenthood, a minority among women, and those others who pursue a crypto-Socialist agenda?  Yeah, the GOP does marginalize them.  And rightly so.

And BTW, the GOP does enjoy a "true majority."  In case you didn't notice, Republican candidates won the Presidency (with more votes than even the great Ronaldus Magnus), a majority of the House, and a majority of the Senate.

I'm not responding much anymore because it is like trying to hold a conversation with a pig.  It's a waste of my time, and it irritates the pig.

The original post in this line had me rolling on the floor.  Yea, what the GOP needs is ...  RLMAO

Last time I checked, she's a Republican.

Her book is called: IT's MY PARTY TOO

There are plenty of examples of Republican and Democrat politicians  who've made statements against their party. Some have been accurate, others have been dead wrong.

Regardless of the source of your quote, it's still inaccurate hyperbole. If you want to read the writings of someone who has accurately captured the vacuity of his party, try Christopher Hitchens.

RLTW

And you attack me to avoid commenting on what I posted. Typical. It makes me laugh.

a RINO: Republican In Name Only.

At any rate, of course it’s her party too, and she gets one vote.  Furthermore, nobody throws her overboard for expressing her opinion, unlike how the Democratic Party has demonized Zell Miller or Mayor Koch for their decent!

Maybe we should pull some quotes out of Zell Millers book, "A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat" and try to pass them off as mainstream Democratic thinking?  Of course that's absurd, that would require some mainstream Democratic "thinking" rather than "Emoting"!

But at any rate, she represents the liberal (and gratefully small) wing of the Republican Party, unlike Senator Zell Miller who obviously represents enough Democrats to tip the scales towards Bush's reelection.

I would suggest that the party ignore Christie and you.

any Republican currently not in power, i.e., unemployed or unemployed and interviewed by MSNBC, CNN, CNBC.

I hope this helps.  

(eom)

"nobody throws her overboard for expressing her opinion."  Really? She was fired from the EPA for expressing an opinion that was at odds with Bush.

eom)

You would have sung a different tune. Notice how many of the "conservatives" posted disagreements with that statement AFTER Stamina posted the source.