Republicans would pay a huge price if they tried to run Doug Hoffmans in every race in the country. But they aren’t doing that. They’re running a slew of moderate candidates for the Senate next year. Michael Castle in Delaware, Rob Simmons in Connecticut and Mark Kirk in Illinois have provoked some grumbling from Republicans to their right but so far face no credible primary competition. In Florida, Charlie Crist does have a primary challenger in Marco Rubio. But since polls show that either one of them could win the general election, that challenge does not threaten the party’s viability…
What these races suggest is that Republicans’ principal problem in recent elections has not been that they are too far right, or — as a lot of conservatives like to think — not far right enough. After all, voters turned on both moderate and conservative Republicans in the late Bush years. The problem has instead been that voters have not thought Republicans of any stripe had answers to their most pressing concerns. Addressing those concerns, rather than repositioning itself along the ideological spectrum, is the party’s main challenge.
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And now the voters are discovering the Dems are far worse.
John the Libertarian on November 5, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Moderates are on the rise!!! Move to the center!!! That didn’t take long, did it?
Addressing those concerns IS repositioning along the ideological spectrum.
ddrintn on November 5, 2009 at 8:36 PM
So Newt was right after all; nominate a liberal with an “R” after their name as long as they have the answers people want.
*yaaaaaaaawn*
Bishop on November 5, 2009 at 8:47 PM
TRANSLATION:
There’s way too much enthusiasm and intensity in the Conservative movement!! Let’s call them right wing extremists and label nice Republicans who support killing babies as “moderates” … and uhm – let’s convince the right that they really don’t have all the enthusiasm that they actually do.”
Yawn.
Next please.
HondaV65 on November 5, 2009 at 8:47 PM
If Hoffman been the candidate from the beginning or Dede didn’t jump to the enemy he would have won.
the_nile on November 5, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Is there where everyone who isn’t on the Ft. Hood thread come to gather?
Bishop on November 5, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Remember when they said that the GOP was dead? That was funny.
WisCon on November 5, 2009 at 8:52 PM
re: Ramesh Ponnuru and ilk.
Haven’t taken NR since Buckley left and they ran a cover story that labelled a RINO as conservative for governor of California.
Feedie on November 5, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Because the RNCC threw their money at them and considered no one else, I’d bet. Aren’t two of this threesome Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer bedmates? Why, yes, yes they are.
Marcus on November 5, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Good lord, its like Halloween here tonight, or Tales from the Crypt. The “compassionate conservative” zombies are crawling out the woodwork to offer their expert advice on the return to power via the centrist path. For more deep RINO thoughts, read the Ed Gillespie column posted by our hosts.
And then tomorrow, its…
RINO Friday, with Frum, noonan, et al. who no doubt will remind us that we have to jump on the zombie bus or risk being left out when the spoils and goodies of power are divied up.
james23 on November 5, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Mark Kirk is Dede Scazzofava w/o the pink pantsuit.
Let’s look at his “accomplishments”:
100% rating from NARAL
0% rating from the NRA
He voted for Cap & Trade
He was against the Iraq surge
etc, etc, etc
He is the the next Arlen Specter if elected. Sorry, but I’d rather have the Democrat win this seat than Kirk.
Norwegian on November 5, 2009 at 10:54 PM
What exactly gets done in the “middle”? Just this: higher taxes, more government intrusion into our lives, less liberty, more nanny-statism.
The political center is where principles go to die.
spmat on November 6, 2009 at 12:42 AM