***
I’ve never heard Rush praise the performance of any Republican (except for Ronald) as unexceptionably as he did Romney that following morning. Romney’s articulation of the role of government — and the principles sustaining that role — was as good as any movement conservative probably could have delivered. ***

Unfortunately RNC, the other Republican GOTV operations are not being very forthcoming about what happened, both in individual races and the presidential election. Being on the wrong side of the 70-30 stat of actual voters who said “he cares about me” is a staggering statistic (one that Rush noted that when he first saw it in the early exit polls, he knew it wasn’t good). ***

EastofEden on February 18, 2013 at 1:06 PM

Romney only once articulated a clear economic conservative message–during the first debate, which he won. But that message never properly infused his campaign, and I don’t think Romney really believed in it.

The main challenge to selling conservative economic ideas is that most people see them as abstract. Most Americans don’t make a payroll, don’t invest in companies, and aren’t close enough to those that do to understand why “tax & spend” doesn’t create jobs. Corporate tax rates just aren’t things that ordinary Americans think about. Not so with the left’s ideas: “vote for us, and we’ll tax the rich and will give all of you free stuff” is a message that everyone understands.

Republicans can win the debate, but they have to understand the issues and believe in economic liberty to do so. Endlessly regurgitating the political consultant-approved “cut taxes!” line won’t work, but it’s all the Romneys and other RINOs of this world know how to do.

Oh yeah. This fight evolved just like I knew it would. Still in the micro, never in the macro. Its the Tea Party vs. Establishment vs. TrueCons vs. RINOs vs. Ronulans vs. Libertarian Republicans vs. Social Conservatives. Did I miss any faction? Guys, unless you unite, you’re never gonna beat the true enemy, the progs. The circular firing squad is getting old. And please, don’t blame other factions. Stay united or you lose. Your choice.

tommy71 on February 18, 2013 at 1:15 PM

beat the true enemy

And win what exactly?

Amnesty?
More Bush years spending?
Romneycare?
Medicare Part D?
Ever expanding government?

What are we winning?

Your choice.

tommy71 on February 18, 2013 at 1:15 PM

Not really. Its the Establishments choice. Tea Party folks have thrown there support behind the GOPe long enough. This is not unity for the sake of winning, this is a last ditch effort to consolidate a failing party. Whigs.

What is clear is that running an O’Donnell or Akins clone would not have made the national race any better….

EastofEden on February 18, 2013 at 1:06 PM

Running Romney was clearly a bad mistake and the results show that.

More than six million stayed home.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/estimated-6.6-million-fewer-white-voters-showed-up-to-vote-in-2012/article/2513069#.UOysro76TMM

This wasn’t unpredictable, nor was it unpredicted. On every conservative website posters said, again and again that they weren’t going to vote for Romney.

Some of the too clever by half folks thought they were kidding.

They weren’t.

I’ve never heard Rush praise the performance of any Republican (except for Ronald) as unexceptionably as he did Romney that following morning. Romney’s articulation of the role of government — and the principles sustaining that role — was as good as any movement conservative probably could have delivered. (I guess we’ll find out in a couple of years whether we really do have such folks waiting in the wings.)

Watching all of O’Donnell’s debate, the few clips that I saw of Akins and Mourdock, they weren’t even close. You can perhaps get away with not being all that bright running in down ballot races…but running for U.S.Senate is different…48 million (as was apparently spent in Montana)will expose a lot flaws; and you have to be able to do something more than run a few cliches.

The Angle case might be a bit different, and she might have been able to overcome the things she said, even though some of them were… Yet with some 14 million on hand less than 60 days before the election, she got killed on GOTV.

There might be some reason to compare Romney’s loss to Rehberg’s….but not the others…

Unfortunately RNC, the other Republican GOTV operations are not being very forthcoming about what happened, both in individual races and the presidential election. Being on the wrong side of the 70-30 stat of actual voters who said “he cares about me” is a staggering statistic (one that Rush noted that when he first saw it in the early exit polls, he knew it wasn’t good). It’s just not clear whether that’s traceable to the actual turnout and getting trounced there or something else. What is clear is that running an O’Donnell or Akins clone would not have made the national race any better….

Again…we’ll just have to wait and see whether our claimed deep bench can write a different ending in 2016. 2014 might be a good time to practice

http://conservatives4palin.com/2013/02/governor-palin-celebrate-presidents-serving-with-pure-motives.html

Governor Palin: Celebrate Presidents Serving With Pure Motives

Posted on February 18 2013 – 12:00 PM – Posted by: Stacy Drake | Follow Stacy on Twitter!

Via Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/posts/10151458192593588

Celebrate Presidents Serving With Pure Motives

We’re kind of consumed with rugged race competition today in our house, but the important thing to remember this morning is the significance of February 18. It should be considered an honor to celebrate Presidents’ Day, particularly with the understanding that President George Washington is at the heart of this patriotic observance. With every passing day, as we recognize the true state of our union, we can appreciate even more those, like President Washington, who have served with pure motives and a true sense of purpose, who loved this nation more than self and truly sacrificed for her future.

Take a minute today to reflect on those who came before us and laid the foundation that was to be the solid rock on which future generations were built, then be inspired to fight for the restoration of all that made America a shining light in the world! Our past demands it, our present desperately requires it, and the world’s future depends on it.

Presidents’ Day reminds us that we have been uniquely blessed by God. Be grateful for the rights He has given us, and please honor those who have given themselves for the preservation of those rights. Let us reject any attempt to fundamentally transform our nation because we want our children and their children to know the American exceptionalism we have enjoyed and to deem it worthy of protecting. Freedom isn’t free, be willing to fight for it.

Happy Presidents’ Day.

– Sarah Palin

We need a TRUE Conservative to lead.

Palin 2016

http://conservatives4palin.com/2013/02/breaking-governor-palin-to-speak-at-cpac-2013.html

BREAKING: Governor Palin to Speak at CPAC 2013

Posted on February 18 2013 – 11:14 AM – Posted by: Stacy Drake | Follow Stacy on Twitter!

The American Conservative Union (ACU) has announced today that Governor Palin will speak at this year’s CPAC conference:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The American Conservative Union (ACU) today announced former Vice Presidential Candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will address CPAC 2013 – the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference. America’s largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be held Thursday, March 14 – Saturday, March 16, 2013.“We are pleased to again welcome Governor Sarah Palin to CPAC in March,” said ACU Chairman Al Cardenas. “Governor Palin electrified the crowd in 2012 and we are thrilled to welcome her back this year.”

Sarah Palin was the 2008 Vice Presidential Nominee and is the former Governor of Alaska. Governor Palin first made history on Dec. 4, 2006 when sworn in as the 11th and first female governor of Alaska. In August 2008, Senator John McCain selected Governor Palin to join him as his running mate in his historic presidential campaign. Governor Palin is the first woman to run on the Republican Party’s presidential ticket.

Since her vice presidential run and governorship, Sarah Palin has remained one of the leading conservative voices in the nation and has authored one of the most successful non-fiction books of all time, Going Rogue, An American Life. She has consistently focused attention on dozens of national races that have changed the face of Congress and continues the fight to bring commonsense conservatives to public office.

CPAC will be held March 14-16, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, offering three days of blockbuster speeches, policy discussions and networking opportunities – all celebrating the shared principles of smaller government, a strong national defense and traditional American values. For additional information, visit our website at conservative.org/cpac/, on Facebook at facebook.com/CPACNews, or on Twitter at @cpacnews and #CPAC2013. Media registration (including bloggers) is now open. For those who plan to cover the event, please request credentials at http://cpac2013media.eventbrite.com. Please note that the schedule has been announced, will be updated daily and is available on our new CPAC 2013 website.

You can go here for more details.

http://conservative.org/news/acu-announces-former-governor-sarah-palin-to-address-cpac-2013/

Palin 2016

The party’s problems is with messaging and connecting to voters.

Bingo! Someone should tell the RINO squishes because they think if they acquiesce to Obama’s agenda then things will turn out ok for them. For example, how about every time you talk about things that can be done to improve the economy you mention how much it will help citizens and LEGAL immigrants realize the American dream. Amnesty? I’m trying to protect opportunities for legal immigrants who waited in line for their turn. It’s not that difficult. Instead we get these idiots who just us the word “immigration” as if we don’t have any laws.

Even though the dems problem is policy they never back down from a failed election. They just rebrand the message.