When there are more people under the bus than in it (Colin Powell, Ron Paul)

[TnHilltopper]

Like it or not, good or bad, one thing about Republicans since the days of Reagan is that they had a tendency to vote in lock step, and it has been extremely effective.

There was for a time a unified belief in things like smaller government, fiscal responsibility, a higher moral standard, a desire for personal liberty and for government not to intrude into the living rooms and bed rooms of Americans. Whether or not these things were every actually implemented, it was a belief in these ideals that drove many if not most.

In recent years I began to notice a downside to this manner of acting in unison that has eventually led to a feeding frenzy of their own kind. When Jimmy Carter, a man that was respected by both Israeli's and Palestinians issued some rather provocative statements concerning this conflict based largely on his views, the very first response was to toss ole Jimmy under the bus. Matters not that he has spent a lifetime devoted to his faith and is by any accord a devout evangelical Christian, he became over night a terrorist sympathizer and thus "anti-American".

This trend has continued rather sporadically with various generals who dissented from the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld plan. Once life long career military men who dedicated their lives to the service of their country suddenly over night became jesters and fools for not sharing the views of a small segment of neo-Jacobin think tank idealists.

This has truly come to be during the election however when on an almost daily basis, new members to the under the bus crew are added. From Sen. Chuck Hagel, Ron Paul, to Colin Powell, to any news media that no matter how long of rightist support they issued, are suddenly irrelevant today.

I have to wonder, does it every cross ones mind that just maybe there might just be something wrong with the methods and ideology that has been promoted for the past several years? Or is this just some vast conspiracy that was drawn up by 160+ million Americans to disenfranchise or discredit a noble view that most cannot see or understand?

I am reminded that piranha don't eat their own when well fed, it is only until they are starved. Anyone who has ever held traditional conservative views can attest to this.

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by TnHilltopper

Like it or not, good or bad, one thing about Republicans since the days of Reagan is that they had a tendency to vote in lock step, and it has been extremely effective.

Given the alternative, its not like we have a choice this election.

[seattlenextyear]

The Republican party has been split into JesusHuggers and a Libertarian-like minority (less government spending, more personal freedom, more states rights, etc). The Religious Right is ruining this country, and continues to do so.
In order for the Republicans to be successful in the future, the fiscal-conservatives have to take back the party and restore it back to health.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

The Republican party has been split into JesusHuggers and a Libertarian-like minority (less government spending, more personal freedom, more states rights, etc). The Religious Right is ruining this country, and continues to do so.
In order for the Republicans to be successful in the future, the fiscal-conservatives have to take back the party and restore it back to health.

[calmdude]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

The Republican party has been split into JesusHuggers and a Libertarian-like minority (less government spending, more personal freedom, more states rights, etc). The Religious Right is ruining this country, and continues to do so.
In order for the Republicans to be successful in the future, the fiscal-conservatives have to take back the party and restore it back to health.

Any idea as to the percentage split between the two? The Wingnuts have passion, which the Libertarina-like arm may not have enough of.

[TomDot]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

The Republican party has been split into JesusHuggers and a Libertarian-like minority (less government spending, more personal freedom, more states rights, etc). The Religious Right is ruining this country, and continues to do so.
In order for the Republicans to be successful in the future, the fiscal-conservatives have to take back the party and restore it back to health.

How is the religious right ruining the country?

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by calmdude

Any idea as to the percentage split between the two? The Wingnuts have passion, which the Libertarina-like arm may not have enough of.

Well, we could determine this:

Absolute Wingnuts= # Republicans who voted for Mike Huckabee
Moderate Libertarians= # Republicans who voted for Mitt Romney
Absolute Libertarians= # Republicans who voted for Ron Paul

Unfortunately, you can't tease out the moderate wingnut from the moderate libertarian from the McCain voters.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by TomDot

How is the religious right ruining the country?

See: Bush Administration, Last 8 years.

[scarlet52698]

I have to wonder, does it every cross ones mind that just maybe there might just be something wrong with the methods and ideology that has been promoted for the past several years? Or is this just some vast conspiracy that was drawn up by 160+ million Americans to disenfranchise or discredit a noble view that most cannot see or understand?

I am reminded that piranha don't eat their own when well fed, it is only until they are starved. Anyone who has ever held traditional conservative views can attest to this.

Well said and I agree.

[GregW]

The Republican Party has, along with much of the wealth of this country, been stolen by a cabal of financial manipulators. The Christian Fundamentalists and the Libertarians have just been a smoke screen to cover the looting.