Conservatives only want to hear from like-minded conservatives– which is why the GOP will continue to founder. If you keep trying to force your ideology on others, instead of learning what issues voters really care about, you will keep shrinking your base, and go back to the days of permanent minority status.

Democrats are winning elections at least partially because they are not running on ideological issues.

Michael Merritt :
I certainly hope I, as an Independent, can talk about what I think the parties should do. Or I’ll have to find a new topic to talk about, as speaking about American politics invariably involves the parties!
Anyway, I think there is room for all types of conservatives in the Republican party and a marketplace of ideas, but the party does need to have something holding it down, like Christine says.

anybody’s free to comment anyway they like – and anybody is free to counter comment as they like.

Anyway, I think there is room for all types of conservatives in the Republican party and a marketplace of ideas, but the party does need to have something holding it down, like Christine says.

C Stanley :
Thanks, Kim, but I think conservatives can define what conservativism is without help of somoeone who opposes our beliefs.

LMAO!

I hope that in the next election we have less unhappy people, that sensible positions have been agreed upon so that strong emotions don’t have to rely on any presidential candidate.

As an American, who could vote, who did Vote, and who will Vote again I can say I’m quite satisfied happy about this election.

it was a lot of fun.

There are factors to work in here. I am perfectly ready to accept that left-wingers and other scary and angry and energized and and and were far less receptive to such introspection and humility in 2000 or 2004, but I want some consideration of the differences between then and today before I just accept the generalizing evaluations of each side. I am not expected to do that, I won’t extend that, I am sorry.

doesn’t matter, you can’t do what you are incapable of doing.

And on the specifics of what you are saying, I’ll respond in a less snarky manner by just pointing out that a party that’s in disarray has to gets its core constituency solidified before it can even think about attracting from the edges. To use the old tent analogy, you can’t just keep expanding a tent by moving the outer poles, you have to make sure you have a good center support.

So I just fundamentally disagree with what you are saying (and with Kay Bailey Hutchinson in this case although I generally admire her and think there’s ample room in the party for her type.) And that’s above and beyond the fact that I obviously have a much different view of the issue of abortion than you do.

Don’t take Ensign’s word for it– listen to what Kay Bailey Hutchinson had to say. Some day I’d like to have a choice again.

…
I don’t think there’s anything that odd or interesting about what the New Reformers want to do, which is why I think capes aren’t called for. We’re just saying that: Americans care about health care, education, jobs, and the cost of living. So we should talk about these things, not just taxes and national security. And when we talk about these things that people care about, we should offer conservative policies that are relevant and realistic. I would prefer a world in which a universal voucher system replaces public schools. That world will not come to pass in my lifetime, so let’s talk about the weighted student formula and Swedish-style charter laws, etc. Fortunately, core conservative policies — like free trade and free labor markets — help deliver a lower cost of living and value for money. Republicans have a weak brand at the moment, but reform conservatives are working with a solid intellectual foundation.

I am refusing to say which party, which side of the aisle, which political affiliation started with the partisanship, the extremism, the agressiveness, the selfishness and the arrogance in the 2000-2008 period. Because I do not know, and I won’t listen to anyone who doesn’t bring a LOT of facts, analysis and compilation. I don’t have to somehow take quotes like the above to heart, accept them as a foundation for a debate about partisanship, ideological fortification creation and a discussion on guilt-allocation. No anecdotes, no mere examples and no talking points without serious debate and fact-compilation. No way. I won’t pin it on Bush, his supporters or his discontents. How tolerable was W, how aggravating were his lies and how much tolerance and attention did republicans and conservatives deserve from the other side. I don’t know, but if someone does please show it.

“This is very, very different from what we saw on progressive blogs after Bush won the elections, and the difference should be pointed out.”

There are factors to work in here. I am perfectly ready to accept that left-wingers and other scary and angry and energized and and and were far less receptive to such introspection and humility in 2000 or 2004, but I want some consideration of the differences between then and today before I just accept the generalizing evaluations of each side. I am not expected to do that, I won’t extend that, I am sorry.

“Given the magnanimous post by Goldberg this morning…”
The only Goldberg post I found from this morning is here:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjZlOGFmNGEzNWIxN2RkNTE3ZDJiZWFmZDcwMGYwNjE=&w=MQ==
I wouldn’t call it magnanimous. It wasn’t the scathing indictment of Obama and liberals I have become used to from him, but not magnanimous. If this was not the article you were referring to could you post a link?