Moderate Republicans

[Cobbler]

I think the party is no longer a party of substance, rather it is just a party of simplistic talking points that have stayed rather static over the years. Cut taxes, strong national defense, small government, family values. These things sound good, but it doesn't promote much substance in terms of policy when to win a primary/election, all you need to do is recite those over and over.

I'm also bothered by the strain of anti-intellectualism in the party. It seems that being "folksy" and having "common-sense conservatism" is more valued than having the smartest people possible. Science is looked at with suspicion (global warming and evolution, for example), which I think is a shame. I want the smartest, most capable people running our country, not people like Perry or Palin.

I also think the party needs to be more tolerant on social issues. It needs to be realistic when it comes to immigration policy. I think it should take a more realist stance on foreign policy, and move away from neoconservatism. And it needs to acknowledge that if we are going to rid the country of this deficit, cutting taxes will not be the solution.

This is my opinion, at least.

[Cobbler]

"Moderate" Republicans are really just (soft?) lefties.

That really depends on where you put the center. 

[Cobbler]

I think the party is no longer a party of substance, rather it is just a party of simplistic talking points that have stayed rather static over the years. Cut taxes, strong national defense, small government, family values. These things sound good, but it doesn't promote much substance in terms of policy to accomplish these goals when to win a primary/election, all you need to do is recite those over and over.

I'm also bothered by the strain of anti-intellectualism in the party. It seems that being "folksy" and having "common-sense conservatism" is more valued than having the smartest people possible. Science is looked at with suspicion (global warming and evolution, for example), which I think is a shame for its own sake and the fact it hurts our economic competitiveness by inhibiting innovation and stymying education. I want the smartest, most capable people running our country, like Jon Huntsman, not people like Perry or Palin.

Perhaps one of the worst things is the knee-jerk opposition to Obama's policies, even if it means reversing long held positions, like the individual mandate. Such mindless contortions back the party into a corner, a consequence of the short term thinking endemic in the party today. Yet another example of this are the ongoing attempts to disenfranchise, as opposed to trying to build support amongst, minority groups. This can only spell disaster in the long term.

I also think the party needs to be more tolerant on social issues. It needs to be realistic, humane, and competitiveness-mindedwhen it comes to immigration policy. I think it should take a more realist stance on foreign policy, and move away from needless foreign interventions whilst not being isolationist. And it needs to acknowledge that if we are going to rid the country of this deficit, cutting taxes will not be the only solution.

This is my opinion, at least.

And mine, as well.

Well said.