Republicans, are you concerned about painting yourself into a corner?

[Jacobtm]

It seems shocking to me that Newt Gingrich has been attacked as insufficiently conservative this cycle.

No one is 100% pure, especially someone who's led government for a long time, but Gingrich is certainly one of the most important figures in the recent history of conservatism and the Republican party.

It seems symptomatic of a problem among Republicans. They are relying on stricter and stricter litmus tests. They are primarying anyone who doesn't fall in line.

After so many ''RINOs'' were taken out in 2010, it doesn't seem far-fetched to suppose that all the Republican heavy-hitters might've sat out 2012 in part to avoid the kind of purity litmus tests that have torn apart so many candidates this cycle.

Does that sort of thing worry you, for your electoral chances, especially at the Presidential level?

[RogueBeaver]

I can only speak as a GOP sympathizer, but no, I'm not worried. To paraphrase Richard Nixon, the left and center must have voices, but the right must lead. Most people I encounter on the conservasphere seem to apply the Buckley Rule (as would I).

[Jacobtm]

I can only speak as a GOP sympathizer, but no, I'm not worried. To paraphrase Richard Nixon, the left and center must have voices, but the right must lead. Most people I encounter on the conservasphere seem to apply the Buckley Rule (as would I).

And yet, in modern Republican beliefs, Nixon was a Socialist.

He started the EPA. He used wage and price controls. He said ''We are all Keynsians now''. Throughout his whole Presidency, the top marginal tax rate was 70%.

[RogueBeaver]

And once upon a time, Democrats espoused the Gladstonian creed. Parties change, and the PWC was euthanized within Nixon's lifetime.

[Marokai Backbeat]

And once upon a time, Democrats espoused the Gladstonian creed. Parties change, and the PWC was euthanized within Nixon's lifetime.

A shame, since Nixon was the last decent Republican President.

[Username MechaRFK]

And once upon a time, Democrats espoused the Gladstonian creed. Parties change, and the PWC was euthanized within Nixon's lifetime.

A shame, since Nixon was the last decent Republican President.

I wouldn't go too far with that statement. Sure, he supported the environment and he was the first president of the United States to go vist Mao China but his legacy among how people treat Washington has lead to more distrust that was previous held with the Vietnam War and continue  on with the Watergate scandal  he was involves in made the general public now trust any politicians  who in Washington or their state government.

[minionofmidas]

The words "Nixon" and "decent" have as little justification for appearing in the same sentence as "Gingrich" and "insufficiently conservative".

[Torie]

No. Lots of nonsense is said by both parties during primaries, as they pander to their respective bases.  Few candidates run to try to educate their respective bases that they need to take on their views, because they are just foolish, errant and/or impractical.  Rather they just go native.  

If I had a billion or two dollars, and used a bit of it to get elected to Congress from my little white upper middle class reasonably secular heaven, I have this Walter Mitty fantasy of using a somewhat bigger chunk of it, and running precisely in order to educate, and just telling the voters the truth as I see it. It would be an interesting exercise I suspect.

[opebo]

If I had a billion or two dollars, and used a bit of it to get elected... running precisely in order to educate, and just telling the voters the truth as I see it. It would be an interesting exercise I suspect.

Perhaps not so interesting,Torie, since every idea in your head is identical to the ideas of all Capital.  Another way to put it is this - in every election, the ideas an interests of the billion or two dollars are elucidated prefectly and always win, and are always carried out in policy.

[Username MechaRFK]

The words "Nixon" and "decent" have as little justification for appearing in the same sentence as "Gingrich" and "insufficiently conservative".

[Torie]

If I had a billion or two dollars, and used a bit of it to get elected... running precisely in order to educate, and just telling the voters the truth as I see it. It would be an interesting exercise I suspect.

Perhaps not so interesting,Torie, since every idea in your head is identical to the ideas of all Capital.  Another way to put it is this - in every election, the ideas an interests of the billion or two dollars are elucidated prefectly and always win, and are always carried out in policy.

A lawyer would never use the word "every" opebo. It gets you far out on a limb that can just be cut off. But Marxism is a harsh mistress I know. You have been rather b-slapped by it, in your own unique monarchist way. The world awaits the first Marxist monarch.

[courts]

The words "Nixon" and "decent" have as little justification for appearing in the same sentence as "Gingrich" and "insufficiently conservative".

You mean the same Gingrich who supported "nation building," cap and trade, "individual mandates," the brady bill, amnesty and endorsed a book that said we should abolish the constitution? That Gingrich?

[CatoMinor]

The words "Nixon" and "decent" have as little justification for appearing in the same sentence as "Gingrich" and "insufficiently conservative".

You mean the same Gingrich who supported "nation building," cap and trade, "individual mandates," the brady bill, amnesty and endorsed a book that said we should abolish the constitution? That Gingrich?

[Zarn]

If the Republican Party is no different than the Democratic Party, what difference would it make if the Republicans win? Gingrich certainly does not hold to the ideals of the party. Neither do Romney or Santorum. The sooner we stop supporting the fakes, the sooner we can get this country back on track.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Mitt Romney doesn't paint himself into a corner. Whenever he thinks he might have that issue, he buys himself a new house.

[All Along The Watchtower]

I really, really don't understand how anyone-Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Socialist, Moderate, Good Person-could call Richard Nixon "decent."

[Ebowed]

If the Republican Party is no different than the Democratic Party, what difference would it make if the Republicans win?

What this really boils down to is Supreme Court nominations.

[Zarn]

If the Republican Party is no different than the Democratic Party, what difference would it make if the Republicans win?

What this really boils down to is Supreme Court nominations.

Most of them are establishment hacks, because they are nominated by establishment hacks.

[J. J.]

It seems shocking to me that Newt Gingrich has been attacked as insufficiently conservative this cycle.

No one is 100% pure, especially someone who's led government for a long time, but Gingrich is certainly one of the most important figures in the recent history of conservatism and the Republican party.

It seems symptomatic of a problem among Republicans. They are relying on stricter and stricter litmus tests. They are primarying anyone who doesn't fall in line.

After so many ''RINOs'' were taken out in 2010, it doesn't seem far-fetched to suppose that all the Republican heavy-hitters might've sat out 2012 in part to avoid the kind of purity litmus tests that have torn apart so many candidates this cycle.

Does that sort of thing worry you, for your electoral chances, especially at the Presidential level?

And yet the candidate who has one the first two primaries is not a social conservative, and the social conservatives together had less than 20% of the vote in NH.

[Link]

After so many ''RINOs'' were taken out in 2010, it doesn't seem far-fetched to suppose that all the Republican heavy-hitters might've sat out 2012 in part to avoid the kind of purity litmus tests that have torn apart so many candidates this cycle.

Agreed.  Look no further than what they say about a church going Mormon who remains true to his marriage vows...

And yet the candidate who has one the first two primaries is not a social conservative, and the social conservatives together had less than 20% of the vote in NH.

The guy is more conservative than Reagan in his personal life.