Comments on: Keys to Conservative Success Found in NY-23 Loss

By: SteveB/Colorado

SteveB/Colorado — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:51:18 +0000

#6 DougF and #17 Richard: Well said.

#15 Roger “Social issues are winners…..” Maybe in your state. As I have posted elsewhere, the social values/anti gay rights/anti abortion faction has controlled the Republican party here in Colorado in recent years. They write the party platforms and have worked hard to purge out those who don’t share their religious views.

Since 2004, thanks in large part to the heavy handed and inept leadership from the social values group, Republicans have lost the governorship, a Senate seat, two House seats, and control of both houses of the state legislature for the first time in over 40 years. It’s bad enough that the Dems, by keeping their radical lefties under control, have positioned themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility.

In 2008, the social values crew, led by Focus on the Family, tried to amend the state constitution to declare a fertilized egg as a “person,” with all rights thereon. The initiative failed by a 27% to 73% margin. Yes, Colorado has a law banning gay marriage. But in general, social issues only candidates do not do well here.

By: narciso

narciso — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:07:24 +0000

The media lies about Hasan’s background and motivation, http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/take_look_at_hasan_old_mosque_tqVGxjbLxWz8SV5tnpmV2N,
about the FCCER which is effectively the death panel,in the stimulus bill, about the damage that cap n trade will cause, and they lied about
this campaign.
Their purpose
was obtained to get a yes
vote for this
detestable plan

By: Greying Wanderer

Greying Wanderer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:24:45 +0000

“Defending the life and liberty of the defenseless is not having a bee in one’s bonnet.”

“Opposing gay marriage is a winner for the GOP because gay marriage is VERY UNPOPULAR.”

“It would be a betrayal of conservatism to neglect social issues.”

It’s not the issues it’s the emphasis.

The media will try and paint socially conservative candidates as *solely* social conservatives – that’s the point. Tick the social conservative boxes briefly and then move on to talk about the economy – candidates need to avoid being pinned down as one dimensional.

By: narciso

narciso — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:21:23 +0000

I’m stillstruck
on how this continues to be an argument. Hoffman was endorsed by the Club for Growth, who are
free market conservatives,
He campaigned on the failure
of the stimulus
and the up
coming health careleviathan, and cap n trade. If there was a failing by some lights, it was in not focusing on those local issues so much.
But if your currency is debauched and your economy kneecapped, the local bypass between Watertown and Plattsburgh will be redundant

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:21:46 +0000

The only reason to put up with a social conservative that wants to legislate matters of my bedroom is if they can manage to cut spending and lower taxes.

Modern republicans have shown their zeal in getting involved in my bedroom and raising taxes and adding spending as a way to do it. In other words, they welched on the deal.

Who knows if Hoffman would have walked the fiscally conservative walk like he talked it. Personally I’m tired of all these “small government” conservatives who can’t resist the urge to use the oppressive power of government to shove their social views down my throat. Its one thing to have social views that you think are right; its another thing to go shoving them down everyone else’s throat with the power of the federal government.

I’m sick and tired of hearing conservatives whine about how this or that bill funds abortions instead of abstinence education. A principled position would be to get the government the hell out of the whole deal and advocate your social position privately. But no, the conservatives are just as bad as the liberals — once they get in charge they start using the power of the purse to shove their views down everyone else’s throats.

Get the government out of it and put the people back in charge, or go suck eggs.

By: Zinovi Golodner

Zinovi Golodner — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:23:40 +0000

Has it occurred to anybody that in NY23 the more physically attractive candidate won? Owens displayed confidence and looked much better on TV than his opponent and with voters, especially with young, that could be the decisive factor.

By: Roger

Roger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:01:02 +0000

It would be a betrayal of conservatism to neglect social issues. If all you are is an economic conservative, then you aren’t a real conservative, you are a libertarian.

Social issues are winners. Every time there has been a vote on gay marriage it’s been defeated. Conservatives need to make an Equal case for Social and Economic issues. That is the Only way to Win.

By: Joshua Chamberlain

Joshua Chamberlain — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:19:03 +0000

I am so sick of this kind of advice. Opposing gay marriage is a winner for the GOP because gay marriage is VERY UNPOPULAR. What is so hard to understand about this?

By: myth buster

myth buster — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:38:37 +0000

6. Defending the life and liberty of the defenseless is not having a bee in one’s bonnet. Child sacrifice is such a heinous act that anyone who tolerates its existence should be shunned from polite company. I oppose anti-sodomy laws outside of the military because what two consenting adults do in private is their own business, but gay marriage goes beyond that to asking me to endorse this behavior, and that I cannot tolerate.

By: Jamie W.

Jamie W. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:17:00 +0000

Voters are making their views known in the ballot boxes re: social conservative issues; our candidates don’t need to worry about them. Instead, they should be doing just as you say: pushing for fiscal restraint, free market economy ideals, and jobs jobs jobs. Let the libs get hysterical about the social issues instead – which they will if our candidates just smile and refuse to discuss them. Ever try to argue with someone who won’t argue?