There is no such thing as a "moderate republican"

[fujiyama]

I've seen several posts claiming the republican party welcomes it's moderates.

Guess what? There are no "moderates", with the exception of Lincoln Chafee, and even he went with Bush on the tax cuts.

Is Specter a moderate? On what issue? He's backed all of Bush's major policies. Snowe, Collins? Oh big fuckin deal. Both of them come from Maine, a state that gave Kerry a 7% margin of victory, and they voted for Bush's major policies as well. So, a few senators make a fuss on a few issues here and there. That's nothing. Republicans still maintain unity on their issues and can actually gather all but maybe two to vote party line.

Up until the election I urged everyone to not criticize Kerry and the party, because it was imperative we won this election.

We didn't and that fellowship is broken.

That's why I rant now. It's not the fault of the left that we lose. It's the fault of not being able to maintain any unity to oppose ANY of the Bush agenda. Witness the Condi thing...We got two senators to oppose her. I'll guarantee you that many other major policies will show similar number of defections. Hell, our own party "leaders" will end up backing the Bush agenda. Why do we have so many Dem senators from blue states backing puke policies?

Do we need to maintain as hard a line as the republicans do on every issue? No, we need not be as nasty, but it's time for Dems to realize that they're an opposition party. It's ok to NOT back the Bush admin's policies!

[EVDebs]

1. They've been marginalized. There's no reason for anyone in

either party with a lick of economic commonsense to go along with ANYTHING Bush puts out there. The next four years, like his TANG service year in '73, will turn into "The Lost Years".

[goodboy]

2. sure there are.. Lieberman, Biden, etc....

[Clark2008]

3. My Republican congressman is moderate

He voted against the Iraqi war and any subsequent funding.

He traditionally votes against any big spending sent up by this "Republican pResident." Actucally Jimmy Duncan isn't so much moderate as traditionally conservative: his big issues are tax cuts for the middle class and keeping the budget under control. He rarely rages out on social issues.

So, while there are very, very, very few moderate Republicans, there still are some.

[eleonora]

4. and they're being shunned by their own party

Time for them to reconsider their sideline.

[fooj]

5. The moderates have become outcasts in their own party!

My husband is MOST DEFINITELY a mod repub (who voted for Kerry, BTW) and I can honestly say that the Democrats are looking pretty good to him right now. Of course the Repubs are the opposition party...with shrub in charge this whole country seems to be screwed up so most don't know their right from their left! The assholes that are pushing policies and agendas aren't REALLY true repubs. They are just using the party as a base to get what they want! Believe me...those elephants are VERY DIVIDED! Hell-they are all over the place. Those evil bastards have taken hold... EXTREMISTS...now that's where you'll find all of the shit disturbers!

[LittleClarkie]

6. There are moderate Republicans who post here

There as a Republicans for Kerry yahoo group filled with them. They may or may not be in the leadership, but they are in the rank and file.

And they would probably dispute the assertion that they don't exist.

[snippy]

7. "Moderate" republican politicians occassionly act honorably but all too

often they choose party and power over principle. However, there are millions of moderate republican voters who could doom the current republican party to eternal electoral losses in many states if they could be persuaded to vote for democratic candidates. Those people are the moderate republicans that democrats need to appeal to.

[Benson]

8. Arnold. Pro-life, Pro Gun Control...and the GOP loves him!

Some consider McCain moderate...