republicans, put on a happy face

..........."I don’t remember Rove making an ad about that extremism, but Rove and the Times have already settled on Iowa Congressman Steve King as the potential Akin of 2014 if he runs for the Senate. The Times repeated Democrat opposition research, that King had compared illegal immigrants to bird dogs and that King denounced Nancy Pelosi and her “Stasi troops” for insisting on eco-friendly light bulbs and other federal mandates.

In the end, this is not a fight between Democrats and Republicans. This is between the Reaganites and the same old moderate Republicans who insisted Ronald Reagan was far too extreme to be elected in 1976 and then in 1980, when Rove worked for George H. W. Bush. They thought the Doles and McCains were always the smart money against the Democrats. It’s a fight between Republicans who want to not only run as conservatives, but govern as conservatives, versus the Bush-Boehner-McConnell never-mind approach.

Conservatism is in no way synonymous with defeat, and “conservative victory” isn’t even attempted by those who were never conservatives to begin with.


Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-boze ... z2KAMgoMhy

It just remains to be seen if the GOP can come up with a moderate enough candidate for the center-left that doesn't sound the alarm bells for the far right. The extreme parts of both parties are there, it just seems that the extreme right has a bit more of a my way or the highway mind set (Tea Party). When the GOP has to have this internal fight, they will have a hard time coming up with a candidate that appeals to the extremes and the independents, the Tea Party and the moderates. The treatment of Christie after Sandy shows this crack in the foundation of the GOP. The question is can the coalition of fiscal and social conservatives adapt to the 21st century in regards to their stances and form a political party or will this next election be the one that permanently drives the wedge between them.

I would like it if there are two candidates with enough of a centrist position that makes it a choice of which one to vote for instead of voting to make sure one of them does not win. But, if they pander to the extremes, then it's back to the lesser of two evils. I believe that if Hilary runs, the GOP is going to have a huge uphill battle and will have some real problems. If they start with the attacks, they are doomed. The Dems will get behind her 100% while the GOP has another two year campaign of shredding each other in debate after debate.

"W" ran as a compassionate conservative and Kerry was cast as a French speaking elitest with a tarnished military record. All about perceptions.

Grady wrote:

Rubio to deliver GOP response to Obama State of the Union address

Seeking to counter President Obama's speaking skills with a great orator of their own, Republicans have tapped Sen. Marco Rubio to deliver the official GOP response to Mr. Obama's State of the Union address next week — in both English and Spanish.

"Marco Rubio embodies the optimism that lies at the heart of the Republican vision for America," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican.

Washington Times

I wonder how that will play with the conservative base which demands that everything in the USA be done in English only.

It seems like they picked him because of his ethnicity to counter Obama's, just like the time they picked Jindahl to give the response. Having give the response in English and Spanish gives that feel to it.

SS,
Good point. I know a few Republicans that will be really upset with a bilingual response.