Reader’s Comments

Issue 216 – November 28, 2012

Editor:  I think “Conservative Challenge” is dead-on, especially with regard to the impact of dependency voting and Hurricane Sandy. The only thing I would add is that the Obama campaign took data-driven micro-targeting of its supporters to previously unseen levels of practical and technological sophistication. The Right has got to catch up on data-driven digital technology. Mark Tapscott

Editor: “Conservative Challenge” is a really interesting and well-written piece. I think many of the points are valid and constitute part of the outcome. I agree with many of the tough facts outlined, particularly on the issue of foreign policy which I felt was a complete distraction for a while just when Romney was gaining strength on domestic issues. Although immigration issues are important, I don’t believe that’s the be all and end all for Hispanics. What has been for many years and is now critically necessary is for Republicans to work within the Hispanic communities, year in and year out instead of showing up every few years with a Spanish language ad. For example, every new citizen in this country should be contacted and welcomed to join the Republican Party or at least offered information and opportunities. This is not done now. The president always has the upper hand on foreign policy and national security even if it’s not popular as Bush proved in ’04. I do take exception to the Romney description. During October, Romney started endorsing big government initiatives, such as the massive increase in food stamps and saying there would not be any issues affecting abortion coming to his desk, which is ridiculous. He denounced Obamacare while continuing to defend Romneycare which also made no sense. The issue he really had no credibility on was immigration, saying he wouldn’t change the Obama partial amnesty program for those who came as teenagers after excoriating Perry and others on illegal immigration in the primaries. Overall, though, he certainly was reasonably conservative. The one missing part to me is the expansion of the electorate. There have always been lots of eligible voters in this country who don’t vote, many of them natural Democrat voters. They have been a key and successful target for Obama. I don’t know that his can be borne out by statistics. Larry Hart

Editor: Regarding “The Conservative Challenge,” there are many reasons why we lost this election. Chief amongst them are Karl Rove and the RNC strategy to run “safe” election campaigns to maximize the profits of media consultants. Republicans and Conservatives used to beat the left at the ground game, but no longer. The GOP has had a succession of moderates winning the nomination because of conservative infighting. Fred Thompson and Club for Growth helped McCain win the nomination and defeat Huckabee. This cycle saw Santorum, Gingrich and Bachmann in a similar way clear the path for Romney’s nomination And despite DC conservative support, Romney was never embraced by the conservative activists outside the beltway. He was always the candidate of the Bush/Establishment wing of the GOP. But even more embarrassing than the presidential loss was the losses of the NRSC. The Cornyn/Rove dominated Senate Committee lost everywhere. What the NRSC did to Akin in this cycle is much like what they did to Miller, Engle and O’Donnell in the last cycle. The NRSC has an axe to grind against social conservatives and it needs to be exposed. The movement needs to refocus on ideas which build and stop adopting the rhetoric and strategies of the establishment GOP. If the movement is just and amen choir for the RNC, it is doomed. Floyd Brown

Editor: “Conservative Challenge” is a good article. It is very disturbing that we have so many people who are ignorant of what is really going on in this country. I don’t believe we will ever get back to the America I grew up in. It’s gone. But, I have hope for things not yet seen. I know that God is still in control and will take care of his people no matter what. I just pray my child and my grandchildren don’t suffer greatly. It doesn’t matter about me. I am older and have lived a good life up to this point. Perhaps, we shall escape the downfall by the Grace of God. Nancy Cooper

Editor: Regarding “The Conservative Challenge,” the Republican Party is dead. I, for one, won’t be mourning its loss. The challenge facing conservatives is that of having the courage to move out of the GOP for good, not looking back, and pressing on with new leadership to replace the non-leadership which presently keeps conservatism and its message in shackles. We need new rules and new vision, especially where winning elections is concerned. “An Evening Of Strategy With (democrat) Dick Morris”, hosted and paid for by the AZGOP – it played in other states, too — is symptomatic of how far afield and clueless our “leadership” remains. “Sales” is what an election is. It is not an intellectual exercise. It’s a show. It’s not won on cold logic. Cold logic should drive the policy front, but emotion and personality should drive the candidate. Obama excited people because he’s charismatic. Mitt, as good of a man as he is, lacks charisma. Obama simply excited more people than Romney did, the question of voter fraud/rigging aside. However, the loss wasn’t limited to his lack of charisma. From the GOP primaries on, GOP strategy was totally failed, if permitting our political enemies to advise us and conduct our debates isn’t evidence enough of that. We need the right strategy, the right man – Herman Cain would have been the right man – and we’ll win… or, we could have won. The GOP saw to it that no conservative took the primary. I see many “conservative” organizations and pundits actually acting as foils for that GOP leadership, defusing conservative drive and energy as a lightening rod and keeping our pathetically lame GOP “leadership” in power. Conservatives will need to identify them and shun them from here on. Conservatives will need to put on the blinders, ignore the noise, and press on with what’s right, with people who have the personality to win elections. The money will follow. Jeff Dover, Fountain Hills, AZ

Editor: Regarding “The Conservative Challenge,” Romney did not lose the election it was handed to Obama by the very people who blame Romney. Even this organization is guilty. The problem lies within the Republican Party itself. If every Republican would vote for the Republican we would win every time. That is not what happens. Some of us are too busy turning our backs on rinos but it doesn’t end there we also turn our backs if some of us aren’t pro life enough or second amendment enough or anti tax enough or anti climate change enough or anti regulation enough you get the idea. We are a big tent party but we do nothing to keep the tent full. No we spend our time throwing good people out of the tent because they aren’t ENOUGH like us whatever us is. Until we stop treating each other like that we have a dark future ahead of us. Robert E. Solum

Editor: Regarding “The Conservative Challenge,” it is difficult for most people in this country, note, I did not say Americans, to disseminate the flood of information produced by the media today. Much of what is put forth to the populace is untruthful, misleading, and often just outright lies. The greed and corruption that exists within our government is unconscionable, and as long as it remains as rampant as it is, we will continue in our decline, in all respects. I could not wait for this election to be over just to stop being inundated with the negative, worthless, deceitful TV and radio ads. It became nearly nauseating. Any longer I care not what name tag a candidate wears; Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Right to Life….etc. What I do care about is truth and fact. I care about the preservation of our Constitution, our Christian heritage, the Ten Commandment of God, and protecting the “ Republic” for which our flag flies. I care to see elected officials perform with honesty, honor, and integrity. I care to see that this thing called government gets cut down to appropriate size. I care to see our system of taxation reformed, for it is far out of line with an out of control government. Obama did nothing in his first four years, but accomplished great lies to a grossly ignorant, or even stupid populace. The remarks I hear people make in regards to current affairs are astounding, baseless, and come from ignorance or stupidity. Obama was elected (again) in part by such ignorance and stupidity. Our immigration system is an absolute atrocity to the welfare of our Country, and the obese, out of control entitlement programs cannot be sustained. Our debt ceiling is unfathomable to comprehend, and people clap for Obama. Frankly, I am simply stunned. I have grave concerns as we reach the “fiscal cliff”. I have grave concerns over a Commander in Chief whose foreign policy relations have been damaging and leave much to be desired. I have grave concerns over a Commander in Chief who reduces the size of our military in a number of areas, when the world is rife with contempt for our Country. I hope I am wrong, but I believe that we are heading for socialism and eventual anarchy. I believe that if we go over the “fiscal cliff” that the riots in Greece and Spain will be pale in comparison to what we may see and experience here. We are a divided Nation for many reasons, and this is as disturbing as the rest of the corrupt, dysfunctional government and political issues that are destroying us from within. The news media is despicable and just fuels and breeds contempt, devoid of patriotic character in the interest of selling a story. Rick Christensen

Editor: Brian Mitchell’s “Is Gay Marriage Libertarian” is an obscene twist of the issues. Government out of the bedroom: that is the issue. David Katz [Editor’s note: where is the government there? The question raised is: Is gay marriage libertarian and this is the answer?]