I am not so sure that the Dems moved to the left in 2008, at least in any obvious way. The patter, for those (most) who don't pay close attention, was an end to partisanship, one people united, hope and change and other such silliness. And the crash wiped out any chance the GOP may have had.

I am no political genius, but properly played, anyone should be able to beat BO this year, and anyone would be preferable. I am not sure that this is the time to tear the GOP to pieces (though that may be happening anyway), but a rethinking is definitely in order. Maybe that could wait until after the election.

It's still possible for the Republicans to blow this election and I am confident that they'll try. They always do, it seems.

"We are now at a crisis point. More Democratic rule is the highway to hell; more Paper Republican rule is the slow road to the same destination. It's time for the Republican Party to present a true conservative alternative. Anything else is suicide by inches."

Amen, amen, amen!

Who gets to do the purging? Who decided who the 10 or 15 true Republicans are, who will be pure but not win many elections? While I fear that Romney can’t win, and doesn’t have the core strength to make the very tough decisions needed if this Republic is to survive, I think he’s going to be the nominee because the more conservative candidates either declined to run or imploded. I eliminated Cain when he didn’t know China had the bomb. Bachmann didn’t know there was a little crisis in Iran that closed our embassy in 1980, and was focused on things that, regardless of your views, don’t threaten the life of the Republic. Huntsman ran as a centrist in the GOP primaries, despite being arguably more conservative than Romney. Duh. Perry proved not ready to go head to head with Obama or anyone else. Santorum is a big government conservative focused on the social issues when the threats are fiscal and foreign policy, who lost his seat by 18 points. Paul’s anti-Americanism and foreign policy positions would make me think of voting for Obama if he was the nominee—he’d make 1964 look like a good Republican year. I leaned toward Newt three of four times this year. But his intellect makes him think that everything that pops into his head is a good idea and he goes off the rails at least once a week. The attack on capitalism pretty much did it for me. I have very big problems with Mitt, but I guess the “conservative” candidates have left us with him. If Obama wins, I fear it won’t matter who is nominated in 2016. I will link to this from my Old Jarhead blog.

Robert A. Hall

Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic

All royalties go to help wounded veterans

For a free PDF of my book, write tartanmarine(at)gmail.com

Ben I agree that what you said needs to be done. However, in order for that to happen, a majority of Republicans have to want that to happen. The reason Republicans keep electing paper men is because that is what most want. The America you want to act does not exist anymore and hasn't for over 20 years and that is why we keep nominating people like the two Bushes, Robert Dole,and John McCain. Romney will be the nominee and he will be defeated by the Obama/CLinton ticket. The key to turning this thing around is taking a super majority in the Congress because this would be easier to do than taking the White House. But honestly, this too would be a long shot. I have been around a long time and the real problem in America is not the weakness of the Republican party but the weakness of the collective character of our citizens. We think we have all the answers and that Washington can implement them. It will never happen. The faith that founded this nation came from a profound belief in the sovereign God. That faith is sorely lacking now and the breakdown of the moral foundation of the country is a testament to that. I believe we will soon see that turning our collective back on God will continue to bring the judgment we deserve.

Excellent post Mr Hall, you put my exact thoughts to print. Semper Fi, brother.

The "conservative" method to governance is superior to anything the liberals/RINOs can muster.

Until we find a leader who can effectively communicate our message, we may be stuck in the fringes for a long time. It's cliche, but we really need another Reagan.

Four more years of Obama may be the end of our great republic.

Can we wait until 2016 to draft Rubio for president?

The republicans are complicit with the liberal/socialist/communist/democrats... they no longer deserve our votes for they are no longer true Constitutional conservatives.

Our government has run amok, and it will take much more than a few election cycles to fix it, IF fixing it is still possible.

ARREST and TRY the Domestic Enemies NOW, for it is almost too late. "We the People" must unite and demand true Bill of Rights and US Constitution representatives. "We the People" must send the message that domestic enemies/traitors will go to jail, or worse !!!

Ron Paul is the only candidate that we can trust to do exactly what he says he will do and how he says he will do it. Purge the Republican party. Vote for the only man with the integrity, the plan and the message. The very best part is we will have 4 years of gridlock in Washington, D.C. where nothing will get done unless congress gets him a bunch of single issue bills that he can sign and remain true to the Constitution.

He will VETO any unconstitutional bill. He will demonstrate how the Constitution is supposed to operate and will give us four years to groom a "more perfect" candidate.

Say what you wish but the only candidate that doesn't appear to be made of paper is Newt. He certainly has the cajones and the brains to be able to tell it like it is. He is not intimidated by the media and will not be put in a "box". He is most like a Reagan in self confidence alone. Quite frankly, I don't care if he shoots off a whopper here and there; could anyone else out there think as fast on his feet to "gotcha" questions from the media and the planted liberal scum of the earth? Go ahead---name one. I can wait but this country cannot.

The obvious reasons above are enough to make Newt the candidate. Add to that his EXPERIENCE in Congress and in dealing with the White House. Then add to that, a continuation of the purging of Congress. Oh, and the biggest reason of all to think Newt is the man to beat BO--- The Republican Party doesn't like him! They don't want him. Maybe the party itself has been infiltrated by the Wilsonians...

Merry, it's very obvious that, at a minimum, the Republican Party has been infiltrated with liberal political hacks. And, while Newt may be the best among them, he is still a member of the "political hack" group. It's the same old story, Merry. We're going to have to hold our noses and vote for a liberal Republican to get rid of the socialist.

Tex...

I agree somewhat. But, I guarantee you that I wouldn't have to hold my nose and resist the urge to puke while voting for Newt as I did with McCain. However, I don't see Newt as a liberal in spite of some of his dumb stuff like the Pelosi global warming ad. I do believe he is still a big government elite Republican who has great ideas but, unfortunately believes more laws will fix our ills, instead of less. However, with that said and a continuing purging of the CONgress, we can keep our eyes on the prize. PERSONAL liberty, instead of every other fairy tale dreamy Utopian liberal idea. As Burt said, I'll vote for a sack of potatoes over the Chicago Cockroach! Mitt is the TRUE liberal with his Hollywood-like image. Now that guy is the pick of the Republican party! Something is seriously wrong with that guy, aside from the party big wigs wanting him. Think he'd be nothing more than a puppet for corporate America and crony capitalists.

I`m with Merry. Newt does manage to irritate me at times, but I can`t help but like the man, which is more than I can say for Romney. I too, can vote for Newt without holding my nose, as I would have to do if voting for Romney.

Richard Ryan

Lamar,Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

If ballot access laws followed the spirt and intent of the constitution, this problem would take care of itself. Instead of running under separate party tickets, candidates find it easier to run as a Democan or a Republicrat because the ballot access laws have been biased against third party candidates.

In some countries, people vote for the party and the party gets to decide who to send. But in Amerika, we vote for the candidate. So why does a Republicrat or Democan candidate need far fewer petition signatures to be on the ballot than an independent or third party.

I'm to the point where I am either waiting for a better Republican candidate to get sick of all the wish-washing one we have and jump in, or just forget them all.

It really doesn't matter who the Republican President is, as long as he is Republican, even a RINO. What matters is that the HOUSE and the SENATE are dominantly Republican following 2012. That's where the laws and the purse-strings are held. As long as the laws coming out are of a Republican bend and the purse-strings are fiscally conservative, all we need is a President willing to sign his name. I'm pretty sure every ding-bat contender right now is capable of signing his own name!